Posts by robhic

12

Genesis 6:3

by Globetrotter in

i know that this has been talked about already under a different context, but i had another question about it.... .

the december 15 wt claims that genesis 6:3 started a 120 year countdown to the flood.

our watchfulness takes on greater urgency .

Interesting, also, because a little further down "giants" are mentioned and then something about the offspring of the "sons of god" who went unto (we all know what that means... ) the women of men. Is this alluding to the possibility that the union of angels and earthly women produced giants? Was Goliath's daddy an angel? Hmm...

Then it goes on to talk about the iniquity of these men. Now, wait a minute -- aren't many of the earthly beings the offspring of angels by the above statement? Why did man get the full force of the J-man's vengance when some of the population were by his minions, the angels? It seems to me that some of the blame falls squarely on the angels and by default on their heavenly creator jehovah! Somebody's playing favorites.

The wickedness of the earth was furthered by the damn angels spawning iniquitous offspring with our women and then man takes the hit. Pretty unfair, IMO.

Robert

41

Simon, Cephas, Peter, Judas, Thomas, Didymus

by Leolaia in

this post is in response to peacefulpete's interesting post from my king david thread, which i quote below: .

leolaia...if you look again at 1cor you'll see peter is not there only an ebionite named cephas is.

the only reference to "peter" in any of "pauline" works is gal 2:7 and it is an interpolation made for the very reasons being discussed.

robhic

This is more a fringe-related topic than anything. I am reading a book about the "Lost Scriptures" and in it some ancient works from Christianity's beginning and early centuries are discussed. Some were recently discovered and others were known, just disregarded.

Now some of these Epistles/Letters/Gospels/ Apocalypses were included in the early bible. After they were later removed, did they become "un-inspired" writings? Like being taken out of what eventually became the bible we have today removed their pedigree? If all writings of the bible are supposedly inspired, what makes some better then others? And "inspired" also doesn't mean "dictated" so I've always thought that that left a whole lot or room for human error and bias.

The final form of today's bible wasn't completed for a few centuries (I think?) so how do previously inspired writings get tossed and other inspired writings make the cut? I thought this thread with you who seem obviously well-schooled in these matters might be good place to get some intelligent opinions.

Thanks,

Robert

4

The winter the aliens arrived

by TD in

the writers of jw publications have never read a doom and gloom scenario that they didn?t thoroughly enjoy.

the accuracy of the information apparently is only a secondary consideration.

this may sound a little harsh, but consider the following example: .

robhic

Speaking of convoluted time-lines and calculations, this just occured to me. If Adam and Eve were created 6000 years ago (plus or minus according to the WTS), how is it that the Egyptian civilization had started (for lack of better term) almost 5000-5500 years ago and had already started building pyramids 4000-5000 years ago according to some sources? I won't even get into the caveman dilemma...

Did ancient Egypt become a huge nation in only 1000 years or so of in-breeding by Adam and Eve's descendants? That sounds like a stretch. And how did a nation that was the same age and lineage as the Hebrews/Isrealites grow to such proportions AND be able to enslave their (technically) siblings so easily? Kinda makes me go "Hmmmmmm..."

Any insights or thoughts?

Robert

5

Angels, JW's and Stuff

by robhic in

this is kinda building on another thread from the research and study articles section.

not being a jw (and never intend to be...) i read the thread about the angels not being covered by jesus' ransom sacrifice (it was an "ozziepost").

i think the argument was presented that the angels were not covered so armageddon was a sticky prospect for fallen angels.

robhic

This is kinda building on another thread from the Research and Study Articles section. Not being a JW (and never intend to be...) I read the thread about the angels not being covered by Jesus' ransom sacrifice (it was an "Ozziepost"). I think the argument was presented that the angels were not covered so Armageddon was a sticky prospect for fallen angels. They probably won't be living forever. Life is a bitch!

But this made me think and wonder. If the angels had everything that angels had, perfectness, life in heaven and all of that other BS that goes along with being a perfect being, how can/could JWs believe even remotely that if they make it thru the Big 'A' that they, former imperfect humans resurrected, will be able to live a perfect life in a perfect world or paradise on earth? I mean, the already perfect angels couldn't cut it and had to split off and join up with satan. Why are the post-Armageddon JWs going to be able to do it? This seems like a real stretch to me.

It almost sounds haughty...

Robert the Heathen

5

Paul's magic hankey

by peacefulpete in

where did the catholics get thereideas that relics (fingers,rings,pieces of wood)of apostles could be used to do miracles?

why from the bible of course!

[acts 19:11,12] there is says: .

robhic

I (as one raised catholic) always found the thought of relics very disturbing. A piece of a dead person's body?! Holy cow, that is creepy. And nasty. And ... disgusting!

My grandmother was a dedicated follower of St. Theresa of Avila. She also had a class 1 (I believe?) relic of St. Thersa's bone!!! I always got into trouble for trivializing "the relic" as a pork-chop bone or other type bone. It really stirred them up.

