Posts by brotherdan

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

I will have to listen to it again. From what I recall he was basically arguing against the doctrine of predestined election and that if you fell away from Christ, you never were one of the elect anyway.

If any Christian said that to him, they were wrong for doing so. They can't make that kind of judgement.

As far as the big bang argument is concerned, I too have respect for scientific method. But there are incredible problems with the big bang that atheists seem to shrug off. They can't explain how nothing caused something. That moment of creation...they can't explain it in ANY way. So to me it makes more sense to belive in an intelligence that caused the effect, than to believe the effect was caused by nothing.

Like I said, I'll have to watch the youtube video again. I just remember that he was using the same rehashed arguments that I've heard from other atheists. They like to say that anyone that believes in God is not rational and are not critical thinkers.

We are not a bunch of extremely educated professors on this site. We are a bunch of ex cultists that are trying to figure things out after being lied to for years. So why pretend? But there are thousands of well educated scientists that believe in Intelligent Design, and also believe in the scientific method. So saying that only those that are rational accept that there is no God or cause to the universe as we know it are going against actual data.

There is a reason why we have not become an atheistic society. There are plenty of good reasons of believing in God. And that is why there will always be something to talk about between atheists and the religious.

61

Going Door to Door with Scrolls

by VM44 in

does anyone know where this anachronistic and propagandistic picture came from?.

did a watchtower artist draw it?.

.

brotherdan

The Watchtower does not care about accuracy. They still talk about "earthquakes" being a sign that Christ came in 1914. Notice what this professor wrote to them when they made this claim: Since 1914 the yearly average of reported earthquakes has soared. There are 11 times the number that there were, on an average, annually during the 1,000 years before that date. And 20 times the annual average for the 2,000 years preceding 1914. 25 .

12

How the hell was True Grit rated PG-13?

by sabastious in

jw
friends

the movie opens up with three men being hung and the camera angle leaves nothing to be desired.

then it's pretty much nothing but crazy fun violence from start to end; some of it was pretty grizzly.. don't get me wrong, flipping hell of a movie... but it's weird that it somehow got a pg-13 rating.. -sab.

brotherdan

Have you ever seen this documentary, Sab? It gives a pretty interesting insiders look into the ratings board. It's really all about business and politicians with an agenda. (Conservative Right Wings)

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

Of course I read your posts Shelby! We may disagree on certain matters, but you're still my sister in Christ!

32

Scriptural proof of a paradise earth? Psalms 72:7; Isaiah 33:24

by Joey Jo-Jo in

a very close person i know is trying to show biblical proof that there are two classes, one in heaven and the other on a paradise earth, i think i have the celestial class 144000 covered.

i was given these two scriptures as proof that there will be everlasting life on earth.. psalms 72:7 - in his days may the righteous flourish, and abundance of peace till the moon is no more.. isaiah 33:24 - and no resident will say, "i am sick"; the people who dwell there will be forgiven their iniquity.. would anyone have any brackground on these two scriptures and what they really apply to?.

.

brotherdan

Yes, but the Jews were promised to be God's people to times indefinite. That is why they appear again in Revelation 7 as the 144,000. I don't buy that this scripture is fulfilled merely by taking away the title "Israel" and applying it to everyone that believes in Christ, as the JWs do. We are an "Israel of God" in the way that we are his chosen elect. But the Jews still hold a covenant with God and He will remain faithful to them.

We both agree, they MUST accept Christ as savior to be saved. But if you keep the context of Revelation in mind, these 144,000 are brought together AFTER the Rapture and Tribulation. In Revelation 1-3 the church is spoken to in John's time. In Revelation 4 the church has already been raptured. Most of Revelation takes place within two 3 and a half year time spans. After the church is taken, there will still be hope for the Jews and for those that accept Christ AFTER His return.

Having a clear understanding of Revelation and Zechariah 12 and 13 is essential to understanding this. Zechariah talks about the Jews repenting for rejecting the "pierced one" (Jesus) and being forgiven of their sins. This fits in line perfectly with Revelation 7, that there would be 144,000 that would be found within the sons of Israel, that would put faith in Christ during the Tribulation time period.

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

...

152

Are you a TRUE Christian?!?

by brotherdan in

i've been thinking alot over the past few days on what makes a christian a christian, and i'm coming to some different conclusions than i ever have.... the watchtower likes to use the term "true believers" or "true christians".

i'm at a loss here lately.

you are either an atheist or you are not.

brotherdan

I'm sorry, but when I read Aguest's posts, they make me think of Garth on Waynes world. But instead of "Schwing" it's "Peace to you".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2xTqUEhWYsI

61

Going Door to Door with Scrolls

by VM44 in

does anyone know where this anachronistic and propagandistic picture came from?.

did a watchtower artist draw it?.

.

brotherdan

They surly did. It's been in the Watchtower within the past few months. Can't remember the first issue...but it's a new picture. Nice little historical inaccuracies they have here. Don't they realize that most people were illiterate at that time? Retarded...

8

A good speaker, teacher, etc.

by free2beme in

jw
friends

answer this and think about it .... if i was an amazing speaker, and taught in ways you never saw before and touched your heart deeply.

how would you explain to others if you had, no internet, no phone, no usps and the roads were nothing more then dirt paths between locations.

also, keep in mind that the people you tell it to are unable to read or write and have to share what you said from their own memories and only after days had passed or longer.

brotherdan

basically teaching some common threads of the Buddha.

Yes, much of what Jesus preached appealed to our God given nature to love fellow humans. Buddah did not originate love and compassion for others.

Also, the thought that the apostles were trying to recreate the God of the OT just isn't true. Matthew focused his gospel on showing how Christ fulfilled the OT. Many of the things attributed to "Jehovah" or "YHWH" are said to be speaking of Jesus. That is where the conclusion comes that Jesus IS the Jehovah of the Bible.

Instead of distancing himself from the OT, He showed how He was that God and He was NOT a hateful, vengeful God. He was a God of love.

But please...I don't mean to hijack the thread and get into the overly debated "God is a monster" discussion with agnostics and atheists. It's been done to death. But I'm sure one (or more) of you will not be able to help themselves and say it.

16

What Is the Name of Your Best Friend From School?

by snowbird in

jw
friends

sarah ann is the name of mine.. syl.

brotherdan

I never had a best friend at school. I didn't really have a best friend til my wife. I would watch stupid buddy cop action movies and feel sad that I didn't have someone to argue with and catch bad guys.