a judgment day seems to be a fabricated teaching because of the following reasons:.
1) each generation believed judgment day would happen in their time (1 corinthians 10:11; hebrews 10:24, 25).. 2) putting an end to the present system of things and starting an eternally existing one does not match with our very makeup.
our physical body is full of proofs for something that exists as the builder and sustainer of body, for something that exists within the body—which we call “i”—which everyone experiences as something alive, conscious and as made of knowledge.
Interestingly, such lofty concepts can be seen in some of the world’s oldest literature. “Choose to live and choose to love; choose to rise above and give back what you yourself were given” [a perfect reasoning because we flourish on the service of the society, hence we have to reciprocate it], from The Epic of Gilgamesh (which is at least 4,000 years old and which contains the flood myth that was later copied into the Bible)
a judgment day seems to be a fabricated teaching because of the following reasons:.
1) each generation believed judgment day would happen in their time (1 corinthians 10:11; hebrews 10:24, 25).. 2) putting an end to the present system of things and starting an eternally existing one does not match with our very makeup.
our physical body is full of proofs for something that exists as the builder and sustainer of body, for something that exists within the body—which we call “i”—which everyone experiences as something alive, conscious and as made of knowledge.
a judgment day seems to be a fabricated teaching because of the following reasons:.
1) each generation believed judgment day would happen in their time (1 corinthians 10:11; hebrews 10:24, 25).. 2) putting an end to the present system of things and starting an eternally existing one does not match with our very makeup.
our physical body is full of proofs for something that exists as the builder and sustainer of body, for something that exists within the body—which we call “i”—which everyone experiences as something alive, conscious and as made of knowledge.
A Judgment day seems to be a fabricated teaching because of the following reasons:
1) Each generation believed Judgment day would happen in their time (1 Corinthians 10:11; Hebrews 10:24, 25).
2) Putting an end to the present system of things and starting an eternally existing one does not match with our very makeup. Our physical body is full of proofs for something that exists as the builder and sustainer of body, for something that exists within the body—which we call “I”—which everyone experiences as something alive, conscious and as made of knowledge. This conscious entity should be like a magnetic field that holds the iron filings because it holds the body. On its presence body is built and on its departure the body turns into trash. The way the cells are built shows that we are nothing but knowledge: "The entire cell can be viewed as a factory that contains an elaborate network of interlocking assembly lines, each of which is composed of a set of large protein machines," cell biologist Bruce Alberts, president of the National Academy of Sciences.
3) “I” the knowledge is not like robotic knowledge. I am able to distinguish between what is beneficial and wasteful (something that all the prophets acknowledged—Mathew 7:12) and also to do something even more than what is right [some people who own a variety of cars come in ordinary cars when they come to place of worship so that observers do not get distracted—something which no law requires for them to do; some people ensure that they use sweet words even to say No to some request ….]. That means one is not designed to seek guidance from another because he himself is knowledge. At the back of our mind we know that the other person is no different from me. May be out of helplessness one may do it, but consciously, why would anyone choose to be anything where he has to seek something from someone or something else? Wouldn't every human being want to be 100% within himself? The way we think is the way we become. Experience shows that whatever one holds as the highest, naturally all his energies get drawn towards that. That means whatever one does with whole-heart he can enjoy doing it—making every moment of his life a celebration. This fact has been discerned by many people. For example, Ecclesiasticus (33: 19–22 and 37, 13): “Whatever you are doing, rely on yourself, for this, too, is a way of keeping the commandments… Trust your own judgment, for it is your most reliable counselor.” [It’s easy to understand why this book is not included in the Biblical canon. To advocate that individuals rely on themselves and trust their own judgment means the end of religious hierarchy]. When they noticed the same concept even in the canonical book (Ecclesiastes 3: 12–13 and 9, 9) they neutralized it adding a verse that would contradict it in the end of the book: “Here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14) which later grew into a mega-subject of Judgment Day [just like an immoral idea of murder of an innocent son being used for atonement of the sins of others which did not originate from God became a major subject of the Bible—Jeremiah 7:31].
4) God is not seen intervening in the affairs of humans which means man is allowed to use his knowledge with action-consequences-mechanism as the guiding force. This means a Judgment-Day is a fabricated teaching designed to turn humans to God by instilling fear in them (which again makes no sense or valueless). Judgment Day teaching is of human origin because of another reason also: the aftermath makes no sense! Suppose you are judged to be in heaven forever to keep saying holy, holy, holy …. to the God for eternity which would make your life eternally boring. And some are judged to be in eternal hell or to be eternally cut off—all in the heaven including God would feel tormented thinking of the destiny of these family members. This would make heaven and hell as one and the same!
5) In larger perspective, life is a flow of events. Each action/incident takes place just like a seed sprouts which happens at the coming together of various factors and forces which are not in the control of the individual. It is also a flow of choices and chances—sometime we don’t get sleep when we want to, and we go sleepy when we want to remain alert in situation like a seminar—which has its undesirable consequences, again not in our control. We cannot say that dirty mud is not good and lotus is good because truth is that there is no lotus without dirty mud. Love of money results in action that brings abundance of wealth which in turn convinces the owner of the folly of greed, which in turn inspires him to turn into philanthropy. Even pain-suffering-mechanism serves a useful purpose alerting us to avoid further harm. In the big picture even atheists are needed—otherwise religionists would become extreme human rights violators. That means things are to be viewed as a whole process which makes it meaningless to judge its parts, hence flow of events should run its natural course (which obviously make a Judgment Day meaningless).
even when they know that certain things are not right with the organization the flocks are blindly following their leaders viewing them as the future “kings and priests” (originally a sumerian concept).. greed for a “land of milk and honey” (either in this life or the next) is at the root of their allegiance.
