Posts by Rabbit

54

My Spiritual Awakening has turned to........

by AK - Jeff in

general apathy about religion.. i don't know precisely when it happened.

but at some point i began to stop needing anything 'organized' in my life religiously.

not too long ago - as attested to by multiple threads i started here - i was still wishing to replace the ritual of religion at the kingdom hall with some other church.

Rabbit

As for myself, I'm a spiritual person in that I believe in powers beyond those man can prove exists.
Gumbyleena

Hmmm...that's an interesting way of putting it. I haven't heard that before. Some people mean Jesus, Thor, Ra or even Mother Nature when being spiritual. So, what's involved ? I know people that never go to religious services that claim a spiritual 'feeling' when they see beauty or they are 'moved' by some experience.

I call that happiness, joy or wonderment. Not spirituality.

Somebody 'splain it to me...? There can be no wrong answers ...cause it's an opinion about how you feel.

Rabbit

18

KNOCKING Thread 3,223?

by blondie in

jw
friends

i taped this last night on pbs.

i'll just mention my impressions as a jotted down notes as i watched.. scene 1:.

first we see a young man playing an electric guitar in his bedroom as the camera zooms in on a van halen cd.. is this a jw's bedroom?.

Rabbit

Does anyone know why the PBS forum is closed ? Is it permanent ?

I did register today, only to read about the closure. It does look like the WT loses again...there seemed to be very few JW's posting. The Ex-JW's did get an enormous number of hot topics aired... which the WT may not have anticipated. So many, many JW's, knowing the 'friendly' nature of this film, probably went to read at the forum.

2 thumbs up...!!

54

My Spiritual Awakening has turned to........

by AK - Jeff in

general apathy about religion.. i don't know precisely when it happened.

but at some point i began to stop needing anything 'organized' in my life religiously.

not too long ago - as attested to by multiple threads i started here - i was still wishing to replace the ritual of religion at the kingdom hall with some other church.

Rabbit

JeffI still feel spiritual, but not in a religious sense nowadays.

I feel exactly that way, too. Well, minus the "spiritual" part.

You don't have to lose your spirituality if you lose your religion

Gumby

So, is it wrong to "lose your spirituality" ? If so, why ?

And the $64,000 question:

startingoverMaybe someone can help me understand something. I have never been able to understand what "spirituality" means.

I used to think I knew what this meant, but, now I consider myself agnostic. I feel nothing about any 'god'. Further, if a 'god' were ever proven to exist, I think I'd still feel like I do now...I simply don't care about Him/Her/It. Most believers feel sorry for me and will look at me like my dog just died. I tell them, "Don't worry...I'm OK...really".

Startingover has asked a real good question.

Rabbit

*Disclaimer: I did 'wipe the slate clean' after leaving JWism, but, I try to be open-minded. On my journey I've changed a lot of my beliefs and will admit to a certain amount of natural uncertainty. After all, since I was once totally fooled about god & religion and was a cult member, I don't easily trust being so certain and say, "I KNOW!" Also, I have no idea where my beliefs will be a year from now...I want whatever happens to feel natural this time. If that includes belief in a higher power... it won't be forced on me by fear or manipulation -- this time.

41

Creationism hiding in plain sight

by FireNBandits in

a friend pointed out to me that "theistic evolution" is, in essence, no different than intelligent design.

both postulate a creator that is behind creation.

both use the words "creation" and "creator.

Rabbit

FireN
Bring on the EVIDENCE that your Great and Powerful Oz answers prayers!

Why isn't your god still rasing people from the dead and performing miracles? Is he too old to "get it up" supernaturally speaking? What's his prob, man? What's his prob? "Perhaps he is away and had to use the privy."

Silly...don't you know ? HE's an absentee landlord. [rimshot...!]

7

J.W. DOCUMENTARY TONIGHT (SUNDAY) 10 P.M.

by hubert in

jw
friends

there is a documentary tonight at 10 p.m. eastern time, on "independent lens", cable channel 21 on cox cable in new england.

(also called...pbs, wgbx channel 44).

it's titled..."members of jehovah's witnesses" and the info says.."two families are practicing members of jehovah witnesses".. i will tape it, and critique it on this thread after i review it.

Rabbit

Thanks for the 'Heads up !' Hubert.

Dallas - Ft.Worth Area

Independent Lens

Tues. 5/22 11 - 12am, KERA Chan. 13

Knocking Education (2007)
Two families are practicing member's of Jehovah's Witnesses

147

Atheists, Why the Anger?

by XJW4EVR in

ok, so you deny the existence of a god, or you lack belief in a god.

my question why do you get so angry over a mythical being?

no one gets as upset over the tooth fairy, santa claus or the easter bunny, as i have seen some of the atheists on this board get over the slightest mention of god.

