Posts by TheOldHippie

9

Catholic Approach to Scripture: How It Made Me Leave the Jehovah's Witnesses

by Hernandez in

indoctrinated into all things watchtower, i once believed the bible was true history, that evolution was false and evil, and that the bible could be trusted to be reliable when it touched on science issues.

then i got introduced to the official catholic bible translation of u.s. catholics, the new american bible revised edition (or nabre--not to be confused with the protestant nasv or new american standard version) and things changed.

i was shocked to learn that the nabre teaches.... the creation and flood stories of genesis are jewish adaptations of mesopotamian heathen creation-flood mythology, not history.

TheOldHippie

The Catholics can have a relaxed attitude to the Scriptures, and can make excellent Bible translations like the Jerusalem Bible, because they don't have to find support for their teachings in Scripture - they've got Tradition. Scripture and Tradition are the two foundations, and what they don't find in Scripture, they get from Tradition. Therefore, they don't have to twist what the Bible says. The Protestants on the other hand, with their "The Scripture only" approach, HAVE to find support for their teachings in the Bible, and so you get the twisting and desperate search for words and verses that can be used as a feeble support for Trinity teaching etc.

113

I am deeply ashamed that I didn't accept evolution until a few years ago...

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

so... i live in mexico and i am helping with an esl class (english as a second language).

actually, i am helping with two classes.

i get two days a week in which i just stand there and have a debate with the class, encouraging as many as possible to just talk... in english.. anyways, i like talking about subjects that generate debate.

TheOldHippie

"Please tell me which books that present the scientific evidence FOR evolution you have studied in recent years?"

Oh, I simply LOVE such arguments! Just in the line of "no-one doubts that", "only the uninformed could think that", "not one single serious scientist doubts that" etc.

Throwing in the whole weight of the establishment. Trying to make the other guy look like a Complete fool. Rejoicing when he is finally having to admit "none".

You may win the discussion - but you definitely lose sympathy and the possibility of carrying on a respectful discussion.

24

Been witnessing today - first time in over 2 years!!

by The Searcher in

and it felt wonderful!!.

i went into the city to where i knew there was a "cosmopolitan witnessing" trolley, because i wanted to ask a simple bible-based question.

the trolley was attended by an elder and a sister who was another elder's wife.

TheOldHippie

Far-fetched using John 5:29 in my eyes.

14

Impact of NWT

by menrov in

hi all, just recently i was thinking about the period of my study and eventual baptism as jw.

it took many years, i guess in all about 10 years.

various times i stopped the study but after a while it started again.

TheOldHippie

If you could raise your eyes from the USA and have a look at the world, you would realise that thru the years, lots and lots of people have lived in countries or spoken languages where there is no NWT. And we were baptised using the Bible / Bibles we had in our language. Even today there are languages in which there is no NWT. So there is no rule saying you have to use the NWT. In languages where you have the NWT in addition, it still is no rule. On the jw home page you can find some other translations - and they are there to be used.

7

Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia!

by darkspilver in

jw
friends

from the front page of jw.org.

same view on google street view .

https://goo.gl/maps/b9wnsnxzu2r.

TheOldHippie

And the problem is?

17

Can't think how they will respond

by Giles Gray in

i've been chatting to the jws the past couple of weeks.the last time they called they showed me a video about a scientist who claimed that she had once been an atheist, but after studying with the jws she had changed her mind and now believed in an intelligent creator.

what had convinced her was the process that activates the functioning of the lungs just after a baby has been born.after we had watched the video, the jws said that there are many people who believe that creation indicates an intelligent designer.in reply i asked them what they thought about the 'unintelligent' aspects of creation and i went into a few examples.at first they tried to write things off to imperfection due to adamic sin, but as the conversation went on they slowly realised that arguing 'imperfection' wasn't an adequate explanation for the points i was making.to cut a long story short, i ended up sending them a video via email where professor dawkins comments on an autopsy that highlights the impracticality of the laryngeal nerve in giraffes.i also sent them evidence of vestigial limbs in whales and a short article about biological atavism.in addition, i sent them an article that coincidentally was on the bbc news a few days ago about a boy in india who had a 7 inch vestigial tail removed.

here is the article i sent them:-http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-3823461/the-teenager-7-inch-tail-18-year-old-finally-growth-removed-painful-sit-sleep.htmli'm really looking forward to seeing what they will come back with.

