Posts by Fernando

28

The distinction between cult and religion.....

by NoRegrets in

another great article from the ted talks.

opening quote really tells it all: "the distinction between cult and religion lies squarely in how those leaving or those wanting to leave are treated.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/eliyahu-federman/when-organized-religion-become_b_3996139.html?ir=ted+weekends&ref=topbar.

Fernando

Over the last 500 years many religions have managed to greatly tone down that aspect (torture, murder, excommunication, shunning, ostracism).

Would it be cynical to suggest that self-preservation may be the reason? Or are humans gradually beginning to see the light?

Some, like myself, maintain that the elements of human control, human authority and human ideology are found throughout the spectrum that starts with cults (such as the Watchtower) and ends with more "benign" religious groups or clubs such as progressive Baptists, progressive Anglicans, and progressive Catholics.

The New Testament (known as the Injeel/Injil to Muslims) however does not support middlemen, hierarchies and organisations between God and man (1 Tim 2:5; John 14:6).

The gospel/bissar/injeel/injil is a map designed to lead us away from dependence on human control, authority and ideology, to dependence on God in a vibrant, transformative, empowering, healing and engaging personal relationship.

This personal relationship is available to anyone willing to accept adoption into God's faily as a "free gift" legally secured by an exhorbitant ransom price paid by our heavenly father to our evil step-father (in the greatest legal custody battle ever).

Galatians 4 in the Message Bible explains why the "ruling religious clergy class" have a serious problem with their followers discovering and following this map: "They want to shut you out of the free world of God's grace so that you will always depend on them for approval and direction, making them feel important [and relevant]".

30

New Bible Release At Annual Meeting

by lambsbottom in

talked to a congregation literature servant's close friend today.

i asked him what he thought about the "no bibles" situation.

he said the literature servant told him that there will be a new bible released at the annual meetin.

Fernando

Maybe a minimum "voluntary" "donation" will be strongly "suggested"?

Maybe we should be asking our loved ones: "what percentage of your 'donation' for the new Bible will go toward the 'Candace Conti Relief Fund' "?

What about a reverse witnessing sign at the assembly:

Support the

Candace Conti Relief Fund

Donate Generously

38

Terry's book: I WEPT BY THE RIVERS OF BABYLON

by tec in

jw
friends

i just finished reading this book, by our terry, and i thorougly enjoyed it.

terry has an amazing gift for words and expression - as most of you already know - and he lured me in from the very start.

reading this book is an actual experience... and i don't want to say much more than that, because i don't want to color your experience as you read for yourself.. .

Fernando

I imagine as one clocks up book signings and speaking engagements one becomes well known and a tipping point is reached where book sales start driving themselves.

It was quite a while ago, but if I remember the numbers and details correctly, Morgan Scott Peck's "The Road Less Travelled" only sold 5,000 copies, until he hit the speaking circuit, which increased sales to 30 million.

16

25 million YouTube views: "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

by Fernando in

the popularity of the video has led to a book being written and published: "jesus > religion".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iahdgylpqy.

Fernando

Hey Laika!

I have come to understand religion as "relating to God on our terms" with the view to gaining his approval.

Key elements or pillars of religion that are no part of the gospel are:

rule-making and keeping (legalism),
following a written external moral code (moralism),
following an agreed set of doctrinal beliefs determined by humans (ethnocentrism),
and a VISIBLE spiritual authority between God and man (a ruling religious clergy class, and their teaching of other humans as our spiritual covering instead of Christ alone).

This might explain why there are so many religions (so called faithS).

Many claim to be the right or true religion.

The Watchtower like many other religions postulates that the "true religion" has to do with dissecting doctrines and articulating a compulsory common belief in those doctrines.

This idea originated at Nicaea. The Watchtower has perfected their implementation of Nicaean ethnocentrism in their position on the Trinity, Hellfire and Immortality of the soul.

The Bible on the otherhand links "the truth" to "the Good News".

The Judeo/Christian/Muslim scriptures also never once use the word faithS which is commonly used in religion to mean religion (incorrectly and unscripturally). Instead there is only "one faith".

Does it follow that the many faithS are imposters of the "one faith"?

There is "arsenic in the honey". Pure honey was given to me as a "free gift". I did not earn, deserve or pay for this "free gift" that was granted and received by grace and faith. There is no way I can claim to be a better person than those who are eating the honey laced with arsenic (religion). I do not.

The gospel creates a fantastic level playing field. Even the biggest sinner (like me) can have his sin and guilt legally exchanged for Jesus' righteousness and Holiness, as a "free gift" available to anyone that wants it (as explained in the 3-minute Good-O-Meter video on YouTube).

I am grateful however that I do not seek to compete with Jesus for followers, and that I am no longer part of a group or organisation that does that (again by grace, faith and repentance alone - and all granted as unmerited "free gifts").

If and when one wants to examine the "unabridged gospel" as an alternative to religion, there are heaps of resources that God will reveal - in addition to what Paul wrote to the Galatians as rendered in plain English in the Message Bible (including the introduction to Galatians in this translation).

