Posts by Marbles

33

Blood Transfusions & Flood, Questions from Bible student only

by Marbles in

i was never a jdubb, only a bible student.

there are two main questions i have.

let me preface that by saying that i do not believe the bible is true, or the word of god.

Marbles

@Fisherman, is it your world view, and the reason Jewish people pray at the Wailing Wall, that Solomon's Temple will be re-built? Is that what the JW's are trying to say? Because to my world view, that is a stunning fallacy. I just don't see things that way.

Obviously I could never become a JW because I ask too many questions.

ETA: David was forbidden from building a temple "because he had shed too much blood" so his son Solomon built one instead.

(I Chronicles 22:6-8)

“You have shed blood abundantly, and have made great wars; you shall not build a house in My name, because you have shed much blood on the earth in My sight.”

Shavuot Learning from Talia | Springboard Blog @ Jewish United Fund (juf.org)

33

Blood Transfusions & Flood, Questions from Bible student only

by Marbles in

i was never a jdubb, only a bible student.

there are two main questions i have.

let me preface that by saying that i do not believe the bible is true, or the word of god.

Marbles

@waton, I appreciate your plain and intelligent response very much! I agree. Parables and fables are the same, and not to be taken literally. Not everyone in a congregation will identify with Aesop's fable The Tortoise and the Hare in the same way. Some might interpret that fable to mean "nice guys finish last." Others might take it to mean don't rush when you need to get important work done.

@fisherman, you have said a lot about Jewish traditions that I don't understand at all. Please decipher it into plain language? Not trying to be rude, but I am not Jewish. Are you? I am assuming you are, by the way you responded. This is why I asked you, how did the Christians come to possess copies of the OT? Was it during temple raids? And isn't it reasonable to assume if it was acquired during temple raids that some of the OT is missing? The point being that laws about blood refer to the Jews and kosher meat, no one else. But if you, as a JW (I do not know if you are or are not) wish to adopt Jewish religion, as JWs seem to pick and choose which rituals they can adopt, you can easily buy kosher salt at the grocery store and "cleanse" the meat you eat so it is kosher. Unless you can prove to me otherwise, this is what is meant by "not eating blood." It does NOT refer to blood transfusions! There is a ton of scientific, factual inaccuracy in the Bible. Yes, as waton said, during the time the Bible was written, many people believed the earth was flat. You can try to point out there is reference in the Bible to it being a "circle" but the earth is a sphere, not a circle. And the smart men of the earth could deduce that since the moon was a sphere, the earth was also a sphere.

19

This good news of the kingdom

by Rattigan350 in

growing up around the faith, whenever i heard something taught, i'd always think there is a different way of looking at that, probably better.. we always hear "this good news of the kingdom will be preached... " matt 24:14.. so i think, is there more to it than preaching the kingdom?.

luke 17:21 the kjv and asv says "neither shall they say, lo here!

or, lo there!

Marbles

This is a good post, but it is hard to figure out a good response. I want to say if the "spirit" of Jesus is in our midst, then I want to believe that is an empathy that has developed from years, maybe decades of trying to figure out how to work "the Golden Rule" properly.

I can't speak for anyone else, but I am not always empathic. I should be more empathic, but as a woman this makes me a vulnerable target for exploitation. I guess it is safer to be empathic on line, as long as a person doesn't fall for scammers of so many kinds- romance scammers, prosperity gospel scammers, financial scammers, etc. Scams everywhere.

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Marbles

I feel sorry for people who are only allowed to read the Bible for an edumacation. How are they ever supposed to learn a trade or a career? JW Governing Body has the mindset of the rulers and priests during medieval times. The rulers and priests were the only people who could read (and books were few and far between before the development of the printing press). The peasants were unable to read and were at the mercy of information provided by the priests. The peasants were a very superstitious people, believing black cats were witch's familiars, and bad luck, etc. This was the beauty of public education, revived by Queen Elizabeth I (Protestant- her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots, was Catholic) after it was abolished for a short time (previously only available to boys and men).

This whole thing about an "insult" being a "crime" in Coratia must date back to medieval times when it was a crime to insult someone who did not have much of an education. And I agree, it's a cruel thing to do.

I don't feel sorry for Lloyd Evans because I just don't like men like him. But I think he can pursue an education, and a career, now that he has left the Dubbs.

33

Blood Transfusions & Flood, Questions from Bible student only

by Marbles in

i was never a jdubb, only a bible student.

there are two main questions i have.

let me preface that by saying that i do not believe the bible is true, or the word of god.

Marbles

I'm not sure how King David, or the blood of Jesus, got all entangled into this conversation, unless it has something to do with King David being "The Kingdom of God" JWs refer to, and the blood of Jesus being shed to go back in time to that time period to restore the Kingdom of David? Because, like I have inferred, if JWs take the Bible literally, then "eating blood" refers to non-kosher meat, and I'm pretty sure JWs eat non-kosher meat. I don't think the blood transfusion issue has to do with Jesus' blood shed and/or the "Kingdom [David's] of God." I think "refraining from blood" interpreted to mean no blood transfusions has to do with JWs having no idea what they are talking about. Marcus Aurelius was a great emperor, and his writings are preserved to this day. But I don't see any reason anyone would wish to live under Marcus Aurelius' reign again if it meant living without modern comforts that modern society offers. Likewise I just don't see why anyone would want to live under King David again, or for that matter, Donald Trump, or JFK, or Bill Clinton, etc. JWs quote the OT all the time so how then can you say the Old covenant was abolished by the New? Which is it, for God's sake? It's just JW double talk. No, there is no "spiritual Israel." Read Israel Shahak, Jewish History, Jewish Religion. Read it all. (You can easily download the pdf online for free).The OT was written by them and for them only. The question is only how it got into Christian hands. (Read also Josephus, I believe the section titled Jewish Wars).

