Beardo

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Posts by Beardo

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  13

  Does the Watchtower use Gnostic principles to control its slaves?

  by Gill in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the watchtower is noted for its extreme stand on many issues, including life and death issues.. i'm thinking of things such as blood, of course, christmas, birthdays, holidays, private marriage issues etc.. the recent watchtower on the 'antichrist' had me thinking of their criticism of gnostic beliefs and how they worded it is as follows~.

  'ideas of a purely symbolic resurrection were later developed by a group called gnostics.

  believeing that knowledge could be derived in a mystical way, gnostics combined apostate christianity with greek philosophy and oriental mysticism.

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  Beardo

  'Ideas of a purely symbolic resurrection were later developed by a group called Gnostics. Believeing that knowledge could be derived in a mystical way, Gnostics combined apostate Christianity with greek philosophy and Oriental mysticism. For instance, they held that all physical matter is evil, and for that reason Jesus did not come in the flesh but only seemed to have a human body.'

  It is interesting to see the Watchtower launch an attack against Gnosticism in this way, but they carefully avoid the fact that the Bible itself tells us that the physical creation is in a ' fallen ' state. Afterall, there would be no need for a 'new heavens & a new earth' if all was ok with the current creation. So surely, if the Bible is true, matter is infected with imperfection and has a propensity towards evil?

  It is also a very simplistic view that they present in the article - "all matter is evil" ... the guys who wrote the article are not presenting the full idea I would suggest, as certain Gnostics would have viewed matter as the grinding wheel to sharpen their spiritual sword upon, so therefore it was necessary evil. Duality is part of this existence and one could argue that God himself uses evil in order to produce good works within the heart of man.

  So, like the Gnostic Christian sects, the orthodox believers also view matter as being impure based around Bible ideas.

  Also, Paul it would seem, had Gnostic leanings himself, when he describes a division between flesh & spirit. The famous passage attributed to Paul describes a battle taking place within himself. Very, very, Gnostic - wouldn't you say?

  From what I have read concerning Gnosticism, it seemed to have been a part of the early church and was then cut out by the church fathers who began organizing the religion. As has already been stated, to maintain control, they would have had to diminish the concept of individual spirituality; forcing allegiance to a hierarchical church.

  As for Christ not coming in the flesh - who can say for sure that he did? Surely, that is a matter of faith, not of objective evidence?
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  19

  The "generation" teaching - just to clarify!

  by Beardo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sorry to be a major pain in the ass - but could those " in the know " clear something up for me?.

  is the " generation " teaching that was redefined during 1995 still taught to " interested ones " or have the wtbts totally removed this generation idea from their new literature, which is used to indoctrinate a person leading up to baptism?.

  any enlightenment welcome.

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  Beardo

  Have they specifically said we no longer believe this?

  Thats what I want to know AWOL - to be honest, this is all quite vague and of no real use, although I do appreciate the thoughts generated.

  It seems as though the society just don't focus any attention on a specific number any more, but the generation teaching stands in one form or another.
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  12

  Does anyone see the UN as having any power?

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remember growing up as a witness and thinking that the un was this great world power.

  i remember hearing how it was part of this global plan of the end of days, and how jehovah would use it to fulfill prophecy.

  now, i see the un as a giant waste of time and money and if it was disbanded tomorrow, i think it would be the best thing for the world.

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  Beardo

  The UN is a front used by the major players. A mask they wear to carry out their will. It is mostly ineffectual and only steps in as the problem solver when the dust settles and the slaughter is over.
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  537

  evolution or creation? lets talk...

  by Sam87 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

  (or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

  hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

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  Beardo

  Before I came to the “place” I’m at now, I liked the idea of a sentient force pervading the universe, sort of a cosmic, universal consciousness, if you will. But my liking the idea doesn’t make it so.
  
  I'm sure that most atheists would love to find evidence of sentience in the universe, but lacking that, we can only go on what we know, don’t you think?

  I think - therefore I am .. hmm.

  Human consciousness itself is a marvel, as are the various faculties of the imagination. I create fantastic landscapes when I dream and am capable of such wonders there within, that I appear to have no limits. I can paint pictures and create music - stimulate my senses in many wonderful ways.

  I see artwork everywhere I turn and everything is alive and calls out to me.

  Under every rock I see genius at work.

  For me - life itself is living proof of sentience. Even water is said to live in the occult world - infact there is the notion of ' everything ' being alive - even those things we would class as dead in this contemporary age.

  How does the flower crane its neck and turn towards the sun? What force drives it to do so.

  Fair enough - I understand where you are coming from and hope you are wrong. When I feel life flowing through all things, my universe sparkles & glitters - when I believe this is all there is and nothing lies beyond, my universe turns to dust.

