truth_b_known

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Posts by truth_b_known

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  18

  Article to discuss or argue over: Buddha, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammed: Larger-than-life historic figures or largely legends?

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've posted a link to an article that contains important food for thought.

  as we search for information to free our minds and hearts of cult-like thinking which entails being able to critically think, we need to ponder research that is available to help us to make important decisions.

  we need to allow ourselves to consider other possibilities, something that jw’s are discouraged from doing.

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  truth_b_known

  I watched some of Dr. Habermas lecture. It was interesting. I found it intriguing that this body of scholars told him he could not use the New Testament to prove the resurrection of Christ and his response was "I will find a way around your system so as I may use the New Testament to prove the resurrection of Christ."

  It seemed the good doctor does what most apologetics do - use philosophical argument based logical conclusion in the place of evidence. I get it. Good argument. Makes sense. Not evidence.

  I realize a problem is that what we view as evidence today was not available in time of antiquity. It makes it difficult to prove anything. What could we possibly have?

  Well, I found Apostolic Succession interesting. Every ordained Catholic priest can trace their lineage of ordination back to the original 11 Apostles. There is a similar practice in Buddhism. Ordination or Dharma Transmission for a Buddhist traces the line of teachers all the way back to Siddhartha Gautama in the sixth century BCE.

  The problem for most Christians, especially Evangelicals, is that would mean accepting the Catholic Church as the one true church.
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  18

  Article to discuss or argue over: Buddha, Abraham, Jesus and Muhammed: Larger-than-life historic figures or largely legends?

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've posted a link to an article that contains important food for thought.

  as we search for information to free our minds and hearts of cult-like thinking which entails being able to critically think, we need to ponder research that is available to help us to make important decisions.

  we need to allow ourselves to consider other possibilities, something that jw’s are discouraged from doing.

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  truth_b_known

  Thank you for sharing the article. Here is an important part that I would like to share my thoughts on -

  If we understand the birth and evolution of religions as natural processes, we can predict what kinds of religions may emerge in the future. For example, any emergent religion right now would have to be science compatible, or science-proof. As Robert Wright pointed out, as societies and religions become more interdependent, grow bigger and bigger, they have to be more inclusive, or they simply won’t be able to compete with those that are.

  Philosopher Ken Wilber speaks about his Integral movement in religion. There are those who are pathfinders in making Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, and Buddhism come into agreement with science as well as be inclusive as modern society is. Obviously the hard nosed evangelicals have heartache with this. A study of Martin Luther, his Reformation movement, and how it is roadblocking this is all too apparent in the U.S.

  What find interest is this article mentions Buddha/Buddhism right from the get go, but never speaks about it. The reason for this, as Ken Wilber shares in his first book on the Integral movement, is that Buddhism is the first rational religion. Only now is it becoming apparent with modern psychology studies and quantum physics how Siddhartha Gautama, the first Buddha and founder of Buddhism, had it right all along. I appreciate how Gautama stated he was not a god, was not to be worshipped, and to not take his word alone as being true, but rather test his teachings to be sure they are valid. There is no god or personal creator in Buddhism.

  I appreciate Anony Mous comment So in my opinion, these stories are very important and valuable, it’s very evident that this is a compendium of almost 250,000 years of human and pre-human wisdom that has been filtered and compressed and needs to be taken serious. You don’t take it as fact, you take it as a lesson.

  As one outspoken Atheist has brought up (I wish I could find the quote again) that Antitheism is proof of ignorance as religion does have a valid purpose. Any person who claims all religion has no value does not understand religion well enough to know better.
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  20

  Love one another intensely...avoid partiality

  by RULES & REGULATIONS in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the watchtower—study edition | march 2020. study article 13. love one another intensely.

  if we have intense “love for the whole association of brothers,” we will avoid being partial.

  7 jesus urged us to keep treating others the way we want to be treated.

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  truth_b_known

  Self-incriminating article to say the least. I experienced this all too well while I was a Witnesses. Love is the only metric required to prove or disprove a religion.
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  141

  My Prediction Regarding New Space Telescope That Will See Back to 100 Million Years From the Big Bang

  by Sea Breeze in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a new space telescope launched a few days age that will supposedly be able to see to within 100 million years of the big bang.

  wow... only 100 million years from the big bang.

  that is pretty early given the 12 billion year age of the universe assigned by scholars who adhere to naturalism.

