Ask a Catholic

[The Mormonator]

JW's believe in Xenu of the Galactic Confederacy?

JW isn't really a religion, is it? Seems kind of hokey from what I've read up on.

 

[Shiranui117]

So I want to "ask a Catholic" is there any evidence that Jesus actually rose from the tomb on Sunday morning? The Bible says that people went to the tomb early Sunday morning and found it empty. They did not see Jesus rise from the tomb, it was empty when they got there. So did He rise 5 minutes before they got there, or maybe an hour, or maybe several hours? I can see nothing that says He rose on Sunday morning. Maybe it was Saturday evening? Maybe Saturday evening would not be "three days and three nights." But Friday evening to Sunday morning is also not three days and three nights. So is there any other evidence that specifically shows Jesus left the tomb on Sunday morning? Or is this just another tradition.

Actually, there is only one place in the Gospels where Jesus said that He would rise after three days and three nights, and that is in Matthew 12:40, where Jesus is comparing his being in a tomb to Jonah's being in the belly of the whale. The intent on Matthew's part was to connect everything about Jesus back to the Prophets. As we will see elsewhere in the Gospels, the intent here was not to say how long Jesus would be in the tomb, but that He would rise from the dead, just as Jonah was eventually spit out of the whale.

In all other places, it is said that Jesus is supposed to rise on the third day. You can check Matthew 27:63-64, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Luke 18:33, Luke 24:7, and Luke 24:46. Now, does three days necessitate 72 hours? Not necessarily. The Jewish people have the concept of "inclusive reckoning", where part of one day can be counted as the whole. So, part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of Sunday is therefore three days. The same applies to nights--part of the night can be counted as the whole night. But, if we take the consensus of the various Gospel passages, then it is clear that three days is meant as the time frame, not three days and three nights, since the "three nights" is only mentioned once to make a very specific connection to Jonah.

As to when exactly Jesus rose from the tomb, we know that it had to have been on Sunday, otherwise it would have been two days only. Whether He rose five minutes before the women got there or an hour before is irrelevant.

 

[Demonslayer]

In all other places, it is said that Jesus is supposed to rise on the third day. You can check Matthew 27:63-64, Mark 9:31, Mark 10:34, Luke 18:33, Luke 24:7, and Luke 24:46. Now, does three days necessitate 72 hours? Not necessarily. The Jewish people have the concept of "inclusive reckoning", where part of one day can be counted as the whole. So, part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of Sunday is therefore three days. The same applies to nights--part of the night can be counted as the whole night. But, if we take the consensus of the various Gospel passages, then it is clear that three days is meant as the time frame, not three days and three nights, since the "three nights" is only mentioned once to make a very specific connection to Jonah.

Biblical math, where three equals 1 and five equals potato salad.

 

[Demonslayer]

Navin R Johnson was familiar with Biblical Math:


"I know we've only known each other four weeks and three days, but to me it seems like nine weeks and five days. The first day seemed like a week and the second day seemed like five days. And the third day seemed like a week again and the fourth day seemed like eight days. And the fifth day you went to see your mother and that seemed just like a day, and then you came back and later on the sixth day, in the evening, when we saw each other, that started seeming like two days, so in the evening it seemed like two days spilling over into the next day and that started seeming like four days, so at the end of the sixth day on into the seventh day, it seemed like a total of five days. And the sixth day seemed like a week and a half. I have it written down, but I can show it to you tomorrow if you want to see it."

 

[Serenity Now]

Navin R Johnson was familiar with Biblical Math:


"I know we've only known each other four weeks and three days, but to me it seems like nine weeks and five days. The first day seemed like a week and the second day seemed like five days. And the third day seemed like a week again and the fourth day seemed like eight days. And the fifth day you went to see your mother and that seemed just like a day, and then you came back and later on the sixth day, in the evening, when we saw each other, that started seeming like two days, so in the evening it seemed like two days spilling over into the next day and that started seeming like four days, so at the end of the sixth day on into the seventh day, it seemed like a total of five days. And the sixth day seemed like a week and a half. I have it written down, but I can show it to you tomorrow if you want to see it."

