abiather

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Posts by abiather

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  692

  abortion vs holocaust

  by unstopableravens in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs
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  abiather

  The only difference is in the number.

  Parents murder 50 million UNWANTED babies a year, and choose to call it by a softer name—abortion;

  whereas the holocaust killed comparatively very few people a year
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  79

  The life differences between a good christian and good athiest

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  let's compare a christian who goes to a non judgemental / non guilt trip church which focuses really on the gospels, jesus teachings on being non judgemental, anything out of love there is no law against, and they contribute to society.

  then an athiest who if you put side by side w/ the above christian, you would not know any difference unless you asked their beliefs.

  both are good people, who are able to lead lives doing what they want, enjoying their life, and trying to help their neighbors too.

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  abiather

  Actually, atheists are like those who study a wonderfully working robot, and conclude that it is purely material (and they are right because they never saw a brilliant scientist who designed it.)

  Christians, in general, have no motivation to be good because they believe that humans commit sin because of “one man” who was inspired by a woman, who in turn was inspired by a snake. Yet no problem, somebody else has died for your sake, and on the basis of his death, you have the forgiveness.

  Hence both Atheists and Christians are no different—both ignore the SCIENTIFIC Principle of Cause and Effect. And both of them spread, because disease spreads (health does not spread)
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  7

  Why do humans suffer

  by StephaneLaliberte in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  while talking with my wife, it occurred to me that the jws idea of why humans suffer doesnt make sense.

  the idea is that humans suffer so as to prove beyond the shadow of a doubt that they cannot rule themselves.. now, the bible states that satan is the ruler of this world.

  so just how letting time pass by supposed to answer the question about the humans ability to govern themselves when they dont govern themselves?

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  abiather

  According to Jesus, humans suffer because of the scientific principle of ENTROPY. Everything was good in the beginning, then it began to decline in quality. See what he says categorically:

  “The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed into about sixty pounds of flour until it worked all through the dough.” (Mathew 13:33) And it was “new” for some time, then it became “old.” (Mathew 13:52)

  Again its pure science, nature’ law, that there will again be new creation, growth, decay and regeneration.

  “What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;
  there is nothing new under the sun. Is there anything of which one can say,
  “Look! This is something new”? It was here already, long ago;
  it was here before our time (Ecclesiastes 1:9, 10)
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  7

  Use cell phones sparingly!

  by abiather in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a friendly message with regard to the use of cell phones.. we have all the reasons to minimise its use, and try to put it on speakerphone whenever possible keeping it away from your head and body.. .

  iphones particularly should not be carried on the body.. .

  watch this news report http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ld8pcsjnca.

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  abiather

  A friendly message with regard to the use of cell phones.

  We have all the reasons to minimise its use, and try to put it on speakerphone whenever possible keeping it away from your head and body.
  
  iPhones particularly should not be carried on the body.
  
  Watch this news report http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ld8pCSjNcA
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  4

  Admitting Bible is not wholly inspired need not worry JWs

  by abiather in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jws are too sensitive about the bible.

  they consider every verse of the bible as inspired of god.

  hence doubting even one verse of the bible is a disfellowshipping offence among them!.

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  abiather

  JWs are too sensitive about the Bible. They consider every verse of the Bible as “inspired of God.” Hence doubting even one verse of the Bible is a disfellowshipping offence among them!

  They do not realize that doubting one or two verses in the Bible will not do any harm to the Bible, nor to any scripture for that matter. What is true of all scriptures, epics, myths or even stories is that characters need not be historical, but the characteristics they display are historical. Sustained effort and overconfidence tortoise and hare displayed respectively are historical (because people have been displaying them throughout the history), but the competition of tortoise and hare are not historical (never happened). A powerful ruler’s inordinate lust towards someone else’s wife and the subsequent down-fall is more historical (which is the theme of the epic called Ramayan) than the characters! Ingratitude displayed individually and collectively in the Bible is more historical (because people still display it) than its characters.

  Scriptures and stories provide examples of people who acted either wisely or foolishly, hence reaped accordingly. By reading them people can choose whatever they like, and reap accordingly! Hence anyone can become healthy, happy, successful and spiritual if they look for such examples and act accordingly. Or anyone can waste his life by looking at the defects of others, over which he has no control and ignoring his own defects over which he does have control!

