Unclean Meat
What do you think of the "fact" that there is a God "out there", somewhere, who thinks it is okay to eat grasshoppers and locusts but it is such an abomination to eat bacon, catfish and shrimp that you should be killed for eating it?
The Historical Jesus Sect
Jesus of Nazareth "most certainly did exist" - Bart Ehrman.
That's dogma.
This sect of Christendom also has doctrines - That Jesus was from Nazareth, that Jesus was an obscure apocalyptic preacher, that Jesus (contradictorily) was well known to be a Galilean, that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, that Jesus instituted a ritual called the "last supper", that Jesus was betrayed by Judas to the Sanhedrin, that Jesus was turned over to the Roman authority by the Sanhedrin, that Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate, that Jesus was buried in a tomb.
The only difference between this sect of Christendom and the rest of Christendom is that in the historical Jesus sect, Jesus was only an ordinary man.
Other sects of Christendom have Jesus as either 100% God manifestation (as in Marcionism) or 50% God and 50% man (as in Arianism) or 100% man and 100% God (as in Trinitarianism).
Not all that much difference, really, it's the converting of atheists to this new sect of Christendom, called historical Jesus, that's the real bitch.
That's dogma.
This sect of Christendom also has doctrines - That Jesus was from Nazareth, that Jesus was an obscure apocalyptic preacher, that Jesus (contradictorily) was well known to be a Galilean, that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, that Jesus instituted a ritual called the "last supper", that Jesus was betrayed by Judas to the Sanhedrin, that Jesus was turned over to the Roman authority by the Sanhedrin, that Jesus was crucified by Pontius Pilate, that Jesus was buried in a tomb.
The only difference between this sect of Christendom and the rest of Christendom is that in the historical Jesus sect, Jesus was only an ordinary man.
Other sects of Christendom have Jesus as either 100% God manifestation (as in Marcionism) or 50% God and 50% man (as in Arianism) or 100% man and 100% God (as in Trinitarianism).
Not all that much difference, really, it's the converting of atheists to this new sect of Christendom, called historical Jesus, that's the real bitch.
Jesus and Hercules
Historial people leave us with contemporary evidence, but for Jesus we have nothing. If we wanted to present a fair comparison of the type of information about Jesus to another example of equal historical value, we could do no better than to compare Jesus with the mythical figure of Hercules.
Paul vs. Luke
The apostle Paul said in Galatians 1:20, "Now the things which I write unto you, behold, before God, I lie not." So, who said Paul was lying about the things he said in Galatians 1? The writer of the Acts (supposedly Luke) did.
Luke said that Paul was struck blind and led about by hand and was taught the things he must do and was baptized by the disciples at Damascus (Acts 9: 18-19).
Paul said nothing about being struck blind but that he received a revelation from God and Jesus Christ and that he conferred not with flesh and blood but went into Arabia and returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:11-17).
Luke said that Paul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples but they were afraid of him and that Barnabus brought Paul before the apostles. Then Paul was with them (the disciples) going in and coming out at Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-28).
Paul said that he went to Jerusalem after 3 years of preaching his gospel and went to see Peter and stayed with him for 15 days and didn't see any of the other apostles except James. (Gal. 1:18-19).
Luke said that Paul was summoned to Jerusalem about the circumcision dispute and went preaching his gospel to all and then went into private conference with the apostles (Acts 15: 1-5).
Paul said that he went up to Jerusalem by revelation and spoke to the apostles privately (Gal. 2:1-2).
Luke says that the apostles added three things to Paul's gentile converts and instructed that they could learn the rest of the law of Moses by attending the synagogues in every city (Acts 15:19-21).
Paul said that "they added nothing to me" (Gal. 2: 6).
Luke said that Paul was in subjection to the other apostles (Acts 15) Paul said he wasn't (Gal. 2). But, remember that Paul said, "before God, I lie not". No doubt, somebody was lying...
Luke said that Paul was struck blind and led about by hand and was taught the things he must do and was baptized by the disciples at Damascus (Acts 9: 18-19).
Paul said nothing about being struck blind but that he received a revelation from God and Jesus Christ and that he conferred not with flesh and blood but went into Arabia and returned to Damascus (Gal. 1:11-17).
