How Can I Find the True Religion?

[calamity]

Actually the name has always been Yaweh. If i wanted hebrew scholarship i would speak to rabbis not jehova’s witnesses lol.

For the most part, I could probably get on board with the Jewish faith. It's not very hocus pocus oriented, and most of them understand that the stories are myths.

 

[Daisy]

Actually the name has always been Yaweh. If i wanted hebrew scholarship i would speak to rabbis not jehova’s witnesses lol.

Actually, it is Jehovah in English...lol...

Correct Pronunciation of the Divine Name. “Jehovah” is the best known English pronunciation of the divine name, although “Yahweh” is favored by most Hebrew scholars. The oldest Hebrew manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants, commonly called the Tetragrammaton (from Greek te·tra-, meaning “four,” and gramʹma, “letter”). These four letters (written from right to left) are יהוה and may be transliterated into English as YHWH (or, JHVH).

The Hebrew consonants of the name are therefore known. The question is, Which vowels are to be combined with those consonants? Vowel points did not come into use in Hebrew until the second half of the first millennium C.E. (See HEBREW, II [Hebrew Alphabet and Script].) Furthermore, because of a religious superstition that had begun centuries earlier, the vowel pointing found in Hebrew manuscripts does not provide the key for determining which vowels should appear in the divine name.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002391

 

[calamity]

Actually, it is Jehovah in English...lol...

Correct Pronunciation of the Divine Name. “Jehovah” is the best known English pronunciation of the divine name, although “Yahweh” is favored by most Hebrew scholars. The oldest Hebrew manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants, commonly called the Tetragrammaton (from Greek te·tra-, meaning “four,” and gramʹma, “letter”). These four letters (written from right to left) are יהוה and may be transliterated into English as YHWH (or, JHVH).

The Hebrew consonants of the name are therefore known. The question is, Which vowels are to be combined with those consonants? Vowel points did not come into use in Hebrew until the second half of the first millennium C.E. (See HEBREW, II [Hebrew Alphabet and Script].) Furthermore, because of a religious superstition that had begun centuries earlier, the vowel pointing found in Hebrew manuscripts does not provide the key for determining which vowels should appear in the divine name.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002391

lol...it's all in the name.

 

[tosca1]

The Bible’s answer​

Illustrating how to tell the difference between those who practice true religion and those who do not, the Bible says: “By their fruits you will recognize them. Never do people gather grapes from thorns or figs from thistles, do they?” (Matthew 7:16) Just as you can distinguish a grapevine from a thornbush by what it produces, you can distinguish true religion from false by its fruits, or by these identifying features.

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/questions/what-is-the-true-religion/

False prophets, speakers of lies, will have actions that correspond to their errant message. Just as their message is anti-God, so will be their works. They will stray from the path of righteousness.

Godly teachers will display good “fruit” such as making disciples (Matthew 28:19), using their gifts to benefit others (Romans 12:4–8), leading lost people to Jesus (James 5:20), loving their fellow believers (1 John 3:14), and seeking humble ways to do good everywhere (Jeremiah 29:7).
All of these things are indications of a good heart.

While we can never know anyone else’s heart, we can make wise assessments about other people by observing the regular fruit of their lives.
All of us stumble from time to time, and we may go through seasons of bearing little fruit (1 John 1:8). But 1 John 3:4–10 makes it clear that those who know God will not continue a lifestyle of bearing bad fruit.

We have been transformed, and the fruit of our lives is evidence of that transformation. Apple trees don’t produce bananas, and strawberry plants don’t produce figs. This fact of nature is also true in the spiritual realm. We can identify those whose hearts have been redeemed by the fruit we see in their lives.

What does it mean that you will know them by their fruit in Matthew 7:16? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean that you will know them by their fruit? What is the meaning of Matthew 7:16? How can I recognize false teachers by their fruit?

www.gotquestions.org

 

[tosca1]

Again, how do you know the Devil isn’t the true inspiration behind the Bible?

How do you know the Bible isn’t the perfect tool to lead millions AWAY from the truth?

Hahahaha

Oh, boy! This takes the cake.


Surely you can tell good from evil?

Of course, the devil is a big part of the Bible. Who tempted Eve?
Why are there idols?
Why are we taught to do good? To hate evil?
Why is there heaven and hell?



