Doug Mason

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Posts by Doug Mason

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  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  Thank you so much, Sylvia. You are a great help.

  Your eyes and mind are exactly what I was hoping for.

  My delay in responding is due only to our time differences. Greetings from Melbourne in the land of Oz.
  

  Regards,

  Doug
  
• 
  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  waton,

  I used to have doctrinal views. Today I am an interested observer.

  I sincerely hope that when people see the wide range of ideas concerning "salvation" throughout the centuries and millennia, along with its troubled history, that they will see the idea for what it is.

  On a purely selfish and personal level, I am 76 years old and I thus need the mental stimulus. I see this present Study taking some time yet before I can put it to bed. As you would see, it's already about 160 pages and I think I am halfway gathering the material (before editing). That is one reason I release each Chapter as I go, indicating that they will be subjected to later editing. I think people would find being confronted cold with a 300-page document daunting.

  Doug
  
• 
  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  For me, the overarching questions are:

  "What is the power that mysticism and mythology hold over otherwise rational people?"

  "Why should anyone believe these mystical musings, especially from thousands of years ago and from very different cultures?"

  I do not know the answers.
  
• 
  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  waton,

  The NRSV reads:

  "He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins."

  Yes, all in the present tense. I was particulalrly struck at the similarity of the idea expressed in such passages in Colossians with the sentiments expressed by the writers of the Gospel of Thomas.

  My investigation into Thomas has opened my eyes to the very different attitude that the Orthodox Church has to the death of Christ and to salvation. Their ideas, I believe, align with those of Thomas. More research and understanding required on my part. I wonder what the Orthodox Church's attitude is to Gnosticism?

  Is the WTS a gnostic body?

  Doug
  
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  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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• 

  Doug Mason

  Thank you, Sylvia.

  Colossians 4:16? In the NRSV it reads:

  "And when this letter has been read among you, have it read also in the church of the Laodiceans; and see that you read also the letter from Laodicea."

  We should not imagine a "church" in terms of today's understanding. There would be a handful of people, possibly meeting in a shop or someone's house. As the sentence indicates, few could read and even fewer could write. Thus the writer of this letter (epistle) expected it to be read out to them and then to the group at Laodicea. I cannot confirm what the letter to the Laodiceans said.

  So I see these as circulars, designed to keep the groups advised (and managed).
  

  Paul, Jesus, and the Baptist were convinced that the "end" was imminent, taking place in their own day. We can hear the questions in the minds of the Thessalonians as they grappled with the fact that it had not yet taken place, and some of them had even died before the cataclysmic divine intervention had taken place. With his determination that the end was upon them, Paul was never concerned about church organisation or structure -- or being married. But by the end of the first century, wild enthusiasm gave way to sombre reflection that time had passed without anything happening.

  So we read instructions regarding church structures, organisation, and the need to be married creeping in. This is just one of the reasons that scholars do not believe Paul had any hand in the Pastorals (Timothy, Titus). There are, of course, other indicators.

  May I throw another one at you, if you do not mind? The book of Acts is widely accepted as being the product of the early second century and that it is a carefully crafted religious novel. And do not think that the Gospels present an actual biography. The earliest (Mark) was written 40 years after Jesus was executed. Matthew was written by another group about 15 years later - long after Jeruslem had been attacked by the Romans. These people had no written record of what Jesus said or did. Jesus did not write anything nor did any of his immediate hearers. They lived in an oral society, relying on memory.
  

  Doug
• 
  18

  Colossians and The Gospel of Thomas - a work in progress

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i prepare the pre-draft stage of my study into the evolutions of salvation, i have drafted a chapter on colossians and on the gospel of thomas.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/colossians_soteriologies.pdf.

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_soteriology_of_thomas.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  As I prepare the pre-draft stage of my Study into the evolutions of salvation, I have drafted a chapter on Colossians and on The Gospel of Thomas. These are available at

  http://www.jwstudies.com/Colossians_soteriologies.pdf

  http://www.jwstudies.com/The_Soteriology_of_Thomas.pdf

  for your corrections, advice, and criticisms. You are my editorial panel.

