Posts by pseudoxristos

12

Monotheism, Your comments please

by pseudoxristos in

while discussing jw's concept of jesus as a god (in a yahoo group), the following was posted to define "monotheism".

i'm looking for comments or thoughts from everyone here before i post a my reply.. ...you asked for a definition of "monotheism" and/or "biblical .

monotheism" which would allow for the existence of multiple gods.

pseudoxristos

gumby,

Well first of all the underlined statement is wrong. Monotheism is the belief of only one true God. I'm sure it was a typo.

My request for a definition of "monotheism" that allowed for the existence of multiple gods, was in response to another JW post that suggested that "biblical monothesism" was different from the typical meaning of "monotheism". I never expected a response that would attempt change the meaning of "monotheism". I had no idea that JW's even entertained such an idea. My understanding of the definition is much like yours, "one true God". I assumed that JW's defined "monotheism" the same way I do, therefore I'm here, looking for comments to formulate a response.

I'm also wondering if this is the typical JW definition?

pseudo

12

Monotheism, Your comments please

by pseudoxristos in

while discussing jw's concept of jesus as a god (in a yahoo group), the following was posted to define "monotheism".

i'm looking for comments or thoughts from everyone here before i post a my reply.. ...you asked for a definition of "monotheism" and/or "biblical .

monotheism" which would allow for the existence of multiple gods.

pseudoxristos

Everyone,

While discussing JW's concept of Jesus as a god (in a yahoo group), the following was posted to define "monotheism". This is a new one on me. I'm looking for comments or thoughts from everyone here before I post a my reply.

...You asked for a definition of "monotheism" and/or "Biblical monotheism" which would allow for the existence of multiple gods.
After doing a significant amount of reading on this subject I would
like to propose the use of the following definition taken from Greg
Stafford's book entitled "Jehovah's Witnesses Defended" who writes:

"Biblical Monotheism involoves the recognition, acceptance and
worship of only one true, uni-personal God, the Father. Other beings
can and are rightly considered "gods" in a different, lesser (that
is, a positionally/functionally conferred and/or ontologically
derived) sense than the true God. This is true of them either
collectively or as individuals, so long as their position and glory
preserve or further enhance the uniqueness of God." (page 128)

Furthermore, Peter Hayman in his journal article entitled "Monotheism-
-A Misused Word in Jewish Studies?" made the following observation,
writing, "The pattern of Jewish beliefs about God remains
monarchistic throughtout. God is king of a heavenly court consisting
of many other powerful beings, not always under his control. For most
Jews, God is the sole object of worship, but he is not the only
divine being. In particular, there is always a prominent number two
in the hierarchy to whom Isreal in particular relates." -- Journal of
Jewish Studies, page 15.

I believe the above two cited quotations are sufficent enough to
provide a clear and concise definition of what "Biblical Monotheism"
means. However, if you disagree with the above referenced quoations,
then on what basis do you disagree? Lastly, how do you understand
Pslams 8:5 which LXX translators understood ELOHIM to a be reference
to angels with the use of the Greek term "angel/messenger(s)".

I look forward to your response.

Thanks,

pseudo

1

Top 40 NYC Corporations WTBS #34

by pseudoxristos in

jw
friends

pseudoxristos

Opps, this was already posted. see:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=37173&site=3

sorry,

pseudo

1

Top 40 NYC Corporations WTBS #34

by pseudoxristos in

jw
friends

pseudoxristos

18

Ye of Little Faith

by Zechariah in

jw
friends

i am pained by the lack of faith by people on the board recently both in god and in general.. it is obvious that unbelievers in god would have such lack of faith.

but it is not confined to them alone but to others that though believers in god have little trust and confidence in him.. these of little faith constantly cry for proof and evidence both of god existence or in the case of bill bowens letter to the wts proof of govering body members guilt as child molesters.

they haven't the ability to believe or have faith without physical evidence.. one of my main mentors is tv minister fred price which i watch every sunday morning.

pseudoxristos

Ok, I'm ready to believe. So how do I decide what I'm ready to believe? How do I know what I believe is what I'm suppose to believe? Do I believe what I believe, or what I don't believe but should believe? Or should I believe what you say you believe, but you don't really believe it because you just choose to believe it?

pseudo

16

If you can't beat em...

by Paradiselost in

jw
friends

has anyone on the board ever joined a cong as an unknown apostate, gained a reputation, and then tried to show certain members the errors in their ways.  i'm in a sitation that makes the following hypothetical possible.  should i do it...has anyone attemted it?  thoughts?

pseudoxristos

I've tried the "Start a Study" routine. When my wife (now ex-wife) was a witness, she was constantly on my a** to become a witness. At the time the internet was not available, so the only information I could find were the few books that I could get my hands on. To say the least, I was religiously ignorant. I had no clear plan, I just wanted to show them that their beliefs were wrong. I didn't convince them of anything. After awhile there is no polite way to object to some of their incorrect beliefs. If they knock on my door again, I'm not sure what I will do. The biggest problem I can see is, that they will not want to accept traditional Christianity, and the atheist/agnostic is probably out of the question. Where do you suggest they go?

