FusionTheism

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Posts by FusionTheism

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  174

  The Bible is NOT Error-Free

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for many christians, the bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from god, where every single word was carefully chosen by god for a reason.

  but, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.. since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free?

  why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with?

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  FusionTheism

  WTWizard,

  Do you have an example of the Bible intentionally lying?
• 
  174

  The Bible is NOT Error-Free

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for many christians, the bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from god, where every single word was carefully chosen by god for a reason.

  but, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.. since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free?

  why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with?

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  FusionTheism

  Simon,

  It could all be myth and fiction. I don't deny that as a possibility. Even if it is, it would make more sense to use the good parts / good morality found in the Bible to reason with those who are still die-hard believers, rather than alienate them completely by telling them it's all shit.

  Azor,

  I actually have come to value kindness, hope, and love equally as much as truth. If there is no God and there is no afterlife, with no judgment on whether I believed in facts or falsehoods, shouldn't kindness and happiness take priority over truth?
  
• 
  174

  The Bible is NOT Error-Free

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  for many christians, the bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from god, where every single word was carefully chosen by god for a reason.

  but, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.. since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free?

  why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  FusionTheism

  For many Christians, the Bible is viewed as the 100% error-free, perfect book straight from God, where every single word was carefully chosen by God for a reason. But, usually, when you have a discussion on the topic, these Christians will end up saying that only the original copies written directly from the hands of the prophets and Apostles were error-free, and all manuscript copies since then are subject to copyist mistakes and other errors.

  Since zero original copies are in existence, how do we know the originals were error-free? Why should we think the originals should be error-free to begin with? It’s important to remember that today, all we have are copies of copies of copies of copies of copies, and then, on top of that are translations and re-translations.

  Why would God make sure that the originals were 100% inerrant, but then not preserve the originals, and allow all future copies to contain errors?

  In the stories within the Bible, we constantly see the perfect God using imperfect, mistake-prone people to do His will. The New Testament shows that the Apostle Peter, even though He was specially chosen by Jesus and given the Keys of the Kingdom, he still messed up big time and had to be corrected by the Apostle Paul. (Galatians 2:11-14) Also, Paul got into a heated argument with Barnabas. (Acts 15:37-39)

  My point is, these people God was using to do His will were imperfect just like we are. Why should we assume that, all of a sudden, when they picked up a pen and paper, they became inerrant and infallible?

  I view the Bible as containing the Gospel Message of salvation, and the teachings of Jesus, which are infallible, but the rest of the Bible can (and does!) contain many copyist errors, and perhaps, historical or scientific mistakes.

  I think we do a great disservice to our own minds and faith, and also to the inquisitive & skeptical outsider, when we rest our entire belief system on whether or not the Bible can have one tiny mistake and still contain the Word of God.

  If Peter or King David can make a blunder and still be used by God, then why couldn’t a Bible-writer make a mistake while writing Scripture, and God still use that imperfect Scripture to express His Word?

  And if Jesus could use myths and fictional stories and imaginary characters in His Parables to teach moral lessons, then why can't other parts of the Bible do the same?
• 
  32

  If you were put in charge of the Governing Body tomorrow...

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  if you were somehow magically put in-charge of the governing body tomorrow, by jesus, with the rules being, you could not teach anything that would be considered outright apostasy and you could not teach anything that would be considered to cause doubt about god's existence... (so as not to arouse suspicion).

  what "new light" or "clarified understandings" would you introduce first?.

  and which later on?.

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  FusionTheism

  If you were somehow magically put in-charge of the Governing Body tomorrow, by Jesus, with the rules being, you could not teach anything that would be considered outright apostasy and you could not teach anything that would be considered to cause doubt about God's existence... (So as not to arouse suspicion)

  What "New Light" or "Clarified Understandings" would you introduce first?

  And which later on?
• 
  32

  It came in today's mail

  by Virgochik in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it came today, the dreaded envelope containing my personal copy of "return to jehovah" from my elderly, desperate mother.

  it included a small note asking me to read it over and to let her know what i think.

  she got it at her assembly.. firstly, i'm angry that she continues to push her religion on me, given that i stopped attending meetings over thirty years ago, and very offended that she assumes that i still want to be a witness, which is her choice of religion, not mine.

