I didn't attend anywhere for a few years, but now attend a Unitarian Universalist church. I enjoy that I am not required to turn off my brain before entering (findings of science are accepted, i.e. no problem with evolution or humanity being a part of something much larger). Bible is viewed as useful, but not inspired, just as Torah, Koran, Rig Veda, and sacred texts from other faiths. Sermons may quote Jesus, but also may quote Thoreau, Emerson, Einstein, or other wise people. Also, I'm not required to believe the same things as everyone else, diverse opinions are tolerated (so, people who consider themselves Christians worship next to those who consider themselves Muslims, Jews, Pagans, Humanists, Atheists, etc). We had a child dedication ceremony this week in which children were dedicated "in the spirit of earth, air, fire and water", with appropriate commentary on what each of those elements would mean to each one.
gaiagirl
JoinedPosts by gaiagirl
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42
Who, on this board, go to church now???
by mama1119 ini wondered how many abandoned going to any kind of church.
or, if there are some who go to a church now.
was it weird at first to go?
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49
Ever know of a great family movie, the Witnesses found demons or evil in?
by free2beme ini remember growing up, the witness children were often ones that were left to see all those g rated movies from disney.
yet even those at time, while accepted by just about every religion out there, were considered demonic.
for example, the following movies were said to show witchcraft and in or congregation we were encouraged to discard them and not own copies of them; sleeping beauty, snow white, the little mermaid, bed knobs and broomsticks, and fantasia.
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gaiagirl
I don't believe anyone has mentioned "The Dark Crystal" yet, a fantasy about elvish beings, very clever special effects. Also, "Dragonslayer", in which a wizard is killed, and then his ashes are cast over an underground lake, and he is magically reconstituted to kill a dragon.
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WHERE DID POST -FLOOD VEGETATION COME FROM?
by badboy inits occurs to one that the floof would have destroyed virtually all vegetation,so where does wt say post flood vegetation come from?
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gaiagirl
Another great book explaining how a regional flood in the body of water now known as the Black Sea served as the source of the Deluge legend, is "Noahs Flood" by William Ryan and Walter Pitman. Many threads of evidence all pointing the same event. Highly recommended!
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Name the Books That Impacted You The Most.
by XJW4EVR inanything by raymond franz is a given.. 1984. siddartha.
lord of the flies.
grapes of wrath.
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gaiagirl
The Dragons of Eden Cosmos Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors Martian Chronicles The Chalice and The Blade The Red Tent Drawing Down The Moon The Spiral Dance 1984 Brave New World A History of Pagan Europe The Dancing Wu Li Masters Womens Encylopedia of Myths and Secrets
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"Kingdom Hall Quickbuilds are only possible with God's Holy Spirit"
by under_believer inthis is what you hear every time there's a part on the kingdom hall construction program.
they're only possible because god's holy spirit blesses the work.
otherwise, what is accomplished would be physically impossible.
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gaiagirl
If Holy Spirit is present, why do some of the workers still suffer injuries? I knew a brother who worked on a quickbuild in Sugarland, Texas. He fell and broke his arm badly enough that it could not be set, but required surgery and a screw to hold it together while the bones knitted. Where was Holy Spirit then?
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183
Is ALL sin WILLFULL?
by gumby inmany time believers differentiate sin as willfull and non willfull.
is there a difference .....not including an honest mistake?
gumby.
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gaiagirl
How do you define "sin"?
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How can we make good decisions, when we can't see into the future?
by DavidChristopher ini mean really...i keep making bad decisions..that seem "right " in the short term...yet go bad in the long term.. how is it possible for anyone to make good decisions..or be perfect..when we don't know what the end result of the decision is going to be?.
how can you make a mistake when you know what the end result of every decision is going to be?
guess you would almost have to do it on purpose.
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gaiagirl
Its been said that experience is the best teacher. And you can't gain experience without taking some risks. So, if you take risks, make sure they are calculated risks, i.e. don't risk anything you can't afford to lose. You will win some, lose some, but your experience will grow, and if you pay attention, you will learn what works and what doesn't work. If you don't have experience in a particular area, draw on the experience of others who DO have experience in that area.
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Wedding Rules of the Oct. 15th Watchtower
by minimus ini read parts of that wt.
all about weddings.
to sum it up, you can have zero fun.
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gaiagirl
I once knew a sister who selected "Pieces of April" as her wedding music...I suppose that wouldn't be allowed now.
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Exit Plan
by choosing life inis it better to fade or just move on with your life?
i have been fading for over a year because most of my close family is still in.
i would never meet with the elders or write a letter to quit.
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gaiagirl
You can CERTAINLY find something better, however most churches don't call on you at your home soliciting your membership. After I faded, I didn't attend anywhere for several years, then thought about what kind of person I actually was, and where I would fit best. I decided that I was rather liberal, and spiritual, rather than religious. I eventually decided on the local Unitarian church, where I've been very happy for five years. You might try googling "belief-o-matic" or similar phrase to find an on-line test with a dozen or so questions to help you find what religion best fits your personal beliefs. I did not take it prior to joining the Unitarians, but having taken it since, the test confirms that the Unitarian faith is a good fit for my beliefs.
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Materialised demons... why not?
by LtCmd.Lore inacctualy i don't believe in demons anymore.
but the recent bible teach study caused me to wonder... why does the society think that the demons are not capable of making bodies for themselves anymore, there was no support scripture so i looked it up on the wt library:.
in 1953 there was a questions from readers about why they posess people and animals... they simply stated without any proof that they are incapable of making bodies anymore.. then in 1955 they offer a scripture.. *** w55 10/1 p. 594 par.
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gaiagirl
Neanderthals were physically different, slightly larger brains on average, much stronger bones, sloping forehead, brow ridges. Cro-magnons were physically identical to moderns. Either would pass without a glance if dressed in modern clothing. And we all carry the genes for the older traits, even if they are recessive. I once knew a young man who had the sloping forehead and brow ridge, still was kind of handsome, even if unusual, his hair largely hid the shape of his head. There are also fossils of an ape which reached heights of 9 or 10 feet (from China, I think)?