Right-wing fundementalist interpretation of scripture have shaped U.S. middle east policy for 40 years. All this recent excitement about "Babylon" as portrayed on televangelist programs have contributed to the blinding nationalism again arising in America. A lack of critical thinking skills is not just sad it is deadly dangerous. The most powerful militery in history is about to slaughter an unarmed (albeit backward) nation. This is not a war this is butchery. And while it is certainly true that oil remains the primary obective, Christian religious zealotry has fueled the cause by it's stupor inducing spin on verses pulled from their historical context.
peacefulpete
JoinedPosts by peacefulpete
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22
About that pesky number 666...
by czarofmischief inas a horror fan, i've seen every antichrist movie from the omen to the omega code.
and that number 666 keeps popping up.
so, i was thinking about that number, and how it's actually written in the bible is a bit odd.
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About that pesky number 666...
by czarofmischief inas a horror fan, i've seen every antichrist movie from the omen to the omega code.
and that number 666 keeps popping up.
so, i was thinking about that number, and how it's actually written in the bible is a bit odd.
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peacefulpete
Right-wing fundementalist interpretation of scripture have shaped U.S. middle east policy for 40 years. All this recent excitement about "Babylon" as portrayed on televangelist programs have contributed to the blinding nationalism again arising in America. A lack of critical thinking skills is not just sad it is deadly dangerous. The most powerful militery in history is about to slaughter an unarmed (albeit backward) nation. This is not a war this is butchery. And while it is certainly true that oil remains the primary obective, Christian religious zealotry has fueled the cause by it's stupor inducing spin on verses pulled from their historical context.
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About that pesky number 666...
by czarofmischief inas a horror fan, i've seen every antichrist movie from the omen to the omega code.
and that number 666 keeps popping up.
so, i was thinking about that number, and how it's actually written in the bible is a bit odd.
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peacefulpete
Roman Caesars did demand a type of worship.And this State Religion was a powerful unifying force permeating all aspects of daily life. It fits my earlier posting. Why does a rational approach to literary interpretation feel appropriate when analyzing books of other religions but dismissed as deviant when applied to the Bible?
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Bible is God's word?
by Moxy inid like to hear some *reasoned* explanations for why you believe the bible is gods word.
ive been so fascinated by the study of *real* biblical scholarship since i began educating myself, i now find it incredulous that i used to take the bible as divine, along with all jws and tons of christians, including a good number here.
so id like to entertain your very best lines of evidence that this is the real deal.. mox
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peacefulpete
Nice comments AlanF
You show a patience I lack. I had to take a break for a few months because of mounting frustration. I now tend to wait for signs of genuine inquirery rather than just invitations to challenge. But I am not perfect. When I remember the weight of doubt and the sense of isolation I used to feel, I sometimes leap into the fray to "help." Half truths and misapplication of facts make the world go round it seems. Are you a member of the Skeptic Society? If not, you would enjoy much of their work. A non-profit organization established to test paranormal and pseudoscientific claims. (skeptic.com) -
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How many elders...
by starfish422 in.
just a quick question...how many elders normally on a jc?
i thought three; but when i met with the elders there were two.. thanks,
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peacefulpete
Actually three ELDERS are not necessary though in America with the abundance of elders this is how the guide book is interpreted. On occasion in areas were the elders are in short supply Ministerial servants are seen as spiritually qualified to sit on judicial commitees but are encouraged to limit their contribution to being yes men.
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Without Gorbachev or Rutherford
by metatron inwhat would have happened to the soviet union if it was ruled by committee.
permanently without any gorbachev?
i think this is worth looking at with regard.
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peacefulpete
Has something changed with regards to voting? Is it again a DFing offence? And what do you mean publisher reporting 15 minutes? Also I heard a 3 percent increase was reported in U.S. How? A baby boom 15 yrs ago? New methods of reporting?or 9/11 backlash? I'm out of touch.
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Reinventing the WBTS
by link ini realise that i could well get shot down in flames here but it is my personal belief that the wbts will make a concerted effort to reinvent itself in the not too distant future.. i also believe that at this very moment they are working on ways to change the major doctrines that have become a millstone for them, without causing major problems and a mass exodus of the r&f.
as i see it they have to leave the vast majority of their teachings intact whilst removing or changing the problem ones.. by receiving some sort of new light on 607 b.c.e.
they would be able to change, or completely do away with, the significance of 1914. although this would need to be the ultimate aim i think it would be difficult to achieve without altering many of their current interpretations of scriptural prophesy.
