Posts by superpunk

202

"Are you In the Truth?"

by Nickolas in

i can't remember the last time i was asked that question because it has been many years.

nor do i remember my response to the questioner but it no doubt contributed to not being asked the question since.

are you in the truth?

superpunk

You are saying the Eden story is symbolism

37

Do Jehovah's Witnesses represent a less legitimate form of religious expression?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

i am at a point where i tend to think all religions are rubbish.

the bible is not a book to lead one's life by and not deserving of much respect.

if jesus existed then the gospels are not an accurate picture of his life and even if the non-supernatural elements resembled a real person there is much to repudiate as there is to admire.. so what about comparing jehovah's witnesses to other faiths?

superpunk

I think everyone's right in this case.

It is just differing degrees of illegitimacy.

Maybe a comparison everyone will be more comfortable with is JWism with Islam. Mainstream Christianity underwent a reformation because secularism forced them to. If they wanted to remain "legitimate", they had to back off a bit. Islam has never undergone such a reformation, in parts of the world where it is in the forefront, and therefore it seems barbaric to us in it's implementation. I feel the same with the JWs - but I also feel that they are slowly being forced by the growing secular outlook of their membership to undergo some reform - and I think it will continue until they are nothing more than another mainstream religion.

Almost noone chooses to join a religion based on accurate information. They join based on how it makes them feel, and then later they may come to more understanding, or they may not. It's just not important for many believers.

The best argument against the legitimacy of the JWs as a religion is the overwhelming organizational control over the lives of membership - combined with stiff penalties for failure to comply. And that is what sets them apart from "legitimate" religions - as we seem to define "legitimate" as "most secularly influenced". However, just a few decades ago, they were not that out of place, as members of many communities who dared to not show in church on a regular basis faced institutionalized ostracism in the community for not being part of the Jesus crowd.

111

Can we understand the Bible without the Watchtower?

by brotherdan in

not according to c.t russell.

in the september 15, 1910 wt he made these shocking claims regarding the 6 scripture studies that he wrote:.

"that is to say, they are not merely comments on the bible, but they are practically the bible itself...".

superpunk

Humans chose to be seperate from God, to not "need" God, in our pride we decided ( like Adam and Eve) that we were "God" and that we don't need him and as such, we are broken because we function much better with God then without him.

There is no way for US to get "up there" with God

PSac your view on this appears to be contradictory. We cannot choose to do something if there is no way for us to do it. This may just be an error in your analysis when you switch freely from figurative separateness to physical separateness...in any case it doesn't work. You also;

Christ's sacrifice was God's ultimate act of love, for he so loved the world that his only-begotten son died for us to be able to have God live in us though the merciful gift of Grace.

Completely skipped over the WHY that must be answered if you are refuting my idea above. (WHY did he have to die for us? - "to have God live in us" is not does not answer why that was the only way such a thing could be accomplished.)

111

Can we understand the Bible without the Watchtower?

by brotherdan in

not according to c.t russell.

in the september 15, 1910 wt he made these shocking claims regarding the 6 scripture studies that he wrote:.

"that is to say, they are not merely comments on the bible, but they are practically the bible itself...".

superpunk

I'm sure there is a clever theological way to word it so it doesn't sound so foolish (after all "sanitation engineer" sounds alot better than "janitor"), but that's it in a nutshell.

111

Can we understand the Bible without the Watchtower?

by brotherdan in

not according to c.t russell.

in the september 15, 1910 wt he made these shocking claims regarding the 6 scripture studies that he wrote:.

"that is to say, they are not merely comments on the bible, but they are practically the bible itself...".

superpunk

PSAC - that's exactly my point. It's all nonsense. You really think an ALL KNOWING God couldn't come up with a better solution for the redemption of mankind than sacrificing himself to himself to pacify himself?

:P It's all the same.

111

Can we understand the Bible without the Watchtower?

by brotherdan in

not according to c.t russell.

in the september 15, 1910 wt he made these shocking claims regarding the 6 scripture studies that he wrote:.

