Posts by schnell

9

Is there Scriptural Evidence to a Resurrection during the 1,000 year Reign?

by Listener in

this question was addressed on the jw advisor blog (a defending watchtower website), july 24,2016 .

the answer is interesting because it is more in accord with what the bible fortells but it is not in accord with what the watchtower is currently teaching and has been for decades.

it has been suggested on this forum that the site has been sanctioned by the watchtower or written by writers at hq.this is the current view of the watchtower and is under 'bible teachings' on jw org.

schnell

So, overlapping generations that add infinite delay after 1914, and a resurrection 1000 years or more after Armageddon.

I can't wait.

3

"Satan Did It!" -- Comparative Religion and Religion

by schnell in

it's been said that as early christians went to preach about christ and his virgin birth, his tests, miracles, death, resurrection, and divine pedigree, the people they were preaching to would essentially say, "oh yeah, we have that too!

it's almost a cliche to point out that mary and jesus resemble isis and horus, that gautama faced his tests as well, that heracles is the son of zeus and a mortal woman named alcmene.

but when this is pointed out, suddenly an intelligent design argument appears to explain it.

schnell

Comparative Religion and Religion, eh? Surely, I meant Comparative Mythology and Religion.

3

"Satan Did It!" -- Comparative Religion and Religion

by schnell in

it's been said that as early christians went to preach about christ and his virgin birth, his tests, miracles, death, resurrection, and divine pedigree, the people they were preaching to would essentially say, "oh yeah, we have that too!

it's almost a cliche to point out that mary and jesus resemble isis and horus, that gautama faced his tests as well, that heracles is the son of zeus and a mortal woman named alcmene.

but when this is pointed out, suddenly an intelligent design argument appears to explain it.

schnell

It's been said that as early Christians went to preach about Christ and his virgin birth, his tests, miracles, death, resurrection, and divine pedigree, the people they were preaching to would essentially say, "Oh yeah, we have that too!"

It's almost a cliche to point out that Mary and Jesus resemble Isis and Horus, that Gautama faced his tests as well, that Heracles is the son of Zeus and a mortal woman named Alcmene.

But when this is pointed out, suddenly an intelligent design argument appears to explain it.

"Satan Did It!" The devil himself is attributed the ability to inspire people for millenia beforehand to tell stories about a demigod born of a virgin. This also envisions Satan as having the foresight to do so.

The alternative explanation, of course, is that a lot of mythology was developed around a man called Jesus after he died, assuming he lived at all.* In this case, there is no need for Satanic inspiration, no need to give Satan a new superpower of foresight, and really no need for Satan at all.

One of these explanations demands a rewrite of science to account for spirit creatures and what abilities are available to them and reeks of a conspiracy through the ages. The other explains how the myths developed without any such leap.

I know what I'm putting my money on.

But what gets me is this argument from ignorance about an intelligent designer. In this case, the intelligent designer is Satan the Devil weaving myths instead of Yahweh causing things to become. If you say this, you are asserting that the existence of mythology similar to that of Christ is evidence of an intelligent, malevolent designer, just as the existence of very complex life is evidence of an intelligent designer.

In response to intelligent design, complex life is not irreducibly complex. It can be broken down and shown to have evolved. Similarly, the mythology about Christ can be broken down and shown to have evolved by numerous writers and influences over the course of decades and centuries. Indeed, the 4 narrative gospels were written in later decades by unknown authors AFTER Paul had reached out to the Gentiles, and there was some logic to how they attributed each one to Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. And within 4 centuries, Jesus was God.

An additional argument to all of this is that all mythology and religion disseminated from a single origin (namely Babylon). This is to support the Satanic inspiration argument. It argues that two similar, complex ideas must have had the same source. It is a long discredited idea that, first of all, disregards how far flung, populous, and fairly advanced humankind was 5000 years ago. It disregards the major differences in myths from around the world. It disregards psychology. It disregards that you and I can have the same or similar idea, even around the same time without having the idea disseminated to us -- the classic example being Leibniz and Newton independently creating Calculus.

* As I wrote in another thread, I personally do believe there was a historical Jesus. However, I don't believe all that has been attributed to him, or in the integrity of the Bible.

