Posts by peacefulpete

18

Can Satan create life?

by peacefulpete in

the familiar tale of moses approaching pharoah with the demand to free israelite slaves has always purplexed me.

the account says that yhwh miraculously changed moses staff into a serpant but then just as miraculously pharoah's priests did likewise.

does this not "prove" that satan is equally capable of creating life from nothing?

peacefulpete

Xenu

There's alot of money to be made in tarrot card reading, you should check it out.

18

Can Satan create life?

by peacefulpete in

the familiar tale of moses approaching pharoah with the demand to free israelite slaves has always purplexed me.

the account says that yhwh miraculously changed moses staff into a serpant but then just as miraculously pharoah's priests did likewise.

does this not "prove" that satan is equally capable of creating life from nothing?

My question was offered with the intent of stimulating thinking.Why is it so difficult to ascribe creative power to Satan?It is uncomfortable, isn't it? It comes a little to close to polytheism, doesn't it?Or maybe it is unsettling because it seems to threaten the uniqueness of Jehovah. Or said more generally it shakes our perception of reality.It touches our belief system which is like "touching our eyeball." I'm sure that what you wrote makes sense to you, but it does not to anyone else. While saying that the story was an illusion you say it was not an optical illusion or trick.You also said Satan can do miracles like form changing but then said that Satan cannot actully do what the Bible said he did (change inanimate rods into living snakes).Truth and logic, while often resisted, are intellectually understandable.

I too made elaborate explanations for Bible stories and history.I was blind to my own self deception.I found some way to continue to believe what I was believing.Finally the bough broke the weight of evidence became too much,a major crisis of belief ensued.I found honesty with others easy compared to honesty with myself. I won't lie and say it was pleasant,but it was necessary to keep my sanity and self respect. The next time you ecounter something unthinkable or absolutly impossible, ask yourself tough questions like why is it impossible?why have others concluded it is true?am I being honest with the facts?Is my heart leading me astray?

The more time we spend doing this the less time it is necessary to spend weaving defenses for our beliefs.

1

swords in heaven

by peacefulpete in

genesis says that cherubs guarded the way to eden with a spinning sword.yet this is long before tubal-cain first invented forging of iron.

(according to the bible)does this mean jehovah invented swords and was the first to use them for violence?

comments welcome.

peacefulpete

Genesis says that Cherubs guarded the way to eden with a spinning sword.Yet this is long before Tubal-Cain first invented forging of iron.(according to the Bible)Does this mean Jehovah invented swords and was the first to use them for violence? Comments welcome.

18

Can Satan create life?

by peacefulpete in

the familiar tale of moses approaching pharoah with the demand to free israelite slaves has always purplexed me.

the account says that yhwh miraculously changed moses staff into a serpant but then just as miraculously pharoah's priests did likewise.

does this not "prove" that satan is equally capable of creating life from nothing?

peacefulpete

Adonai

Does this also explain why the magic priests were able to conjure up blood from water and frogs that lept about?The Bible does not suggest or hint that what was happening was an illusion rather that they did this through"secret arts"Ex 7;22.

Your response illustrates the length we have t go to to explain away accounts that naturally offend our modern understanding of the world.

The account in Gen does not say the snake was anything but a snake.The later exegesis was necessary to accomadate the more critical thinking of Hellenistic Jews and Chritians.

6

The courtyard and the holy city in Rev 11

by Smitty in

is the courtyard the same as the holy city in rev 11?.

quote:(niv)rev 11:2 - "but exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the gentiles.

they will trample on the holy city for 42 months.

peacefulpete

Smitty

You can find it almost everywhere.But I must warn you that this is a door that once opened is impossible to shut, it may change your whole life.There was an interesting PBS Frontline program on this topic not long ago.The PBS Online site still has the material discussed. Go to the site and search "Apocalypse!".As to books,I only now have one that addresses this specific topic of identity of the kings of revelation."Traditions in Transformation"it is a collection of essays by students of Frank Moore Cross,a pioneer in the field of Bibical origin studies.It is a fine book to introduce you to the field.I have read at least two other books from the campus library but can't recall the titles.I'm sure you can find similar ones near you.Be careful about anything written by clergy few are honest with the subject.

18

Can Satan create life?

by peacefulpete in

the familiar tale of moses approaching pharoah with the demand to free israelite slaves has always purplexed me.

the account says that yhwh miraculously changed moses staff into a serpant but then just as miraculously pharoah's priests did likewise.

does this not "prove" that satan is equally capable of creating life from nothing?

peacefulpete

The familiar tale of Moses approaching Pharoah with the demand to free Israelite slaves has always purplexed me. The account says that YHWH miraculously changed Moses staff into a serpant but then just as miraculously Pharoah's priests did likewise. Does this not "prove" that Satan is equally capable of creating life from nothing? Or rather more likely does not this tale reflect a very primative understanding of the world,an ignorance that sees no problem with miracles and supernatural magic being everyday possibilities in the hands of wizards.Or possibly the tale was just that, a tale about the superiority of Israel's god over the gods of the other cultures around them,(his snake was bigger) and never meant to be literalized.

