"The way home or catch the fire" compared to bible/ other religions (part 6)

[JoChris]

In 8:67 TWHOFTF makes a patchwork blanket from bible verses to support his position again.

A pattern is emerging just like I noticed in a channelled occult book. When it started to sound too different to Christianity, a lot of out-of-context bible phrases were suddenly mentioned (perhaps the "spirit" noticed a confused facial expression from the ex-Christian viewer/s?) .

8:67 He told you how to get God’s help and guidance, to overcome your temptation, by DOING God’s Will — The Lord’s Prayer, N.B. “YOUR Will shall be DONE on Earth, as it IS done in heaven” (Matt. 6:10 & 7:21 & 12:50),

the Lord's prayer is all together in one passage, not spread in chapters!!!

Ironically Matthew 7:21-23 is about false teachers who claim to be doing God's will!!!!!
Matthew 12:47-50

See Matthew 6:9-13
For context, the whole Lord's Prayer:



----
and by keeping the COMMANDMENTS, including the eleventh (John 13:34 & 15:12) and twelfth (Matt. 7:1),
Reminder: the actual bible never says there is an 11th and 12 commandment like TWHOFTF claims.

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.
John 15:12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

A person who loves their neighbour as themself will not kill, steal, commit adultery, bear false witness or covet what the neighbour has. They are the second half of the 10 commandments. Exodus chapter 20

Like many other non-Christians deliberately do, TWHOFTF is taking the "do not judge" commandment out of context.

Whole passage Matthew 7:1-6

that he gave personally to the disciples (Matt. 5:19 & John 14:21 & Rev. 14:12 & 22:14 / King of kings’ Bible, Rev. 14:12 & 30:14).
For context, please read the relevant section in Matthew chapter 5, John chapter 14 , Revelation chapter 14 and Revelation chapter 22.

 

[The Sojourner]

John 13:34 A new commandment I give unto you

A new commandment. It is therefore not one of the Commandments as given before. It is new, unless you don't believe Jesus meant to say "new".
This commandment could not have been given before, because Jesus had not yet lived; therefore was unable to show how he loved them.

The next step, is counting.

10 Commandments before.
Then comes a NEW commandment "love one another as I have loved you"

So we are at 10+1 = 11

 

[ToxicFemininitySucks]

I was under the impression that Protestants and Baptists fled Europe to USA due to persecution and so the first white settlers (and therefore missionaries) wouldn't have been Catholics.
Americans, please correct me if I am wrong there.

Of course multiple immigrants means all types of people would have ended up in USA, good, bad and everything in between. That would have naturally resulted in conflict between immigrants and "first nations people"! In Australian history it follows a similar pattern.

I did some history review: the vast majority of the early missionaries to what is now the US were roman catholic, whether dominican order, franciscan or jesuits. However, most were not to what would be the original 13 colonies, but to the west, southwest, and south east (florida). This is back during the 1500s and 1600s, long before the US was a country or even the 13 colonies established.

Timeline of Christian missions - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

As for protestants, i was able to find that there was a native man baptized into the church of england in the 1580s, but no citation was given so i didnt follow up.

• 1587 – Manteo becomes the first American Indian to be baptized by the Church of England

The first protestant missionary to the natives in the colonial region was from the from the dutch reformed church in the 1600s.

Johannes Megapolensis - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

Johannes Megapolensis (1603–1670) was a dominie (pastor) of the Dutch Reformed Church in the Dutch colony of New Netherland (present-day New York state in the United States), beginning in 1642. Serving for several years at Fort Orange (present-day Albany, New York) on the upper Hudson River, he is credited with being the first Protestant missionary to the Indians in North America. He later served as a minister in Manhattan, staying through the takeover by the English in 1664.

About a century later there was a presbyterian missionary as well.

David Brainerd - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

David Brainerd (April 20, 1718 – October 9, 1747) was an American Presbyterian minister and missionary to the Native Americans among the Delaware Indians of New Jersey.

 

[ToxicFemininitySucks]

TWHOFTF sings the praises of a simple life, and that is something many readers would agree with.

