Posts by Mattica

62

Mary Magdalene

by I-follow-the-narrow-path in

if it was proven that jesus, in fact, has a bloodline.

what do you think this will do to religions?

and is it at all possible to prove that mary magdalene and jesus had an intimate relationship?

Mattica

http://www.thenazareneway.com/new_look_at_mary_magdalene.htm

Here's a good link.

23

No secular evidence for Jesus. What does this imply?

by Spectrum in

a man that performed miracles including raising the dead has left no secular evidence.

but as i write this the question has come to mind of what ancient evidence constitutes verifiable, believable evidence that we can take to the bank?

we have the nt and the apocrypha, ancient texts that tell a story of the early christians.

Is there evidence that Jesus existed? Hm, I used to rely soley on the writing of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, until I found out that our earliest scrolls, fragments were rewrites of what they wrote, and we do not have the original handwritten words by these four men.

Then I looked to the Apostle Paul, who rarley mentions Jesus's miracles, much less His ressurection. And finally had a brain fart in that he could not be an apostle because he did not witness the ressurection, just heard about it.

Then I looked at the writings of Josephus, Tactius and again two bits of information I found out. 1. Their writings have been proven to have been tampered with just like with the four gospels. 2. Jesus or 'this Chritus' is mentioned as a leader with devout followers, but no mention of miracles.

Then I considered the other greek myths that were around at the time and before that time who had very similar stories of miralces, being killed, then ressurected.

An anology...look at George Washington. A lot of people were wanting someone to rescue their country from the evil empire of slave owners and religous dogmonatries. He came and helped the country out of bondage. Much has been written about him, some false, some true. Very little has been written about Christ way back then.

Then I look at what over 500 people saw Christ ressurected. Yet only four of these wrote down what they witnessed? It is common for publications to be written that inpact the world as a whole for all eternity. Like with Cancer, when a search for a cure is found, you will find more than just four researches writing on the search. Global warming is dooming our planet, yet are you only going to find only four researchers writing on it?

According to Christians, God gives us ample proof that He exist. Just look all around you, and at the human brain. Yet He only gives proof of His sons existence in four Jewish non-scholars? And I question, if he really wanted to prove His existence, why did ressurections just suddenly stop after the apostles died? Why did cures suddenly stop after they died? Why did miracles suddenly stop after they died? Why did exocisms suddenly stop after they died? They were allowed to do those things to prove to the jews and gentiles that they were getting their power from God. I'll tell you for sure, I have worked with disabililtes most of my life, and if even one of them suddenly got up and walked, pulled out his G-tube, and began talking, then I would be down on my hands and knees. But that has never happened, never will. Christians don't even like to discuss the subject.

If God wants us to believe Jesus existed, why did he allow great horrors to happen in his name? Why does he allow modern day christians to hate in his name, kill in his name, committ suicide in his name? He keeps saying it all will end soon, but the book of revelations is not real prophecy. He has given us 66 books that at times contradict each other, or are very hard to understand, or can be given different translations, or sayings that mean differerent things to different people. The bible causes more division and confusion than a political run off.

In short, hehehe, I believe Jesus really existed as a man, a prophet. There is written secular proof of that. There is no secular proof of Jesus being the divine son of God. And that is a whole other subject I won't touch on.

62

Mary Magdalene

by I-follow-the-narrow-path in

if it was proven that jesus, in fact, has a bloodline.

what do you think this will do to religions?

and is it at all possible to prove that mary magdalene and jesus had an intimate relationship?

Mattica

Check out this link.

http://www.grailchurch.org/marriedjesus.htm

Like the Roman Catholic church say, Jesus could not have a blood line because sex is a sin. What a bunch of morons. If God actually came down here to feel all that we feel, and live as a man in order to relate to how it is to be human, then it would only make sense that he found out how it was to be married to a woman. And the bible mentions 3 main women in His life, his mother, his aunt, and Mary M. If Mary was just a prostitue who was saved why mention her only, and not the hundred other women who were saved?

These people who are throwing a fit are only doing so because they know if people question the doctrines they came up with, they may loose power, and wealth.

I would prefere a God who was married over one who wasn't.

Matt

63

What songs got you through good or tough times?

by jojochan in

i've been in an upbeat mood lately.

i don't know if it's all the exercise that i'm doing or what but i've not been moody all 3 weeks.one thing that i've noticed, is that i've listened to certain songs that made me forget about "her" and move on with bigger and better things.

when i was depressed i listened to some songs from tool, some from the cure, barbra manning, the old babyface songs,some from sade, sweetback, and maxwell and everything but the girl.

Mattica

I really wasn't into music until I got a walkman and was listening one night and heard Master of Puppets by Metallica. It 'tickeled my ears'. And I have been a staunch Metallica fan ever since, even if their last 3 albums kinda stink.

Extreme III side B helped me awaken to a spiritual side to myself.

Nowadays I listen to slipknot, avenge seven fold, system of the down, old blues, and bluegrass (esp. the blue grass tribute to Metallica by Iron Horse), I really like celtic music, bagpipes, and Griegs Hall of the Mountain King, and a few other classical greats. And I listening more to new age music.

But even though I like listening to live music, I just can't get into church music period. Just like rap, and country.

