Posts by venus

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

venus

I disagree with you Drearyweather,

Though context may have a bearing on some statements, things referred to in Mathew 7:21-23 are absolute which can mean one and the same thing in any context. Interestingly, phrases such as “the poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, those who are persecuted because of righteousness” etc are prima facie refer to those what they mean—not to a particular faith or organization.

In addition, Jesus made it sure that no one would interpret it in any other ways by elaborating it in the simplest illustration of sheep and goat (Mathew 25:31-46) where it is described with absolute clarity that judgment is based on whether humans acted humanely or not, not based on one’s belief.

19

Diminishing glory of JWs, confusions are at the root

by Ireneus in

when the world shuns jws because of difference of opinion, it is described as the action of satan.. when jws shun others because of difference of opinion, it is described as theocratic action.. such confused mind is at the root of getting wrong teachings.

jws shun anything what anyone would rate as the best of the bible or christian traditions:.

1)cross (with a longer descending arm) is the symbol of controlling the less powerful (“acts of the flesh”) with the more powerful (“spirit” within)—galatians 5:17, 19, 25.

venus

cobweb,

I too share your view which you put it very beautifully: "Personally i think it is a highly resonant passage with positive implications and deserves to be followed more than much of the so called original material."

Since stories are the reflection of the time in which it is written, thus real as the history, there is no reason why any story should be shunned if it contains a moral. If I were to rate, I would say John 8:1-11 is the best of all the Bible stories because it contains multiple lessons such as:

--Examine yourself before you accuse another,

--What is next is what matters, not what has happened in the past

--Humans have the power over their body--if they want they can stop sinning ...

Thus the internal evidence in its favor is overwhelming.

7

Isaiah 45:7 I make peace, and create evil

by pleaseresearch in

what is your thought on this particular scripture?.

how do you think a jw would respond to this if shown?.

king james biblei form the light, and create darkness: i make peace, and create evil: i the lord do all these things..

venus

Douay-Rheims Bible puts it “I form the light, and create darkness, I make peace, and create evil: I the Lord that do all these things.” (Isaiah 45:7)

The context of this verse is all about God rewarding Israel for obedience and punishing Israel for disobedience. And verse following (Isaiah 45:9) says: “Woe to him who quarrels with his Master” (Isaiah 45:9). In other words, it reaffirms the same truth history, all stories and all our experiences highlight that any action (productive or wasteful) will have its corresponding consequence. If you say it is God who is behind this mechanism, it is right; and if you say it is not God who is behind the mechanism, that’s also right because God is the Author of the universe and all its laws.

The problem is that Bible writers are not careful. Instead of using the words “I create evil” they could also use the words “I will cause disaster to come upon you for disobedience.” Often, the main purpose of the religious writers is not to bring clarity, but to confusion. Same is with the writer of sermon on the mount. Verses such as ‘Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow. They don't toil, neither do they spin’’ give the impression that we do not have to work because we would be provided by God just like the birds are provided for by God. Writer could have written what he really meant, but he won’t. writers want their readers to draw all sorts of conflicted interpretations—which is opposite of the very purpose of communication. This is the reason why some say Scriptures are not the means of God’s communication.

18

"This Good news Of The Kingdom Will Be Preached In All The Inhabited Earth" ........

by smiddy3 in

..".for a witness to all the nations and then the end will come" .matt.24:14.. the religion of jehovah`s witnesses kid themselves into thinking they are filling or have fulfilled this prophecy/scripture .. given that you take the jehovah`s witnesses and the international bible students association as one and the same religion , then they have been preaching their message primarily within lands that are predominantly christian based.....and certainly do not cover "all the inhabited earth " as their are many populous non christian nations nations that do not allow, even forbid any proselytizing in their lands.

i would estimate about one third of the current world population.. but that is not all .. given that you take the jehovah`s witnesses and the international bible students association as one and the same religion ,then they have about 140 years of preaching their beliefs to the public specifically to preach "this good news of the kingdom " as they claim to do in obedience to j.c.commands at matt.24:14.. take a survey no matter where you live on this planet earth of the people in your locality and if you asked them "what was the message jehovah`s witnesses left you and no one would be able to say "they told me about and explained to me the good news of the kingdom" and what it would mean to me.. no one would be able to say that .after 140 years of preaching and witnessing by what is now 8 million plus jehovah`s witnesses .. what a waste of time and energy and lives .. after 140 years of preaching what do the public know about jehovah`s witnesses ?.

they don`t take blood transfusions .

venus

‘They are nothing other than their own project.’ They could be trusted on what they do rather than what they say/preach. They have taught the world, by their action, the “best lesson” on human relationship—‘shun everyone who disagrees with you.’

6

Removing scriptures and numbering

by carla in

recently there was a thread https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5596141447020544/nwt-1984-vs-nwt-2013.

and kairos mentioned the following-.

i am baffled that john 8:1-12 was removed from their bible.it's a verse that makes judging and shunning impossible if you claim to be christian.".

venus

Unfortunately, they removed the best part of the scriptures.

How wise it would be if they had removed portions which are obviously uninspired such as:

1) Joshua stopping the sun and the moon.

