Posts by truth_b

4

Sin and death - how does it make sense to ANY believer of ANY religion?

by BourneIdentity in

since adam and eve’s fall, we are all sinners.

it’s what we do, there is no way to change it, sinning is a daily part of life.

there are major sins, but most of us commit minor ones everyday in words, thoughts or deeds.

truth_b_known

This is a powerful concept that requires a truly honest conversation with one's self. How does a believer of a certain practice reconcile that the god of the Old Testament "is love" when this same god regularly directly cause large scale loss of life (global flood, Sodom & Gomorrah, etc.) or orders his worshipers to carry out warfare against non-believers (Israelites vs Canaanites)? To even attempt to do so is a moral defeat.

"He's God. He gets to do what He wants." "Israelite warfare was alright because God ordered it."

I was raised as a Witness and told that God is not above his own laws. That is why He has allowed Satan's challenge to go on. This argument doesn't hold water. Either something is right or it's wrong. It cannot be right based on one's position or the circumstances.

The more research I do on the historical Israel and the history of the Christian Church the more I come to this conclusion -

There very well may be a god, but what is written in the book we call the Bible is simply man's creation.

22

How have Jehovah`s Witnesses ever gotten away with being a Tax Exempt Religion ?

by smiddy3 in

jw
friends

i can never get my head around this one ?

don`t the powers that be ever really investigate religions that claim exemption from paying taxes because they claim they are a not for profit religion ?.

you would have to be a brain dead imbecile not to see that the religion known as the" watchtower bible and tract society" otherwise known as "jehovah`s witnesses" are nothing more than a religious publishing house that have made x amount of $$$$$ over the years since their inception in the late 1800`s to this day.

truth_b_known

The issue at the heart of the matter is that religions receive tax exemptions because they are supposed to be charitable organizations that assist people (i.e. feed the poor, shelter the homeless, etc.). The Watchtower is clearly not living up to that obligation. The Watchtower even publishes in writing that to donate to charity to help needy people shows a lack of faith in God.

I seriously want to petition my elected representatives in congress to sponsor legislation that would require a minimum percentage of incoming revenue to be used to help all people (not just members) if a religious organization wished to receive the tax exempt status.

20

Bible canon conundrums

by joey jojo in

this is a topic that i find really interesting- how the bible, in particular, the new testament was compiled and how the jw organisation strives to negate, scoff at and diminish the influence of the catholic church in its development.. here is the official stance of the org: .

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/library/r1/lp-e/all-publications/watchtower/the-watchtower-1963/april-15.

'the roman catholic church claims responsibility for the decision as to which books should be included in the canon, and reference is made to the councils of hippo (a.d. 393) and carthage (a.d. 397), where catalogues of books were formulated.

truth_b_known

It was Martin Luther in 1517AD that wanted any books of the Bible removed that did not support his beliefs. He wanted the book of James removed, but was unsuccessful.

28

Top Ten List of What Happens Next...

by Farmer Jim1 in

jw
friends

what does everyone think will happen next on the back of the coronavirus pandemic?.

these are my suggestions;.

1) coronavirus will have a disproportionate effect on jw ‘growth’ countries like in south america and africa.

truth_b_known

The only thing I can truly think of is they will no longer rent facilities so all congregations can have the Memorial at the same time. To save money, those congregations that share a single Kingdom Hall will rotate on which congregation gets to attend the Memorial at the Kingdom Hall. Everyone else will watch via Zoom from their home. Partakers will be told to go to the Kingdom Hall.

41

The ransom makes no sense

by BourneIdentity in

if mankind needed to be redeemed from sin and death, why didn't the redemption happen as soon as jesus successfully lived his entire life without sin and sacrificed his life?

if he was successful, the price was paid and we'd all be living forever.

it's all bullshit, or jesus fucked up and sinned, so it nullified his sacrifice.

truth_b_known

This is actually an interesting topic for former Jehovah's Witnesses and from a general Christian concept. Consider that both the Hebrew and Greek words for "sin" are archery terms that generally translate into "to miss the mark" or in Hebrew "to miss the golden center of the target." Every time you see the word sin in the Bible replace it with the phrase "miss the mark."

12 That is why, just as through one man missing the mark entered into the world and death through missing the mark and so death spread to all men because they had all missed the mark—. 13 For missing the mark was in the world before the Law, but missing the mark is not charged against anyone when there is no law.

