iconoclastic

Joined

• started 25 topics
• posted 159 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by iconoclastic

• 
  7

  If Jehovah's Witnesses go some more in the same direction

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws made a diligent study on teachings that have pagan origin and found christendom as being mostly built on pagan teachings, hence keep distance from them all.

  so far so good.

  now, if jws continue in the same direction, they will find virtually everything in the bible as borrowed from pagansstarting from six-staged creation account, and devil (ahriman) making the first man and woman fall (which is from zoroastrianism) to the messiah restoring what has been lost (which is found in many mythologies).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Half banana

  Good observation.

  To show the paradox and contrast, I used the word “diligent study”, because the same zeal is not shown to do the same with the Bible.
• 
  7

  If Jehovah's Witnesses go some more in the same direction

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws made a diligent study on teachings that have pagan origin and found christendom as being mostly built on pagan teachings, hence keep distance from them all.

  so far so good.

  now, if jws continue in the same direction, they will find virtually everything in the bible as borrowed from pagansstarting from six-staged creation account, and devil (ahriman) making the first man and woman fall (which is from zoroastrianism) to the messiah restoring what has been lost (which is found in many mythologies).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  punkofnice

  That's a realistic comment and summery you put it better than I could.
• 
  7

  If Jehovah's Witnesses go some more in the same direction

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws made a diligent study on teachings that have pagan origin and found christendom as being mostly built on pagan teachings, hence keep distance from them all.

  so far so good.

  now, if jws continue in the same direction, they will find virtually everything in the bible as borrowed from pagansstarting from six-staged creation account, and devil (ahriman) making the first man and woman fall (which is from zoroastrianism) to the messiah restoring what has been lost (which is found in many mythologies).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  JWs made a diligent study on teachings that have pagan origin and found Christendom as being mostly built on pagan teachings, hence keep distance from them all. So far so good.

  Now, if JWs continue in the same direction, they will find virtually everything in the Bible as borrowed from pagans—starting from six-staged creation account, and devil (Ahriman) making the first man and woman fall (which is from Zoroastrianism) to the Messiah restoring what has been lost (which is found in many mythologies).

  This explains why Christianity—especially JWs—did not make much headway in the most populous country (India) with 1.7 billion people. [JWs have only a few thousand members in India where as in a small country like Japan they have tens of thousands] Jesus has many similarities with what is taught in the East. Jesus’ birth is attributed to the power of God (so is Krishna’s birth); there was a bright star appearing in the night sky during the night Jesus was born (during Krishna’s birth, the bright star Rohini was high in the sky). King Herod ordered the killing of all male children in his Kingdom to eliminate Christ (King Kamsa ordered the killing of all the infants in an attempt to kill Krishna). A great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God which was followed by the praising of shepherds (there were many demigods who came and danced and sang about the glories of Krishna when He was ready to appear in this world). Birth was without pomp and show—Jesus in a cave-like manger (Krishna in a cave-like dungeon). Some wise men from the East presented Jesus with frankincense and myrrh (baby Krishna was presented with gifts that included sandalwood and perfumes). Thus the list of similarities goes on and on till their death with Jesus’s chest being pierced with a spear (Krishna’s foot was pierced with an arrow). Jesus’ second coming is spoken as to replace the wicked world with a righteous one (Krishna’s next incarnation as Kalki is spoken as to do the same). Jesus “descended from Yudah” (Hebrew 7:14), and Krishna is from Yadava. Thus similarity exists virtually in everything—even their names are very similar—Christ and K/Chrishtna. Jesus refers to himself as “Amen” (Revelation 3:14) which is actually the slanted form of “Aum” in the East. Even the word “Satan” (which stands in opposition to what Christ stands for) which is the personification of wastefulness or vices is derived from the Sanskrit term Sat-na, which means non-truth or vices (which give a temporary pleasure in the beginning and pain in the end) as personified by persons like Ravan.