Anyway, the whole deal is freaky. Touching someone with a relic and healing them is just psychosomatic, IMO. My mother touched me with it one time I was sick and I fell to the floor screaming "it burns it burns!" like holy water on a devil. That pretty much ended my getting touched and subsequently healed by the "pork-chop bone in a snuff can" that was the St. Theresa relic.

Although "the relic" had some healings to its credit (I guess there were a few psychosomatic members of that family...) it got snatched up at grandma's death by a church she used to attend. I wonder who's getting healed now?

Robert

35

Transfusion once again

by krzysiek in

what i cannot understand is why jw are so determined not to allow to transfuse blood.

it's anachronism!

the governing body has changed so many their doctrines, why cannot they change that?

robhic

A friend who is a JW was telling me about a video she just got re: transfusions. She had to watch it in order to be ready for questions at the regular Thursday-night meeting last night. And I also thought Thursday was their "Theocratic ~~Warfare~~ Ministry" school night. Odd choice, IMO.

I wonder what it was about as she hasn't graced me with a recap of the video or the meeting (but which I expect soon...). Maybe more changes coming?

Robert

10

Bashing Christmas VS. Bashing the "Memorial"...what's the difference?

by gumby in

if a baptist minister.....knocked on the door of a kingdom hall on "memorial" night, and said...."good evening, i know your probably busy at this time so i'll be breif.

since many celebrate the 'lord death' at this time of the year, many wonder how many true christians should actually partake of the emblems that are passed around?

we would like to offer you a pamphlet to read when you have time, and come back when it's convienent and discuss this further" .....( offers them a pamphlet).

robhic

I seriously doubt if our creators are concerned about how we enjoy our social events, or what we use to signify such events, like specific dates. Humans are very concerned with "time", but I doubt the creators have a calendar like we do, nor a clock on the wall.

Good point. If a parent would demand that their children glorify him or her continuously under threat of punishment -- eternal punishment at that! -- how would that be viewed? I suspect most people seeing or hearing of this situation would conclude that this is a severely dysfunctional family.

In a normal family the antics and activities of the children are a source of amusement, pride, joy and other emotions. Sure there are some bad things but they are dealt with and you move on if at all possible. The parents "parent" and the kids act like kids until they're grown and move out (hopefully ). The parents like to see their kids having fun or doing things. They don't demand constant adoration and attention from the kids.

It's like JWs forbid Mother's and Father's day but like to think they practice "Heavenly Father's Day" every day 365 days a year! What's up with that?

Robert

20

Sydney International Convention

by ozziepost in

the sydney international convention is getting some press with claims of 60,000 foreign visitors.. the convention will be held in the olympic stadium and apparently there'll even be special trains.. would you like to join them?

it seems they'll invite any old apostate; why, even i have been invited!

i'm told the branch committee would love to see me!

robhic

How many International Conventions do they have in a year? The reason I ask is because a JW acquaintance told me a pioneer woman from her congregation attended one in Budapest, Hungary in July of this same year. She was all blown away because this woman was so lucky to get the invitation! Of course, she had to pay her own way and all expenses. Didn't sound so blissfully wonderful to me. Especially since this woman doesn't have a lot of money to start with.

Robert

39

I need the latest Armageddon picture..

by alamb in

can someone find the link to the thread with the latest illustration of armageddon?

i need to take it to my children's psychologist.

robhic

What did they ever do to deserve that?

When you think about it, it really sucks! I (we?) didn't ask to be born. OK, matter of chance. Now, I'm put into a world and told if I don't do what some invisible being says I must do I get ripped to pieces in a horrendous, painful death? Why? I didn't ask to be here so don't punish me for exercising my free will during the time I gotta hang around.

And with all the technological advances we have, I really think I'll take my chances against some dude riding a flying horse waving a friggin' sword! Like a winged horse and a sword-wielding guy are any match for a SAM missle or a rocket-propelled grenade? An F-16? I don't think so. Armageddon is gonna be quite a bit different than those pictures! I think it'll be more like a bunch of guys on winged horses dropping their swords and turning tail to get the hell outta here! Rockets right behind them (along with a lot of horse and human manure...).

Bring it on!!! Boo-yah!

Robert

16

Did Jesus REALLY cast demons into swine?

by gumby in

the gospels tell us that on one occasion jesus exorcised a man of demons who called themselves "legion" because there was about..."two thousand of them.

" these demons are cast by jesus into a large herd of pigs, which rush over the edge of a hillside and are drowned.. exactly the motif is found in the rites of the mysteries at eluesis ( about 20-40 miles from greece) as part of the purification ceremony before initiation, some 2 thousand initiates all bathed in the sea with young pigs.

this bathing ritual banished all evil into the pigs, which were then sacraficed, as a symbol of the initiates own impurities, by being chased over a chasm.. these latter rites and performances were long before jesus time.

robhic

Gumby sez:

The Jews wanted a messiah so bad.......they invented one......... but somebody had to give him a name.

It was a Latin couple from Santiago, Chile who came up with the name Jesus -- pronounced "hey-zeus."

Robert