Posts by Magnum

23

The New World Translation

by Coded Logic in

one of the jws foundational doctrines is their belief in the inerrancy of the bible.

there are several methods they use to try and support this position including their claim that the bible, as it exists today, is the exact same bible that has been around for thousands of years.

they teach that gods word has been perfectly preserved.

Magnum

Thanks Doug Mason & sparky1. Will check out material you suggested.

23

The New World Translation

by Coded Logic in

one of the jws foundational doctrines is their belief in the inerrancy of the bible.

there are several methods they use to try and support this position including their claim that the bible, as it exists today, is the exact same bible that has been around for thousands of years.

they teach that gods word has been perfectly preserved.

Very interesting opening post. As a JW, I was kept so busy that I didn't have to time to research or even question this subject. I would like to know more. Does anybody have any book recommendations on the subject (different Bible canons, books that weren't included, who made the decisions, etc.).

19

Any stock market investors here?

by EndofMysteries in

jw
friends

if so, i was just wondering if there are any books or steps (classes, etc) you took or recommend to really learn it.

and for what you recommend, what exactly do you do?

(long term, short, daytrade, calls, sell high buy low, buy low sell high, etc).

Magnum

I've been wondering the same thing. I remained ignorant of such as a JW since the end was imminent. Now I want to know.

13

how many normal people would only go to the dub website?

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

all this campaign going on got me to thinking, a normal person having received a tract about the jw website, would they only go to that one website if they were in any way interested?

would they really not click on any links that would also appear about jw's?

would they really not read about them from other sources too?.

Magnum

First, I agree with NeverKnew; I feel that by far, the majority of those who receieved tracts will not go to the website. I also agree with you that if they go to the site and if they are normal people, they are not going to go only to the approved JW site.

Another observation about the site: It seems to me that what used to draw the more intelligent and well-read people to JWdom was the more technical, doctrinal stuff. I remember reading about some in the early 1900s who would almost immediately become JWs (or Bible Students) because they read in org literature that, for example, hell is not hot. It was always something like that. It was never because they read an article on family life or something similar.

JWs are becoming less technical and more about pop psychology, pop sociology, self-help, etc. So it might be that if normal people go to the org's website, they might be so disinterested that they won't bother to go to other sites because they're just not interested in JWs enought to research them. The org's website might itself turn them off.

20

JW stand on Philosophy is inexcusable!

by Pinku in

paul knew that torah with all its rituals and sacrifices did not originate with god (jeremiah 7:22; 8:8), hence he warned christians to guard against deceptive philosophy that would take them back to torah.

(colossians 2:8 compare 2:11, 16, 17) in view of the over-all view of the bible, there is no excuse to use the word philosophy with any negative connotation.

jws built their stand on philosophy based on this wrong (negative) use of the word philosophy found in colossians 2:8.. the greek word philosophi a means love of wisdom.

Magnum

The JWs in my area seem to think that philosophy is evil and/or stupid and/or negative and/or demonic. I never really thought that. In the last few years I've come to recognize it as a fascinating and deep subject. Most of the rank-and-file JWs are just clueless and ignorant and don't even know what philosophy is, however, I think those at the higher levels of the org have some notion of what it is, but don't want JWs to have anything to do with it because it encourages questioning and thinking, and we know how the org fears that.

22

Observations from a day at the zoo

by Simon in

so we went to calgary zoo today and i'm torn between zoo's being great for conservation vs using animals to make money.

i think on the whole they are a good thing but it's sad to see some of the animals caged up - somehow i always end up staring into the eyes of a gorilla and it makes me sad.. but that isn't what struck me ... it's these things:.

http://www.amazon.com/step2-wagon-two-plus-blue/dp/b0048wqhgw/ref=zg_bs_166419011_2.

Magnum

Concerning the kids and the wagon thing, I agree; I don't think you're being too picky.

I also agree with your observations about the zoo. If all the animals had plently of appropriate space, were fed good food, had plenty of physical and mental stimulation, had appropriate social environment, were treated well, etc., I'd actually rather see them in a zoo because nature can be brutal and cruel. Many animals die horrible deaths and suffer extremely in nature.

somehow I always end up staring into the eyes of a gorilla and it makes me sad.

I can't believe you said that; I just recently had that same experience in the U.S. I could see a person, a feeling being, behind those eyes. The gorilla didn't look happy; looked kind of dejected. Like you, I was made sad.

31

GOVERNING BODY: Thanks for nothing, you rat bastards!

by Terry in

as a jehovah's witness:.

two things finally struck me:.

for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now i know in part, but then i will know fully just as i also have been fully known.. _______________________.

Magnum

Earnest, I am certainly no expert and need to do more research. Thanks for the list of verses. It seems that common sense would help to determine the meaning when examining them (the verses). Of course, I don't know since I haven't examined them yet. I agree with you that some non-JWs (such as Thayer) say that epignosis means "precise and correct knowledge", and I agree also that that definition is the same as "accurate knowledge".

