Posts by Dis-Member

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

Dis-Member

I think this is in everyone' head. I'd go as far as to say its in the heads 99% of the people in this forum.

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

.. and people will say: "Oh but you only need to have faith!"

Faith in what? In God? In Jesus? I would dearly love to!

But I have never seen, met, heard or had any confirmable interaction from either God or Jesus ever in my life. So what people are really telling you to have faith in is the opinions, views, intepretations, research, studies, writings, rantings, and mere gossip of others that you have also never seen, met, heard or had any interaction with. (not that that would make any difference)

For me to have a real non-fantasy faith I need it to come from God or Jesus themselves and no one else. The faith that God and Jesus ask of us surely can not come from or be based merely upon a story of a story of a story of a story of a rumour of half a tale.

Neither can it be based upon my own pathetic ability to determine and decipher what was the 'truth' of events that may or may not have taken place in some cases up to four and a half thousand years ago.

The Bible says that he is not the historical God of fable and legend but the 'Living True God of Now'.

In all our weakeness, imperfection, fallibility, insecurity, living in a world full of millenia of uncertainty, lies, deception and fraud, it would be a very small thing for this living God to not leave us fumbling in the dark but to reach out one little finger and just touch us and let us know he is here..

5

Scientists Can Now Cut HIV Out of Human DNA

by Dis-Member in

hiv is a sneaky virus.

its mo involves integrating its own genes into your dna, so that even as antiretrovirals hold everything in check, hiv lurks quietly inside your cells.

now scientists have found a way to edit the virus straight out of the human genomea potential cure for even latent infections.. genome editing is powerful technique that has really come into its own lately, thanks to a remarkable dna-cutting protein that easily and precisely cuts out a particular dna sequence.

Dis-Member

HIV is a sneaky virus. Its MO involves integrating its own genes into your DNA, so that even as antiretrovirals hold everything in check, HIV lurks quietly inside your cells. Now scientists have found a way to edit the virus straight out of the human genome—a potential cure for even latent infections.

Genome editing is powerful technique that has really come into its own lately, thanks to a remarkable DNA-cutting protein that easily and precisely cuts out a particular DNA sequence. In fact, genome editing been used to treat HIV before. Earlier this year, another group used genome editing to cut out the DNA sequence of a particular human protein the HIV virus latches onto.

The latest study, from Kamel Khalili at Temple University, uses a similar technique but to different ends. Rather than editing human genes, it goes straight for HIV. Khalili's team showed that the protein could excise copies of the HIV genome from immune cells such as microglia and T cells. It also seemed to prevent any new HIV infection.

The research is still very new, so of course there are challenges to getting something that worked in a petri dish to work in a human. On the whole, very few cells in the human body are latently infected by HIV; how to you make sure the genome editing gets to those cells? And how do you make sure the protein never goes excising where it shouldn't?

But if those challenges are solved, genome editing could be a big step toward an actual cure for HIV. Except for a couple cases involving bone marrow transplants, a cure has been notoriously elusive. HIV hides itself by basically editing your genome—it makes sense that a cure could involve editing your genome, too.

79

I know 2 of the Elders on the Ray Franz JC

by James Jackson in

when i read coc, i was stunned that the 2 elders (theotis french & rob dibble) were on ray franz judcial committee.

i have known these men for over 20 years having done rbc and convention work with them.

they are still elders today which means they were in their early 30's(which is unheard of for a case of this importance to have inexperienced elders to sit on) on this committee.. without revealing myself, i have never tried(but have wanted to), ask them about their on having to judge a former gb member.. then out of the blue, about a year ago, i was mentioning how hard it is trying to get younger ones to volunteer to one of these elders, and he says"this is nothing compared to to sitting on the committee that had to disfellowship ray franz".

Dis-Member

I just want to change the focus back to French and Dibble.

I'm sure you do..

9

NOT on JW.ORG : Jehovah's Witness murders sister ?

by Balaamsass2 in

man kills sister over plot of land published on july 18, 2014 by pmnews 17 comments.

sulaimon mojeed-sanni.

a member of the eiye confraternity and jehovahs witness, adeola omotayo, 28, has killed his sister, omotayo rukayat adedapo, 30, after a minor disagreement over a plot of land.. the incident happened at rukayats residence, 22, pasoku street, aga area of ikorodu, lagos, southwest nigeria.. preliminary investigation revealed that rukayat was murdered in her room by her brother, who sells building materials at sawmill in itamaga, on monday at about 6 p.m., after they had an argument over the ownership of the piece of land.. p.m.news gathered that the night before the murder (sunday), adeola and his wife had visited rukayat and eaten in her house.. friends of the deceased said adeola only visited to know where his sister stays since they had not been talking to each other in the last two years.. late omotayo rukayat adedapo.

Dis-Member

I thought that read 'after a minor disagreement over a pot of soup' for a brief second.

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

Dis-Member

John 8:24-29

24 But Thomas, one of the twelve, called Didymus, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 The other disciples therefore said unto him, We have seen the LORD. But he said unto them, Except I shall see in his hands the print of the nails, and put my finger into the print of the nails, and thrust my hand into his side, I will not believe. 26 And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, and said, Peace be unto you. 27 Then saith He to Thomas, Reach hither thy finger, and behold my hands; and reach hither thy hand, and thrust it into my side: and be not faithless, but believing. 28 And Thomas answered and said unto him, My LORD and my God. 29 Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen Me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

This shows that doubts are normal and Jesus did not consider it a mortal sin. Wanting proof is normal.

