Posts by neverendingjourney

19

How do mainstream Christians interpret the live-forever-on-Earth scriptures

by neverendingjourney in

you know the proof texts we used to "prove" that the "righteous would inherit the earth and reside for forever upon it?

" how do mainstream christians interpret those scriptures?

i gather that the scriptures in isaiah speak metaphorically to the return of the jews to the promised land, but what about psalms 37?

neverendingjourney

Thanks for the info. It always struck me as odd that one of the central tenets of my faith--the hope of living forever in a paradise Earth--was not explained in the Bible in clearer terms. One of the first signs that something was wrong was when I read the term "paradise of God" in Revelation Chapter 2. The context revealed that it was referring to heaven. It made me realize that Luke 23:43 (where Jesus told the wrongdoer next to him that he would be with him in paradise) could be referring to heaven as well.

The only other scripture in the New Testament that I knew of that supported the paradise earth doctrine was in the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus said that the meek would inherit the Earth, but that could mean anything. I realized that one of the most important JW teachings had little to no New Testament support and what support was there was very weak. When I went back and looked at the Old Testament scriptures that spoke of living forever on Earth, it became clear from the context that those scriptures were metaphorical and were being applied to the Israelites. There's nothing there to suggest those scriptures were to have a second or greater fulfillment.

19

How do mainstream Christians interpret the live-forever-on-Earth scriptures

by neverendingjourney in

you know the proof texts we used to "prove" that the "righteous would inherit the earth and reside for forever upon it?

" how do mainstream christians interpret those scriptures?

i gather that the scriptures in isaiah speak metaphorically to the return of the jews to the promised land, but what about psalms 37?

neverendingjourney

You know the proof texts we used to "prove" that the "righteous would inherit the Earth and reside for forever upon it?" How do mainstream Christians interpret those scriptures? I gather that the scriptures in Isaiah speak metaphorically to the return of the Jews to the Promised Land, but what about Psalms 37? Thanks.

148

Since you on the right won't answer this question. Abortion

by dawg in

jw
friends

i posed this question on another thread... namely burns and hooberus...wouldn't answer, so i thought i'd ask it again in an open thread..., .

you on the right disagree with roe v wade... so that means that you want to redefine when a zygote, embryo, or a fetus has what anyone would rule for lack of better words "the right to life"... .

exactly when is life, human as per your definition?

neverendingjourney

Let us not forget that capital punishment was deemed appropriate for a wide variety of crimes under the Mosaic Law, not just murder. For instance, a rebellious child or an adulterous woman could be punished by death.

Since the death penalty was a punishment for crimes other than murder, should we necessarily conclude that Exodus 21 speaks to whether a fetus is considered a living person simply because it proscribes the death penalty for a person who causes a woman to miscarry?

148

Since you on the right won't answer this question. Abortion

by dawg in

jw
friends

i posed this question on another thread... namely burns and hooberus...wouldn't answer, so i thought i'd ask it again in an open thread..., .

you on the right disagree with roe v wade... so that means that you want to redefine when a zygote, embryo, or a fetus has what anyone would rule for lack of better words "the right to life"... .

exactly when is life, human as per your definition?

neverendingjourney

A fundamental problem that I have with the life-begins-at-conception viewpoint is the difficulty of reconciling that notion with a idea of a loving Creator. What do I mean by that?

Approximately half of all fertilized embryos are spontaneously aborted before the mother even knows she's pregnant (involuntary, not the voluntary kind you get at planned parenthood) .

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001488.htm

http://www.medicinenet.com/miscarriage/article.htm

On top of that, 10% off all known pregnancies terminate in miscarriages.

From my experience, most adamant pro-lifers feel that way because of their religious beliefs. But why would their loving God allow more than half of all human beings to die before they're even born? It doesn't make sense to me.

38

so is there anything I dont know about JW's yet?

by still_in74 in

ok, so after over a year on jwd and countless hours of reading and online research.

is there anything about the jw's i dont know yet??.

607bcefreemason - not a freemason1799, 1874, 1876, 1881, 1919, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1942, 1975, 1995, 2007blood and fractionsray franz and barb andersonrutherford an alcoholic sleeping all day and up all night in his mansion in san diegomillions now living are deadfds an illustration not a descriptionrutherford had an affairrussel a pyramidologistpedophile casesun - ngojehovah lives in the plaediesrutherford bullying way to president via legal loop holeseach president dismisses teachings of former presidentgeneration teaching changing 5 timesbeth sarimanything else?????

neverendingjourney

i never knew that!!!!! what a sneaky way to increase donations!!!!!!!