  Bible has many problems. For example, the Old Testament Jesus was acquainted with was different from what we have today. In the OT of his period, the statement: “male and female he created them” (which is found at Genesis 1:27) was IMMEDIATELY followed by this statement: “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh (which is found at Genesis 2:24). (Mathew 19:4-6) This means Jesus was familiar with the fact that mankind was created male and female simultaneously (That man was created first from the dust, and then woman was created from man’s rib, as found in present Bible, from Genesis 1:28 to Genesis 2:23, is a later interpolation).

  Here what is important is not what Jesus thought of the historicity of Adam and Eve, but the fatherhood of God that makes man and woman equal, hence man should not divorce woman for every reason—which is the context of Mathew chapter 19.

  If you examine incidents described in the Bible, you will see many mistakes and inconsistencies. That need not worry anyone. Because characteristics of the character and their consequences are real lessons, not the historicity of the characters! What is inspired is not descriptions of each happening, but the impeccable principle behind every happening. (Galatians 6:7)
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  4

  Is there a situation where all went RIGHT except JWs?

  by abiather in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  yes, i have noted many; i will share just two of them.. 1) jws prohibit birth-day celebration saying john the baptists was murdered during the celebration of herods birth day.

  will anyone abstain from marriage celebration just because somewhere 2000 years ago in some marriage celebration in the orient, somebody was killed?

  or will any country abolish voting system itself because somebody was killed in a voting station?

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  abiather

  Yes, I have noted many; I will share just two of them.

  1) JWs prohibit birth-day celebration saying John the Baptists was murdered during the celebration of Herod’s birth day. Will anyone abstain from marriage celebration just because somewhere 2000 years ago in some marriage celebration in the orient, somebody was killed? Or will any country abolish voting system itself because somebody was killed in a voting station? Interestingly, History books show that John the Baptists was killed by Herod on political reason, not in connection with any birthday celebration! If viewed from the correct perspective, birthday is the most important celebration; because birth of a person is the most wonderful event—an act of God being performed in front of us—it is an act of God, because we did not create ourselves. Our parents too would say they did not create us. Truth is that we come from God, through our parents. Hence our birth is an act of God, and its climax event is the birthday. Thus birthday celebration actually glorifies God—it only shows we are happy with our lives!

  2) Another situation is their translation of Mathew 5:3 as “Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need, since the kingdom of the heavens belongs to them,” while other Bibles have it: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

  If Jesus were here on earth, he would favor the translation: “Blessed are those poor in spirit.” Because he himself defined, with his life, spirituality as being “poor in spirit”. Jesus himself was “poor in spirit,” because despite of being a great person with extra-ordinary skill, he did not have a sense of ownership (Mathew 8:20; 16:24) nor a sense of doer-ship (John 8:16; 5:19) nor attachment even to his own family members. (Mark 3:33, 34) In other words, he had no self-made envelop called ego over his spirit (John 10:30). He had full control over vices, even over desire for pleasure from sleep. The first thing he used to do “very early in the morning, while it was still dark” was that he would ‘get up, leave the house and go off to a solitary place,’ where he would spend time talking to His Heavenly Father. (Mark 1:35) He was like enjoying a romance with God. (Compare Isaiah 54:5)

  Anyone who manifests the above attitudes is “poor in spirit.” Manifesting the above attitudes is not at all difficult, because we have observed many people who manifest them! If it is possible for some, it is possible for others too, if they are willing to do. If a Doctor misdiagnoses somebody, and tells him that he will die within a few days, you will see him changing from being materialistic to spiritual, WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL HELP! All humans know that they all will die at any moment, hence should be possible for them to turn spiritual, as in the above-mentioned case! The key to living a fulfilled life and enjoying each moment is to truly REALIZE the transient nature of the world around us. REALIZE means having REAL EYES that see the real, not the things that come and go after some time. If one is willing, he can see the SOURCE behind all the resources!

  A vehicle that goes forward can go reverse too if we change into appropriate gear. Similarly, no one taught us to look for defects in others and to boast of the good in ourselves—yet we all do! This can also be reversed—we can look for the good in others and defects in ourselves (with the intention of undoing them) without anybody teaching us—that is the sign of spirituality! Remember, no one helped the prodigal son to return to spirituality. He understood materialism has a dead-end from his own experience, something which he could have discern from others’ experiences in front of his eyes! Hence, what is needed is an observant eye, not external organization!