Luke said that Paul went to Jerusalem and tried to join the disciples but they were afraid of him and that Barnabus brought Paul before the apostles. Then Paul was with them (the disciples) going in and coming out at Jerusalem (Acts 9:26-28).
Paul said that he went to Jerusalem after 3 years of preaching his gospel and went to see Peter and stayed with him for 15 days and didn't see any of the other apostles except James. (Gal. 1:18-19).
Luke said that Paul was summoned to Jerusalem about the circumcision dispute and went preaching his gospel to all and then went into private conference with the apostles (Acts 15: 1-5).
Paul said that he went up to Jerusalem by revelation and spoke to the apostles privately (Gal. 2:1-2).
Luke says that the apostles added three things to Paul's gentile converts and instructed that they could learn the rest of the law of Moses by attending the synagogues in every city (Acts 15:19-21).
Paul said that "they added nothing to me" (Gal. 2: 6).
Luke said that Paul was in subjection to the other apostles (Acts 15) Paul said he wasn't (Gal. 2). But, remember that Paul said, "before God, I lie not". No doubt, somebody was lying...
Ignorance Is No Excuse
Moses, the great lawgiver of the Israelites, goes up on a mountain to have a conversation with God. This conversation lasts for 40 days and 40 nights (without food or water - in the desert) and during this time God pounds out the ten commandments on some rocks. Those rocks were pretty hard so it's no wonder that it took 40 days and 40 nights to do it (even though God had created the whole universe in only 6 days).
Anyway, after shaping the rocks into tablets, Moses makes his way down the mountain. No doubt, he's pretty thirsty from doing without water for 40 days and 40 nights in a desert environment, but Moses is one tough prophet and he doesn't need water to live like the rest of us.
Meanwhile, Moses' #1 priest, Aaron, has made a golden calf and the people are having a high old time and partying up a storm when Moses arrives at the foot of the mountain. Wow, is Moses and God ever mad at what they see! These people had already broken one of the ten commandments - which they hadn't seen or even knew about yet - but, ignorance of the law is no excuse so a bunch of them had to die and the survivors of the wrath of God had to grind up the golden calf of pure gold and eat it.
So, the lesson here is that even if God doesn't have a law against whatever it is you want to do, he probably has one coming down the mountain right now. You see, then, that you have to be able to read God's mind and anticipate that whatever it is you enjoy in life - it's probably against one of God's laws that he hasn't mentioned to you yet. Ignorance is no excuse.
Anyway, after shaping the rocks into tablets, Moses makes his way down the mountain. No doubt, he's pretty thirsty from doing without water for 40 days and 40 nights in a desert environment, but Moses is one tough prophet and he doesn't need water to live like the rest of us.
Meanwhile, Moses' #1 priest, Aaron, has made a golden calf and the people are having a high old time and partying up a storm when Moses arrives at the foot of the mountain. Wow, is Moses and God ever mad at what they see! These people had already broken one of the ten commandments - which they hadn't seen or even knew about yet - but, ignorance of the law is no excuse so a bunch of them had to die and the survivors of the wrath of God had to grind up the golden calf of pure gold and eat it.
So, the lesson here is that even if God doesn't have a law against whatever it is you want to do, he probably has one coming down the mountain right now. You see, then, that you have to be able to read God's mind and anticipate that whatever it is you enjoy in life - it's probably against one of God's laws that he hasn't mentioned to you yet. Ignorance is no excuse.
Jesus Failed Weinland - Again
Yes, Jesus did not return yesterday - or was that today? It's hard to tell with the timezones and all but we have a very disappointed ex-WCG preacher today: Ronald Weinland - End Time Prophet.
See my previous post for why this will continue to happen.
See my previous post for why this will continue to happen.
Revised Truth
I'm wondering why truth has to be revised... If "the truth" was "the truth" in 1864, why isn't it still "the truth" today? Has it become a truly true truth this time so that "the truth" was not "the truth" but now it is?
