No disrespect intended, but what's up with Christianity and hokey holiday characters like Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny?

For sure, even many that believe in those holidays recognize the commercialism in them.
1 Timothy 6:9-10 But those who are determined to be rich fall into temptation and a snare and many senseless and harmful desires that plunge men into destruction and ruin. 10 For the love of money is a root of all sorts of injurious things, and by reaching out for this love some have been led astray from the faith and have stabbed themselves all over with many pains.

And why do you think that the good in the concepts of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny is not part of God's plan---Is it simply because you think Jesus arose from the dead as a spirit creature with no material body?

Try reading the Bible, then you might understand. But then again, I understand that unscriptural traditions are hard to overcome. Please tell me that you do not consider the stories about Santa and the Easter Bunny to be true?

(Mark 7:13) Thus you make the word of God invalid by your tradition that you have handed down. And you do many things like this.”

(2 Peter 2:1-3) However, there also came to be false prophets among the people, as there will also be false teachers among YOU. These very ones will quietly bring in destructive sects and will disown even the owner that bought them, bringing speedy destruction upon themselves. 2 Furthermore, many will follow their acts of loose conduct, and on account of these the way of the truth will be spoken of abusively. 3 Also, with covetousness they will exploit YOU with counterfeit words. But as for them, the judgment from of old is not moving slowly, and the destruction of them is not slumbering.
(1 Timothy 4:1-3) However, the inspired utterance says definitely that in later periods of time some will fall away from the faith, paying attention to misleading inspired utterances and teachings of demons, 2 by the hypocrisy of men who speak lies, marked in their conscience as with a branding iron; 3 forbidding to marry, commanding to abstain from foods which God created to be partaken of with thanksgiving by those who have faith and accurately know the truth.
(2 Timothy 4:3-4) For there will be a period of time when they will not put up with the healthful teaching, but, in accord with their own desires, they will accumulate teachers for themselves to have their ears tickled; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, whereas they will be turned aside to false stories

(John 4:24) God is a Spirit, and those worshipping him must worship with spirit and truth.”

I do read the bible---but I have found that the JW version just has too many errors and contradictions,  and the conclusions and theology taught by the JW members is, to me, clearly unsupportable by what the JW's claim to be exegesis.

If one does not understand the trinitarian nature of God and the human and divine natures of Christ, one might as well think that putting salt on ice raises the temperature of the ice and melts it.

Which translation and verse says God is a trinity or triune? Which translation says that the soul is immortal or can never be destroyed or the phrase immortality of the soul? Which translation says to us religious titles like Father? Which translation says Peter was a Pope or even talks about a Pope? Which translation says Peter nor any other apostles were married? Which translation says to forbid priest from marrying? Where does it say it's okay to remove God's name? Which translation says to burn people at the stake for translating the Bible in to the common language, or for any other reason for that matter? Christians killing Christians in wars and such or anyone else for that matter? Forced conversions? Worship of saints? Worship of idols? Sale of indulgences? Purgatory? Limbo?
Those are just a few things that come to mind.

What translation have you read Tom? Was Hell in it? Did it have God's name in it?

Please give me a verse and a translation for some of those, if they exist. Maybe you can answer just 3 of those questions?

From our many conversation, you haven't come off as someone that has knowledge of what is contained in the Bible or even has any respect for what the Bible says.


EDIT: I guess for someone to swallow all of that stuff is not that hard if they are taught from childhood that "the concepts of Santa Claus and the Easter Bunny is" "part of God's plan".
But then again, I celebrated Christmas and Easter and such as a child as well. But then as an adult, I humbly read the Bible with an open mind and let God's word overturn "strongly entrenched things" like "false stories" and thought it best to "worship with spirit and truth.” (2 Timothy 4:3-4; John 4:24)


(2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness,
(Hebrews 4:12) For the word of God is alive and exerts power and is sharper than any two-edged sword and pierces even to the dividing of soul and spirit, and of joints from the marrow, and is able to discern thoughts and intentions of the heart.
(2 Corinthians 10:3-5) For though we walk in the flesh, we do not wage warfare according to what we are in the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not fleshly, but powerful by God for overturning strongly entrenched things. 5 For we are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are bringing every thought into captivity to make it obedient to the Christ;
(1 Thessalonians 5:21) Make sure of all things; hold fast to what is fine. This post was edited by texasescimo at April 24, 2020 5:30 PM MDT

You say, "From our many conversation, you (me) haven't come off as someone that has knowledge of what is contained in the Bible or even has any respect for what the Bible says."


This post was edited by my2cents at April 30, 2020 11:37 AM MDT

So you could not give me a verse and a translation for some of those and you could not answer just 3 of those questions?

Instead you give me an analogy that translates to:

Texasescimo can't go back and understand God by going back to the Bible and rationally expect God to not have changed.

By texasescimo going "back" to the bible, Tex is ignoring the presence of the Catholic Church which Tom has been raised in.

The first time a JW came to my door about 55 years ago, I opened it and the person at the door said, "I'm a JW."  I replied, "That's OK, don't apologize;" and gently closed the door.

I had had a "barber" (before there were hair "stylists") for a number of years from whom I learned all about the JW's and their beliefs.