  How unfortunate JWs translated Mathew 5:3 as “happy are those conscious of their spiritual need.” Thieves are conscious of the requirement of being a good citizen, yet that will not make them good citizen! Hence, JWs got exactly the opposite of what Jesus intended. Bible writers actually contrast spirituality with egoism which is all about needs. (Galatians 5:26) But spirituality is all about spirit, and SPIRIT HAS NO NEEDS, it only gives. (Luke 6:32-38; Galatians 5:22-25). When you enjoy giving, you will give it to the full (or FILL to the FULL), you will feel you have a life FULFILLED.

  In addition, JW translation indirectly hints that there will be a visible organization (of God on earth) to cater to the needs of people, especially in the “Last Days”—something that is not even remotely implied in the Gospel of Mark, which is the source for Mathew and Luke. Jesus concluded the signs of Last Days saying: “What I say to you, I say to everyone: ‘Watch!’” (Mark 13:37)

  The above two examples are typical of JWs who complicate what is very simple!
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  8

  My witnessing to an atheist was my last witnessing!

  by abiather in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the field service, during my preaching to a householder, she interrupted me and said: i would ask something, after getting answer you can continue!

  i said ok. she said: i was not believing in the existence of a god until recently.

  last month, in the middle of the night, i got an emergency call from my hospital to attend to a complicated caesarean case.

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  abiather

  What she conlcuded is her choice. Whether it is right or not is another question. What she said drove home a point I would never have thought of by myself as a JW. Hence it was more of God acting in favor of me than of Him acting in favor of her.
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  8

  My witnessing to an atheist was my last witnessing!

  by abiather in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the field service, during my preaching to a householder, she interrupted me and said: i would ask something, after getting answer you can continue!

  i said ok. she said: i was not believing in the existence of a god until recently.

  last month, in the middle of the night, i got an emergency call from my hospital to attend to a complicated caesarean case.

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  abiather

  In the field service, during my preaching to a householder, she interrupted me and said: “I would ask something, after getting answer you can continue!” I said ok. She said: “I was not believing in the existence of a God until recently. Last month, in the middle of the night, I got an emergency call from my hospital to attend to a complicated caesarean case. I rushed immediately and did a successful work, and was returning. It was around 3 ‘O’ clock in the morning. My car had a break-down on my way back. To my shock, I realized that I had not taken my mobile phone. I was literally in panic, yet there was nothing to do except remaining in the car locked from inside.

  After some time, two youngsters came on a bike. The asked me whether I needed any help. I said no. But to my yet another shock, they did not go. They parked their bike on the side and remained there talking to each other, calling somebody over their phone. After some time one more bike came and joined them. I was thinking I am going to be raped and killed. I had no God to pray to as I was an atheist—which was the inheritance from my schooling.

  Each second passed like years. To my surprise, no untoward incident took place. When the sun rose, the gang approached me and asked again what help they should do for me. I said: “I am physician. Let me make a call to my hospital so that they may send some vehicle to take me to my home.” They immediately gave their mobile phone.

  I asked them why they remained around my car, as though guarding me and my vehicle. They said they are actually criminals. But they knew that the place is very dangerous for a woman to be alone in a car. Hence they thought of guarding me. When they saw the hospital vehicle arriving, they left.

  When I went to save the lives of two people in the middle of the night forgetting my sleep, I had a problem on my way back. And who arranged help for me? This incident was enough for me to believe in a power behind this universe, who acts with discretion. If I know that there is a God who exists and helps even the atheist, why should you preach to people about God, you are wasting your time.

  I became dumb for a moment. I thanked her and left. Yet I was not a loser, because that was my last witnessing, going out in the field-ministry.
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  Bible’s overall theme does not allow for a FDS class

  by abiather in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  conveying what you sow you reap seems to be the theme of the bible.

  god does not seem to be an enforcement agency!

  cain turned down gods guidance, went ahead and killed abel.

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  abiather

  Conveying “What you sow you reap” seems to be the theme of the Bible. God does not seem to be an enforcement agency! Cain turned down God’s guidance, went ahead and killed Abel. So did his chosen people, who earned a name: “killer of prophets.” (Mathew 23:37) Jesus helped people in numerous ways that, if written down, the whole world would overflow with books on details of his altruism. (John 21:25) Yet people killed him! Interestingly, his own family members were not interested in doing “God’s will,” Jesus himself testified.—Mark 3:33, 34!

  This means God permits people to choose what they like and reap the consequences. (Galatians 6:7) Everyone is sailing through an ocean of experiences (own and of others); hence knows the consequences of any action and is free to repeat the mistake or to act beneficially. God will not force anyone, because primary beneficiary of practicing virtues is the doer himself—as eating nutritious food does to the eater.

