Posts by A Paduan

61

Christians could and did. Can JWs? Do they?

by ANewLeif in

there are many things the bible says christians could do and things the bible describes christians doing that, according to their doctrine, jws can't do.. christians could talk directly to jesus.

(acts 7:54-60; acts 9:3-16) can you?

christians could decide for themselves which days they chose to observe without any fear of religious retribution.

A Paduan

I believe I was saved while still a JW. I was enlightened and left.
But I left because I was a Christian not to become one.

Yes, and you left when you well understood 'jw' as compared 'christian' - not being able to stay and be both

18

Oh crap,....reading What does the Bible Really Teach? can't stomach it

by *jeremiah* in

so my mom gave my sister in law the "what does the bible really teach?

" filth and i'm trying to read it.

my sil (never a jw) wants me to help her in some kind of reply to my mom.

A Paduan

I'd ask "Is the wtbts the Holy Spirit ?"

Reply that it appears the wtbts has a poor (perhaps disrespectful) grasp of language - it is the wtbts that is teaching - not the bible, which is simply a collection of books compiled by the catholics, millenia before the 'watchtower' existed.

The "What does the Bible Really Teach" book is from them - they're the ones teaching.

If one reads the bible, it says....in Jesus words.....the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.

3

Do jws have to 'want' to believe it

by A Paduan in

there are so many flaws in every piece of literature that the wtbts puts out, so many false prophecies made and changed, such dubious and unsubstantiated beginnings to the group, and so many weird beliefs.. could you believe it without actually wanting to ?.

do you have to want to believe it to be a jw ?.

A Paduan

There are so many flaws in every piece of literature that the wtbts puts out, so many false prophecies made and changed, such dubious and unsubstantiated beginnings to the group, and so many weird beliefs.

Could you believe it without actually wanting to ?

Do you have to want to believe it to be a jw ?

58

How do JWs explain John 20:28?

by Zico in

much is made of john 1:1 in trinitarian discussions and there's a lot of debate over how it should be correctly translated, depending on your particular bias on the jesus god issue, but surely there is no scripture more clear that jesus is god than the one where thomas directly calls him god in john 20:28?

27next he said to thomas: put your finger here, and see my hands, and take your hand and stick it into my side, and stop being unbelieving but become believing.28in answer thomas said to him: my lord and my god!

how do jehovah's witnesses deal with this scripture?

A Paduan

These statements for their argument (wt/1962) are somewhat lacking

However, Professor C. F. D. Moule says that the article the before the noun God may not be significant so as to mean such a thing.

And anyway, who's he ? and where's the quote in context anyway ?

How, then, could Thomas in an ecstasy of joy at seeing the resurrected Jesus for the first time burst out with an exclamation and speak to Jesus himself as being the one and only living, true God, the God whose name is Jehovah?

That wasn't even the argument - they've put up a strawman to further the debate - yet again

The writers do not have the 'stuff' that it takes

20

Origins of the stake instead of the Cross

by wab07 in

i have been a member on this site for a few months now and this is my first post.

anyways, my mother is a loyal jw and i often email her asking questions hoping to give rise to contradictions in the her beliefs.

i recently asked her when and why the cross was replaced with the stake.

A Paduan

Many words are used for two (or more) different and often similar things - it is a choice the wtbts made, and it is an appropriate symbol to what they represent - other groups rightly use the cross, as they are inclusive, and not as strictly excluding, or phallic.

I believe that it actually was a cross, but the historical view is hardly an argument for faith. Christ is where all things meet.

that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have power to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ which surpasses knowledge

52

List What Things Jehovah's Witnesses Are NOT

by minimus in

jw
friends

here's a few-------jws are not "the happiest people on earth".

they are not the "most educated people on earth" in spite of their enrollment in the theocratic ministry school.. witnesses are not the best neighbors because they won't involve themselves with you unless they can preach to you.. .

any others to make up the list??

A Paduan

not

naturally affectionate
very intelligent
peace loving
plainly genuine
really nice

gee - doesn't sound very good - surely there's exceptions

30

John 1:3

by VanillaMocha73 in

how do jw's get around this verse?

john 1:3 - "3through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

" i honestly can't remember and can't find anything in the pubs that deals with it.

A Paduan

Jehovah created The Word (Jesus)

Such is the thinking that prevents jws from understanding Jesus as 'God speaking' - in the flesh.

30

John 1:3

by VanillaMocha73 in

how do jw's get around this verse?

john 1:3 - "3through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

" i honestly can't remember and can't find anything in the pubs that deals with it.

A Paduan

I think jws get around this verse with a typical brain stretch that dumbs down the statement and assumes it as "a close effort at English but we know what it's supposed to mean"

For me John 1:3 tells of Jesus' association with what is real and what is not.

To my belief the dream of jwism is made by men (without Him), as are the other idols

we know that "an idol has no real existence" i.e. it is nothing
"and without Him was nothing made that was made"

8

Society won't risk being sued "for the sake of the Good News" - thoughts?

by UnConfused in

have you noticed that while anything can happen to publishers for the sake of the good news the society cant risk being sued for the sake of the good news?.

the society will quote and site scripture as to the trials paul experienced for the sake of the good news.

the society will tell the life stories of jws who have suffered personally, some ultimately for the sake of the good news.

A Paduan

No responsiblity for the "prophecies" either ........ it wasn't us.......it was "some zealous brothers"

There's no "we" or "us" ..... Jw literature talks about "them"

No one's responsible - like shining a light at vermin - everyone scatters, and all that's obvious is the mess left behind

57

Why a paradise earth is so appealing to JWs?

by Lady Lee in

why a paradise earth is so appealing to jws?.

well no one can say they look around at the problems today and can say they like everything they see.

so a nice clean paradise world would be pretty great.

A Paduan

I think this world is boring , the only way you can truly enjoy anything is if you have money , everything you do costs money and you have to slave for that ,at least the promise is that you will do for yourself and owe nothing to anybody .

You must be referring to the immediate world around you - it ain't that way here

Why a paradise earth is so appealing to JWs? - they "live" according to the flesh