Posts by truth_b

56

If God exists, what would be a good reason why he never communicates or helps his creation by intervention?

by pistolpete in

you have probably heard all kinds of excuses why god doesn’t communicates with his creation or why he doesn’t intervene.. some examples.. no one can see god because he is a spirit.. but we can hear god---yet he chooses not to talk to humanity.. god only communicates with certain people.

moses, samuel, abraham, etc.

but there are many people today who also claim that god spoke to them yet we ignore them but believe god spoke to people who lived thousands of years ago and we can’t really verify if that was so.

truth_b_known

There is in material world.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM5w3EjikdA

56

If God exists, what would be a good reason why he never communicates or helps his creation by intervention?

by pistolpete in

you have probably heard all kinds of excuses why god doesn’t communicates with his creation or why he doesn’t intervene.. some examples.. no one can see god because he is a spirit.. but we can hear god---yet he chooses not to talk to humanity.. god only communicates with certain people.

moses, samuel, abraham, etc.

but there are many people today who also claim that god spoke to them yet we ignore them but believe god spoke to people who lived thousands of years ago and we can’t really verify if that was so.

truth_b_known

The point is IF there is a god why is it not apparent he is communicating with us.

Religious leaders won't let us. Any experience we have is dismissed as mental illness, drug use, or "it just has to be something else. We will figure it out in the future."

"Why?"

"Because it's not your job to have such experiences. Now, put a few crisp twenties on the plate, pass it, and praise Jesus." - Just about every religious leader in the world.

Religion vs spirituality.

56

If God exists, what would be a good reason why he never communicates or helps his creation by intervention?

by pistolpete in

you have probably heard all kinds of excuses why god doesn’t communicates with his creation or why he doesn’t intervene.. some examples.. no one can see god because he is a spirit.. but we can hear god---yet he chooses not to talk to humanity.. god only communicates with certain people.

moses, samuel, abraham, etc.

but there are many people today who also claim that god spoke to them yet we ignore them but believe god spoke to people who lived thousands of years ago and we can’t really verify if that was so.

truth_b_known

This all presupposes the idea of God as that of the Abrahamic faith - there is some sort of entity that is conscious, that is separate from the universe, as the universe was created by this entity.

Look at it another way - suppose there was a consciousness that decided to manifest as the universe. Everything, everyone is this divine consciousness. This consciousness wants everyone to recognize the divinity within as that is where divinity is hidden. Our job is to wake up and realize this.

56

If God exists, what would be a good reason why he never communicates or helps his creation by intervention?

by pistolpete in

you have probably heard all kinds of excuses why god doesn’t communicates with his creation or why he doesn’t intervene.. some examples.. no one can see god because he is a spirit.. but we can hear god---yet he chooses not to talk to humanity.. god only communicates with certain people.

moses, samuel, abraham, etc.

but there are many people today who also claim that god spoke to them yet we ignore them but believe god spoke to people who lived thousands of years ago and we can’t really verify if that was so.

truth_b_known

PistolPete:

I believe the real question being asked is "If the God of the Abrahamic faiths really exists and the literal sense of the Bible were true, what would be a good reason why he never communicates or helps his creation by intervention?"

If you keep trying to ask that question by reading the Bible, especially in the literal sense, you will only frustrate yourself. You will never answer the question. It is like being hungry and thinking that reading the menu will satisfy your hunger.

86

Is most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the WT, charlatanism?

by Disillusioned JW in

is most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the wt, charlatanism?.

https://www.fullmoon.nu/sources.bak/chapter%2010/part%202/gish%20exposed.html [which has an article called "creationism: bad science or immoral pseudoscience?