  This is what has been radiantly picturized in the illustration of prodigal son! The illustration itself says God is the central character of the whole episode. (Luke 15:19) It shows how God responds to people’ choices—(when they act befitting sons of God, or when they act unbecoming to sons of God). (Luke 15:21) The younger son in the illustration chooses to go away from Father and to pursue a materialistic life-style. Father neither prevents him nor reasons with him; but permits him. Because Father knows materialism has a dead-end as it caters to the physical needs only; and once that is fulfilled one will turn to spirituality, hence materialism is actually a means to come to spirituality—and prodigal son DOES exactly that—he returns to spirituality in the end!

  Here what is noteworthy is that the younger son turns bad WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL HELP, and then turns good WITHOUT ANY EXTERNAL HELP. This is true of all individuals. No one can be forced to do anything, without him yielding/agreeing to it. Hence neither a tempter nor a savior plays any role here. (Mathew 23:12) And, there is NO scope for an earthly organization of God “to give food at the proper time!” (Compare Romans 14:12) People will choose to do the way they like. Hence there will always be all sorts of people:

  1. Some may choose to remain good always
  2. Some good people may choose to go bad
  3. Some of those who turned bad may choose to turn good again
  4. Some bad people may choose to be bad always
  5. Some people may choose to be mixed—good and bad

  It’s all choices, and people, in general, KNOW what they are doing! They KNOW what is right and wrong, good and bad. For example, people KNOW love and compassion are good when they are the recipients. And They KNOW disregard and hurt are bad when they are the recipients! Hence how much more they know how to behave themselves! Hence God using an agency to lead people is like exporting ice into Antartica! God would not do that.

  When you hear people are free to do whatever they like, it does not mean life has no meaning! The purpose of life is to live—nothing else. How to live, you have choice!

  1) We have seen people who show love and compassion in their thinking, speech, action, relationships and contacts, are living lives as though in heaven!

  2) We have seen people who show disregard and hurt in their thinking, speech, action, relationships and contacts, are living lives as though in hell!

  3) We have seen people who mix those qualities in their thinking, speech, action, relationships and contacts, are swinging between heaven and hell, or in a mixture of heaven and hell.

  “What you sow you reap” is a self-attested principle which everyone observes on a daily basis, hence everyone will have an appropriate destination! What is that destination? And Where is that destination? I have decided not to seek answers to such questions! Let them be a surprise! After all what is the charm in going for a movie or a cricket match if you know its climax well in advance!
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  19

  YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!

  by abiather in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am still a jw.

  i cant give any more details than this because of my family members who are devout jws.

  i cherish a larger picture in my heart without anybody knowing ittrue worship means love and compassion, (luke 10:25-37) not belonging to any organization or having a set of belief system!

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  abiather

  I am still a JW. I can’t give any more details than this because of my family members who are devout JWs. I cherish a larger picture in my heart without anybody knowing it—TRUE WORSHIP means LOVE AND COMPASSION, (Luke 10:25-37) not belonging to any organization or having a set of belief system! There are good and bad people in all religions—including JWs, hence no religion is better than the other. Hence I do not follow JWs’ strongest command to shun the apostates. Because my reasoning goes like this:

  When faced with two evils, choose the lesser one.

  When faced with two conflicting authorities, obey the superior one.

  JWs command to shun the enemies (apostates) whereas Jesus asks us to ‘Love your enemies.’ Why? Because, God loves them. And he further says: This is how we become ‘the children our Father in heaven.’ (Mathew 5:43, 44) I prefer to obey God and Jesus who asks us ‘love your enemies.’

  Interestingly, my experience is that this site is not inimical to JWs. It only HELPS the real TRUTH-SEEKERS! Sometime back, my view of JWs as being unique was shattered when I read in this site (“JWs... You Are Not Unique! Take A Look At This. My Research,” written by Aussie Oz); I cross-checked it and found that it was true, and it did open my eyes.

  After carefully weighing the matter, I now decide to partake in the JW.net discussion because of the high quality of some of the articles and views expressed here. I believe appreciation should be expressed, hence I am here.

  YOU ARE DOING A GOOD JOB!

  You can still be more elegant, if some of your members fine-tune their writings/views little more so that no one accuses you of being blind opposers of JWs or having a blind hatred of them. How nice it will be if views are made dispassionately.