If you're wondering........................ could it be the devil is the author of the Bible?
Just answer this simple question:

How can it benefit the devil that he's being portrayed as the ultimate...............villain?
Why would he do that?

 

[tosca1]

All of that was fine until the Catholic Church perverted the Bible with power, corruption and pedophiles. One of the many reasons why I'm and Atheist today is being brought up a Catholic.

When we're talking of a consequence that would impact you PERSONALLY for all eternity -

surely, biting your nose just to spite your face is an........................ immature reaction?



What you're saying kinda goes like this:

"Because of the Catholic Church, I'm gonna reject God. And, accept eternal punishment!
So, there. It's all on you Catholic Church. I hope you realize what you did."


What does the Catholic Church care about your decision?

IF the devil is behind the Catholic Church (or anyone or anything that got you running away from God) - then, he succeeded.....didn't he?
The devil got you where he wanted you to go, doing what he wanted you to do: rejecting God.

 

[RAMOSS]

One of the funny things about the Hebrew language, it has no 'J' sound in it. Therefore, names like 'Jesus' and "Jehovah" would not be used in Israel at the time (for that matter, the Hebrew pronunciation for Jerusalem is actually Yerushalayim

 

[calamity]

Hahahaha

Oh, boy! This takes the cake.


Surely you can tell good from evil?

Of course, the devil is a big part of the Bible. Who tempted Eve?
Why are there idols?
Why are we taught to do good? To hate evil?
Why is there heaven and hell?



If you're wondering........................ could it be the devil is the author of the Bible?
Just answer this simple question:

How can it benefit the devil that he's being portrayed as the ultimate...............villain?
Why would he do that?

Actually no. It's a valid point.

 

[bomberfox]

Actually, it is Jehovah in English...lol...

Correct Pronunciation of the Divine Name. “Jehovah” is the best known English pronunciation of the divine name, although “Yahweh” is favored by most Hebrew scholars. The oldest Hebrew manuscripts present the name in the form of four consonants, commonly called the Tetragrammaton (from Greek te·tra-, meaning “four,” and gramʹma, “letter”). These four letters (written from right to left) are יהוה and may be transliterated into English as YHWH (or, JHVH).

The Hebrew consonants of the name are therefore known. The question is, Which vowels are to be combined with those consonants? Vowel points did not come into use in Hebrew until the second half of the first millennium C.E. (See HEBREW, II [Hebrew Alphabet and Script].) Furthermore, because of a religious superstition that had begun centuries earlier, the vowel pointing found in Hebrew manuscripts does not provide the key for determining which vowels should appear in the divine name.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1200002391

Is Jehovah the true name of God? | GotQuestions.org

Is Jehovah / Jehova the true name of God? How did using Jehovah as the name of God originate?

www.gotquestions.org

Nope. Jehovah is Germanic actually YHWH = Yaweh.

Is God's Name "Jehovah"? No. Here's Why... | AlwaysBeReady.com

Jehovah’s Witnesses insist God’s name (YHWH in the Old Testament) is supposed to be pronounced “Jehovah.” They are quite mistaken about this. Here's why...

alwaysbeready.com

Jehovah seems to refer to a place or god provides so does it refer to a place where god provides in jehovahjireh. Yaweh is the best translation or Eloah as far as i can tell, wont use Elohim because that seems to be a plural.

Jehovah Jireh Meaning: “The Lord Will Provide”

When God introduces himself (the Bible is His word, after all) as Jehovah Jireh, meaning “the Lord will provide,” it’s not in the context of snacks or cars or money or bills. It’s in the context of the most profound physical need a person can face – the loss of life. Here is how God provides for...

www.biblestudytools.com

JW seems to be the only sect calling the hebrew god Jehovah.

 

[bomberfox]

One of the funny things about the Hebrew language, it has no 'J' sound in it. Therefore, names like 'Jesus' and "Jehovah" would not be used in Israel at the time (for that matter, the Hebrew pronunciation for Jerusalem is actually Yerushalayim

Bingo! Jehovah is a germanic mistranslation.

Is the term "Jehovah" really the proper name of God?

Is the term "Jehovah" really the proper name of God?

www.catholicapologetics.info

Jehovah is a later mistranslation not used in the earliest scriptures.

 

[RAMOSS]

Bingo! Jehovah is a germanic mistranslation.

