Posts by CalebInFloroda

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

To be honest, Viviane, we have a similar saying about our Jewish celebrations.

It's: "Yea, we're celebrating the fact that someone tried to kill us...again!"

So you are not too far off.

33

How Many JWs actually Watch JW.TV?

by Oubliette in

i'm curious.

what do you know from your own experience and talking to other active jws?

i know from my own informal, non-scientific survey that most jws do not watch jw.tv.

It's the number one religious app/channel downloaded and used on Roku (America) and at number 21 on its "Most Popular" list with over 27,880 ratings. This is more than the Mormon/BYU channel, TBN, and EWTN channels on Roku.

Of course this may mean little as these other religious channels are available from all the major cable outlets and some even over the air or have affiliates like the Catholic EWTN.

63

How the Watchtower Screws Up Your View of Scripture

by CalebInFloroda in

while i do not argue the stand of atheism (because as a jew i find it totally logical and acceptable), i have noticed that there are odd carryover preconceptions about scripture that some hold as axiomatic about the bible (at least the hebrew texts), misconceptions that have nothing to do with the jewish scriptures themselves.. so regardless of what you may think of scripture, whether you believe it is of g-d or not, i thought some of you might enjoy a reference to see how much the watchtower teaching on scripture might still be influencing the conclusions you are making today...at least about the tanakh.

jews read their texts acknowledging the following:.

1. no scriptural concept of original sin.

CalebInFloroda

I wrote this on another thread, so just in case you don't see it there I wanted to post it here too. I understand that people are used to a site where people see various points of views as challenges to one's current set of values and convictions, much the way many of us saw such things as a Jehovah's Witnesses. That isn't what I've been here trying to do, though I understand it appears that way to some.

One of the most important tenets I strive to employ in my daily life comes from my strong conviction that all people have the right to exercise their conscience freely as they see fit.

As such I am also against the idea of debating in an attempt to alter one’s view over to mine or to make comments to make others feel that their religion or lack of religion is somehow inferior to mine. While not agreeing with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I also do not feel it is right to attack those who wish to follow that path.

My main reason for being here as an ex-JW is to encourage people on their path, support their view whatever that might be, and add what I know to the vast amount of knowledge that exists on this board. I find proselytizing unjust, and have no objective to win others over to my views in order that become Jewish themselves.

Some have found helpful information in my comments, but a lot of people have told me I am just an irritant and have wished me and my Jewish convictions bad (and not always on the public side of this board). Since I believe that these people are also capable of much good and have much to offer for the benefit of the world, and because some of these confuse my comments with an attempt to challenge or tear down their own, I am from this point on going to limit my comments to humor and just hang around in general.

I feel that the JWs are to blame for creating an atmosphere here where in some cases the slightest suggestion of anything that reminds a person of that religion is hurtful to some. That is not my intention. Since I want to promote healing and freedom for people who really need it after leaving the Watchtower, I think it the best thing for me to do is to leave my personal convictions and knowledge as a philologist at the door. My desire is to help, not hurt, and I think this is the right way for me to be helpful to as many people as possible.

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

One of the most important tenets I strive to employ in my daily life comes from my strong conviction that all people have the right to exercise their conscience freely as they see fit.

As such I am also against the idea of debating in an attempt to alter one’s view over to mine or to make comments to make others feel that their religion or lack of religion is somehow inferior to mine. While not agreeing with Jehovah’s Witnesses, I also do not feel it is right to attack those who wish to follow that path.

My main reason for being here as an ex-JW is to encourage people on their path, support their view whatever that might be, and add what I know to the vast amount of knowledge that exists on this board. I find proselytizing unjust, and have no objective to win others over to my views in order that become Jewish themselves.

Some have found helpful information in my comments, but a lot of people have told me I am just an irritant and have wished me and my Jewish convictions bad (and not always on the public side of this board). Since I believe that these people are also capable of much good and have much to offer for the benefit of the world, and because some of these confuse my comments with an attempt to challenge or tear down their own, I am from this point on going to limit my comments to humor and just hang around in general.

I feel that the JWs are to blame for creating an atmosphere here where in some cases the slightest suggestion of anything that reminds a person of that religion is hurtful to some. That is not my intention. Since I want to promote healing and freedom for people who really need it after leaving the Watchtower, I think it the best thing for me to do is to leave my personal convictions and knowledge as a philologist at the door. My desire is to help, not hurt, and I think this is the right way for me to be helpful to as many people as possible.

