Jehova Witness/the Kingdom of God

[adf417]

Someone on this thread post this scripture. You know, when I was a Jehovah’s Witness I never read this before. It is so meaningful to me now. Of course, as a JW I never read the Bible, but not because it was forbidden but because I had enough to read that was put out by the Watchtower, Bible & Tract Society.

But as for Jesus, well, we were not to worship him, and now I find many scriptures where he is worshipped and to be worshipped. Jesus wasn’t much in the picture at all. It was all about Jehovah, and to this day it has always been about God to me, not about Jesus. This Easter I began looking at Christ, this for many reasons, not because it was Easter because I never celebrated Easter as a JW, not as a HIndu or as a Buddhist. But because of what I was reading, Gnostic Christianity which is replete with sexual tantric practices, well, for some, many or most of them, I saw why the Catholic Church banned it, and soI realized that they had something to say of importance.

I may not agree with everything the Cathlic Church teaches, but I don’t think I really have to do so. In time maybe my mind will change on things. At this moment I don’t even kow if I will ever be a Christian again.

It was to excommunication that I rejected to, because I thought it was like shunning (disfellowshipment, as the JWs call it), but it isn’t at all. One of the most cruel things that the JWs do is disfellowship members, and for the slightest infraction. Speak about not treating the flock with kindness!!! People are not just torn from their God, but from their family and friends for things that they had not done, or didn’t mean to do, just for cases of imperfection, or just because they can’t believe in the teachings anymore. And for this they lose their parents and siblings. NO ONE can talk with them. In turn many become atheists, and the Catholic Church is the last religion on their list of places to attend because they are Bablyon the Great, marked for destruction, and they are wrong about everything. I wonder what made Russell and Rutherfold so anti-Catholic? And as a JW we thought it great that when JWs were kicked out or left that they lost all religion and especially that they would not go to the Catholic Church. How loving is that? How loving is any of it?

I read the posts by the JW here, and they are taken from the publications. Not much is actually from him, not even that about war. When I was JW we were pacists. Evidentally that has changed some. We never thought to help others unless it was going door-to-door. When I left and started thinking for myself I realized that some wars are very justified, especially the holocaust, and all I knew about it from the JWs is how much they were persecuted by Hitler, and how they stood in their faith.

We never helped people that were hungry either, not even members. I remember going to a house to have dinner with one of the elders (overseers?). We all ate one sweet potato because that was all they had. We were not taught to give, and so I didn’t question or give. I just wondered why they didn’t have much food.

I would only hope that the JW here would sit down and read the New Testament and see what Jesus really had to say, but then I realize that once you have been well indoctrinated it is hard to think out of the box. It still is for me with some things.

I did like reading what the early church fathers had to say about the trinity. What an eye opener since the JWs love to quote from them when it serves their needs but not when it doesn’t. Does this mean that the WB&TS actually read what they had said and ignored the teaching on the trinity? Or did they find the quote they needed elsewhere and used it, not realizing all that they said? And still it is hard for me to think of Jesus as God or even in the trinity. But I can see that since Jesus was lower than the angels while on earth, that the Father could be said to be greater than he.

It is actually good that we have this thread going because as an exJW I need this and hopefully others will benefit as well. When I was a JW I thought that the Catholics didn’t read the Bible. Now I have a Catholic Bible, and I have also learned that in 3 years Mass has completely read the Bible. I don’t know how many JWs can boast of this. I also remember that we would tell Catholics that they should be able to listen to other opinions, and this allowed us to give our opinion at their door or in their house. But if a JW is asked to listen to an opinion, well, most leave. And what else? Well, when we went door-to-door or talked to anyone about the teachings, we were counting time. Time meant so much to us. We got to put how much time we spent in service and bragged about it. 100 hours was the greatest, the Pioneers did that. I was a Pioneer when something happened to me, and the JWs didn’t believe me and so kicked me out. How I was proud of those 100 hours and to be called a Pioneer, and how horrible to have been kicked out. I have always left every religion on my own sense then because when I see people being abused, I just walk out. They taught me that when they kicked me out and I found out how horrible it felt. I never got over it, and it has been 40 years. And I could never look at Christianity until now, but I don’t know where it is going, if anywhere.

May God bless you on your journey jessaka. I hope and pray you will be open to the Holy Spirit and His message and let Him lead you to where ever His will takes you. I can only imagine what one goes through when leaving the JW’s. Please don’t loose hope in Jesus and He will guide you.

