Posts by peacefulpete

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

peacefulpete

We thought we knew the Bible. We had a dozen rehearsed passages filed away. If anyone had asked me when Isaiah lived or Michah or Habakuk or Ahab lived I would have needed to look it up and then forgot it just as fast. I had been exposed to these things (at least a WT take on it) but they weren't necessary to remember. I didn't need to see how the pieces fit together, I had been told what to believe and what to conclude. The WT system provided an appearance of Bible study that satisfied the mind sufficiently to not question the WT scholars who printed the material.

I was actually asked by a householder if I had read the Gnostic Gospels once, when I was about 20. I said NO!, still pretending to know what they were, and said they were demon inspired. (default response). I didn't have a clue that for many Christians these writings were their "Bible." My response of course ended the conversation, which is ultimately what I wanted so as to not sound stupid anymore. I did however go to the library secretly and look up the subject and what I read left an impression that resurfaced years later.

29

Patterson New Visitor Centre & Museum Announced

by raymond frantz in

https://www.jwupdates.com/post/new-patterson-visitor-center-and-first-century-museum.

january 1, 2024, marked the official opening of the patterson visitor center, located at the watchtower educational center in patterson, new york, u.s.a. the feature museum of the visitors’ center is entitled “first-century bible village.” brother isaiah miller, who works in the museum department at bethel, said: “the bible village was designed to provide everyone with a realistic and educational experience.

studies show that interactive learning has a powerful effect on people of all ages.” after her tour, one visitor exclaimed: “this museum made me feel like i had been transported back to the land of ancient israel.

peacefulpete

It's got to be someone's pet project. The sectarian bubble requires substitutions for the world outside. Replacement friends and family, replacement music, replacement TV/movies, replacement history museums. Increasingly common is replacement schooling. (home school aka, no schooling) Years ago, we locally had replacement dances and picnics, game nights. They were the best memories I have of the church. I heard they kiboshed these types of gatherings some years ago. I wonder if they might rethink that.

40

The Reasoning Book

by Magnum in

the book reasoning from the scriptures was released in the 1980's, and it was used at virtually every meeting for service, every service meeting, and every theocratic ministry school meeting thereafter.

many jws had copies bound together with their bibles.

it was huge in jw land back then.. at that time, with the reasoning book, jws were trained to keep conversations going in spite of objections, to almost stick their feet in people's doors to keep conversations going, to defend "the truth," to argue doctrine, etc.. compare the situation today with that of the 80's.

peacefulpete

It was a master class in pretending to be a Bible expert. Rehearsing well worded responses to improve sales.

Overcome Auto Sales Objections (Fast Sales Training Center Auto Sales Training Courses): Rodriguez, E R, Rodriguez, A C: 9781719017190: Amazon.com: Books

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

peacefulpete

P.S. I was returning my comments to the topic. Your comments have been wonderful and insightful. Regarding the conventions of using "Mark, Luke, Matt" etc when talking about the authors, I do as well. My point wasn't a critique. Simply adding it to the discussion assuming someone else might be reading.

35

Have I Drifted Too Far?

by sinboi in

i was shocked, really shocked.

what i am doing now is so acceptable to the friends around me.. my friends are all doing it.

it is so normal in the society,.

peacefulpete

Simon please consider removing this from this forum.

Rainbow Spirit Christ

by peacefulpete in

just found an interesting article describing and defending the recent syncretic conceptualization of christianity in aboriginal australia called rainbow spirit theology.

(5) rainbow spirit and the cosmic christ | philip cox - academia.edu.

to sum up the essay, the aboriginal conception of deity, as pervasive in the land and cosmic in scope, was lost through the narrow confines of christianity bound by limited storyline and text.

peacefulpete

Just found an interesting article describing and defending the recent syncretic conceptualization of Christianity in Aboriginal Australia called Rainbow Spirit Theology.

(5) Rainbow Spirit and The Cosmic Christ | Philip Cox - Academia.edu

To sum up the essay, the aboriginal conception of deity, as pervasive in the land and cosmic in scope, was lost through the narrow confines of Christianity bound by limited storyline and text. i.e. the type of Christianity brought by missionaries of the last 200 years. IMO, what is being endorsed is, a unique twist but, essentially a rediscovery of ancient forms of Christianity. While Eastern Churches and Catholic sects like the Franciscans retain some of this, the Catholic and European Protestant in general have distilled the spiritual into a catechism of dogma.

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

peacefulpete

Back on topic, Augustine and Emperor Constantine himself declared that Virgil was practically a Christian prophet. Virgil's works included the promise that a virgin would birth a son from heaven to rule the world in a golden age. Now much has been said on this topic that might be called, overzealous, however, not appreciating the cultural giants of the day and their role in Christian formulation is a mistake.

Christian interpretations of Virgil's Eclogue 4 - Wikipedia

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

peacefulpete

Step back a bit. Who wrote the Gospels? We have no idea. Nearly unanimously accepted is the model that Mark was written first followed by the redactions Matt and Luke. John might well have been written prior to Luke but within a community somewhat isolated. Anyway, all are anonymous works. The naming convention "The Gospel according to....." makes clear that these titles were assigned by a central highly influential authority not the authors/redactors themselves.

Randel Helms and others make a very compelling argument that Luke/Acts (or some early form of them) was the work of an influential woman. If you pause and look at it the role of women and the inner voice of women is unique in being positive. The author goes so far as to change passages in their source texts to make the men look less favorable and women more so. The choice of naming the author "Luke" is likely as simple as picking a name mentioned in texts as a companion of Paul (Philemon 1:24, no mention of him being a writer) to add to the authenticity/authority after the unique aspects of it had gained popularity. Same for "Mark". Given the misogyny of the majority of the burgeoning orthodoxy, it is understandable the redactor wished to be anonymous.

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

peacefulpete

The man Ebionite Peter was in some way at the center of all this. Clement (according to Eusebius) regarded Peter and Cephus as two distinct persons, the finished traditions ultimately fused them. There was a lot of politicking going on among rival sects. The Church Fathers are as it turns out exactly what their name implies.

21

Christians Encouraged to Read 'Pagan' Works

by peacefulpete in

clement of alexandria.

the stromata, or miscellanies.

book vi.

peacefulpete

P.S. your experience is a very valuable asset for us. To illustrate what you said the opening comment quotes 2 sources the Preaching of Peter and some unknown work supposedly of Paul. The more radical of scholars question just about everything we think we know regarding the theology of the Paul and Peter. Some even question, on pretty good grounds, whether there ever were12 Apostles or whether their function explains their literary creation. Apostolic succession.