Correction.. not mistranslation , but pronunciation. Another example is Jacob. In Hebrew, it's pronounced Yahcov. (Y instead of J, and V instead of B).

Many Y sounds in Hebrew have now been changed to J. It happens with other sounds too. For example, Sholomo has been translated as Solomon, because the Greek has no Sh sound.

 

[bomberfox]

Correction.. not mistranslation , but pronunciation. Another example is Jacob. In Hebrew, it's pronounced Yahcov. (Y instead of J, and V instead of B).

But that doesnt really appear until later transliteration. B nor V appears in YHWH

 

[RAMOSS]

But that doesnt really appear until later transliteration. B nor V appears in YHWH

The point is that translations will modifiy things because of the lack of a sound from one language to another.. and to insist that the prounciation of a name is based on a translation where there is no equivalent sound in the original langugage is an very bad hill to die on.

 

[bomberfox]

The point is that translations will modifiy things because of the lack of a sound from one language to another.. and to insist that the prounciation of a name is based on a translation where there is no equivalent sound in the original langugage is an very bad hill to die on.

Sure.

 

[Daisy]

W seems to be the only sect calling the hebrew god Jehovah

You'd be wrong...I've heard the name Jehovah used on TV shows, in movies, Indiana Jones, for one, as well as in church sermons...



Even in foreign movies...

 

[RAMOSS]

You'd be wrong...I've heard the name Jehovah used on TV shows, in movies, Indiana Jones, for one, as well as in church sermons...



Even in foreign movies...

And, of course, it's all in English, and after the 17th century. So that makes that a rather stupid argument.

 

[bomberfox]

You'd be wrong...I've heard the name Jehovah used on TV shows, in movies, Indiana Jones, for one, as well as in church sermons...



Even in foreign movies...

Tv shows and movies lol.... monty python was mocking jehovah. the sources i provided go way past tv shows and movies. This shows the hollowness of the governing body. This was the easiest argument to debunk.

 

[gboisjo]

While we can never know anyone else’s heart, we can make wise assessments about other people by observing the regular fruit of their lives.
All of us stumble from time to time, and we may go through seasons of bearing little fruit (1 John 1:8). But 1 John 3:4–10 makes it clear that those who know God will not continue a lifestyle of bearing bad fruit.

Its true, studies show religious people tend to be more satisfied than the non-religious. I relate those stats to that of an addict who needs a fix, as long as he gets his drugs he's fine ..the opiate of the masses. Personally the stats don't apply to me ..I'm happy and full and I'm an Atheist.

 

[gboisjo]

False prophets, speakers of lies, will have actions that correspond to their errant message. Just as their message is anti-God, so will be their works. They will stray from the path of righteousness.

Bible Thumping, your good at that.

 

[gboisjo]

IF the devil is behind the Catholic Church (or anyone or anything that got you running away from God) - then, he succeeded.....didn't he?
The devil got you where he wanted you to go, doing what he wanted you to do: rejecting God.

I reject god as understood through the bible for numerous reasons, first and foremost, its a story, a fairy tale for the gullible, the needy.

People choose to believe in the existence of god via the bible because it gives them solace in difficult times, a feeling of purpose in life, a sense of community, comfort through the rituals of their church and hope of eternal existence in some form.

If that's your cup of tea go for it, but don't pretend to know whats best for me. There are no devils and angels in my life.

 

[Daisy]

Tv shows and movies lol.... monty python was mocking jehovah. the sources i provided go way past tv shows and movies. This shows the hollowness of the governing body. This was the easiest argument to debunk.

lol...you'd be wrong again...facts are a terrible thing to ignore...

