Posts by botchtowersociety

26

Nativity display lawsuit: Atheists vs. Christians

by Scott77 in

gillian flaccus from the associated press reports on november 19, 2012 in the christian science monitor that 'the atheist's anti-god message alongside a life-sized nativity display in a park overlooking the beach [has] ignited a debate that burned brighter than any christmas candle... http://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monicahttp://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monica.

what is your reaction to this lawsuit?

is it fair?

botchtowersociety

Here's one, and it says donations are tax deductible.

http://atheists.org/content/501c3-statement

Here's another one:

http://mnatheists.org/information/who-we-are

http://www.atheistnexus.org/group/atheistsunited

26

Nativity display lawsuit: Atheists vs. Christians

by Scott77 in

gillian flaccus from the associated press reports on november 19, 2012 in the christian science monitor that 'the atheist's anti-god message alongside a life-sized nativity display in a park overlooking the beach [has] ignited a debate that burned brighter than any christmas candle... http://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monicahttp://www.csmonitor.com/usa/latest-news-wires/2012/1119/nativity-display-lawsuit-atheists-vs.-christians-in-santa-monica.

what is your reaction to this lawsuit?

is it fair?

botchtowersociety

They're just not as organized, nor have tax free status

Non-profit atheist organizations have Federal tax free status.

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

In the end, it is up to God, there is no way around that.

I believe it is up to us. God wants all to be saved, and will turn no one back who comes to Him. Those who are not are ones that do not want to be, and choose not to be, and prefer to spend eternity away from God.

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

BTS, Sulla, Chariklo and PS you are all trying to make it sound like the RCC doesn't really care what denomination a person is.

No we are not. That is not the teaching of the RCC. The RCC teaches that it, as the Church founded by Jesus, is the fullest repository of Christian truth. No outside or inside power can prevail against it. It also teaches that there can be no salvation outside the Church, and by that I do not mean a particular church like the RCC, but the Body of Christ, which is not only here on Earth, but also in Heaven.

I suspect we are going to get another evasion and a "leave it up to Jesus" answer....

Not even the church rules that an individual is definitively in Hell. Not even Judas. Sometimes yes in the case of Heaven, such as with Saints, but not Hell.

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

But then they would NOT be denying CHrist or God would they? they would be denying a man-run and humanly-flawed organization.

That goes all the way back to the Twelve. One guy betrayed him. Another denied him three times. The rest ran away when things got tough. And ever since then, there have been bad apples.

Even so.

And I tell you that you are Peter, [a] and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades [b] will not overcome it.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Matthew+16%3A18&version=NIV

...if I am delayed, you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God’s household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1+Timothy+3%3A15&version=NIV

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

So what about a pious Protestant who knows the gospel but who rejects utterly the doctrines of the RCC and all it stands for?

I cannot answer that question because I cannot read the heart and mind of another person. It is even possible for such a person to be misinformed and laboring under what is termed "invincible ignorance."

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

Please expand on "can".

"Those who through no fault of their own, do not know the Gospel of Christ or his Church, but who nevertheless seek God with a sincere heart, and, moved by grace, try in their actions to do his will as they know it through the dictates of their conscience--those too may achieve eternal salvation"

http://www.scborromeo.org/ccc/p123a9p3.htm

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

And a priest is necessary to adminster the eucharist which is necessary for salvation.

No, that's not true. First off, Sulla already pointed out that Orthodox can administer the Eucharist. Secondly, non-Catholic Christians, for example, can be saved, even if they do not ever in their lives receive a valid (from the Catholic perspective) Eucharist.

85

Similarities between Roman Catholics and Jehovah`s Witnesses

by smiddy in

both claim to be the sole path to god (or did at some point ).

both claim to reach back to first century christians ,( though jw`s are a bit ambiguous about this).

the r.c church has a pope , the j.w.`s have a governing body ,both providing spiritual food to the faithful.

botchtowersociety

Both work out their salvation through works

I can tell you that is not true. Salvation through grace, not works. Catholic soteriology ranges from almost-Calvinism to Molinism. There is no binding systematic soteriology, but salvation through works is considered heretical.

34

Please tell us about your weather.

by compound complex in

literal or figurative .

rain, at long last, has penetrated into the interior of our land and my soul.

the burning sun of a protracted summer had effectively removed my resolve to get necessary things done.

botchtowersociety

Today I watched soft high clouds march across the darkening blue sky as the last orange rays of the sun touched the tops of the pine and cypress trees, gently swaying in the wind. I heard the sounds of squirrels scurrying on dry dead sabal palm fronds as they performed their end of day duties. A rabbit scampered through the cocoplum hedge. I saw bats silhoutted against the twilight sky, and heard the first hoots of the beginning of an owl's evening. I too swayed in the cool sighing breeze and was alive for just a moment. It is now 68 degrees, and I am going to light the gathered firewood in my clay chiminea.

November in Florida. This is when I awaken after the oppression of summer's humid heat.