I guess we would have to ask the Christadelphians about that because there seems to have been a lot of revision of books and pamphlets going on since the days of Dr. John Thomas and Robert Roberts. And hey, wasn't the world supposed to have ended in 1988 - not to mention 1868, 1972, 1996 and several other dates in between, including 2012! That's scary, huh? But, seriously, saying that the end is soon and at hand for 2,000 years is beginning to be just a little bit much, don't you think? Quit scaring the kids with it already - why do you want to give your children nightmares and cripple them psychologically for the rest of their lives? Quit it already, enough is enough.
The generation that saw the destruction of the (then standing) temple in Mark 13, Matt. 24 and Luke 21 was also supposed to see the coming of "the son of man" in power and great glory - didn't happen. Not then, and not now, no matter how much Christadelphians want to see the wicked (everyone except Christadelphians) destroyed by FIRE and be stubble under their feet, it's not going to happen. Well, at least not the way they think, because it turns out that Christadelphians are just as wicked as everybody else.
If Christadelphians were really seekers of truth, the above truth would have been found by now, wouldn't you think? So, Christadelphians?, quit revising the truth and just accept the truth as it is. What? Are you blind? Yes, I think you are. It was all a false prophecy that did not come to pass and it never will because the prophet died and his generation passed away. John the Baptist said, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" - it wasn't. Jesus repeated the same words as John and it still wasn't "at hand". What turned out to be "at hand" was their own destruction, which they deserved: Deu 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak... even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Are you afraid? Don't be, he was a false prophet.
I guess we would have to ask the Christadelphians about that because there seems to have been a lot of revision of books and pamphlets going on since the days of Dr. John Thomas and Robert Roberts. And hey, wasn't the world supposed to have ended in 1988 - not to mention 1868, 1972, 1996 and several other dates in between, including 2012! That's scary, huh? But, seriously, saying that the end is soon and at hand for 2,000 years is beginning to be just a little bit much, don't you think? Quit scaring the kids with it already - why do you want to give your children nightmares and cripple them psychologically for the rest of their lives? Quit it already, enough is enough.
The generation that saw the destruction of the (then standing) temple in Mark 13, Matt. 24 and Luke 21 was also supposed to see the coming of "the son of man" in power and great glory - didn't happen. Not then, and not now, no matter how much Christadelphians want to see the wicked (everyone except Christadelphians) destroyed by FIRE and be stubble under their feet, it's not going to happen. Well, at least not the way they think, because it turns out that Christadelphians are just as wicked as everybody else.
If Christadelphians were really seekers of truth, the above truth would have been found by now, wouldn't you think? So, Christadelphians?, quit revising the truth and just accept the truth as it is. What? Are you blind? Yes, I think you are. It was all a false prophecy that did not come to pass and it never will because the prophet died and his generation passed away. John the Baptist said, "repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand" - it wasn't. Jesus repeated the same words as John and it still wasn't "at hand". What turned out to be "at hand" was their own destruction, which they deserved: Deu 18:20 But the prophet, which shall presume to speak a word in my name, which I have not commanded him to speak... even that prophet shall die.
Deu 18:21 And if thou say in thine heart, How shall we know the word which the LORD hath not spoken? Deu 18:22 When a prophet speaketh in the name of the LORD, if the thing follow not, nor come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD hath not spoken, but the prophet hath spoken it presumptuously: thou shalt not be afraid of him. Are you afraid? Don't be, he was a false prophet.
Corky's Revelation
Nineteen years ago - which was fifteen years after leaving Christadelphianism and becoming an atheist - I had a vision and a revelation from God. Yes! It really happened! Well, let me tell you about it.
Shock! - Horror!
Another Christadelphian decides
that Genesis is NOT literal!
Yet another
Christadelphian has joined the growing band of brothers who have thrown in the
towel and accepted the bleeding obvious that Genesis is NOT literal. http://bibleq.info/answer/5240/ "Did it rain before the flood?"
The question
is about as crazy as asking "Did they have nuclear weapons before the flood?",
but our hero Christadelphian "Russell" gives the right answer: "There are
several indications in the text that the passage is not a literal historical
account..... Of course it is possible to force answers to all these objections
to a literal reading. However the natural reading of the text is to interpret
this passage other than literally."
