when faced with awkward questions about the morality of god many christians respond by distancing themselves from the old testament and focusing on "gentle jesus meek and mild" of the new testament.. for bible-believing christians this is intellectually dishonest.. according to christian dogma jesus was the god of abraham isaac and jacob.
the logos, the alpha and omega who is "the same yesterday, today, and forever.".
he claimed that "he that has seen me has seen the father" and that "i and the father are one".. in short, christians assert that jesus is almighty god from all eternity.. it therefore follows that jesus was the god who ordered the nation of israel to take slaves as inheritable possessions.
Cofty:
You are 100% correct% Jesus = Yahwe = evil and not a merciful God in ancient times.
Cold steel:
Yahwe allows his followers to act barbarian, meaning that he actually accept the world of cruelty, and don’t give a damn on what is happening to his sons and daughter’s…
Bugbear
this seems to be a question that even scientifically is still in the air.
right now your consciousness, is it the physical part of the brain?
the electrical signals in the brain?
This is a very interesting philosophical question. What is moral? What is consciousness, what is altruism? Religious people often claim that atheist cannot have any moral, since there is no God no one can give us a moral code, hence we are allowed to do anything that pleases us. !!!?
They also claim that Darwins evolutionary theory (the survival of the strongest and fittest) must lead to this terribel conclusion - if you hit first – you are more likely to survive….
But resent studies have been able to show that those mammals that have a sense of compassion within their group/pack, will have a slightly better chance to survive. If the members of the group/pack do love one another and are willingly to sacrifice themselves for the other members the group the likelihood for the group to increase their numbers is great.
It looks like moral, consciousness, altruism, are important factors as well not only for humans but it works also for many animals. Examples and test has been made on dolphins, elephants, apes, and other specimens.
But sometimes things doesn’t work the way we’ve hoped for. In an experiment in Africa a group of scientist feeded daily a pack of Apes with just enough bananas to keep every monkey satisfied. Everything went good for a long time, the Alpha male let everyone in the pack have their banana and the group was prosperous. One day the researcher decided to make un experiment. Instead of feeding the apes sparsely they transported a full container to the group of monkeys.
Then the Alpha male turned banana (see the joke?). He wouldn´t let any other of the monkeys even come in the neighborhood of his treasure. In fact he showed tendencies to be able to kill any of those trying to sneak just one of his bananas.
What could we learn from this experiment? Could it be that greed corrupt humans? Could it be that if you think that you can survive without the company and help from others?, you might as well let them starve and suffer?
Bugbear
defenders of the faith?
jehovah's witnesses preach to migrants in denmark.
http://sputniknews.com/europe/20160219/1035045422/denmark-migrants-jehovah-witnesses.html.
There is no secret that the witnesses to get some sort of witnessing, is to go to the refugee camps or those with foreign names. No swede (inborn), will ever accept a Bible study from a JW. The refugees on the other hand sees these JW,s as language and culture teachers. As soon as they realize that they are only interested in getting them to convert to a strange and weird religion, the “study” is ceased.
bugbear
i sometimes was redirected to this page from reddit or another ex-jw site but never bothered to sign up.
i wanted to stay off the radar but since i'm getting dis-fellowshipped anyways and have no plans to come back what the hell.
been 22 years in the truth........... ahhhh i hate to use that expression...... bad habit but you know what i mean.
Welocome onboard harvard. But Please stop smoking. We would like to have you onboard for a
L O N G, L O N G time. And with the smoking, we will risk it will be shortened.
Bugbear
hi everyone.. thanks for the welcome a few days ago, it was nice to hear your support.. this is a pure speculation thread, but what do you think the next changes are going to be?.
will we see tything come into play?.
more evangelical style meetings?.
Everyting in the org. is downsizing. Why not the GB? I think that the "younger" of the GB will take over, and there will be only 2-3 left . This could be done in a coup or by "natural" retirement.
a new youtube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n9wmtskwfik.
Thank you Watchtower-free, for giving us this you tube video. The similarity between these products of “art” is astonishing. I think it comes from the narrow minded people, that cannot think abstract thoughts. These people must have the ideas presented in a way they can recognize. There are other authoritarian ideas then the Korean and China ideas, that used the same technique, such as Nazism, Fascism.
I think this idea can be used in an university essay. Perhaps as far as a PhD. Hoping the “producer” will catch this Idea and use it to continue publishing materials like this.
Bugbear
having recently read orwells 1984, i was impressed with how he understood that both politicians and people abuse language.
this further confirmed to me how the w.t had deceived me by using words to distort reality.
the book 1984, also contains many other great thoughts of george orwell.. of course there have been many other great thinkers, buddah, darwin, freud, einstein and marx come to mind.
In order:
A: Voltaire, Didero, Plato,
B: Yes, your mind must be fertilized with new ideas
Bugbear
it has been extensively reported on the forum that there has been a marked increase in effort over the past two years by the governing body of jehovah's witnesses to encourage an increase in monetary donations.
this has also been accompanied by the stripping of financial capital from the local congregations.
as has also been reported on this forum, this has in all probability been done to facilitate the financing of the vast new hq building project as well as the financing of the shift from a publishing company to becoming an internet based charismatic multimedia company which produces lame pixar/disney animation knock offs while simultaneously parading the governing body's ever expanding waistlines, blingy accoutrements and stupid grins.. meanwhile the financials of the organization remains as murky as ever.
Is there anyone who knows how much JP Morgan has provided with loans against to WBTS with the Brooklyn estate as security? I do believe that after the bankruptcy of Lehman and brothers 2008. JP Morgan took over?
i left the watchtower in the winter of 2008. my first year out was by far the most difficult.
i had every intention of returning to the watchtower for the very purpose of being able to speak with my friends and family.
i had already concluded that the teachings were not the "truth" [after reading crisis of conscience] so coming back was more emotional then anything.
Thank you for your post Saved JW.
I have been studying the Bible for almost 20 years….After graduating in History and Science comparing to the the Bible scriptures I have have come to to the conclusion that the Bible cannot give you any reason to believe in it at all. So I wonder, why do you use the Bible as as a FACIT to your believes? I think that most people will do better of by thinking by themselves. Not using all old Christian or Islamic propaganda to examine their believe. Nor of them are a fact or a FACIT, to the world?
Bugbear
i am new to the boards, so a little background info may be a good idea?
also, i'm not quite sure which sub-forum to post this to....
i have a typical religious background for my country; grew up with lutheran christianity (which was our state religion up until 2012; we now have a secular constitution).
Hello Northern Star! And welcome to this forum.
It looks like we are living in neighboring countries. 40 years ago I started to study with the JW. At the time I was totally ignorant in religious matters (and Philosophical questions) , so I became a JW. Even un elder by the time. I always had my doubts and a lot of unsatisfied/unanswered questions. 20 years ago a started to fade, and got a new chance to study. I started my studies in a university. My subjects were History of Ideas and science, History, and Theoretical Philosophy.
Today I am a total convinced atheist…… But I still have one family member who is “in” the cult. This is why I can understand you confusion about the two witnesses and their obvious “cognitive dissonance “. They will not or cannot tell you all facts at once. Some of them does not even know themselves what the soc. want them to say. The most important for them is to continue their “study hours”, so that the will remain in good standing within their congregation.
I think you have a good opportunity to wake them up, asking questions on the subject about The flood, ancient tribes, how long have humans existed on earth, the nature of their cruel God…a.s.v.
Good luck
Bugbear