The other apostles would have aleady believed and had faith because they lived with Jesus on a daily basis and saw all his miracles. Thomas too despite the same experience still doubted and was given proof by Jesus himself.

Are we not allowed the same having never seen or experienced a single thing?

"blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed" is no more a law or requirment than is "Blessed are the poor in spirit". Again we are being asked to have faith in the faith of Thomas who lived 2,000 years ago. (if that is even true)

More second hand stories.

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

Dis-Member

Yes you are right Apognophos in a sense. I was mainly referring to the Bibles 'prophetic path' involving human beings and the 'seed' and it's fulfilment. I guess that part might be over. Why this 2,000 apparent year gap where we are told he is coming virtually any and every day?

And yes it's very possible that people could be having genuine experiences and interactions with the Biblical 'Divine Being' and not writing great books about it but why then keep it secret?

In 2,000 years something more would have leaked no? Yes there are some stories of such things taking place but again how can one ever confirm or really proveany of it?. It's still more of the 'he said she said' scenario. Second hand tales.

Still whatever the case it's nothing for me to base my own faith on. The God of the Bible and Jesus did not say a rare few scattered through the centuries would know him.. he said anyone and everyone can know him and experience him in all fullness. This I guess is more my point. This invitation was extented to every living person. All mankind.

Long distance relationships are very hard to sustain even more so with silent partners.

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

Dis-Member

It's not my intention to be unduly critical of the Bible and those that believe in it unequivocally.. (how can I criticize what I can not prove or even comprehend?). I'm just sad and confused that I have so very little if anything at all to build my faith upon. My study and experience of the Orgites has left my faith all but completely demolished and in tatters. I am left with nothing but total uncertainty.

I'm tired and weary of books and writings of the words of men claiming to be truth on any matter at all when there are as many different truths as there are people on earth.

Really not sure where to go from here. I have reached a dead end.

30

Dissoi logoi - Jehovah's Witnesses do have the Truth! My Story Part 3

by objectivetruth in

i stopped attending meetings over one year ago, and i have thoroughly made it clear to all friends & family that i am opposed to the teachings of jehovah's witnesses, and i cannot support a religion that teaches lies.. i have systematically examined each teaching & practice of the jehovah's witnesses.

concluding that many are not scriptural or logical.. after a year i have very unexpectedly arrived at another conclusion.

the jehovah's witnesses do have the truth.

Dis-Member

I believe that Jesus wants us to Remain in the Church that we are in at the time of Being Called .1 Cor 7:17 " Only let each person lead the life that the Lord has assigned to him, and to which God has called him. This is my rule in all the churches." (My opinion, what are your thoughts on this Scripture?)

I hope that is not true because I can not see myself going back into any organised form of religion especially not the 'Org' after the harm that did me.

But that's just your belief so i guess I'm excused.

76

Losing Faith in Faith..

by Dis-Member in

i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

Dis-Member

The Bible speaks of many men of old that had this wonderful illusive faith which are meant to inspire us. But of course they did! They saw fire a lightning come from the sky, they heard the thunderous voice of God from the heavens, they saw countless vast enemy armies vanquished with miraculous supernatural forces and whole cities swallowed with with fire and brimstone right before their eyes.

Of course they would then have faith after experiencing such things if true.

Later according to the same Bible in Jesus time people had faith only and because they saw him perform countless impossible miracles and bend the laws of nature.

People in those times prayed to God and often got an unmistakable response from him in less than 5 minutes. People today can pray for 50 years and have no response what so ever.

God was seemingly far more friendly and sociable back then and liked humans more making several of them his 'friend'.

I'm sure if any of us today saw or experienced a single iota of this we would have the most unbendable and unbreakable and valid faith. But we don't.

In fact no human has experienced any direct interaction what so ever with God for over 2,000 years. We instead are told that we must have this same unbendable, unbreakable faith based on mere stories, legends, fables, parables passed down in copied, translated, manipulated, twisted, even possibly fabricated untrustworthy and unreliable documents written in languages we can not read and the veracity of which too can never ever be proven.

This is a form of 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 20th, and even a hundredth hand faith. Faith in the story of the faith of another person is not real faith.

We are then also told in that same Bible and by those that promote it that of we do not have this faith we are utterly rejected by God. Apparently to be acceptable to God, it is necessary for one to exercise faith in Jesus Christ, and this makes possible a righteous standing with God. (Ga 2:16) Those lacking such faith are rejected by God.—Joh 3:36; compare Heb 11:6.

The men that wrote that either knew or had a real and personal experience of God and Jesus so it was easy for them to say and write such things. No one in 2,000 years has had any such real experience.

It seems that to have a real faith today in an uncontactable God and a 2,000 year absent Jesus is a physical, intellectual, emotional and spiritual impossibility.

What is needed to have genuine faith then is not the study of some dusty old antiquated parchments housed in the British Museum or the Vatican Library but rather for the living God to actually unmistakably do something in our lives today, right now to inspire and foster such faith. Without this there can be no surprise that the world is in utter and total confusion as to the existence, identity, nature and will of God.