Posts by EdenOne

15

Just read "Zealot - The Life And Times Of Jesus Of Nazareth"

by EdenOne in

so, keeping in mind that mrs. eden isn't so comfortable with english, i have been searching for books on the subject of the historical jesus and who wrote the bible, and i got very frustrated because there's not a lot of those in my native language.

most of what i read in english simply hasn't been translated, which is a shame.

in any case, i managed to get two: bart ehrman's "misquoting jesus" and reza aslan's "zealot".

EdenOne

I also recommend "How Jesus Became God" by Bart Earhman.

I have it as an e-book, but haven't read it yet.

How about Richard Carrier's "On the Historicity of Jesus: Why We Might Have Reason for Doubt"

I never found compelling arguments against the historicity of Jesus, from what I've read in several articles. But I'll keep that in mind when I decide to read something more in-depth to that effect.

he doesn't feel Reza isn't really well qualified to talk about early christianity.

I don't agree with Ehrman. Aslan was raised a Muslim, lived in a liberal muslim family and converted to evangelical christianity on his late teens. He then had a scholarly path much similar to Bart Ehrman's. I don't think that the islamic roots of Aslam per se disqualify him from doing a scholarly work on the historic Jesus. It's actually a bit inelegant to claim so.

Brent btw is an excellent scholar

I'll keep an eye for an opportunity to look into his works.

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Btw, some more recommendations (in english):

"The Authentic Gospel Of Jesus" - Geza Vermes

"Paul and Jesus - How the Apostle Transformed Christianity" - James D. Tabor (Highly recommended!!)

"James the Brother Of Jesus" - Robert Eisenman (Extremely dense book, not for the faint of heart ...!)

"Jesus, Interrupted" - Bart Ehrman

"A History of Christianity" - Diairmaid MacCulloch (For a comprehensive historical overview of the development of Christianity until the the XX century.)

=================

Finally, one of my favorites. It's a scholarly article (Book? Thesis?) about how the first Christian gatherings.I have found it a fascinating reading. I found it very useful when I had to research for an article I wrote about shunning.

THE EARLIEST HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN GATHERING - ORIGIN, DEVELOPMENT AND CONTENT OF THE CHRISTIAN GATHERING IN THE FIRST TO THIRD CENTURIES

by Valeriy Alexandrovich Alikin

Eden

15

Just read "Zealot - The Life And Times Of Jesus Of Nazareth"

by EdenOne in

so, keeping in mind that mrs. eden isn't so comfortable with english, i have been searching for books on the subject of the historical jesus and who wrote the bible, and i got very frustrated because there's not a lot of those in my native language.

most of what i read in english simply hasn't been translated, which is a shame.

in any case, i managed to get two: bart ehrman's "misquoting jesus" and reza aslan's "zealot".

EdenOne

So, keeping in mind that Mrs. Eden isn't so comfortable with english, I have been searching for books on the subject of the historical Jesus and who wrote the Bible, and I got very frustrated because there's not a lot of those in my native language. Most of what I read in english simply hasn't been translated, which is a shame. In any case, I managed to get two: Bart Ehrman's "Misquoting Jesus" and Reza Aslan's "Zealot".

I've just finished reading "Zealot" in just one day. It's simple and easy to follow, at some points I find it a bit superficial. But seems to me a good introduction book for someone wanting to know more about the historical Jesus. It's useful to debunk the devotional reading of the gospels and the wrong notion that the NT displays a united church of the followers of Christ.

I recommend it, but as I said, it keeps things on a relatively accessible level, but for more in-depth research, there are better works. Have you read it?

Eden

51

My first post

by thewalker in

jw
friends

hi, i just joined the board and wanted to present myself.. i'm active, in fact very active in congregation activities serving "where the need is great" in a foreign language congregation somewhere in western europe.

as a young brother, i'm seen as an example as i'm doing all a good witness should do.. i had doubts years ago but i decided just to ignore them and move to another congregation to preach more.

that worked for some years but i'm now at the exact same point.

EdenOne

Welcome TheWalker ... It seems we're on the same geography (non-english speaking Western Europe). You are among friends, take your time, don't rush; educate yourself before you make life-altering decisions - especially if you have family still in.

Eden

16

Searching for those who "know" TTAT

by EyesOpenHeartBroken in

jw
friends

does anybody have any tips for conversation starters to covertly feel out someone in the cong that you suspect is a "knower" about ttat?.

any success or experiences to share?.

EdenOne

Maybe what we need is a secret apostate sign ("T" for TTAT)

Eden

46

Correlation decline JW numbers and JW broadcasting?

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

i read some impressive figures here about the decline of the jw numbers in 2015.. could there be a correlation between this decline and the start of jw broadcasting?.

hence, that there would be an negative impact because the gb is standing so nearby, you can experience the idiot reasoning of their doctrines sitting in your own living room?.

the lett effect?

EdenOne

"We love this teaching" was said during the AGM where the new light about the identity of the FDS was first expounded. I think it was said by David Splane. In 2013, maybe...?

Eden

31

The Thief of Always

by YinzerDad in

prologue... .

a brief precursor about myself.

i've been lurking around for almost 2 years.

