Posts by Ireneus

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

Hi Drearyweather,

Here is something for you to ponder over.

Two verses contradicting each other can occur, and it is natural when two writers are involved. Yet Bible writer named John was so careless that he could produce a verse that is inherently contradicting itself: “No one has ascended into heaven except he who descended from heaven, the Son of Man.” (John 3:13) It means only Jesus who descended from heaven has gone into heaven, no one else has gone into heaven! Jesus ascended into heaven at the end of his ministry, after his death. Hence how could he say he has ascended into heaven at the start of his ministry? This is because writers just thought what Jesus could have spoken or done if he were treading on earth and wrote them down. Yet its contradiction goes even beyond itself. There were others who went to heaven without dying, such as Enoch (Genesis 5:24). Regarding Enoch, you can say like JWs. However, if that's what it means, why can't the writer write it exactly what it meant instead of "Enoch was no more because God took him away." (Genesis 5:24)

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

Drearyweather, Jesus himself says in Mathew 7:21-23 that he would not make such statements.

22

Teachings/beliefs that fade into oblivion without explanation.

by smiddy3 in

"millions now living will never die" that teaching persisted for a number of years from the early 1920`s ,sad to say that their would not be anywhere near millions alive today.and with another few years their won`t be anybody alive .. the year 1925 was supposed to see the resurrection of faithful men of old such as abraham issac and jacob and noah who were to be princes in the earth.

of course no such thing happened and we don`t here anything more about that prediction anymore.. the time period between adams creation and eves creation was an excuse why armageddon was delayed in about october 1975 because they didn`t know how much time had elapsed between the two.

that`s all forgotten about now.. six thousand years of human history was supposed to have ended in about october 1872 according to studies in the scriptures vol.2 1906 , the "time is at hand" page 11 (forward 1916 ) puts the start of the one thousand year reign of jesus christ as of the year 1873. so in 1906 they the i.b.s.a.

Ireneus

Yes, that makes sense. When a worldwide and influential organization makes a change in the teaching, they must explain why they are replacing the old teaching.

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

Hi Drearyweather,

Church required a verse that says it is appointed by God, hence they added such portion in Mathew 16:18. Context of this verse is Jesus’ famous question “Who do you say I am?” However, if you compare this portion with its parallel account in Mark 8:27-38, you will find that Jesus never made such church-friendly sentence. Jesus had unequivocally declared that he won’t appoint any church or organisation to work on his behalf after leaves the stage till the end of the world (Mathew 7:21-23), and judgement is based on whether a person acted humanely or not, not according to one’s religious affiliation or worship (Mathew 25:31-46)

Such additions being made to what Jesus originally said was common in early days. Hence Luke deleted whatever added in his life-time. (Luke 1:1-3) For example, teaching about ransom sacrifice of Jesus was a Church doctrine which they added to Mathew 20:24-28 which is not found in the parallel account of Luke 22:25-30

46

What is the most troubling or disturbing biblical passage you ever had to rationalise when a Jw?

by stuckinarut2 in

now that we have stepped away from the jw faith, how do you feel about the bible itself?.

what about those awkward sections of scripture?

how did you rationalise or justify those sections?.

Ireneus

My first jolt occurred when I imagined myself, for a moment, as Isaac being tied up by Abraham at the command of God, and counting the seconds for the dagger to pierce my neck. Imagine the trauma that Isaac was subjected for no reason. God first preventing the conception till Sarah becomes old, and giving a child in the old age, and asking the child to be sacrificed ...all of which make no sense.

Only when I read Jeremiah 7:31 I understood that God would never ask such a thing from anyone, and it is story made by 'liars' (Jeremiah 8:8)

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

Hi Steve2,

Good observation.

My point was to highlight the fact that no story should be shunned on the basis of geography, but should be accepted if they contain good moral whether such stories are historical or not, biblical or of pagan origin. For example, the famous critics (like F.H.A. Scrivener …) have given very powerful argument in favor genuineness of the account in John 8:1-11. Even Professor Bruce Metzger of Princeton University, a renowned textual scholar concedes that “the account has all the earmarks of historical veracity…throughout the history of the church it has been held that, whoever wrote [this section], this little story is authentic” (Morris1971, 883). Interestingly, accusers were themselves violating the very Law which they now try to uphold. Accusers declared that the poor woman had been caught “in the very act” which means they also knew the man, hence both the adulteress and the adulterer be subjected to the same penalty (Leviticus 20:10; Deuteronomy 22:22). Yet they let off the man, but brought only the woman. Behaviour of Jesus in this incident was totally theocratic and praise-worthy.

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

Cofty,

God would be totally unmoved by any allegation one of His creatures makes, and He would naturally be dismissive as expressed by you. Getting upset by allegation and becoming vindictive is the sign of ego—something God would never cultivate for Himself. Such anthropomorphic concepts about God crept into the Bible keeps many right-minded people away from Scriptures altogether. Thus, religions, by their mouth, teach God exists; and by their actions teach God doesn’t exist.

46

What is the most troubling or disturbing biblical passage you ever had to rationalise when a Jw?

by stuckinarut2 in

now that we have stepped away from the jw faith, how do you feel about the bible itself?.

what about those awkward sections of scripture?

how did you rationalise or justify those sections?.

Ireneus

God authorizing genocide yet asking young women to be spared. Obviously a human thought.

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

Ireneus

When the world shuns JWs because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of Satan.

When JWs shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.

Such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings. JWs shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the Bible or Christian traditions:

1)Cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—Galatians 5:17, 19, 25

2)They removed Biblical portion that says Jesus told the prostitute 'sin no more' (John 8:1-11)

3) They declare Veronica as a mythical character. In fact Veronica is more than reality as there were “many woman” who displayed the spirit of Veronica (Mathew 27:55) Veronica was moved with sympathy when she saw Jesus carrying his cross to Golgotha and gave him her veil that he might wipe his forehead. Veronica, from Latin vera(true) and Greek eikon (image) was a symbol of "Truth Icon" because she was not around Jesus during his triumphs and victories, or to benefit from his supernatural abilities, but appeared when Jesus was too tired, in real need of some help, which is the very essence of spirituality/Christianity (Mathew 5:44-48)

4)They also got something no one would get from the Bible (Proverbs 27:11) where they find that it is God of the Universe who is begging help from his fallen/weak children so that God Almighty may be empowered to give an answer to the taunt of Satan.

14

Will The Governing Body's Shunning Policy Backfire On Them Eventually?

by Brokeback Watchtower in

we all can agree that the disfellowshipping arrangement benefits the wt corporation by keeping the indoctrinated in servitude, make members afraid to doubt the corporation's teachings and explanations because they can be disfellowshipped for saying anything negative about the corporation or it's ceos or not agreeing with some new light.. but what about negative effects caused by the harsh use of disfellowshipping to the corporation, what could they be?

it's a two edged sword..

Ireneus

My experience is that action and reaction are inseparable, hence JWs have no escape.