Posts by TheLiberator

19

Is Knowing/Using The Name Of God Important?

by Vanderhoven7 in

i say no.. although the tetragrammaton appears close to 7000 times in the hebrew scriptures, the personal name of god does not.

seems to me that god made sure that both that his personal name does not appear therein and that no one would ever actually know it or learn even how to pronounce it.

he also made sure that his name (baring 3 hallelujahs in revelation) did not appear in the new testament.

TheLiberator

That is one subject that I just couldn't understand after discovering TTATT. But now it makes sense, and now I only use his name in a very specific or discerning way, especially in prayer.

For the believer, he is there Father. For everyone else, he is Yahweh. Now when I read the OT, it is clear, that those in God's favor were his "friends", and only his sons in the sense that he is there creator. But then Jesus introduced the Father, or we could say it more affectionately, daddy. Paul made that point when he used the expression"Abba Father".

Also, Paul used many scriptures that were originally applied to Yahweh, in connection with Jesus Christ. (This is what leads many to the trinity, but I have a different view). So now, God wants all attention to be on His Son. Now I appreciate scriptures like this even more today: Mark: 9. 7. "A cloud came, overshadowing them, and a voice came out of the cloud, "This is my beloved Son. Listen to him.""

What I never discerned before, is how each religion, has it's "main" doctrine they focus on. Seventh Day Adventists, Pentecostals, Christian Scientists, etc. For Jw's, it was the name, the name, the name, the name...... It feels so good to now understand such a simple concept. But until they wake up, this subject is beyond the grasp of Jw's.

33

Musicians Who Died in the Last Year - or Through the Years- Who Do you Miss Most ?

by flipper in

i think for me in the last year the death of david bowie got to me the most.

not only in the way he handled his demise so classy by even making a song about it and a you tube about dying and sharing it with fans, but just his whole persona i always thought was pretty cool.

plus i enjoyed a good many of his songs.

TheLiberator

Jimi Jamison of Survivor. Great solo work.😢

6

Atheism

by TheLiberator in

enjoy.

.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ds1icessoum.

TheLiberator

Enjoy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1icEssOUM

43

At a regional convention today....

by Nobodyspecial in

jw
friends

it really stands out to me just how phoney the bonds of forced brotherhood are.

the smiles are paper thin when they see each other in hotels.

the laughs forced.

TheLiberator

The OP is so true. Those phony smiles and forced laughs are easily explained. Each individual for the most part, has one thing on there minds. THEMSELVES. They are thinking of there clothing and who will notice. "I am a pioneer, elder/ms and I am more spiritual." " I give talks at the RC, because I am one of the better speakers." "I need to get to convention first, so I can get those end row seats." "Who am I going to have dinner with tonight?"

They are thinking of there own self gratification when it comes to new releases. ( Remember the race to the books). They are thinking about all the little notes that they will "expand" on when they get back home to show how spiritual they are. They are thinking about there own "spiritual goals" that will make them look good. They want to give everyone the impression that there life is all together because they are so spiritual. In the end, it is simply "Look at me". And so they are blind to everyone, to the point of not thinking straight. I know this is true. I was one of those jerks.

55

Here's a view on homosexuality for you...

by konceptual99 in

...right from a pro-jw site in response to a post about the relative seriousness of homosexuality.

all you can do is reason from the scriptures, which you appear to have done.

homosexuality is as serious as bestiality, or adultery and fornication.

TheLiberator

Yes, I too, view homosexual acts as abhorrent. However, as a new Christian, I have learned (and still learning) how to show love to everyone and what it means to not judge.

Here is the crux of the matter: Treating a person well and acknowledging a person's good qualities, does not mean I am endorsing a type of behavior. When it comes to homosexuals, the Watchtower sends a double message. I admit, it does create homophobia. But in the Watchtower, did you have a phobia of someone in the military? Did a uniform cause you to treat that person badly or avoid him? Not really. So why would I even have a desire to treat a homosexual in an unkind way, or perhaps simply putting on a "mask" of kindness? Why can't I be genuinely kind?

A homosexual worked in a store that helped my wife test and purchase some products. The honest truth, he was one of the nicest people I met. We talked and I was fine with that. Again, treating him well, does not endorse the behavior. I don't have to make it my focus. It is not my concern.

If a person asks me about my view, I would direct them to the Bible. In the past, everyone would say "you're not suppose to judge" . I couldn't understand this in the Watchtower. I now understand. God is the ultimate judge. All I can do is show the scriptures. I don't have to rub them into people's faces. It now becomes a matter between them and God. God doesn't need a third party.

20

UPDATE: My existential crisis comes to a close

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

in case you read my other thread regarding my existential crisis and how it was making my life miserable and left me feeling hopeless, purposeless and joyless i though i'd share what's recently happened to me and my way of thinking and have i've for the time being resolved my existential crisis.

i write every day in a journal.

i've been doing this for years.