Reads like Tom Brady's ball inflation gauge.

 

[Serenity Now]

They aren't Christians because they don't celebrate Christmas?

They aren't Christian because the deny the divinity of Christ, don't baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, plus they actually believe Jesus was the Angel Michael.

 

[PackJason]

They aren't Christian because the deny the divinity of Christ, don't baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, plus they actually believe Jesus was the Angel Michael.

So, what about these things excludes them from being Christians exactly? Just because they have a different interpretation of the Bible than you?

Also, for accuracy: They do believe in the divinity of Christ, and only believe Jesus resides in Heaven as Michael.

 

[Kelly of the Phoenix]

Well, you seem to leave out one vital thing in enumerating all these defects in the human body.....the fact that the defects were not originally designed in man that way.

You have evidence in prehistoric humanoid skeletons that they never had any health issues? No back problems? No disease? No problems whatsoever?

This world is ruled by God's adversary for the time being whilst the issue of God's universal sovereignty is settled once and for all.

God's power is SERIOUSLY questioned? It SERIOUSLY needs "settling"? What's the point of being a Christian if you think God is powerless to handle some little egotistical upstart? How can Jesus save us if he can't handle one specific guy? Powerful people don't HAVE to go to war to prove that power ... they simply EXUDE it so it is without question. Only the impotent have to compare sizes...

The whole story is in the Bible....from start to finish.....it ends well for those who are obedient to their Maker.

In what sense? Even Jesus noted it rains on the just and unjust alike.

Humans put limitations on this Creator that he doesn't have.

Like telling God He's not allowed to use evolution?

I believe that the "sheep and the goats" are being separated as we speak.

How can Jesus hate these guys? Has he no compassion?

I celebrate only one observance that Christians are command by Jesus to hold annually...the memorial of his death. Not Easter with all its pagan trappings, no Christmas greedfest, no commercially promoted events that come in rapid succession and are designed to part people from their money by performing their rituals and asking when the next 'fleecing' will take place. Not for me sorry. That is people blindly following the crowd. We can entertain ourselves quite nicely without all that.
Being "no part of this world" means not celebrating its nationalism or its false religious holidays.....I have better things to do with my money and my time and more important things to teach my children.

Not a huge holiday fan myself.

Who were the mostly dead? I don't get you. Please elaborate.

It's possible he looked dead enough. The story of the comatose girl proves that death was as poorly understood then as it is for that family that just won't accept their brain dead tween is absolutely, positively deceased. Have you ever heard of Romeo and Juliet? Juliet (spoilers) only looks dead thanks to a potion. Just give it awhile to wear off and BAM -- you're back from the dead ... It's about the only way I can sympathize with the Muslim idea he didn't really die ... I think there's evidence in the story that he survived a near death experience because actions taken accidentally cured him and it took 3 days or so to be well enough to walk out.

So I want to "ask a Catholic" is there any evidence that Jesus actually rose from the tomb on Sunday morning? The Bible says that people went to the tomb early Sunday morning and found it empty. They did not see Jesus rise from the tomb, it was empty when they got there. So did He rise 5 minutes before they got there, or maybe an hour, or maybe several hours? I can see nothing that says He rose on Sunday morning. Maybe it was Saturday evening? Maybe Saturday evening would not be "three days and three nights." But Friday evening to Sunday morning is also not three days and three nights. So is there any other evidence that specifically shows Jesus left the tomb on Sunday morning? Or is this just another tradition.

Christianity likes magic numbers. This is also why Jesus has 12 apostles even though there clearly many more than that, men and women, but because we have to homage 12 tribes of Israel, we'll only count those 12 guys.

The Catholic Church is very often condemned for crusades but the fact is that Christians in the Byzantine Church were being slaughtered by Muslim militants and the crusades were started to stop it.

