Posts by opusdei1972

10

Jehovah's Witnesses come knocking

by opusdei1972 in

interesting video, and how the witnesses reacted:.

.

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

opusdei1972

Interesting video, and how the witnesses reacted:

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

11

i suspect that i am the last one here who has read the book: the cyrus cylinder: the king of persias proclamation from ancient babylon, edited by irving finkel; published by i. b. tauris, 2013; 144 pages.. so i simply wish to record my deep admiration for the book.

it explains and analyses the cylinders text as well as providing a sympathetic account of the people involved with its ancient and modern history.

(chapter 1: the babylonian perspective; chapter 2: discovery; chapter 5: a persian perspective.

opusdei1972

I did not know that stuff. How could I compare the words of Ezra with those in Cyrus' Cylinder? Can you provide some quotations?

Regards,

OPUS

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.

opusdei1972

The Church Father Polycarp quoted the book of Tobit in the second century. Clement, bishop of Rome, quoted the book of Wisdom at the end of the first century. The canonical letter of Jude quoted the book of Enoch. Accordingly, early christians used more books than those in NWT.

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.

opusdei1972

Tertullian was a fanatic christian who rejected philosophy but he used it when needed:

These are "the doctrines" of men and "of demons" 1 Timothy 4:1 produced for itching ears of the spirit of this world's wisdom: this the Lord called "foolishness," and "chose the foolish things of the world" to confound even philosophy itself. For (philosophy) it is which is the material of the world's wisdom, the rash interpreter of the nature and the dispensation of God. Indeed heresies are themselves instigated by philosophy. From this source came the Æons, and I known not what infinite forms, and the trinity of man in the system of Valentinus, who was of Plato's school. From the same source came Marcion's better god, with all his tranquillity; he came of the Stoics. Then, again, the opinion that the soul dies is held by the Epicureans; while the denial of the restoration of the body is taken from the aggregate school of all the philosophers; also, when matter is made equal to God, then you have the teaching of Zeno; and when any doctrine is alleged touching a god of fire, then Heraclitus comes in. The same subject-matter is discussed over and over again by the heretics and the philosophers; the same arguments are involved. Whence comes evil? Why is it permitted? What is the origin of man? And in what way does he come? Besides the question which Valentinus has very lately proposed— Whence comes God? Which he settles with the answer: From enthymesis and ectroma. Unhappy Aristotle! Who invented for these men dialectics, the art of building up and pulling down; an art so evasive in its propositions, so far-fetched in its conjectures, so harsh, in its arguments, so productive of contentions— embarrassing even to itself, retracting everything, and really treating of nothing! Whence spring those "fables and endless genealogies," 1 Timothy 1:4 and "unprofitable questions," Titus 3:9 and "words which spread like a cancer?" 2 Timothy 2:17 From all these, when the apostle would restrain us, he expressly names philosophy as that which he would have us be on our guard against. Writing to the Colossians, he says, "See that no one beguile you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, and contrary to the wisdom of the Holy Ghost." He had been at Athens, and had in his interviews (with its philosophers) become acquainted with that human wisdom which pretends to know the truth, while it only corrupts it, and is itself divided into its own manifold heresies, by the variety of its mutually repugnant sects. What indeed has Athens to do with Jerusalem? What concord is there between the Academy and the Church? What between heretics and Christians? Our instruction comes from "the porch of Solomon," who had himself taught that "the Lord should be sought in simplicity of heart." Wisdom 1:1 Away with all attempts to produce a mottled Christianity of Stoic, Platonic, and dialectic composition! We want no curious disputation after possessing Christ Jesus, no inquisition after enjoying the gospel! With our faith, we desire no further belief. For this is our palmary faith, that there is nothing which we ought to believe besides. (Prescription against Heretics, chapter 7)

This guy was a lunatic, though well educated compared with most christians of that time.

45

Lying about Shunning! jw.org conceals the "truth"

by Skinnedsheep in

jw
friends

http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/ .

"those who were baptized as jehovahs witnesses but no longer preach to others, perhaps even drifting away from association with fellow believers, are not shunned.

in fact, we reach out to them and try to rekindle their spiritual interest.".

opusdei1972

The marketing strategy is this : lie before the general public, then show the real face to the stupid members.

8

IS THE MARTYRDOM OF STEPHEN (Gasp!) just a literary device to introduce the character of Saul?

by Terry in

new testament scholars seem pretty unanimous about it: paul's letters (epistles) are the earliest/ first christian writings.. scholars seem in pretty solid agreement the so-called gospels (matthew, mark, luke, john) came later.. i think few would disagree the writings of paul were extraordinarily impactful.. **.

christians throughout the community of jesus followers were split on what was true and not true.. many did not approve of the teachings of paul (especially when paul told practising jews that the o.t.

laws were abolished!).

opusdei1972

I think that there are some tampered truths in these stories. Jews did not like christians, in general. So, there were doctrinal conflicts between Jews and christians as Justin told in his Dialogue with Trypho. Paul is a historical person who wrote some letters before 70 AD, an other letters are forgeries or were tampered by his disciples after his death. About the book of Acts, it is clear that it was composed after 70 AD, so I wonder why doesn't the author tell how was the death of Paul?. May be the author did not want to tell it because the death of Paul was not as expected, instead they thought he would be caught up to heaven. On the other hand, the Gospel of John tells the martydom of Peter as it were a prophecy.

