pirata

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Posts by pirata

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  13

  Can You Explain This? (Blood)

  by headisspinning in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't understand why the wt puts so much time and effort into informing people about the intricacies of blood transfusions and fractions, but they don't really focus attention on the dietary side of not eating blood.

  because it was clearly a dietary restriction in the bible and maybe not so clearly in regard to blood transfusions (i'm still pondering this part).. is that ever discussed with bible studies or prior to baptism?

  it seems to me that if the command to 'abstain from blood' is so important that people will put their life on the line over it, then shouldn't very clear direction be spelling out in detail about what foods are okay to eat and what foods aren't?

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  pirata

  Nathan, excellent point. I'm adding Matthew 15:11 to my list.
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  18

  Ezekiel 4:6 A Day for a year

  by donny in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  when the folks who try to discern the end times often using different formulas to calculate the number of days but nearly all of them then "translate" the days into years by using this quote from ezekiel.

  what is the logic used to assume this statement had anything to do with the "days" and "times" mentioned in other books?.

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  pirata

  As long as "a day for a year" and "a day is a thousand years", etc. makes Bible prophecy calculations work out to be in our contemporary time, people will use them. They have been for the past 2000 years.
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  87

  What Draws You to a Poster?

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me, it's warmth and compassion, being approachable, and not looking down on anyone.. also, taking the time to acknowledge and interact with newbies.. i love those type of posters.. syl.

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  pirata

  Respect for others. Sincerity.
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  13

  Can You Explain This? (Blood)

  by headisspinning in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't understand why the wt puts so much time and effort into informing people about the intricacies of blood transfusions and fractions, but they don't really focus attention on the dietary side of not eating blood.

  because it was clearly a dietary restriction in the bible and maybe not so clearly in regard to blood transfusions (i'm still pondering this part).. is that ever discussed with bible studies or prior to baptism?

  it seems to me that if the command to 'abstain from blood' is so important that people will put their life on the line over it, then shouldn't very clear direction be spelling out in detail about what foods are okay to eat and what foods aren't?

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  pirata

  You're welcome! It'll take a few hours to wade through the scriptures, but a much clearer picture emerges (at least for me) after doing that.
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  13

  Can You Explain This? (Blood)

  by headisspinning in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i don't understand why the wt puts so much time and effort into informing people about the intricacies of blood transfusions and fractions, but they don't really focus attention on the dietary side of not eating blood.

  because it was clearly a dietary restriction in the bible and maybe not so clearly in regard to blood transfusions (i'm still pondering this part).. is that ever discussed with bible studies or prior to baptism?

  it seems to me that if the command to 'abstain from blood' is so important that people will put their life on the line over it, then shouldn't very clear direction be spelling out in detail about what foods are okay to eat and what foods aren't?

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  pirata

  headisspinning,

  Here's some homework for you. I studied this thorougly to see what the scriptures really say about this, and this helped me make up my mind on the matter:

  The use of blood in pre-christian times

  (Genesis 9:3-5)

  • What does blood represent?

  (Exodus 22:31)

  • Why shouldn't an animal found dead be eaten?

  (Leviticus 7:22-27)

  • What was the punishment for eating fat from an animal, either one killed or already found dead?
  • What was the punishment for eating blood?

  (Leviticus 11:39-40)

  • What was the punishment for eating flesh from an animal already found dead (which means it was not bled properly)

  (Leviticus 17:10-12)

  • Why was blood to be poured out?
  • What is an "atonement".
  • What is atoning for what?
  • If you took out some blood from a bull (but kept the bull alive), and poured out the blood on the altar, would this be considered an atonement?

  (Leviticus 17:13-16)

  • What is the consequences of eating an animal already dead?
  • How does this relate to Exodus 22:31?

  (Deuteronomy 14:21)

  • What could an Israelite do with an animal already dead?
  • Why was this okay?

  (2 Samuel 23:13-17)

  • Why did David pour out the water on the ground?
  • What insight does this give out as to the reason blood was to be poured out?

  (Ezekiel 4:14)

  • Why did Ezekiel emphasize that he had never eaten an animal found dead?

  The reason for the "necessary things"in the 1st Century

  Read Galatians Chapter 1 and 2, Acts Chapter 15, and Acts 21:17-32 then consider the following:

  • What issue threatened to causea schism in the 1st centure congregations?
  • How do the disciples of James in mentioned in Galatians fit in with Acts 15?
  • What conflict occurred between Peter and Paul? Why?
  • Why did some Jewish christians consider Paul an apostate?
  • Why were the "necessary things" necessary?

