Posts by Doug Mason

8

The power of thought

by Doug Mason in

i find it so interesting to see the intensity that results from intangible thoughts.

no one living today has any personal direct experience with the people who wrote and rewrote the jews' and christians' scriptures.

all that people have is in their imagination, yet they will demand that others have the identical mental model.. people are prepared to fight and argue over ideas, to the point of torture and murder.

I find it so interesting to see the intensity that results from intangible thoughts. No one living today has any personal direct experience with the people who wrote and rewrote the Jews' and Christians' Scriptures. All that people have is in their imagination, yet they will demand that others have the identical mental model.

People are prepared to fight and argue over ideas, to the point of torture and murder. People are prepared to subject themselves to the thoughts of people, most often men, who beguile and control the minds and behaviours of large numbers.

My argument is always with the religious leadership, the Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses, never with any individual Witness. Each can believe what they wish to, provided they do so willingly, freely, and with complete knowledge of all relevant facts. What each does is their own responsibility and their right. I wish to be able to live out my life in accord with my mental model so I must extend that right to all others.

Consider that amazingly tolerant humanitarian, Cyrus, the victor of Babylon and contrast him with that religious zealot, the authoritarian Ezra. Not that I met them personally - just thoughts in my mind.

Doug

26

Nebuchadnezzar's Dream--The Death of His Dynasty

by Tiresias in

following my departure from the jehovah's witnesses, i have done my own research using preterism as a primary lens.

i would like to share my understanding of daniel chapter 2:.

31 "you looked, o king, and there before you stood a large statuean enormous, dazzling statue, awesome in appearance.

Doug Mason

Chapters 2, 3 and 4 form a composite story, with the purpose of showing that all human authority comes from (Israel's) God. It starts with a 4-part idol, which Nebuchadnezzar makes a single part, with his gold continuing forever. The dream story is an instrument for arriving at the conclusion that God is fully in control.

The book of Daniel is composed of several traditions (note the different languages employed). It was produced in the 2nd century BCE as a means for strengthening the Jews whose existence was again under threat. The myths and fables did not raise suspicion by the Jews' tormentors under Antiochus Epiphanes but the Jews, with their mysticism, were aided through the belief that they too would survive, just as their forebears had against Babylon.

It is likely that the story tellers used the 10-year withdrawal of Nabonidus and his apparent illness, rewriting it for their own purposes, creating the dream sequence that now forms Chapter 4.

They expected that the coming Kingdom would strike their oppressors, just as the stone had struck at the foundation of the idol and hence would bring about the destruction of their oppressors, whether Babylon, Persia, or Greece.

Doug

5

Anyone have a scan of WT Feb 1938 Edition with a Title "Should they Marry"?

by Matt_fs in

can't seem to find online, wondering if anyone has access to it?.

.

thank you in advance.

Doug Mason

Matt,

I cannot see the article in the February issue. However, the November 1, 1938 has this section:

SHOULD THEY MARRY NOW?
4 If in obedience to the divine command the Jonadabs or great multitude will marry and rear children after Armageddon, would it not be Scripturally proper for them to begin doing so immediately before Armageddon? and should the Jonadabs now be encouraged to marry and rear children? No, is the answer, supported by the Scriptures. Referring now to the prophetic drama or picture made in the day of the deluge, note that Noah’s three sons and their wives did not have or rear any children before or during the flood, and not until after the flood (etc)" - page 323

If you email me, I could provide you with scans of the pages.

http://www.jwstudies.com/contact_me.html

Doug

36

Where Will Jesus Come When He Comes?

by Cold Steel in

according to both christian and jewish eschatology, the messiah will come to jerusalem, where he will deliver the jews from hostile nations "round about.

"since the jehovah's witnesses and other adventists don't believe his coming will be literally fulfilled, but figuratively fulfilled, they simply believe he will return to the earth, where he will slay the wicked and the righteous will be caught up to meet him in the air.. first we have a christian declaration:.

and when [jesus] had spoken these things, while [the apostles] beheld, he was taken up; and a cloud received him out of their sight.

Doug Mason

Jesus expected a "son of man" would come with rewards while he was on earth, to his own generation, some of whom would not taste death. He explained to his contemporary disciples how they had to prepare themselves.

Paul taught that the Coming would take place in his own lifetime - "we who are still alive".

The Revelator ends the NT with the teaching that the Coming was "soon" - not centuries later.

