Posts by Vidiot

50

Were the life spans of the patriarchs just an allegory of astronomical cycles?

by was a new boy in

lengths of life of the patriarchs.

genesis.

length of life.

Vidiot

Pretty sure Jesus taught almost exclusively using parables.

Also known as allegories. Or metaphors.

I think that’s the point that all-or-nothing Biblical literalists fail to grasp (accidentally or otherwise)…

…that a symbolic narrative can have just as much value as theological “Truth” as a set-in-stone fact. More so, even, in some cases.

Take Aesop’s fables for example… no one in their right mind insists those stories are literal, but no one dismisses them as worthless, either.

Why?

Because they have profound value and insight into the human condition.

50

Were the life spans of the patriarchs just an allegory of astronomical cycles?

by was a new boy in

lengths of life of the patriarchs.

genesis.

length of life.

Vidiot

Re. my last post on the previous page…

In fact, I’ve long suspected this was the primary factor in the Medieval Church’s historic antisemitism.

They wanted to present all the books of the Bible as a single throughline historical narrative for authoritative and cosmological reasons…

…but if the common folk learned that the actual individuals who wrote the books didn’t necessarily view them as set-in-stone fact, that authority and cosmology would be too deeply called into question.

Thus, the demonization of the descendants of the actual individuals who wrote the books…

…after all, no one is gonna ask scholarly questions or discuss history and theology with people they’re persecuting and ostracizing.

50

Were the life spans of the patriarchs just an allegory of astronomical cycles?

by was a new boy in

lengths of life of the patriarchs.

genesis.

length of life.

Vidiot

KalebOutWest - “…Jews have never believed this information was ever literal…”

Super important, and, IMO, can never be repeated enough…

…that the people originally responsible for the Bible’s very existence viewed it as metaphor.

50

Were the life spans of the patriarchs just an allegory of astronomical cycles?

by was a new boy in

lengths of life of the patriarchs.

genesis.

length of life.

Vidiot

Considering everything modern science and history has learned in the past century or so, I think the safest bet is to view pretty much everything in the Bible as “allegory”.

25

JW.ORG Needs Lawyers

by Vanderhoven7 in

jehovah's witnesses are not encouraging university education... but those who are lawyers already can apply to volunteer to help at bethel.. https://youtu.be/5d_-1lbg-oc?si=fsxeewic-fkczu9p.

Vidiot

“Must specialize in payoffs and NDAs.”

Jeezus, if that doesn’t raise red flags, nothin’ will. 🙄

BTW, this is not the first time they’ve put out a casting call for free legal help from the rank-and-file. Anyone wanna hazard a guess how well it went before?

26

Is the USA gradually moving to a majority of citizens being non-religious

by Reasonfirst in

jw
friends

this is a topic discussed in a current article in the hongkong based asia times*.

find it at: https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/nones-still-no-match-for-us-christian-nationalism/.

the claim is made in the article, that near 30% of americans are non-believers, and that this number is increasing.

Vidiot

“What is a shepherd without a flock?”

Out of work.

26

Is the USA gradually moving to a majority of citizens being non-religious

by Reasonfirst in

jw
friends

this is a topic discussed in a current article in the hongkong based asia times*.

find it at: https://asiatimes.com/2023/09/nones-still-no-match-for-us-christian-nationalism/.

the claim is made in the article, that near 30% of americans are non-believers, and that this number is increasing.

Vidiot

Probably for the best, all things being equal.

11

4 Verses Jehovah's Witnesses fulfill today, can you think of more?

by raymond frantz in

.

Vidiot

“On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers'…” - Matthew 7:21-23

😈

28

Could this be the end of JWs? What are the consequences if it is?

by Teddnzo in

multiple very serious allegations against tony and then huge efforts to remove him from all pictures and videos, have to admit it doesn’t look good.. once the pennsylvania investigation becomes public knowledge and front page news it will be very very hard for 8 million pimis.. is it possible that this could be the largest problem the branch has ever faced?

larger than 1975, the overlapping generations or any other ‘test of faith’.

many will feel heartbroken and betrayed.

Vidiot

Recent circumstances suggest that the “multi-billion” label is debatable, and just because they’re tax-free now, doesn’t mean they’ll always be.

28

Could this be the end of JWs? What are the consequences if it is?

by Teddnzo in

multiple very serious allegations against tony and then huge efforts to remove him from all pictures and videos, have to admit it doesn’t look good.. once the pennsylvania investigation becomes public knowledge and front page news it will be very very hard for 8 million pimis.. is it possible that this could be the largest problem the branch has ever faced?

larger than 1975, the overlapping generations or any other ‘test of faith’.

many will feel heartbroken and betrayed.

Vidiot

pontoon - “The all-in-it-for-life will just say ‘praise Jeh for keeping his organization so clean’.”

Yup.

Right up until the very last one of ‘em dies of old age.