It also has a faint monastic tone - the more spiritual a person is, the more simply a person will live.

Many non-Christian religions also support asceticism and self-sacrifice.

I agree there's something monaatic about it.

Kind of ironic, because Christian monasticism requires some kind of organized religion. To my knowledge, as far as Christianity goes, only roman catholicism or eastern orthodoxy have the infrastructure for monasticism.

Perhaps he prefers the eastern solitary wandering hermit type of renunciation of the world?

Or living in a commune type sitution with other jah truthers?

 

[JoChris]

I did some history review: the vast majority of the early missionaries to what is now the US were roman catholic, whether dominican order, franciscan or jesuits. However, most were not to what would be the original 13 colonies, but to the west, southwest, and south east (florida). This is back during the 1500s and 1600s, long before the US was a country or even the 13 colonies established.

Timeline of Christian missions - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

As for protestants, i was able to find that there was a native man baptized into the church of england in the 1580s, but no citation was given so i didnt follow up.



The first protestant missionary to the natives in the colonial region was from the from the dutch reformed church in the 1600s.

Johannes Megapolensis - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

About a century later there was a presbyterian missionary as well.

David Brainerd - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

OK, it sounds like the very earliest missionaries to the now USA were RCC, and later on Protestant/ Baptists took up the role.
That makes sense, from memory there were Roman Catholic missionaries going all over the world in that era.

I remember reading about the noticeable differences between countries which the RCC made the most converts compared to where the Protestants made the most converts.

It would be an interesting research topic for church historians!

 

[JoChris]

A new commandment. It is therefore not one of the Commandments as given before. It is new, unless you don't believe Jesus meant to say "new".
This commandment could not have been given before, because Jesus had not yet lived; therefore was unable to show how he loved them.

The next step, is counting.

10 Commandments before.
Then comes a NEW commandment "love one another as I have loved you"

So we are at 10+1 = 11

In Romans chapter 13 the apostle Paul expands on the verse clearly:

8 Owe no man any thing, but to love one another: for he that loveth another hath fulfilled the law.

9 For this, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not kill, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness, Thou shalt not covet; and if there be any other commandment, it is briefly comprehended in this saying, namely, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

If a person loves their neighbour, they will not break the 10 commandments, either in thought or deed.

 

[JoChris]

I agree there's something monaatic about it.

Kind of ironic, because Christian monasticism requires some kind of organized religion. To my knowledge, as far as Christianity goes, only roman catholicism or eastern orthodoxy have the infrastructure for monasticism.

Perhaps he prefers the eastern solitary wandering hermit type of renunciation of the world?

Or living in a commune type sitution with other jah truthers?

What you type is why I wish there were was some information from ex-JAHtruthers available on what life is really like behind closed doors. (It is the only way outsiders will be able to support any of you later.)
From what we saw earlier this year from an account that was later banned, the fine print is anything but Christian.

 

[JoChris]

Blue - teaching style of communication, Green personal conversation style. The true beliefs are in green!!!!

8:68 To get God’s help, Jesus said that you HAVE TO BE BORN AGAIN IN THE SPIRIT (John 3:3-6),
John chapter 3
3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
4 Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born?
5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.
6 That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

and become like little children (Matt. 18:3-4 & Mark 10:15 & Luke 18:17), with child-like (100%),
They are the effectively the same verse, different source.

Matthew chapter 18
3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
4 Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.

Mark chapter 10
15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.

Luke chapter 18
17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

NOT childish, faith and trust in God’s protection.

That sounds sort of reasonable to people who are familiar with "Christianese" .. but wait....

---
8:69 Being “born again of the spirit”, means that you must be born again AS your spirit, and STOP thinking of yourself as being a human, and START to think of yourself as being your REAL self - your spirit (soul) - and act accordingly.

that is not being born again (according to Christian doctrine) through faith in Jesus Christ.
That is Gnosis.

