pistolpete

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Posts by pistolpete

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  13

  MY GOSPEL

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  has anyone ever read the new testament- critically- and not theologically?

  by theologically i mean not reading the bible with the intention of understanding the nature of god and religious truth.

  but instead, reading the bible by analyzing only the facts of what is written, in an unbiased frame of mind to pull out what is actually happening in the written stories.. first of all, if you were to read the nt in chronological order, paul’s 7 authentic letters would come before the gospels of matthew, mark, luke, and john.

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  pistolpete

  Jeffro

  All 4 of the ‘gospels’ are anonymous, and the names given to them are later traditions only.

  The gradual development of the stories about Jesus, several decades after the supposed events

  This is an important Truth with Massive implications that your average Christian doesn’t understand, but bible scholars whose career is to take apart Historical Data understand very well.

  For the average Christian, it makes perfect sense to read the New Testament in its current order of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. This introduces the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, and then the very next book of Acts gives us the early history of Christianity and ends with Paul. It all makes perfect sense-UNLESS THE ONE READING IT IS A CERTIFIED HISTORIAN IN BIBLE STUDIES.

  Historians read the New Testament in chronological order by date written. In the last 150 years of studying the New Testament in the order they were written, a different picture emerges, one with far reaching implications. Historians usually follow a set of rules that focuses on a precise set of questions.

  Which is the oldest bible book?

  How was the information passed along?

  Was it an eyewitness who wrote the Gospels, was he actually there to witness Jesus walking on water, did he witness the conversation Jesus had with Satan on top of the mountain, did he actually witness the three resurrections, or was it just “HEARSAY?”

  In other words were some of the stories in the Gospels just rumors by None-eyewitnesses, that were passed along year after year, decade after decade?

  How were these stories found in the 4 Gospels we have today, passed along, edited?

  Were the stories “Embellished?

  What Theological motivations were operating when these stories were written down?

  The story about the resurrection of Jesus it tied up with “The empty tomb.” What happened to the body of Jesus?

  I will consider this in later posts.

  Much of this information is the result of reading many books by different bible scholars. The more you read what historians say about the matter, the more pieces of information you have available which allows you to put together a better picture of what really happened.
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  17

  Can you get disfellowship for kissing a person of the same sex?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this on exjwreddit.

  a pimo elder is in the middle of an event where a former co allegedly kissed a brother from another hall.. the co denied it so the other elders are frustrated because they can't have a judicial meeting.

  if true, can he be disfellowshipped?

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  pistolpete

  So I guess it depends on the elder body serving in the particular congregation. Some elders are radical and some aren't.

  In order to avoid such problems where they scrutinized every minute (very small, tiny, infinitesimal, insignificant) part of your life, it would be better to leave such and environment, and find an other environment where you can live your life in peace without so much drama, which is not good for your health.
  
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  17

  Can you get disfellowship for kissing a person of the same sex?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this on exjwreddit.

  a pimo elder is in the middle of an event where a former co allegedly kissed a brother from another hall.. the co denied it so the other elders are frustrated because they can't have a judicial meeting.

  if true, can he be disfellowshipped?

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  pistolpete

  I found this on exjwreddit. A pimo elder is in the middle of an event where a former CO allegedly kissed a brother from another hall.

  The CO denied it so the other elders are frustrated because they can't have a judicial meeting.

  If true, can he be disfellowshipped?

  I think the best thing for anybody still in the organization to avoid headaches and trouble is don't associate with the members. Better yet, get out completely. Your life will be better.
  

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/ryh649/feeling_bad_after_elders_meeting/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
• 
  13

  MY GOSPEL

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  has anyone ever read the new testament- critically- and not theologically?

  by theologically i mean not reading the bible with the intention of understanding the nature of god and religious truth.

  but instead, reading the bible by analyzing only the facts of what is written, in an unbiased frame of mind to pull out what is actually happening in the written stories.. first of all, if you were to read the nt in chronological order, paul’s 7 authentic letters would come before the gospels of matthew, mark, luke, and john.

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  pistolpete

  EdenOne

  Also, consider the fact that Mark doesn't seem to know anything about a resurrection story ... in fact, this was so shocking and embarrassing that some scribes took it up upon themselves to add a spurious "short conclusion" and a "long conclusion" to Mark, in order to at least make it seem that Mark knew something about it.

  Exactly EdenOne. In fact this brings us to where the idea of the resurrection of Jesus and how it was introduced in the other Gospels.

  Hint; it had to do with the missing body of Jesus. It was gone from the grave, so where did it go?
  

  I will post this idea later in another post regarding; "What happen to the body of Jesus?"
  
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  32

  Can Jehovah's Witnesses explain the overlapping generation?

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i found this interesting topic on the current views among jws regarding the overlapping generation.. the posts are hilarious.

  how do most jehovah's witnesses explain the overlapping generation?.

  i've asked a couple of jws to explain the overlapping generation and they directed me to the website jw------org.. either they don't know, or they do know but don't want to discuss it because they know it's bogus and embarrassing.. either way, surely they must know that this just extended the last days another 80 years from the time fred franz died.

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  pistolpete

  I found this interesting topic on the current views among JWs regarding the Overlapping generation.

  The posts are hilarious

  How do most Jehovah's Witnesses explain the Overlapping Generation?

