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Russia Bans A Bible

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posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 09:44 PM
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Here is another story: The Hare Krishna's (Hindu) have a strong Russian base and Russians are flooding India. In fact, they have bought land in West Bengal and in other places around India for communities. As an aside, I live near LA and the Russian devotees are now far outnumbering the Spanish speakers here at the LA temple.

A Hindu Temple was built in Russia, then demolished and another promised. The Russian Orthodox Church wants/wanted land for a church in India but because of the lack of support for Hinduism in Russia, negotiations are stuck. Here's a tidbit: Russia to demolish Hindu Temple - 2012


The Russian Orthodox Church simply wants control. With a force like the Vatican in existence, who can blame them? As far as bible translations go...maybe their's is better. Knowing about the Council of Nicaea and knowing we have been lied to causes one to pause. But the scrolls, the scrolls remain unadulterated.

After reading the Book of Mary (Nag Hammadi Library found in 1945), it was easy for me to see the Bible in any version as a control mechanism of the worst and most offensive type. As a woman, I was pissed off for days after what I learned and I believe all women would be if they read this book, but that is a different rant.

Anywho, I think the Russian's are well acquainted with God, in His infinite variety of faces. Besides, God resides in the heart, not book.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 09:58 PM
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a reply to: Blue_Jay33

Russia has taken steps to ban cults but embraces the (very Russian) culture and practices of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Even if they don't hold religious views, the Russians acknowledge the unique cultural nature of the faith.

It would be hypocritical to ban the cult (JW's) and allow their 'book'.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 10:00 PM
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a reply to: Blue_Jay33

The article says Vyborg City Court in Russia. So is it one city banning the NWT or the whole Russian Federation?

Didn't the Russian Supreme Court ban Jehovah's Witnesses as an extreme group in April of this year?

So the possession of a New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures could be used as evidence of extremist activity. I guess Russia isn't very serious about equality of religions as stated in their Constitution.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 10:12 PM
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a reply to: WakeUpBeer

The "World" is up to US to plan - if we could grow up, share our toys and play nice, it would be great, but WE plan otherwise (most barely plan a month or more in advance let alone our place in and contribution to the planet community).

God planned an amazing universe and a beautiful planet that meets all of our needs in ways that cannot be imagined by most. No, it didn't come from Nothing nor is Earth an accident nor meaningless.

We humans could plan, like Luther Burbank who experimented with plants (got roses to grow without thorns by asking them) and Masaru Emoto who talked to water (to get beautiful or ugly crystals). Energy and consciousness affects both, so basically, we are living our thoughts and feelings.

A Saint Amidst the Roses

Masaru Emoto

We humans are slow and lazy and like having fun so, of course, it is convenient to relinquish responsibility. We may be forced to change...and soon.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 10:25 PM
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originally posted by: Blue_Jay33

originally posted by: SoaringHawk83
a reply to: Blue_Jay33

The Jehovah's Witnesses are not a 'Christian minority'. They're not Christian. They are a cult and so are LDS. The NWT is a perversion of the Holy Bible.


False Statements are just as bad as Fake News.


Truth In Translation........

In order to assess the reliability of the translators’ work, Jason BeDuhn, associate professor of religious studies at Northern Arizona University, in Flagstaff, Arizona, U.S.A., examined and compared for accuracy eight major translations, including the New World Translation of the Holy Scriptures, published by Jehovah’s Witnesses. The result?

While critical of some of its translation choices, BeDuhn called the New World Translation a “remarkably good” translation, “better by far” and “consistently better” than some of the others considered. Overall, concluded BeDuhn, the New World Translation “is one of the most accurate English translations of the New Testament currently available” and “the most accurate of the translations compared.”—Truth in Translation: Accuracy and Bias in English Translations of the New Testament.

BeDuhn noted, too, that many translators were subject to pressure “to paraphrase or expand on what the Bible does say in the direction of what modern readers want and need it to say.” On the other hand, the New World Translation is different, observed BeDuhn, because of “the greater accuracy of the NW as a literal, conservative translation of the original expressions of the New Testament writers.”

The Russian government doesn't understand that they can just switch to this bible.

