Nate Merit

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Posts by Nate Merit

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  41

  MAN: to blame? GOD: benign and caring? What is the whole truth?

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  almost every watchtower publication we've ever seen begins in the garden of eden.. we are told the earth was created for man.

  we are told man was given a paradise and that his disobedience introduced to the world sin and death.

  man ruined the wonderful, gentle and peaceful plan of god.. that is the story we are told.

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  Nate Merit

  Dear FlyingHighNow
  
  Amen! Oops...er...right on!
  
  I don't beleive the myth of Genesis either, in a literal historical or scientific way. However, the myth has percolated deep into the collective psyche of the Western world. The usual interpretation of it is not only erroneous if you look closely at the myth, but it has saddled people of the Western world with a deep sense of guilt and self-loathing, a feeling of being responsible for mess the entire Cosmos is in. Crikey!
  
  Rather than simply dismiss the myth out of hand, which would not succeed (It's far too deeply engrained in our culture), I have chosen to give an interpretation that makes far more logical sense if one simply examines what the myth says. Also, the interpretation that I and other Gnostics give is far more mentally healthy. Rather than feel we puny humans somehow managed to muck up an All-Powerful God's plans, one can easily see that the myth says no such thing, and the 'guilt' if any lies on the shoulders of the Yahweh Elohim, the Jehovah gods.
  
  I am finding this approach makes for some marvelous changes in the outlook of those who are able to read the myth afresh and see what it's actually saying. Once they stop blaming themselves for the condition of the earth and cosmos and blame "god," soon they are able to let go of the bible-gods entirely and have a profound inward encounter with the Source that is beyond all duality and personhood.
  
  It may seem, in my book Jehovah Unmasked, that I am another sort of literalist, but I am not. The Bible is a book of mythology, and unfortunately the Genesis myth has been interpreted in a manner completely at odds with what the myth actually says. I am trying, in my own way, to give people an "out," a way to progressively escape the bondage this myth has placed them in. I include myself in that statement. I too needed to be freed.
  
  Again, I am very pleased that Jehovah Unmasked has been of help to you. Order a copy directly from me, and you'll receive it autographed and personalized. Email me at [email protected] for my address.
  
  Divine blessings to you.
  Nate
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  16

  Is the Bible True?

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  is the bible true?

  i encourage everyone to post on this thread the main reasons why you do believe that the bible is the true inspired word of god.. i want to examine both sides of this subject, so i am also posting another thread entitled "is the bible false?

  " at: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/100532/1.ashx.

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  Nate Merit

  Nate, I'm UK based so organising some debate contest isn't even in my remit. As for emailing your mate - why would he listen to me? I'm sure he gets plenty of correction emails but has to ignore them otherwise his site would descend into chaos.
  
  
  Mark Smith does indeed read all his emails. He sends most of them to me as well for review before we decide which ones are the least barmy and therefore fit to respond to. If you respond in an intelligent and rational way, you will receive an intelligent and rational reply. Sadly, most of the email we receives cements our opinion that something is well and truly disturbed about the minds of fundamentalists. Having been fundamentalists ourselves, we read these emails and shudder.
  
  So, by all means email Mark and correct his errors. CC the email to [email protected]
  I promise if there are any factual errors about the LDS Church on SET FREE! they will soon be gone.
  
  I was kidding about being the reincarnation of Porter Rockwell, but nonetheless find the character even more fascinating than either Smith or Young, and that's saying something. A real turkey of a movie was made about Rockwell a few years back. I am seriously considering writing a script and screenplay about Rockwell. Fortunately, my wife's Godfather in the Greek Orthodox Church is a producer for Paramount Studios. It might help. It can't hurt.
  
  Nate
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  21

  "European Union" equals 7th King malarkey.

  by Schizm in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  browsing the internet, i found this interpretation of the

  a "european union" (see images to the right).

  it amazes me that people can't *see* what is right in front

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  Nate Merit

  Are you saying you believe in the divine inspiration of the book of "Daniel"? If so, that too is "malarkey." If not, goodonyamate.
  
  Nate
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  23

  Jehovah and Satan were the same in the Bible? Jewish Polytheism

  by VM44 in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i have read a few postings (which of course i cannot find now) concerning the early jewish beliefs were of a polytheistic nature.

  many gods were believed in, and jehovah was only one.

  i also recall that mention was made that the ancient jewish believed that satan and jehovah were the same god!

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  Nate Merit

  Oi mate, and she's cute too!
  
  You enumerate the very things I meant when I said her book isn't perfect. However, overall her book is factual and a worthwhile contribution to the growing body of research demonstrating the mythical nature of Christ/Christianity. Freke and Gandy's book The Jesus Mysteries is a far more readable book, but lacking in the breadth and depth of The Christ Conspiracy.
  
  Sorry we got off on the wrong foot, but I'm quite fond of "Acharya" and was very happy to have her endorsement for Jehovah Unmasked.
  