Why is the name missing from many Bible translations? The reasons vary. Some feel that Almighty God does not need a unique name to identify him. Others appear to have been influenced by the Jewish tradition of avoiding the use of the name, perhaps out of fear of desecrating it. Still others believe that since no one can be sure of the exact pronunciation of God’s name, it is better just to use a title, such as “Lord” or “God.” Such objections, however, lack merit for the following reasons:

• Those who argue that Almighty God does not need a unique name ignore evidence that early copies of his Word, including those preserved from before the time of Christ, contain God’s personal name. As noted above, God directed that his name be included in his Word some 7,000 times. Obviously, he wants us to know and use his name.
• Translators who remove the name out of deference to Jewish tradition fail to recognize a key fact. While some Jewish scribes refused to pronounce the name, they did not remove it from their copies of the Bible. Ancient scrolls found in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, contain the name in many places. Some Bible translators hint that the divine name appeared in the original text by substituting the title “LORD” in capital letters. But the question remains, Why have these translators felt free to substitute or remove God’s name from the Bible when they acknowledge that it is found in the Bible text thousands of times? Who do they believe gave them authority to make such a change? Only they can say.
• Those who say that the divine name should not be used because it is not known exactly how to pronounce it will nevertheless freely use the name Jesus. However, Jesus’ first-century disciples said his name quite differently from the way most Christians do today. To Jewish Christians, the name Jesus was probably pronounced Ye·shuʹa‛. And the title “Christ” was Ma·shiʹach, or “Messiah.” Greek-speaking Christians called him I·e·sousʹ Khri·stosʹ, and Latin-speaking Christians Ieʹsus Chriʹstus. Under inspiration, the Greek translation of his name was recorded in the Bible, showing that first-century Christians followed the sensible course of using the form of the name common in their language. Similarly, the New World Bible Translation Committee feels that it is reasonable to use the form “Jehovah,” even though that rendering is not exactly the way the divine name would have been pronounced in ancient Hebrew.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204

 

[Daisy]

About a thousand years after the Hebrew Scriptures were completed, Jewish scholars developed a system of pronunciation points, or signs, by which to indicate what vowels to use when reading Hebrew. By that time, though, many Jews had the superstitious idea that it was wrong to say God’s personal name out loud, so they used substitute expressions. Thus, it seems that when they copied the Tetragrammaton, they combined the vowels for the substitute expressions with the four consonants representing the divine name. Therefore, the manuscripts with those vowel points do not help in determining how the name was originally pronounced in Hebrew. Some feel that the name was pronounced “Yahweh,” whereas others suggest different possibilities. A Dead Sea Scroll containing a portion of Leviticus in Greek transliterates the divine name Iao. Besides that form, early Greek writers also suggest the pronunciations Iae, I·a·beʹ, and I·a·ou·eʹ. However, there is no reason to be dogmatic. We simply do not know how God’s ancient servants pronounced this name in Hebrew. (Genesis 13:4; Exodus 3:15) What we do know is that God used his name repeatedly in communication with his people, that they addressed him by that name, and that they used it freely in speaking with others.—Exodus 6:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 99:9.

The first rendering of God’s personal name in an English Bible appeared in 1530 in William Tyndale’s translation of the Pentateuch. He used the form “Iehouah.” Over time, the English language changed, and the spelling of the divine name was modernized. For example, in 1612, Henry Ainsworth used the form “Iehovah” throughout his translation of the book of Psalms. Then, in 1639, when that work was revised and printed with the Pentateuch, the form “Jehovah” was used. In 1901, the translators who produced the American Standard Version of the Bible used the form “Jehovah” where the divine name appeared in the Hebrew text.

Explaining why he used “Jehovah” instead of “Yahweh” in his 1911 work Studies in the Psalms, respected Bible scholar Joseph Bryant Rotherham said that he wanted to employ a “form of the name more familiar (while perfectly acceptable) to the general Bible-reading public.” In 1930 scholar A. F. Kirkpatrick made a similar point regarding the use of the form “Jehovah.” He said: “Modern grammarians argue that it ought to be read Yahveh or Yahaveh; but JEHOVAH seems firmly rooted in the English language, and the really important point is not the exact pronunciation, but the recognition that it is a Proper Name, not merely an appellative title like ‘Lord.’”

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204

 

[bomberfox]

lol...you'd be wrong again...facts are a terrible thing to ignore...