Every spare moment you are not praying, you may want to browse this CAF sight for insightful information that may ease your misunderstandings of the Catholic Church and give you comfort.

Juicy blessings!!!

 

[Miriam1947]

. . .

It is actually good that we have this thread going because as an exJW I need this and hopefully others will benefit as well. When I was a JW I thought that the Catholics didn’t read the Bible. Now I have a Catholic Bible, and I have also learned that in 3 years Mass has completely read the Bible. I don’t know how many JWs can boast of this. I also remember that we would tell Catholics that they should be able to listen to other opinions, and this allowed us to give our opinion at their door or in their house. But if a JW is asked to listen to an opinion, well, most leave. And what else? Well, when we went door-to-door or talked to anyone about the teachings, we were counting time. Time meant so much to us. We got to put how much time we spent in service and bragged about it. 100 hours was the greatest, the Pioneers did that. I was a Pioneer when something happened to me, and the JWs didn’t believe me and so kicked me out. How I was proud of those 100 hours and to be called a Pioneer, and how horrible to have been kicked out. I have always left every religion on my own sense then because when I see people being abused, I just walk out. They taught me that when they kicked me out and I found out how horrible it felt. I never got over it, and it has been 40 years. And I could never look at Christianity until now, but I don’t know where it is going, if anywhere.

God bless you on your journey. Just keep believing in God and know that you are on a journey that He has led you to. Pray and ask for faith. It will be given to you.

We are all here because God gave us the grace to believe.

 

[jessaka]

Thank you all.

I am having a hard time figured out all that was covered and if the Catholic answers were helpful to me because there is a lot to read and it isn’t easy for me to read while at a computer.

Does the Catholic Church have a book that refutes the Jehovah’s Witnesses?

I certainly would offer the JW a book, Crisis of Conscious by Raymond Franz. You can read it free online: vvatchtower.org/jwalphamale/?p=1678

 

[jessaka]

What I would like to bring up is the Jehovah’s Witnesses have a very good argument against Hell. I would like to see the Catholic view. Because I know that Sheol and Hades are both translated as “the common grave.” I saw this in the margin of a KJV of the Bible many years ago.

And who created Hell? If God created it, then that makes him responsible for people going there. I can’t imagine a loving God creating hell, but I can’t imagine a loving God killing his creation either by having them die instead of going to hell.

 

[CoRedeemer]

Why do people go to hell?

It’s a good question…

One thing that we have to understand, is that Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels, not for man. But since man has his own free will and can choose to reject salvation out of their own free will, so they send themselves to hell by their own disobedience to God. God sends no one to hell. It is actually people themselves, who, through their own actions choose to compromise their fellow human beings.

The question is: Why do souls go to hell and what for?

First of all, in order to go to hell you would need to do something so seriously evil, something so seriously offensive and scandalous to one’s own neighbor and to God, in order to be deserving of hell. For example, willfully harming your neigbour or neigbours well being, spiritually or physically or even their dignity - is a serious scandal and is a “mortal sin”. When we are talking about mortal sin, then we are talking about something that leads to spiritual danger or endangers the will of God. For example, Jesus has said, “Not those who call me, Lord, Lord, will enter into heaven. But the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.”

Contrary to mortal sin is likewise “light sin” or “venial sin,” which is not spiritually dangerous or not derseving of hell. Such as: Getting angry, or stealing pencils or pens at work, or speeding - depending where you live and how lenient they are concerning speeding - or omitting to pray, or being slack. yet, this is not deserving of hell. Nevertheless, if not careful the venial sin can lead to mortal sin. For instance, we know sin is a steping stone to a greater sin. Therefore, venial sin is a steping stone to steal large amounts of money, which can lead to ruine of someone’s business or livelihood. A perfect way of describing venial sin and mortal sin is this: Suppose a man stole 5 cents, while another man stole 5 million dollars. So, the man who stole 5 cents had committed venial sin, while the other man who stole 5 million dollars, had committed mortal sin. The degree of sin matters. Therefore the man who stole 5 cents is less deserving of hell than somebody who stole 5 million dollars, because the degree of sin is attributed to the damage done to ones neighbour. Actually, 5 cents will not hurt someones business, but 5 million dollars will. Yet, if not careful, venial sin will lead a person to mortal sin.