From a pro-Gnosticism source:
What is Gnosis? - Knowledge is Power

The Greek word Gnosis (γνῶσις) implies a type of knowledge that is derived from experience, and encompasses the whole of a person. That is, it is genuine knowledge of the truth. Reality, truth, does not fit neatly into a concept, dogma, or theory, thus genuine Gnosis must also be something that one must experience. Personal experience is not transmissible in conceptual terms; a concept is merely an idea, and experience is far more than an idea. In other words, real Gnosis is an experience that defies conceptualization, belief, or any attempt to convey it. To understand it, one must experience it. This is why real spirituality is based on one's own effort to experience the truth, and the method to reach that experience is primarily practical.


---
Whilst-ever you think of yourself as being a human, and think in a human-way, you automatically condemn yourself, to always being a human, until you are executed on the Last-Day.
That is a peculiar statement, considering the fact AJH believes in reincarnation.
Does that mean we get reincarnated until Judgement Day?

 

[JoChris]

8:70 You MUST become your spirit (real self)

That looks like according to JAHtruth being born again is done by an actual personal decision to "know thyself".
All that is personal decision. WHERE is the Holy Spirit mentioned above?

What did Jesus actually say:


John 15:26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

We are not the Comforter.

and control the body, and NOT the other way round, where the animal-body controls you.

Reminder: nowhere in the bible are we told that we have an animal body.

8:71 God’s secrets are hidden, from those who “think” they are wise; prudent; and who are arrogant, and are revealed to babes (Matt. 11:25 & Luke 10:21)(people born again in the spirit — Matt. 18:3-4 & Luke 10:21 & John 3:3).

8:72 “God is a spirit and they that worship Him, must worship Him in, and with their spirit (Being), and in truth (John 4:24).” Always being TRUTHFUL.
The last statement is the one thing which is correct - we are to be truthful.

[Jesus said] John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;

17 Even the Spirit of truth; whom the world cannot receive, because it seeth him not, neither knoweth him: but ye know him; for he dwelleth with you, and shall be in you.

We are not the Comforter. We are not the Spirit of the truth.

People: what hope does that give you? We are sinners.
If we are honest with ourselves, we know deep down we still sometimes lie to ourselves and others for multiple different reasons.

e.g. Sometimes I still have to repent of my telling white lies to save other people's feelings. Only with GOD's help am I gaining the courage and wisdom to tell the unpleasant truth when it is needed. If I had to do that in my own strength as TWHOFTF says, I would be in despair.

 

[JoChris]

8:73 Jesus explained that mothers, and fathers, are not really your mother and father, but that the bodies, that they are using,
Note NO bible verses were given. That is TWHOFTF doctrine only.

made the body that you are using, but they did NOT make your soul, any more than their parents’ bodies made their souls (Matt. 12:47-50 & John 6:42).
The passage is completely out of context. AJH really assumed no-one would ever check the verses.
Matthew 12:47-50
Where is bodies/ soul mentioned?
50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.

John chapter 6
42 And they [the Jews] said, Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? how is it then that he saith, I came down from heaven?

That does NOT mean that you should disown them, or treat them any differently.

Of course - we are to love our neighbour as ourself, and that includes family members.

 

[JoChris]

Please take the time to read the passages.

8:74 He also explained that, when you start to do God’s Will, “a man’s enemies WILL BE the people of his own household” (love your enemies into changing), because the devil will use them and humananimal emotion, to try to pull you back from doing God’s Will (Matt. 10:34-37 & Luke 12:51-53...
Matthew and Luke give the same message.

Matthew 10:34 Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
35 For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
36 And a man's foes shall be they of his own household.
37 He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Luke 12:51-53

& 14:26, 27, 33).
Please read the whole passage. Luke 14:26-33
It does not only apply to interactions with our own family - it is for all parts of our life!

Satan will use the members of your family, because they are the nearest to you, and are the people you appreciate most, and of whom you normally take the most notice, and whose advice you usually cherish and respect (Micah 7:6).
That is an overgeneralisation and gives Satan too much credit.
God can "use members of your family" as He chooses to as well, even at times when it APPEARS that Satan is maneuvering them.