  READ 1 Corinthians Chapter 8

  NOTE: "Meat/Food sacrificed to idols" and "things sacrificed to idols" are both translated from the same Greek Word. This is not an attempted NWT cover-up, many translation have a similar rendering. If you check a interlinear and Biblical greek dictionary (such as Vine's Expository), you can verify this equivalency.

  • Is it wrong in itself to eat meat sacrificed to idols?
  • What is the main reason a christian in the 1st century would choose to abstain from eating meat sacrificed to idols?
  • What does this say about the reason that the "necessary things" were necessary?

  Compare Acts 15:28,29 and compare with Leviticus Chapters 17 and 18

  • Why were these "necessary things" chosen? Why not you must not murder, covet, etc? (Notice Leviticus mention of requirements for alien residents)
  • What do you notice about the order of requirements introduced in Leviticus 17/18 with the order in Acts 15:28,29?

  Read 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, Galatians 5:19-21

  • Considering the reason for the "necessary things", why do you think some of the "necessary things" are not listed in the above lists of things for Christans to avoid?

  Read 1 Timothy 4:3, 1 Peter 2:11

  • Is "abstain" used in thes scriptures in an absolute or relative sense?

  Summary

  By understanding WHY the Jews poured out blood, and the circumstances surrounding the council's decision to abstain from these "necessary things", we can better understand the spirit behind the law and it's relevance for Christians.

  Bonus: Blood Transfusions

  • Since no life is lost when blood is removed from another person to save the life of another, should it be considered a violation of the Mosaic Law (ask any orthodox Jew for their view)
  • What is more important, the symbol of life, or the life itself?

  PS. If you'd like to discuss any of this further, feel free to reply here or PM me.
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  43

  WT Is Losing Its Best and Brightest

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they are hemorrhaging the creme de la creme, as it were, and a lot of those thinking ones are coming to jwn.. no wonder there are so many warnings against surfing the 'net.. syl.

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  pirata

  When they reduced the public talk length from 45 to 30 minutes they didn't shorten the existing outlines, AND the new outlines weren't a whole lot shorter, either. You can't cut out Borg info so you have to cut out your own.

  Not necessarily, fortunately. I heard a public talk recently that was actually very interesting. The brother had basically focused on one section of the outline, and developed it very thoroughly. This was a refreshing change from the not-to-uncommon marathon sprint to try and mention most points in the outline. I personally take advantage of the new 30 min time limit to slash out the more repetitive material and develop the material that I hope the audience will find interesting.
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  43

  WT Is Losing Its Best and Brightest

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they are hemorrhaging the creme de la creme, as it were, and a lot of those thinking ones are coming to jwn.. no wonder there are so many warnings against surfing the 'net.. syl.

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  pirata

  I don't think they really care about having the "best and the brightest", unfortunately.

  Carl Olof Jonsson's thorough research into the Gentile Times was not well received.

  I remember hearing/seeing somewhere that to serve at Bethel: It's not the most capable, it's the most willing to serve, that are chosen.

  "Independent thinking", alternate takes on the scriptures, even when solidly based on the scriptures, are labelled apostate.
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  22

  Aldous Huxley, Brave New World

  by d in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was reading aldous huxley's brave new world and thinking,this is what society is becoming.especially since nowadays people want to be distracted with the use of the internet and social networking sites such as facebook and twitter.i like how it says " what we desire will destroy us" because in the grand scheme of things.

  it most likely will and that is a very disturbing thoought.it is shocking how he wrote the book in 1932 and it was written during the 1920's, all of what he is sayiing is becoming a scary reality..

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  pirata

  This book made me see the word "pneumatic" in a whole new way.
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  41

  2011 DC Invitation

  by LostGeneration in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  couple of things i found kind of interesting.

  on the front it has the wording "qualify to live in the paradise" or something to that effect.

  just another weird thing that jws teach, having to "qualify" for the paradise, based on your works of course.. the back has the image of daniel with the world powers on it, the bottom has a circle with a "?

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  pirata

  Are some of the dramas "audio dramas"? We've had those recently and they are basically dramatic bible readings with sound effects.
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  62

  POSITIVE POST TIME!! We just want to know 3 things you are FOR.

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on this topic we don't care what you are against.. let's be positive and tell three things we are for which are meaningful to us.. .

  1.music lessons for kids.

  learning to read music and play an instrument.. 2.memory training and math strategies in schools.

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  pirata

  1. Love and Tolerance

  2. Not destroying the environment

  3. Logic and reason taught in high school