Another mortal sin is pornopraphy. Why? The degree of sin in the porno industry is a scandalous industry, that occupies itself around serious drugs, blood money, theft, and is also an organized crime and is a murderous industry. Therefore people who purchase pornography and if they are Christians, are comitting “Mortal Sin” which is deserving of hell. Since they are harboring and protecting the scandal and the ruin of ones own neighbor, spiritually and physically, they are protecting mortal sin, especially when there’s children involved.

On top of that, pornography is tied to what Jesus said in Matthew 5:28-30, “But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell.”

Well, if somebody refuses penace, if somebody refuses to repent of mortal sin, and if they refuse to turn away from mortal sin and refuse to accept God’s love/mercy and grace and, wish to continue being scandalous to others, then they themselves are choosing hell - out of their own free will.

Consequently, it isn’t easy to fall into mortal sin unless you willfully and willing refuse to repent from mortal sin. God is love and will not condemn anyone to hell unless they willing or stubbornly refuse to reject mortal sin. For instance, if they know and have heard that pornoraphy is a scandal and is a mortal sin, also they still decide to continue to expose themselves to pornography, then they themselves are at fault for their eternal destination. They themselves are accountable for where they are going, since they have been warned and told what to do, but they chose not to, since they’re free.

We choose lastly our eternal destination. We choose heaven or hell or purgatory, since we have been told the gospels and have received it. Yet, it depends how we hear it, since Jesus has said to us, "Take care then how you hear, for to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he thinks that he has will be taken away.” Luke 8:18

God is love, yes, and will give us whatever it takes to be saved. Yet, it all depends on us and how humble and ready we are to hear the Word of God and co-operate with it and his Church.

Amen

 

[jessaka]

At the General Audience of Wednesday, 28 July 1999, the Holy Father reflected on hell as the definitive rejection of God. In his catechesis, the Pope said that care should be taken to interpret correctly the images of hell in Sacred Scripture, and explained that “hell is the ultimate consequence of sin itself… Rather than a place, hell indicates the state of those who freely and definitively separate themselves from God, the source of all life and joy”.

1. God is the infinitely good and merciful Father. But man, called to respond to him freely, can unfortunately choose to reject his love and forgiveness once and for all, thus separating himself for ever from joyful communion with him. It is precisely this tragic situation that Christian doctrine explains when it speaks of eternal damnation or hell. It is not a punishment imposed externally by God but a development of premises already set by people in this life. The very dimension of unhappiness which this obscure condition brings can in a certain way be sensed in the light of some of the terrible experiences we have suffered which, as is commonly said, make life “hell”.

In a theological sense however, hell is something else: it is the ultimate consequence of sin itself, which turns against the person who committed it. It is the state of those who definitively reject the Father’s mercy, even at the last moment of their life.

ewtn.com/library/papaldoc/jp2heavn.htm

The Religion News Service reported that a Vatican-approved editorial published several weeks ago in the Jesuit journal Civilta Cattolica agrees with the pope’s latest pronouncement. The editorial explicitly pronounced, “Hell exists, not as a place but as a state, a way of being of the person who suffers the pain of the deprivation of God” (Los Angeles Times, 7-31-99). The pope said eternal damnation is “not God’s work but is actually our own doing.” Only a week earlier the pope stated that heaven is neither "an abstraction nor a place in the clouds, but a living, personal relationship of union with the Holy Trinity. "

ovrlnd.com/Cults/poprejectshell.html

 

[CoRedeemer]

Here’s more evidence about life after death from Saint Paul.

Saint Paul says in Philippians 1:23-24 “So I feel torn between the two. I desire greatly to leave this life and to be with Christ, which will be better by far, but it is necessary for you that I remain in this life.”

It makes perfect sense that Saint Paul wishes to die and be with Christ. He talks about this in 2 Corinthians 5:6-8

 

[CoRedeemer]

We’re all praying for you, Jessaka,

About Matthew 18:15-20 “If your brother sins, take 1 or 2 others to point it out. And if he doesn’t listen to you, then tell it to the church. And if he still doesn’t listen to you, treat him as if he were a pagan or a tax collector.” If you read Titus 3:10-11, you will see Saint Paul warns Titus about those who promote sects in the church. He literally says, “If anyone promotes sects in the church, **warn him once **and then a second time. If he still continues, break with him, knowing that such a person is misled and sinful and stands self-condemned.” This is similar to the sequence which Jesus was refering to in Matthew 18:15-23

So which church do we go to unless the Catholic Church, since it has succeeded from the apostles and it has the successor of Peter and he is the 263rd Pope, Pope Benedict 16.

