Posts by scholar

50

Interesting quote - October 1, 98 WT

by Dawn in

jw
friends

if we want to worship god acceptably, we must know the truth.

this is an important issue.

our eternal happiness depends on it.

scholar

Alan F

The rules for posting on this board prevent from me from saying what I really think of your character and your spineless venom of hatred against a people, a organization and teachings that you once embraced. Your integrity is diminished by your cowardly avoidance of not submitting yourself to judicial authority or not making your disassociation legitimate. You must therefore be a closet Witness unable to decide what side you are on but remain content in deceiving weak-minded people in following your twisted and shallow reasoning.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion.

113

Why Aren't Jehovah's Witnesses Allowed To Freely Express Themselves?

by minimus in

jw
friends

it's a simple fact.

jw's cannot freely express themselves.

they can't freely tell another about a doubt or a question that they might have for fear they could be exposed to the elders.

scholar

minimus

I do not where you have been but your experience with Jehovah's people is different to mine as I have been an independent thinker since 1964 and to this day remain an active Witness proud of his Christian heritage.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

50

Interesting quote - October 1, 98 WT

by Dawn in

jw
friends

if we want to worship god acceptably, we must know the truth.

this is an important issue.

our eternal happiness depends on it.

scholar

Dawn, Gozz and others.

The material in the Coc is interesting because it gives one an insight into the corridors of power and the internal politcs at the Society;s headquarters. It also well illuminates the effect that the Jonsson hypothesis presented as a treatise had on men who were competent scholars. Such men went weak at the knees when they read this material and yet such men had devoted their lives to preaching and teaching teachings and tradition based and believed by them on God's Word. Is that integrity? I think not. It should have been apparent and remains the case today that any person who becomes converted to such is intellectually and spiritually crippled.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

50

Interesting quote - October 1, 98 WT

by Dawn in

jw
friends

if we want to worship god acceptably, we must know the truth.

this is an important issue.

our eternal happiness depends on it.

scholar

Dawn

Please be assured that I am very much open minded and have been even since becoming a Witnes in 1964. Further to this I obtained academic qualifications in Phillosophy and Religious Studies whilst a active Witness and wil be applying for doctoral studies in Religious Studies next year, If that does not prove that I am open minded and able to think critically about all matters religious then I do not know what would.

The Crisis of Conscience iis a most interesting book but I have some difficulty with anyone who has been converted in at least an intellestual sense for most of his life and then suuddenly goes from one form Christianity to some other form of Chriustianity. I believe that what is at issue is integrity and I do not believe that the author of this book has integrity.

scholar

BA AM Studies in Religion

50

Interesting quote - October 1, 98 WT

by Dawn in

jw
friends

if we want to worship god acceptably, we must know the truth.

this is an important issue.

our eternal happiness depends on it.

scholar

Dawn

You won't find the truth by reading Crisis of Conscience, you will only end up in a spiritual vacuum.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

29

What d'ya think of Greg Stafford's 'JW defended', '3 dissertations', etc

by AntiEntropy in

i'm reading some books wrtitten by greg.

i just wonder how you think of his thoughts.

thanx in advance for your comments.

scholar

AntiEntropy

You ask for opinions on Greg Stafford'd recent two publications, Jehovah's Witnesses Defended and the Three Dissertations. In his Defended publication he does a good jog in presenting in a excellent academic format the biblical theology of the Witnesses. His apolegetics is excellent in covering Christology and Anti Trinitarianism with up to date scholarship and good use of Patristics literature. His discussion of Salvation in a separate chapter is well presented. The earliest chapter on Jehovah contrast favorably as opposed to the nonsense that Raymond Franz wrote in his Search for Christian Freedom. Overall, Greg has done well with this book.

The position changes significantly with his Three Dissertations where he has deserted sound scholarship as expressed in his previous book. He shows a failure to understand the theology of the Church and launches into an attack on the Organization under the guise of conscience. Greg fails to realize that interpretation is difficult as shown by the fact that many commentaries differ on scripture and so caution must proceed before any dogmatism on certain texts such as Matt 45:47.

He has done a excellent survey of the Society.s chronolgy but has failed to grasp the key issues regarding the Jonsson hypothesis. He is correct in concentrating on the seventy years and correctly shows that each of the principal texts is open to interpretation. He fails though to form an definte view and has exposed himself to any sort of opinion. I would argue that in the case of chronology that there is suffiicient evidence to be certain about dates and an interpretation arising from that. In regards to chronology Stafford has yielded too much to the opinions of higher critics and this must cause spiritual weakness.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

33

John 1:1 for nonbelievers.....

by logansrun in

i've often felt that the most objective person in a situation is the one who has no stake in the outcome.

this holds true to religious issues as well.

we all know freddie franz translated john 1:1 as "the word was [a] god" and the rest of the christian world flew through the roof.

scholar

plmkrzy

Only believers in God's Word and under the guidance of the Spirit can truly have that respect and understanding of God's revelation presented in Scripture. Athiests, sceptics and non-Christians do not enjoy that sweet communion with our Lord and Saviour. Jesus Christ and His father Jehovah God. Such true Christians also have a loyalty and respect for the Church as represented by the anointed remnant or that faithful slave who gave fiven to us the magnificent NWT with its majestic rendering in John1:1 describing the relationship between the Father and His Son.

No, one does not need academic credentials to appreciate these things but if you have such qualifications then you can give an enhanced defense for the things believed and increase one's own faith.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

33

John 1:1 for nonbelievers.....

by logansrun in

i've often felt that the most objective person in a situation is the one who has no stake in the outcome.

this holds true to religious issues as well.

we all know freddie franz translated john 1:1 as "the word was [a] god" and the rest of the christian world flew through the roof.

scholar

logansrun

I think it is a mistake to think that non beoievers can have a credible opinion in regard to the translation and interpretation of John 1:1. Surely, those most competent would be persons who champion the Gospel message as proclaimed by the Son. The rendering of this verse by that brilliant NWT is in keeping with careful knowledge of Biblical Greek as well set out in any good primer of the Greek New Testament. Some years ago whilst studying Koine Greek under the tutelage of John Lee, I was able to clearly see that the rendering of ' the Word was a god' was and is the best presentation of that clause. John Lee had been asked for his opinion on this matter and circulated to the class a letter settting out clearly what the position is. I believe that the original explanation as presented in the Appendix in the earliest editions of the NWT remains the most clear and scholarly presentation of the position. Whether Brother Franz was resposible for this rendering cannot be known but whichever divne was reponsible has preserved the finest traditions of Christendom's scholarship.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

31

Anything written by Org. that has Nabonidus' years of rule.

by ellderwho in

.

been studying this for a while i think this is a good leverage point if theirs anything written.. ive checked usual spots gtr, babylon the great, insight, any help much appreciated.

scholar

Alleymom

You are right about the page number when I referred to GTR, it should have read p. 90 than p. 91. I simply showed the different reigns for moth computations to illustrate the difference of the dates given by both sources for the beginning and end of the reign of Nabonidus of about 17 years.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion

31

Anything written by Org. that has Nabonidus' years of rule.

by ellderwho in

.

been studying this for a while i think this is a good leverage point if theirs anything written.. ive checked usual spots gtr, babylon the great, insight, any help much appreciated.

scholar

elderwho

Yes, accurate and reliable chronology gives the reign of Nabonidus from 556-539 BCE of some seventeen years. Interestlingly, Carl Jonsson in his GTR, 1998, p.91, ftn.1. gives a reign of 16 years from 555-539 BCE.

scholar

BA MA Studies in Religion