godrulz

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Posts by godrulz

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  84

  Do you yearn to know what we are, and why we are here, before you die?

  by sabastious in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  lets face it, we don't know what humans are.

  science is doing a good job at uncovering many facts about us, but even science cannot explain consciousness yet.

  conciousness is still a strong mystery to us.

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  godrulz

  Noetic is from the Greek and relates to the mind. Our whole being is tainted because of the Fall.
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  122

  Judas and Unforgivable Sin

  by corpusdei in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll be the first to admit that i haven't done the research on this one, and i can't remember the answer from my jw days - but there's something bothering me about the scenario of judas and his betrayal of jesus.. considering that the betrayal of jesus by judas was foretold in prophecy, it was essentially set in stone.

  it was going to happen, it was an absolute because divine prophecy is correct.

  judas had to betray jesus in order to fulfil prophecy.. now, i've always personally believed that a person does not sin by an act that they cannot avoid, but this seems like kind of the motherload of standing on the traintracks.

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  godrulz

  He knew of the possibility vs certainty. When Judas' heart changed, Jesus knew about it. God knows reality as it is. Apart from determinism, foreknowledge is not possible except proximal predictions based on know patterns (like Peter's character and rooster crowing, as predicted; God could orchestrate the rooster but does not tamper with men's wills). It was also not foretold by the Father in the Old Test., but a verse that parallels the situation was applied after the fact (illustrative fulfillment).

  Repentant faith/continuance in the faith are conditions of salvation. We can forgive evil doers, but this is different than eternal destiny issues. Universalism is not true. It would be unwise to let a serial killer who does not repent on the loose. We are in need of mercy and grace, but it is only extended to those who believe (Jn. 3:16 vs Jn. 3:36; those who love darkness and refuse to come to Him for life will perish; blanket forgiveness of everyone is not biblical).
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  122

  Judas and Unforgivable Sin

  by corpusdei in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll be the first to admit that i haven't done the research on this one, and i can't remember the answer from my jw days - but there's something bothering me about the scenario of judas and his betrayal of jesus.. considering that the betrayal of jesus by judas was foretold in prophecy, it was essentially set in stone.

  it was going to happen, it was an absolute because divine prophecy is correct.

  judas had to betray jesus in order to fulfil prophecy.. now, i've always personally believed that a person does not sin by an act that they cannot avoid, but this seems like kind of the motherload of standing on the traintracks.

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  godrulz

  Eternity is endless time, not timelessness (I wonder if JWs accept Augustinian/Platonic 'eternal now' or not, the traditional, but wrong Christian view). This affects whether or not God has exhaustive definite foreknowledge or not.

  The chronology is that Jesus prayed to the Father and picked 12 for his inner circle and called them apostles (Judas was called an apostle specifically). They did the works of God with the power of God. Jesus would not chose a devil. Early in the ministry, Judas started going off track. Jesus would know this changing contingency that was different from the initial choosing. Later, Satan filled him and later he became a betrayer. He was not predestined or born this way (verb tense 'became'). There is no indication that Judas was in rebellion when chosen (would not be wise to pick him). The possibility of him going rogue was known, but the actuality/certainty developed later in space-time leading to a change in Jesus' knowledge and relations with Judas. A careful look at chronology and Scripture supports this view and answers the objections that impugn God's character and ways. It upholds free will and personal responsibility and also allows God to work responsively to ensure the Lamb would be sacrificed (which was really not dependent on a betrayer, per se, especially Judas in particular). Peter denied Christ, but was restored. Judas denied Him, but was not restored. It was God's will for both to be faithful to their initial state and calling. The person is to blame, not God in any sense. Foreknowledge also means the future would be fixed and it could not be changed even if God wanted to. It would root the choice in something other than the agent for it to be certain vs contingent in advance (determinism).
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  122

  Judas and Unforgivable Sin

  by corpusdei in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll be the first to admit that i haven't done the research on this one, and i can't remember the answer from my jw days - but there's something bothering me about the scenario of judas and his betrayal of jesus.. considering that the betrayal of jesus by judas was foretold in prophecy, it was essentially set in stone.

  it was going to happen, it was an absolute because divine prophecy is correct.

  judas had to betray jesus in order to fulfil prophecy.. now, i've always personally believed that a person does not sin by an act that they cannot avoid, but this seems like kind of the motherload of standing on the traintracks.