KJV With Divine Name


I disagree with Jason BeDuhn's appraisal.

Several words with specific meaning in texts are translated into indistinct and generalized English words, to water down the specifics of the message.

For instance in the NWT the word “proskuneo” is translated as "worship" in every instance relating to God (Rev 5:14, 7:11, 11:16, 19:4, Jn 4:20, etc.) but in every reference to Jesus, when the same word is used, it is translated to "obesience" (Mt 14:33, 28:9, 28:17, Lk 24:52, Heb 1:6, etc.).

While either English word is an 'accurate' translation, the unequal use of the words indicates an an intention to obfuscate the deity of Christ, as presented in the scriptures, by the translators.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 10:30 PM
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originally posted by: Caver78
a reply to: Raggedyman

Um...no. Those of us in the US are commenting , not dictating what Russia should decide.
Personally since the tossed out huge chunks of the Bible during the deal at Nicea I would'n't swear ANY of us have a accurate copy of the Bible.

Last I paid attention Russia wasn't all that hot about Witnesses bringing the word of anything to anyone, the smackdown on their version of the bible seems to be just another tool to get them to leave. I could be off base but most of the country is Russian Orthodox or Muslim correct? Buddhist in eastern Russia? You have to ask yourself where the LDL'ers get off seeing this as a challenge to convert people who are content with their beliefs?

It's always struck me as quite an arrogant attitude.
YMMV of course.


No parts of the Bible were "chucked out" at Nicea. The whole point, purpose, conclusions and minutes of the meeting are recorded for history.

First Council of Nicaea - Wikipedia



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 10:54 PM
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originally posted by: BlissSeeker
Here is another story: The Hare Krishna's (Hindu) have a strong Russian base and Russians are flooding India. In fact, they have bought land in West Bengal and in other places around India for communities. As an aside, I live near LA and the Russian devotees are now far outnumbering the Spanish speakers here at the LA temple.

A Hindu Temple was built in Russia, then demolished and another promised. The Russian Orthodox Church wants/wanted land for a church in India but because of the lack of support for Hinduism in Russia, negotiations are stuck. Here's a tidbit: Russia to demolish Hindu Temple - 2012


The Russian Orthodox Church simply wants control. With a force like the Vatican in existence, who can blame them? As far as bible translations go...maybe their's is better. Knowing about the Council of Nicaea and knowing we have been lied to causes one to pause. But the scrolls, the scrolls remain unadulterated.

After reading the Book of Mary (Nag Hammadi Library found in 1945), it was easy for me to see the Bible in any version as a control mechanism of the worst and most offensive type. As a woman, I was pissed off for days after what I learned and I believe all women would be if they read this book, but that is a different rant.

Anywho, I think the Russian's are well acquainted with God, in His infinite variety of faces. Besides, God resides in the heart, not book.


The Nag Hammadi library is a jar of scrolls that were specifically anti-Christian in content and at least 400 years after the foundation of Christianity.

Even the supposed ancient Greek texts contained in the library are mostly fabrications not accurate translations of the Greek source texts (such as 'Plato's Republic').

The "Gospel of Mary" was not part of the Nag Hammadi library. It was part of the papyrus "Berolinensis Gnosticus 8502,1" written about 500 years after Christ and in Coptic, not Greek or Aramaic. It may have been translated from an earlier Greek manuscript but its source document was likely written hundreds of years after Christ.



posted on Aug, 19 2017 @ 11:55 PM
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a reply to: BlissSeeker

Masaru Emoto's experiment with water crystals is laughable. Have his claims been tested? Has the experiment been repeated by others, with the similar results? How exactly was his experiment carried out? What are the details? What types of controls did he set up.. etc? Or does he just make spectacular claims backed up by poor science. That's what I'm seeing.

I had never heard of Luther Burbank so I had to look him up. Whatever he may have said to his plants, it was his talents as a botanist and horticulturist that are responsible for his creations. Let's not pretend he was some know-nothing-about-plants-guy, that had a ton of faith.

ETA: If you'd like to discuss further, that is fine with me. I feel PM would be more appropriate since it's not the thread topic (I realize my initial post wasn't on topic necessarily either).