193

Great Tribulation and Trump

by TakeOffTheCrown in

please, let's discuss this subject without attacking one another.. it appears that trump has won a victory that no one expected.

is it possible that trump may play a part in the great tribulation?.

there are some who believe trump is one of the most unqualified of men to ever be elected president of the united states.

schnell

Or perhaps we're just making this up as we go along.

193

Great Tribulation and Trump

by TakeOffTheCrown in

please, let's discuss this subject without attacking one another.. it appears that trump has won a victory that no one expected.

is it possible that trump may play a part in the great tribulation?.

there are some who believe trump is one of the most unqualified of men to ever be elected president of the united states.

schnell

I always thought it was odd that the Devil was cast down to earth at so late a year in history, when much earlier he was roving about the earth and watching over the garden of Eden.

Did God take away his passport or something? *shrug*

7

Here's what the Masons have to say about Jehovah

by NikL in

my grandfather was a 32nd degree mason.. my parents ended up with one of his books called "morals and dogma" published by the masons.. i remember looking through it years ago and seeing multiple mentions of jehovah.. as it turns out, it's in the public domain on project gutenberg and is there fore searchable.. found this interesting in light of chuck russell's alleged mason connection.. it says about jehovah and the divine name.... whether the legend and history of this degree are historically true, or but an allegory, containing in itself a deeper truth and a profounder meaning, we shall not now debate.

if it be but a legendary myth, you must find out for yourself what it means.

it is certain that the word which the hebrews are not now permitted to pronounce was in common use by abraham, lot, isaac, jacob, laban, rebecca, and even among tribes foreign to the hebrews, before the time of moses; and that it recurs a hundred times in the lyrical effusions of david and other hebrew poets..

schnell

I do love how the Freemasons made a creation myth for themselves where they go back ages, etc. Especially considering what archeology has to say about Solomon and his lovely temple.

7

Here's what the Masons have to say about Jehovah

by NikL in

my grandfather was a 32nd degree mason.. my parents ended up with one of his books called "morals and dogma" published by the masons.. i remember looking through it years ago and seeing multiple mentions of jehovah.. as it turns out, it's in the public domain on project gutenberg and is there fore searchable.. found this interesting in light of chuck russell's alleged mason connection.. it says about jehovah and the divine name.... whether the legend and history of this degree are historically true, or but an allegory, containing in itself a deeper truth and a profounder meaning, we shall not now debate.

if it be but a legendary myth, you must find out for yourself what it means.

it is certain that the word which the hebrews are not now permitted to pronounce was in common use by abraham, lot, isaac, jacob, laban, rebecca, and even among tribes foreign to the hebrews, before the time of moses; and that it recurs a hundred times in the lyrical effusions of david and other hebrew poets..

schnell

A lizard did it.

10

Pornography Question

by IMHO in

jw
friends

why is it ok to look at naked pictures/videos of your wife/husband but porn if you look at another man/woman naked?.

if you happen to divorce your spouse is it then pornography if you look at naked/sex videos/pictures of them?.

schnell

I had someone tell me that porn is "demonic", and so is everything else.

In fact, he also blamed all the bad reviews for movies like The Force Awakens and Batman v Superman on those reviewers being addicted to porn. His logic truly leaps tall buildings in a single bound.

19

My gay friend went back to JWs?

by schnell in

one of my best friends was disfellowshipped several years ago, and word quickly got around that it was because he's gay.

we lost touch after that because of the disfellowshipping, but since i'm out now, i just found him online and got back in touch with him.

it was a great conversation, but he said he returned to jehovah.

schnell

I am disturbed by that as well, DJS. It's a bad habit from a lifetime of indoctrination.

Usually I notice it after I've written it, but I leave it to be ironic.

19

My gay friend went back to JWs?

by schnell in

one of my best friends was disfellowshipped several years ago, and word quickly got around that it was because he's gay.

we lost touch after that because of the disfellowshipping, but since i'm out now, i just found him online and got back in touch with him.

it was a great conversation, but he said he returned to jehovah.

schnell

I wish I could like all your replies, but the forum doesn't seem to be letting me.

It's a very sad pathetic move to go back to the JWs. It's just sad to see that in anyone.

Preach. You're giving up so much of yourself no matter what if you do that.