After
pressing the "SUBMIT" button on his post he realized that he was outside of his
comfort zone and posted on another forum...
How to Un-Convert Christadelphians
The Problem
It’s not easy. You would think that reasoning with them and showing the false nature of their “evidence” for the truth of the Bible and the existence of God would be sufficient. But that does not work, because they did not get to where they are as the result of a process of logical reasoning. Like all religious people they arrived at their faith as the result of a series of emotional “short cuts” to reasoning that fast tracked them to faith without the necessary intervening steps of logic and careful analysis of the data and evidence.
It’s not easy. You would think that reasoning with them and showing the false nature of their “evidence” for the truth of the Bible and the existence of God would be sufficient. But that does not work, because they did not get to where they are as the result of a process of logical reasoning. Like all religious people they arrived at their faith as the result of a series of emotional “short cuts” to reasoning that fast tracked them to faith without the necessary intervening steps of logic and careful analysis of the data and evidence.
Faith is Fear
Religion is the systematic marketing of fear.
Blessed are the poor (donate heavily). Blessed are the meek (obey). Blessed are the humble (don’t question authority). Blessed are the hungry (make us rich while you starve). Blessed are the merciful (if you catch us doing something wrong, let it go). Blessed are the pure of heart (switch off your brain). Blessed are the timid, the cowardly, the fearful.
Blessed are the poor (donate heavily). Blessed are the meek (obey). Blessed are the humble (don’t question authority). Blessed are the hungry (make us rich while you starve). Blessed are the merciful (if you catch us doing something wrong, let it go). Blessed are the pure of heart (switch off your brain). Blessed are the timid, the cowardly, the fearful.
Inherited Falsehood
Please tell me you aren’t still practicing the religion you happened
to be born into? Surely you’ve outgrown your baby clothes by now. Isn’t
it time you also outgrew your baby religion?
What if you were born into a different culture? Would you have been conscious enough to find your way back to your current belief system? Or are your current beliefs merely a product of your environment and not the result of conscious choice?
What if you were born into a different culture? Would you have been conscious enough to find your way back to your current belief system? Or are your current beliefs merely a product of your environment and not the result of conscious choice?
Funding Evil
In addition to being a serious waste of time, religious practice can also be a huge waste of money.
For starters when you donate to a major religion, you support its expansion, which means you’re facilitating the enslavement of your fellow humans. That isn’t very nice, now is it?
For starters when you donate to a major religion, you support its expansion, which means you’re facilitating the enslavement of your fellow humans. That isn’t very nice, now is it?
Inbred Social Networks
Religions frequently promote inbred social networks. You’re encouraged to spend more time with people who share the same belief system while disengaging from those with incompatible beliefs. Sometimes this is done subtly; other times it’s more obvious.
If you’re one of the saved, blessed, or otherwise enlightened individuals who stumbled upon the one true belief system©, then supposedly everyone else remains in the dark. Certain religions are overtly intolerant of outsiders, but to one degree or another, all major religions cast non-subscribers in a negative light. This helps to discourage members from abandoning the religion while still enabling them to proselytize. The main idea is to maintain social structures that reward loyalty and punish freedom of thought.
If you’re one of the saved, blessed, or otherwise enlightened individuals who stumbled upon the one true belief system©, then supposedly everyone else remains in the dark. Certain religions are overtly intolerant of outsiders, but to one degree or another, all major religions cast non-subscribers in a negative light. This helps to discourage members from abandoning the religion while still enabling them to proselytize. The main idea is to maintain social structures that reward loyalty and punish freedom of thought.
Idiot or Hypocrite?
When you subscribe to an established religion, you have only two options. You can become an idiot, or you can become a hypocrite. If you’ve already chosen the former, I’ll explain why, and I’ll use small words so that you’re sure to understand.
Wasting Time
If you devote serious time to the practice of religion, it’s safe to say you practice toilet-bowl time management, flushing much of your precious life down the drain with little or nothing to show for it.
First, you’ll waste a lot of time filling your head with useless nonsense. This includes reading some of the worst fiction ever written. Then there are various rules, laws, and practices to learn.