Cheers!

edit on 8-19-2017 by WakeUpBeer because: (no reason given)

edit on 8-20-2017 by WakeUpBeer because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 01:48 AM
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a reply to: Blue_Jay33

NWT is Jehovah's Witnesses, and yeah he has out right banned them. I've been puzzled by why he would do this and the only thing I can come up with is the interference of laws.

I am not a JW, but every Thursday I speak to one (sometimes his wife). I think they are wrong on some things, but hey.. I am sure the shoes on the other foot. I am not agreeing with their plans to root them out, but this is why I think his reasons may be.

1. Jehovah's Witnesses do not have any political views. In a few countries, something as simple as a forced voters card has ended in pure bloodshed.

2. Military can cause members to become disfellowshiped. We all understand how much Putin loves his ever growing troop count.

3. NWT is missing original texts. It isn't the same bible but has been rendered to fit their beliefs. So this isn't like "Putin Bans Holy Bible", no, just one that's missing a few lines and calls the Father by name.

4. Safe haven for pedophilia during confessions. JW need two or more witnesses before going to a police officer. Which we know if you're a young girl who is raped by an elder, you risk being disfellowshiped and loosing family and friends. Numerous reports of how wives must confess adultery w/ husband in room yet men have right of privacy, boys and girls are asked about sexual sins in way to much detail.

5. Being disfellowshiped is a very sad thing to witness from the sidelines. The point that the JW take it, in my opinion, is way overboard. They have a huge help site for disfellowshiped members and it can really ruin your day reading all that stuff, or watching YouTube videos of private cams.

6. JW's are not really Christians. Christ was just Arch Angel Michael clowning around and they don't need Jesus, just Jehovah. It's not really an attack on Christianity (Catholic - Protestant) but more Gentile-Judaic sister.

7. They received funding from bonds that cause said disfellowshipment. Such as tobacco companies and two biggest war suppliers like Lockheed Martin. All their land is bought and paid for by biggest manufacturers of death. Yea, it may not be intended or they didnt know where their bonds are placed but I don't think Putin likes to know Lockheed owns land in Russia through any religious group.

In Russia they give awards to citizens who are key to represent the country, as a image of perfect Russian Family. Last one was awarded to a JW family. I doubt that Putin didn't know they were JWs, such an award would inquiry religious beliefs. So I don't think it is the PEOPLE he is directly targeting but the religious sect as a organization that could cause trouble with Russia in the future.

I hope this sheds some light on the matter. I'm not trying to downplay JW beliefs, I think individuals in the group are amazing people, but there are some problems when you mix church and politics here. In a place like Russia, who's suffered from religious rebellions and tyrannical coupes for years now- are still recouping from it. I think it's overall bad idea to be a JW in Russia. It's not that much of a surprise to me that he will stomp it out before it leads to another fire in Russia.



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 02:57 AM
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originally posted by: DrunkenMimeMaster
a reply to: neo96

Sorry to take the contrarian position but..this sounds like the start of one. Religion has harmed far too many in our centuries of existence.


Including Jehovah Witnesses with their blood issues ....changing policy over the last 70 years.......how many died who now can receive certain parts of blood.....RIGHT HERE is proof Jehovah Witnesses also have BLOODGUILT - who have coached others on their death bed to not take any TYPE of blood (I have seen this with my own eyes) ..... clearly this organization is NOT the organization they claim to be.....and don't even get me started with the numerous false prophecies dating as back as the late 1800's and we know what God thinks of false prophets.

Thank God the NWT was not granted....the NWT was translated by a well known occultist and it has been not correctly translated one reason from many..... by replacing ALL of the numerous names of God in both OT and NT with Jehovah.

Jehovah Witness is a sect and cult type society (within a society)

BE FOREWARNED



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 03:36 AM
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a reply to: DeathSlayer

It's tragic that they put laws over what Christ taught, love
How is denying blood to someone love?



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 06:10 AM
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edit on 8/20/17 by Gothmog because: not worth the time



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 06:22 AM
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Nothing new. A true Communist State would tell you the government is god.And folks would agree. Or else.



