Posts by tec

90

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult? (NO APOSTATES PLEASE)

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?

.

tec

My question is, Why do so many think the Watchtower Bible Tract Society is a Cult?

Haven't read through the thread, so this may already have been covered:

- Because a member of the wts is not allowed to research the religion with sources outside of approved wts materials.

- Because a member is not allowed to doubt the GB or discuss their doubts and speak as to what they think is false, without being disfellowshipped and shunned.

- Because members ARE forced to choose between their religion and their families.

- Because members DO have to sacrifice their lives and/or the lives of their children to the wts, according to the blood doctrine of the wts... or be killed (spiritually) by disfellowshipping and shunning.

The wts does not follow Christ, but does steal some of His titles for themselves, such as this one: God's mouthpiece/channel of communication = Word of God. Or by calling themselves the Truth.

Christ is the Truth. Christ is the Word of God. Christ is the Life. Christ is the Image of God. No one and nothing else, Brother Mike. Not men. Not religion. Not traditions and rules and doctrines.

Just Christ. And there is no mediator between man and Christ. Just Christ as the mediator between man and God.

May you have ears to hear if you wish them, so as to hear as the Spirit (Christ) and the Bride say to you, "Come... take the free gift of the water of life."

Peace to you and yours,

tammy

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

As usual, you twist my words... and you always leave out the fact that you were accusing me of NOT thinking, or something along those lines, as a believer. It was a long time ago. I don't remember the exact accusation you were delivering at the time. But thank you for proving my point about one reason why I don't want to participate in that.

Peace,

tammy

(Also, thanks for re-posting the vid, OTWO... it is the one I was meaning, and his beliefs about theists' beliefs some of those I wanted to address)

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

what God you believe in; whether the Bible is inerrant;

My faith is in the God and Father of Christ. God... Jahveh... the Most Holy One of Israel.

Christ is the LIVING Truth and Image and Word of God.

Want to see God? Look at Christ.

Want to know God? Know Christ.

...

The bible is not inerrant. The bible is not one book, but rather a collection of books, some scripture, some testimonies, some poetry, some parables, some history, some letters to the early disciples/Christians... all pointing to Christ as the Truth, and the One we are to listen TO.

I'll answer any other questions that you have if you ask them.

How about Interview with an Apostate? Perhaps that forum will work better.

Because contrary to what some believe, i do not want threads to be about me.

That forum won't work well for me either, as I did not end up getting baptized. I also have no particular desire to give some people an even more personal platform for insult or ridicule of me, either on the forum or behind the scenes with one another. That being said, I do love the interviews that have been put up. I think doing them, and creating that template, is a great idea for jwn, and for support and bonding between members.

...

Unfortunately, this particular thread is not going in the direction that I had hoped, lol. I am actually really sorry to anyone who had thought it would be a good thread. Someone else, if interested, might need to start one of their own.

Peace to you,

tammy

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

"There are atheists, agnostics, people of other beliefs/faiths/religion - who may enter the kingdom as subjects of the kingdom, based on their deeds (as recorded in their books at the second resurrection), and according to the parable of the sheep and the goats (doing good to Christ by doing good to even the least of his brothers as the sheep; and the reverse as the goats). I mean obviously, they are no longer atheists or agnostics or people of other faiths at this time, lol. But perhaps just did not know Christ in their lives (for whatever reason)." - tec

This is a huge assumption. How on earth did you came up with this? Where is the evidence for such a claim?

Assuming you want evidence that you can SEE.... in regard to what is taught by Christ on this matter as written... those things are backed up in these places:

Matt 25:31-46 (parable of the sheep and goats) shows those who have done good to the least of His brothers being invited into the Kingdom.

Revelation 20:12,13 shows the dead who have been resurrected (after the thousand years) being judged according to what they did as recorded in their books.

Matthew 7:2 speaks about being judged in the same way you judge others.

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

These can't all be Christians because when Christ returns, He gathers all who belong to Him, in the first resurrection (also written about in REvelation 20) including those who were alive at his coming, and those who had died.

Let's assume that you are correct, but I what nothing to do with your deity. Can I refuse the offer?

I don't see why not. (Or why you would want to, mind you, except that you currently believe false things about Him)

Peace,

tammy

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

Fernando, I think yours is an even better thread. Maybe we can focus on that instead. Because for the most part it is true that the fallacies that atheists fight agains (or believe that theists believe) have been put out there by various religions, created by man.

A simple question may help to expose the fallacy:

Why is religion not one of the fruits of the spirit?

Why is belief not one of the fruits of the spirit?

Why does the Bible speak about "one faith"?

Why does the words "faithS" not exist in the Bible?

Awesome, awesome questions.

Peace to you and yours, as Christ gives peace,

tammy

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

But, I need clarification on what "law of love" means and how you define it (upon what actual basis.)

Love is the law by which we are to live, as Christ taught (and Christ speaks as His Father taught Him, showing us the truth about His Father)

If an action comes from love, then one has acted in accordance to that law (of love). If an action does not come from love... such as walking past the homeless guy in front of a store and do nothing for him... then one has not acted in accordance to that law.