TheOldHippie

As for the laryngal nerve in giraffes, please read Loennig's article, the question is also discussed in his beautiful book about giraffes.

http://www.weloennig.de/LaryngealNerve.pdf

24

This may be a crazy question, but it popped in my head and won't leave. . So I gotta ask. . .

by Miss Worldly in

jw
friends

ok, this probably applies to most faith systems that believe in any sort of afterlife, but i would like to know what sort of explanation the jw's would come up with for this little problem, you know, after armageddon on earthly paradise.

sorry if i sound dumb, but it's been nagging at me for a few weeks and have to ask.. so, what if a young married jw couple are living their life, waiting for the big a, knowing they will be together in the earthly paradise, then very sadly one of them dies.

from what i know, if a jw dies, that's it.

TheOldHippie

WT 2014 8/15 p. 29:

QUESTIONS FROM READERS

Jesus told the Sadducees that resurrected ones “neither marry nor are given in marriage.” (Luke 20:34-36) Was he talking about the earthly resurrection?

The question is an important one, especially for those who have lost a beloved mate. Such ones may yearn to be reunited in marriage with their resurrected spouse in the new world. One widower said: “My wife and I did not choose to end our marriage. It was our heartfelt desire to remain united in worship as husband and wife forever. These feelings have not changed for me.” Is there sound reason for hoping that resurrected ones will be able to marry? Put simply, the answer is that we cannot say.

For years, our publications have said that Jesus’ words about the resurrection and getting married likely refer to the earthly resurrection and that those resurrected to life in the new world will evidently not marry.* (Matt. 22:29, 30; Mark 12:24, 25; Luke 20:34-36) While we cannot be dogmatic, is it possible that Jesus’ words refer to the heavenly resurrection? Let us examine what Jesus said.

Consider the setting. (Read Luke 20:27-33.) The Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection, tried to entrap Jesus with a question about the resurrection and brother-in-law marriage.* Jesus responded: “The children of this system of things marry and are given in marriage, but those who have been counted worthy of gaining that system of things and the resurrection from the dead neither marry nor are given in marriage. In fact, neither can they die anymore, for they are like the angels, and they are God’s children by being children of the resurrection.”—Luke 20:34-36.

Why have our publications said that Jesus was probably talking about the earthly resurrection? That conclusion is primarily based on two lines of reasoning. First, it is reasoned that the Sadducees likely had in mind an earthly resurrection and that Jesus would have answered them accordingly. Second, Jesus ended his reply by referring to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob—faithful patriarchs who are in line to be resurrected to life on earth.—Luke 20:37, 38.

However, it seems possible that Jesus had in mind the heavenly resurrection. On what basis might we reach that conclusion? Let us consider two key phrases.

“Those who have been counted worthy of gaining . . . the resurrection from the dead.” Faithful anointed ones are “counted worthy of the Kingdom of God.” (2 Thess. 1:5, 11) They have been declared righteous for life on the basis of the ransom; thus, they do not die as condemned sinners. (Rom. 5:1, 18; 8:1) Such ones are called “happy and holy” and are deemed worthy of a resurrection to heaven. (Rev. 20:5, 6) In contrast, those who are resurrected to life on earth will include “the unrighteous.” (Acts 24:15) Can it be said of them that they are “counted worthy” of a resurrection?