Also didn't hurt there was lots of money to be made.

much of what they did was common practice of all entities.

If they were all doing it, why is the Church right and the Muslims wrong?

Furthermore Muslim aggression stretched into Europe and if not for the Pope's and the precedent of the crusades to call the faithful to arms, it is very likely western civilation as we know it would have fallen and we would be under Sharia law as we speak.

You act like the Crusades were just Catholics marching in and kicking butt.

Start on this series and see why this is crap

Many have condemned the Church for not excommunicating bad people like Hitler.

So all these people could be excommunicated but not Hitler I mean, some of the reasons noted in the list are like "dude didn't return a letter" or "dude left his wife". Seriously?

What "proven scientific evidence"? I have never seen anything more than conjecture and supposition being passed off as scientific fact. The truth is, there are no facts.

If a paternity test can tell you from DNA you are related to some guy, why is it so difficult to believe studying DNA can also see our relationships with other creatures? Why is being an organically crafted being upsetting to you but being the descendant of a literal "dirt bag" isn't?

I didn't know god swung both ways.

As all humans of whatever gender are made in God's image, apparently God swings ALL ways.

JW isn't really a religion, is it? Seems kind of hokey from what I've read up on.

All denominations have their own hokeyness. Specks and logs, people.

 

[Katzpur]

JW isn't really a religion, is it? Seems kind of hokey from what I've read up on.

My gosh, Mormonator, stop and think for a minute how you'd like hearing this same comment about Mormons! "Mormonism isn't really a religion, is it?" If you really are a Mormon and believe what your religion teaches, you wouldn't talk that way. It certainly doesn't reflect very well on your religion. But maybe that doesn't matter to you. Maybe you're just looking to make a bad impression. You never really know who you're talking to online, but I have some serious misgivings about you.

 

[Deeje]

One of many reasons. They have their own set of beliefs that are very different from Christian values. They can be "disfellowshipped" for apostasy and forever be forbidden from re-entering their church. That is at odds with Christian values whereby no crime or transgression is beyond forgiveness and redemption. Honestly, it sounds closer to what Scientologists adhere to.

Just reading through the mindless and ignorant chatter about Jehovah's Witnesses here reminds me of what must have been said about Jesus Christ by people with a similar mindset in his day.
The devil was never going to allow Christ's true disciples to have "good press". If they can murder the son of God as a blasphemer, then what are they going to say about his followers?
Weren't the first Christians persecuted by members of their own faith? History repeats.

I know where this kind of talk comes from because I was raised in a family of church goers. I know what ignorance looks like because I was ignorant myself once. Having been on both sides of this issue I cannot begin to tell you how wrong you are.
JW's have no beliefs that are not Biblical, unlike the church I used to attend with my sister. It wasn't until I actually studied the Bible instead of church doctrine that I realized what a sham Christendom's disunited churches actually are. There is little in their teachings and practices that reflect what Jesus taught at all. But you will never see this as long as you stay on your own side of the fence and judge. You will receive the same judgment you know. (Matt 7:1-5)

Sure, we disfellowship unrepentant wrongdoers...so did the apostles in the first century. The shepherds are instructed to judge those "inside" the congregation, whilst God judges those "outside". See for yourself....1 Cor 5:9-12.
It is called discipline and it is meant to correct a wrong course. No repentant person is ever disfellowshipped and NO disfellowshipped person is ever forbidden to return...that is the whole point of discipline so that repentant ones CAN come back. Those are true Christian values that are upheld in real life as they are supposed to be. (Heb 12:7-11) Does your church do this? If they did, how many would humbly accept the discipline and how many would defect to another church?

You need to get your information from more reliable sources I feel.

 

[Katzpur]

da fuq? What's got your garments in a twist?

Yup, I was right. You're not particularly subtle, are you?

 

[The Mormonator]

Yup, I was right. You're not particularly subtle, are you?

good for you.....you broke the case wide open.

 

[PackJason]

Yup, I was right. You're not particularly subtle, are you?