11530

It's been a long 9 years Lloyd Evans / John Cedars

by Newly Enlightened in

original reddit post (removed).

Marbles

If Dijana has not reached the point where she understands LE is more than likely NOT going to change, she will end up with someone just like him if she decides to marry again. When I grew up, my step-dad read Playboy, but other than that, I was pretty naive to the fact that men like Lloyd Evans even existed insofar as philanderers go. I wouldn't call her a co-conspirator just yet. For the time being, she seems safe at her parents house, and Lloyd should be kicked out of the nest, free to fly on his own. Eventually his subscribers will dwindle down to men who are interested in obtaining similar "freedom."

He's nothing but a sex tourist like Daryush Valizadeh, who goes by the name "Roosh." Roosh was an internet "pick up artist" who tried to make a living out of teaching incels and other undesirable men how to pick up chicks, and how to "get laid." He self-published books on Amazon on sex tourism, his main thesis being how undesirable American Women are because they wear flip flops instead of high heels, for instance. The titles of his books were like, "Bang Argentina." Eventually Amazon banned him and his books. If LE keeps making public statements on YT about having no control of his penis and how a small minority of people will always be concerned about what he does with his penis, You Tube will ban him too- but it takes YT forever to make such a decision. Amazon, however, would step in quickly if LE starts to publish books on his fondness for sex tourism, however.

20

Governing body member has nervous breakdown due to bethel workload

by Witness 007 in

karl klien life story from the watchtower.. "president rutherford had repeated occasions to reprove me for breaking some rule.

(under president knorr 1950) brother knorr invited me to join the writing department...when i told him it did not matter where i served he reproved me..saying when an added privilege is offered we should be eager to accept it...my attitude was due to my health which has always been a problem.

knorr was older we were like brothers with the older brother knorr prone to expressing inpatients to my short comings.

Marbles

@SlimBoyFat, oh that's very interesting, thanks.

"Escape from Freedom is the US title and The Fear of Freedom is the UK title."

33

Blood Transfusions & Flood, Questions from Bible student only

by Marbles in

i was never a jdubb, only a bible student.

there are two main questions i have.

let me preface that by saying that i do not believe the bible is true, or the word of god.

Marbles

@Fisherman, I am wondering if you think the OT as Christians are in possession of it, is a complete, comprehensive guide? In other words, are there many missing elements to it, such as oral tradition and commentary on it that prevent Christians from fully grasping its meaning? Also, if you could answer another question, how do you think Christians came to be in possession of the OT in the first place, since this is sacred to Jewish people only and I assume was preserved in their Temples? Do you think this material was gained when the Temple(s) were raided and made desolate?

Yes, I'm familiar that some people, even some Jewish people, believe the holocaust was "God's punishment." I don't worship a God like that, so I guess that makes me an "atheist," as defined by the Bible. I don't think either the holocaust OR the atomic bomb were "God's will." There's more emphasis on the holocaust than the atomic bomb, and I don't think there should be.

Anyway, I am just trying to get some clarity on why blood transfusions are considered "eating blood" when eating blood, in my opinion, refers to non-Kosher meat. Surely JWs eat non-kosher meat? Not all JW's are vegans? They don't have a problem with non kosher meat but they have a problem with blood transfusions? Makes no sense. The digestive system, and the cardiovascular system or two almost entirely different systems. The digestive system basically nourishes the organs. The cardiovascular system basically brings oxygen to the organs (and creates antibodies to fight infection, and other functions not limited to providing the organs with oxygen). Blood cells can become mal formed to the point of not being sufficient to bring sufficient oxygen, and a blood transfusion helps remedy that process, thus being an aid in treating cancer. As I see it, a blood transfusion does not have anything to do with "eating blood."

16

Do we really need this many prayers in a day?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

there’s no proof that prayers have any effect whatsoever, other than perhaps giving the person who prays a false sense of having done something.

all claims that prayers have been answered are either anecdotal, fraudulent, delusional or are the result of either pure coincidence or confirmation bias.. how many prayers do you need in a day?.

you get up and eat breakfast...you pray for another day of life.

Marbles

I learned in my World Religions Class in College that religion relies heavily on "ritual," or routine. Someone might "make the connection" that something positive happened to them while they were wearing a Number Three Jersey, so now, anytime something important needs to get done, like filing papers for a loan, etc., they wear their "lucky jersey." Routine brings a sense of existential security, so a person might say things like, "I feed the dogs at 5:30 a.m., have my coffee, and watch the news, every day religiously."

33

Blood Transfusions & Flood, Questions from Bible student only

by Marbles in

i was never a jdubb, only a bible student.

there are two main questions i have.

let me preface that by saying that i do not believe the bible is true, or the word of god.

Marbles

@Fisherman, okay, I had to Google all of that, and will research it. Thank God for Google! Like a new Renaissance.