God bless,

 

[jessaka]

I believe in the afterlife, I just don’t believe in a literal hell where a person’s body is burning with fire for eternity. If the Lake of Fire is the second death, then to me that means that they are dead. But for all I know that could mean a spiritual death. For all I know hell can also be on earth in the life that some people have to live, and then when they die they are reborn into the same type of life. There is enough suffering in this world to call it hell for some and heaven for others. But at the same time I do believe in the spiritual world where one is with God in some way.

 

[Regardless]

I believe in the afterlife, I just don’t believe in a literal hell where a person’s body is burning with fire for eternity. If the Lake of Fire is the second death, then to me that means that they are dead…

Hi Jessaka.

The scripture you refer to with the “lake of fire” is Revelation 20:14. The KJV here says: “Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire.”
Some think that the lake of fire is hell, but as we can see, hell is cast into it. Destroyed!

That fits with your logic. If hell is destroyed, then it can’t be a place where people are tortured eternity.

Just a thought.

 

[Regardless]

In the book of Matthew?

 

[Regardless]

You will notice if you review my posts there have been times when i have not logged on for many months. I don’t spend time religiously on this site. it is a hobby I engage in now and then.
I have times when I enjoy the Biblical discussions, and engage in them enthusiastically. Sometimes I can’t resist replying to fierce criticism with humour - or even cheek. My apologies if I offend.

I do try to keep up with serious questions to my comments. Sometimes I have to post several in a row to try to work through them.
Please believe I do try to reply in a polite and courteous fashion.

Sometimes I do find myself overwhelmed with too many posts to work through. (I am often outnumbered 5:1 ) In those cases I put the replies off till I have time - and that is sometimes so much later the discussion subject has moved on.

• Or sometimes I realize I am only angering people with my replies, so I withdraw from the conversation if it is obvious it is becoming merely an argument.

Again, please forgive me if I have cause you offence. I will try to behave.

 

[Regardless]

And in case you post further today, expecting a reply: It is after 11pm here and I have work tomorrow. If I don’t reply for 24 hours it is not because I am avoiding tough questions.

Best regards and goodnight.

 

[CoRedeemer]

Hi Jessaka.

The scripture you refer to with the “lake of fire” is Revelation 20:14. The KJV here says: “Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire.”
Some think that the lake of fire is hell, but as we can see, hell is cast into it. Destroyed!

That fits with your logic. If hell is destroyed, then it can’t be a place where people are tortured eternity.

Just a thought.

Wrong! Wrong! Oh, Wrong!!!

If anybody has a problem with the doctrine about hell then they have a problem with Jesus Christ and his church, since it was he who revealed it to us in several passages in the gospels.

(Read Luke 13:22-30)

Luke 12:47-48 “And that servant who knew his master’s will but did not get ready or act according to his will, will receive a severe beating. But the one who did not know, and did what deserved a beating, will receive a light beating.” No hell! Come on and read scripture the way it should be read.

Mark 9:47-48
And if your eye makes you fall into sin, tear it out! It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye, than, keeping both eyes, to be thrown into hell, where the worms that eat them never die, and the fire never goes out."

Matthew 8:12 “…while the sons of the kingdom will be thrown into the out darkness; **there will men weep and gnash their teeth./**U]”

Matthew 26:24 “The Son of Man is going as the scripture say he will. But woe for that one who betrays the Son of Man**; better for him not to have been born**.” Hmm… why? Why would it better for that man not to have been born? What’s the difference when there’s no suffering once after hell unlesss there is a hell? And that is why Jesus said, “Better for him not have been born,” because the spirit doesn’t die.

Matthew 25:20 "And throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." It wasn’t I who said this, but Jesus.

2 Thessalonians 1:8-9 “In a flame of fire, giving vengeance to them who know not God, and who obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.Who shall suffer eternal punishment in destruction, from the face of the Lord, and from the glory of his power:”

Matthew 25:41-43,“Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels… for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did no clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me,’”

Revelation 14:11 "The smoke of their torment goes up for ever and ever; for there is no rest , day or night, for those who worshiped the beast and its image and for those who were branded with the mark of its name."

Luke 16:19-31 Jesus gives a public revelation of a man describing his torments in a place of fire, and pleads with Father Abraham to ease his suffering and have Lazarus rise back from the dead to warn his 5 brothers, so that they may not come to that place of torment."

Consquently, a man once came to Saint Padre Pio and said, “Padre Pio, I don’t believe in hell.” And Padre Pio said to that man, “Don’t worry, you will believe in it when you get there!”

