Posts by superpunk

69

Contradictions of the LORD's final words

by AK - Jeff in

if the day jesus died is the most important in the history of man, providing 'salvation' - then i have to ask two questions: why did the gospel writers wait decades to record those final hours, instead of doing so immediately?

if god later 'inspired' them to do so, why couldn't they agree on what jesus said in his absolute final words?

matt 27:46,50: "and about the ninth hour jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, "eli, eli, lama sabachthani?

superpunk

Now you see...THIS is what happens when you go LOOKING for errors and inconsistencies in God's word.

You find them.

69

Why Trust the Bible?

by Mad Sweeney in

there have been numerous posts and threads on jwn about why a rational person should re-think trust in the bible as the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on clear and logical thinking and reasoning.. the wts and other religious entities have published tracts and books to convince people that the bible is indeed the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on circular and fallacious thinking and reasoning.

superpunk

Either way it's circular and self-ratifying.

54

Appears to be another case of "shifting the burden."

by garyneal in

jw
friends

my wife and i was talking about one of the talks that they had concerning marriage and how each spouse is suppose to put the other spouse first and that as long as both spouses did this, it would work out for the greater good of the marriage.. i agreed but added a point in that sometimes, either because of human frailties on the part of your spouse or some other reason, you spouse may not be fulfilling all your needs and sometimes you will just need to take care of your own needs.

i tried to emphasize that this did not mean placing your needs ahead of the marriage or family or even your spouses, but simply sometimes we need to take care of our own needs and not always expect the spouse to do it for us.. she did not like the 'tone' and 'attitude' of my remark and when i brought up an example, it really set her off.. the example had to do with birthdays.

since my wife is a witness, obviously she will not be throwing me a party, at least don't expect her too.

superpunk

And Jesus also said he came to bring a sword, etc...so the believer who experiences contention in their family life feels validated. "OMG this is exactly what Jeebus said would happen! I must be doing the right thing!"

This is why revelation should be solely personal, and the supernatural should stay the hell out of normal human interactions. We do much better on our own. Or at least as well, just without all the magic.

69

Why Trust the Bible?

by Mad Sweeney in

there have been numerous posts and threads on jwn about why a rational person should re-think trust in the bible as the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on clear and logical thinking and reasoning.. the wts and other religious entities have published tracts and books to convince people that the bible is indeed the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on circular and fallacious thinking and reasoning.

superpunk

BTS, I certainly agree that Catholicism has the best claim to being that original branch, and any attempt to make it something else winds up falling short.

But do you see the circular-reasoning inherent in the Catholic claim? Wherein they receive validation of their authority from the book, which they compiled and subsequently ratified?

Something like me writing a book that declares me emperor of New Superpunkia, declaring it the word and will of God and then demanding that everyone recognize my authoritah.

54

Appears to be another case of "shifting the burden."

by garyneal in

jw
friends

my wife and i was talking about one of the talks that they had concerning marriage and how each spouse is suppose to put the other spouse first and that as long as both spouses did this, it would work out for the greater good of the marriage.. i agreed but added a point in that sometimes, either because of human frailties on the part of your spouse or some other reason, you spouse may not be fulfilling all your needs and sometimes you will just need to take care of your own needs.

i tried to emphasize that this did not mean placing your needs ahead of the marriage or family or even your spouses, but simply sometimes we need to take care of our own needs and not always expect the spouse to do it for us.. she did not like the 'tone' and 'attitude' of my remark and when i brought up an example, it really set her off.. the example had to do with birthdays.

since my wife is a witness, obviously she will not be throwing me a party, at least don't expect her too.

superpunk

Otherwise, I don't totally disagree with the WT teaching that each spouse should put the other first for even the Bible teaches similar in that we are to count others as more important than ourselves. However, I do think this has limits, especially if you look at StAnn's example.

It is just a simple human principle.

However, if it is only being one-sided, the spouse will begin to feel like they are being taken advantage of. You can only be soooo generous if someone is not being generous in turn.

It's not unreasonable for spouses who have differences to indulge those differences for the good of their mate every once in a while. For instance a wife who hates football may indulge her husband because she knows it's important to him and maybe one day she may even come to like it. For myself, I hated alot of the music my wife liked when we got married. But I *tolerated* it for a while, understanding that she enjoyed it and it really wasn't important whether I did or not. Now I enjoy it, too - and vice versa.

