And here's another:
KalebOutWest
JoinedPosts by KalebOutWest
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
I don't want to go further...I don't like deabting on the Internet.
If you missed your chance to join the National Speech & Debate Association, go to college and find a professor who will get in your face and make you argue all day with him.
But debating on the Internet is useless--it's for people who don't want to use their time wisely.
Read this and then, get another degree if you have one, or your first, if you don't:
https://www.theexceptionalskills.com/arguing-on-the-internet/
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
I don't want to debate. I just wanted to leave a friendly note.
Why do people want to be fucking idiots on here! Geesh!
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
No, that isn't what I said at all.
The question was "why" and not "what".
I am a big supporter for atheism and agnostism and ignostism as a matter of fact.
But "why" do people do things is different than "what is the reason" for something.
Also, the "god" wasn't explained. We're not Jehovah's Witnesses anymore. I left the organization years ago. Is this just Jehovah?
I used to be a teacher of religion. I'm retired now. Is this the Christian view of God? Is this one of the Jewish views of God (and are we talking Spinoza, Fromm, or Kaplan)? Let's say maybe even more Eastern or the various Native American or further south? Hindu maybe? What are we talking about for "god"?
Not all "god" forms hear prayer or resurrect or are deities or are even supernatural.
So where do you want to start.
I have my PhD. I'm ready, Cofty.
I'm puzzled why I even needed to explan that.
How about we just do Fromm?
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
Look, I don't care what Cofty thinks about my post. It stands as it does.
People have a right to not believe in anything once they leave and to believe when they leave the Watchtower.
There are no definitives.
We are free to make our own ways.
If he wants to return us to "black-and-white" ways, as if there facts, let him draw them out, and you can follow him as your god or leader.
Let Cofty be your guide.
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
Prove, objectively, that you have the ability to determine I do not care about what is "objectively true" in the question.
I would love to see how you can do that from all the way over there...
-
40
Why believe in a god?
by menrov inif you consider that the god they believe in:.
- cannot be seen or heard and is only known in books written by writers we do not know nor do we have the original writings- does not listen to prayers from believers for security, safety, health, survival, protection, rescue, food etc- promises things that have not come true though had plenty of time to act on the promises- does not provide what you need to live- let's you suffer, struggle, work etc equal to non-believers, treated equally.
........ how does a believer look at his/her parents if they hide themselves, do not provide for you (shelter, food etc), make promises but never live up to these, does not provide what you need to live, treats you like anyone else but not as their child?
-
KalebOutWest
Why believe in a god?
I guess people do it because they aren't Jehovah's Witnesses and aren't under the influence of the Governing Body that tells them what they can and cannot believe in.
Sure, it might seem silly to you and even against reason. But people don't have to listen to you (or anybody, for that matter).
And especially not those idiot men that act like Puppet Masters via the Watchtower publications and tell people what they should and should not wear, should and should not do, should and should not think, and should and should not believe in.
When you don't live under a harsh, ugly, and controlling system like that, you have what is called freedom.
With freedom I can believe in anything that isn't real, like Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, even the US Congress--well, uh, maybe scratch the last one. But you get my drift.
It's great that you have found freedom and have come to your own conclusions. But in a world of freedom you will also have to get used to the fact that people don't give a flying fuck about what you believe (or don't believe) as long as you respect their customs and convictions.
If you don't, you're messing with that freedom you're cherishing right now. That's why people hate the fuck out of the Watchtower and the Jehovah's Witnesses. They want to put everyone under their mighty thumb, extinguish freedom of thought, destroy other customs and convictions, and just make everyone wear the same uniform and think the same way.
Do you want everyone to think like you? You can't have it both ways. Freedom doesn't allow for that.
Why believe in a god? Because you are free to do so when you are outside of the control of a system that says you can't do anything but their way, that's why.
-
7
Oscar's Butt Plugs
by peacefulpete ini'm actually embarrassed to say i watched the everything everywhere all at once movie on a plane.
kung fu with butt plugs and dildoes with a storyline impossible to follow.
i can't believe michelle yeoh agreed to it.
-
KalebOutWest
Everything Everwhere All at Once may not be everyone's piece of cake. A friend of mine did not like it either but enjoyed Tar far more, another choice for best picture, which was perhaps a lot more disturbing of a film to some since it deals with a fictional character at the center of cancel culture (what they must go to when "ignoring it all").
But Everything Everwhere..., despite all the craziness, is simply about a mother who could have lived all these various other lives, where in other worlds were far more special, but when given the choice to suddenly do so, choses to live the simpler life of living as a struggling business owner, in a marriage that has been struggling, carring for an aging father, and learning to love a lesbian daughter and her new girlfriend--something that comes new to her. As described by one of the directors: "I wanted to put my mom in The Matrix."
-
17
Interpretation of Acts 15:28,29
by Christianhonest inwhat does the mandate to "abstain from blood" mean for jehovah's witnesses freed from the control of the governing body?.
it had previously been understood that the best translation of acts 15: 28-30 was "to abstain from blood.
