Another interesting and pointed comment in the video:
At 1:40 - "So some people will talk, for instance, about Christmas is ... is not the right date. We know that. That's irrelevant."
Earnest
JoinedPosts by Earnest
-
3
In Defense of Christmas Trees and Dec. 25th as DOB
by Sea Breeze inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nv-jabacyc4&feature=emb_logo .
december 25th defense article.
-
-
Earnest
-
95
Greta Thunberg...what’s your view of her?
by minimus inshe certainly is passionate about climate change.
🤔.
-
-
Earnest
Greta Thunberg is inspiring in an age devoid of inspiring leaders. Brave, eloquent, passionate ... what is there not to admire.
-
78
What The Fossils Say
by cofty inthe old creation book had a lot to say about the fossil record.
if i remember correctly it was some lie about all the fossils ever found would fit on a single table.
the reality is that there is an embarrassment of riches illustrating the evolution of life.
-
-
Earnest
cofty, I was most interested to read the Letters to Creationists Blog to which you referred. Regardless of the scientific arguments, I thought his reference to Augustine (On Genesis, Book I, Chapter 19) worth repeating :
Usually, even a non-Christian knows something about the Earth, the Heavens, and the other elements of this world, about the motion and orbit of the stars and even their size and relative positions, about the predictable eclipses of the sun and moon, the cycles of the years and the seasons, about the kinds of animals, shrubs, stones, and so forth, and this knowledge he holds to as being certain from reason and experience.
If they find a Christian mistaken in a field which they themselves know well and hear him maintaining his foolish opinions about [Genesis], how are they going to believe those books in matters concerning the resurrection of the dead, the hope of eternal life, and the kingdom of heaven, when they think their pages are full of falsehoods on facts which they themselves have learnt from experience and the light of reason?
-
14
'Evolution' definition can include 'origin of life'
by hooberus inthe popular berkeley evolution site (while responding to the misconception that evolution is just "a theory about the origin of life" does state:.
"evolutionary theory does encompass ideas and evidence regarding life's origins (e.g., whether or not it happened near a deep-sea vent, which organic molecules came first, etc.
), but this is not the central focus of evolutionary theory.
-
-
Earnest
As a matter of interest, today (24th November) is the 160th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection by Charles Darwin.
A discussion of his life and letters at the time can be found in the Darwin Correspondence Project. Particularly interesting are the reviews of friends and critics.
-
-
-
Earnest
jhine, both of these topics have been discussed ad nauseam on this forum and a brief search would locate multiple threads if you are interested. While I make no scholarly claim, it just takes common sense to answer them.
In A Greek Grammar of the New Testament, Blass & Debrunner, 1961 wrote (p.160) “ἄλλος [állos] is sometimes omitted where we would add ‘other.’”
Examples are not hard to find.
In Luke 21:29 Jesus speaks of the fig-tree and all (panta) [other] trees. NWT, NAB and TEV include the word "other" which Jesus' audience would have understood.
In Luke 11:42 Jesus speaks of tithing the mint and rue and every (pan) [other] herb. NWT and TEV include "other" which is what was understood.
Including the word "other" in Colossians 1:16, 17 does not change the meaning. Or would you understand verse 16 to include Christ in all things created by means of him? Words are always added (and omitted) in translation, that is the nature of the beast. -
39
The real dividing line isn’t between apostates and apologists it’s between...
by slimboyfat inexcellent observation from zizek about communist regimes: they didn’t care if people accepted the ideology or took it seriously, so long as people acted as if the ideology was true, that was the important thing.
in fact the regimes were deeply suspicious people who took the ideology too seriously.
people who took the ideology seriously were dangerous because they were prone to noticing the inconsistencies and flaws in the system.
-
-
Earnest
Magnum : First, as I understand, "classics" does not include Bible (Koine) Greek and Bible Hebrew (classical Greek is different from Bible Greek).
Half banana : the Koine Greek of the NT is actually the same as the Greek written and spoken in the Late Classical period [400 - 300 BCE]
Wikipedia has an interesting discussion on koine Greek phonology. Essentially, it says that the loss of vowel length and the spread of Greek under Alexander the Great led to a reorganization of the vowels in the phonology of Koine Greek. There were no longer distinctions of long and short vowels in popular speech.
-
1
It isn't only the witnesses.
by Lost in the fog inat last we have a statement that it's not all about the jws because to listen to them you would think that it was.
u.s. commission on international religious freedom database lists religious prisoners across globe - washington times.
https://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2019/nov/6/us-commission-on-international-religious-freedom-d/ .
-
-
Earnest
You may also like to view the databases of Human Rights without Frontiers. There are two databases of people who are imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief. One for China, and one for other countries.