First, you’ll waste a lot of time filling your head with useless nonsense. This includes reading some of the worst fiction ever written. Then there are various rules, laws, and practices to learn.
Religious Obedience Training
Religions are authoritarian hierarchies designed to dominate your free will. They’re power structures that aim to convince you to give away your power for the benefit of those who enjoy dominating people. When you subscribe to a religion, you enroll in a mindless minion training program. Religions don’t market themselves as such, but this is essentially how they operate.
Spirituality for Dummies
If you have the awareness level of a snail, and your thinking is mired in shame and guilt (with perhaps a twist of drug abuse or suicidal thinking), then subscribing to a religion can help you climb to a higher level of awareness. Your mindset, however, still remains incredibly dysfunctional; you’ve merely swapped one form of erroneous thinking for another.
Bible History
The bible is history? So a snake really talked? And god turned a woman into a pillar of salt? And appeared as a burning bush? And carved commandments on breakable stones? And sent "she-bears" to maul 42 kids for calling a guy bald? And this god magically impregnated a virgin to become his own son? And who then temporarily died? And then became a sort of supernatural zombie, a god-man? And then whisked off to heaven? And now sits in judgement of everyone in trinity fashion? Really? Who knew? Or, is just some of that historical? How do you know which magic is the "true woo"? If you don't believe that the bible is history does the god of the bible punish you for all eternity? |
Gittin' Unscrewed
Gittin' Unscrewed
By Becky
My top ten teachings of the Worldwide Church of God
that have screwed up my thinking.
that have screwed up my thinking.
I didn't ask him/her to be born...and if there IS a god, why the hell WOULDN'T it take care of my basic needs??? What kind of sicko mind requires that of its' creatures??? I don't require it of my beloved fur-friends... And how can I hold my head up when I am told that I DON'T receive the things I need because I either didn't ask, ask properly, or because I need to learn some sort of lesson?
2. That I am "Peculiar" and "Chosen" by the Almighty.
Wow...doesn't that one make me feel "special!" HA! Yup. I'm SOOOoo much better than everyone around me...right. Hey, if I'm so special, then how's come I gotta grovel???
3. Perhaps the most cruel one of all..."The heart is deceitful...(so much so that you can be fooled and not even know it!)..."
The way they taught this made me doubt and mistrust even myself! The very one I need to listen to, ME, is the one I'm told I cannot trust! Well...then who AM I supposed to trust? Them? Gawd, thru them? Or nobody? This one has impaired my thinking more than I can say...it has affected every aspect of my life, making it difficult to get close to people, have friends and relationships...it has broken up beautiful loves and caused deep pain. How DARE THEY! How dare whoever? wrote that horrid book, the bible!! Perhaps there IS some truth in being careful and questioning ones motives...but Worldwide Church of God used what could have been a GOOD tool to indoctrinate us into confusion and misguided loyalty to THEM!
Just because I'm away from that influence doesn't mean it no longer impacts my life. This scripture STILL comes to mind...at unwanted times, and causes trouble. Working on stopping the recordings in my head...but it's hard!!!
4. "Gawd" will only give you what you can bear.
Oh brother. Sounds like the saying, "What doesn't kill you makes you stronger." Well, duh, yeah, I guess so!
But are you whole after going thru something terrible? Aren't you CHANGED in a fundamental way? Aren't you "weaker" than you were? If I cut my arm with a knife every day, over and over, wouldn't I be scarred? Is a scar "strong?" Or is it just a scar...indicator of trauma! Who wants to be scarred for life?! Not me, though I don't see how I can avoid it, completely. But the Worldwide Church of God seemed to believe that these "scars" are badges of honor! Yikes.
5. You will be a KING in the NEW WORLD TOMORROW! You will RULE over those "unwashed" millions...
Thought there would be NO gender differences in the brave new world..? And how can I become a "ruler" when I can't even trust myself?? What trash. Used to make me feel important...and hopeful...and eager for the new world order. Thought I'd finally be able to make some progress and change, as one of Gawd's elect and with his blessings...a little mini-god...HA! But it didn't do much for my everyday life here.. uh uh. Just a wantabe...
