Posts by Jonathan Drake

80

Ayn Rand - Opinions?

by cappytan in

jw
friends

for those of you familiar with ayn rand and her ideas on morality, rationality and reason, what is your opinion of those ideas?.

i'm talking about her actual ideas, not the ideals that libertarianism has adopted and, in some cases, perverted.

do you think she's a charlatan?

Jonathan Drake

... In a way, you could say Ayn Rand also positively influenced me as well, but in the sense of "don't be a jerk like her".

LOL. omg I hope I'm reading this right. this is my hearty belly laugh for the day, and I still can't stop.

31

the Witch of Endor

by Magnum in

1sa 28:3-25 (nwt - not revised version).

7 finally saul said to his servants: seek for me a woman who is a mistress of spirit mediumship, and i will go to her and consult her.

then his servants said to him: look!

When you go to a spiritualist today or a medium to speak with the dead, do you see the spirit or speak with it, or does the medium act as an intercession between you and the supposed spirit which you never actually see or coherently hear?

But that also tells us something else. David did not know that this was the battle that Saul would be “swept away” in. (1Sa 26:10) Jehovah did not reveal that to him. But several days later, after David had been sent home, the spirit entity that spoke to Saul spoke as if he knew for sure that Saul would die in this battle. If it was a demon, then how could he speak with such certainty? How did he know for sure what David did not know at all. And how could he know for sure that the battle would end disastrously in just one day? (1Sa 28:19 – “tomorrow”)

also as to the above statement, this is an assumption to suggest the demons could not have known. In the book of Job satan is recorded as walking right in among the Angels in heaven during a gathering- so clearly in the Old Testament the devil and the demons had freedom to come and go as they please- there is no reason they could not have known the battle would be Sauls last.

further, Saul had had the spirit mediums run out and killed. So this woman, who pretended to see and speak with and for Samuel could have been getting revenge on Saul, who was known to have been being terrorized by a spirit (1 Sam 16:14).

This was therefore 1 of 2 things:

1. It was the evil spirit terrorizing him, which was actually from God.

2. It was the spirit medium getting revenge for her fallen and murdered brethren.

as to the comment that the bible should just say that- I've never had any problem understanding this was likely not Samuel. And when you read the entire context of the book it does speak for itself, as it says a spirit was terrorizing him- therefore this was likely that spirit. Pretty easy conclusion to reach IMO. Also, if a person said they went to a psychic and spoke with their dead mother- you would know that they meant a ceyonce was held and the medium spoke in a creepy voice or otherwise for this supposed spirit- the person would not need to include those details. Point being, at the time of the writing of this, the process and events were inherent in the culture and those details were unnecessary. But I would argue they still aren't, because spirit mediums havent changed much...

7

The new doomsday mag

by Jonathan Drake in

so i just took a look at this and here is the dilemma:.

where does the bible say that the world will be so literally destroyed like that?.

1. i believe one may think of the verse in zechariah or zephaniah about the dead to your right and left- however was regarding jerusalem.. 2. peter speaks of a new heavens and earth where the elements being intensely hot will melt.

Jonathan Drake

So I just took a look at this and here is the dilemma:

where does the bible say that the world will be so literally destroyed like that?

1. I believe one may think of the verse in Zechariah or Zephaniah about the dead to your right and left- however was regarding Jerusalem.

2. Peter speaks of a new heavens and earth where the elements being intensely hot will melt. But when you look up the Greek words in use you see he was very likely meaning the elements of what this world is build on (so greed, corruption, money, power- whatever you can think of that allows the world to go on being rough, also these are plausible examples- I'm not saying this IS what he meant specifically, only that it isn't a literal tangible thing that is melting).

3. In revelation when the dragon is finally thrown into the fire there is a distinct missing party. The false prophet is there, the harlot is there, the dragon is now there and death soon follows.... But no beast? The beast which represents the nations of earth is not thrown into the fire....

- -

this is what popped into my mind. I'm curious of anyone else has wondered the same thing or noticed how the bible, when talking about this war at the end, doesn't actually seem to say anything about the physical world being obliterated- it's just a spirit creature war in which the elements of evil are destroyed followed by a judging of the people.

17

Pioneers and New Releases!

by DwainBowman in

jw
friends

i forgot about thus until yesterday.. at the coming dc/ic this summer, pioneers are not allowed to get hard copies of new publacations!

elder & ms, and anyone else that wants one, can!.

stupid!.

Jonathan Drake

Makes sense to me. They will have the pioneers refrain from hard copies in an effort to make them advertise the website.

19

Scan Of Telegram To Hitler

by Bangalore in

scan of telegram to hitler.. .

bangalore.

Jonathan Drake

Yea I'm sure that didn't intensify the persecution at all.

45

"Whilst the bible is important, the Watchtower is God's main way of communicating with people today"

by stuckinarut2 in

yes, i'm not kidding!.

this gem was stated today in the talk!

(shortly before i walked out).

Jonathan Drake

I want and need this in print, from them.

303

The best reasonable, rational, intelligent discussion on religion I've ever seen

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k

Jonathan Drake

@myelaine

in my opinion, I think you just hate the qoran and are personally biased, which prevents you from being able to see beyond your current understsnding.

I would posit to you that you missed the point of Jesus message. It's not your place to decide what is or is not anti Christ, or who is wrong or right. This, once again, has been something I've said many times in different ways. I'm maintaining the position of an opinion that the qoran is being misunderstood without saying anyone is necessarily wrong. I'm trying to get you all to see that while you may be right, you might be wrong- something I have no problem readily admitting. Whereas, you want me to say your right- and I will not. (Matt7:1,2)

i feel quite comfortable not judging one way or the other, and instead maintaining faith, and hope for the best for all. (1 Cor 13:4-13)

303

The best reasonable, rational, intelligent discussion on religion I've ever seen

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k

Jonathan Drake

honestly this thread has exhausted me. As I've already said, let's leave it alone. The Quran also says God may show mercy to those who do good regardless of their belief... But you ignore that completely.

I just dont don't have the will to keep this thread going. Believe what you want, read how you want, and interpret what you will. Let's leave the judgement of right and wrong to christ if he shows up, and time if he doesn't. I'm okay with that.

303

The best reasonable, rational, intelligent discussion on religion I've ever seen

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k

Jonathan Drake

The Imams read it. The book remains the same. I guess the religion doesn't promote literacy or learning which isn't a great endorsement.
...
The problems with religion that follow ancient texts has everything to do with both the texts and the people who interpret them.

I agree with this, the religion does have problems. I've stated this previously in agreeing with Exams and yourself, and conceded that surely some fault does rest with the antique language and lack of clarity in the Quran, but not all of it.

IN MY OPINION, the majority of the fault rests with the teachers who convince the people of these things and the people for actually believing it. The Quran does have some fault, I'll concede, but I would argue that the major issue rests with those who interpret it to mean insanity and that while the Quran shares blame, its more like it's part of the fire, not the fuel- the fuel is the people's interpretion. That's what I'm trying to say at this point.

303

The best reasonable, rational, intelligent discussion on religion I've ever seen

by TerryWalstrom in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hl6e4emx-4k

Jonathan Drake

Poor literacy levels in the Muslim World doesn't change this. They're taught various interpretations from the local imams.

This is precisely my point, they aren't reading it for themselves. So the blame would not rest with the Quran, but how the imams are teaching; because the people can't even read it! Lol

this does not undo the fact that the Quran should still be modernized of course, but it does show the real issue is how it's being interpreted, and how it's being taught, not what it says necessarily- because they can't even read it.