2) Jesus and Satan going to the top of the mountain in the belief that they could see from there all kingdoms of the earth.

3) Killing of 70,000 people because David took a census.

4) Abraham being told to sacrifice his only son Issac and saying Ok without any reasoning which he did in the case of the likelihood of the death of wicked people of Sodom and Gomorrah

5) Uzziah being given instant death sentence for helping theocracy………..etc

16

Time to remind JWs of this famous quote from CT Russell!

by stuckinarut2 in

with the ever present issue of the society seeming to run out of money, and constantly asking the flock for more donations, maybe it is time to revive this quote!.

the leaked financial dept videos that have done the rounds, clearly show the society is in desperate trouble financially.. so, where is the "almighty's hand"?

where is his ability to provide funds?

venus

Even this indirectly honors God who put in place the omnipresent Law of Cause and Effect. In the past, a nation made the claim that they are the chosen people of God which was foiled by powerful Empires such as Babylon, Romans …etc (a fact that is well-documented in the Bible) The same thing is happening with modern-day claim of JWs.

When religious leaders exploit the ignorant in the name of God (when God is commercially used by the religion) atheists appear denying the very basis the exploiters stand on. Thus exploiters are the cause, and atheism is the consequence—again an interesting situation that indirectly honors God who put in place the omnipresent Law of Cause and Effect. When the atheists say they do not see evidence for the existence of God, they are right because they do not see the evidence for the existence of God as described by religions (not the real God who treats everyone equally by giving a perfect start and who takes care of us more than our mere sustenance).

6

Jehovah is not the God of Jehovah’s Witnesses

by Ireneus in

in exodus 23:4 jehovah established this law: “if you come across your enemy's ox or donkey wandering off, be sure to take it back to him.”.

if jws were really his people, jehovah would have ensured they never go wrong in their teaching which is in effect much more than mere “wandering.” if jehovah is concerned about wandering animals of enemies of his chosen people, much more concern should have been shown by him towards his modern-day chosen people.. yet the changes they have made are too many.

(https://docs.google.com/document/d/1urjfnby6jlz8lsibve7vsrgihtxkwqbrluzihlgfh-e/edit).

venus

They don't obey Jesus either who said: “So if anyone tells you, ‘There he is, out in the wilderness,’ do not go out; or, ‘Here he is, in the inner rooms,’ do not believe it. For as lightning that comes from the east is visible even in the west, so will be the coming of the Son of Man" (Mathew 24:26, 27) which clearly prohibits anyone heralding of Messiah's arrival in whatsoever manner. Yet the very purpose of WT is to herald the coming of Messiah making it confused--He is present in the Kingdom Power from 1914 guiding the preaching the activity.

7

John 1:1—a concept blindly copied from other cultures

by Ireneus in

john 1:1 is the adaptation from other cultures where it is taught that we are all gods.

if expanded, john 1:1 would read like this: “in the beginning there was only god and he created the universe out of himself.

that means you are made out of god and you are a part of god, hence you are god just as much as jesus was.

venus

Hi Doug Mason

You put it perfectly: "Each party wrote in order to promote their own ideology and at the same time to argue against the views of others. Hence we are exposed only to the views of a writer" not to the thoughts of God.

7

John 1:1—a concept blindly copied from other cultures

by Ireneus in

john 1:1 is the adaptation from other cultures where it is taught that we are all gods.

if expanded, john 1:1 would read like this: “in the beginning there was only god and he created the universe out of himself.

that means you are made out of god and you are a part of god, hence you are god just as much as jesus was.

venus

In Luke 7:19 we read:

So John called two of hisdisciples and sent them to ask the Lord, “AreYou the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?”

In John 1:32-34 we read:

Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit come down from heaven as a dove and remain on him. And I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me, ‘The man on whom you see the Spirit come down and remain is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ I have seen and I testify that this is God’s Chosen One.”

This shows John Gospel writer has no idea about what John the Baptist had already admitted in public which means this gospel writer was just creating stories. If John 1:32-34 were true, then what Luke reported would not happen.

169

Universal sovereignty on trial

by Factfulness in

i just had a thought of clarity regarding the jw explanation for this doctrine.

they explain that satan challenged god regarding his right to rule.

god failed to prove his right to rule.

venus

Slimboyfat,

You say “everything we are and know and experience derives its existence from something else, whereas God does not derive his existence from anything else;” and also you also make an interesting reference to the etymology of the word atheist.

When we are stuck with the details, we don’t have the whole picture. It is like answering to the question “Which came first the chicken or the egg?” Some say chicken, and others would say egg. But both are wrong because it’s all about an eternal mechanism—it can’t have any beginning which is the essence of the matter. So is the case with God and we. Neither God nor anything else could have any beginning. Eternal recycling is what we experience.

In the East, atheism is called Charvaka system which is combination of charu (delightful) + vak (words). It arose to counter the exploitation of the clergy whose authority was based on the scriptures. Hence Charvakas rejected the authority of scriptures which was delightful to the ears of the listeners/the exploited; hence atheists were called Charvakas. Here, atheism has nothing to do with the question of whether God exists or not.