Micah chapter 7
Whole passage Micah 7:5-7
5 Trust ye not in a friend, put ye not confidence in a guide: keep the doors of thy mouth from her that lieth in thy bosom.
6 For the son dishonoureth the father, the daughter riseth up against her mother, the daughter in law against her mother in law; a man's enemies are the men of his own house.
7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: my God will hear me.

God has done that in my own life - conflict gave me the courage to separate from some unrepentant sinners that I realise I valued too highly. Disagreement on important social issues brought out their true colours.

Maybe Satan meant it for evil, but God most certainly has done that for good!

 

[JoChris]

A dangerous "skating on thin ice" teaching emerges below. Spacing added for easier reading.

8:75 Satan will use them, without their knowing or understanding what they are doing, so, you can not blame them, directly, for their words or actions.

They will try to advise you, whilst genuinely believing, that they have your best interests, at heart. However, they will be advising you, from a MATERIAL and human point of view, NOT a spiritual point of view, because they do not KNOW about spiritual-matters and God’s magic.

They do not KNOW that God is REAL, and they do not know, what you will have already found out, from God Himself, since you started to talk to Him DIRECTLY and properly, and started doing His Will for you.

8:76 DON’T get upset; be firm, and strive to convince them that you are right. Don’t let Satan trick you into becoming angry, and making the situation worse; and don’t run away.

Explain to them calmly and lovingly, the magic of DIRECT communication with God HIMSELF, and love them into seeing your point of view, and strive to get them to talk to God, DIRECTLY, themselves. If you don’t, they are all going to die on the Last-Day, and you don’t want that to happen to people you love. Do you? LOVE conquers all.

Nowhere in the bible is "magic" used in a positive manner.
Will the ebook ever explain the actual method involved?

Remember this is a teaching from a man who demonstrates he has no understanding of being "born again" in the Christian sense.
The ebook has not given ANY presentation of the Gospel!!!!

 

[ToxicFemininitySucks]

That is a peculiar statement, considering the fact AJH believes in reincarnation.
Does that mean we get reincarnated until Judgement Day?

From my understanding of a freeman's posts, he believes that people continue to be reincarnated numerous times in order to have a new opportunity at salvation by following the Law (which he repeatedly says is "the first 5 books of the Bible, except when it conveniences him to use random verses from Kings to claim it's a sin to use medicine... and apparently also if we think of ourselves as humans we're also condemned...pretty sure the Law doesn't say that...).

Anyway, i believe he says that once ajh passes on we no longer have this opportuunity. I guess that's their interpretation of judgment day?

Perhaps one of the jahtruthers would like to step in and correct if i misrepresented their views.

 

[JoChris]

From my understanding of a freeman's posts, he believes that people continue to be reincarnated numerous times in order to have a new opportunity at salvation by following the Law (which he repeatedly says is "the first 5 books of the Bible, except when it conveniences him to use random verses from Kings to claim it's a sin to use medicine... and apparently also if we think of ourselves as humans we're also condemned...pretty sure the Law doesn't say that...).

Anyway, i believe he says that once ajh passes on we no longer have this opportuunity. I guess that's their interpretation of judgment day?

Perhaps one of the jahtruthers would like to step in and correct if i misrepresented their views.

It would be interesting to get the chief evangelist's perspective on how things will change after Anthony John Hill dies. (He was born in 1948, so that means he is now 75.)

 

[JoChris]

In between 8:76 and 8:77 is the statement

LOVE conquers all.

That looks nice - but what does that mean? I hope this statement is expanded upon later, as it doesn't appear to have any relevance to the passages in context.

----
8:77 Jesus also said that there can be no “Sitting on the Fence”, and that there is NO middle-ground. He who is not FOR me, is AGAINST me (Matt. 12:30).
The actual verse:
30 He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad.

Notice the second half of the verse: Jesus is also speaking against those who are not working with Him, doing His will as well.
That means a false teacher who claims to be for Jesus is "scattering abroad".

Those who are not on God’s side, doing God’s Will, and actively fighting for good, are actually helping Satan to win.
Sort of correct!
What does TWHOFTF mean by "actively fighting for good"?