25

Gerritt Loesch life story .... Total hypocrisy

by Skinnedsheep in

as written in the july 15 2014 wt.

what gerrit used to believe and teach.... the roman catholic teaching of apostolic succession claims that there is an unbroken succession of popes in a line extending all the way back to the apostle peter.

(the church misinterprets jesus words that are quoted at matthew 16:18, 19.

opusdei1972

"-- I also look forward to observing FROM HEAVEN the earthly resurrection and at last FINDING my physical father."

Interestingly, those children who died for the blood ban have to wait 1000 years to get perfection on earth, but this bastard will get the heavenly price earlier. How Just is Jehovah !!!.

2

The Watchtower on "How Reliable Are the Gospels?"

by opusdei1972 in

there is a watchtower article entitled "how reliable are the gospels?

" (w08 10/1 pp.

12-14 ), which states the following:.

opusdei1972

I think that these issues like the priority of Mark, the Documentary Hypothesis and forgeries in the Bible, should be taught in schools in order to educate children to avoid fundamentalist thoughts.

2

The Watchtower on "How Reliable Are the Gospels?"

by opusdei1972 in

there is a watchtower article entitled "how reliable are the gospels?

" (w08 10/1 pp.

12-14 ), which states the following:.

opusdei1972

There is a Watchtower article entitled "How Reliable Are the Gospels?" (w08 10/1 pp. 12-14 ), which states the following:

Do the similarities between the synoptic Gospels indeed prove that the writers simply copied from one another? No. Why not? For one thing, Jesus promised his disciples that the holy spirit would ‘bring back to their minds all the things he had told them.’ (John 14:26) ....some of the Bible writers may have read and referred to the work of other Bible writers, but such a practice would suggest careful research, not plagiarism.....Obviously, Matthew, an apostle and eyewitness, did not need to plagiarize the writings of Mark, who was not an eyewitness.

The Watchtower simply ignores the facts. Let's prove how Matthew copied from Mark and even misrepresented him. Let's read a portion of Mark chapter 6, according to the Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE):

The Mission of the Twelve

7 And he called to him the twelve, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits. 8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff; no bread, no bag, no money in their belts; 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics. 10 And he said to them, “Where you enter a house, stay there until you leave the place. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they refuse to hear you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet for a testimony against them.” 12 So they went out and preached that men should repent. 13 And they cast out many demons, and anointed with oil many that were sick and healed them.

The Death of John the Baptist

14 King Herod heard of it; for Jesus’ name had become known. Some said, “John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him.” 15 But others said, “It is Eli′jah.” And others said, “It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old.” 16 But when Herod heard of it he said, “John, whom I beheaded, has been raised.” 17 For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero′di-as, his brother Philip’s wife; because he had married her. 18 For John said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” 19 And Hero′di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20 for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21 But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22 For when Hero′di-as’ daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, “Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it.” 23 And he vowed to her, “Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom.” 24 And she went out, and said to her mother, “What shall I ask?” And she said, “The head of John the baptizer.” 25 And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, “I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter.” 26 And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27 And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28 and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29 When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Feeding the Five Thousand

30 The apostles returned to Jesus, and told him all that they had done and taught. 31 And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a lonely place, and rest a while.” For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. 32 And they went away in the boat to a lonely place by themselves. 33 Now many saw them going, and knew them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns, and got there ahead of them. 34 As he landed he saw a great throng, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things.

So, Jesus sent the twelve to preach empowered with miracles (verses 7-13). Note that there is a flasback (in red letters) between verses 14 and 29, in which Mark narrates the death of John the Baptist. Then, Mark returned to the story in verse 30, so now the disciples of Jesus "told him all that they had done" in their preaching tour. Accordingly, Jesus and the twelve went to a lonely place to rest a while. However, the author of the Gospel of Matthew told this story by misunderstanding Mark's flashback:

12 And his disciples [of John] came and took the body [of John] and buried it; and they went and told Jesus. 13 Now when Jesus heard this, he withdrew from there in a boat to a lonely place apart. But when the crowds heard it, they followed him on foot from the towns. (Mark 14:12-13)

Matthew misunderstood the succession of the events in Mark. Matthew failed to remember that it was a "retrospect," makes a smooth transition to the narrative which follows: John's disciples inform Jesus; and "when Jesus heard. . ." (Mt. 14:12-13). Therefore, the author of the Gospel of Matthew could not be the apostle Matthew, because an eyewitness could not misrepresent the account of a non-eyewitness. Thus, it is most plausible to see Mark's order as original and prior to both Matthew and Luke. So, The Gospel of Matthew is another forgery of dishonest christians.

5

Is this ignorance or arrogance?

by Pinku in

jws refrain from voting in the political elections saying politics belongs to satan (in obvious violation of bible statement that secular governments are gods minister on earthromans 13:1-6) being built on american soil, there is no reason to think that jws are ignorant of our founding fathers like benjamin franklin who wrote in his autobiography that good leadership rested on the foundation of moral and spiritual character.

he lists in it 13 virtues (such as contentment, humility ......) he valued the most which became the basis of a chart that he used daily to check his attitude and behaviors!.

he tells us that contentment is the greatest asset one can have (because you may have everything else you can dream of, yet if you do not have contentment, it is like you have nothing), yet it is something you are born with, the essential quality of your being.

opusdei1972

The Watchtower's religion is not for thinking persons.