If one does something like spit upon the homeless man, then one is acting against that law. (which is not to say that one cannot repent; sometimes we are taught to hate and when we learn our wrong, we work to make amends and correct our wrong)

I don't know what "written upon their hearts" means other than in some poetic setting.

I guess it would be acting upon what is in you... your 'nature'. Someone who has love in them, will act according to love; someone who has hate in them, will act according to that. (sometimes we act out of hurt, though, which is not actually a nature, but might cause us to lose sight of our nature, even if just for a spell)

I don't think nature is the exact word, though Terry... but you might understand it better than acting according to what is in our heart.

Or maybe look at it this way:

If you are angry, you will be quick to snap at someone, even unjustly. You might stomp around or be curt or hurt someone out of the anger in you. If you are feeling joyful, you are more likely to do good, to act on that joy in you. If you are angry and bitter and resentful and jealous... or superior and arrogant and prideful... you may be prone to JUDGING and condemning others, and showing no mercy or forgiveness.

Does that help?

To call something which is supernatural a "law" won't fit into my mind.

Love is not supernatural, lol.

Thanks for your efforts to educate a poor Texas lad.

Promote those books, baby, and you mighit not be a poor anything ; )

(I wept by the Rivers of Babylon... selfless promotion of Terry's book)

Peace to you,

tammy

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

tec

Band, if you have any questions at all about my faith, then just ask me. Not on this thread, but in pm perhaps would probably be best.

Peace to you,

tammy

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

tec

If you consider my responses to your comments about my faith as a sermon... then how can I respond to you at all, Simon?

Why can't you understand that WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT

I can and do understand that you (and some others) don't want to hear it. But at the same time, some here do. And often enough it is the ones who claim not to want to hear about it who ask the most questions.

I am not trying to argue with you or anyone.

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

Perhaps I was more clear in stating what this thread was mean to be about on the thread that prompted this thread. That people of faith can speak up as to the false things that atheists think they believe:

I'm going to start a fallacy thread. Maybe fallacy is not the right word. A thread about false things atheists believe that theists believe. If you can wrap your head around that, lol. I can't speak for all belivers of course, but for my own faith yes. Then others can add as to themselves.

Peace,

tammy

340

Fallacies about Faith

by tec in

jw
friends

peace to you!.

this thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

this is not a thread about false things that atheists think about theists.

tec

For Q:

This thread is about false things (some) atheists think theists believe.

God cannot be perfectly just and perfectly merciful.

That is a logical impossibility like a married bachelor.

By man's defintion of justice, perhaps.

Even in the law, the most important matters were always love, mercy, forgivness. "I desire mercy, not sacrifice."

Wow, tec.

You're starting to sound almost Unitarian.

You mean like a Universalist?

I would LOVE to believe that everyone would turn and repent and be saved; or that everyone has love in them as revealed in the things that they say and do. (from what is written in their books at the resurrection) But that is not the case. Some are cast out of the Kingdom (the same ones who are devoured by fire when they ride out to destroy the Kingdom and those in the Kingdom), and anyone whose name is not written in the lamb's book of life, is subject to the lake of fire (the second death)

I'm not saying ALL theists believe that morality is a function of belief -- most probably don't.,... GOPHER

Yes, I am sorry if I was unclear in this. Some DO say that. I don't though, and I don't know many people on this forum (or in real life) who DO think that. In a video that someone shared on another thread, the speaker who has coined the phrase (faith is pretending to know something that you don't know), is fighting to change the meaning of the word because 'believers believe that faith = morality, and that must be changed."

Well, we don't all think that. So you don't need to try to change the meaning of the word, implying something equally false.

As for your point regarding hell, whether hell is literal or not why would God knowingly create people with full foreknowledge they will not believe in him or meet his moral standards and then punish them for this?

Bob, if you re-read my post, you will see that this is not my faith. Or at least I hope you will see that.

how on earth do you have a clue about what atheists think about theists?

Only by what they have said. Such as the speaker I mentioned above (the 'faith is pretending to know things that you don't know' guy) If OTWO is reading, maybe he could repost the video, or I will look for it. But there were many things that he said, that did not apply to my faith (and I suspect not to a lot of people's faith). Though it would apply to some, I am sure.

Have you still not moved on in your understanding that atheism isn't a unified group with some dogma. You'd have more ground for assertions if you chose an actual philosophy ( rationalism? Humanism? Skepticism?) rather than a word describing a state. Really suggests you don't actually read to understand the real positions of those who claim atheism and labour to explain.

I have never thought that atheism is a unified group with some dogma. If you read my OP, you will see that I even qualify atheists with 'some' atheists.

So after all this time, are you still applying things to me that do NOT apply to me OR to my faith?

I do think you have an important voice here but it would be great if you one day thought about how absurd it is for a stonewalling believer ( you for example) to claim greater insights than those who have been on both sides of the fence.We who have been believers understand your worldview, really, we do.

I know that you think you do. But you apparently do not. Hence the point of the thread.

Peace,

tammy