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peacefulpete
It works with babies. If you want your keys back you pretend you don't want them and draw attention to the rattle laying unattended next to them. They give up the keys with a smile as long as they don't jingle when you palm them.
As a side comment I remember vividly being called to the back room for my heretical WT comments. I believed all would share my excitement over finding that a printed interpretation of a verse was "new light". That is that it had subtle differences from former interpretations. The P.O. actally told me it was not his or my "juristiction" to compare current explanation with older. Unless it was specifically announced that a point was new IT WAS NOT. When I became P.O. I had the same problem with the branch coordinator when I inquired about a change in interpretation and whether I was free to explain this to the congo.As I said we all feel what we have is vital till it is gone. I now know none of it is vital.
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Reinventing the WBTS
by link ini realise that i could well get shot down in flames here but it is my personal belief that the wbts will make a concerted effort to reinvent itself in the not too distant future.. i also believe that at this very moment they are working on ways to change the major doctrines that have become a millstone for them, without causing major problems and a mass exodus of the r&f.
as i see it they have to leave the vast majority of their teachings intact whilst removing or changing the problem ones.. by receiving some sort of new light on 607 b.c.e.
they would be able to change, or completely do away with, the significance of 1914. although this would need to be the ultimate aim i think it would be difficult to achieve without altering many of their current interpretations of scriptural prophesy.
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peacefulpete
I have to agree, it does appear that the change is on the horizen. However the WT has survived equally dramatic changes in doctrine before and will again. The part that concerns me is which way it will go. A consolidation of power, hence more cultlike, with less doctrine but more loyalty, or a more open and socially responsible organized "self help" pop theology. I see hints of both. I knew Lett very well as he was our C.O. ,he's more "Baptist" than most Baptists. That he was chosen to be G.B. in my opinion reflects a desire to remain ultra conservative.
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J.W's and Divorce
by meadow77 init has become apparent to me, through many of your stories that jw's seem to have a hard time staying with their spouses who leave the borg.
i was wondering if this is just a case by case thing or are they in fact encouraged to leave spouses who no longer believes.
it seems strange that they would encourage that seeing as how we are instructed to stay in marriages even with a non-believer if they are happy to stay in the marriage.
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peacefulpete
I left the organization for philosophical and intellectual reasons. This was perhaps worse than being df for adultery. I was not perceived as weak just evil. There was nothing to confess and nothing for my wife to forgive. Our positions seemed forever intractably opposed. I was an enemy. She no longer respected me and I found it hard to respect her. Before my research we were the best of friends and lovers. We served as missionaries, I as P.O. and she as my right arm.
Yet we now saw no way for life together to work. Others at the KH told her how they always suspected my apostate leanings and that she should be happy God was setting her free. When she privatey express some respect for me most would try to assure her that I had not been what I pretended to be. I filed for divorce and we peacefully decided how to divide our things.
Our story has a happy ending. She remembered my cautious nature and found the courage to ask me what I had learned that so changed my life. She soon left also. We saved our marriage. And now look forward to a life together promoting peace and environmentalism through activism. Our story is not unique. Millions of lives have been damaged by sectarian separatist theology. Us or Them ideology seems to work until those you love become Them. -
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Help on translation of Lord/Jehovah in NWT
by eyeslice ini am having great trouble with distinguishing between where the nwt refers to jehovah in the nt and where it should really read lord meaning, not god, but the lord; jesus.
the problem comes to light in a passage quoted in this weeks watchtower study.. the passage in question was romans 14:8, though you really have to read verse 9 as well to a better flavour of what paul was talking about.. in the nwt, the passage reads;.
9. for to this end christ died and came to life again, that he might be lord over both the dead and the living.. other translations, which do not attempt to substitute gods name, render the passage along the lines of;.
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peacefulpete
Does this sound like an omnipotent God with an immutable message for all mankind? A serious study of textural critizism reveal abundant adjusting of the NT text since the time it was cannonized. Only recent efforts by dedicated paleographers has made us aware of this. The WTS and other such groups ironically emphasize that fact. This new research unwittingly has become a weapon to further divide people. Groups like the JWs tout their doctrine as the "original" Christian teachings often siting the findings of these researchers. Ignoring the fact that the NT does not reflect the earliest Christian beliefs, an objective bystander would rightly wonder what kind of God would let his life saving message be altered for 1900 years. The question posed by this thread simply confirms the human origin of this collection of writings.