Posts Made By: Brien Stratton

9) "Primitive Christianity did not have an explicit doctrine of the Trinity such as was subsequently elaborated in the creeds."-The New International Dictionary of New Testament Theology.

10) "The early Christians, however, did not at first think of applying the (Trinity) idea to their own faith. They paid their devotions to God the Father and to Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and they recognised the...Holy Spirit; but there was no thought of these three being an actual Trinity, co-equal and united in One."- The Paganism in Our Christianity.-from the booklet-Should You Believe in the Trinity? Is Jesus Christ the Almighty God?

The JW's are trying to follow the precepts of primitive Christianity, as they believe these are closer to the truth, as the early Christians were around when Jesus taught. We believe Jesus is a god (definition: mighty one, strong one) (Isaiah 9:6), but not the almighty God (Jehovah) who was, and is eternal (Revelation 15:3).

Brien

From the earliest human record until now, the evidence is that dogs are still dogs, cats continue to be cats, and elephants have been and will always be elephants. Sterility continues to be the delimiting factor as to what constitutes a “kind.” This phenomenon makes possible, through the test of sterility, the determining of the boundaries of all the “kinds” in existence today. Through this natural test of fertilization it is possible to uncover the primary relationships within animal life and plant life. For example, sterility presents an impassable gulf between man and the animals. Breeding experiments have demonstrated that appearance is no criterion. Man and the chimpanzee may look somewhat similar, have comparable types of muscles and bones; yet the complete inability of man to hybridize with the ape family proves that they are two separate creations and not of the same created “kind.”
Although hybridization was once hoped to be the best means of bringing about a new “kind,” in every investigated case of hybridization the mates were always easily identified as being of the same “kind,” such as in the crossing of the horse and the donkey, both of which are members of the horse family. Except in rare instances, the mule thus produced is sterile and unable to continue the variation in a natural way. Even Charles Darwin was forced by the facts to admit: “The distinctness of specific forms and their not being blended together by innumerable transitional links, is a very obvious difficulty.” (Origin of Species, 1902, Part 2, p. 54) This still remains true.

Whereas specific created "kinds" may number only in the hundreds, there are many more varieties of animals and plants on the earth. Modern research has indicated that hundreds of thousands of different plants are members of the same family. Similarly, in the animal kingdom, there may be many varieties of cats, all belonging to one cat family or feline "kind." The same is true of men, of cattle, and of dogs, allowing for great diversity within each "kind." But the fact remains that no matter how many varieties occur in each family, none of these "kinds" can commingle genetically.

Geological research provides clear evidence that the fossils held to be among the earliest specimens of a certain creature are very similar to their descendants alive today. Cockroaches found among the supposed earliest fossil insects are virtually identical to modern ones. Fossil "bridges" between "kinds" are totally lacking. Horses, oak trees, eagles, elephants, walnuts, ferns, and so forth, all continue within the same "kinds" without evolving into other "kinds." The testimony of the fossils is in full accord with the Bible's history of creation, which shows that God created the living things of the earth in great numbers and "according to their kinds" during the final creative days.-from the book- Insight on the Scriptures.

Brien

Revelation 8:1-2

"And when he opened the seventh seal, a silence occurred in heaven for about a half hour. And I saw the seven angels that stand before God, and seven trumpets were given them."


John 1:3-5

"All things came into existence through him, and apart from him not even one thing came into existence.
What has come into existence by means of him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light is shining in the darkness, but the darkness has not overpowered it".

Brien

From the book -What Evolution is-by Ernest Mayr, Professor Emiritus in The Museum of Comparative Zoology at Harvard University, on page 188:

Macroevolutuion..."refers to processes that occur above the species level, particularly the origin of new higher taxa, the invasion of new adaptive zones, and correlated with it, often the acquisition of evolutionary novelties such as the wings of birds or the terrestial adaptations of the tetrapods (any vertebrate that has four limbs) or warm-bloodedness in birds and mammals."

"From Darwin's day to the present, there has been a heated contoversy over whether macroevolution is nothing but an unbroken continuation of microevolution, as Darwin and his followers had claimed, or rather is disconnected from microevolution, as asserted by his opponents, and that it must be explained by a different set of theories. According to this view, there is a definite discontinuity between the species level and that of the higher taxa."

Brien

continued, page 189:

"The reason why this controversy has not been fully settled is because there seems to be an astonishing conflict between theory and observation. According to Darwinian theory, evolution is a population phenomenon and should therefore be gradual and continuous. This should be true not only for microevolution but also for macroevolution and for the transition between the two. Alas, this seems to be in conflict with observation. Wherever we look at the living biota, whether at the level of the higher taxa or even at that of the species, discontinuities are overwhelmingly frequent. Among living taxa there is no intermediacy between whales and terrestrial mammals, nor between reptiles and either birds or mammals. All 30 phyla of animals are separated from each other by a gap. There seems to be a large gap between the flowering plants (angiosperms) and their nearest relatives. The discontinuities are even more striking in the fossil record. New species usually appear in the fossil record suddenly, not connected with their ancestors by a series of intermediates. Indeed there are rather few cases of continuous series of gradually evolving species.

How can this seeming contradiction be explained?..."

Ernest Mayr then (since he is an evolutionist) discusses theories, and assuptions, to explain this problem. I respect him for acknowledging the problems in the theory of macroevolution. I don't believe in the theories he then presents, which are common in the science field today. This theory of macroevolution is far from being proven. I like the Genesis account. Just my own beliefs again.