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  godrulz

  aguest: Judas had remorse, not repentance, a condition of forgiveness. (which does not mean fore-in advance). Judas is called a son of perdition/hell after his death and was filled with Satan before he died with no report of him coming around in the end. He was not saved in the end or Scripture would imply this (a believer who commits suicide can be forgiven, but an apostate is not a believer and is damned because he rejected Christ).

  still thinking: from the beginning (as used elsewhere) is an idiom relating to the early falling away of Judas...it does not mean from eternity or from birth, but near the beginning of ministry; he was chosen an apostle, but BECAME a devil. He was not chosen as a devil.
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  122

  Judas and Unforgivable Sin

  by corpusdei in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll be the first to admit that i haven't done the research on this one, and i can't remember the answer from my jw days - but there's something bothering me about the scenario of judas and his betrayal of jesus.. considering that the betrayal of jesus by judas was foretold in prophecy, it was essentially set in stone.

  it was going to happen, it was an absolute because divine prophecy is correct.

  judas had to betray jesus in order to fulfil prophecy.. now, i've always personally believed that a person does not sin by an act that they cannot avoid, but this seems like kind of the motherload of standing on the traintracks.

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  godrulz

  Prodigal: It is likely (based on Scripture and reason) that Judas hanged himself over a cliff, the branch broke, he fell, and his guts spilled out. The manner of death is not important, but that he killed himself in remorse without repentance. This outcome was not God's desire/intention.
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  Confessions of a teenage Jesus jerk.

  by shakyground in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i stumbled upon this coming of age novel about a teenage jehovahs witness growing up in san francisco.

  it was such a great novel and hit real close to home.

  it was funny and sad at the same timel but i loved it.

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  godrulz

  Should it not be confessions of a teenage Jehovah jerk?
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  27

  WTBTS DAYS ARE NUMBERED !

  by Hairyhegoat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  found this on another site... watchtower's many false statements about "the generation of 1914".

  http://www.jwstudies.com/2010_change_to_generations.pdf"''" .

  2014 - its significance in the watchtower society"''" .

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  godrulz

  I hope to live to see the day that WT will implode or dwindle in significance.
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  18

  It's DC Season (Conventions)

  by RagingBull in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tell me what you enjoy (or miss) the most at district conventions that get (or got) you thru them.. i like seeing what people are wearing, especially the females with super high-heel "stripper" shoes.

  but i dread getting beat up and ran over by jws trying to get "good seats"..

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  godrulz

  Honestly, the bouncers followed me around whispering with walkie talkies. They approached me, surrounded me, and tried to escort me out. I thought it was a public gathering and I was just out in the foyer chatting with individuals in conversation. Because I had jeans and was using a KIT, they must have thought I was an opposer (I am) or an apostate (I am not). Perhaps someone who overheard the conversation (I was raising points they could not answer) complained. This is not being paranoid, just observing the paranoia and security of insecure WT drones.
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  122

  Judas and Unforgivable Sin

  by corpusdei in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'll be the first to admit that i haven't done the research on this one, and i can't remember the answer from my jw days - but there's something bothering me about the scenario of judas and his betrayal of jesus.. considering that the betrayal of jesus by judas was foretold in prophecy, it was essentially set in stone.

  it was going to happen, it was an absolute because divine prophecy is correct.

  judas had to betray jesus in order to fulfil prophecy.. now, i've always personally believed that a person does not sin by an act that they cannot avoid, but this seems like kind of the motherload of standing on the traintracks.

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  godrulz

  Charik: Yes, Jesus knew that Judas was going to betray him at the Supper because Judas was already heading down this path and it was in his heart to do so and Jesus knows present reality. This is different than saying Jesus knew it in His preexistence or even at the beginning of His ministry when He chose Judas as an apostle (He would not choose a betrayer or devil and call him an apostle after a night of prayer; Judas BECAME these things in a later chronology; as reality changed, Jesus knew this new disposition that did not exist initially; God/Jesus knows reality as it is and reality is contingent/changing moment by moment).
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  18

  It's DC Season (Conventions)

  by RagingBull in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tell me what you enjoy (or miss) the most at district conventions that get (or got) you thru them.. i like seeing what people are wearing, especially the females with super high-heel "stripper" shoes.

  but i dread getting beat up and ran over by jws trying to get "good seats"..

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  godrulz

  When I went to the Memorial, I behaved and was respectful, not disruptive. I acted as a guest and only responded when people engaged me in conversation afterwards. When I go to a convention, I am also low key and sensitive (years ago they followed me like the KGB because I talked to someone at lunch break; I rebuked them for their harshness and lack of love and left).