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/136564/2433799/post.ashx#2433799

38

Where would you relocate in Texas and why?

by White Dove in

jw
friends

i love the heat, humidity, palm trees, and the ocean.

at the same time, i don't want to get flooded out by a hurricane.. do you think there are places far enough above sea level that don't get flooded in houston?.

would you recommend dallas as a good place to relocate?.

neverendingjourney

Austin is a beautiful town, by far the best in Texas. The problem is that it's home to one of the country's largest universities. A lot of college graduates love the town as well and want to stick around after they graduate. That makes it hard to find a job. I would definitely recommend Austin if you can find work there.

While Hurricane Ike just devastated much of the Houston area, direct hits by hurricanes are rare. If you move into the west side of Houston, hurricane's do not pose any problem you will have to worry about. Plus, the city was recently named the #1 best city to earn a living by Forbes Magazine http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/18/cities-10-living-forbeslife-cx_mw_0818realestate.html Houston is a very diverse city. There are artsy/progressive parts and there are also conservative/redneck-y parts. You can find a neighborhood to live in to match your personality.

I'm not sure about Dallas. I've never spent much time there.

38

so is there anything I dont know about JW's yet?

by still_in74 in

ok, so after over a year on jwd and countless hours of reading and online research.

is there anything about the jw's i dont know yet??.

607bcefreemason - not a freemason1799, 1874, 1876, 1881, 1919, 1914, 1915, 1918, 1920, 1925, 1927, 1931, 1935, 1942, 1975, 1995, 2007blood and fractionsray franz and barb andersonrutherford an alcoholic sleeping all day and up all night in his mansion in san diegomillions now living are deadfds an illustration not a descriptionrutherford had an affairrussel a pyramidologistpedophile casesun - ngojehovah lives in the plaediesrutherford bullying way to president via legal loop holeseach president dismisses teachings of former presidentgeneration teaching changing 5 timesbeth sarimanything else?????

neverendingjourney

Circuit and Special Day Assembly Racket

Elders meet in private and decide to send a set amount of money to the Society, usually few thousand bucks. That amount is put on the books and is added to the costs of the assembly, resulting in a deficit every time. The deficit is announced to the membership, but a list of itemized expenses is never announced. If the deficit is not covered by the money collected at the assembly, the local congregations are sent the bill. If any money is left over, it's sent on to the Society as well.

Non-elders have no clue that their donations are going to the Society. Most are left with the impression that their donations go to cover the costs of the assembly.

31

The WTS lawyers ended the Book Study Arrangement

by lawrence in

to hell with the god-given book study arrangement, screw the spiritual table of food, and end the "brotherly fellowship".

the wts lawyers dictated, "end the home book studies, minimize our liability.

" and so the arrangement ended with an imprimatur by the wts lawyers, a boe letter, and a km article.

neverendingjourney

So, how does the fact that the recent BOE letter, explaining that Saturday meetings for service will continue to be held in private homes, fit in with your idea? Wouldn't there still be "liability issues" there?

There are still liability issues there, to a degree. Book study night often included socialization after the meeting, which in turn provides opportunities for pedophiles to have "alone time" with children, often when the child's parents are distracted talking to other adults. Field service meetings are quick sessions with little to no opportunity for a child molester to prey on the innocent.

That being said, I have a problem believing that legal liability for child abuse was the primary motivator in doing away with the arrangement. It might not have been a consideration at all. There are ample opportunities for child molestation to occur at the KH. I'm not privy to all the details of the various lawsuits against the WTBTS, but unless there has been a recent rash of suits specifically involving congregation book studies, I'm inclined to believe that legal liability was not a big factor in bringing about the change.

11

Courtcase presents interesting idea re: WTS lawsuits and "fair use"

by Lady Lee in

this might be to our advantage re: wts lawsuits.

'dancing baby' lawsuit can proceed: judge.

20/08/2008 10:19:00 pm.

neverendingjourney

Fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright act allow segments of copyrighted works

The operative word here is "segments." I don't think the fair use doctrine can be used to legally defend the posting of a complete book or magazine, even if its used for parody or critical review.

34

Bible study with PO/sister and wife, did not go well......

by insearchoftruth in

last night....did not go well at all, at least in my opinion.

i feel that the sister from her conversations with my wife started on a quite defensive mode....did my best to stay level headed, but i know there were times i was frustrated, and it showed.. .

the husband and wife were about 40 minutes late, due to traffic, and they were not prepared to discuss michael/jesus, and with respect to the doctrine change, he merely provided me a 1995 and 1997 wt article, when he and i spoke on the phone, he said he was going to show me in the bible, he sort of danced around this a lot, but not to my satisfaction.. .

neverendingjourney

If the Witnesses were wrong...dead wrong...before, but have changed their views due to "new light," then how can they condemn other religions? Maybe they're also being guided by "new light" and will eventually reach "the truth?"