My best guess would be that the term has different shades of meaning and one would have to be intimately familiar with Koine Greek to know the precise meaning intended. I stilll tend to agree with Sparky1, though; I don't see how it could make sense to refer to accurate knowledge of the truth since there is no such thing as an innacurate knowledge of the truth. There could be innacurate knowledge of a subject - a subject which one thinks to be the truth, but not inaccurate knowledge of the truth. One either knows the truth or he doesn't; he can't have inaccurate knowledge of it or it wouldn't be the truth. It makes perfect sense, however, to refer to coming to a deeper knowledge or more intimate knowledge of the truth or a truth.

I apprreciate your thoughts and intend to give the subject more scrutiny in the future. I was learning Koine Greek at one time, but stopped. I want to start back again. My learning of Greek, however, was more grammatical than semantical. In other words, I was learning more about tense, case, etc. than I was the meanings of different words and passages because that has always been my main interest (even in English).

31

GOVERNING BODY: Thanks for nothing, you rat bastards!

by Terry in

as a jehovah's witness:.

two things finally struck me:.

for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face; now i know in part, but then i will know fully just as i also have been fully known.. _______________________.

Magnum

Earnest: Terry, the Watchtower Society use the phrase "accurate knowledge" in the NWT to translate the Greek word epignosis. gnosis is "knowledge". epignosis is "accurate knowledge".

I think Terry is right. gnosis is knowledge, but I don't think it's proper to say that epignosis is "accurate knowledge" as if Bible writers used the word to make a distinction between "accurate" knowledge and "innacurate" knowledge. I know that the org says that epignosis means "accurate knowledge", and I believe that even some non-JWs say that, however, I disagree. The word epignosis is the word gnosis with the preposition epi attached to it (I think epi means "upon"). I don't remember the technical terms and don't have time to look anything up, so I'm just going to put it in my own words, admitting some of my terminology might not be what's commonly accepted. The pronoun epi is added to sort of stengthen the word gnosis. So epignosis means a fuller or more complete or more thorough or more intimate knowledge. For example, one might acquire an initial knowledge (gnosis) of something, but then later come to understand it and know it better and more intimately (thus having epignosis).

When I get home I would like to look up some passages that use epignosis to see if I can determine the meaning the writer intended. In cases where Paul used epignosis, I would guess now (not having looked up any passages) that he might be referring to something like a deeper, more thorough knowledge. I don't think he used the word to contrast "accurate" knowledge with "inaccurate" knowledge. However, JWs say that the word was used to indicate a simple contrast between "accurate" or correct knowledge and innacurate or incorrect knowledge, leading to the impression that they are the sole owners of the special, correct knowledge. I think that was the point Terry was making.

edit: I just noticed sparky1's comment and agree with it. I will use the verse he mentioned (1Ti 2:4). To me, that verse would make sense if Paul was referring to coming to a more complete or intimate or thorough knowledge of truth as opposed to the knowledge one would have from just an initial exposure to it. As sparky1 said, that verse wouldn't make sense if Paul was using epignosis to mean "accurate knowledge".

17

What? How did 25 years go by so fast ...

by Simon in

i'm sitting here listening to google music (which is great btw) and decided to put one of bob dylans newer albums on.. oh mercy.

it's a great album.

i remember it coming out.

Magnum

Life goes by so fast. Maybe I'm just getting old.

It is blowing by. I can't believe it's been thirteen years since Sept 11, 2001. What happened? When I was a child, a year seemed like an eternity. Four years of high school seemed like forever. Now, four years is nothing.

I've reconnected with two old elementary school buddies recently and mentioned to them how quickly life is passing. They don't seem to feel the same way. I think being (or having been) a JW has a lot to do with it. When I was completely in, I never lived in the present; I lived for the future. The present meant nothing; I wanted to get it out of the way to make place for the future. Did that warp my sense of judging the passing of time?

I don't know, but I do know time appears to be blowing by. I remember 89 like it was yesterday.

144

Have you ever read the review of Steven Hassan's books on Cult news.com?

by Enzo in

hi, to everyone my username is enzo, .

recently a saw a video presented by john cedar presenting steve hassan as a cult expert.. .

but read this reviews presented on cult news about steve hassan's books, and it's up to you make your own opinion about the video.

Magnum

Can you have one example of a Court where recognised experts are using his BITE model?

Have you asked yourself, why recognised court-cult experts don't use the BITE model promoted by Hassan?

is he a recognized Court expert these days?

I have not read Hassan and am ignorant in this area. I would like to open-mindedly hear what you have to say.

However, at this point, I must say that I don't see any significance to your point about "recognized experts" using his BITE model or his not being a "recognized court expert". One could just as easily turn what you say around and say that Hassan is an expert and doesn't use the other guys' models. Also, since when do courts determine who experts are?