Posts by Viviane

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

Viviane

I start my world view with the bible and the bible supports this finding,
that people believing in God is genetic.
I have read the bible cover to cover 7 times since leaving the Watchtower and the predominant theme
I found in the bible is predestination.

Predestination isn't genetic, in fact, predestination removes any iota of free-will and would remove any possible genetic component.]

so according to the scriptures some can not help believing and some can not help unbelieving.
And now science and genetics is supporting this biblical view.

Those verses say God decides, also removing a genetic component.

67

Exactly what is the HISTORIC view of the DIVINE or of what being GOD meant long ago?

by TerryWalstrom in

the purpose of this topic is twofold.. first, any who are endlessly fascinated by scholarship, practised by genuine bible scholars, are urged by me to do what i did, subscribe to bart ehrman's blog.

the subscription money (as little as $3.95) goes entirely to charity.. secondarily, by broadening our view of the new testament era on up through two millennia to the present day, our knowledge of all things 'christian' is deepened to include actual knowledge (as opposed to watchtower fabrication.

by this i don't mean to imply you'll fall to your knees and get saved, but rather, you'll simply have facts to inform your present transitional mindset toward whatever end you finally choose.. now .

Viviane

According to the text Jesus called Himself, "Son of Man" in verse 13. Without verbal prompting Peter elevated the Son of Man to Son of God by verse 16.

Let's look...

13 When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

14 They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

15 “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

16 Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.”

17 Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven.

Notice that Jesus NEVER says he is the Son of Man, nor does Peter say that the Son of Man is the Son of God. This is a classic example of Christians stringing things together and claiming the Bible says something it doesn't. Jesus asks about the Son of Man and then about himself. Two diferent questions, two different answers with Jesus never claiming to be either nor claiming to be God.

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

Viviane

I agree with KateWild—sounds logical and more reasonable.

Individual anecdotes aren't representative of a large group.

22

JW's - lack of knowledge of their own beliefs

by Illuminated in

why are so many jehovah's witnesses unaware of their own beliefs.

.

i would imagine the repetitive meetings, studies and door to door knocking would firmly root them in their beliefs.. yet, i've observed they either back out of challenging questions at times, or share a link to jay w org.. .

Viviane

Religious people in general are often ignorant of their own religious doctrine.

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

Viviane

I was brought up by Jewish parents and went to a Jewish day school. My parents are agnostic and atheist.

How could they have been religious and both atheist and agnostic?

67

Exactly what is the HISTORIC view of the DIVINE or of what being GOD meant long ago?

by TerryWalstrom in

the purpose of this topic is twofold.. first, any who are endlessly fascinated by scholarship, practised by genuine bible scholars, are urged by me to do what i did, subscribe to bart ehrman's blog.

the subscription money (as little as $3.95) goes entirely to charity.. secondarily, by broadening our view of the new testament era on up through two millennia to the present day, our knowledge of all things 'christian' is deepened to include actual knowledge (as opposed to watchtower fabrication.

by this i don't mean to imply you'll fall to your knees and get saved, but rather, you'll simply have facts to inform your present transitional mindset toward whatever end you finally choose.. now .

Viviane

but there is only one religion where a man claimed to be God and 2000 years later, 1 out of every 5 people [or more] on the whole planet believe it.

Jesus never claimed to be God. He was later elevated to that position.

67

Exactly what is the HISTORIC view of the DIVINE or of what being GOD meant long ago?

by TerryWalstrom in

the purpose of this topic is twofold.. first, any who are endlessly fascinated by scholarship, practised by genuine bible scholars, are urged by me to do what i did, subscribe to bart ehrman's blog.

the subscription money (as little as $3.95) goes entirely to charity.. secondarily, by broadening our view of the new testament era on up through two millennia to the present day, our knowledge of all things 'christian' is deepened to include actual knowledge (as opposed to watchtower fabrication.

by this i don't mean to imply you'll fall to your knees and get saved, but rather, you'll simply have facts to inform your present transitional mindset toward whatever end you finally choose.. now .

Viviane

but, Jesus was more closely aligned with DEITY where the others both OT and NT were kept firmly on the ground in their roles as "divinity" as can be seen in their strictly human foibles being included in the text.

Nope. Jesus began as a man and as Christianity developed, both low and high Christologies came into existence, evolved and competed for followers and are still debated today. There were dozens of competing texts, ideas and stories about Jesus with different explanations for his divinity. Even the OT admits there are other gods out there.

55

I'm studying with Jehovah's Witnesses!!

by Kulotti79 in

jw
friends

hello all... i currently studying the bible teach book and i'm just curious what information does the study conductor record about the student and is it passed on??

and they keep on saying "the truth" which is starting to get on my nerves.

lol.

Viviane

He told us this knowing that in future generations others would claim that they alone had the truth. The truth isn't in a location. The Truth is a person.

Ironically, you are saying that those who claim to preach the truth were predicted to wrong while claiming you are preaching the truth.

67

Exactly what is the HISTORIC view of the DIVINE or of what being GOD meant long ago?

by TerryWalstrom in

the purpose of this topic is twofold.. first, any who are endlessly fascinated by scholarship, practised by genuine bible scholars, are urged by me to do what i did, subscribe to bart ehrman's blog.

the subscription money (as little as $3.95) goes entirely to charity.. secondarily, by broadening our view of the new testament era on up through two millennia to the present day, our knowledge of all things 'christian' is deepened to include actual knowledge (as opposed to watchtower fabrication.

by this i don't mean to imply you'll fall to your knees and get saved, but rather, you'll simply have facts to inform your present transitional mindset toward whatever end you finally choose.. now .

Viviane

That's an except from his book "How Jesus Became God", quite good. He provides many examples in both scripture and other Jewish literature of a continuum of divinity with Judaism with men becoming divine, gods becoming man, angel worship and polytheism.

39

My sister was invited to a Judicial Committee

by opusdei1972 in

today i called to my sister and she told me that two elders went to her house to announce her that a judicial committe is waiting her in the kingdom hall this friday.

she told them that she will confirm if she will go.

however, i have told her that she shouldn't go, instead she should ask them to write a formal letter, with signatures, asking her for which charges she should be submitted in a private room with two men (or three?

Viviane

I recommend the Ricky Defense.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TVYwVQ8huzs