Posts by xjwsrock

47

Is the Bible God's word? Help please.....

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

so real quick, i know this comes up now and then and i've looked over some of the posts from the past but here's the thing.. when i was a jw i drank all the cool aid, i was 100% and so i have all my own arguments (from the jw's) for why the bible is inspired.

i no longer believe this but i'd really like to read something that is pretty much 100% academic on this subject.

i want to read what scholars have to say about the authenticity of the bible and it's claim at being the inspired word of god.

xjwsrock

To add to what Cofty said, there are a few more things that opened my eyes. I read a few essays by Thomas Paine. They are really good. He was one of the Founding Fathers of the United States.

He pointed out the spinning sword in the Garden of Eden story is a blatant anachronism. It is a bronze age tool in a stone age story. It would be like writing a story about Christopher Columbus and having him answer his cell phone while sailing on the Santa Maria.

Reread the story of Babel. It actually is quite short. Gen 11:1-9. It is written from the perspective of a person who believes the earth is flat, and that's just the beginning of the problems with the story.

Actually Gen chapters 1 - 11 or so is enough to put the book down and never pick it up again. Flood? Take a look at ancient Chinese History and tell me civilization had a divine reboot 4000 years ago. Yeah right.

47

Is the Bible God's word? Help please.....

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

so real quick, i know this comes up now and then and i've looked over some of the posts from the past but here's the thing.. when i was a jw i drank all the cool aid, i was 100% and so i have all my own arguments (from the jw's) for why the bible is inspired.

i no longer believe this but i'd really like to read something that is pretty much 100% academic on this subject.

i want to read what scholars have to say about the authenticity of the bible and it's claim at being the inspired word of god.

xjwsrock

I heard about this book on a podcast I plan to read -

God: The Most Unpleasant Character in All Fiction

by Dan Barker

18

Did Geoffrey Jackson Actually Reject His Faith During the ARC Hearing?

by xjwsrock in

as portrayed in the convention videos this year about sergei (the fictional jw character in cold-war-era ussr), the jw leaders expect loyalty, even enduring imprisonment and/or death.

in one scene sergei was offered an early release from prison if he would sign a statement renouncing his religion.

well he refused and spent 5 years in prison as a result.

xjwsrock

An argument could be made that a person or religion should never deny their beliefs or faith when questioned or challenged, even if doing so would bring negative consequences or persecution. It's called being faithful. It's called standing up for what you believe in.

Refusing to tell the enemy where people are hiding, or refusing to give a list of names, etc., is not the same as denying your religious convictions.

Geoffrey Jackson denied his religious beliefs in a public forum as a representative of the entire religion. That's not theocratic warfare. That's selling out to avoid persecution. That's selling out to protect the business interests of your multi-billion dollar machine. That's FEAR plain and simple. It shows a lack of faith in their God's saving ability.

18

Did Geoffrey Jackson Actually Reject His Faith During the ARC Hearing?

by xjwsrock in

as portrayed in the convention videos this year about sergei (the fictional jw character in cold-war-era ussr), the jw leaders expect loyalty, even enduring imprisonment and/or death.

in one scene sergei was offered an early release from prison if he would sign a statement renouncing his religion.

well he refused and spent 5 years in prison as a result.

xjwsrock

As portrayed in the convention videos this year about Sergei (the fictional JW character in cold-war-era USSR), the JW leaders expect loyalty, even enduring imprisonment and/or death. In one scene Sergei was offered an early release from prison if he would sign a statement renouncing his religion. Well he refused and spent 5 years in prison as a result. This was applauded by the organization and shown as an expected course of conduct for members and a reflection of his true faith.

My questions are these.

How do you justify expecting an individual to stand up for his beliefs regardless of consequences while not expecting the same from a leader of the religion when under oath?

Following the example of JW leadership, why couldn't Sergei sign the statement renouncing his religion as an act of "theocratic warfare"?

Did Geoffrey Jackson indirectly reject his faith by refusing to stand up for his beliefs when questioned? Did he deny his faith and thus his God?

Did the JW organization as a whole reject their faith and their God by permitting this to happen publicly without a word of condemnation?

What say you?..................

20

Satan Wants to Be Like God and Have Mankind Worship Him.....Yeah Right....

by xjwsrock in

i heard this tired line re-ran again at this year's convention.

satan supposedly wanted to be like god and be worshiped - you know, the whole pride thing.

they really made a big deal about how his "thoughts" led to his sin in the garden of eden and how we need to control our thoughts to avoid the same result.

xjwsrock

sir82 - Amen! Just like all the other cheats of Jehovah. The flood itself for instance. What the hell is up with the whole Tower of Babel thing? It is all such BS.....