6. You will probably have to up and leave everything and everyone behind when it comes time to run to safety...and those left will probably have to suffer terribly from what is coming...
Now gee...that sure makes me want to take off to Petra, doesn't it you? Yeah...leave kids, husband, pets, parents...whatever...to struggle thru something worse than has ever happened to anyone! While I sit and bask in the glow of Herbert W. Armstrong and his henchmen...waiting for the glorious return and final battles...holy cow! What a story line... Used to cry myself to sleep with worry over my hubby and parents and sister...and I did a lot of groveling to the ceiling in the hopes that, by my hard work and near-perfection, they might be spared this. What a heavy burden.
7. The "Yellow" race is mean, heartless and cruel. The "Red" race is shallow, spineless and lazy. The "Black" race is shiftless, lazy, horny and uneducateable. Don't marry them...don't even have them for friends!
Ok...talk about stereotyping! That I've known "white" people to hold all of these traits...guess it doesn't mean anything, huh? But you know? To this day, these thoughts spring forth when I meet a new patient or person on the street...just for a nanosecond, yes, but there nonetheless. I shove it back down...hard! And force myself to keep an open mind...but it bothers me that it even surfaces at all! Before the Worldwide Church of God, I believe I was as unprejudiced as a person can be. Came from a family who didn't have these ideas...but thanks to Worldwide Church of God, I learned them. They made some sort of sense at the time...but only because I wanted them to.
8. "Gawd" is so far above us...like we are above monkeys...that you cannot understand his perfect mind.
Hmmm... now there's a sure way to keep me in my place! Yup...just another little monkey...monkey see/hear...monkey do. Don't think, just shut yer trap and listen!! You're too dumb to understand the deeper things...so let us (ministers) do your thinking for you and we'll tell you what to think-say-do. Good recipe for fostering idiocy... To this day, I will acquiesce to someone in authority...until I realize they may not be the sharpest tool in the shed...then I turn on the ole brain and figure things out for myself. But, it still causes problems...
9. Emotion, especially as they show in those horrid Pentecostal churches, is not Gawd's way...don't let emotion have a place in your life! Stifle it!
I remember being told by McCrady that you need to place your emotions in a box, put the box on a shelf in a closet, and lock the door. (Speaking figuratively)
My question? If I'm not supposed to embrace my emotions, why do I have them?
This one has done a lot of damage...it has caused me to "stuff" a lot of things I should have experienced and dealt with. And helped me to turn off my feelings towards others, sometimes with terrible consequences. Sigh. What a wonderful thing, our emotions. Should they be controlled? Well, of course, especially those that could do harm! But turn them off??? Some might say that isn't even possible, but I am proof that it is. Rigid and inflexible control is needed...takes a lot of strength and energy...but it can be done. But the results aren't pretty.
10. The world's problems are caused by sin, which entered the picture in the early part of the garden story. Satan wasn't able to fool the man...but he WAS able to fool the woman. She is, therefore, the weaker vessel.. mentally.
Oh, bullshit. Horse hockey. Give me a break. Couldn't there be different spins put on this sordid little tale? But, wait...ah...this is JUST the thing we might need to keep the little ladies in their place! Yes!!! It might just work! (smiling madly and rubbing hands together...) Yes. it did work. As a "Christian" country, we've done our part to keep women in their place. at least according to the religious community. Again, this has had an impact on my life. Besides #3, this one has caused the most grief for me. I thought I had to find the man the minister deemed good enough (whatever that was) and then take my place behind him...and stifle my own dreams, creativity, emotions...and be a helper to his higher agenda. What a crock. Does someone need to be "in charge" in a relationship? In charge of what? Of the other person?? Of their finances?? Of their very way of life?? Gee...I don't know, but wouldn't a collaboration make more sense? Why does one person need to be in control? Because they are afraid?
Well...I guess I could come up with more...and I may! :) But I guess I got it out of my system, for awhile. These things are hard to get rid of and I hate it that they are still with me...I believed this crap sooo deeply...and am ashamed now that I did. But, at least I don't anymore...sigh.
Well, what do you think? Bunch o' crap, huh?
Gittin unscrewed....Becky
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