- (an expose of creationist dr. duane gish)"] says the following.. 'a look at the "scientific" creationist movement and a close examination of the tactics of a well-known and influential creationist will reveal that the creation "science" movement gains much of its strength through the use of distortion and scientifically unethical tactics.. .... with the facts explained and the lawsuits won, scientists declared victory and returned to their labs and offices.

truth_b_known

I looked at this provided link -

https://kgov.com/genius-of-ancient-man-don-landis

Any event that has taken place in the past 15,000 years is human history (aka "ancient history"). Modern humans (i.e. Homo sapiens) have walked the Earth from any where from 150,000 years to 300,000 years. Modern humans. 300,000 years. Cave drawings and archaic navigation devices are not proof of anything in regards to creation vs evolution.

Neanderthals were human, but they were not the same species. Neanderthals (aka neanderthalensis) did live during the same time period as Homo Sapiens. Some even interbred. Then, about 40,000 to 50,000 years ago the Neanderthals were gone. Probably killed off by Homo Sapiens.

So, yes, Neanderthals made tools...just like Homo Sapiens, us. Neanderthals displayed high levels of IQ...just like us. Neanderthals are hominids - primates that walk upright...just like us. I also sit and watch crows take walnuts from my parent's orchard and place the walnuts on the nearby paved street so cars can crack the shells open while the crows watch safely from the powerlines.

Homo Sapiens, Neanderthals, gorillas, chimpanzees, etc. are all primates. If you are reading this, you are a primate that walks on it's hind quarters.

4

Liberal idiots now want victims to help those who attacked them.

by mickbobcat in

so this liberal asshat actually wants rape victims to work with the rapists.

lmao.

you really have to be brain dead to be a liberal.

truth_b_known

I believe in rehabilitation and believe persons should have the opportunity to do so. Re-victimizing a person who has been raped by forcing them to be around their attacker doesn't help anyone.

14

The Truth about the Truth

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

if jw wants to know the truth about the truth, what will you talk about first?

truth_b_known

Would you play a life changing game with someone who gets to move the goal posts whenever they like and doesn't even acknowledge they moved the goal posts? In fact, to even have thoughts that they moved the goal posts is looked down on and to say it is brings punishment. Is that a game you would willingly play?

This is what is known as a double bind. Double bind - a psychological predicament in which a person receives from a single source conflicting messages that allow no appropriate response to be made. "I love you and I am doing this for your own good," says the father to his child as he beats the child with his belt.

Watchtower rule #1 - We have the truth so we are always right.
Watchtower rule #2 - You cannot doubt us or vocalize any doubts.

First Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are a conscious matter. Get one or don't. It's up to you.

Second Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are cannibalism making them wrong. Don't do it.

Third Watchtower, in print - Organ transplants are a conscious matter. Get one or don't. It's up to you.

If you disagreed with Watchtower #1 when it was published you would be shunned as an apostate. Even if you were saying organ transplants are cannibalism. The claim would be "You are going ahead of the organization."

If you disagreed with the later Watchtower #2 when it was published the same as above would apply.

Repeat when later Watchtower #3 was published.

Here we have a verified "flip-flip" from the Watchtower. Which is truth? Careful! It's a trick question. Because in the eyes of the Watchtower it is all truth and you better publicly agree with them or else!

So, what would I talk about first? That it is not religion about "truth" or even has "the truth," but rather it is all about unquestioning loyal obedience to a man-made organization. It doesn't matter what they teach that is important to them. All that matters is you do what the organization says without doubt or question.

Stephen Lett recent said in a talk that Jehovah gives us the gift of faith and Satan gives us doubt. The ability to doubt is ingrained in us as humans. It is how we are made (if you believe in creation). Lett said when the snake posed the question to Eve she doubted Jehovah. If Eve had not eaten the fruit from the Tree of Knowledge would she have not doubted the snake and thereby proving that doubt is a gift from Jehovah?

86

Is most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the WT, charlatanism?

by Disillusioned JW in

is most of the promotion of creationism, not just that by the wt, charlatanism?.

https://www.fullmoon.nu/sources.bak/chapter%2010/part%202/gish%20exposed.html [which has an article called "creationism: bad science or immoral pseudoscience?