  I've asked a couple of jws to explain the Overlapping generation and they directed me to the website jw------org.

  Either they don't know, or they do know but don't want to discuss it because they know it's bogus and embarrassing.

  Either way, surely they must know that this just extended the last days another 80 years from the time Fred Franz died. Meaning that most won't be around to see the END. Unless you are one year old, you won't see the end. 😩

  Or is it possible they haven't sat down to reflect and calculated the extension in time that has been created by this Overlapping generation idea.

  If I was a JW and believed with all my heart that the end was close, and that I shouldn't go to College, that I should refuse a blood transfusion even if it meant my life, report all sins to elders, etc. And NEW LIGHT told me that the END has been extended another 80 years---------I would just walk out without saying anything to anyone and live my life the way I wanted to.

  Why do they STAY if they have just been told by the GB that the end has been extended another 80 years??

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/rtpzr9/how_do_most_jehovahs_witnesses_explain_the/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
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  13

  MY GOSPEL

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  has anyone ever read the new testament- critically- and not theologically?

  by theologically i mean not reading the bible with the intention of understanding the nature of god and religious truth.

  but instead, reading the bible by analyzing only the facts of what is written, in an unbiased frame of mind to pull out what is actually happening in the written stories.. first of all, if you were to read the nt in chronological order, paul’s 7 authentic letters would come before the gospels of matthew, mark, luke, and john.

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  pistolpete

  Here is something else to consider. The Gospel of Mark was the first written gospel, not Matthew.

  Luke was written several decades after Matthew, perhaps at the end of the first century. And John was written much later.

  That being the case the Gospel of Mark was the cleanest of them all. By this I mean no extra embellishments.

  A good example of this is the Gospel of Mark did not have the story of Jesus's birth and the three wise men or whatever you want to call them. Mark also didn't have the killing of all the babies, or the young Jesus teaching older men story.

  Reason being is because these stories had not been "Created" YET to embellish the life of Jesus. So the stories were not in circulation when the Gospel of Mark was written. Meaning that the author of Mark had not heard of such stories. Those stories came years later. Remember the author of the Gospel of Mark was not an EYE WITNESS.
  
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  7

  I'm happy about the increase

  by StephaneLaliberte in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i know its weird to say something like this on this forum, but its how i feel about it.

  i feel that way cause i see that covid has taken a tole on my dad who's growing older.

  knowing that this will come as good news to him is somewhat comforting to me.

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  pistolpete

  Anyways... its really weird to feel this way.

  Not really weird.

  You love your dad and don't want to see him suffer.

  I feel the same way about many JWs who are enslaved to the organization and wasting their entire life away.

  I wish I could help them but they are so indoctrinated that I can't.

  There's nothing wrong with loving people and wishing they had a better life.
  
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  19

  So many are waking up. Pandemic gave jws time to think.

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is not about stats, but "actual experiences" happening world wide in the organization.

  there is about 156 comments of what some jws are seeing in their congregation.

  feel free to read and come to your own conclusion on whether the watchtower organization is turning pimo but no one says anything in order to keep family relations.

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  pistolpete

  truth_b_known

  What my father didn't realize what he was actually sayings was "The more time you spend away from Witness activities the more you will see the truth about the Truth."

  Almost two years without Kingdom hall meetings, conventions, and field service.

  It gives JWs some time to reflect.

  If it was truly the last days, why would Jehovah allow the door to door preaching work to come to a halt?

  If the last days called for meeting together all the more so as as we see the end drawing close, why would Jehovah allow ALL the Kingdom Halls to shut down WORLD WIDE?

  Add all the child sex abuse exposure and what do you get..............

  6 or 7 Million PIMOS!

  Remember Stats publish by the Watchtower does not Consider PIMOS.
  
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  19

  So many are waking up. Pandemic gave jws time to think.

  by pistolpete in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is not about stats, but "actual experiences" happening world wide in the organization.

  there is about 156 comments of what some jws are seeing in their congregation.

  feel free to read and come to your own conclusion on whether the watchtower organization is turning pimo but no one says anything in order to keep family relations.

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  pistolpete

  This is not about stats, but "actual experiences" happening world wide in the organization.

  There is about 156 comments of what some jws are seeing in their congregation. Feel free to read and come to your own conclusion on whether the Watchtower Organization is turning PIMO but no one says anything in order to keep family relations. .

  https://www.reddit.com/r/exjw/comments/rs8bxc/so_many_are_waking_up/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web2x&context=3
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  18

  Article to discuss or argue over: Buddha, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammed: Larger-than-life historic figures or largely legends?

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've posted a link to an article that contains important food for thought.

  as we search for information to free our minds and hearts of cult-like thinking which entails being able to critically think, we need to ponder research that is available to help us to make important decisions.

  we need to allow ourselves to consider other possibilities, something that jw’s are discouraged from doing.

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  pistolpete

  As a side note: the world's most famous atheist characterizes himself as an agnostic when pressed - Richard Dawkins.

  I'm not a Richard Dawkins fan and only read two of his books which I think are just opinions. So I know very little of him. And I don't plan on reading any more of his books
  

  Pete Zahut

  “Lovers of truth will agree that…

  
  

  PH, I always hated how the WT used that phrase. Making it seem like if you didn't agree with them. then you were not a lover of Truth, and by implication a lover of the lie.