" however, a careful analysis of the passage shows that the best translation of this passage is "to abstain from (shedding) blood," where the word "pour out," which does not appear in ancient manuscripts and other biblical versions, does.it appears there understood in elliptical form.in the same way it happened in the case of colossians 1: 16-20 where the new world translation of the holy scriptures correctly inserted the word "other" several times, understood there in elliptical form, in the phrase of the original greek "all things ", thus obtaining the correct translation" all (other) things ".even though christianity reaffirms itself in translating this passage as saying that "through him all things were created", because he maintains that jesus is god according to his pagan doctrine of the trinity, multiple biblical passages sustainthe biblical truth that jesus is not jehovah god, but his beloved son that god later used as his creative partner.according to this paul said that "though he existed in the form of god, he did not give consideration to a usurpation, namely, that he should be equal to god, no, rather, he emptied himself and took the form of a slave and he came to be in the likeness of men, more than that, when he was in the manner of a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death, yes, death on a torture stake, for this same reason, also, god he exalted a superior position and kindly gave him the name that is above all else, so that in jesus' name every knee of those [who are] in heaven and those who are [over] the earth and those [who are] under the ground, and openly recognize * every tongue that jesus christ is lord for the glory of god the father.
-
KalebOutWest
Welcome Christianhonest.
From my days as a religion teacher (I am now retired) I can say you are correct. You would have received an A in my class.
Acts 15.28-29 is actually the proclamation of the earlier discussion in verses 19-21. There the council is discussing what seems to be the Noahide Laws.
We have to shed our Watchtower upbringing--completely throw it away--and think about what is happening here. This is a Jewish congregation of practicing Jews that followed the Torah, 100%, living in Jerusalem, practicing at the Temple itself, observing kashrut of all things (eating kosher--see Acts 10 for how Peter tells God in a vision he won't eat the non-kosher animals God offers him even though Peter is hungry).
The only difference between this congregation is that they believe the Jewish Messiah has come, in the person of Jesus of Nazareth, that is all. They don't even yet believe he is divine or that Gentiles came in. Right now they are kind of not sure who this "Paul" guy even is.
They do Jewish--and in a big way, and if you read the rest of Acts and history, Jewish Christians will keep doing this until the Bar Kokhba revolt in the 130s CE...and then the Jerusalem church goes down with the rest of the Jews.
This is important because the Jews aren't concerned about telling the Gentiles not to drink blood. Think about it. It's the exact same thing that happens with Jews and Christians today, nothing is changing.
If you ask a Jew if they think a Gentile can get into the Afterlife (if there is one--Jews aren't decided or sure on that), they are decided on one thing: just follow the Noahide Laws.
Remember that they've decided not to impose the laws of kashrut (or kosher) upon the Gentiles, meaning they are not going to be discussing what not to eat, so obviously the laws are going to be light on the discussion on dietary restrictions.
In verse 20, James proposes the following, likely due to four elements found in Pagan (that is Roman, not heathen, which is non-Roman or Hellenistic, which is Greek) worship, so that Gentiles refrain from:
Things polluted by idols
Incest (the Greek word pornia means illegal or improper sexual activity)
Eating Inhumanely (Consuming living and strangled creatures showed disrespect for life)
Bloodshed (Justice; shedding blood and from failing to establish justice)
Leviticus 17-18 makes similar demands of non-citizens who choose to dwell in the land, so it seems that this is what they were using as a basis for their decision-making.
We also have to take into account that the Book of Acts was finalized in Koine Greek. The events took place in Aramaic and Biblical Hebrew. So the words you read in English are translations of translations.
That means "abstain from blood" is a Hebrewism and not a Hellenism or Greek expression. You have to remember to read it that way, as Christianhonest wisely points out.
This is a Jewish council of rabbis. James is a rabbi, not a "Christian priest" or "elder." While this came to be known as the Jerusalem Church and it disappeared in 135 CE during the Bar Kokhba revolt, it was really a Jewish establishment that thought of itself as a Jewish council with one exception, that they found the Jewish Messiah. They thus did everything else by the Jewish book, and we here made exceptions for Gentiles so they could worship in ways different from them.
So you have to read Acts not like a Jehovah's Witness. You have to read it like a Greek translation of a Jewish world.
-
53
1975 on the back burner
by Fisherman in“1975” still marks 6000 years from the creation of adam in wt calendar.
according to “all scriptures inspired” book, there is a gap between the creation of adam and the creation of eve and her marriage to adam.
it was at that point in time when eve was created that marked the end of the 6th creative day and the beginning of god’s rest, the 7th day as recorded in genesis.
-
KalebOutWest
A footnote:
This is why C.T. Russell made his announcement that the Gentile Times ended in October of 1914 and the Annual Meeting takes place in the Autumn.
Russell believed that the Gentile Times ended on Rosh Hashanah, according to his calculations, in 1914 of that year.
And the Annual Meeting was set to occur on the same date too. This was based on the calculations made by the SDA church that holds their celebrations of Jewish festivals for their Christian congregations. Sometimes they do these things according to the Jewish calendar, but sometimes they, like Russell, believe the Jews have it wrong. (Nisan 14 is one of those other calculations that Russell believed the SDA church over the Jews.)
But the Creation, according to Jewish tradition (and JW theology) is in the autumn of the year--and that is also noted in the "Sons of God" book where 1975 first appears--and now you know why.