“Neither can they die anymore.” Jesus did not say: “They will not die anymore.” Rather, he said: “Neither can they die anymore.” Other translations render that phrase “they are not subject to death any longer” and “death has no more power over them.” Anointed ones who finish their earthly course in faithfulness are raised to heaven and given immortality—endless, indestructible life. (1 Cor. 15:53, 54) Death no longer has any power over those who receive a heavenly resurrection.*

In view of the foregoing, what might we conclude? It is possible that Jesus’ words about marrying and the resurrection apply to the heavenly resurrection. If so, then his words would tell us several things about those raised to heavenly life: They do not marry, they cannot die, and they are in some respects like angels—spirit creatures who inhabit the spirit realm. Such a conclusion, however, raises several questions.

First, why would Jesus refer to the heavenly resurrection when answering the Sadducees, who probably had in mind an earthly resurrection? Jesus did not always answer his opposers in accord with what they were thinking. For example, to Jews who demanded a sign from him, he said: “Tear down this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” Jesus likely knew that they were thinking about the temple building, “but he was talking about the temple of his body.” (John 2:18-21) Perhaps Jesus felt no need to answer the insincere Sadducees, who did not believe in the resurrection or in the existence of angels. (Prov. 23:9; Matt. 7:6; Acts 23:8) Instead, he may have wanted to reveal truths about the heavenly resurrection for the benefit of his sincere disciples, who would one day be in line for receiving such a resurrection.

Second, why would Jesus end his discussion with a reference to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who will be resurrected to life on earth? (Read Matthew 22:31, 32.) Note that Jesus prefaced his comment about those patriarchs with the words “regarding the resurrection of the dead.” That transitional phrase may allow for a shift in focus. Then, drawing from the writings of Moses, which the Sadducees claimed to accept, Jesus used the words of Jehovah to Moses at the burning bush to give added proof that the resurrection—an earthly one—is a sure purpose of God.—Ex. 3:1-6.

Third, if Jesus’ words about the resurrection and getting married apply to the heavenly resurrection, does this mean that those who come back in the earthly resurrection will be able to marry? God’s Word does not give a direct answer to that specific question. If Jesus was, in fact, talking about the heavenly resurrection, then his words do not shed any light on whether resurrected ones on earth will be able to marry in the new world.

Meanwhile, we know that God’s Word definitely says that death dissolves the marriage tie. Hence, a widower or a widow need not feel guilty if he or she decides to remarry. That is a personal decision, and such ones should not be criticized for seeking the warm companionship of a marriage mate.—Rom. 7:2, 3; 1 Cor. 7:39.

Understandably, we may have many questions about life in the new world. Rather than needlessly speculating on the answers to those questions, we will just have to wait and see. But of this we can be sure: Obedient humans will be happy, for Jehovah will satisfy all their needs and desires in the best possible way.—Ps. 145:16.

51

Announcement from SPAIN: On Monday, the 26th online in the a.m. in the online edition of www.elperiodico.es...

by AndersonsInfo in

announcement from spain:.

on monday 26th septriembre, www.elperiodico.es published in its online edition the first publicly reported case of child abuse and harassment in spain watchtower, digital edition monday, tuesday print edition.

please maximum dissemination of the link, it will be online early in the morning of monday 26, in the online edition.

TheOldHippie

I hope you also turn your attention to one of the articles in the series, the one that tells of the sexual violation committed by five men - one of whom was a policeman - against a young female JW during the Pamplona festival this year, and which resulted in hundreds turning out on the streets protesting against the sexual violence against women in Spain. The trial is now held and is reported upon by the same newspaper.

20

Brother with a beard on jw.org!

by neat blue dog in

ok, slight exaggeration: specifically, an official recording of the july 25th, 2016 midweek meeting in german sign language downloaded from stream.jw.org, (log-in required), includes a brother with a beard giving one of the talks:.

.

TheOldHippie

So what? Beards on the platform is OK in many European countries.

13

You're fired!...Damage control in October broadcast

by ab.ortega in

this new broadcast features interviews with bethelites from south africa that were fired reassigned to the ministry field.

i almost feel sorry for these people who gave their all thinking they would be taken care of for who-knows how many years.

however they were let go in the blink of an eye.

TheOldHippie

For example Bethel Germany (=Central Europe it is called now) has a nursing home or department for the aged and infirm.