20

Satan Wants to Be Like God and Have Mankind Worship Him.....Yeah Right....

by xjwsrock in

i heard this tired line re-ran again at this year's convention.

satan supposedly wanted to be like god and be worshiped - you know, the whole pride thing.

they really made a big deal about how his "thoughts" led to his sin in the garden of eden and how we need to control our thoughts to avoid the same result.

xjwsrock

notsure- I guess you could debate whether Satan could show himself without materializing a physical body. I personally think he would get even more attention in a some ghostly form hovering above ground. Lol....

20

Satan Wants to Be Like God and Have Mankind Worship Him.....Yeah Right....

by xjwsrock in

i heard this tired line re-ran again at this year's convention.

satan supposedly wanted to be like god and be worshiped - you know, the whole pride thing.

they really made a big deal about how his "thoughts" led to his sin in the garden of eden and how we need to control our thoughts to avoid the same result.

xjwsrock

Dunedain - I see your point about Satan coming out would prove God exists. He wouldn't have to name himself in a biblical way. Any spirit creature would get attention beyond belief. He could name himself Zues, and the crowds would line up. Me included. Lol..

Brokeback - Interesting point on the projection of the GB's God complex onto Satan. I think you are on to something there.

Sparrowdown - Ties in with what Brokeback is saying. Lot of similarity there.

14

My Take on the Convention

by xjwsrock in

4300 in attendance - 17 baptized.

odd mix of congregations assigned, i'm sure to throw off any scent of a decline.. no distinction made whatsoever between loyalty to jehovah god and loyalty to the watchtower bible and tract society.

the convention is riddled with parts whipping up your love for the creator and jesus, with a quick reminder that the wbts are their gatekeepers.. parallels are implied constantly between israel and jehovah's witnesses.

xjwsrock

ToesUp - I agree. If you have a problem with the org, it's always a problem with you not them. It shows how much they see themselves as God.

SIR2 - I agree the dynamic is different in a crowd. I myself clapped simply to fit in with the wife and such. I wonder how many others were doing the same.

Eye - I hope they tell the truth on the numbers and we start seeing a decline. I'm sure they will just spin it as a sign of the GT coming soon.

1972 - I remember not questioning this stuff. Scary how they have the members thinking the bible was written about the organization.

20

Satan Wants to Be Like God and Have Mankind Worship Him.....Yeah Right....

by xjwsrock in

i heard this tired line re-ran again at this year's convention.

satan supposedly wanted to be like god and be worshiped - you know, the whole pride thing.

they really made a big deal about how his "thoughts" led to his sin in the garden of eden and how we need to control our thoughts to avoid the same result.

xjwsrock

I heard this tired line re-ran again at this year's convention. Satan supposedly wanted to be like God and be worshiped - you know, the whole pride thing. They really made a big deal about how his "thoughts" led to his sin in the Garden of Eden and how we need to control our thoughts to avoid the same result. (Let's just say the BITE model from Hassan was available in spades at this convention.)

Anyway, I got to thinking about this whole premise - Satan wants to be worshiped. Well it doesn't make a lick of sense.

If Satan is so interested in having the limelight and taking the glory away from God and anybody else, then why is he hiding himself?

WHY IS HE HIDING????!!!!

Do you know how much fame and glory a leader of the spirit world could have in today's society of 24 hour news? He could have billions of people tuned in to see him, listen to him, and watch whatever he does.

Could you imagine how many people would tune in for an exclusive interview with Satan? LOL...

Another teaching that doesn't stand under 5 minutes of critical thought.....

28

We live a simple life

by hoser in

this is a video on jw broadcasting to quit your full time career, sell your house and belongings and start a window washing career.

i agree with some of what is presented but not all.

it is good to live within your means as presented in this video.

xjwsrock

These selfish bastards don't want the members to have anything of value and no identity other than being a obsessed follower of theirs.

Short List of Unapproved Things:

Successful Career, Nice House, Expensive Vehicles, Expensive Vacations, Luxury Brand Handbags, Luxury Brand Clothing, Retirement Plan, Pets, Membership in any Clubs or Organizations, Involvement in any Charity, Any College Degree more than 2 years, Any Professional Designation, Any pursuit that would lead to popularity or fame even if just locally....

Of course, if you break their rules and pursue any or all of these things, they will gladly accept a donation from you. If you are somehow still in good standing, or possibly even if you're not, they will accept any of your professional services as a voluntary contribution to their cause.

Why?....... Well, greed of course.... with a sprinkle of hypocrisy.