63

What songs got you through good or tough times?

by jojochan in

i've been in an upbeat mood lately.

i don't know if it's all the exercise that i'm doing or what but i've not been moody all 3 weeks.one thing that i've noticed, is that i've listened to certain songs that made me forget about "her" and move on with bigger and better things.

when i was depressed i listened to some songs from tool, some from the cure, barbra manning, the old babyface songs,some from sade, sweetback, and maxwell and everything but the girl.

Mattica

"From house to house, from door to door, ..."

You are cruel!

18

It's Working!

by Mattica in

.

here is a link showing that our apostatating is working.. http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1247&st=0

Mattica

What I see behind the sugar coated doggie dodo letter is their numbers are dwindleing. Leaders who molest, and harm are finaly being removed, and need to be replaced. But that is ok, cause once they get out of the grip of the bethel compound, they are more succeptable to having doubt planted in their heads.

Yabadabado.

18

It's Working!

by Mattica in

.

here is a link showing that our apostatating is working.. http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1247&st=0

Mattica

Here is a link showing that our apostatating is working.

http://e-jehovahs-witnesses.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=1247&st=0

38

I got off easy because my father is an Elder

by Pwned in

i was reading the story of james caputo on his site disfellowshipped.org when i came to the realization that i received favorable treatment because of who my father is.

i was 17 when i told my father that i didnt want to be a jw anymore because i just didnt really believe in it, i think i said something along the lines of i just don't "feel it" anyways he told me that since i was a minor i would have to keep going to the meetings and that i would have to tell the elders how i felt.

so a few days later 2 elders who had known me since i was 6 years old came over and talked to me, although they made it clear from the outset that it wasn't a jc.

Mattica

It's not what you know, its how you blow.

33

Anger!!!!

by FlyingHighNow in

yesterday, when i was driving through holland, michigan, i was a little lost looking for the human resources office.

i was heading down a busy divided four lane street unfamiliar, when i looked up and there it was, a kingdom hall in all it's radiant three day quick-build glory.

and for the first time, rather than just the usual cringe, i felt angry!.

Mattica

I was angry for a long time for no one in the congregation ever doing any thing about the abuse, and apparent signs of it. I was angry at God as well. But I'm over all that now. But now I find myself getting angry when I read about how families will cut off a family member. I was fortunate, my mom and dad still were involved in my siblings lives after d.f.ing. However since I have been able to refute all their twisted doctrines, and got babtized, my mom has really shyed away from me. Oh well...When I went through therapy, I used to say the same thing, with a few choice words that I won't mention here. I got to the point where I could drive by and say, bunch of poor loosers, little dogs following a bone, weak minded, depressed uneducated ignoramuses who are too scared of a bunch of men, and to lazy to pick up a book and really see what's inside. Other times I imagine standing on the sidewalk to the parking lot entrance and handing out flyers on real bible truths. I would love to see them try to get rid of me. I guess I admit I have not the testicular fortitude to do so, but would gladly do it if I had some back up. I also ordered a subscription of the cristian reasearch Institute, and put my moms name on it. I think I might someday do that for other witnesses as well. As for signs to put in front of the KH, I would put; please come inside and visit, we will lead you away from God.

20

History of the Bible - JWs will not like this

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

historically, the bible is a secondary support for christians and jews.

i was raised roman catholic, and our tradition and practices included the bible, but it was not a key centerpiece of our faith.

the jewish side of my family likewise have a rich history of tradition and faith that is lived, and not pinned down to every word in the bible.

Mattica

I am so glad I found this board, the last 6 months or so I have become fascinated with biblical history, and church history. First as I am sure all of you are aware of the reason why the JW's came up with their own translation. To correct the errors the early translators made. When I was growing up I was only allowed to read from the NWT, there were no other bibles in our house. When I got into my teenage years and started looking into matters of doubt that were creeping into me I started looking at other bibles, mostly the KJV. The brothers saw me slipping away and and elder and m.s. started holding bible studies with me and strongly cautioned me not to use other bibles with study material. After being out for a couple of years and studying again I found it very hard to use the NWT, I found the NASB and even the KJV to be more easy to read, and again was told not to use anything other than the NWT. That's when I noticed when I would go to meetings, every single witness was using one bible. Twilight zone moment. Anywho I am almost done reading a book called The Other Bible. It is a compilation of the Gnostic Gospels, Dead Sea Scrolls, Visionary Wisdom Text, Christian Apocrypha, Jewish Pseudepigrapha, and the Kabbalah. And I have read a lot of similarities between the standard bible and most of these rejected text, and I thought of 2 Tim. 3:16 and asked my Lutheren Pastor if that scripture just applied to the 66 books of the cannon, and he pretty much said yes. I showed him what I have read so far and he said those other books weren't accepted into the cannon because they did not fully expound or conform to the message of salavation that Jesus offered. Which makes sense to me, but I myself am starting to believe that scripture meant not just the 66 books of the cannon, but others as well. Even the Infancy Gospels, (great reading!)

So has anyone else read any of what I have, and what are your thoughts on other books written on the existence of God, nature, the universe, etc. The gnostic writers were very creative and poetic, and some even say they have the words of Adam himself handed down through generations. OH I could go on and on but I gotta get my daughter to school.

Matt