You're a Mormon? Terrific. You are literally the first I have ever had the pleasure of encountering.

Do you find it peculiar that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon in 16th century English?

 

[The Mormonator]

You're a Mormon? Terrific. You are literally the first I have ever had the pleasure of encountering.

Do you find it peculiar that Joseph Smith wrote the Book of Mormon in 16th century English?

JS didn't write it silly, he translated what was written on the magic gold tablets.

 

[Serenity Now]

So, what about these things excludes them from being Christians exactly? Just because they have a different interpretation of the Bible than you?

Also, for accuracy: They do believe in the divinity of Christ, and only believe Jesus resides in Heaven as Michael.

So Jesus is God and an Angel? Sorta like being bi?

 

[Deeje]

So, what about these things excludes them from being Christians exactly? Just because they have a different interpretation of the Bible than you?

Also, for accuracy: They do believe in the divinity of Christ, and only believe Jesus resides in Heaven as Michael.

Well thank you for at least trying to get to the truth here.....an unexpected post to tell you the truth.

They aren't Christian because the deny the divinity of Christ, don't baptize in the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, plus they actually believe Jesus was the Angel Michael.

We do indeed accept the divinity of Christ, but we don't believe that his divine nature makes him into the Almighty. He never once said he was God. He said that his Father sent him.

We do believe that Jesus is the Archangel Michael in his heavenly position as the Commander in Chief of all the angels. Jesus is said by Paul to "descend with an Archangel's voice" so it is hard to imagine God using the voice of a lesser being to call his children home. (1 Thess 4:15-17)

We get baptized with a full understanding of the role of the Father, son and holy spirit, which is a little different to the meaningless ritual practiced on infants with a sprinkle of water. Saying the words is not what it means.

 

[PackJason]

Well thank you for at least trying to get to the truth here.....an unexpected post to tell you the truth.

While I can be a douche, you'll notice in time, that I do remain truthful ... unless I'm being facetious.

 

[Serenity Now]

Well thank you for at least trying to get to the truth here.....an unexpected post to tell you the truth.



We do indeed accept the divinity of Christ, but we don't believe that his divine nature makes him into the Almighty. He never once said he was God. He said that his Father sent him.

We do believe that Jesus is the Archangel Michael in his heavenly position as the Commander in Chief of all the angels. Jesus is said by Paul to "descend with an Archangel's voice" so it is hard to imagine God using the voice of a lesser being to call his children home. (1 Thess 4:15-17)

We get baptized with a full understanding of the role of the Father, son and holy spirit, which is a little different to the meaningless ritual practiced on infants with a sprinkle of water. Saying the words is not what it means.

You're just interpreting scriptures to suit your fancy. All of Christendom believed in the trinity then in 1870 some dude drops some acid and everyone else is wrong.

You have to be a real moron to believe that 1800 years after the death of Christ everyone else had it wrong and the truth was finally found.

I was wiling to say you guys were good people and entitled to respect (just don't claim to Christians by the academic definition) but you've been such a douche all of that has been thrown out the window.

I mean you aren't even in the ballpark of reality on some of your claims.

 

[Serenity Now]

While I can be a douche, you'll notice in time, that I do remain truthful ... unless I'm being facetious.

Oh cut the crap you almost were baptised JW and you are overly sensitive about the subject because it's personal. If people were jumping on Mormons you would be leading the pack so don't get all self righteous. It isn't a good look for you.

 

[The Mormonator]

You're just interpreting scriptures to suit your fancy. All of Christendom believed in the trinity then in 1870 some dude drops some acid and everyone else is wrong.

You have to be a real moron to believe that 1800 years after the death of Christ everyone else had it wrong and the truth was finally found.

I was wiling to say you guys were good people and entitled to respect (just don't claim to Christians by the academic definition) but you've been such a douche all of that has been thrown out the window.

I mean you aren't even in the ballpark of reality on some of your claims.

Whoa, cool your jets.