EdenOne

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Posts by EdenOne

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  32

  Books about early Christianity

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i've just finished reading two (imo) great books:.

  "a history of christianity - the first three thousand years", by diarmaid macculloch.

  "misquoting jesus", by bart ehrman.

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  EdenOne

  OrphanCrow,

  I've discarded the validity of the OT quite awhile ago, at least in the sense of allowing it to have any significant wheight on my wordview. Being a "Christian", my primary interest was to test the validity of the Christian wordview. To do so, one MUST investigate the historical Jesus, what he really said, what he really taught. The result is astonishing: We know not much about what the historical Jesus actually said. What we DO know, for the most part, is what the apostle Paul constructed from the Jesus movement. And nowadays, especially with the Dead Sea Scrolls from the Qumran [Essene] community, and the Nag Hamadi texts, we have a much better idea about the "Jesus movement", and what they stood for. I have to say the result of that isn't flattering for the faith in Jesus Christ.

  To a fundamentalist Christian, which now I acknowledge that I was, as a Jehovah's Witness, the notion that the historical Jesus said and taught everything that the New Testament texts say is crucial; if Jesus isn't the son of God and he didn't teach those things, it's utterly damaging to your faith. It's what's happening to me. Some may have a more allegorical / philosophical reading of the NT; given my background, I can't do it. It either is, or isn't. Finding out it isn't is absolutely damaging to the 'christian' faith.

  Eden
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  443

  Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.

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  EdenOne

  He means, of course, Yahweh, the God of the old testament. That's the one he "knows" and reveres.

  Eden
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  443

  Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.

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  EdenOne

  Again, I would like to thank the governing body for helping me extract my wife from this cult. Excellent work!

  Ditto!

  Eden
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  443

  Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.

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  EdenOne

  Wasn't that the same talk he delivered in the Bethel of Italy a couple of months ago?
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  443

  Zone Visit: An Announcement That Will "Test Your Faith"

  by breakfast of champions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  this is the scuttlebutt in one of the "bethel congregations" by us.. no details as to exactly what this "faith-testing" announcement might be.. anyone else hear any of this pre-zone visit hype?.

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  EdenOne

  Whatever 'privileged information' they don't want to become public knowledge too soon, I think they're perfectly aware that this information will leak and get viral, first among the apostate community then among the faithful rank & file. What do they aim to achieve?

  Eden
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  23

  Religion without revelation - any examples from the past?

  by EdenOne in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm researching on the common trait of mostly every religion coming from pre-humanist times, and that would be, the notion of "revelation", that is, that at the beginning of every [i say this with caution because i'm admitting to exceptions] religion there is some sort of "revelation" from supernatural being(s) of some sort.. my question is: do you know of any example of religions from the past that you can confidently say that were exempt from "revelation"?

  this is not the same as asking if there were religions without gods, or religions of nature.

  i'm not even considering what i understand as philosophical-ethical systems, such as confucionism or platonism my purpose is to find out if, at the starting point of all religions of the past, there is a "revelation", or merely "observation / contemplation".

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  EdenOne

  What about the "enlightenment" of Siddarta Gautama (Buddha)? How did that come about?

  Eden
• 
  82

  Gerrit Losch's "I DO NOT ANSWER TO WATCHTOWER"

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. social
  2. current

  in gerrit losch's public statement to the superior copurt of california.

  http://www.watchtower.exposed/?p=364.

  documents: https://www.dropbox.com/s/49zyexvagn7ux7j/losch%20public%20statement.jpg?dl=0.

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  EdenOne

  On my part, I'm grateful that Mr. Loesch and WT lawyers make this kind of statements: it was exactly how my wife opened her eyes to the shameless hypocrytes these men are. As a result, she left. Keep it coming, 'bro' Loesch!

  Eden
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  82

  Gerrit Losch's "I DO NOT ANSWER TO WATCHTOWER"

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. social
  2. current

  in gerrit losch's public statement to the superior copurt of california.

  http://www.watchtower.exposed/?p=364.

  documents: https://www.dropbox.com/s/49zyexvagn7ux7j/losch%20public%20statement.jpg?dl=0.

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  EdenOne

  So, if Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses = Governing Body, sue them as well.

  Eden
• 
  82

  Gerrit Losch's "I DO NOT ANSWER TO WATCHTOWER"

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. social
  2. current

  in gerrit losch's public statement to the superior copurt of california.

  http://www.watchtower.exposed/?p=364.

  documents: https://www.dropbox.com/s/49zyexvagn7ux7j/losch%20public%20statement.jpg?dl=0.

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  EdenOne

  Actually because Loesch was a member of the GB before 2000, and therefore, liable as a former member of the Board of Directors of the Watchtower Society, I wouldn't be surprised if he comes to 'resign' from his GB position in order to avoid being called to stand before a court.

  Eden
• 
  82

  Gerrit Losch's "I DO NOT ANSWER TO WATCHTOWER"

  by Newly Enlightened in

  1. social
  2. current

  in gerrit losch's public statement to the superior copurt of california.

  http://www.watchtower.exposed/?p=364.

  documents: https://www.dropbox.com/s/49zyexvagn7ux7j/losch%20public%20statement.jpg?dl=0.

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  EdenOne

  Seems to me that future lawsuits must be directed both at the Watchtower [Corporation] AND at the Governing Body as well, since they clearly attempt to legally disentangle themselves, whilst 'spiritual oversight entity' over the Jehovah's Witnesses, from the Administrative, corporate entity. Therefore, who decides the doctrinally-driven policies isn't the Watchtower per se, but solely the Governing Body.

  At least until some jurisprudence establishes a chain of command between the Governing Body and the Watchtower. We all know it exists, but prove it in a court of law is a whole other ball game. Remember, both entities were legally separated in 2000 under Henschel.

  Eden