Posts by venus

17

Uncovering "GOD"

by Doug Mason in

with self-righteous indignation, the watchtower society (wts) points to its restoration of the hebrew tetragram (hwhy = “yahweh” = = = > “jehovah”) wherever the english translator renders it as “lord”..

the wts complains that the use of “lord” hides the fact that the name (“jehovah” for the wts) is intended.

however, with its call of “look over here, look over here”, the wts diverts attention, probably unintentionally, from related information that it, in turn, does not reveal..

venus

Doug Mason

Very interesting and precious information--I have saved on to my computer.

For everything you have said here there is proof in Exodus 20:2-6 where He identifies himself as "the one who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery."

Then He goes on to say 'If you worship any other god or their images, I will punish you for 3-4 generation.'

Here God is depicted as though a human passionate romantic lover threatening his love. It doesn't befit the Supreme Ruler of the universe. The Supreme Father would not seek validation from his children because there is no need of it, and He knows what He is. True God would always speak in dispassion and disinterest because he would always give freedom to His children, and would want to see His children behaving like Him. Jesus correctly discerned this aspect of God in Mathew 5:44-48. Between the lines we can see God as though telling us: “Don’t worship me, but become worship-worthy by imitating sun which is a giver (of light and warmth) and never receives anything from any body [having no expectation from others]—a quality that has its source in God Himself. When you imitate qualities of sun, you become like your heavenly father.”

19

Will the Watchtower Corporation continue to lie and deceive just to sustain itself into the future ?

by Finkelstein in

the wts has been selling and promoting christ's return and the end times since the late 1800's, right through all of the 20th century and still continues today on the same core doctrinal premise.. 1914 was set as a year of christ taking position upon his heavenly throne followed by choosing the wts as his earthly guided organization in 1919 according to the wts.

leaders at that time.. the actual truth is that the wts is a publishing house and it was inherently pressed to make up doctrines which would gravitate attention to its published goods, accurate and honest bible interpretation was a second lesser concern.. the original heads of this religious publishing house (c t russell) first proclaimed that christ had returned in 1874 and 1914 was going to be the year jesus was going to cleanse the earth of all wickedness etc.

this was obviously a false doctrine tainted with ignorance and a bit of commercialization in reality.. so the question remains what will the wts do in the future, what will the wts do as far as doctrines to allure the general public at large ?

venus

1) A nation believes that they are God’s chosen people and rest of the world is pagan. When the history unfolds, the so-called chosen people go under occupation by the so-called pagans. From this theological crisis, a new theology of a messiah (who would restore everything) is evolved.

2) When the Messiah did arrive, no restoration took place; rather Messiah himself was murdered. From this evolved another teaching that it was God’s will that Messiah should be murdered by sinners so that sinners can seek forgiveness on the basis of such a death.

3) Even about specific subject you can see such evolution. For example, resurrection of Jesus. Mark was written first, and he’s hardly got anything about the resurrection; Matthew comes next with little more information; and then toward the end of the century we get Luke and John, and then and only then do we find stories about Jesus eating broiled fish, cooking breakfast by the shore, inviting Thomas to touch him, and so on..And finally book of Acts saying about 40-day works of resurrected Jesus

Since Bible itself sets the precedent for theological evolution, JWs would not have any problem in changing according to the time.

20

Sources of John's vivid imagery

by Doug Mason in

in common with other apocalyptic writings, such as daniel and 1 enoch, john’s letter employs vivid, memorable imagery.

as with the other elements of his apocalypse (revelation), john draws on existing sources for his material.. meanings inferred from the images need to keep the following firmly in mind:.

1. the symbols had to have meaning for and be clearly understood by his immediate intended hearers.. 2. john intended that these images encourage those hearers to “overcome”, then and there.. 3. john anticipated that the coming of jesus was imminent, “soon”.. it is my belief that the images were intended to depict earthly opposition (rome and apostate jews) as well as heavenly opposition (wars in heaven involving satan).. the writers/compilers of daniel also employed vivid imagery.

venus

Doug Mason,

You know you exist because you think, perceive, plan, formulate logic, abstract reasoning etc which are not the characteristics of matter. Science does not discover the self; but it is the self that discovers science. You are an individual, and the word individual is from indivisible, Latin [in + dividuus “divisible”, from divido “divide”. Individual is all about your immaterial substratum on which body is sustained. This substratum is indivisible, minuter than the minutest, not composed of parts, cannot be destroyed. This applies to God who is also an individual made of qualities like we are. The only difference: among many individuals one would be Supreme because humans cannot say ‘no one superior to us exists.’ Supreme Soul would have supreme qualities, and would have a residence that matches His Supreme status.