- (an expose of creationist dr. duane gish)"] says the following.. 'a look at the "scientific" creationist movement and a close examination of the tactics of a well-known and influential creationist will reveal that the creation "science" movement gains much of its strength through the use of distortion and scientifically unethical tactics.. .... with the facts explained and the lawsuits won, scientists declared victory and returned to their labs and offices.

truth_b_known

Has anyone else ever noticed that it seems only Abrahamic religions, especially Christianity, tend to be the only ones who create such disharmony over this debate. I find the debate itself very specific, though most do not spell things out.

The debate is presented in this way -

Life - How did it get here? By Evolution or Creation?

First, the question is inappropriate. No life comes from evolution. The correct question is - By abiogenesis or creation?

Second, it is misleading in that the question is often posed in a very specific context - Life? How did it get here? By abiogenesis or the God of the Bible?

Why is this? Because Christianity has the Biblical creations account as a foundation, a core principle teaching. To disprove it would be looked on as catastrophic by many Christians. Therefor, the very life of their faith is caught up in a life and death battle.

As someone once told me "If you find yourself in a fair fight your tactics suck." So, I don't think the Watchtower has a monopoly on the charlatanism used in attempt to prove the Biblical creation theory. I believe there is sufficient evidence of that.

What is sad is that by accepting the impending reality that the Bible's creation account and the Garden of Eden story are only allegorical would be a huge step in doing what is necessary to keep the faith, any faith for that matter, alive. That is to say, the faith needs to evolve or it will go extinct.

8

Parents of Different Spiritual Persuasions

by Thehermit05 in

jw
friends

i escaped the cult many years ago.

as a result, i have an eye for cultlike thinking, whether in terms of religion, politics, centrist thinking, etc.. last december my fiance and i had a baby.

she is black and i'm white.

truth_b_known

make sure that their kids get exposure to more than just one form of "spiritual food," while keeping things peaceful.

I think you have answered your own question.

First, expose your child to other spiritual practices. Don't force it on them.

Second, let your child know he/she should use their rational thinking. Do not believe something simply because someone told them or a book says so. Always examine and investigate.

Third, teach by example. Be peaceable. Be understanding. Be mindful. Do not argue with your wife. When your wife says something truly listen with 100% of your attention with the goal of understanding her. Do not listen with the goal to either agree or to think up a retort to counter her point.

I have been studying Buddhism for 2 years and have taken up the practice of Soto Zen Buddhism. My youngest soon asked for a copy of the Tao Teh Ching. I was excited as Taoism influenced Mahayana Buddhism and gave us Zen Buddhism. I would simply asked him about what he read and would listen. About a year later he ask me to buy him a book on Zen Buddhism.

So, great question. I guess one great question for any person to ask themselves is "What is the purpose of spiritual practice?" Is it not to experience life to the fullest? Why are we here? Is it not to learn that we are not separate from one another? Religions that divide will become self evident.

41

Is the door to door preaching work not the primary focus anymore?

by pistolpete in

a few months back, one of my uncles who was an elder, asked the co, why jehovah would allow the door to door preaching work, to come to an abrupt end.

this was when my uncle was starting to have serious doubts about the organization.. the co told him to be patient, and hang in there, because the governing body was on top of things and in time would explain what is happening regarding the preaching work.. my uncle asked; “what do you mean?”.

co said; “focus on the wt study articles in the coming months” .

truth_b_known

The door to door ministry presents a huge problem for the Watchtower. It means Witnesses will be exposed to scandals the Watchtower wants to hide from Witnesses. Every door taken by a Witness presents an opportunity for an informed householder to bring up a scandal or ask a Witness a question about something the Watchtower wishes to remain hidden.

I think the best question to ask a Witness is "Can you prove your belief?" The answer given these days would be "Go to JW.org for the answer." To which I would reply, "So you cannot prove your own belief. You simply believe whatever the Watchtower tells you. That doesn't make the belief true. It just means you accept without question."

truth_b_known

Posts by truth_b_known