Those who do nothing are ALLOWING the Devil to win, and so, are REALLY helping him.
They are only cheating themselves really, because, by allowing Satan to win,

That sounds very good in theory. It is a massive overgeneralisation though.

Activity/ action without purpose can be as bad as not doing anything at all.
Sometimes doing nothing can be God's will.
Sometimes holding back until we are sure that we are on the right path is wise. Waiting for the Lord is a good description of that.

Proverbs 19:2 Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.

....they are helping to make the world a worse place, and they have to live in it, on top of which, they are not earning their right to go home.
Overgeneralised statement + we do not "earn" the right to go home (assume AJH means Heaven/ Paradise?) -

Ephesians 2:8
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
9 Not of works, lest any man should boast.

There has not been a single mention of grace from the beginning of the ebook. God's grace towards sinners is a core doctrine of Christianity!!!!

Grace definition - bible study tools

The word "grace" in biblical parlance can, like forgiveness, repentance, regeneration, and salvation, mean something as broad as describing the whole of God's activity toward man or as narrow as describing one segment of that activity. An accurate, common definition describes grace as the unmerited favor of God toward man.....

 

[JoChris]

For once TWHOFTF sounds Christian-friendly!!!

8:78 Jesus said that you can NOT serve mammon (material-values) and God, at the same time (Matt. 6:24), because, if you love material goods, you will NOT be ABLE to fight for God, because you will be afraid of losing your material possessions, or your human-life, or both.

Mammon definition:
Earthly goods; property; riches.
No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and MAMMON. ( Matthew 6:24 )

8:79 THAT is when you need FAITH, in God’s protection and His promise of eternal-life!



If only the faith was actually faith in JESUS CHRIST.

 

[JoChris]

Here is why I was a killjoy in my last sentence:

8:80 He that gains his life, in this world, shall lose it, and he who loses his human-life, for the sake of all, shall gain his eternal-life and his right to go home (Mark 8:34-38).
Correct... but read the passage carefully before you read below!

34 And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
35 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
37 Or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.

This means, that he who allows Satan to intimidate him, into not fighting for good, always playing-it-safe, to protect his worthless human-life, and worldly and therefore temporary possessions, shall lose his soul/Being (real life), in “The Fire”, and that he who fights for justice and the good of all, without fear, because of his REAL faith in God, shall win his soul’s pardon, freedom, and right to go home.

Where did Jesus mention Satan, fighting for good, justice and "right to go home"?

That is not being nitpicky. AJH has added his own claims to an important passage.

 

[JoChris]

Please keep the following verse in mind while reading TWHOFTF's words:

Proverbs 30:5 Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
6 Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

8:81 Jesus explained about spiritual levels, when he said, in Mark 12:32-34, to the scribe, that, because of his answers to Jesus, and his mental-attitude, he was not far from the Kingdom of God.

Mark 12:32 And the scribe said unto him, Well, Master, thou hast said the truth: for there is one God; and there is none other but he:
33 And to love him with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbour as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.
34 And when Jesus saw that he answered discreetly, he said unto him, Thou art not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

AJH added mental attitude to support his own teachings.

This meant that he was on a high spiritual-level, and did not have much more to learn, before he could go home; always providing that he did not lose his faith, and allow himself to be scared, or bribed off, by Satan, and go backwards.
There is nothing to support the above statement in Mark 12:32-34.

AJH is surprisingly fixated on Satan right now too.

 

[The Sojourner]

In this article about Isaac Newton, the problem of personal investment in a view or opinion is highlighted:

Isaac Newton

jahtruth.net

Comments about Newton from James Redfield's book - the Celestine Vision.

Isaac Newton was a great physicist, but, as many current thinkers have declared, he shortchanged the universe by reducing it to a secular machine, describing it as operating only according to unwavering mechanistic laws. The seventeenth-century philosopher René Descartes preceded Newton by popularizing the idea that all we need to know about the Universe is its basic laws, and that while these operations might have been first pushed into motion by a creator, they now function totally on their own. After Newton and Descartes, any contention that there is an active spiritual force in the universe or that higher spiritual experience is anything other than hallucination was too often dismissed out of hand (but not by Isaac Newton - JAH).

