i was thinking this weekend of a brother i first met when i was a teenager.. not yet an elder, this brother was very outspoken, and was viewed a kind of hero to the r&f.. an inexperienced teen, i also believed ( influenced by others) that this guy was a godsend.. looking back, with the eyes of a more mature person, i now consider him an arrogant self opinionated bully.. he later became an elder and i might add that he also had an imposing physical appearance .
but he had no education.
no schooling.
"That is why the dark ages, were called, the dark ages.
Why did 'the world' go backwards after the fall of the roman Empire ??? Who took up the mantle of power and was in the driving seat
after Rome fell ??
The 'new creation' system of control - THE Roman Catholic Chuirch,. and their history speaks for itself doesn't it."
Lost, please define what the Catholic Church did that drove Western civilization backwards.
overheard:.
"is your cup half full or half empty?".
"well, depends on whether you just poured something out or poured something in.".
Bingo about the Catholic Church, Terry. It's not that to figure out.
overheard:.
"is your cup half full or half empty?".
"well, depends on whether you just poured something out or poured something in.".
"True? True as demonstrated how? For every church father you have another church father who disagrees. The early church consisted of brawlers who burned each others congregations and started fist fights for not agreeing to some imagined orthodoxy.
You make it sound like everyone was running around burning churchs. Where, may I ask, did they have the time to dodge the Roman persecuters who until Constantine hunted down the Christians and killed them? Question: How are you able to rationalize why they early Christians were so willing to die if Christ's resurrection was a lie?
If a Church Father was in a position to BURN the writings of somebody who didn't see things their own way--THEY BURNED!
So because of your uncertainty and being ruined by the WTBS, you can't believe that God could actually reveal Himself, and then, actually protect the deposit of the faith in His Church? In your world, God must be pretty weak....
Besides, we have absolutely no ORIGINAL writings, autograph manuscripts or non-corrupt early writings. The earliest existingcopy of a copy of a copy is about the size of a postage stamp. The existing copies, of copies, of copies of copies were dragged out of rotting landfills and broken pots. Hardly a demonstration of Divine Preservation of Truth!
How would you determine if they were uncorrupt? If they lined up with your code of morality? Or would you only believe with your own eyes? Many of the writings of the early church fathers were preserved proving the true deposit of the faith, but somehow, I don't think that will make a difference to you.
You seem to think that truth can only be preserved via ink and paper. If it was so important, and if that were actually so, Christ would've written it Himself. This is a typical misunderstanding of how the Christian faith was transmitted. Christ did write something: the Apostles, who then passed on what they were orally taught.
I am not trying to change your position. I've read your posts on this forum for quite a long time. You seem to be an intelligent person. I hope you find God.
overheard:.
"is your cup half full or half empty?".
"well, depends on whether you just poured something out or poured something in.".
"By the year of the Council of Nicea, 325 A.D. the heads of congregations all over the Roman Empire met together and compared scars, wounds, and arguments for the purpose of agreeing on something unifying. Eusebius makes it quite clear in his history of that meeting how much dissent, disagreement, violent controversy and utter disparity was already rife in "christianity."
There is not now and there NEVER HAS BEEN one thing which is "TRUE" Christianity. Christianity is a kaleidoscope of opinions and practices."
This is a very narrow view of what Eusebius had to say. Just because there was dissent does not truth did not exist. You are assertion that there has never been "true" Chirstianity is just, your assertion. A complete reading of the Church Fathers would demonstrate that there was a true deposit of faith passed down.
the catholic church is founded upon magisterium which is the doctrine that jesus began a long succession of priests who administered his kingdom work and education through peter and his subsequent popes.
moreover, jesus gave this catholic church the right to make policy which heaven would back up with divine authority.. the protestant reformation nullified this idea by presenting a rival doctrine of sola scriptura which is the doctrine that no priesthood is necessary for an individual human being.
sola scriptura says one man and one bible is what god will work through directly as long as jesus is invoked as the mediator.. the governing body of jehovah's witnesses coalesce around the doctrine that the magisterium applies to them as "anointed" and no lone ranger christian can go around them.. in one fell swoop jw's stole the catholic doctrine and stepped on the protestant alternative!.
No, Terry. I am not saying ho hum. The WTBS has been an instrument of evil, destroying many who have come to know that the WT is not the true religion by ruining them from ever trusting God again. This website is living proof of it. I pray for all of you here to be healed.
the catholic church is founded upon magisterium which is the doctrine that jesus began a long succession of priests who administered his kingdom work and education through peter and his subsequent popes.
moreover, jesus gave this catholic church the right to make policy which heaven would back up with divine authority.. the protestant reformation nullified this idea by presenting a rival doctrine of sola scriptura which is the doctrine that no priesthood is necessary for an individual human being.
sola scriptura says one man and one bible is what god will work through directly as long as jesus is invoked as the mediator.. the governing body of jehovah's witnesses coalesce around the doctrine that the magisterium applies to them as "anointed" and no lone ranger christian can go around them.. in one fell swoop jw's stole the catholic doctrine and stepped on the protestant alternative!.
That the WTBS is a caricature of the CC is not exactly a news flash, Terry. One was founded by Christ 2000 years ago, the other, well you know the rest of that already....
this weeks book study on jeremiah, turns on baruch, jeremiah's secretary.
it stated that he desired great things for himself.
the writer covers all bases when they state that it could be materialism, power, prestige, as place to live, etc.
Quaterback, believe it or not, Baruch wrote a book in the Old Testament. It's one of the Deuterocanonical books that Protestants have rejected over the last 2 centuries. It was part of the Septuagint and is part of the original accepted canon of the Catholic Church.
"feeding many through the hands of a few" paragraph 14:.
"however, once the last of the apostles died, the apostasy took root and flourished during a long growing season that lasted for many centuries.
additionally, during that time, the weeds became many and the blades of wheat were few.
"FEEDING MANY THROUGH THE HANDS OF A FEW" paragraph 14:
"However, once the last of the apostles died, the apostasy took root and flourished during a long growing season that lasted for many centuries. Additionally, during that time, the weeds became many and the blades of wheat were few. There was no consistent, organized channel for dispensing spiritual food."
"Jehovah's Witnesses believe that this parable pertains to the one true congregation of Jesus Christ's anointed followers. Beginning with Pentecost, 33 C.E., and continuing through the 19 centuries since then, this slavelike congregation has been feeding its members spiritually, doing so faithfully and discreetly . the one approved channel representing God's kingdom on earth in the "time of the end."" Watchtower 1981 March 1 p.24 Do You Appreciate the "Faithful and Discreet Slave"?
http://www.statepress.com/2012/09/27/from-atheism-to-catechism/.
my italian friend loves going to the "feasts" that occur in italy, boston or nyc.
these feasts feature a "saint" with dollar bills pinned around her and they parade the saint in a long procession and chant "viva (whomever)".
they are quite serious about this and are proud to talk about the past generations of observers who appreciated the events.
"lol you REALLY don't want me to answer that question..."
Humor this poor stooge, as you called me, and allow me your wisdom and insight.
