Posts by mP

39

Josephus in "the Jewish War" remarks on the nature of eternal life

by kepler in

there is a corresponding topic on science and the immortal soul that reminded me of something that i had encountered in the 7th chapter of josephus's history of the roman campaigns in judea, "the jewish war".

one version of this is available in penguin classics, for example.

"among the jews are three schools of thought, whose adherents are called pharisees, sadducees and essenes respectively...".

mP

kepler:

Paul and the apostolic writers elaborate on Christian beliefs of the resurrection, of course, but to me the descriptions of the beliefs of the Essenes match the words of Jesus more closely than the other two principal belief systems.

MP:

Thats befcause Paul did not know or teach jesus teachings. P is a rebel against the old ways of Judaism. J on the other hand is completely the opposite. At every opportunity he reinforces the old ways remain, the only new thing he introduces is his message to pay taxes, be obedient slaves and obey government.

56

Even MORE evidence for "Jesus died on a Cross"?

by ILoveTTATT in

i like jwfact's http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/cross-or-stake.php.

it would probably be interesting to add the information found in this article:.

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/the-staurogram/.

mP

Phizzy/

Exactly you rarely hear of any archeological work from the middle east that backs the bible. It just never happens. From what i have read and seen no arab country allows archeological work with this motivation. Israel is at least intellectually honest becase they allow archeologists like finkelstein. I think they know that the claims of god and bible are myth and the game is up. For whatever reason there are still many believers perhaps not in the truth of the bible but in the tradition that the land is jewish etc.

27

In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth...

by geek in

jw
friends

this very first sentence in the bible makes no sense to me, i struggle with it and i am wondering what other's thoughts are on the subject.

don't get me wrong, i believe in god, i believe their is a creator, or atleast i hope their is.

but i struggle with him creating the heavens and the earth, i mean, why would he?

mP

Geek:

Dont say evolution makes sense! Dont say evolution makes sense! I'd rather believe anything than believe evolution.

mP:

So you would rather take advice on creation from people that believed sick people had demons ? is that real science ? Do yo u think its scientific to test if a woman committed adultery by making her drink dirty muddy water ? Well the bible does. you can search for yourself or ask and i will find the sctipture... its somehwere in Deu.

20

How do we know Satan was evil?

by truthhurts13 in

i believe a good judge would have to hear both sides of the story before making a final judgment.

however, i don't ever recall hearing satan's side of the story in the bible.

i remember only 3rd party hearsay evidence (which is not evidence).

mP

Jeffro

Indeed. Many pagan rites related to seasons . As stated earlier, the planets are only a small part of that.

MP:

The distinction really doesnt matter in terms of the ancient understanding of their world. The sun was a planet for them. planet means wanderer, and the sun wanders around the sky just like the jupiter etc.

39

Josephus in "the Jewish War" remarks on the nature of eternal life

by kepler in

there is a corresponding topic on science and the immortal soul that reminded me of something that i had encountered in the 7th chapter of josephus's history of the roman campaigns in judea, "the jewish war".

one version of this is available in penguin classics, for example.

"among the jews are three schools of thought, whose adherents are called pharisees, sadducees and essenes respectively...".

mP

Do you believe everything Josephus said ? Would you believe something even if he told you something that might shock you about ancient jews ?& their religion ?

9

Jesus, the Money-Changers and ATM machines ?

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

everytime i go to an assembly, a picture with the atm machine comes to mind.. in one of the older publications there was a picture of jesus in the temple over-turning the tables of the money-changers.. come on photoshop people .... add a couple of atm machines falling down into the picture.. it would be great to have for a party and the time spent could be added to your monthly service time.. rub a dub.

mP

Given the bible has a whole book (leviticus) devoted to collecting money for priests in ancient israel and judea whats the difference ?

56

Even MORE evidence for "Jesus died on a Cross"?

by ILoveTTATT in

i like jwfact's http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/cross-or-stake.php.

it would probably be interesting to add the information found in this article:.

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/the-staurogram/.

mP

Earnest

the archaeological site at the Sisters of Nazareth convent in central Nazareth [which] has remained unpublished and largely unknown to scholarship. However, work by the Nazareth Archaeological Project in 2006–10 showed that this site offers a full and important stratified sequence from ancient Nazareth, including well-preserved Early Roman-period and later features. These include a partially rock-cut structure, here re-evaluated and interpreted on the basis of both earlier and newly recorded data as a first-century ad domestic building – perhaps a ‘courtyard house’ – the first surface-built domestic structure of this date from Nazareth to be published, and the best preserved. The site was subsequently used in the Roman period for burial, suggesting settlement contraction or settlement shift.

mP:

If y9ou have a link to read the article that would be great. However Rome was around a long time. It certainly only took at interest after Constantine in Nazareth. Given the thousands of years between now and then, we need some narrowing down on the times they actually identify. Are they actually saying they have proof for N existing at the time of Jesus ?

Im sure if they found something big or persuasive they would publicize it, but its never in the news. All articles of faith almost always are undisputable fakes. The Saudi government itself does not allow archeology within its borders because they know the story of Mohammad anmd the Quran is just as problematic. The story of the Q being unchanged since the beginning is a lie just like the Bible. Both traditions have evolved and changed over time many times.

56

Even MORE evidence for "Jesus died on a Cross"?

by ILoveTTATT in

i like jwfact's http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/cross-or-stake.php.

it would probably be interesting to add the information found in this article:.

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/the-staurogram/.

mP

Earnest:

I'm not sure if that was JW-approved but thought Paul would allow it as "making use of the world".

mP:

Well Paul never mentions Nazareth, or any placwe that jesus mentioned. We have an account in Gal of him visiting jerusalem and yet he never mentions anything about jesus preaching work there, unfair trial or death. in fact if you read Romans, Paul said that jesus wouldnt even qualify as a preist if he came to earth. The truth is P didnt know jesus. the man at all. You can verify this by scanning all of P's writings for any word or place related to Jesus. No Nazareth, Bethlehem, Mary, miracles, etc.

56

Even MORE evidence for "Jesus died on a Cross"?

by ILoveTTATT in

i like jwfact's http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/cross-or-stake.php.

it would probably be interesting to add the information found in this article:.

http://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/biblical-topics/crucifixion/the-staurogram/.

mP

Earnest:

As for Nazareth, if I may put my oar in, I visited some years ago and stayed at the Sisters of Nazareth convent.

mP:

The catholic church has built many churches, and other structures over so called special places. how many churches have fake arms fingers and whatever of apostles ? there are many cases where different churches claim to hold bits and pieces from the same apostle that doesnt add up.

How many places have shrines to apparitions of the virgin mary ? Does anybody really believe in all those crying sstatues of mary or jesus ?

if you understand jewish tradition, there i no way they would built a village onto p of a cemetary and thats just the start of the problem with N.

10

Anyone in the Bible addressed God as "Jehovah"?

by UBM101 in

if even jesus christ himself and other people in the bible did not addressed god using his name jehovah, why should we?.

mP

UBM101

Even Abraham didnt address yahweh or jehovah by either names or anything remotely close. Ex 3 tells us he knew "god" as el shaddai. the truth is there are many gods in the OT, the names change but the greedy priests who want a monopoly on collections never change their priorities.