In each age, people have calculated that the Coming was imminent.

The lesson that history teaches is that people do not learn the lesson that history teaches.

Doug

26

Jesus as a Ransom for Humans or not

by fulltimestudent in

i have not got an answer (theoretical or not) to the above question.. but the main text book (introducing the new testament- its literature and theology - achtemeier, green and thompson) for my study unit (early christian literature and thought) in the assigned reading for today's lecture on the gospel of john, has a section on the ransom.

it says (p. 237): one of the few passages that explicitly speaks of jesus dying for others is mark 10:45:.

"for even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. .

Doug Mason

Who wants to live forever? No children? Everyone the same age - forever and ever and ever?

What will happen when this galaxy collides with its neighbour?

Is the fear of death the motivation?

Doug

26

Jesus as a Ransom for Humans or not

by fulltimestudent in

i have not got an answer (theoretical or not) to the above question.. but the main text book (introducing the new testament- its literature and theology - achtemeier, green and thompson) for my study unit (early christian literature and thought) in the assigned reading for today's lecture on the gospel of john, has a section on the ransom.

it says (p. 237): one of the few passages that explicitly speaks of jesus dying for others is mark 10:45:.

"for even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. .

Doug Mason

If Jesus' death was the "complete ransom", then his resurrection is unnecessary. It adds nothing to something that is complete.

Doug

23

The New World Translation

by Coded Logic in

one of the jws foundational doctrines is their belief in the inerrancy of the bible.

there are several methods they use to try and support this position including their claim that the bible, as it exists today, is the exact same bible that has been around for thousands of years.

they teach that gods word has been perfectly preserved.

Doug Mason

Magnum,

If you access my Study at

http://www.jwstudies.com/God-breathed_Scriptures.pdf

you will see that I list several other similar studies I have written.

I do not want you to necessarily agree with me; I want you to make up your own mind. All I want to do is to inspire people to enjoy the thrill of discovery and make up their own minds.

Doug

23

The New World Translation

by Coded Logic in

one of the jws foundational doctrines is their belief in the inerrancy of the bible.

there are several methods they use to try and support this position including their claim that the bible, as it exists today, is the exact same bible that has been around for thousands of years.

they teach that gods word has been perfectly preserved.

Doug Mason

Moses Joe,

If you believe in God, and that is your perfect right, then continue to do so. This does not mean one has to worship a book.

Doug

11

"The Cyrus Cylinder"

by Doug Mason in

i suspect that i am the last one here who has read the book: the cyrus cylinder: the king of persias proclamation from ancient babylon, edited by irving finkel; published by i. b. tauris, 2013; 144 pages.. so i simply wish to record my deep admiration for the book.

it explains and analyses the cylinders text as well as providing a sympathetic account of the people involved with its ancient and modern history.

(chapter 1: the babylonian perspective; chapter 2: discovery; chapter 5: a persian perspective.

Doug Mason

I suspect that I am the last one here who has read the book: “The Cyrus Cylinder: The King of Persia’s Proclamation from Ancient Babylon”, edited by Irving Finkel; published by I. B. Tauris, 2013; 144 pages.

So I simply wish to record my deep admiration for the book. It explains and analyses the Cylinder’s text as well as providing a sympathetic account of the people involved with its ancient and modern history. (Chapter 1: The Babylonian perspective; Chapter 2: Discovery; Chapter 5: a Persian perspective. Chapters 3 and 4 are relevant to the display and presentation by the Museum.)

The idea that originally there were several versions of Cyrus’s decree, including on conventional flat tablets, could explain why Cyrus’s words recorded by Ezra are different to the words on the cylinder and it lends weight to Lisbeth Fried’s argument that I provide under the heading of “A temple–building inscription” in my Study at http://www.jwstudies.com/They_would_not_listen_Version_1.pdf (pages 110 to 111; PDF pages 118-119).

Doug

23

The New World Translation

by Coded Logic in

one of the jws foundational doctrines is their belief in the inerrancy of the bible.

there are several methods they use to try and support this position including their claim that the bible, as it exists today, is the exact same bible that has been around for thousands of years.

they teach that gods word has been perfectly preserved.

Doug Mason

Regarding the use of the book of Enoch, etc., see the list at (document) pages 22 ff of: http://www.jwstudies.com/God-breathed_Scriptures.pdf ("Document" page 22 is "PDF" page 27)

Doug