There are also archives you can access for the years 2013 - 2018. In 2019 there were 786 in the database for countries other than China. Of these, 145 (18.4%) were Jehovah's Witnesses..
-
39
The real dividing line isn’t between apostates and apologists it’s between...
by slimboyfat inexcellent observation from zizek about communist regimes: they didn’t care if people accepted the ideology or took it seriously, so long as people acted as if the ideology was true, that was the important thing.
in fact the regimes were deeply suspicious people who took the ideology too seriously.
people who took the ideology seriously were dangerous because they were prone to noticing the inconsistencies and flaws in the system.
-
-
Earnest
Watchtower, August 15, 2002, pp.19,20
And regardless of what some of Christendom's clergy say, we do not need to learn ancient Biblical languages in order to become teachers of God's Word. ... So a knowledge of ancient languages, while occasionally useful, is not essential. Furthermore, pride in having linguistic ability can cause one to lose a trait that is essential to true Christians—teachableness—1 Timothy 6:4
Kingdom Ministry, September 2007, p3
Question Box
Does "the faithful and discreet slave" endorse independent groups of Witnesses who meet together to engage in Scriptural research or debate?-Matt. 24:45, 47.
No, it does not. And yet, in various parts of the world, a few associates of our organization have formed groups to do independent research on Bible-related subjects. Some have pursued an independent group study of Biblical Hebrew and Greek so as to analyze the accuracy of the New World Translation. Others explore scientific subjects related to the Bible. They have created Web sites and chat rooms for the purpose of exchanging and debating their views. They have also held conferences and produced publications to present their findings and to supplement what is provided at our Christian meetings and through our literature.
Throughout the earth, Jehovah's people are receiving ample spiritual instruction and encouragement at congregation meetings, assemblies, and conventions, as well as through the publications of Jehovah's organization. Under the guidance of his holy spirit and on the basis of his Word of truth, Jehovah provides what is needed so that all of God's people may be "fitly united in the same mind and in the same line of thought" and remain "stabilized in the faith." (1 Cor. 1:10; Col. 2:6, 7) Surely we are grateful for Jehovah's spiritual provisions in these last days. Thus, "the faithful and discreet slave" does not endorse any literature, meetings, or Web sites that are not produced or organized under its oversight.-Matt. 24:45-47.
It is commendable for individuals to want to use their thinking ability in support of the good news. However, no personal pursuit should detract from what Jesus Christ is accomplishing through his congregation on earth today. In the first century, the apostle Paul warned about getting involved in exhausting, time-consuming subjects, such as "genealogies, which end up in nothing, but which furnish questions for research rather than a dispensing of anything by God in connection with faith." (1 Tim. 1:3-7) All Christians should strive to "shun foolish questionings and genealogies and strife and fights over the Law, for they are unprofitable and futile."-Titus 3:9.
For those who wish to do extra Bible study and research, we recommend that they explore Insight on the Scriptures, "All Scripture Is Inspired of God and Beneficial," and our other publications, such as those that discuss the prophecies found in the Bible books of Daniel, Isaiah, and Revelation. These provide abundant material for Bible study and meditation, whereby we can be "filled with the accurate knowledge of [God's] will in all wisdom and spiritual comprehension, in order to walk worthily of Jehovah to the end of fully pleasing him as [we] go on bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the accurate knowledge of God."-Col. 1:9, 10.
Watchtower, November 1, 2009, pp.20-23
Article "Do You Need to Learn Hebrew and Greek"
Summary of Article
No. Having knowledge of those languages does not in itself make a person more likely to understand the Bible's message. One who has studied those languages is still dependent on dictionaries and grammar books. The fact that God indpired the preserving of the words of his greatest Servant only in translation shows that a person can use and learn the truth from Bible languages in current languages.
-
60
Did You Think Jehovah’s Witnesses Were Typically “Racists”?
by minimus ini was a jw from infancy.
we had a melting pot type of congregation.
i grew up with all types of witnesses , all with different backgrounds.
-
-
Earnest
In South Africa during the apartheid years (mid-70s) there was an extension built to the Bethel and many of the manual workers were white. This contrasted with the black brothers who were working as translators in their pristine offices. A complete contrast to the norms of the country at the time.
-
99
onacruise - Craig Mills 1952-2011
by Lady Lee ini was given the link to a bit of information regarding on old poster/moderator of this forum.
i was not sure of the validity of the information so have been trying to find out if it is true.. earlier today craig's estranged wife, kate, (bikerchic) confirmed that craig died at his home on aug 10, 2011.. i am sure that many people here remember craig's time here and how he went out of his way to offer support to posters, even calling them, to give whatever help he could as they adjusted to their post-jw lives.. i know many people here will grieve his loss.. --------------.
ps i tried posting this earlier but the computer i was working with would not allow the posts.
-
-