God treats His children as any good father would---He gives His children appropriate information at the time it can be understood and continues to expand His explanations as they grow in wisdom and knowledge.

You suggest that the total knowledge that God intended to impart to us, His Children, has been fully presented to us in the bible.

I find it incredible that you think He's been an absent Father with regard to His revelations since the bible was written---and just as incredible that you have so thoroughly misinterpreted any and all versions of the extant biblical texts.

Nothing a JW can say cam compel anyone to believe in their interpretation of the biblical texts and what they say about God and creation.

I know enough about the teachings of the JW's to reject their teachings and beliefs about what the bible supposedly really says to reject your organization in its entirety.

So you're backtracking on your "I do read the bible".
You would do good to follow the example in the Bible of going to the source rather than going to opposers. Or if you want to know what JW's believe, you could read the Bible. That is where JW's get their beliefs.
It is my understanding that the Catholic Church allows Bible reading now, still not encouraged, but allowed. They for sure no longer publicly burn people at the stake for translating it so the common people can read it.

(Acts 28:22) But we think it proper to hear from you what your thoughts are, for truly as regards this sect, we know that it is spoken against everywhere.”

(Acts 17:11) Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thes·sa·lo·niʹca, for they accepted the word with the greatest eagerness of mind, carefully examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so. This post was edited by texasescimo at April 25, 2020 7:01 PM MDT

No, I'm not backing down on anything I said to you on this thread. JWs have no understanding of the new reality that Christ as God (not "just" a god) ushered in with His death and Resurrection, the establishment of His church and the sending of the Holy Spirit (the third person in the triune God) to protect it and guide those who wish to have a personal relationship with God.

I apologize if I inadvertently let you think we were engaging in a discussion or debate the outcome of which was yet to be decided.

Yet you give no weight to the Bible compared to later opposing Church teachings, yes? You condemn JW's for accepting the Bible for doctrines.
You criticize the NWT so one would like to think that you would have some basis for that other than hearsay.

EDIT: A few questions if you care to hare something good.
1. What translation of the Bible have you read?
2. What translations do you have?
3. What translation do you recommend and why?
4. If you learned that your Church taught something in opposition to the Bible, would you accept the Bible over your Church?

(2 Timothy 3:16) All Scripture is inspired of God and beneficial for teaching, for reproving, for setting things straight, for disciplining in righteousness,
(1 Corinthians 4:6) ... you may learn the rule: “Do not go beyond the things that are written,” ... This post was edited by texasescimo at April 28, 2020 4:14 PM MDT

To the extent that you acknowledge the existence of some "higher power" who has certain expectations for His creation, the JWs have positive value---to the extent that the JWs misinform the public with their contrived conclusions from (any) version of the bible (which you think to be the only source of all doctrine from God), then the JWs teaching is only as good as their information, and JWs just don't have all the necessary information.

For such an expert on who understands and doesn't understand the Bible and to be such a critic on the NWT, you sure are evasive in regards to something I would think you would want to share. But then again, this is not the first time I asked you an AM What translation of the Bible have you read?

But since the Bible was written by humans, what's the difference?

Written by humans inspired by God... thats the difference..

Bible was written by men who were inspired by their belief in God. 

The Bible was written by some 40 different men over a period of 1,600 years all in harmony with each other. The Bible has many fulfilled prophecies and is accurate when touching on science as well as being accurate and practical in dealing with other issues. The Bible stands alone as inspired by God.

(Psalm 10:4) In his haughtiness, the wicked man makes no investigation; All his thoughts are: “There is no God.”

(Romans 1:18-23) For God’s wrath is being revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who are suppressing the truth in an unrighteous way, 19 because what may be known about God is clearly evident among them, for God made it clear to them. 20 For his invisible qualities are clearly seen from the world’s creation onward, because they are perceived by the things made, even his eternal power and Godship, so that they are inexcusable. 21 For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God nor did they thank him, but they became empty-headed in their reasonings and their senseless hearts became darkened. 22 Although claiming they were wise, they became foolish 23 and turned the glory of the incorruptible God into something like the image of corruptible man and birds and four-footed creatures and reptiles.

Wrong. No testable claim in the Bible has ever been verified by any legitimate science. It has, in fact, been repeatedly demonstrated as either not evidently true, or evidently not true on every statement relevant to science. To wit- There is no firmament, space is not full of water, there was no worldwide flood, the stars cannot fall out of the sky, the sun does not revolve around the earth, disease is not spread by demons, plants did not appear before the sun existed, and Joshua could not have stopped the sun in the sky. 

The book also directly contradicts itself in over 400 examples. So much for harmony. 

The Koran is another book that was also “inspired by God”, your expected denial notwithstanding, is also chock full of dubious “revealed wisdom”, and is no more accurate scientifically, and no less adored culturally. At least we know who wrote it. 

This post was edited by Don Barzini at April 20, 2020 1:29 PM MDT

Perhaps your understanding of the context as well as a better translation of some things could help.
Nice shotgun affect though.

EDIT: You are correct in the Bible speaking of a literal world wide flood though. There is evidence of a flood. Sea shells and other marine fossils on the tops of mountains for examples. You yourself said: "The middle of the North American continent was once beneath a shallow sea." This post was edited by texasescimo at April 15, 2020 8:46 AM MDT