Posts by peacefulpete

4

Japanese and Jewish Parallels

by forgetmenot in

i was just casually looking through the internet and i found this website: http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~magi9/isracame.htm

it claims that the israelites went to ancient japan.

any one want to comment?

Historical Problems in Bible

by IronGland in

historical problems, inconsistencies, and contradictions comprise a significant part of the bible: .

(1) "thirty and two years old was he (jehoram--ed.

) when he began to reign, and he reigned in jerusalem 8 years, and departed without being desired.

I have no interest in a debate but that was some of the most ridiculous bit of misuse of numbers I have read. In reality most civilization's population was nearly static during these ancient times due to war,disease and high infant mortality. The first line of the chart seemed to suggest that 800+ births saw only 22 deaths! The suggestion that "Ezra" could not have faked the numbers because he had poor math skills was hilarious! Ultimately no amount of fancy accounting explains away the fact that archaeology reveals a much different world than that described by the priests who wrote/edited the OT.

4

Japanese and Jewish Parallels

by forgetmenot in

i was just casually looking through the internet and i found this website: http://www5.ocn.ne.jp/~magi9/isracame.htm

it claims that the israelites went to ancient japan.

any one want to comment?

peacefulpete

The lost tribes bit is a myth. As to similarities, some are no doubt coincidences others may reflect an indo-hittite connection. Both cultures share at least some comon theological indebtedness to ancient india. But I am guessing.

17

who gave isreal to Jehovah?

by peacefulpete in

i thought this was discssed before but i couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious.

at deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of moses" the text says the "most high" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave judah to yhwh/jehovah as his "allotment".

this "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the moses character.

peacefulpete

Thanks city fan for the book recomendation. I pulled out the book "Mythology's last gods" and began to realize that I found many errors in it so I will withdraw that recomendation. Cross's book is still most enlightening and focused. (very tough read tho)

17

who gave isreal to Jehovah?

by peacefulpete in

i thought this was discssed before but i couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious.

at deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of moses" the text says the "most high" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave judah to yhwh/jehovah as his "allotment".

this "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the moses character.

peacefulpete

Seedy...It is unfortunate but what I found to be the case is that most of this type of research is either in scattered pieces on the web and books or included in compilartion type books that poorly document sources. Two books I suggest are Professor Frank Cross's "Cannanite Myth and Hebrew Epic". A landmark book that deals exclusively with the origins of the YHWH theophany (new word to me) from Baal and El. Another that traces some of this and also attempts to condense the whole discussion of Bible errancy into one book is "Mythology's Last Gods, Yahweh and Jesus". It surely has oversimplified many areas but is decent as a overview. I also would like to hear City Fan's recommendations.

26

Witness Numbers Going Down???

by shamus in

jw
friends

are the witness numbers going down?

or, are they still increasing?

does anyone have any good data on this?

peacefulpete

The number of feild service hours invested into each new convert is greatly increasing, so in fact the work is slowing. The U.S. growth of 3% was not due to any large number of new converts, that number was average, the "growth" is in fact due to the 15 minute ruling that "reactivated" approx.1 person in each congo and an unusually large number of disfellowshipped ones returning that year. My crazy post some months ago debated these things a couple months ago. It was entitled "making sense of the report"

17

who gave isreal to Jehovah?

by peacefulpete in

i thought this was discssed before but i couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious.

at deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of moses" the text says the "most high" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave judah to yhwh/jehovah as his "allotment".

this "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the moses character.

peacefulpete

thanks city fan for posting additional info.

17

who gave isreal to Jehovah?

by peacefulpete in

i thought this was discssed before but i couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious.

at deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of moses" the text says the "most high" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave judah to yhwh/jehovah as his "allotment".

this "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the moses character.

peacefulpete

I thought this was discssed before but I couldn't find it, so forgive if this is repetitious. At Deuteronomy 32:8-9, part of the "song of Moses" the text says the "most High" divvied up the nations to the gods he gave Judah to YHWH/Jehovah as his "allotment". This "song" is view for textural and language reasons to be one of the oldest portions of the Bible, an ancient song that was incorporated into the narrative and ascribed to the Moses character. This passage agrees with the findings that YHWH was worshipped in the near east as one of a pantheon under EL the chief god long before the Jews adopted him as their patron god. Comments?

9

Solomon and Apostacy

by RubaDub in

issue .... i've never gotton a good answer about king solomon's later life in which the bible says he married "foreign" wifes and worshipped their gods.. from my dub perspective, this always sounded like plain, clear, unadulterated apostacy.

i mean, if i begin attending the catholic church i would be da'd in a minute and branded as being an apostate.

but we never hear solomon referred to as an apostate.

peacefulpete

I appreciate the value of discussion even if it is about allegory and mythology. Myths can have power, that is why civilization has persisted in the thru the ages. However logical anlysis will only result in frustration. Myths must be appreciated for what they are. By the way, the Cabalistic Jews hailed Solomon as the founder of the magical arts. Why even the use of his name expelled demons! Legends associated Solomon with books of spells and incanations to thwart the devil.

6

REASONING FROM THE SCRIPTURES,page 243

by badboy in

what is indicated by``clouds''?

invisibility.

when an plane is in a thick cloud or above the clouds,people on the ground usually cannot c it,although they may hear the roar of the engine.jehovah told moses;"i am coming 2 u in a dark cloud.

peacefulpete

The ascension where in Jesus is said to be "caught up in a cloud" and the verses that say he will return "riding on or in the clouds" have been interpreted by those familiar with the sun deity elements in the Jesus story as more cryptic references to the sun in the sky. Apollo/Apollon was the healing, miracle working Sun deity sage son of the top god Zeus. He is often pictured in artwork as riding a chariot thru the clouds with the sun behind his head. This might explain the odd phrase, "coming ON the clouds" as Matt. words it.