TheLiberator

Beautiful post. You have made a leap into happiness. Just remember, regardless of what atheists say, this is not something that just makes you feel good because of fear of death. I had always planned on dying "old and satisfied". The bottom line is, that there is nothing that brings life to the soul like serving your Creator. To build faith, go beyond all the Watchtower's preschool articles about how we know the Bible is God's word. You will learn things that will leave you in awe. Reading God's word and prayer is like an instant connection to God when you are truly seeking him. Continue on this course. Christ said: John: 6. 44. " NO ONE CAN COME TO ME, unless the Father who sent me draws him."

Atheists fall into this category: "Yahweh is with you, while you are with him; and if you seek him, he will be found by you; but if you forsake him, he will forsake you." - 2 Chronicles 15:2

James: 4: 8. "Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you."

Isaiah: 41. 13. "For I, Yahweh your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, 'Don't be afraid. I will help you.' "

PM anytime.

133

Why Are You Here?

by Believer in

i'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.

as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.

as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.

TheLiberator

Believer, we are not talking about being under the law. Yes, we are free from that. But Paul would never say that he dismisses the account of the female bears killing those young people for mocking God's prophet, just because it does not "resonate" with him. It happened. God had spoken. It was righteous. Live with it. This is the God of Christ that I love. If what you have said has basis in all the scriptures, then I will listen. But I think the scriptures I have shared express the importance of all the scriptures. Christ believed it as the word of God. Why should I believe anyone else?

133

Why Are You Here?

by Believer in

i'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.

as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.

as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.

TheLiberator

John: 4. 22. "You worship that which you don't know. We worship that which we know; for salvation is from the Jews."

Romans: 3:1,2 "Then what advantage does the Jew have? Or what is the profit of circumcision? Much in every way! Because first of all, they were entrusted with the oracles of God."

Concerning primarily the Old Testament:

2 Timothy: 3. 16. Every Scripture is God-breathed and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness,

133

Why Are You Here?

by Believer in

i'm wondering why believers remain members of this forum which is clearly hostile to believers.

as one member said, nonbelievers pounce on any semblance of belief like piranhas on prey.

as former jws we should have had our fill of judgmental know-it-alls, but here we are.

TheLiberator

Like many, I come here for information. The pain of discovering TTATT, was so great, that I naturally go into panic mode when I see a new one who has just discovered what I did. You just want to take away the pain. And so I just want to help those that I can. I have learned much in the last 18 months.

But honestly, recently I feel that my efforts would be better served elsewhere. Why do I say that? Well, Cofty said something on this thread that completely captured my frustration. Cofty's point in a nutshell: You cannot pick and choose what you want from the Bible and say you believe in the God of the Bible. If you believe in Jesus, you need to accept the whole package. Old Testament, with everything it says. You cannot dismiss that the Israelites were told to destroy "man, woman, and child", and then say you only believe in Jesus. Sorry, you must accept it all.

I agree with that. Otherwise, like Cofty said, if you think differently, then you think you know more than the God of the Bible.

This is why I feel the way I do. When someone comes here saying they believe in God, I get excited. But then that feeling, so many times, vanishes, because then you learn that they have all of these disconnected thoughts and feelings that have nothing to do with the Bible. If you believe in the God of the Bible, THE BIBLE IS ALL YOU HAVE FOR THE BASIS OF YOUR BELIEFS.

How and why, can I ignore the Bible and run with your ideas that have ZERO basis in scripture? THE BIBLE IS ALL WE HAVE. I am not talking about having different thoughts based on scripture. I am talking about that type of person that comes here and throws out ideas like for example: "I believe in Jesus and God, but I don't necessarily believe in the Bible."

"I believe in the Bible, but I believe Adam and Eve were aliens that God placed on this planet."

"I believe in the Bible, but I don't believe it is all inspired."

Those are just made up examples. But I have found out quickly that so many turn to this type of thinking. At that point, there is nothing more to say. A person can't be helped anymore using the Bible. The conversation is dead at that point. And so I may not be here as long as I thought I would be.

240

Introduction - Any Believers?

by Believer in

i’ve been reading it for a few of years off and on, but have been a little too ... maybe ... timid to join.

i left the watchtower organization almost 20 years ago but never abandoned my faith and belief in god.

i knew the gb/organization didn’t represent god, so when i lost my faith in them, i managed to keep my faith in an all wise benevolent creator.

TheLiberator

Cofty: You cite the bible regularly and base your knowledge about god on things contained in it. Without the bible there is not one single statement you could make about god or Jesus.
Jesus believed in the god of the OT. "Yahweh was the god and father of our lord Jesus". Jesus quoted frequently from the OT. All the NT writers believed in the OT as the authoritative word of god.
You seem to be claiming to know more about god than Jesus did.

Wow!!!! I cannot believe I actually hit the like button on that one. You see Cofty, miracles do occur! There's your proof.