Posts by FusionTheism

22

1919 Doctrine no longer exists? (Today's Watchtower Study)

by FusionTheism in

quote from today's watchtower study article that's being studied at the halls (march 15, 2015, page 24):.

"understanding the illustration of the talents".

"when the master rewards the slaves.".

FusionTheism

Quote from today's Watchtower Study Article that's being studied at the Halls (March 15, 2015, Page 24):

"Understanding the Illustration of the Talents"

"When the Master Rewards the Slaves."

"Former explanation: In 1919, Jesus rewarded his anointed slaves on earth by entrusting them with increased responsibility."

"Adjusted explanation: When Christ comes in the future, he will reward his faithful anointed slaves by raising them to heaven. The Wicked and Sluggish Slave."

"Former explanation: The wicked and sluggish slave refers to anointed ones in the 1914 era who refused to share in the preaching work."

"Adjusted explanation: Jesus was not foretelling that a group of his anointed followers would make up a wicked slave class. Rather, he was warning his followers about what would happen if they thought and acted in a way that would cause him to view them as wicked and sluggish."

---------

So they have erased their doctrine about 1919?

14

The Kingdom of God -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

depending on the context, the phrase "kingdom of god" can have a few different simplified meanings:.

1: the authority of god manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.. 2: the authority of god in people's lives.. 3: the lord jesus, the 12 apostles, and others who will sit on thrones and wear crowns in the new heavens and the new earth.. 4: the 1,000 year reign of christ on earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).. 5: (in the old testament:) the nation of israel under godly kings such as david or josiah.. there are a few passages of scripture i can think of which could support the idea that the kingdom is made up of those who rule in heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth.

these are matthew 11:11-13, john 3:13, 31, acts 2:34. delving into those scriptures will be the subject of a future post.. as always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase..

FusionTheism

Plus, if you can't stand the idea of examining the Scriptures and the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses, why on earth are you reading a message board category entitled "Beliefs" of Jehovah's Witnesses?

14

The Kingdom of God -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

depending on the context, the phrase "kingdom of god" can have a few different simplified meanings:.

1: the authority of god manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.. 2: the authority of god in people's lives.. 3: the lord jesus, the 12 apostles, and others who will sit on thrones and wear crowns in the new heavens and the new earth.. 4: the 1,000 year reign of christ on earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).. 5: (in the old testament:) the nation of israel under godly kings such as david or josiah.. there are a few passages of scripture i can think of which could support the idea that the kingdom is made up of those who rule in heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth.

these are matthew 11:11-13, john 3:13, 31, acts 2:34. delving into those scriptures will be the subject of a future post.. as always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase..

FusionTheism

Viviane,

There are accepted rules that scholars and experts in the fields of Bible/book research use to determine which parts are symbolic, which are poetic, which are apocalyptic, which are narrative/prose, which are songs, etc.

There is nothing magical or mystical about it. I never say anything without checking it against the scholars and experts and their accepted rules of exegesis and interpretation.

Now, as far as what "spirit" is, the Bible simply defines it as unseen forces/beings which have a different "body" than humans do. Anything beyond that knowledge is a mystery.

The book of Revelation tells us it is a book of "symbols" or "signs," so we know it's symbolic for sure.

Bible scholars are pretty much in agreement that "wearing a crown" or "sitting on a throne" are phrases that mean "king" or "ruler."

This isn't rocket science or magic here.

14

The Kingdom of God -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

depending on the context, the phrase "kingdom of god" can have a few different simplified meanings:.

1: the authority of god manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.. 2: the authority of god in people's lives.. 3: the lord jesus, the 12 apostles, and others who will sit on thrones and wear crowns in the new heavens and the new earth.. 4: the 1,000 year reign of christ on earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).. 5: (in the old testament:) the nation of israel under godly kings such as david or josiah.. there are a few passages of scripture i can think of which could support the idea that the kingdom is made up of those who rule in heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth.

these are matthew 11:11-13, john 3:13, 31, acts 2:34. delving into those scriptures will be the subject of a future post.. as always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase..

FusionTheism

DJS,

Ah, yet again I can definitely see that "friendly and tolerant" attitude that the Home Page of this website so proudly advertises. (Sarcasm alert)

Why do so many atheists, who maybe, barely, make up 9% or 10% of the population, consider themselves the only ones who have the truth and are superior to everyone else?

I've always wondered that?

14

The Kingdom of God -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

depending on the context, the phrase "kingdom of god" can have a few different simplified meanings:.

1: the authority of god manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.. 2: the authority of god in people's lives.. 3: the lord jesus, the 12 apostles, and others who will sit on thrones and wear crowns in the new heavens and the new earth.. 4: the 1,000 year reign of christ on earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).. 5: (in the old testament:) the nation of israel under godly kings such as david or josiah.. there are a few passages of scripture i can think of which could support the idea that the kingdom is made up of those who rule in heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth.

these are matthew 11:11-13, john 3:13, 31, acts 2:34. delving into those scriptures will be the subject of a future post.. as always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase..