This old mechanistic worldview has been discredited since the early decades of the twentieth century, chiefly through the influence of Albert Einstein, the pioneers of quantum physics, and the newer research on prayer and intentionality. But the prejudices of mechanistic worldview linger in our consciousness, guarded by an extreme skepticism that serves to screen-out the more subtle spiritual perceptions that would challenge its assumptions.

Understanding how this works is important. In most cases, to experience higher spiritual experience, we must be at least open to the possibility that such perception exists. We know now that one actually has to suspend or "bracket" skepticism (and intellectualising) and try in every way possible to open up to spiritual phenomena (as a little child) in order to experience them. We must "knock on the door", as it has been expressed in Scripture, before any of these spiritual experiences can even be detected at all.

If we approach spiritual experience with a mind that is too closed and doubting, we perceive nothing and thereby prove to ourselves, quite erroneously and repeatedly, that higher spiritual experience is a myth. For centuries, we cast out these perceptions not because they weren't real, but because at the time, we didn't want them to be real. They didn't fit into our secular view of the world.

A MATERIALISTIC UNIVERSE


The first scientific picture about how this outer world operated was created by Isaac Newton, who pulled together the views of the early astronomers into a model of the universe as stable and predictable. The mathematics of Newton suggested that the larger world operated according to unchanging natural laws, laws that could be counted on and used in practical ways.

Descartes had already made the case that the universe in its entirety - the orbiting of the Earth and other planets around the Sun, the circulation of the animal and plant species - all worked together like one great cosmic machine or clockworks, always reliable and totally devoid of mystical influence.

Newton's mathematics seemed to prove it so. And once this holistic picture was established in physics, everyone believed that the other disciplines of science had merely to fill in the details, discover the mini-processes, the smaller levers and springs that made the great clock run. As this began to occur, science became more and more specialized in its approach to mapping out the physical universe, dividing into ever smaller subdivisions and going into greater detail in naming and explaining the world around us.

Cartesian dualism and Newtonian physics established a philosophical position that was quickly embraced as the reigning worldview for the modern age. This view further advocated an empirical skepticism in which nothing about the universe should be believed unless it was shown by quantitative experiment to exist without question.

"...for as God uses the help of our reason to illuminate us, so should we likewise turn it every way, that we may be more capable of understanding His mysteries; provided only that the mind be enlarged, according to its capacity, to the grandeur of the mysteries, and not the mysteries contracted to the narrowness of the mind." Francis Bacon.

Following Francis Bacon, science became ever more secular and pragmatic in its orientation and moved further away from the deeper issues of mankind's spiritual life and purpose. If pressed, scientists would refer to a deistic notion of God, a deity that first pushed the Universe into operation, leaving it ever afterward to operate totally by mechanical means. This is exactly what occurred in the blind allegiance to the Newtonian paradigm. Kuhn's thesis also illuminated the problem of personal investment in science, revealing the way scientists often make their careers from particular discoveries, usually at universities or private institutes, and then tend to defend these theoretical positions - seeing them as the source of their personal status - against newcomers with different ideas, even if these ideas are objectively better; more complete and even factual rather than theoretical.

Newton imagined the world as operating by purely physical processes of machinelike nature, without mental or mystical influence of any kind. By following this paradigm, all the other sciences and subdisciplines had set out to label and explain all the parts and basic processes of the world...

(Continues...)

It is important to realise it. If we become personally invested in a particular idea, then we will naturally tend to want to defend it, especially against any new ideas; even if they are objectively better and more complete.

 

[JoChris]

@The Sojourner, can you show if you are responding to a particular entry, or are you just giving a general response?

I think you and I would agree that finding/ examining the TRUTH should be the goal, no matter what our own personal ideas/ worldview is!

Do you agree with this statement?

Since JAHtruth claims to be Jesus reborn in a new body (i.e. Anthony John Hill born in Sussex UK 1948), all his teachings should be in 100% agreement with Jesus' words, the apostles' words, therefore ALL of the bible.