God is individual, simple in composition, atom-sized, hence anthropomorphic representation of God is untruth. This is where all religions went wrong. Things such as imagery, symbols .. inadequate to explain the Supreme.

29

Anointed Delusions of Grandeur

by Kohanic in

so here is something i've been wondering about.

how do the 'anointed' come to the conclusion that they are chosen?

is it some weird collective delusion of grandeur and how is it manifested in such ones?.

venus

What they quote is Romans 8:16 that says 'The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God."

This is a tricky sentence because anyone can hear internal voice which can be mistaken as God's voice. Joyce Mayor always says "God told me ..." So are all Pentecost Pastors. Even George Bush said that God told him "George, go and end the tyranny in Iraq."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2005/oct/07/iraq.usa

5

borrowed ideas from christendom?

by road to nowhere in

once i heard from a gb, "keep on keepin on".

a church phrase.

when they came out with the idea of the "way" i was dumbfounded to find churches using the same, remember the bible called the way?.

venus

Similarity is natural.

A higher vision would show that all religions are same in essence and differ only in details. When humanity as a whole was grateful, earth was like paradise. When they became ungrateful and egoistic, paradise was lost and new world became old world. God would renew the provisions for life’s enjoyment whenever humans deplete/destroy them. (Mathew 19:28)

ESSENCE: The new world became old when humans went into slavery of materialism.

DETAILS: When woman went after the fruit of a tree, or produce of earth, which is materialism, says one religion. When woman went after a deer made of gold which is materialism, says another religion.

16

Is Happiness Without Religion Possible?

by Brian J in

according to the 11/2017 study watchtower.......apparently not.

is it really true that one can be happy without religion?

certainly an individual can be happy without false religion, but a person cannot be truly happy unless he has a relationship with jehovah, who is described as “the happy god.” (1 tim.

venus

Our nature itself is happiness. Only when we are diverted from this fact we feel unhappy. For example, someone shouted at you. Now you are thinking about this questioning its reasonableness … propriety ..etc … finally you forget all about this and settle down—now are reverted to your original nature of happiness.

You can only divert your attention from happiness, and your happiness can never be destroyed because you are made of happiness and other qualities. You are an individual which is from indivisible, Latin [in + dividuus “divisible”, from divido “divide”. Individual is all about your immaterial substratum on which body is sustained. This substratum is indivisible, minuter than the minutest, not composed of parts, cannot be destroyed. This applies to God who is also an individual made of happiness and other qualities. The only difference: among many individuals, one would be supreme.

20

Sources of John's vivid imagery

by Doug Mason in

in common with other apocalyptic writings, such as daniel and 1 enoch, john’s letter employs vivid, memorable imagery.

as with the other elements of his apocalypse (revelation), john draws on existing sources for his material.. meanings inferred from the images need to keep the following firmly in mind:.

1. the symbols had to have meaning for and be clearly understood by his immediate intended hearers.. 2. john intended that these images encourage those hearers to “overcome”, then and there.. 3. john anticipated that the coming of jesus was imminent, “soon”.. it is my belief that the images were intended to depict earthly opposition (rome and apostate jews) as well as heavenly opposition (wars in heaven involving satan).. the writers/compilers of daniel also employed vivid imagery.

venus

symbols, imagery, allegories, parables ... are all obscurantism, created over 41000 warring sects. God would not resort to such means (1 Cor 14:8)

2

WTBorg Cult Inc. Doctrines of Fear

by Old Navy in

the cult makes extensive use of the morbid fear inducing threat of armageddon and eternal destruction of all who are not witnesses and even those who may be deficient in their "field service" obligations.

to really intensify the fear jws are forbidden to seek "other opinions" from any source outside the wtborg cult inc. "approved" publications and/or elder counsel.

witnesses are taught that christendom is wicked; that it is babylon the great; that any who consort with christendom are guilty of "sin" and apostasy.. while i don't agree with all that tim mchyde publishes, i do find that his thoughts concerning the second coming and all that it entails to be quite sensible in contrast to wtborg cult inc. teachings.

venus

Religious leaders are taken up by extreme statements such as Luke 12:40; 1Th 5:2; 2Pe 3:10 which say end is imminent. Yet they are not aware that there are many Bible verses that says end is far off.

4

The Use of Hyperboles.

by Lost in the fog in

i have often wondered if jesus deliberately used hyperboles to obscure his meaning.

i can say to my wife that i will love her until the moon is no more.

she well knows that i will love her forever, not simply until earth's nearest satellite crumbles into dust.