"that is to say, they are not merely comments on the bible, but they are practically the bible itself...".

superpunk

This was just ancient man being ancient man.

And God absent-mindedly wringing his hands, powerless to teach them to do otherwise ("they need to have free will to sacrifice virgins to me"). Oh but he could step in and wreck shop on the Canaanites in Israel's behalf, right?

63

Republican Vs Democrat

by Bangalore in

a republican and a democrat were walking down the street when they came across a homeless person.. the republican gave the homeless person his business card and told him come to his business for a job.

he then took twenty dollars out of his pocket and gave it to the homeless person.. the democrat was very impressed, and when they came to another homeless person, he decided to help.

he walked over to the homeless person and gave him directions to the welfare office.

superpunk

They are two sides of the same coin, that appear to have mutually untenable convictions about almost everything.

In fact they are remarkably unified in their message, IMO.

"Reduce the deficit, cut government spending, reduce waste....

....oh, no...I didn't mean THAT waste. Don't take away from that program that I benefit from, oh and don't you effing DARE raise taxes."

111

Can we understand the Bible without the Watchtower?

by brotherdan in

not according to c.t russell.

in the september 15, 1910 wt he made these shocking claims regarding the 6 scripture studies that he wrote:.

"that is to say, they are not merely comments on the bible, but they are practically the bible itself...".

superpunk

What is sad, dear one... is that Jephthah never thought to ask for mercy, which would have been granted him. But I find it peculiarly hypocritical that we feel we can blame God for allowing Jephthah to sacrifice his daughter for victory in the battle... when people the world over sacrifice THEIR sons and daughters... IN battle for the victory of battle... every day! Most "in God's name."

Sorry, but I can't love this monster God, he belongs in Hell for HIS egos to be dissolved.

What is interesting here... is that NOWHERE in the account is the Most Holy One of Israel mentioned... OTHER than Jephthah making a vow... and his daughter reiterating it. Note what I said: JEPHTHAT made a vow... HIS DAUGHTER reiterated... and HE carried it out. What did JAH do? One thing: allowed Jephthah to prevail over his enemies... which enemies would have killed his daughter, anyway... as well as him... as well as everyone else of his tribe.

Wow you are out of your mind with this rationalization. Not only with the disrespect that you show to the sacrifice of our armed forces (as though what they do is somehow akin to human sacrifice of innocent women) but your "his enemies would have killed her anyway" justification as well. This isn't doublethink, it's some sort of quadruple think where you are hypocritically jumping back and forth between justifying Yahweh's atrocious behavior and blaming the victim.

Why not just admit it is all a made up story to teach us not to write checks that we'd rather not cash?

119

My Apologies to Christians.

by AK - Jeff in

i have, on occasion, pissed off many or most of the christians on this board.

i have forthrightly ridiculed you at times, but more often, i have lathered satire, or frothed sarcasm at what appeared to me to be inanely ludicrous viewpoint.. i must apologize, for i have seen the light.. i now understand that all of mankind's' plight can indeed be traced to a day in a perfect garden in iraq.

an eloquent snake overcame a naked woman with words that rang truer to her than the words of her master and god.

superpunk

I am with Superpunk's last comment. Jeff, I try sarcasm every now and again. Good luck with that.

Suffer for a few hours, die for three days (knowing full well that you have the power to bring....yourself? back to life), be the savior of the world and live eternally on your heavenly throne (I'm guessing there is free HBO)...?

Sign me up.

77

What if JWs are right?!?

by brotherdan in

i know this is a pointless question, but what if this happened:.

you came home from work one day, sat down, and turned on the tv.

there is a sudden announcement that the un has banned all religion.

superpunk

Some things are just too silly to even consider. Like...what if Dracula and Bill Nye the Science guy come to my room tonight, give me a jetpack and then take me to the moon for a freaky three-way?

Wondering what if the JWs are right (about anything) falls into a similar category.