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  truth_b_known

  I am excited to see what images come back to Earth. I have no expectations. What is, is and has always been. Otherwise it could not be.
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  16

  Do Jehovah's Witnesses shun non-believers and those who leave the faith?

  by Vanderhoven7 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  graeme hammond writes:.

  in his 2002 book that examined the behaviour and practices of jehovah’s witnesses, english sociologist andrew holden devoted an entire chapter to the trauma and friction experienced by those who choose to leave the jehovah’s witness religion.

  “those who do eventually break free,” he concluded, “are seldom allowed a dignified exit.”.

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  truth_b_known

  Why would Jehovah's Witnesses be required to shun members who disassociate themselves?

  To hide the truth from active Jehovah's Witnesses.
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  21

  NASA hiring religious leaders on extraterrestrial life....

  by mikeflood in

  1. social
  2. current

  nasa hiring religious leaders just in case they found extraterrestrial life, at priceton university's center of theological inquiry.

  .

  just of curiosity, if nasa find something, how do you think the borg is gonna spin it.

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  truth_b_known

  I have thought about that scenario from time to time.

  First thought is to look to other evidentiary issues such as dinosaurs. Although the Watchtower has never commented on dinosaurs, to my knowledge, growing up I have heard Witnesses say that dinosaur bones were placed in the ground by demons to get mankind to believe there is no god. I have also heard Witnesses claimed that UFO sightings and extraterrestrial encounters are also demons doing the same thing.

  I think the question should go beyond just Jehovah's Witnesses. What would most of Christianity do if undisputable evidence of intelligent extraterrestrial life were found? So many evangelicals will look you right in the eye and tell you that the Earth is only thousands of years old.
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  3

  Utopian Reformist ( I'm back )

  by utopian_reformist_returns in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  greetings everyone!not sure how many friends remember me, or are still here, hope we didn't lose anyone.

  if memory serves, i would like to send out special greetings, personal greetings to;.

  simon.

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  truth_b_known

  Welcome back and Merry Christmas to you!
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  6

  An animated walk through of Watchtower's history

  by The Old Testicle in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  170 years of watchtower history.

  this video was made using material researched from their own publications as well as outside sources.. this wasn't produced to bash the organisation but provide a background to its origin and path to today.

  the organisation's falls on the merit that this is factual and not sensational.

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  truth_b_known

  1976 - Governing Body arrangement is created. Ironically, that Governing Body now claims there has always been a Governing Body going back to the Apostles in the 1st century congregation.

  1979 - Jesus is declared the mediator only for the annointed. I am not sure which is crazier; the belief that contradict the core teaching of Christianity or that the Watchtower took so long to go "full retard".

  1981 - The Watchtower comes up with shunning aka "Disfellowshipping". It only took them 1,950 years to come up with this unchristian practice.
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  14

  Lonesome time of year

  by road to nowhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  cold, dark.

  isolation on top of it this year.

  i am sick of sappy xmas music and tv shows.. i always reflect on what religion has done to my family.

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  truth_b_known

  Road to Nowhere:

  You are not alone. Here are two things that help me through dark times -

  1. Sadness cannot live in a grateful heart.

  I was 36 before I finally got out of the Jehovah's Witness religion 100%. I was already on estranged terms with my parents and one of my siblings. I have made it known that I will never return. As such, I am met with cold silence.

  However, I reflect on what good has come from it. I may be 1 years behind on my dream career, but I did get the career I wanted. Now I am about 5 years from retirement. I have had many wonderful experiences due to my job and it sure has provided well for my family and I. My wife and children are happier than we have ever been. Life is the greatest miracle.

  2. Every note of the song is the song.

  Imagine sitting in an orchestra hall. The conductor begins the concert. All the musicians play one note. Then they stand up, bow, and exit the stage.

  Me being a Witness for 36 years is like 36 notes of a song that may go on for another 56 notes. Many music teachers tell their students if the student plays a wrong note to just keep playing through the song. Not to worry about the mistake. Mistakes are how we learn. Our song has many more notes to be played and they all have the potential to be beautiful. We have no control over the past. Only the present. The present is the only place where we can live.

  
  
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  11

  Dimwits running the show

  by punkofnice in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i often found that there were some real dimwits that thought they were marvellous.

  a sort of dunning kruger spectrum going on.. donkeys leading princes.

  just like our corrupt and retarded politicians.

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  truth_b_known

  Jehovah's Witnesses seem to be in a competition with the QAnon types to see who is nuttier than a squirrel's turd.