  No wonder T. W. Doane wrote in his book, Bible Myths and Their Parallels in Other Religions: “The mythological portion of the history of Jesus of Nazareth, contained in the books forming the Canon of the New Testament, is nothing more or less than a copy of the mythological histories of the Hindu Savior Crishna, and the Buddhist Savior Buddha, with a mixture of mythology borrowed from the Persians and other nations.”

  Hence the question: What if JWs go some more in the same direction of shunning everything that is of pagan origin?
• 
  10

  Science also accurately foretells (and Bible prophecy neutralized)

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in 1987 herbert benson, m.d., professor of medicine at harvard medical school foretold: a day will come, through meditation you can set the stage for important mind-and habit-altering brain change.

  (your maximum mind, random house, new york) he gave the reasons: over the years you develop circuits and channels of thought in your brain.

  these are physical pathways which control the way you think, the way you act, and often the way you feel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Dear Cofty,

  What you say is true of any organization.

  Some of the UN officials have been caught for activities not becoming of UN spirit. So what? Should we make a call to people to view UN with disgust and call everything UN does a shit?

  A soldier may defect or turn a traitor. Does that mean the whole defense personnel are to be shunned?
• 
  8

  Pope praises the Wild Beast (UN)

  by Quarterback in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the pope stated at his un address that, "if it wasn't for the un's work on the world's conflicts, the world would be alot worse".

  i just wonder how that statement will be taken in jw land.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  DATA-DOG

  That is an interesting point you brought out. UN is definitely part of the "Superior Authorities" God has set up, hence cannot interpreted as the way JW does. That means Pope got it right, and JW is as usual, has to go to the other extreme.

  This Pope is different. He also said something no catholic would think appropriate: "In the history, some of the worst things have been committed by religion, and some of the best things have been committed by those who did not believe in God." Thus he dismissed the idea that God should be a factor in our lives for things to be better, and also the concept of exclusivism which the Church introduced, later accepted by JWs.

  I too agree with Pope that many people are good without God being a factor in their lives.
• 
  10

  Science also accurately foretells (and Bible prophecy neutralized)

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in 1987 herbert benson, m.d., professor of medicine at harvard medical school foretold: a day will come, through meditation you can set the stage for important mind-and habit-altering brain change.

  (your maximum mind, random house, new york) he gave the reasons: over the years you develop circuits and channels of thought in your brain.

  these are physical pathways which control the way you think, the way you act, and often the way you feel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Dear Cofty,

  One can have any type of view about another person/groups. Look at how people reacted when Robert Fulton invented the steamboat. On the banks of the Hudson River, he was displaying his new invention. Some commented that the boat would never start. But, the boat started. As it made its way down the river, people who had claimed that it would never start began shouting that it would never stop. Thus you too are free to have any view about others. Compare your view with this news item: (http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-tamilnadu/18-life-convicts-at-puzhal-get-diplomas-in-value-education/article5283629.ece)
• 
  26

  Major events that Bible did not foretell!

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws feel that their strength lies in the power of bible to foretell.

  however, an impartial analysis would show that bibles prophecies are too general, and yet some of the major developments in the world scene were not figured in its propheciesespecially those that are very much needed for what it calls last days.

  to mention a few:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Dear Mephis

  My perception of terrorism was formed after my personal encounter with it. I have been a hostage for eight days. I have seen how they enjoy killing even children with AK-47 standing a few meters away and how they derive a sadistic pleasure out of it. I was fortunate that I have been released because of my meditation habit. I take advantage of every sort of situation--negative or positive. When I was among the hostages, I did not share the feelings of them who were trying to find ways to escape, argue with the captors … etc. I thought: ‘anyway I do fasting every Sundays, let me do fasting till my death or release and do meditation.’ One of the terrorists knew English and was assigned to find out what I was really doing as they suspected me of staging a hunger-strike. When I explained about my habit, the miracle happened—they released me. All others lost their lives for a cause they don’t know what it is. Terrorism is different!
  