49

What kind of errors in the Bible?

by TheWonderofYou in

the new testament specialist daniel wallace notes that although there are about 300,000 individual variations of the text of the new testament, this number is very misleading.

most of the differences are completely inconsequential--spelling errors, inverted phrases and the like.

a side by side comparison between the two main text families (the majority text and the modern critical text) shows agreement a full 98% of the time.[18].

CalebInFloroda

LorenzoSmith,

I wasn't saying Jesus was sitting upon two animals at once, but that two animals are mentioned as being used to ride in according to Matthew.

And this is not propaganda. My same point that this is problematic is found in the footnotes of the New Jerusalem Bible and the New American Bible. It was not a Jewish perspective but one I learned from Christian academics and scholars.

And I know everything the JW have said about Scripture. I was a JW for many years and have a large library of Watchtower publications at my fingers. I've read everything back to the very first Watchtower, Charles T Russell's writings, Rutherford's books, all,the publications that followed by Franz, volumes of Watchtowers, Aid to Bible Understanding, Revelation! It's Grand Climax...!, the Insight Book, Make Sure of All Things, the Live Forever book, all the latest pubs on JW.org too.

So I didn't make my comments up, I have read the Watchtower's view, and I find you very hateful and disrespectful towards me and desirous of only jumping to conclusions. Oh well. If I was only like you and shared your religious views!

63

How the Watchtower Screws Up Your View of Scripture

by CalebInFloroda in

while i do not argue the stand of atheism (because as a jew i find it totally logical and acceptable), i have noticed that there are odd carryover preconceptions about scripture that some hold as axiomatic about the bible (at least the hebrew texts), misconceptions that have nothing to do with the jewish scriptures themselves.. so regardless of what you may think of scripture, whether you believe it is of g-d or not, i thought some of you might enjoy a reference to see how much the watchtower teaching on scripture might still be influencing the conclusions you are making today...at least about the tanakh.

jews read their texts acknowledging the following:.

1. no scriptural concept of original sin.

CalebInFloroda

@oppostate

"Different shapes and sizes"? What you saying? Do I look fat to you?

What if I stand this way? Still?

Now look, I have a glandular problem that the doctor said If I stop eating donuts, Pop Tarts, and soda pop that I could die!

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

It generally would not matter, although a secular Jew may not approach doing good in the exact same sense. The mitzvah or redemption still gets done.

And thank you. It hit the ground behind me, not me directly. I am fine.

And some secular Jews adopt different ways of healing the world than seeing things in terms of Torah=mitzvah, but it is once again the same act or goal of a mitzvah.

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

Update: The nurse is threatening to take my iPad away, saying I need my rest. It is 5:15am and I am in the hospital. I been up most of the night because apparently Imgot hit by lightning around 11:30 or so last night. I don't know. I don't remember.

Last thing I remember was watch a very large raccoon stare at me from behind a tree as I took the garbage out.

5:18 am: bitch nurse says she's not going to warn me again. So she's coming to take my iPad away. I'll be back as soon as I can.

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

At this point we are having a musical interlude, including two of the latest hits:

1. I Beat Dat Bitch With a Bat (rap and slow dance versions)

2. Pinot Noir (Ode to Black Penis, kosher version)

A "continental" breakfast is being served in the green room. ("Continental" is French for "truly sucky.") Coffee is supplied free of charge courtesy of the Rock Badger Co., makers of Mama's Fried Fruit Pies and Killem Roach Spray. ("If you can't join 'em, kill 'em!")

46

Wish You Knew? Ask a Jew!

by CalebInFloroda in

because on another thread questions about just what the hell jews believe kept taking us off topic, i decided to start this new one.

that's why, as you will notice, it has that new thread smell.

i will do my best to give thorough and concise answers, but be warned: i do not take myself very seriously.

CalebInFloroda

Why observe Shabbat if you are a secular or agnostic Jew?

Becuase observing Shabbat is a mitzvah, an act that brings redemption or healing to the world. Rest is important to the body, the family, society. Periods of relaxation are a real part of what brings relief to society. Your observance of Shabbat is not a mental belief but a physical action, a mitzvah.

One does not require a literal belief in G-d to perform a mitzvah or to bring healing and redemption into the world. In fact one does such things as if there were no such thing as G-d and therefore left as our responsibility to perform for the world's benefit.

Mentally adhering to a concept, believing in something, does not perform an act of redemption in the world. Belief is not mitzvah. Action is. When you perform mitzvah you "bring a little of G-d" into the world, and to a Jew that is more important that merely believing that G-d exists.