Posts by Chap

5

DAMNABLE CHRISTIAN CULT HERESY OF FORSAKING FAMILY FOR THE LORD

by FormerMormon in

jw
friends

matthew 19 (kjv- sorry, i don't know what version jw's use).

29 and every one that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my names sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall inherit everlasting life.

i had to sit and listen to this blather on sunday.

Chap

Hi FormerMormon,

I disagree with your interpretation of the Matthew passage. Here is a passage written to Timothy and a quote by Jesus concerning divorce. I don't think these are in agreement with the passage and interpretation you quoted.

1 Tim. 5:7-8 (KJV)
And these things give in charge, that they may be blameless. [8] But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith, and is worse than an infidel.

Matthew 5:32 (KJV)
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.

62

God and Evolution

by BurnTheShips in

during the second half of the nineteenth century, it became common to speak of a war between science and religion.

but over the course of the twentieth century, that hostility gradually subsided.

science should not try to become religion, nor should religion seek to take the place of science.

Chap

How do Theistic Evolutionists reconcile the God of the Bible with evolution? If the creation was good and mankind was made in the image of God, God must have thought that sickness, destruction, and death reflect his image. It seems that in this view, God is figuring out the blueprints of the universe left by Chance so he can steer evolution along. After all, if mankind didn't actually fall, God is doing the best he can. Maybe we should be praying for God to better understand the laws of the universe and how to raise us from the dead so we can have eternal life with everyone being in agreement with one another.

27

Top Ten Signs You're a Fundamentalist Christian

by Homerovah the Almighty in

top ten signs you're a fundamentalist christian.

10 - you vigorously deny the existence of thousands of gods claimed by other religions, but feel outraged when someone denies the existence of yours.. .

9 - you feel insulted and "dehumanized" when scientists say that people evolved from other life forms, but you have no problem with the biblical claim that we were created from dirt.. .

Chap

Here's a quote from the evilbible site:

" Bible Quote for January 18
Laws of Rape
"If a man is caught in the act of raping a young woman who is not engaged, he must pay fifty pieces of silver to her father. Then he must marry the young woman because he violated her, and he will never be allowed to divorce her." Deuteronomy 22:28-29"

I don't know what translation they used but here is the King James Translation:

Deut. 22:28-29 (KJV)

If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, which is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; [29] Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father fifty shekels of silver, and she shall be his wife; because he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.

Here is the actual law of rape.

Deut. 22:25-27 (KJV)
But if a man find a betrothed damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then the man only that lay with her shall die: [26] But unto the damsel thou shalt do nothing; there is in the damsel no sin worthy of death: for as when a man riseth against his neighbour, and slayeth him, even so is this matter: [27] For he found her in the field, and the betrothed damsel cried, and there was none to save her.

23

Help? Bible question

by skyking in

i was asked today to explain this verse, a man at lunch said i have been told you are knowledgeable of the bible.

he asked me to read ezekiel 20:25 which say's "wherefore i gave them also statutes that were not good, and judgments whereby they should not live".

he asked how could we know if what is in the bible is good.

Chap

I have heard that old testament Hebrew is a very hard language to translate because the exact (dialect?) is no longer spoken. Has anyone else either heard this or can offer any thoughts?

As for the text, if the people were so bad that God either gave them over to or gave them bad commands, would there be any difference? I don't think the passage is referring to people who were ready to repent so there would essentially be no difference what commands were given. They weren't going to comply. Just something else to throw into the mix.

54

YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad

by nicolaou in

let's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.

does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?

if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.

Chap

"Let's assume for the moment that God decides what is good and what is bad.

Does He 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because He says so?
If 'a' then what is good is independant of God and He has no choice but to accept it as good.
If 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - God could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because He said so."

God as described in the Bible IS good so that negates both "a" and "b".

This would mean everything good originates from God and everything not originating from God is not good. If God is good and good is arbitrary (bad) how is God free to do anything?

Why do we recognize child abuse as a bad thing? If God is good and child abuse is bad, us stating so would only be agreeing with God. If we are created in the image of God and God decides that child abuse is good, we would agree with God if we are not corrupt.

54

YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad

by nicolaou in

let's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.

does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?

if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.

Chap

Gopher wrote:

"How would we know if God is giving an order these days? How can we trust any human who says they understand what God's orders are, and so we should follow this supposed spiritual leader?"

