Rivergang

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Posts by Rivergang

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  164

  How did JWs arrive at a clearer understanding of what the Bible teaches than other Christian denominations?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for jws who believe that jehovah had a hand in reviving the truth in the nineteenth century this is enough explanation for how jws managed to achieve a closer approximation to early christian beliefs and practices than other groups.

  but is there an explanation for this phenomenon that doesn’t rely on supernatural intervention?

  new testament scholar james dunn explains the difficulty of interpreting the biblical texts in this way:.

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  Rivergang

  When I first became a JW, I recall hearing a lot said about "Constatine the Great" - most of which proved to be quite inaccurate (to put things diplomatically!)

  For example:

  • That he made Christianity the State Religion of the Roman Empire, whereas that happened during the reign of the emperor Theodosius.
  • That he appointed himself the first Pope (back then this was commonly believed by the JWS). In actual fact, Constantine only converted to Christianity while on his death bed.
  • That the Council of Nicaea was convened to help maintain political unity within the Roman Empire. (i.e. by settling religious differences and making the faith of the Christians into the "State Religion")

  What was that about a "Clearer Understanding"?
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  164

  How did JWs arrive at a clearer understanding of what the Bible teaches than other Christian denominations?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for jws who believe that jehovah had a hand in reviving the truth in the nineteenth century this is enough explanation for how jws managed to achieve a closer approximation to early christian beliefs and practices than other groups.

  but is there an explanation for this phenomenon that doesn’t rely on supernatural intervention?

  new testament scholar james dunn explains the difficulty of interpreting the biblical texts in this way:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
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  Rivergang

  Your appeal to Alexander Hislop’s The Two Babylons as a source for claiming that the Trinity is rooted in paganism has been thoroughly debunked by modern scholarship.

  Hislop was also roundly debunked even back in his own time, which was over 160 years ago. (Not in any way surprising - Alexander Hislop was a clergyman, not an historian. He also had a rabid dislike for the Catholic church).
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  6

  JW girl trafficked?

  by neat blue dog in

  1. social
  2. current

  anybody heard of this?

  a lot on social media are saying she was jw.. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213113850013380&id=1007975796&set=p.10213113850013380.

  http://leftmeltdowns.blogspot.com/2018/11/missing-teen-linda-marie-sex-trafficking.html?m=1.

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  Rivergang

  Rule No.1 - Don't feed the troll.
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  6

  JW girl trafficked?

  by neat blue dog in

  1. social
  2. current

  anybody heard of this?

  a lot on social media are saying she was jw.. https://m.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10213113850013380&id=1007975796&set=p.10213113850013380.

  http://leftmeltdowns.blogspot.com/2018/11/missing-teen-linda-marie-sex-trafficking.html?m=1.

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  Rivergang

  Bloody Hell!

  She’s broken out in a fresh place.

  (Or as the Australian comedian Kevin Bloody Wilson described it “That £#cking cat’s back”)
• 
  62

  Ten reasons Jehovah’s Witnesses have the true religion (plus a bonus one)

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  thinking back when i was a true believer these are probably the top ten reasons why i believed jws are the true religion.

  1. they show love among themselves by not going to war.

  not killing your fellow believers in any circumstances, including war, would seem to be a very basic requirement for true christianity.

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  Rivergang

  “It’s a fantasy of the future”

  Is that the same thing as a “Pie in the Sky”?

  That about domes the whole JW business up.
• 
  164

  How did JWs arrive at a clearer understanding of what the Bible teaches than other Christian denominations?

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  for jws who believe that jehovah had a hand in reviving the truth in the nineteenth century this is enough explanation for how jws managed to achieve a closer approximation to early christian beliefs and practices than other groups.

  but is there an explanation for this phenomenon that doesn’t rely on supernatural intervention?

  new testament scholar james dunn explains the difficulty of interpreting the biblical texts in this way:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Rivergang

  OnTheWayOut,

  You just hit the proverbial nail on the proverbial head!

  Thanks for bringing the discussion back on topic.
• 
  62

  Ten reasons Jehovah’s Witnesses have the true religion (plus a bonus one)

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  thinking back when i was a true believer these are probably the top ten reasons why i believed jws are the true religion.

  1. they show love among themselves by not going to war.

  not killing your fellow believers in any circumstances, including war, would seem to be a very basic requirement for true christianity.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  Rivergang

  Their founder, Russell

  The various Bible Student groups would vehemently dispute that statement. According to them, CT Russell did not found the Jehovahs Witnesses. Rather, this was the work of a thug by the name of Joseph Rutherford, who had earlier seized control of the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society. Very little of Charles Russell’s ideas are still taught by the JWs. Little wonder that the copious written works of Russell ceased publication a long, long time ago!
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  19

  The World Today

  by peacefulpete in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been meaning to share some recent experiences that defy the usual tropes about the 'world gone to hell' or 'people now days".. as some of you may remember i was seriously ill for a while and had to close my business and shop.

  now, as it seems i have beaten it, i put up a sign again advertising that in a limited way i'm back.. what amazes me is how many times over the past 2 years customers and even competition have written and called to express their concern and best wishes.

  just last week i had a personal visit of someone who i thought of as a rival, come in and shake my hand sincerely happy to see me up and around.

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  Rivergang

  “the world is irredeemably bad and love and decency are things of the past”.

  There is a religious group who has been spruiking that one just about forever!
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  21

  What makes a cult (in the pejorative sense)?

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  michael moore writes:.

  a cult is an organization that enslaves minds and destroys families using cult mind control.

  cult mind control involves orchestrated deception, social pressure, psychological abuse, and repetitive indoctrination (brainwashing) centering around an unchallengeable ideology enforced in a totalitarian way in a closed socially-separatist community setting.

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  Rivergang

  From the description given by Michael Moore, a cult would not necessarily have to be religious in background. Some of the more extreme political groups would also fit the bill - subjecting their members as they do to such things as orchestrated deception, social pressure, psychological abuse and repetitive indoctrination. (As happened to Allied prisoners of war who were captured by the Communists during the Korean War).
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  189

  What evidence is there for a biblical jesus?

  by Touchofgrey in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is there any independently verified evidence that a miracle worker called jesus existed and did the things that the bible said he did?.

  the four gospels were written by unknown authors many decades after the so called events, so can't be considered as eyewitness accounts.

  i think that there may have been a apocalyptic preacher who was executed by the romans and the story evolved from their.

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  Rivergang

  And that your imaginary friend has a imaginary sword doesn't bother me either.
  

  Very well said!