This is however a calling and one will know when they have received it. Trying to examine the relationship between religion and the "unabridged gospel" before one is called could potentially turn out to be wasted time and energy. In the end God knows best in regard to when and what.

Whilst we may have different perspectives on religion, I celebrate our common faith and unity in Christ.

May our older brother keep you and yours on your journey (Heb 2:11)

Fernando

89

An Elder Reads CoC !!

by TTATTelder in

i have recently joined the site.

i was just appointed an elder this summer.

i started discovering the ttatt (the truth about the truth) last year after putting a few things together myself concerning the leadership and then doing some research online.. i really enjoyed jwfacts.com, jwsurvey, and others.

Fernando

Welcome.

And exactly what Cofty said.

It is hugely empowering to leave on your own time and terms with your family intact. Please do not let them take this away from you - ever.

PS - One can search the wt library for "legalism" to read a summary of Ray's ISoCF.

63

I made a huge mistake

by KariOtt in

jw
friends

its been a tough 6 months for my jw hubby and myself.

next saturday is our anniversary.

i wasn't sure we would make it with the turbulance of the last 6 months.

Fernando

The cross is by design a huge stumbling block for anyone following the Watchtower.

Yes, it probably was a mistake, and its great that you are willing to undo and "repent".

I pray for spiritual wisdom for you, and that his eyes may yet open without the adversity often required.

Fernando

16

25 million YouTube views: "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

by Fernando in

the popularity of the video has led to a book being written and published: "jesus > religion".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iahdgylpqy.

Fernando

Hey Laika!

From what I have experienced and observed religion leads us away from the "unabridged gospel", away from faith, away from spirituality, away from the church (ekklesia), and away from Jesus.

It is not an accident that religion redefines each of the above to hide what it has done to us.

What would you think of a car salesman that does not know that a Ford is a motorcar?

It is no accident that it is near impossible to find a "Christian" that knows what the gospel is (let alone list its key ingredients/components/markers and expressions/iterations/manifestations).

Those who hear and pursue the "unabridged gospel" to its zenith reach milestones on their journey where they are able to look back and more clearly discern what they have left behind (legalism, moralism, ethnocentrism and the resulting fruits of hypocrisy, authoritarianism, self-righteousness, dogmatism, fundamentalism, divisive sectarianism, addiction, supremacist and otherwise aberrant thinking).

Defining religion as "relating to God on our terms" has limited meaning until one has personally undertaken such a journey.

There are many ways to start such a journey.

One could find and mark all the occurrences of the word "gospel" and/or phrase "good news" in one's Bible.

One could read Galatians and its introduction in a hardcopy of the Message Bible.

One could find and mark all these words by Paul: righteous/ness, justify, justification, justified.

One could find and mark Paul's use of the phrase "free gift".

One could delve into "law vs grace".

One could delve into "faith vs works".

Some may have embarked on just such a journey whilst still within the religious system (as in my case). Nothing wrong with that as long as one is aware/forewarned that an irreconcilable divergence could eventually result (divorce/excommunication).

To Watchtower religionists especially I would say: "do not leave the Watchtower until you have found Jesus (and preferably using the Watchtower's own publications)".

I'd be happy to clarify any of the above. PM may be a good way to go.

Greetings and blessings to you and yours

Fernando

(Left WBTS mid-2009 after 4 decades and 3 generations, to follow Jesus)

PS - I have a detailed one page summary of the gospel in the Watchtower library, that proves just how powerful religion is in using but hiding the gospel at the same time. It is in their publications but not in their hearts and not on their lips. I'd be happy to send you a copy.

16

25 million YouTube views: "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

by Fernando in

the popularity of the video has led to a book being written and published: "jesus > religion".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iahdgylpqy.

Fernando

Disturbing indeed, yet their fingerprints in society suggest they have long gone past threats.

In the end though I believe good will triumph over evil, and I believe we took a great step forward in 1517.

I feel as if we as a human society are on the cusp of another seismic shift in the right direction, although on some fronts we are on a knife edge.

16

25 million YouTube views: "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

by Fernando in

the popularity of the video has led to a book being written and published: "jesus > religion".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iahdgylpqy.

Fernando

It seems to me that Matt 7:13-14 could be taken within the context of Jesus' words of encouragement to ordinary and downtrodden folk and indeed to the person who died next to him.

Sure at this time only a handful embrace the unabridged gospel/bissar/injeel. Personally I believe provision has been made for all but the evil/wicked as above to be granted salvation in terms of John 3:16,17; 8:15; 10:10; 12:47.

It seems Jesus generally directed dire warnings of the second death toward the persons mentioned in the post above (those in Matt 23 esp v15).

16

25 million YouTube views: "Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus"

by Fernando in

the popularity of the video has led to a book being written and published: "jesus > religion".

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iahdgylpqy.

Fernando

Hey designs!

Personally I have come to conclude that the wicked/evil/goats represent a very small minority whose ignorance is militant and whose self-righteousness is malignant.

It has been my experience that a particularly high concentration of such persons is found predominantly in the supremacist and divisive "ruling religious clergy class" who insist on installing human mediators, hierarchies and organisations between God and man. In scripture these persons are referred to as (spiritual) harlots and antichrists.