LightenUp,I should point out that I am actually questioning the whole account on a rational basis, but I appreciate that your beliefs actually attempt to work with the passage as written.I am in a skeptical phase of my spiritual journey, so a lot of my latest posts will reflect that.

David, T8,Maybe it's my literalist background, but you both seem to be appealing to “poetic license” where a lot of literal language is being used.  For example, check out these two versions of the same passage:Genesis 1:Quote 14 Then God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heavens to divide the day from the night; and let them be…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus,As I read through our exchange, I often get the feeling that we are speaking two completely different languages – perhaps because you are speaking the language of faith and I, for the moment, the language of reason.  Occasionally the two overlap, but clearly not enough for us to come to the same conclusions.In any case, I…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus,You wrote:Quote I see, so it’s going to be a pick and choose post. Maybe it’s just me WIT, but it seems to me that your words “dead horse” applied to my thoughtful and time spent post is a little patronizing and condescending.No, that's not the case at all.From my post on page 20:Quote OK.  That horse has been thoroughly beaten.<…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus,I am going to try to stay away from the “dead horse” because this could get circular pretty fast.  But, you did touch on some new points that I would like to address.You wrote:Quote This of course is your opinion. But what is more important? You’re Faith or your logic?The roots of the Judeo–Christian faith, is Abrahan was to offe…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus,Your faith is amazing, but your logic is quite circular.You wrote:Quote But we do have a standard and it is called the Holy Spirit and the Holy Scriptures written under the inspiration of that Spirit.The scriptures reveal to us not only God and his standards, but also his name, so we know that by his name, his Spirit that…[Read more]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ Mar. 05 2009,22:21)Hi WIT, To whom does God owe anything? Even mercy is not deserved by anyone.I am not sure what you are saying here Nick.My post was about the crucifiction.  Are you saying that Jesus deserved no mercy from God?  If he didn't, then on what basis did his sacrifice have any meaning?  (In other words, if even Je…[Read more]

Quote (WorshippingJesus @ Mar. 05 2009,23:54)Quote (WhatIsTrue @ Mar. 06 2009,01:30)WorshippingJesus wrote:Quote Hi CharityThe Father was not the killer!Jesus wasn't a beggar!The Lamb is alive!WJAccording to the logic that you have layed out in this thread, the Father was no different from the killers.  Much like the man who stands by while…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus wrote:Quote Hi CharityThe Father was not the killer!Jesus wasn't a beggar!The Lamb is alive!WJAccording to the logic that you have layed out in this thread, the Father was no different from the killers.  Much like the man who stands by while someone gets raped in front of him, the Father stood by and watched His son get killed.…[Read more]

WorshippingJesus,At the risk of presuming to speak for others, I would suggest that you go here for a different twist on the same kind of question that some are asking in this thread.The issue, as I see it, is strictly about how the Christian bible portrays God's character.  In other words, does the bible portray an accurate picture of the God…[Read more]

David wrote:Quote Now I understand why you and Stu have become buddies.  Have you met Dirty?  He also hates the JW's and the Bible.  You two would get along great.Wow.  Did you get up on the wrong side of the bed?  You're jumping to some very unwarranted conclusions.First of all, Stu and I are not buddies.  He's a devout athiest and I think that…[Read more]

Quote (Nick Hassan @ Feb. 19 2009,03:26)Hi and welcome back WIT,I agree with personal choice. What are you up to?Thanks, but I am not really back.  I was just peeking in, and I somehow ended up responding Stu's latest pronouncements.  I will probably fade back “into the shadows”, (as you say), when my current exchange with Stu comes to an e…[Read more]

Quote I agree.  I did not write “door-knocking” = blood transfusion refusalI wrote: “door-knocking” + blood transfusion refusal = more harm by JWs than good, in NZMy mistake!Quote Door knocking is an invasion of privacy.  It is not harmless.  It may even lead to the weaker-minded of the neighbourhood joining a fringe christian sect that insists it…[Read more]

Quote (Stu @ Feb. 18 2009,01:41)Quote (david @ Feb. 17 2009,18:23)Quote Why can't we have governments with that kind of foresight today? They do.  JW's are presently banned in several countries.  We're not legally allowed to preach or congregate in many countries.  Quote And while they are at it they could improve the privacy laws to include do…[Read more]

Quote (942767 @ Sep. 14 2008,04:47)To all who had a question about slavery in the OT:God has said that his children whom He delivered out of Egypt would not be slaves again.  They are His servants.  This is literal and is also symbolic of those in the NT who have been delivered from slavery to sin through the Lord Jesus.Quote Lev 25:39 ¶ And if th…[Read more]

Quote (942767 @ Sep. 09 2008,10:52)Hi WhatIsTrue:I believe that I am wrong in stating that Moses made a mistake in his teaching about divorce in the OT.  I believe what is correct is that God allowed Moses teaching about divorce in the OT because of the hardness of the peoples heart.  God also allowed men to have several wives in the OT, but by t…[Read more]

94xxxx,My mistake for going off-topic.  The real question in my last post was:How many mistakes did Paul make?Given that you believe that Moses made a mistake – a mistake that has been recorded as Holy Scripture spoken by the LORD Himself – you open the door to the possibility that there are other mistakes in scripture.  Do you not?

Quote (942767 @ Sep. 06 2008,06:54)Quote (WhatIsTrue @ Sep. 05 2008,10:16)94xxxx wrote:Quote 2Ti 3:16 All scripture given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  ANDQuote Also, Jesus corrected a mistake that Moses made … .These two statements are contradictory, in my…[Read more]

94xxxx wrote:Quote 2Ti 3:16 All scripture given by inspiration of God, and profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:  ANDQuote Also, Jesus corrected a mistake that Moses made … .These two statements are contradictory, in my opinion.  Can I read what Moses wrote about divorce and consider it i…[Read more]

So, it appears that the main argument from believers is that slavery was allowed for a time by God due to the “hardness of men's hearts”.  If that's true, then that begs the following question:How much of “God's law” was inspired by man?  And, how do you know?Afterall, if God was willing to bend on this, without explicitly saying so, then s…[Read more]