Brien

From the New American Bible (a Catholic translation):

"I charge you in the presence of God and of Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingly power: proclaim the word; be persistent whether it is convenient or inconvenient; convince, reprimand, encourage through all patience and teaching. For the time will come when people will not tolerate sound doctrine but, following their own desires and insatiable curiosity, will accumulate teachers and will stop listening to the truth and will be diverted to myths. But you, be self-possessed in all circumstances; put up with hardships; perform the work of an evangelist; fulfill your ministry."

2 Timothy 4:1-5, the apostle Paul, 65 C.E.

Brien

John, here is some info I found on this gospel problem:

One of the more puzzling passages in the Bible is the account of Jesus and the barren fig tree. According to Mark 11:12-14, 20-24, when Jesus saw a certain fig tree with leaves but no fruit, he cursed it and, as a result, the tree withered. Yet, as Mark plainly says, it wasn't the season for figs. Why, then, did Jesus curse this fig tree? And why did Mark, under inspiration, record this incident? Jesus was teaching a lesson on faith. He also, was using the tree as a symbol of the mature, unfruitful, Jewish nation.

For example, while figs don't usually mature until June, fruit buds usually appear on the branches of fig trees as early as February. In fact, this occurs two months before leaves appear on the branches in late April or early May. So by the time a fig tree has its leaves, it should surely have figs. This helps us to appreciate that when Jesus saw this particular fig tree in late March, while it wasn't the season for fig trees to have mature figs, it also wasn't the season for fig trees to have leaves.

Brien

The fact that this tree did have leaves shows that it was unseasonably mature. Surely it would not have been unreasonable for Jesus to expect that such a tree would also be unseasonably early with its fruit. Yet, this tree was unproductive. Indeed, as Mark states, the tree had “nothing but leaves,” that is, no fruit. Certainly the leaves gave that tree a deceptive appearance.

But why did Jesus curse this unproductive fig tree? Jesus’ words on the occasion, as recorded in Mark 11:22-25, provide a clue to the answer. As Jesus explained, this was a lesson for them to “have faith in God.” What did the withering of this fig tree have to do with faith? First of all, it was Jesus’ faith that made the curse effective. Evidently, Jesus was using this occasion to provide an object lesson on the power of faith. As Jesus stated: “All the things you pray and ask for have faith that you have practically received, and you will have them.”—Mark 11:24.

Brien











































































































, The fact that this tree did have leaves shows that it was unseasonably mature. Surely it would not have been unreasonable for Jesus to expect that such a tree would also be unseasonably early with its fruit. Yet, this tree was unproductive. Indeed, as Mark states, the tree had “nothing but leaves,” that is, no fruit. Certainly the leaves gave that tree a deceptive appearance.

But why did Jesus curse this unproductive fig tree? Jesus’ words on the occasion, as recorded in Mark 11:22-25, provide a clue to the answer. As Jesus explained, this was a lesson for them to “have faith in God.” What did the withering of this fig tree have to do with faith? First of all, it was Jesus’ faith that made the curse effective. Evidently, Jesus was using this occasion to provide an object lesson on the power of faith. As Jesus stated: “All the things you pray and ask for have faith that you have practically received, and you will have them.”—Mark 11:24.

Brien

Matthew, the earliest gospel:

Subscriptions, appearing at the end of Matthew’s Gospel in numerous manuscripts (all being later than the tenth century C.E.), say that the account was written about the eighth year after Christ’s ascension (c. 41 C.E.). This would not be at variance with internal evidence. The fact that no reference is made to the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy respecting Jerusalem’s destruction would point to a time of composition prior to 70 C.E. (Mt 5:35; 24:16) And the expression “to this very day” (27:8; 28:15) indicates a lapse of some time between the events considered and the time of writing. Matthew was one of the apostles of Jesus.

Mark- written about 60-65 C.E. Mark was an early believer in Christ, and it seems had some contact with Jesus. Ancient tradition, and early church history, indicates that the apostle Peter provided the basic information for Mark's Gospel, as Mark was Peter's interpreter, writing accurately all that Pater remembered.As well, he had others to get information from.

Luke- written about 56-58 C.E. Luke was a physician and faithful companion of the apostle Paul. He became a believer sometime after Pentecost of 33 C.E.

John- written about 98 C.E. He was one of the apostles of Jesus.

Brien






















, Matthew, the earliest gospel:

Subscriptions, appearing at the end of Matthew’s Gospel in numerous manuscripts (all being later than the tenth century C.E.), say that the account was written about the eighth year after Christ’s ascension (c. 41 C.E.). This would not be at variance with internal evidence. The fact that no reference is made to the fulfillment of Jesus’ prophecy respecting Jerusalem’s destruction would point to a time of composition prior to 70 C.E. (Mt 5:35; 24:16) And the expression “to this very day” (27:8; 28:15) indicates a lapse of some time between the events considered and the time of writing. Matthew was one of the apostles of Jesus.

Mark- written about 60-65 C.E. Mark was an early believer in Christ, and it seems had some contact with Jesus. Ancient tradition, and early church history, indicates that the apostle Peter provided the basic information for Mark's Gospel, as Mark was Peter's interpreter, writing accurately all that Pater remembered.As well, he had others to get information from.

Luke- written about 56-58 C.E. Luke was a physician and faithful companion of the apostle Paul. He became a believer sometime after Pentecost of 33 C.E.

John- written about 98 C.E. He was one of the apostles of Jesus.

Brien