Why is the name missing from many Bible translations? The reasons vary. Some feel that Almighty God does not need a unique name to identify him. Others appear to have been influenced by the Jewish tradition of avoiding the use of the name, perhaps out of fear of desecrating it. Still others believe that since no one can be sure of the exact pronunciation of God’s name, it is better just to use a title, such as “Lord” or “God.” Such objections, however, lack merit for the following reasons:

• Those who argue that Almighty God does not need a unique name ignore evidence that early copies of his Word, including those preserved from before the time of Christ, contain God’s personal name. As noted above, God directed that his name be included in his Word some 7,000 times. Obviously, he wants us to know and use his name.
• Translators who remove the name out of deference to Jewish tradition fail to recognize a key fact. While some Jewish scribes refused to pronounce the name, they did not remove it from their copies of the Bible. Ancient scrolls found in Qumran, near the Dead Sea, contain the name in many places. Some Bible translators hint that the divine name appeared in the original text by substituting the title “LORD” in capital letters. But the question remains, Why have these translators felt free to substitute or remove God’s name from the Bible when they acknowledge that it is found in the Bible text thousands of times? Who do they believe gave them authority to make such a change? Only they can say.
• Those who say that the divine name should not be used because it is not known exactly how to pronounce it will nevertheless freely use the name Jesus. However, Jesus’ first-century disciples said his name quite differently from the way most Christians do today. To Jewish Christians, the name Jesus was probably pronounced Ye·shuʹa‛. And the title “Christ” was Ma·shiʹach, or “Messiah.” Greek-speaking Christians called him I·e·sousʹ Khri·stosʹ, and Latin-speaking Christians Ieʹsus Chriʹstus. Under inspiration, the Greek translation of his name was recorded in the Bible, showing that first-century Christians followed the sensible course of using the form of the name common in their language. Similarly, the New World Bible Translation Committee feels that it is reasonable to use the form “Jehovah,” even though that rendering is not exactly the way the divine name would have been pronounced in ancient Hebrew.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204

Wait so now you are completely sidestepping the issue and saying god doesnt need a unique name anyway mmkay...... im not sure if you know a fact from fiction considering the only history of blood transfusions you could provide was a new york post hit piece against the medical community which was callous as hell.

 

[Daisy]

Wait so now you are completely sidestepping the issue and saying god doesnt need a unique name anyway mmkay......

Swwwooooossshhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...

 

[bomberfox]

About a thousand years after the Hebrew Scriptures were completed, Jewish scholars developed a system of pronunciation points, or signs, by which to indicate what vowels to use when reading Hebrew. By that time, though, many Jews had the superstitious idea that it was wrong to say God’s personal name out loud, so they used substitute expressions. Thus, it seems that when they copied the Tetragrammaton, they combined the vowels for the substitute expressions with the four consonants representing the divine name. Therefore, the manuscripts with those vowel points do not help in determining how the name was originally pronounced in Hebrew. Some feel that the name was pronounced “Yahweh,” whereas others suggest different possibilities. A Dead Sea Scroll containing a portion of Leviticus in Greek transliterates the divine name Iao. Besides that form, early Greek writers also suggest the pronunciations Iae, I·a·beʹ, and I·a·ou·eʹ. However, there is no reason to be dogmatic. We simply do not know how God’s ancient servants pronounced this name in Hebrew. (Genesis 13:4; Exodus 3:15) What we do know is that God used his name repeatedly in communication with his people, that they addressed him by that name, and that they used it freely in speaking with others.—Exodus 6:2; 1 Kings 8:23; Psalm 99:9.

The first rendering of God’s personal name in an English Bible appeared in 1530 in William Tyndale’s translation of the Pentateuch. He used the form “Iehouah.” Over time, the English language changed, and the spelling of the divine name was modernized. For example, in 1612, Henry Ainsworth used the form “Iehovah” throughout his translation of the book of Psalms. Then, in 1639, when that work was revised and printed with the Pentateuch, the form “Jehovah” was used. In 1901, the translators who produced the American Standard Version of the Bible used the form “Jehovah” where the divine name appeared in the Hebrew text.

Explaining why he used “Jehovah” instead of “Yahweh” in his 1911 work Studies in the Psalms, respected Bible scholar Joseph Bryant Rotherham said that he wanted to employ a “form of the name more familiar (while perfectly acceptable) to the general Bible-reading public.” In 1930 scholar A. F. Kirkpatrick made a similar point regarding the use of the form “Jehovah.” He said: “Modern grammarians argue that it ought to be read Yahveh or Yahaveh; but JEHOVAH seems firmly rooted in the English language, and the really important point is not the exact pronunciation, but the recognition that it is a Proper Name, not merely an appellative title like ‘Lord.’”

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/1001070204

Some feel. You mean people who didnt come up with the name and instituted a Germanic translation?