  Nathaniel J. Merritt Met.D.
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  4

  Looking for a good children's bible

  by findingmyway in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've gone non-denominational, but i haven't become a member yet.

  if/when i do, i'd like to begin taking my son to church with me.

  before i do that, i'd like to start my own study of the bible with him.

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  Nate Merit

  You should reconsider your decision to read a violent insane book such as the Bible to your children. At the very least, read about the long-term effects such childhood exposure to violent rageaholic ideas of God have on the self-esteem and ability to function of such hapless childrem.
  
  A good childrens Bible is no Bible at all. Give your kids better ideas about God than a genocidal despot in the sky.
  
  Please feel free to email me at [email protected]
  
  I will gladly direct you to appropraite reading materials to open your eyes on this matter, and can even arrange for mental health professionals in your area to consult with you before you decide to violate your childrens minds with the Bible. Please contact me via email, not publically on this forum. This is a serious matter beyond the scope of this form of communication.
  
  Nathaniel J. Merritt Met.D.
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  24

  New Watchtower Distribution System...

  by zeroday in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to expedite the final delivery of wt literature the watchtower has adopted a new distribution system.

  as the rolls of paper and ink etc arrive at the printing facilities they go directly to the printing presses where 10's of thousands of books, magazines, tracts etc are printed every hour.

  they are then packaged and sent to the shipping docks where they are loaded onto semi trucks.

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  Nate Merit

  Hi Blondie!
  
  What a SCREAM! I cant wait to get my paperback copy of the NWT! I hope its made from the "extra gentle" paper!
  
  I used to have SUCH a thing for Debbie Harry. She made me NUTS!
  
  Hmmmm.
  
  It's all starting to make sense...
  
  NNNNNate
  "New and Improved"
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  12

  "Knocking" show in ' 06.

  by Tigerman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as many of you know, there is going to be a pbs program aired next year titled, " knocking".

  it''s a pro jw type of show where the jw's are depicted as a positive influence in society.

  and i say "positive' in the sense that it touches on the most base of emotions.

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  Nate Merit

  What I think is that "I hope this guy is kidding!"
  
  On the other hand, maybe America deserves to be JW.
  
  Nate
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  14

  Saturday morning and the witnesses are most notable for thier ABSENCE!

  by Soledad in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  picuture it: 125th st and morningside ave, nyc, 10:30 am est.

  it's a bit cold and rainy but it's business as usual for the locals.

  what's missing from this picture?

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  Nate Merit

  When they spiritualized the word "genea" (generation) in their interpretation of "This generation will be no means pass away until all these things take place" they yanked the rug right out from under their entire chronological system.
  
  There is no longer any reason to believe Christ came invisibly in 1914
  
  There is no longer any reason to believe their is any significance to 1918
  
  There is no longer any reason to believe these are the last of the 'last days' or 'the time of the end'
  
  There is no longer any reason to believe this is the Harvest Time
  
  There is no longer any reason for the sheep to let themselves be beaten into a frenzy anymore.
  
  Now, it's just a matter of time before the Brooklyn Oracles go the way of the dinosaurs, and the JayDubs become a mainstream church, just as the Mormons did. It's inevitable because prophecy has a funny way of never coming true.
  
  NNNNNNNNNate
  "New and Improved!"
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  17

  MY CHALLENGE TO FUNDAMENTALISTS/BIBLICAL LITERALISTS

  by Nate Merit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for the fundamentalist christians reading this post who do not like my hermeneutics (principles of biblical interpretation), i challenge you to look up all the passages of the old testament that are quoted in the new testament.

  read the surrounding context of each quotation as it appears in the old testament.

  you will be shocked to discover that the context of the verses in the old testament almost never correspond to the way the verses are actually used in the new testament.

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  Nate Merit

  I on the other hand know the Bible is a book of mythology, and therefore interpret it allegorically, as all mythology was meant to be interpreted.
  
  NNNNNNNNNate.
  "Making a bad situation worse since 1953"
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  16

  Is the Bible True?

  by UnDisfellowshipped in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  is the bible true?

  i encourage everyone to post on this thread the main reasons why you do believe that the bible is the true inspired word of god.. i want to examine both sides of this subject, so i am also posting another thread entitled "is the bible false?

  " at: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/100532/1.ashx.

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  Nate Merit

  Mark Smith HAS NO "belief" system. What he HAS is a LACK OF BELIEF as far as gods go. Atheism is not a 'belief' as you fundiots love to claim and slap each other on the back because you're so clever. Atheism is a LACK OF belief. If Mark Smith were to find some COMELLING, UNAMBIGUOUS empirical/scientific proof of the existence of a loving personal God, he would accept it. He's my bud for 32 years. I know him better than his family or ex-wives do.
  
  NNNNNNNNate
  "Raining on the parade since 1953"