FusionTheism

Basically those are symbolic or anthropomorphic ways of attempting to express truths about the invisible spirit realm.

My best guess on "New Heavens" would be because Revelation says Satan and the demons are vanished from the Heavens, so now they are "made new."

"Crowns" and "Thrones" just represent rulership and authority.

14

The Kingdom of God -- Simplified Suggestion

by FusionTheism in

depending on the context, the phrase "kingdom of god" can have a few different simplified meanings:.

1: the authority of god manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.. 2: the authority of god in people's lives.. 3: the lord jesus, the 12 apostles, and others who will sit on thrones and wear crowns in the new heavens and the new earth.. 4: the 1,000 year reign of christ on earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).. 5: (in the old testament:) the nation of israel under godly kings such as david or josiah.. there are a few passages of scripture i can think of which could support the idea that the kingdom is made up of those who rule in heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth.

these are matthew 11:11-13, john 3:13, 31, acts 2:34. delving into those scriptures will be the subject of a future post.. as always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase..

FusionTheism

Depending on the context, the phrase "Kingdom of God" can have a few different simplified meanings:

1: The authority of God manifesting itself through miracles, love, or judgment.

2: The authority of God in people's lives.

3: The Lord Jesus, the 12 Apostles, and others who will sit on Thrones and wear Crowns in the New Heavens and the New Earth.

4: The 1,000 Year Reign of Christ on Earth (if that is literal instead of symbolic).

5: (In the Old Testament:) The nation of Israel under godly kings such as David or Josiah.

There are a few passages of Scripture I can think of which could support the idea that the Kingdom is made up of those who rule in Heaven, as opposed to those who live on earth. These are Matthew 11:11-13, John 3:13, 31, Acts 2:34. Delving into those Scriptures will be the subject of a future post.

As always, the immediate context of a passage, and the context of that particular book as a whole, helps determine the meaning of the phrase.

40

Spiritual AMNESTY -- Return to Jehovah

by FusionTheism in

basically, from what i can tell from the new return to jehovah brochure, is that the governing body is now offering amnesty to anyone who has been gone from the congregation but now wants to return.. it claims it doesn't matter what sins you've done, or what caused you to leave, if you repent to jehovah and ask the elders to help you, and return to the meetings, you'll be warmly welcomed with no disciplinary action or judgment against you..

FusionTheism

Does anyone on this site actually follow what the Home Page says about "friendly and tolerant?" Just curious?

20

help catagorize my wife: I truely believe she suffers from cognitive dissonance and other things this stupid cult causes.

by goingthruthemotions in

i find it hard sometimes to get a good idea has to how to communicate with my wife when it come to this stupid cult.. she is born in and stopped attending for many years and got baptized later in life.

i truely believe she suffers from cognitive dissonance and other things this stupid cult causes.. here is a breakdown of what i gather to be where she is mentally.. * she calls the borg her faith.

here are actions that she does that go against her thoughts:.

FusionTheism

GoingThruTheMotions,

So, you're verbally abusive, and not a nice person in general from what I can see here, so why would anyone want to help you?

I've been "out" for 12 years, so, yeah, you assuming that I'm still "brainwashed" doesn't make much sense.

23

Why BOGUS PREDICTIONS and CHANGEABLE TEACHINGS only strengthen JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES

by TerryWalstrom in

today's jw knows less about the history of the watchtower religion than ever before.. there is no need to know.

only the present moment of new light has meaning.. there are too many enemies surrounding jw's to risk learning something faith-weakening.. such as facts.

the watchtower religion (jehovah's witnesses) has been 'getting away with it' since 1874.. setting dates built on false chronology, pyramidology, slanted quotations about world events, and misrepresenting their own authority, (channel of jehovah) is a profitable enterprise for the watchtower org.. how do we know they 'get away with it'?.

FusionTheism

So how do **you** determine whether it's genuine humility or fake humility?

It makes no sense to simultaneously say that the Society doesn't want the average JW to know about the problems of the past Society, and THEN at the same time to say that the Society is intentionally telling these JWs about these problems, making them aware of them.

88

Damned if they do, Damned if they don't

by FusionTheism in

jw
friends

i see an attitude among some people here which is not very helpful.

i can understand it, but still, it's not constructive or helpful.. if you condemn the society for not changing, but then you also condemn them when they do change in a positive way, what incentive or motive does that provide for the people at the society to ever want to change for the better?.

also, what does that attitude look like to current witnesses who are having doubts?.

FusionTheism

jwfacts,

Do you apply the same reasoning and logic to the government or to your friends or relatives?

How is that any different from the way the Society has viewed apostates in the past, a viewpoint which most on here usually condemn?