I don’t see why God wouldn’t sentence people to hell considering that there are so many who are deserving of it. Yet, even our Lord condemned the Pharisees saying, “Serpents, race of vipers, how can you escape condemnation to hell?” Matthew 23:33

Hell is eternally real and it exists for those who refuse to do penance. Jesus Christ taught hell and therefore should not be taken lightly. We believe what Jesus taught us, not what WE taught ourselves and what we think, because, what we think is not divine revelation, neither is Scripture a compiled myths of books but is a revelation of God.

 

[Catholic_Dude]

Hi Jessaka.

The scripture you refer to with the “lake of fire” is Revelation 20:14. The KJV here says: “Death and Hell were cast into the lake of fire.”

Some think that the lake of fire is hell, but as we can see, hell is cast into it. Destroyed!

That fits with your logic. If hell is destroyed, then it can’t be a place where people are tortured eternity.

Just a thought.

That’s a bit of a lexical fallacy here. You should not be quoting the KJV here but rather the NWT:
10And the Devil who was misleading them was hurled into the lake of fire and sulphur, where both the wild beast and the false prophet already were; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.

… 13And the sea gave up those dead in it, and death and Hades gave up those dead in them, and they were judged individually according to their deeds.14And death and Hades were hurled into the lake of fire. This means the second death, the lake of fire.
Notice the distinction. The term “hell” is not used in verses 13-14, but rather Hades! They are not synonymous terms (see the past posts where this was shown). The lake of fire is the ‘eternal hellfire’ that Jesus and the NT speaks about elsewhere, e.g. Matt 24:41 - see CoRedeemer’s last post.

The very fact this verse makes a distinction between death and Hades shows there is indeed a distinction. Thus, Hades cannot simply be physical death, but rather a spiritual state.

 

[jessaka]

I have the Catholic Bible. The notes on Revelation says this:

"2:11 (which I was referred to from the first scripture): The second death: this refers to the eternal death when sinners will receive their final punishment; cf: 20:6, 14-15, 21:8

 

[jessaka]

Co-Redeemer, How do you know whether to take these passages on hell literally? Christiainity is not the only religion that teaches hell, so do Hindus and Buddhists, but their hells are not permanent. So you can’t p(name removed by moderator)oint it to my having a problem with Jesus. My problem is I don’t take it literally. I felt God’s Presence God as Love, and a loving God does not put people in a burning hell for eternity to suffer for what little they did in one lifetime. And I say little because nothing man does in his 70 years is bad enough to have him burn for eternity. Why has no one here considered what Pope Paul II said in regards to hell?

Are you suggesting that Jesus meant to literally tear out our eye if it offends us? We have worms that eat us and never die. How is that possible? A body with worms and fire. Doesn’t exist. Both would be consummed.

(name removed by moderator), I would like Regardless to stay here because I want to see the debates for myself. I will never, and I mean NEVER become a JW again, but I would like to see how a Catholic refutes them.

 

[jessaka]

Good Points!!!

Their failed prophecies are so numerious that it is unbelieveable. Not since 1975 have they made another one, I don’t think. I feared 1975 since I was kicked out, but it came and went, and now I never pay attention to any prophecies.

I didn’t realize before how their Bible serves their needs. It has been interesting coming here and learning this and how people left after reading one of their real bibles, which is no longer published.

 

[Kc906]

Their failed prophecies are so numerious that it is unbelieveable. Not since 1975 have they made another one, I don’t think

Matthew 7:15-20 15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. 16 You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? 17 Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Therefore by their fruits you will know them.

The JW organization and their leaders have been guilty of falsely professing the end of the world by putting a date on it. Their old publications connected the year 1914 to the end of the world, therefore any future connections to the year in their publications would be the equivalent of them trying to reveal “good fruits” from a “bad tree.”

1889 “Be not surprised, then, when in subsequent chapters we present proofs that the setting up of the Kingdom of God is already begun, that it is pointed out in prophecy as due to begin the exercise of power in A.D. 1878, and that the 'battle of the great day of God Almighty (Rev. 16:14) which will end in A.D. 1914 with the complete overthrow of earth’s present rulership, is already commenced. The gathering of the armies is plainly visible from the standpoint of God’s word.” (Studies in the Scriptures, Vol. 2, The Time Is At Hand, 1889 Ed., p. 101. The 1915 Edition of this texts changed “A.D. 1914” to read ‘A.D. 1915’)

1908 “In view of this strong Bible evidence concerning the Times of the Gentiles, we consider it an established truth that the final end of the kingdoms of this world, and the full establishment of the Kingdom of God, will be accomplished at the end of A. D. 1914.” (The Time Is At Hand; 1889; 1908 ed.; p. 99)

This of course is only a glimpse of the False Prophecies declared by by the JW organization. Now to answer your question; let’s move past 1975.