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 09:30 AM
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Several posts have mentioned the Russian Orthodox Church being behind this, and they are not wrong.
Additionally as I said in the OP this goes beyond JW's, it's a dragnet that will catch many fringe groups.
When you consider they have now put up a VPN block on the internet as well, law passed last month effective Novemeber 2017.

Putin Bans VPN's


“For 25 years, there have been different legal, political, and intellectual conditions in Russia and Ukraine. I am told, though, that impartial theological expertise has virtually ceased to exist in Russia. The experts—as a rule, scholars—do not have the same status and are not protected by any special legislation. It is biased people who are denomination-oriented, usually toward the Orthodox religion, who are drawn to expert examination. Being Orthodox, they cannot analyze any other way of worship in a neutral and unbiased manner. Perceiving any other religion as not true, they, in their ‘righteous indignation for the purity of their faith,’ emotionally and aggressively brand all others as extremists.”—Dr. Liudmyla Fylypovych, professor, head, History of Religions and Practical Religious Studies Department, Philosophy Institute of the National Academy of Sciences; vice president, Ukrainian Association of Researchers of Religion, Ukraine



“Elements within the Russian Orthodox Church connive with the forces of order to promote their own interests and to suppress any perceived competition.”—Dr. Jim Beckford, fellow of the British Academy



“Basically, the law is overbroad. The language of the law can be used by law enforcement to arrest or threaten individuals with religious views that are unpopular or the government simply doesn’t like. Common examples include arrests of Jehovah’s Witnesses, other minority groups, and even atheists. The law has essentially been used to protect the Orthodox viewpoints that are supported by the government, and to punish viewpoints that are perceived as alternative to or threatening to this Orthodoxy.”—Ms. Melissa Hooper, lawyer, director, International Law Scholarship Project/Pillar Project, Human Rights First; formerly regional director for American Bar Association Rule of Law Initiative in Moscow, United States



“A true Russian, if Christian, is a member of the Russian Orthodox Church. Russians belonging to the ‘wrong’ religious organization are isolated and excluded from society. Therefore, the civil rights of Jehovah’s Witnesses are being grossly violated.”—Dr. Gerhard Besier, professor emeritus, European studies, Technische Universität Dresden; lecturer, Stanford University; director, Sigmund Neumann Institute for the Research on Freedom and Democracy, Germany




Vladimir Putin, patriarch Alexey and metropolitan Laurus during the ceremony of signing the Act of Canonical Communion between the Moscow Patriarchate and Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia, 2007.

From the 2007 Time Interview

PUTIN: First and foremost we should be governed by common sense. But common sense should be based on moral principles first. And it is not possible today to have morality separated from religious values. I will not expand, as I don't want to impose my views on people who have different viewpoints.

TIME: Do you believe in a Supreme God?

PUTIN: Do you? ... There are things I believe, which should not in my position, at least, be shared with the public at large for everybody's consumption because that would look like self-advertising or a political striptease.


I have come to the conclusion that Putin is much like Maurice Duplessis which allowed Catholicism to dominate his existence and policy when he was premier of Quebec.

Those that are gleeful about this, must be ignorant of history.


First they came for the Socialists, and I did not speak out—Because I was not a Socialist.Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Trade Unionist.Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out— Because I was not a Jew.Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.
-Protestant pastor who emerged as an outspoken public foe of Adolf Hitler and spent the last seven years of Nazi rule in concentration camps, he was right in there with the JW's, who were already there before him for their non-support of Hitler and his policies.

2 Timothy 3:12


Those who try to live a godly life because they believe in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.


edit on 20-8-2017 by Blue_Jay33 because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 10:57 AM
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a reply to: Blue_Jay33

The keyword in Timothy is "believing in Jesus Christ". They don't. They believe Archangel Michael was Jesus.

and Jehovah's do not participate in blood transfusions because God condemns "ingesting blood"- however a blood transfusion is not ingested orally. I think it would be obvious when Jesus speaks of breaking the Sabbath to save a beloved sheep. Rules can be broken if it is out of love for something else. I would think Jesus would consider it a noble and courageous thing to do to help a dying loved one.

