What Will You Give To Keep Living?

[goodlife]

Many would do anything to abandon any principle, just to stay alive.
(Job 2:4)

[naomi24]

sandyRoe, // What is it we must do to secure eternal life, Goodlife? //

That old wooden spoon's still working well I see, but I'll go along with it. :o)

What makes you think Goodlife can answer your question?

[sandyRoe]

I confess it was rhetorical and I didn't expect an answer. My own thoughts are summed up in three words, 'Do unto others'.
If there is any justice in this world, and the next, you'll be rewarded. If there is nothing to look forward to then you'll have made this one a slightly more congenial place.

[goodlife]

Naomi@ cant you get it into your head. This world is ruled by Satan the Devil. Just as Adam & Eve did not want God, neither do the majority of humankind, including yourself. Jehovah God is giving mankind time to recognize the futility of man's independence from him, but, that time is now running out. Man has tried every conceivable government and none has been successful. They cannot bring an end to wars, diseases, poverty, famine and death. And you say you know your Bible!

[naomi24]

Goodlife, you seem to have skimmed over my question.

[Khandro]

waterboatman
//The sooner I can join my wife the better.//

That is heartening to read. Boring rationalists might say that it defies their way of thinking, but such sentiments add sustenance and are life-enhancing, I hope some day you will both be reunited, but not too soon :0)

[goodlife]

All I do is your loss.(Ps. 33:17)

[naomi24]

Too difficult to think about, Goodlife?

[jomifl]

/Boring rationalists might say that it defies their way of thinking/

and they might not...

[jomifl]

Goodlife have you noticed that the more ridiculous your statements are, the more replies you get ..you are on to a winner.

[sandyRoe]

A prophet is honoured everywhere except in his own corner of AB.

[goodlife]

Well to become wise, a person must become a fool in the eyes of the world, “for the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God.” It is not the worldly wise but those looked down upon as persons without knowledge, fools, whom Jehovah has chosen to represent him. This has resulted in making the foolishness of this world even more apparent. Furthermore, this removes all reason for boasting on the part of the favored individual. Instead, all glory goes rightfully to the Source of wisdom, Jehovah.—1Co 3:18, 19

[jomifl]

Well to become wise..a person must not close his or her mind to new ideas

[naomi24]

Goodlife, //to become wise, a person must become a fool in the eyes of the world//

That’s just one of the sneaky ploys religion uses to ‘get you’, Goodlife. Never mind how rational the arguments put to you may be, cling on because God thinks you’re wise – even though common sense proves you’re not.

[Khandro]

j.//Well to become wise..a person must not close his or her mind to new ideas//

Mais certainement! but also, old ideas should not all be ruled out, n'est pas?

[vulcan42]

I sometimes wonder if goodlife is a groundsman somewhere, he's very good at rearranging the position of goalposts. He has consistently told us the words in the bible are sacrosanct now he tells us we cannot take the words literally. The jehovahs witness arrogantly rewrote the bible, supposedly to make it easier to understand, yet having done so, it cannot now be taken literally.

[DTCwordfan]

I see Mr Cut &Paste is at it again, straight from the Watchtower, ever so original.

[DTCwordfan]

wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200001543

[Hypognosis]

@Goodlife

//
But this was not God's original purpose for mankind, that we grow old and die.
//

Naturally. Eternity is the worst place to be lonely. But there would be no point creating them for company if they are going to die so soon afterwards. Even if recreating them was not actually difficult, repeating all the same conversations and experiences eternally would be a drag.

// Had Adam and Eve not rebelled in the Garden of Eden we would not be in this position.
//

I hope this isn't code for "Adam and Eve made a boo-boo, so all of humanity is going to pay the price for that, for ever"?

//God's original purpose was for man to live forever.//

for *a* man, who would live forever, as discussed above.

Lonely god. Wanted a male pal. Mmm'kay.

But then… Adam got lonely and miserable too! Isn't that taking "in his image" just a little too far?

[Hypognosis]

@Goodlife

//Vulcan@ This is problem, many people just pluck scriptures to suit what they want it to. //

Cut'n'paste scripture deployment, yes?

Nice plank you've got, there. :0)


//
The important thing is to use scriptures in context.
//

In context of what? The chapter? The book? The entire bible?
Help us by setting parameters for how far "context" extends.

Sadly "you've taken that out of context" is the familiar plea when someone quotes a passage advocating violence so be aware that you are pushing a button which generates adverse reaction in the type of people who like to debate with theists.


//Many religious leaders are guilty of this plus they say "do what I say, not what I do". //

Is that you saying that or is this a direct Watchtower quote?

It is, again, a well worn phrase, which I'm more familiar with being slung at Catholics and Protestants, for example, the hypocrisy of gathering tithes then putting up grand architecture, filled with golden "popery", instead of distributing it to the poor. Grand places to display to God and, more importantly, the neighbours, just how pious and worshipful you are.

All show and no go.

Stephen Fry visited Mormon H.Q. in SLC, for a BBC series about the USA and it looked like a very expensive piece of real estate.


//
Scriptures are not taken literally, there is meaning behind them and that is why a study of the Bible is necessary.
//

So, they must be taken *in context* (of _________) but not literally.

The usual sense of the word "context" is pertaining to text before and after a passage you have focussed on. Or, in imagery: "man pushes old lady", where the context is "out of the path of a falling piano".

If bible passages aren't to be taken literally *why on earth were they written in the first place*? Why not cut to the chase and write the actual meaning, to begin with?

If he loves us so much and we are in his image, why are both he and we so incapable of basic communication with each other?