Which do you think is the case?

132

Can any Witness possibly anwser this question?

by jerome in

hello all... i came across this line of questioning many months on the inet so i decided that i would submit just this once to peer pressure and make a usefull contribution to the board.. here is the question... is jesus just "a god?".

many of the regular inet surfers would have come across this line of questioning before so if you have you could just sit back and relax and read the replys.. <><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><><>.

me: so is he a 'lesser true god' or a 'lesser false god?'.

peacefulpete

Is 9:5,6 reads in the Jewish Publication Society translation:And his name is called Pele-joez-el-gibbor-abi-ad-sar-shalom; that the government may be increased,and of peace there be no end...

The metaphoric embodiment of Israelite renal power (or a specific personage acting as this power) is given a name/title which is properly translated as:" Wonderful in counsel is God the Mighty,the Everlasting Father,the Ruler of peace."

This is completely consistent with other Bibical and non-Bibical Jewish names, in the attributing greatness and ultimate authority to YHWH the God of Israel.This is not a prophecy about Jesus at all.Slipshod translating by Christians has incited countless fruitless debates.

116

WHAT ABOUT THE STUMBLING BLOCKS?

by You Know in

the underlying assumption of the apostasy is that if the watchtower falls short to a significant degree then it cannot be jehovahs organization.

thats why apostates are hopeful that if enough fault can be found with the organization and brought to the attention of the faithful, then they too will accept the conclusion that jehovahs witnesses are not who we say we are.

unquestionably, many have been stumbled over a multitude of stumbling blocks.

peacefulpete

You know

Are you a baptised JW? Are you used as a teacher in the cong.? And you wish me to believe that you have told the Society of you feelings that the greater magority of leaders in the org. must be replaced and you have personal interpretation of script.and that you preach this two others and they have not contacted the local body of elders to investigate this apostasy? You are either lying about your full disclosure, insane or perhaps you are the P.O.s son or Bible study.
As a former P.O. there is no question about what would happen to you in any congregation of JWs.

You ignored my question about why you did not contribute to the threads which did honest questioning of Bible inspiration.I repeat, this is the real issue.

116

WHAT ABOUT THE STUMBLING BLOCKS?

by You Know in

the underlying assumption of the apostasy is that if the watchtower falls short to a significant degree then it cannot be jehovahs organization.

thats why apostates are hopeful that if enough fault can be found with the organization and brought to the attention of the faithful, then they too will accept the conclusion that jehovahs witnesses are not who we say we are.

unquestionably, many have been stumbled over a multitude of stumbling blocks.

peacefulpete

Youknow

Your interpretation of scripture is interesting and your assessment of the organizations past and present errors insightful,why don't you write the Society and explain your understanding to them.I'm sure they would understand and lovingly destroy your life as they did mine when I encouraged them to support Amnisty International in it's efforts to protect human rights.Or are you afraid of God's organization?I challenge you to tell them of what you are preaching here.Give them your name and address.This web site and your handle.I am not a threat to you or anyone. I am not angry just wiser.Why did you not participate in discusssions we had that exposed the unscientific nature of Bible literalism?This is after all the real issue,not what spin to put on specific verses.

Anyone who thinks his religious experience is unique has not studied religion (humans).

39

Timeless Truths in the Bible

by JosephAlward in

some of my favorites are:.

"man's fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: as one dies, so dies the other.

all have the same breath; man has no advantage over the animal.

peacefulpete

RWC

The fragments from which your quote was translated are likely from 2 separate documents.The expression King of the House of David is an expression not found in any other Israelite document.The word House is also translated Temple.The word King is a stretch because only the last letter is present.The dwd translated as David of course means beloved.The expression Beloved having been a epithet of at least one Deity in the region,as preserved on the famous Mesha Stele.As much as you may be surprized to find, many reaserchers do long to find evidence of a united monarchy in the time the bible describes David and Solomon.This has at times led to hasty conclusons.This may be one of them.Yet if all doubt can be erased about this translation, it simply refers to something called the house of david, it tells us nothing of a person called David or the extent of his domain.The overwhelming weight of evidence refutes the posibility of a kingdom of national scale at this early time in ancient Palestine.There remains no evidence that can be established with certainty that such a man existed,but if he did he was not the unifying hero King of Bibical stories.Again I will remind all that the likelyhood of such a significant political force leaving no imprint on history is little to none.The tales and attributes of the two kings David and Solomon bear all the stock earmarks of origin legends purposed to establish a national identity.(fighting lions and bears barehanded,killing giants,divine super human wisdom,gold plated temples,etc: stories which are largely absent from the lives of kings who can be substantiated by history)I can't help it but it is true,I wish it were not so, as I too would like to believe.

Later kings of Isreal are recorded in Assyrian and other nation's records.But even many of the exploits attributed to them in the Bible are fictionalised to teach a moral.