  *** On a side note - my friend saw strange smoke form in his house tonight and continues to see large orbs of light free-floating around the house. His girlfriend has witnessed the same phenomenon. He went to have his eyes checked last week (they were fine) and also called in an electrician - as his lights and other electrical equipment are being affected when these things occur.
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  537

  evolution or creation? lets talk...

  by Sam87 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

  (or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

  hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

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  Beardo

  I used to read the AiG website. And other books. And other websites. Sat myself down at the library and read various encyclopedia articles. And to my great consternation, the evidence pointed to evolution. I didn't actually want it to be that way. I was quite comfortable thinking that there was some god/force/something-or-other out there who would grant me an afterlife. I didn't want to come to terms with the fact that this life was all I was going to get.

  I think that stops many believers from continuing their investigation and questioning about evolution. They can't face the alternative.

  Hey Ascot - I don't think its quite ' case closed ' you know. Would you also have issues with a creative sentient force employing a form of evolution to create an ever-moving - ever-changing - ever-adapting system of life? (aside from the idea of an after life).

  For sure, our definition of God we find in parts of the Bible may need looking at, but there really is no need to rule out the concept of a creator completely. Surely?

  I accept that many belief systems are driven by the need to feel safe in the knowledge of an afterlife, but maybe this 'need to believe' has a foundation in truth rather than fear-fueled fantasy. Who can say for sure?
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  19

  The "generation" teaching - just to clarify!

  by Beardo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sorry to be a major pain in the ass - but could those " in the know " clear something up for me?.

  is the " generation " teaching that was redefined during 1995 still taught to " interested ones " or have the wtbts totally removed this generation idea from their new literature, which is used to indoctrinate a person leading up to baptism?.

  any enlightenment welcome.

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  Beardo

  So in essence - what we are saying is then - your average JW will still teach the 'generation' teaching in a study situation and the society still 'actually' believe the essence of the generation teaching themselves, but no longer define a specific time period?

  Thanks for the input so far.
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  537

  evolution or creation? lets talk...

  by Sam87 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

  (or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

  hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

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• 

  Beardo

  http://www.jesusneverexisted.com/

  I bought this guys book - it has nearly fallen to bits. Some interesting odds'n'sods in there.
• 
  19

  The "generation" teaching - just to clarify!

  by Beardo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  sorry to be a major pain in the ass - but could those " in the know " clear something up for me?.

  is the " generation " teaching that was redefined during 1995 still taught to " interested ones " or have the wtbts totally removed this generation idea from their new literature, which is used to indoctrinate a person leading up to baptism?.

  any enlightenment welcome.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Beardo

  Sorry to be a major pain in the ass - but could those " in the know " clear something up for me?

  Is the " generation " teaching that was redefined during 1995 still taught to " interested ones " or have the WTBTS totally removed this generation idea from their new literature, which is used to indoctrinate a person leading up to baptism?

  Any enlightenment welcome. This will be useful information for me.

  I have to go out for a few hours, but will return to check any replies later.

  Thanks in advance
• 
  537

  evolution or creation? lets talk...

  by Sam87 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

  (or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

  hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Beardo

  Ok, if god is the designer, who designed god?

  Aristotle referred to an "unmoved, mover" as the origin of all things set in motion.

  http://www.abu.nb.ca/Courses/GrPhil/PhilRel/Aristotle.htm - I haven't read the whole link yet myself, but this phrase sprang to mind and is mentioned in one of my 'Cliff Notes' books on the philosophy of religion.
• 
  537

  evolution or creation? lets talk...

  by Sam87 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

  (or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

  hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Beardo

  Everyone thinks i am a bible lover/god, but i actually don`t like the word `god`. and i hate religion,

  I can live with the word God - it is just a tag that most people understand. If they load it with misconceptions, then that is their problem.

  but on the other hand, i don`t believe in evo. You could say i`m like in the middle, with leanings more to creation, if you get my drift? Anyway, i would like to have a little survey to find out exactly how many ex`s on here do believe in evo?

  I can put my cards on the table - I do not rule out evolution as a process in operation within the physical universe that aids our development or survival. But whether we actually developed over many millions of years and went from one distinct form to the next because of this process, I can't say for sure (obviously). My jury is out, and will probably always be out in my lifetime.

  I'm no longer good with 'absolutes' concerning our origin.

  So, I remain inbetween two ideas at present.

  But, as is apparent if you have read my other thoughts to date, I believe there is another (or many) dimensional realities beyond our own and I also believe in sentient lifeforms existing beyond our ability to view them and certainly beyond our current understanding. I also believe ultimately in one sentient creator who is intrinsically linked to all matter & energy (as we define them).

  I'm currently looking at the work of Masaru Emoto (run a search on Google) - you may find his work & thoughts inspiring

  Hope that helps.