The same principle should apply in religious matters. But by inserting GOD into the equation, making HIS happiness more important than yours, all the things HE wants supercede your happiness or the happiness of your marriage. Therefore the simple human principle may be disregarded, and her selfishness is deemed excusable in her mind because she is simply doing what GOD wants, which is most important. Sub-human behavior is now acceptable in GOD's name.

27

God's forced PLOT point (which just doesn't make sense!)

by Terry in

the bifurcation of christianity's dealing with the "plot" that drives god's "plan" is never more explicitly revealed as not logically reasoned out than when it comes to the "good" and the "evil" being judged.. what is the point in judging "evil" if god is going to simply call the same sinful, imperfect man "good" who confesses christ?.

it makes about as much sense as putting a zero on top of a zero and calling it 8.. justification is nothing more than calling evil "good" by reframing the context.

sin kills man.

superpunk

I always appreciate your threads, Terry - I like the simple approach to these core concepts of Christianity. Obviously there are mountains of apologetics that can be employed to attempt to somehow rationalize it, but that really just shows how flawed the idea is at it's core - demonstrating that if God exists, these ideas are not of God. Just man's poorly thought out notions, accepted as truth a long time ago and now preserved by volumes of apologetics intended to pacify people who would otherwise see through the deception.

12

Fading and the Blood Issue

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

hey everyone,.

so most of you know my story and gave me the advice of taking things slow with my wife and not rushing her in regards to leaving the "o".

so i have been taking things slow, saying things that i appreciated from the meetings, and keeping my mouth shut in regards to everything that makes me want to vomit.. last night we were talking (very amiably) about some things that i said on a youtube comment, which she busted me about.

superpunk

It's good for you to take it slow, bd. But, given how this makes you feel (i.e. you're lying and feel deceptive - you can't be completely honest with the ONE person you're supposed to be able to be completely honest with, etc) eventually the shit is gonna hit the fan. For the sake of your wife possibly leaving, hopefully that's at the best possible time for it - when it will impact her the most, hopefully getting her to see what's up. Alot of us know that feeling, it kind of eats you up inside and makes you feel terrible.

Eventually it's going to come out, because it must - and then whatever happens is going to happen. You can only control your half.

106

Sola Scriptura

by dieselman in

in response to yknot *** please note the wts doesn't believe in sola scriptura (bible understood alone by individuals), if you are 'lurker' and want to refute this fact, please start a new thread or feel free to pm me ...... (reproof will be accepted if you can show me my error of understanding on the matter).

in the words of the ethiopian "how can i," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?

" so he invited philip to come up and sit with him.

superpunk

"What I'm saying is, if God wanted to send us a message, and ancient writings were the only way he could think of doing it, he could have done a better job"

God hasn't quite figured out how to reach people who aren't gullible and superstitious, yet.

Give him time, he's got alot on his plate.

106

Sola Scriptura

by dieselman in

in response to yknot *** please note the wts doesn't believe in sola scriptura (bible understood alone by individuals), if you are 'lurker' and want to refute this fact, please start a new thread or feel free to pm me ...... (reproof will be accepted if you can show me my error of understanding on the matter).

in the words of the ethiopian "how can i," he said, "unless someone explains it to me?

" so he invited philip to come up and sit with him.

superpunk

Well, yes I can argue that it has been abused by organizations, yes.
Which is strange because the very wording shows that one is NOT bound by ANY organization and that the "burden" of undertanding falls on US.

Not so strange. The process goes

"OK, the bible says the Holy Spirit will be my guide"

"OK, I've asked for the Holy Spirit, but I don't feel it."

"All these other people say that they feel it, maybe I should see what they are all about."

Then the group-think hive-mind deception takes over. If you put people in a room together, and one of them claims he sees something in the woods, eventually they'll all claim to see the same thing, even if it isn't there, just so they don't seem odd. Even if the new convert doesn't feel "the Holy Spirit", he feels something, so he'll claim that he does because everyone else is doing it. Really he's just happy to be a part of something and feel that acceptance.

Successfully exploited.

69

Why Trust the Bible?

by Mad Sweeney in

there have been numerous posts and threads on jwn about why a rational person should re-think trust in the bible as the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on clear and logical thinking and reasoning.. the wts and other religious entities have published tracts and books to convince people that the bible is indeed the inspired and inerrant word of god.

these are usually based on circular and fallacious thinking and reasoning.

superpunk

If it were not for the Catholic Church, there would be no Bible for Christians.

Which is why the Witness stance of inerrancy, while at the same time demonizing the Catholic Church, is completely hypocritical and absurd. Obviously motivated by jealousy.