Posts by Phantom Stranger

Yeru, I want to be respectful of you and your commitments, even when I disrespect some of your opinions mightily. And your use of a "B"- word variant towards a Senator recently I thought was rude, crude, uncalled-for, and beneath you.

Peace, out.

PS

101

Bush Bash, Anti-gay marrige.

by SC_Guy in

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i think bush is trying to screw this country one more time before he's voted out of office....

Phantom Stranger

More support for the theory that the Bush decision to "back" the amendment was purely driven by the political climate he's created for himself in his own party (deficits, etc.).

Below pasted from here:

The Denver Rocky Mountain News reports that, while "the White House said President Bush made his decision only after officials in San Francisco and New Mexico presided over same-sex marriages," Bush actually "pledged to Rep. Marilyn Musgrave (R-CO) that he would support her proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting gay marriage three months before" his
public announcement last week.

http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/state/article/0,1299,DRMN_21_2690146,00.html

The revelation is corroborated by the San Francisco Chronicle, which noted almost three months before last week's announcement that "the White House indicated Bush is considering" supporting the constitutional amendment. By contrast, the Massachusetts court ruled on February 6th, San Francisco moved on February 11th, and New Mexico acted on February 20th.

While the new revelations show that the president's announcement was made under false pretenses, an analysis of the president and Vice President's past statements show that they were also misleading America four years ago in presenting a wholly different position on the gay marriage issue. On February 15, 2000, Bush said, "The state[s] can do what they want to" on
issues surrounding gay marriage, and he reiterated this position on May 2, 2000, saying it is "going to be up for cities and states to make those decisions." Similarly, Vice President Cheney said on October 5, 2000, "I think the fact of the matter, of course, is [same-sex marriage] is regulated by the states. I think different states are likely to come to different conclusions and that's appropriate. I don't think there should necessarily be a federal policy in this area."

5

Factors that Influence Fear of Death

by peacefulpete in

this is an review of a study that was done in florida u.s.a. the language is thick, but all terms are defined.

the results are interesting and surprising.

wisdom, purpose in life, and attitudes toward death (pdf)

Phantom Stranger

Death is difficult for them for the same reasons life is... because they are "on hold". They don't live to fulfill their own goals or desires or dreams - who wouldn't be afraid of death if down deep you fear your life's been all about someone else?

18

Marley Cole - "Jehovahs Witnesses, the New World Society"

by nicolaou in

i recently bought a copy of this book off ebay and am trying to find some official watchtower approval of it so that i can lend it to my mum.

ray franz stated that cole himself was a witness and that he wrote the book "with the full cooperation of the society.

is there any way of corroborating this?

Phantom Stranger

This from N.H. Knorr's foreword of FOTM:

Toward the end of 1955 Mr. Macmillan asked permission to use the Society's files to write an account of his experiences in the ministry. Since he is a trusted member of the headquarters staff, he was granted permission. A few months ago he informed me the work was finished, and at his request I agreed to read the manuscript for technical accuracy. I soon found myself engrossed in the story which the account of his life and association with Jehovah's witnesses had produced.

18

Marley Cole - "Jehovahs Witnesses, the New World Society"

by nicolaou in

i recently bought a copy of this book off ebay and am trying to find some official watchtower approval of it so that i can lend it to my mum.

ray franz stated that cole himself was a witness and that he wrote the book "with the full cooperation of the society.

is there any way of corroborating this?

Phantom Stranger

I remember reading FOTM as a kid.

I was somewhat surprised to discover that some JW has apparently put the entire book online in HTML. He links to the WTS website right at the top of the home page. This may be old news around here, but it seemed pertinent...

http://www.e-cepher.com/books/fotm/vfaith.html