Posts by Greenpalmtreestillmine

50

Has God Ever Planned and Caused Cannibalism?

by gumby in

and i will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat one the flesh of his friend in the seige and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lifes, shall straiten them.

nah.....god wouldn't do that.....would he?

gumby.

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Gumbie,

Were there any innocent chidren killed by the Allies in World War II? Why was that?

At times the terrible famines we hear about in Africa are caused by war. Who is at fault for that?

Do all American children have at least two good meals a day? Who's fault is that?

How many children are aborted? Who's fault is that?

How many children around the world are sold into sexual slavery? Who's fault is that?

How many children are sexually and physically abused by their own parents? Who's fault is that?

How many children are virtually tortured? Who's fault is that?

Please Gumbie, this Greenie, as you called me is not about to eat bullshit. There is nothing in the Bible, nothing, that has not been done gleefully by mankind himself. He loves it and he enjoys the fat that drips from the corners of his mouth because of it. There is nothing, nothing, that you can accuse God of that mankind has not done 10 times fold. Now, you may hypocritically say, "but God is supposed to be above all that" LOL think again.

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Leolaia,

Also significant is the way in which this verse presents Yahweh as one of the sons of Elyon, who received Israel as his own inheritance

Could you please walk me through that because I do not understand how you come to that conclusion. This whole thing is very new to me so if you would please walk me through slow?

Sabrina, who appreciates your efforts more than you know.

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Narkissos,

From the limited documentation I have at home, I understand that there are two extant Qumran manuscripts, one bearing bene-'elohim, meaning "sons of the gods" or "sons of God"

Do you have any idea which Qumran manuscript that might be? I would try to find it myself if you could give me an inkling as to the particular manuscript.

Still, even with what you have provided I do not understand how you could come up with this reconstruction:

When the Most High (Elyôn, title of the supreme god El) apportioned the nations,
when he divided humankind,
he fixed the boundaries of the peoples
according to the number of the gods;
Yhwh's own portion was his people,
Jacob his allotted share.

Both examples you've provided use, "sons of the gods" or "sons of God" but not anything like the above, "of the gods"

I could be missing something though.

Sabrina

50

Has God Ever Planned and Caused Cannibalism?

by gumby in

and i will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and they shall eat one the flesh of his friend in the seige and straitness, wherewith their enemies, and they that seek their lifes, shall straiten them.

nah.....god wouldn't do that.....would he?

gumby.

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Gumby,

"And I will cause them to eat the flesh of their sons and the flesh of their daughters, and everyone shall eat the flesh of his friend in the siege and in the desperation with which their enemies and those who seek their lives shall drive them to despair."

The "cause", Gumby, was God's removal of his protection. He did not pick up the arm of their infant and shove it into their mouth. That was their own doing.

Ironically, if we should hear that because of God's removing his blessing from Bethel they are today spiritually eating one anothers flesh most here would applaud!

Sabrina

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Narkissos,

The discrepancy between those two readings points to an original (polytheistic) bene 'el, sons of El, which has been confirmed by a Qumran manuscript.

And please, what did that Qumran manuscript say?

Sabrina

12

Impartiality Watchtower style

by Norm in

*** w03 6/15 p. 12 imitate jehovah, our impartial god ***.

imitate jehovah, our impartial god.

12-13 imitate jehovah, our impartial god ***.

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Norm,

How would you expect or want God to act? Please, if you can, give us a synopsis of how you think God should deal with mankind not a "God should not do this or that" kind of thing but rather a proactive scenario of what you believe God should do with regard to man. How about this very day, today, January 10, 2005 what in your opinion should God be doing with regard to the earth?

Thanks,

Sabrina

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Narkissos,

For instance, the original phrasing (as can be reconstructed from a comparison of the Hebrew masoretic text and the Greek Septuagint) of Deuteronomy 32:8f reads:
When the Most High (Elyôn, title of the supreme god El) apportioned the nations,
when he divided humankind,
he fixed the boundaries of the peoples
according to the number of the gods;
Yhwh's own portion was his people,
Jacob his allotted share.

If possible, could you please provide those comparison Hebrew masoretic and Greek Septuagint texts of Deuteronomy 32:8 here?

Thanks again,

Sabrina

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Narkissos,

Are you saying you believe the OT is not based on monotheism but polytheism? If so, leaving out the linguistic analyses for a bit, what in the OT leads you to such a conclusion? I'm truly interested in your opinions on this.

Thank you,

Sabrina

64

I don't understand this

by embeth2525 in

hi, iv'e never been able to understand the reasoning behind why god did this, genesis 11:1-8 why would god be threatened by people wanting to build a city.

perhaps someone can answer this for me.

beth

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Narkissos,

Polytheism, once again, is the only conceptual frame for understanding those texts.

I think the scriptures you quoted can also be viewed in the light of the OT itself. In the OT the heavens where God resides is also the place of residence of many spirit creatures. God does not himself come down to the earth but he sends angels and the Bible presents a picture of co-operation between God and the angels. I think it is very reasonable to conclude that when YHWH uses the pronoun "us" he is speaking to either his Son and/or the angelic host in his presence. When a human King or Queen says "We....are going to do this or that," the rest of us understand very well that they are likely speaking in the royal "we" mode and they do not actually mean they themselves are going into battle or building that canal. I believe when God says, "us" he is speaking to other spirit creations in the royal "We" mode.

But I know I'm coming from a Biblical view and so we are seeing things differently.

Sabrina

22

Have Fun Applying Scriptures To The Witnesses/Organization

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was thinking of how the watchtower always seems to be using a scripture and somehow applying it to themselves.

let's take some bible verses or passages and have a little fun with making our own interpetation........example# 1.....matthew 25: 13, "keep on the watch, therefore, because you know neither the day nor the hour"......"keep on the watch" refers to our continuous reading of the watchtower magazines and watchtower publications.

"you know neither the day or the hour" but the "faithful and discreet slave has insight into such matters and that is why we must always be on the alert and listen to them!.........example # 2.....mt.

Greenpalmtreestillmine

Minimus,

I'm a little confused, Ecclesiastes 4:5 says, "The fool folds his hands and consumes his own flesh." Now that is a good Watchtower scripture!

The one you quoted is from the Song of Solomon, a book that has absolutely nothing to do the Watchtower.

Sabrina