But be not ye called Rabbi: for one is your Master, even Christ; and all ye are brethren. [9] And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven. [10] Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ. [11] But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant. [12] And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

As for Abraham: The Bible records that God first revealed himself to Abraham some 35 years before God gave the order to put Isaac on the alter as a sacrifice. It wasn't as if some stranger told him to do it. I think he was certain it was God otherwise he wouldn't have done it.

54

YOU are bound to be like God, KNOWING good and bad

by nicolaou in

let's assume for the moment that god decides what is good and what is bad.

does he 'a' choose what is good because it is obviously good or 'b' is it good simply because he says so?

if 'a' then what is good is independant of god and he has no choice but to accept it as good.. if 'b' then the definition of what is good is arbitrary - god could decide that child abuse was good and it would be because he said so.. clearly this is ridiculous because we all recognise child abuse to be a bad thing and that is why god would never label it as good.

Chap

Genesis 1:26-27 (KJV)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. [27] So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them.

Luke 18:18-19 (KJV)
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? [19] And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none is good, save one, that is, God.

77

What's the big deal with Jesus' "sacrifice"?

by bluesapphire in

what was the big deal with that dam tree to begin with!

Chap

I've been thinking about this the last few days and I think that no matter what I write, it will bring up more questions. Since most of you have a grasp of what the Bible says, I will try to offer an explanation as simple as I can make it without Biblical references. I think most of you will be able to figure out where the references are.

We were created in God's image. We know that a good image can be nothing more and nothing less than a slave to its source. God is good. God created us to reflect himself. When God said, “it was very good”, he meant simply that his creation was in agreement with himself. God rules through the medium of his word.

When Adam and Eve ate from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil by the word of the serpent, mankind no longer reflected God's image, died, and became the slaves of Satan. Did Jesus deny Satan's authority to give to him the kingdoms of the world? Mankind under the authority of God would not have known evil because nothing would have been in disagreement with God. I believe that if no one disobeyed the words of God, the least of the people in the world that reflected God's image would have been better off than the so called greatest in this world.

If no one had perfectly reflected the image of God, there would had been no escape of the sentence of God. Jesus as a man perfectly reflected the image of God by doing all that God the Father commanded him. It was God the Father's purpose for Jesus to be the sacrifice for those who desire to be reconciled to God. This sacrifice could not have been made by a person that did not perfectly reflect God's image because the debt owed for only himself is too great to be paid.

This is a simple explanation and I could go more in depth if anyone is interested.

Chap

77

What's the big deal with Jesus' "sacrifice"?

by bluesapphire in

what was the big deal with that dam tree to begin with!

Chap

Hi,

I've been meaning to write down what I believe and why for my own personal reference for a while but haven't gotten around to it. bluesapphire's question gives me motivation to finally do it so thanks for asking. I find it tedious to write and it will take a bit to put my thoughts down in a way so others can understand them easily. So if you are interested, check back in a couple of days. I have never been a part of the JW organization and it saddens me to read on this site what many of you have gone through. I hope to be able to let you see through my eyes.

Chap

136

If you dont believe in God...according to the bible you are a fool!

by Blackboo in

the fool has said in his heart there is no "god" how can this?

why do non-believers jump to such a conclusion?

i have notice many former witnesses have lost faith in god because of a a "religion" who didnt measure up to what it claims.

Chap

I didn't read this whole thread... Maybe I didn't miss much. :)

I have a question for Cog. I am currently using Firefox and I don't see how to quote like I can in other boards.

"That's a really good suggestion. Blackboo, if every single time you have a thought about God or religion, you ask yourself "how do I know that" and "where did I first learn that" you will soon quickly realize that every single idea about God you have was taught to you by someone else. And everything they have told you was taught to them by someone else. Every single verse in the Bible that you believe is because someone else claims to have seen or experienced those events and told you the story of them. None of those things have you actually "experienced" for yourself.

That is the exact process by which I became an atheist, although it was unintended. I was first encouraged to use this type of questioning in science classes and nursing practice classes. Every single time I planned to take an action with a patient, I had to justify in my own mind, why I was taking this action. If it was based upon information from others, how did I know the information was accurate? How did I know whether it was from a credible source or not? What makes a source credible? Trustworthy? First I applied this type of questioning to the WTBTS and then to the Bible and then to my belief in God. I was an atheist in about two weeks time.

If you were to dismiss EVERYTHING that everyone ever told you and rely on ONLY what you have sensed and experienced in your own mind, you would not be able to reconcile a belief in God to your present and past experience. Try it. It is a mindbender for sure.

Cog"