  I have included these chapters in my updated "Take a look over my shoulder", along with other changes. This pre-draft version is available at:

  http://www.jwstudies.com/Take_a_look_over_my_shoulder.pdf

  Thanks,

  Doug
  
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  17

  So according to the bible, "believing" is enough to have everlasting life.

  by NikL in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i am certain this has been brought up many times before.

  according to john 6.... 44 no man can come to me unless the father, who sent me, draws him,+ and i will resurrect him on the last day.+ 45 it is written in the prophets: ‘they will all be taught by jehovah.+ everyone who has listened to the father and has learned comes to me.

  46 not that any man has seen the father,+ except the one who is from god; this one has seen the father.+ 47 most truly i say to you, whoever believes has everlasting life.+.

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  Doug Mason

  David_Jay,

  I like your response that "belief" does not equate with "mental assent" but that it involves a total change in a person's life and outlook.

  I would like to add that the community that wrote John's Gospel focused on the incarnation, the revealing of God's nature through the person Jesus. The Gospel starts off with a cosmic "bang", a revealing of God through his Word, personified in Jesus. In the Gospel all action related to salvation is driven by and originates with God. Man can accept or reject, and those who accept change their lives - they now respond ("believe") and they are now already in receipt of eternal life.

  For this reason, the focus in John and the Epistles is with the life of Jesus, not with the death or resurrection. There is no ceremony related to Jesus' death in John (either baptism or "memorial meal") as it is with Paul. His focus lay with the death and resurrection, so he had the cultic ceremonies that related to Jesus' death and resurrection.

  I sometimes wonder whether Paul HAD to vociferously state that there was no other Gospel than the one he was preaching because of communities such as the Johannines, who were not concerned with Jesus' death in terms of salvation.

  My draft thoughts on John are at:
  

  http://www.jwstudies.com/The_experiences_and_writings_of_the_Johannine_Community.pdf
  

  Doug

  PS. I am in no way saying that I agree with either Paul or John. I am simply providng my analysis of what they were telling their local communities.
  
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  10

  Writing a "Thesis on Doubting the Watchtower"

  by Saethydd in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm currently writing what i've decided to call a "thesis on doubting the watchtower," and was wondering if you guys could help me out a bit with the research.

  my plan is to use it as a sort of personal reference.

  if any of you could help me find the publications i'm looking for i would appreciate it.. as things stand i need:.

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  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  I sent you an email a while ago with the files attached. If you have not yet found it, I suggest you look in your "Spam" filter. Feel free to email me again if my email to you disappeared into the ether.

  Doug
  
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  10

  Writing a "Thesis on Doubting the Watchtower"

  by Saethydd in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i'm currently writing what i've decided to call a "thesis on doubting the watchtower," and was wondering if you guys could help me out a bit with the research.

  my plan is to use it as a sort of personal reference.

  if any of you could help me find the publications i'm looking for i would appreciate it.. as things stand i need:.

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• 

  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  Send me an email and I can help you with your #1 request.

  You will find my email at:

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

  Two of the versions I have cite the dates of the elders' letters.

  Doug
  
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  1

  Look over my shoulder at John

  by Doug Mason in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  as i work slowly through my proposed study on the evolution of soteriology, i once again open myself up to your corrections, advice, and suggestions.

  this time i am providing my early rough draft on john's gospel and epistles (letters).

  http://www.jwstudies.com/the_experiences_and_writings_of_the_johannine_community.pdf.

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  Doug Mason

  Hi,

  As I work slowly through my proposed Study on the evolution of soteriology, I once again open myself up to your corrections, advice, and suggestions. This time I am providing my early Rough Draft on John's Gospel and Epistles (letters).

  http://www.jwstudies.com/The_experiences_and_writings_of_the_Johannine_Community.pdf

  Doug