EdenOne

YinzerDad, welcome! Your experience and analogy with the "Thief of Always" (of which I didn't know about) is poignant. In many ways, I can relate with your story. But, as many have said, you're still young, you have an education, and you have a family. Lots going for you. Work from there to build up an interest and then a passion. You have time. This 'system of things' ain't going anywhere.

Eden

22

"the Kingdom work is expanding at an accelerated pace"

by Londo111 in

if recent intel is true, there is only a .23% increase worldwide in 2015. .

notice what is increasing is not the average publisher count, according to the above watchtower quote to spin the bethel downsizing, but the work.

"the little one will become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation.

EdenOne

The work is "expanding" so much that is getting sublimated to vaporware.

Eden

36

Do you need Art and Music in your life?

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

music and art have been a big part of my life since i was a little boy, and although i was never able to play a decent guitar, i can paint.

my art teacher from college said " i was the most imaginative and constructive pupil she had ever had.

" i loved that comment, because in translation i realised it meant i had to work harder than other more naturally talented students, but the effort was always worth it.

EdenOne

Music, absolutely. Keeps me sane, provides an outlet for my creativity, and I can vent and release energy through it.

Eden

24

Are Jehovah’s Winesses “Fundamentalists” and “Fanatics”?

by EdenOne in

recently ive posted on fb a meme where a two pairs of hands held open a bible and the quram side by side.

then i wrote on it:.

(faith + fundamentalism) x (hate + propaganda) = legitimation of intolerance and violence.

EdenOne

Let me introduce into this discussion an excellent article that introduces a book by Bruce Bower: "Stealing Jesus - How Fundamentalism Betrays Christianity".

The author draws a dividing line on American Protestantism between legalistic and non-legalistic protestants, which I think it's a novel distinction that makes a lot of sense. From the following quote, see if the Jehovah's Witnesses fit or not into this category of fundamentalist Christians:

"Among the differences between legalistic and nonlegalistic Protestants are these:

* Legalistic Protestantism sees Jesus' death on the cross as a transaction by means of which Jesus paid for the sins of believers and won them eternal life; nonlegalistic Protestantism sees it as a powerful and mysterious symbol of God's infinite love for suffering mankind, and as the natural culmination of Jesus' ministry of love and selflessness.
* Legalistic Protestantism believes that Jesus' chief purpose was to carry out that act of atonement; nonlegalistic Protestantism believes Jesus' chief purpose was to teach that God loves all people as parents love their children and that all humankind is one.
* Legalistic Protestantism understands eternal life to mean a heavenly reward after death for the "true Christians"--the "Elect," the "saved"--who accept Jesus as their savior and subscribe to the correct doctrines; nonlegalistic Protestantism more often understands it to denote a unity with God that exists outside the dimension of time and that can also be experienced in this life.
* Legalistic Protestantism holds that God loves only the "saved' and that they alone are truly his children; nonlegalistic Protestantism holds that God loves all human beings and that all are his children.
* Legalistic Protestantism sees Satan as a real creature, a tempter and deceiver from whom true Christians are defended by their faith but by whom atheists, members of other religions, and "false Christians" are deceived, and whose instruments they can become; for nonlegalistic Protestantism Satan is a metaphor for the potential for evil that exists in each person, Christian or otherwise, and that must be recognized and resisted.
* Legalistic Protestantism believes that individuals should be wary of trusting their own minds and emotions, for these can be manipulated by Satan, and that questions and doubts are to be resisted as the work of the Devil; nonlegalistic Protestantism believes that the mind is a gift of God and that God wants us to think for ourselves, to follow our consciences, to ask questions, and to listen for his still, small voice.
* Legalistic Protestantism sees "truth" as something established in the Bible and known for sure by true Christians; nonlegalistic Protestantism sees truth as something known wholly only by God toward which the belief statements of religions can only attempt to point the way.
* Legalistic Protestantism reads the Bible literally and considers it the ultimate source of truth; nonlegalistic Protestantism insists that the Bible must be read critically, intelligently, and with an understanding of its historical and cultural contexts.
* Legalistic Protestantism encourages a suspicion of aesthetic values and a literalistic mentality that tends to thwart spiritual experience; nonlegalistic Protestantism encourages a recognition of mystery and beauty as attributes of the holy.

Some legalistic Protestants are fundamentalists, whose emphasis is on keeping themselves apart from the evil mainstream culture and thus pure; others might more accurately be described as conservative evangelicals, whose emphasis is on bringing the word of Jesus to the "unsaved," or as charismatics, who seek to model their worship on early Christians' miraculous experiences with healing, prophecy. and "speaking in tongues"; some may consider themselves to be all three at once. Members of all these groups believe in a wrathful God who rewards "true believers" with an eternity in heaven and condemns all others to an eternity in hell. (...) In any event, the problem with legalistic Christianity is not simply that it affirms that God can be evil; it's that it imagines a manifestly evil God and calls that evil good. In effect, as we shall see, it worships evil. (...)"

Apart from some unique quirks, JWdom fits right into the fundamentalist legalistic protestantism camp.

Eden

31

Facebook Meme made me angry

by Seeking agape in

jw
friends

.

EdenOne

I wonder if they would have to eat their own words if there was one Witness among those killed in Paris by the terrorists.