interestingly, greed is something the flocks are warned against: ‘be on your guard against all kinds of greed which is idolatry.’ (luke 12:15; colossians 3:5).
tepidpoultry,
I forgot to add the following to my earlier comments:
Yet somehow they noticed the same concept even in the canonical book (Ecclesiastes 3: 12–13 and 9, 9): “I have concluded that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to enjoy themselves as long as they live, and also that everyone should eat and drink, and find enjoyment in all his toil… Enjoy life with your beloved wife during all the days of your fleeting life…”
Hence they added a verse that would contradict it in the end of the book: “Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the duty of all mankind. For God will bring every deed into judgment.” (Ecclesiastes 12:13, 14)
even when they know that certain things are not right with the organization the flocks are blindly following their leaders viewing them as the future “kings and priests” (originally a sumerian concept).. greed for a “land of milk and honey” (either in this life or the next) is at the root of their allegiance.
interestingly, greed is something the flocks are warned against: ‘be on your guard against all kinds of greed which is idolatry.’ (luke 12:15; colossians 3:5).
Yes tepidpoultry you got it.
What you said has been discerned by many people. For example, Ecclesiasticus (33, 19–22 and 37, 13): “Whatever you are doing, rely on yourself, for this, too, is a way of keeping the commandments… Trust your own judgment, for it is your most reliable counselor.”
It’s easy to understand why this book isn’t included in the Biblical canon. To advocate that individuals rely on themselves and trust their own judgment means the end of religious hierarchy!
even when they know that certain things are not right with the organization the flocks are blindly following their leaders viewing them as the future “kings and priests” (originally a sumerian concept).. greed for a “land of milk and honey” (either in this life or the next) is at the root of their allegiance.
interestingly, greed is something the flocks are warned against: ‘be on your guard against all kinds of greed which is idolatry.’ (luke 12:15; colossians 3:5).
Anger is not our nature because we feel peaceless and miserable till we revert to normalcy. Similarly seeking guidance is not our nature because at the back of our mind we know that the other person is no different from me, equally prone to make mistake and to put own interest first …. hence we don’t feel at ease. May be out of helplessness one may do it, but consciously, why would anyone choose to be anything where he has to seek something from someone or something else? Wouldn't every human being want to be 100% within himself? The way we think is the way we become. Whatever you hold as the highest, naturally all your energies get drawn towards that.
but pretty much all of them are now dead.
and so are billions of others.
so, god doesn't desire any to be destroyed but desires all to attain to repentance?
May be a coincidence: Armageddon-consciousness reawakens and money-drained JW org can feel some sense of relief. Many super rich are joining the survivalism movement. The list includes Steve Huffman, cofounder and CEO of Reddit; Marvin Liao, a former Yahoo executive and a partner at 500 Startups; and Robert A Johnson, a managing director of hedge fund Soros Fund Management. Reid Hoffman, the cofounder of LinkedIn and a notable venture capitalist estimates more than 50% of Silicon Valley billionaires have bought some level of “apocalypse insurance“, like an underground bunker. Fortified shelters, built to withstand catastrophic events from viral epidemic to nuclear war, seem to be experiencing a wave of interest in general as hints of a new Cold War ramp up. They fear that Trump is the real trumpet that invites cataclysmic changes! (from a new essay in The New Yorker)
for those claiming that- how much thought or research have you done?.
objective or non-objective?.
ever read the other books claiming to be from god?
I agree with crazyguy--most of it are borrowed:
|
COMPARISON OF FLOOD MYTH |
||
|
|
GENESIS |
GILGAMESH |
|
Extent of flood |
Global |
Global |
|
Cause |
Man's wickedness |
Man's sins |
|
Intended for whom? |
All mankind |
One city & all mankind |
|
Sender |
Yahweh |
Assembly of "gods" |
|
Name of hero |
Noah |
Utnapishtim |
|
Hero's character |
Righteous |
Righteous |
|
Means of announcement |
Direct from God |
In a dream |
|
Ordered to build boat? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Did hero complain? |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Height of boat |
Several stories (3) |
Several stories (6) |
|
Compartments inside? |
Many |
Many |
|
Doors |
One |
One |
|
Windows |
At least one |
At least one |
|
Outside coating |
Pitch |
Pitch |
|
Shape of boat |
Rectangular |
Square |
|
Human passengers |
Family members only |
Family & few others |
|
Other passengers |
All species of animals |
All species of animals |
|
Means of flood |
Ground water & heavy rain |
Heavy rain |
|
Duration of flood |
Long (40 days & nights plus) |
Short (6 days & nights) |
|
Test to find land |
Release of birds |
Release of birds |
|
Types of birds |
Raven & three doves |
Dove, swallow, raven |
|
Ark landing spot |
Mountain -- Mt. Ararat |
Mountain -- Mt. Nisir |
|
Sacrificed after flood? |
Yes, by Noah |
Yes, by Utnapishtim |
|
Blessed after flood? |
Yes |
Yes |
for those claiming that- how much thought or research have you done?.
objective or non-objective?.
ever read the other books claiming to be from god?
Using a book or a religion cannot be God's way of communication. As Simon once put: trying to find out which scripture or religion is the right one is like trying to find out which neighborhood is the right neighborhood (you have to live as a neighbor to everyone on earth which would take millions of years.
for those claiming that- how much thought or research have you done?.
objective or non-objective?.
ever read the other books claiming to be from god?
I believed Bible is from God till I came across Jeremiah 7:31 where it says 'killing a son to atone the sins of others' have never come up in God's mind. Yet Jesus being killed by the sinners is used as the basis for the absolving of sins which forms bulk of the NT. This was a shock to me--the most important teaching itself is an apostate idea!
