Posts by Whynot

19

Research help needed: knowledge of Knights Templar and Masonic history vital

by Fay Dehr in

i am in conversation with a uk historian regarding some knights templar locations, where jws have built buildings.

*** this is serious research - not a joke *** .

i am not - and do not wish to be - a conspiracy theorist, but something has come to light in the uk and i lack the knowledge of knights templar + masons.

Whynot

May I suggest that you find the nearest masonic temple and start there? I think they can offer some helpful information. They're pretty accessible.

33

Child sacrifice and Jesus' sacrifice

by Whynot in

jeremiah 7:31 says, "they have built the high places of toʹpheth, which is in the valley of the son of hinʹnom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, something that i had not commanded and that had never even come into my heart.’".

according to this scripture it's unthinkable for jehovah to be pleased with child sacrifices.

but yet he sent his son to be killed as a sacrifice for all?.

Whynot

I'm not doubting sin or chet. What I am saying is that through time chet has changed it's meaning from when it was written originally. Again, there was no concept of original sin as Christians explain it today.

It took hundreds of years to develop the theories of atonement that we have today. And Perry has explained just one of the many theories beautifully.

I'm thinking I will have to break up this subject in different posts since there are many theories and beliefs on the matter that have truly changed since the first century.

51

Without god what is the basis of morality?

by OneEyedJoe in

i'm sure most here who've questioned or left behind their belief in god have encountered this question - without god, what basis can there be for morality?

my exwife, when i admitted that i was an atheist, once asked me "if you don't believe in god, what's to stop you from going out and raping and murdering?

" previously, whenever i got this objection, i would tend to turn it around on the other person with a response along the lines of "if fear of god is the only thing that stops you from murdering, that makes me rather nervous to be around you.

Whynot

Religious morality is the worst kind. Why do you need a book to tell you what to do or not to do?

51

Without god what is the basis of morality?

by OneEyedJoe in

i'm sure most here who've questioned or left behind their belief in god have encountered this question - without god, what basis can there be for morality?

my exwife, when i admitted that i was an atheist, once asked me "if you don't believe in god, what's to stop you from going out and raping and murdering?

" previously, whenever i got this objection, i would tend to turn it around on the other person with a response along the lines of "if fear of god is the only thing that stops you from murdering, that makes me rather nervous to be around you.

Whynot

33

Child sacrifice and Jesus' sacrifice

by Whynot in

jeremiah 7:31 says, "they have built the high places of toʹpheth, which is in the valley of the son of hinʹnom, in order to burn their sons and their daughters in the fire, something that i had not commanded and that had never even come into my heart.’".

according to this scripture it's unthinkable for jehovah to be pleased with child sacrifices.

but yet he sent his son to be killed as a sacrifice for all?.

Whynot

When the Bible was written there was no concept of original sin. I'm trying to figure out when this idea emerged. So far I have found that St. Augustine wrote about this first.

The idea of a ransom sacrifice is certainly difficult to swallow. Jesus death forgives sins yet the Bible also says our death forgives our sins. So, which is it? Judaism had no concept of sin.

After studying the Jewish culture about sin and looking into the NT objectively and the many theories of Jesus atonement and their history, I have found that the one that makes sense to is the Moral Exemplary theory.

Phillip Quinn explained it this way:

My suggestion is that what Abelard has to contribute to our thinking about the atonement is the idea that divine love, made manifest throughout the life of Christ but especially in his suffering and dying, has the power to transform human sinners, if they cooperate, in ways that fit them for everlasting life in intimate union with God. ... On [this] view, the love of God for us exhibited in the life of Christ is a good example to imitate, but it is not merely an example. Above and beyond its exemplary value, there is in it a surplus of mysterious causal efficacy that no merely human love possesses. And the operation of divine love in that supernatural mode is a causally necessary condition of there being implanted or kindled in us the kind of responsive love of God that, as Abelard supposes, enables us to do all things out of love and so to conquer the motives that would otherwise keep us enslaved to sin.

36

Anybody here still believe in the bible?

by Mel Morris in

jw
friends

i'm a current bible student of jw's looking to chat with someone about biblical doctrine.

i'm not interested in talking with an apostate or a fader, i'm just a person looking for answers and wondered if there are any neutral voices in this forum who have good insights into the bible.

i currently talk with a couple of jw's on a personal level from my congregation and they are knowledgeable to a certain extent, but i dare not ask them certain questions because, as you know, the congregation has a culture of fear that impacts trust and openness, especially concerning biblical doctrine or the societies teachings.

Whynot

Since the Bible was written for Jews I have found that it's better understood when studied through their knowledge. Look for the intended meaning by researching the culture of those days. It makes it more meaningful.

And don't be afraid of looking up non-canonical books.

For deeper study I like this blog

https://lostchristianity.wordpress.com/

40

Screwed up sexually

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

i was thinking about how the borg screws up and sexually neuters their flock by telling them when single to "deaden their body" and then boom as soon as there's a ring on the finger to not be denying eachother.. do any of you know of jws who have been screwed up by these teachings?

i know 2, 1 elder came back from honeymoon having a nervous breakdown unable to cope with the cd that sex produced in his head.

and the other called up her parents while on honeymoon, crying and begging for themto come and get her, since she was so shocked that sex hurt.

Whynot

Yes, it left my marriage in shambles. My husband was heavily indoctrinated thinking sex was evil. I have needs. It was like having sex with a Nazi. He felt guilty if we enjoyed ourselves too much. It led ti fights, which led to our separation but we got back together. He still struggles with it though.

I always hated being told how I should view sex. I have few restrictions but my husband still is very restricted. It's difficult to enjoy it when I know he doesn't feel comfortable. It deeply hurt my self-esteem. I really don't understand it.

31

Beards and Circumcision: turning their argument around

by neat blue dog in

one argument against beards i've heard multiple times, both from individual jws and from the platform is roughly:.

'timothy got circumcised so as not to stumble others!

shouldn't you be thankful you don't have to do that?

Whynot

Psalm 119:165 Abundant peace belongs to those who love your law; Nothing can make them stumble.

If someone "stumbles" because of a beard, they need to get their head out of their @ss

7

The WTS thinks Jesus was a liar or an incompetent fool?

by TTWSYF in

the whole idea of a great apostasy means that jesus was lying [or he was a crazy fool] when he said that he would be with his church until the end of the age.

matt 28- 18then jesus came to them and said, “all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.

19therefore go and make disciples of allnations, baptizing them in the name of the father,and of the son, and of the holy spirit, 20and teaching them to obey all that i have commanded you.

Whynot

If Jesus was truly concerned with spreading his teachings he would have written a book himself. The gospels were written decades after he died and they weren't even written by his disciples. So we don't truly know what he said.

So many contradictions and made up ideas. Whose to say what his true intention was.

I think that the NT writers would have done a better job if they knew that in the future most of the world was going to rely on their works to learn about Jesus.

They're probably in heaven saying "We really fu**ed up."

43

Be Couragous! - (Like The Governing Body?)

by pale.emperor in

i was watching lloyd evans rebuttal to the saturday program of the be courageous convention.

lloyd pointed out something that had occurred to me as well:.

all this talk and examples of courage, whether it be standing up in class defending intelligent design, putting up with being imprisoned, not running away from bullies, always having a reply to someone who tries to ridicule your faith... the young ones are encourages - nay, commanded - to stand their ground and be courageous.

Whynot

They expect the sheeple to be couragous and not run away but none of this applies to them.