However consuming meat with blood in it is a sin, which is what he was really meaning. Back in those times food was spoiled yet people still ate it. Eating raw, half raw, spoiling food you get sick. It's just words of wisdom. Jesus later says nothing you can eat can cause you to commit sin because it has nothing to do with what's in your heart. That is why I dont see it as a law, just a word from the wise.

However I never understood how JW can cherry pick things from the Bible. Like "God abolished Sabbath" however that was Constantine 400 years later and bible makes no mentioned to a day being changed.. but even though you can disprove that Jesus says what you consume has nothing to do with what is in your heart, yet that's somehow one of the only laws that carry over.

and the USSR was communist. Russia is not a communist country. It takes a very poor understanding of politics to make that opinion. If you still think communist Russia exsisted today, you are two decades in the past.
edit on 20-8-2017 by Iostsheep because: (no reason given)



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 11:05 AM
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Funny how JWs started only just over a hundred years ago and act like nobody before them knew the truth and only they have it right, some 1900 years after Christ

When a church claims that the church is the only way, it is then a cult
The Orthodox Church does not claim they are the only way, they claim Christ is the only way
JWs claim they are the only ones

Jesus is the arch angel Michael to JWs, that's not Christianity, it's not in the bible, it's not written in the bible but it's what they teach
And they claim they are biblical people, yeah right



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 11:09 AM
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originally posted by: Iostsheep
a reply to: Blue_Jay33

The keyword in Timothy is "believing in Jesus Christ". They don't. They believe Archangel Michael was Jesus.

and Jehovah's do not participate in blood transfusions because God condemns "ingesting blood"- however a blood transfusion is not ingested orally. I think it would be obvious when Jesus speaks of breaking the Sabbath to save a beloved sheep. Rules can be broken if it is out of love for something else. I would think Jesus would consider it a noble and courageous thing to do to help a dying loved one.

However consuming meat with blood in it is a sin, which is what he was really meaning. Back in those times food was spoiled yet people still ate it. Eating raw, half raw, spoiling food you get sick. It's just words of wisdom. Jesus later says nothing you can eat can cause you to commit sin because it has nothing to do with what's in your heart. That is why I dont see it as a law, just a word from the wise.

However I never understood how JW can cherry pick things from the Bible. Like "God abolished Sabbath" however that was Constantine 400 years later and bible makes no mentioned to a day being changed.. but even though you can disprove that Jesus says what you consume has nothing to do with what is in your heart, yet that's somehow one of the only laws that carry over.


You do know the difference between Judaism and christianity
Christians don't have to keep the Judaic laws, we are not Jews
We can eat blood, pork, get tattoos

Jesus brought in a new covenant for Christians, love God love each other, none of the Judaic rules apply at all to those in Christ,none
Let love be the guide
Go read Romans again...



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 11:10 AM
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a reply to: Raggedyman

Yea, they have some really absurd beliefs. In the NWT for instance they have the Dead Sea Scrolls at the end of it but refuse to use anything that isn't directly in the Bible. The ones who come every Thursday get so mad when I quoted Enoch.. even though they have its fragments at end of their book. They literally think God wrote the Bible and put it together... not Constantine.



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 11:14 AM
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a reply to: Blue_Jay33

So what are you asking us to do, grab our guns and storm the Russian frontiers
Can we go after winter at least

JWs, persecuted for less than a hundred and fifty years, acting like they have suffered like Christ on the cross, or stake or tree or whatever

Absurd, more concerned about the cross or tree or post than the message of christs death and resurection



posted on Aug, 20 2017 @ 11:17 AM
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a reply to: Raggedyman

For verily I say unto you, Till. heaven and earth pass, one jot or one. tittle shall in no wise pass from. the law, till all be fulfilled -Matthew

The Earth hasn't passed nor have the heaven's. People confuse God's laws (10 commandments) with oral laws brought fourth by the Pharisees.

Everyone, including Paul, worshipped on the Sabbath. Separation between Judaism and Christianity didn't form until 400 years later. Christians talk about 10 commandments but claim it's been fulfilled.

Like Pork, Jews don't eat pork because some Jew said don't eat pork. Jesus confirms God never said that. What you eat has nothing to do with righteousness.




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