Now in Jehovah’s presence, he is exalted high above all earthly kings, being invested with “all authority . . . in heaven and on the earth. (Matthew 28:18; Psalm 89:27; 1 Timothy 6:15) In 1914 he was installed as King to rule among the earthly nations.—Psalm 2:6-9. Revelation: Its Grant Climax At Hand 1988, pg 18-19

John Barr … twice read the comment: “Jesus evidently meant that the lives of the anointed ones who were on hand when the sign began to be evident in 1914 would overlap with the lives of the other anointed ones who would see the start of the great tribulation.” We do not know the exact length of “this generation,” but it includes these two groups whose lives overlap. Even though the anointed vary in age, those in the two groups constituting the generation are contemporaries during the part of the last days. How comforting it is to know that the younger anointed contemporaries of those older anointed ones who discerned the sign when it became evident beginning in 1914 will not die off before the great tribulation starts!" **Watchtower 2010 June 15 p.5 **

If a person or group is confirmed to be a false prophet, scripture tells us not to fear them because they do not speak for God. The governing body of the JW organization still peddle the year 1914 as if it is a valid “Godly year” that only they happened to come up with. We know for a fact, without a doubt, that this same group prophesized the end of the world in 1914, countless times, in countless articles. We all can live our lives comfortably by ignoring the teachings of the JW organization; since doing so would be obeying a promise from God.

 

[CoRedeemer]

Co-Redeemer, How do you know whether to take these passages on hell literally? Christiainity is not the only religion that teaches hell, so do Hindus and Buddhists, but their hells are not permanent. So you can’t p(name removed by moderator)oint it to my having a problem with Jesus. My problem is I don’t take it literally. I felt God’s Presence God as Love, and a loving God does not put people in a burning hell for eternity to suffer for what little they did in one lifetime. And I say little because nothing man does in his 70 years is bad enough to have him burn for eternity. Why has no one here considered what Pope Paul II said in regards to hell?

Are you suggesting that Jesus meant to literally tear out our eye if it offends us? We have worms that eat us and never die. How is that possible? A body with worms and fire. Doesn’t exist. Both would be consummed.

(name removed by moderator), I would like Regardless to stay here because I want to see the debates for myself. I will never, and I mean NEVER become a JW again, but I would like to see how a Catholic refutes them.

Jesseka,

That website which you posted about Pope John Paul II rejecting Hell as an actual place was composed by a Protestant who is lying. Just go to the very bottom and you will see the blue tab which says, “Return to Protestant Apologetics.” And so I did a little research and found out that the person is a devotee of Martin Luther. Just take a look at that website which you had posted before. ovrlnd.com/Cults/poprejectshell.html

The man who started this website is lying. Well, of course, because he has to lie in order to trick people with distorted facts about Catholicism. Also John Paul II did preach on Luke 16:19-31. I remember watching a documentary film by CBS about the life of John Paul 2, and, in Latin America he warned the rich people of the world, not to be miserly towards the poor and that God will punish the rich if they live greedily.

So they are lying, Jesseka,

Also about Buddhism and the Hindu religion. Actually Buddhism is not a religion that accepts itself as being a divinely revealed religion. Who is Guatama Buddha?

He lived well before Jesus Christ around 6 century B.C and was a former member of the Hindu Religion. They do believe in Reincarnation and in rebirth. But they don’t have an encounter with God or that God has revealed himself as do Christians and Islam.

There is a video called “Are all religions are equal?” Tim Staples is the man who established this website called “Catholic Answers”, and he is the man who is preaching in this video. Also Tim Staples was a former Assemblies of God minister, but now is very great Catholic preacher. youtube.com/watch?v=o0MYzb72v0U&list=FLeklgGeRb9O686Nta6mvLgQ&index=1&feature=plpp_video

Take also a look at this video about Tim Staples. youtube.com/watch?v=9A5XBzgjgfE&feature=autoplay&list=FLeklgGeRb9O686Nta6mvLgQ&playnext=1

Tim Staples is truly inspiring.