The book says many religions teach "that some part of us survives the death of the physical body….. Yet how can that be? Our senses, along with our thoughts, are all linked to the workings of our brain. Our memories, feelings and senses do not continue to work independently… We do not possess an immortal soul or spirit." Various scriptures are quoted describing death as sleep and the end of everything.
There is a picture of an extinguished candle on p59 with the caption, "Where did the flame go?"
God made mankind to live in a paradise earth, with the desire to live forever. All humans die because their first parents, Adam and Eve, sinned by disobeying God.
Again, we are asked to compare human parents’ hurt when their child disobeys, with the hurt caused to God.
"Knowing the truth about death is beneficial" because it frees us from worry about our dead relatives. Those who teach life after death "have been influenced by Satan" , especially those who teach eternal punishment in a fiery hell." Jehovah is a God of love and would never make people suffer in this way…. Satan wants us to believe that Jehovah tortures people in fire forever".
Ancestors should not be worshipped. Only Jehovah should be.
"When you realise people do not pass on to the spirit realm at death, the promise of everlasting life on earth takes on real meaning"
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The idea that we do not live after the brain is dead is consistent with the views of philosophy, but despite this, Christians believe that our soul or spirit continues to live. Just as there are many scriptures which can be quoted to say the dead are unconscious or sleeping, there are others which indicate that the dead continue to exist on a different plane. When resurrecting his friend Lazarus, Jesus said, "He who believes in me will never die at all" (John 11:17-29). True, some Christians still believe in a literal, fiery hell and are so firm in their conviction, that they will threaten you with Hell if you don't believe them. Others, who are more moderate, believe that separation from God is punishment enough for the unrighteous.
The fact is, that through the centuries, the Roman Church in particular, made a lot of money from the fear they instilled in people about the after-life. This allowed them to charge hefty fees for "indulgences", a buy-out from purgatory and fiery pain. It's one of the things that brought about the Reformation, led by Martin Luther.
While the Watchtower teaches that the dead are unconscious or sleeping, this doesn’t apply to their 144,000 who will reign with Jesus Christ in heaven (according to their teaching). Their brains and bodily senses may cease to function at death, but they are raised instantaneously to life in heaven. Skip ahead a few pages to p74 (in the English language version) where it says, "So those few remaining ones of the 144,000 who die in our day are instantly resurrected to life in heaven". So, on one hand, "the dead are sleeping and unconscious" while on the other hand, the dead are "instantly raised to heaven". which is it?
As for God, he is again shown to be as fickle and weak as human parents, not unlike the gods of the Romans and Greeks. True, he would not torture people in burning fire forever, but if we are to take the OT literally, he can massacre humans and let them die a fiery death in Sodom and Gomorrah (see Genesis). Does this depiction of God seem real to you or does it sound more like a human invention?
As for the candle picture, what are we supposed to conclude when seeing this? Is the human spirit the equivalent of a chemical reaction between carbon and oxygen?
Finally, if we take away the Christian teaching of life in heaven with Christ, we are left only with the hope of life on earth or nothing, fitting in nicely with Watchtower teaching, so their followers gratefully accept this materialistic second option, not realising they are giving up eternal life in the presence of Jesus.
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Thank you, Anthony for explaining it. I did Bible Study with the JWs earlier this year together with my husband. My mother only died about 5 or 6 months before we came on this chapter, and I just could not accept this teaching what so ever. At least I know that in part I was right not to take it on face value.
ReplyDeleteBecause of this miss-teaching and the pain of them trying to make me to believe it, I ended the Bible study. Because, I believe that a person keeps on existing after death, it is impossible for me to accept that suddenly we just "sleep" after we die. Even if the Bible was a bit more clearer on these matters, there is far too much evidence and research these days NOT to believe in a conciousness (at least) outside the human body after the body is clinically dead.
I already struggled with many of their other teachings, because - like you - I started to read the Bible from the beginning.
You managed to finish it and read the new testament many times over. I managed half way through the old testament (please note I already had 7 years of Bible study in a Christian Primary School (Protestant)).
What the JWs teach and what is actually in the Bible, is so not consistent. Not to mention that God is the most sadistic immature Greek-like small minded twit ever in the old Testament.
After stopping the Bible Study, I haven't read the rest of the Bible, but I do want to re-read the new testament soon. It has been such a long time ago, since we studied it in class.
Thank you for taking the time of making the videos (I just finished watching your Exit 1 and 2 videos) and posting your blogs and transcripts online. They are extremely helpful. I will explore your work further in the next few weeks. I am sorry you had to go through all this, but I thank you for turning your pain and hardship into an useful learning tool for others. I wish you joy and health.
Kindest regards,
Wendy - Gourdon, Scotland
Wendy, I've just finished reading OT for a second (and probably final) time.
DeleteI am no further forward in accepting it as anything other than "man's word about his god".
But the NT and especially Jesus' life in the gospels, deserves your attention.
Thanks for your comments and kind words.
ReplyDeleteI'm so glad this helped you!
I think your summing up of the OT god is about right! Richard Dawkins is less kind in his "God Delusion".
The first few books of the OT are indeed heavy going, but the NT is much easier and, I believe, more beneficial, with its "message for today", about Christ.
Try it again!
Best wishes to you both.