  
  
• 
  10

  Science also accurately foretells (and Bible prophecy neutralized)

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in 1987 herbert benson, m.d., professor of medicine at harvard medical school foretold: a day will come, through meditation you can set the stage for important mind-and habit-altering brain change.

  (your maximum mind, random house, new york) he gave the reasons: over the years you develop circuits and channels of thought in your brain.

  these are physical pathways which control the way you think, the way you act, and often the way you feel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Dear SecretSlaveClass

  When you say glass half empty, it means it is half full. When you call another stupid, it means you are smart and intelligent. If the whole world accepts that I am stupid and you are intelligent, what difference would it make. World will still ask: So what?

  But what I do does make a difference. I practice meditation from 4 a.m to 5 a.m. daily and I derive many benefits from it spiritually, mentally, emotionally, physically and socially. When I share this information, some may feel like practising it, and may bring benefit to themselves and to the whole world. That makes life worth-living.
• 
  26

  Major events that Bible did not foretell!

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws feel that their strength lies in the power of bible to foretell.

  however, an impartial analysis would show that bibles prophecies are too general, and yet some of the major developments in the world scene were not figured in its propheciesespecially those that are very much needed for what it calls last days.

  to mention a few:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  Dear Mephis

  Civilians are also targeted--but that is not the norm. See how much uproar is created even today when civilians are also targeted in a war. People, nations, media ... call for trying the ruler for war-crime, and it is even termed as crime against humanity. But a war that is fought between the soldiers are treated as normal.

  
  

  But the difference between terrorism and war is that terrorist's primary target is civilians, and all the rest are secondary.
• 
  10

  Science also accurately foretells (and Bible prophecy neutralized)

  by iconoclastic in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  in 1987 herbert benson, m.d., professor of medicine at harvard medical school foretold: a day will come, through meditation you can set the stage for important mind-and habit-altering brain change.

  (your maximum mind, random house, new york) he gave the reasons: over the years you develop circuits and channels of thought in your brain.

  these are physical pathways which control the way you think, the way you act, and often the way you feel.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  iconoclastic

  In 1987 Herbert Benson, M.D., Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School foretold: “a day will come, through meditation you can set the stage for important mind-and habit-altering brain change.” (Your Maximum Mind, Random House, New York) He gave the reasons: “Over the years you develop ’circuits and channels’ of thought in your brain. These are physical pathways which control the way you think, the way you act, and often the way you feel. Many times, these pathways or habits become so fixed that they turn into what I call “wiring”. In other words, circuits or channels become so deeply ingrained that it seems almost impossible to transform. But there are approximately 100 billion nerve cells in the brain, and each of these communicates with the others through connections called synapses. The total number of possible connections is 25,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 (which means if you make a book with that many number of sheets, the pile of paper would be approximately 16 billion light years high—stretching beyond the limits of known universe). Therefore the brain’s potential for forming new pathways—and thus new habits of thoughts and behavior—is practically unlimited. This means if you resolve to lead a sweet and royal life (or a spiritual life) from this moment—it is possible (unlike the Bible writer who wrote “the good that I wish I do not do, but the bad I do not wish what I do.” )

  Now Herbert Benson’s scientific prophecy has come true:

  https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/the-new-resilience/201502/how-meditation-changes-the-structure-your-brain;

  http://www.forbes.com/sites/alicegwalton/2015/02/09/7-ways-meditation-can-actually-change-the-brain/

  Hence prophecy is not unique to the Bible writers. In fact, many of its prophecies are too general, or too vague, or not fulfilled, or fulfilled in the opposite direction. Because as Jeremiah himself admits many of Bible verses are not inspired.—Jeremiah 7:22; 8:8

  Prophecies (made by science or Bible) may or may not find fulfilments, hence cannot be taken as proof of God's backing.