pseudo

22

The Enormous Price of Lack of Faith

by Zechariah in

jw
friends

trusting god is far more than merely believing he exists.. i just this evening watched a senate session on cspan on the subject of delaying deciding on preemptive strikes against iraq.

it was very interesting to see how lack of trust in god causes irrational fear that people will be willing to sacrafice all their wealth, their comforts, and even the lives of their children.

without the belief that god exists and that spiritual forces exist there is hopelessness.

pseudoxristos

How can anybody deny the multitude of testimonials of miracles people experienced during and after the tragedy. The heroes and the victims all gave credit to God. Are they all delusional or is it you thats spiritually blind without the eyes to see the unseen. (Faith)

How come the religious always imagine that miracles occur during or after tragedies. I don't think I could count the number of times I've heard this line of BS. We've all heard the stories from friends where a loved one has become sick but is now getting better because God is answering their prayers. BS, BS, BS. Show me a real miracle. Show me a miracle that will convince everyone that there is a God. Show me a miracle that will stand the test of time. Why do we have to rely on miracles so questionable that logic can easily find another reasonable explanation?

Give us a God with the power to actually do something.

pseudo

9

Maybe this is the TRUTH!?

by Mr Bean in

i've found the most important source of information about... afterlife.

http://www.victorzammit.com/index.html

http://www.victorzammit.com/articles/silverbirch.html

pseudoxristos

Hey, someone can win a million

$1 MILLION
CHALLENGE
...is being made to any closed minded materialist skeptic in the world who can rebut the existing expressly stated scientific evidence for the afterlife. Read more...

598days!
As at Sunday July21st 02. The materialist, closed minded skeptics continue to fail to win the $1 million reward first offered 1st February 2001No closed minded materialist professional skeptic or debunker, scientist, philosopher, negatively prejudiced lawyer, academic, professor or anybody else anywhere in the world, has beaten the psychics' $1million challenge! The substantive afterlife evidence contained in The Book is found to be irrebutable and irrefutable!

Very amusing, check out rules 6 and 7.

6. The applicant and the offeror accept that the decision of the Committee in relation to the submissions will be absolute, irrevocable and final.
7. The applicant agrees that the level of proof required to rebut the evidence will be the Cartesian test, "beyond any doubt". This means that there has to be absolutely no doubt at all in the minds of the Committee that the 'evidence' has been rebutted.

Oh well, I guess no one will be getting that million.

Where is the donation box?

Found it!

Do you want to become a co- producer? All you have to do is to assist with funding to document the objective evidence for the afterlife. Professional screenwriters and directors with high credits are now cooperating to launch a masterpiece of afterlife evidence with world distribution. Anyone interested to make a global contribution email: [email protected]

pseudo

27

Reason why I reject the Bible

by refiners fire in

jw
friends

some christian clear this up for me willya?

christians are saved thru the mediation of christ right?

if thats the case, will someone tell me why god spent 3000, 2000 years, however long, stuffing around with patriachs and israelites?

pseudoxristos

Maybe he's working on his next plan right now. I hope it makes more sense.

pseudo

3

The Story Of Job: JWD Style

by Zechariah in

jw
friends

the following is a past post from the old h20 before the skeptics migrated over to jwd for whatever reasons they had at the time.

i was pretty much worn out at the time as i was just beginning my mission to proclaim the creator and his existence.

the time miraculous has come to resume that fight with new vigor for i no longer have to start from scratch.

pseudoxristos

Zech,

Did you just think that up out of thin air.

No. I don't really have enough time or the background to thoroughly analysis the entire bible. So I have to rely on others more qualified to do it. Their analysis may not be totally accurate, but they seem to make more sense than your analysis.

Surely you have some Bible scholar to quote to back that up.

Of course I do. Can you provide a bibliography for the book of Job?

You would dismiss the Bible as easily as you dismiss God. Yet you would say you are not biased. Maybe you are just trying to experiment with the power of belief.

Actually for me it was the other way around. First I obtained sufficient evidence to dismiss the Bible, then God.

Of course I'm biased. The evidence that I have seen has biased me towards disbelief. Anything that you present will be weighed against that evidence. Any scripture that you quote will be viewed in light of my past examination of the that evidence. I am not biased to the point of not considering the possiblity that God exists, or that the Bible is his word. I will look at evidence in support of the Bible/God, if it makes sense. But, it must be pointed out that I had believed in God and the Bible for more than 3/4 of my life. I believe that I am well aware of most of the evidence for the Bible/God. At this point in my life the Mountain of evidence against the Bible/God far outweighs the pile of dirt infavor of the Bible/God. If you have any evidence please present it, hopefully I will have not already considered it.

Were you aware of the scholars opinions concerning the book of Job and the Elihu speeches?

pseudo