Quite frankly, I believe the whole story of Adam (which means "man" in Hebrew) and Eve (which means "Living") is an allegory. Side note - the word "rib" is actually a poor translation. Genesis correctly reads that God created the woman from the man's "side". Also, no pun intended.

So, man and woman are created. Woman is tempted by a talking serpent. The fruit of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil is consumed. Prior to this man and woman have no concept of good and evil. As Taoist teach, with out a counterpart one has no concept of a thing, or "if everything is beautiful, then all things are ugly." Therefore one cannot miss the mark if all you have is one thing to look at.

Many early pieces of art depict the serpent of Genesis with a woman's head. This comes from the the Hebrew creation story of Lilith being Adam's first wife, which is whom Genesis chapter 1 refers to.

5

Apps by the Governing Body

by stumbledbyothers in

may 2020 local needs.

emphasis was on, if phone / tablet app did not come from the governing body, then stay away from it.. it was mentioned that their is a virtual cart app out there being used.

an app not by the governing body.

truth_b_known

Go buy a $1,000.00 device just to access JW.org? I am surprised the Watchtower hasn't started selling their own tablet device with their pre-loaded software.

20

How did Adam know what a sword was?

by phoenixrising in

so if the bible is the inspired word of god and i don't believe it is by any stretch, how did adam when he was kicked out of the garden of eden know what a spinning sword was?

did adam invent swords?

more bible non sense garbage.

truth_b_known

JoenB75:

I believe there was a great flood in the area of the world we now call Turkey about the time that people believe the Biblical flood took place. The name of the event eludes me at the moment, but it would seem that the flood myth's of the ancient world may have been based on this real event.

41

The ransom makes no sense

by BourneIdentity in

if mankind needed to be redeemed from sin and death, why didn't the redemption happen as soon as jesus successfully lived his entire life without sin and sacrificed his life?

if he was successful, the price was paid and we'd all be living forever.

it's all bullshit, or jesus fucked up and sinned, so it nullified his sacrifice.

truth_b_known

The Apostles John and Paul were zealots. The both believed Jesus would return before either of them died. In addition, they added their own teaching because they wanted things their way.

Then came the Roman Catholic Church which invented all sort of doctrine that Jesus never taught or is even Biblical. Heaven. Hell. Immortal souls. What books will be in the Bible. What books won't (Whatever happened to "all scripture is inspired"?)

The fecal matter really hit the oscillating blades in 1517AD with Martin Luther telling everyone "once saved, always saved" and "just read the Bible with your own understanding and that is all you need." Now we have over 40,000 denominations of Christianity thanks to Luther.

Jesus only taught this -

Love everyone as you would love yourself
Judge no one
Chose forgiveness over justice
Take care of widows and orphans
Feed the hungry
Heal the sick
Be content with the necessities of life
Live in the moment and don't worry about tomorrow

As one professor wrote in his book "What Did Jesus Really Say - How Christianity Went Astray" - Read Matthew, Mark, and Luke. That is all Jesus taught.

6

This Month's Loco Needs

by stumbledbyothers in

our loco-needs this month was on apps, yes apps, the apps you use, that is, now catch this---"not by the governing body"!

did wt stop saying watchtower???

an app not by the governing body.

truth_b_known

Using the phrase "Watchtower Bible and Tract Society" or just "The Society" as a source of authority on matters was prohibited nearly 30 years ago. That is why they invented the name "Christian Congregation of Jehovah's Witnesses" to replace "The Society". Using the term The Society as your authority exposed that they are just a publishing corporation; a business.

20

How did Adam know what a sword was?

by phoenixrising in

so if the bible is the inspired word of god and i don't believe it is by any stretch, how did adam when he was kicked out of the garden of eden know what a spinning sword was?

did adam invent swords?

more bible non sense garbage.

truth_b_known

Sola Scriptura is a plague brought on to us by Martin Luther in 1517AD. The book of Genesis is mostly allegorical. Unless you understand Hebrew and ancient Hebrew culture, an accurate reading of Genesis is near impossible.

7 creative days - allegorical

Adam & Eve - allegorical (the name "Adam" in Hebrew translates into "Man". Literally "Man and Woman" and not "Adam and Eve".)

Noah's Flood - a flood did happen, but it was local and not global

truth_b_known

Posts by truth_b_known