They should pay tax on profits.
That's important. Most of them are non profit and put money into upkeep and outreach. Some, however, are sneaky with the cash.
i think as black&white thinking becomes lesser governments will start makeing laws that will put cults open for more lawsuits.
what do you think..
They should pay tax on profits.
That's important. Most of them are non profit and put money into upkeep and outreach. Some, however, are sneaky with the cash.
i'll wager that the number is close to 100 percent.
what number?
the number of jws who have lists--lists of things that make them go hmmm or even wha'???
Thank you, everyone. I have read, off and on, tonight, your comments and lists. I made some notes to come and to comment on. Then I am comprising my own list to share.
Please, keep the comments and lists coming. This is definitely cathartic. Some things are painful for me to think about, which is why I've never done a "This is my story" thread.
i think as black&white thinking becomes lesser governments will start makeing laws that will put cults open for more lawsuits.
what do you think..
At times the authorities do recognize cults and they investigate and even go on to intervene. Two examples are Jonestown and The Branch Davidians.
The question they have to answer is: where do we draw the line?
i believe in god but i'm not sure of anything....what about you?.
Of course it isn't just random biology. Natural selection is a powerful force for organisation and complexity.
No intelligence or purpose required.
I should have said random forces. At the beginning of a godless existence, everything would have been random, without any guide or purpose. I disagee about intelligence being needless to get us to the world we have today. On the contrary, with the complexity involved and the organization you're speaking of, it's simplistic to think this happened only through random circumstance and/or natural selection.
Deadly toxic plants and animals, predation, parsites, viruses, tsunamis, earthquakes, genetic deformities, childhood cancer, so many things let me know there is no reason for it all.
Life is awesome and awful in equal measure.
You quoted part of what I said. The high lighted part is what you left out.
I can't answer all the questions for the things that are messed up about it, but I can sure appreciate the things that are perfectly right about it. Gardens, babies, fresh air, varities of weather, LOVE, ...so many things let me know there is a reason for it all.
If I build a wall and over the years, nature's tools: wind, temperture and rain cause it to break down, it doesn't mean I didn't build the wall. Good things happen and bad things happen, that's been my experience during my life. It doesn't mean I didn't have parents or my life didn't have purpose. So we have: "Deadly toxic plants and animals, predation, parsites, viruses, tsunamis, earthquakes, genetic deformities, childhood cancer," your list, which is by no means exhaustive. Those things don't mean there is no purpose or reason for the good and the bad in the universe. We don't understand everything about our existence. That's all the bad things prove.
I believe you said you're 100 % certain there is no god. I respect that is the conclusion you've come to. I'm not here to change your mind. I have a different conclusion from you. I'm not going to apologize or quake in fear of being insulted by you. My dad was one of the most intelligent men anyone could meet. He had a rarely high IQ. He was a man of science. He was an oceanographer. He was not an atheist. He was not a Christian. He was an evolutionist. He told us that through all he had studied and seen in nature, he was convinced of intelligent purpose behind everything. His maternal grandfather was Native American. Dad spoke of The Great Spirit and its hand in things. Science was his love, fascination and career. He did not conclude there is no god, because of things that don't go the way we all think they should.
Do I think you have to agree with my dad? No. You don't. Several atheists I know say that they don't feel anything up there. Each has his personal list of reasons why he/she doesn't believe there is a god or gods. That is absolutely cool with me. Viva la difference.
i believe in god but i'm not sure of anything....what about you?.
I'm not going to apologize. There are so many things, like take my little garden for instance, that when I look at them they bring me such delight and joy that I know there is purpose behind it all. Looking at fresh flowers causes an endorphin release---very healing. Now, some people can be negative and call it lazy thinking, but for me there is no way this world is just random biology. I can't answer all the questions for the things that are messed up about it, but I can sure appreciate the things that are perfectly right about it. Gardens, babies, fresh air, varities of weather, LOVE, ...so many things let me know there is a reason for it all.
A recent picture of my little joy project that I can see from my livingroom glass doors:
wow, it's true - they don't call to 'promote god's kingdom' anymore but just their website!.
we just had an old lady call and tell us that was exactly what they were doing and it has "lots of good things on their for children".
yeah, right ... sparlock?.
I guess things are different than 1999. Too bad.
i'll wager that the number is close to 100 percent.
what number?
the number of jws who have lists--lists of things that make them go hmmm or even wha'???
These are great lists. I will comment more tomorrow night. I have to work tomorrow. Have to get to bed. Keep them coming.
One eyed Joe, great minds think alike?
wow, it's true - they don't call to 'promote god's kingdom' anymore but just their website!.
we just had an old lady call and tell us that was exactly what they were doing and it has "lots of good things on their for children".
yeah, right ... sparlock?.
I get that, but I tried 15 search engines other than google and they all do it. That isn't true when I type in other sites or key words into the search.
i'll wager that the number is close to 100 percent.
what number?
the number of jws who have lists--lists of things that make them go hmmm or even wha'???
Thank you, BOTR. Interesting to read the things that bothered you personally.
i'll wager that the number is close to 100 percent.
what number?
the number of jws who have lists--lists of things that make them go hmmm or even wha'???
Good questions, Jgnat.