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  FusionTheism

  If you truly think your Mom's health would be at risk, or your relationship would be ended, I don't see the urgency here for why you need to confront your Mom?

  Why not just throw away the literature just like you do with junk mail or unwanted magazines or flyers or spam email?

  Whenever you speak to your Mother, discuss anything besides religion. Redirect the conversation to family life, tv shows, movies, books, politics, world events, news, jokes, games, entertainment, gossip, music, work, exercise, health... Whatever you would talk about with a Non-JW friend.

  I see no reason to confront an elderly person and tell them their religion is wrong or tell them to stop sharing things with you.

  I would just view it like relatives who give you gifts at the holidays that you don't really like, and will exchange later, but you're still polite and kind to the gift-giver.
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  35

  David Splane: The Catholic Church brought the Gospel into China!

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  quotes from the new david splane "1900 years" video:.

  "the catholic church took the preaching work more seriously than the reformers... who brought the gospel into china?

  ... it was the catholic church.".

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  FusionTheism

  Faye,

  That is a superb point I didn't even catch before.

  If the Catholics who were obeying Jesus in the past 1900 years WERE actually of the anointed, that would require a huge new shift in the Society's 144,000 doctrine.

  The Society would have to come out and say that the number 144,000 is symbolic like all the other numbers in Revelation.
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  35

  David Splane: The Catholic Church brought the Gospel into China!

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  quotes from the new david splane "1900 years" video:.

  "the catholic church took the preaching work more seriously than the reformers... who brought the gospel into china?

  ... it was the catholic church.".

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  FusionTheism

  It definitely looks like "New Light" for the Governing Body to say that the Catholic Church was preaching the Gospel message and was obeying Jesus' Great Commission.

  In the 1980's, 1990's, and early 2000's, I only heard Witnesses, Elders, and Circuit Overseers say the very worst things about the Catholic Church, and they NEVER said the Catholic Church was ever teaching the true Gospel or obeying Jesus.
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  35

  David Splane: The Catholic Church brought the Gospel into China!

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  quotes from the new david splane "1900 years" video:.

  "the catholic church took the preaching work more seriously than the reformers... who brought the gospel into china?

  ... it was the catholic church.".

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  FusionTheism

  Vidiot,

  Good question.

  In my mind, I see this kind of like "How To Train Your Dragon 2" or "Jurassic World" where the Governing Body sees Pope Francis as the New "Alpha" of all Christianity, so they want his blessing.
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  37

  W 15 july - members of others religions not destroyed???

  by paradisebeauty in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  please tell me what do you understand from this quote that is taken from w july 2015, the article your deliverance is close paragraph 5.. i understand that not all members of other religions will be destroyed at armageddon.

  i talked to a jw.

  he says he understands differently: they will not be destroyed when the babylon the great will be destroyed but they will be destroyed in armageddon.

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  FusionTheism

  ParadiseBeauty,

  I'm in the minority opinion on here, but I believe this is actually New Light.

  If you look at the Simplified Edition of this article, it says that it's unlikely that many from Babylon would repent and be saved, and we shouldn't expect many to do so.

  But this is definitely New Light, with them saying there is the POSSIBILITY to repent after the Tribulation starts.

  The Old Light was that the Door of the Ark closed at the Outbreak of the Tribulation and all not inside the Organization at that moment were doomed.
• 
  35

  David Splane: The Catholic Church brought the Gospel into China!

  by FusionTheism in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  quotes from the new david splane "1900 years" video:.

  "the catholic church took the preaching work more seriously than the reformers... who brought the gospel into china?

  ... it was the catholic church.".

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  FusionTheism

  Quotes from the New David Splane "1900 Years" Video:

  "The Catholic Church took the preaching work more seriously than the Reformers... Who brought the Gospel into China? ... It was the Catholic Church."

  "The point of this is not to malign any of these people. We don't know how Jehovah viewed them. We don't know whether any of them were of the anointed or not, and just had problems understanding the Bible. We've had problems ourselves."