Rabbit

Moshe I don't know if it is anger over the belief in God as much as it is anger over the mind control that a such a belief instills.

Double Bingo ! And as far as Aesthetic Communism goes, well...it went. It was a social experiment that failed, most people have recognized that, right ? IMHO...there have been many more Religious social experiments that have failed, too. For some reason it takes society much longer to admit these failures, perhaps because, they are based on the intangible, invisible 'boogeyman' that is always watching for good & bad deeds to reward or punish believers. People tend, naturally, 'to fear the unknown.' With all the various religions and their varied descriptions of the very good and very horrible capabilities...a most believers must be really careful with their thoughts. Most gods can read your minds, right ? Luckily...I'm agnostic, which I'll have you know...are nothing like those mean ole' Atheists. All of us Agnostics are nice, generous, thoughtful people who only want to 'live and let live'. We (all of us) are safely perched upon our 'fences of doubt', just in case there IS a god, we can pull the proverbial wool over His or Her all seeing, all knowing eyes. See...? Safety. Or, maybe we do realize that at present...there is no way to prove or disprove the existence of a supernatural 'god'.

Stevenyc: -Thomas Jefferson, letter to William Short, April 13, 1820 Question with boldness even the existence of a god; because if there be one he must approve of the homage of reason more than that of blindfolded fear.

"...blindfolded fear," ...I like that quote.

In those parts of the world where learning and science have prevailed, miracles have ceased; but in those parts of it as are barbarous and ignorant, miracles are still in vogue.? -- Ethan Allen

All national institutions of churches, whether Jewish, Christian or Turkish, appear to me no other than human inventions, set up to terrify and enslave mankind, and monopolize power and profit.
-Thomas Paine

Gotta love those founding fathers, they really were some pretty smart fellars. No wonder they had this BIG idea about "separation of church and state". What a concept ! Maybe the US could experiment with that...again. Nice Agnostic Rabbit

53

JERRY FALWELL DEAD

by sf in

breaking news on all stations.. skally.

Rabbit

I never wished for this man's death nor have I wished for any one's demise.

BUT, I think we have all known of people whose lives and actions represent the very worst that mankind has to offer. I am very sure that when political leaders like Stalin, Hitler and Saddam died...they had families or loved ones that actually shed tears.

But, I'll bet the victims and survivors shed no tears. I'm sure they felt relief and maybe even a kind of joy or happiness that 'the bad guy' IS dead and gone.

So tell me, please...? IS THAT WRONG ?

Take another example...this time religious leaders like the radical Islamic clerics that preach hate and violence. Most people will be glad [happy] when they are dead and gone. How many of us here shed tears over the horrible deaths of the followers of Jim Jones ? I know I did. How many of you were brought to tears over ...Jim Jones' death ?

Recently, a Governing Body member died. Many people here, having been victims of the almighty, 'you-have-no-right-to-question-the-voices-in-our-heads-that say-they-are-from-god' voiced their varied opinions.

My opinion was, "Good Riddance !" I related that my JW Mom died over the belief that this man promoted and it was tantamount to murder, in my eyes. This man is guilty of either lying or being crazy. Either way...this man held and promoted sincere beliefs just like all the others I used in my examples above...and these sincere beliefs have caused the deaths and miseries of untold billions of people over the course of human history.

For the sake of the health & welfare of normal humans...some people need to die and the sooner the better.

If you think that's 'not nice', you're right. It wasn't 'nice' to hold my Mom's hand while she took her very last breath either...because, of a murderous religious belief that said, she "...could not take a blood transfusion."

She died a useless, preventable death and I cry for her...the misled, but, never for the leaders !

Ya' wanna tell me I'm wrong...?

Rabbit

1

Court Won't Re-Hear Blood Transfusion Case

by VanillaMocha73 in

http://www.cjob.com/news/index.aspx?src=loc&rem=65384.

a jehovah's witness teen in manitoba who refused a blood transfusion will not have her case re-heard by the province's top court.

the manitoba court of appeal has turned down the girl's application to rehear the case.

Rabbit

Thank you for posting this. It's great that the courts in Canada are telling the JW's that their kids ...while they are kids will have the protection of the government in this matter !

Rabbit

53

JERRY FALWELL DEAD

by sf in

breaking news on all stations.. skally.

Rabbit

Well, I think all his followers should be overwhelmed with GREAT HAPPINESS & JOY at his death ! After all, didn't he (and aren't they) work hard all his life to die and BE with Gawd ? According to their beliefs the Lard called him home...so why all the sad faces over his death ?

I'd personally rather him 'be with Gawd' than still be with us spewing his hate-filled garbage.

I saw this and thought it was a little strange, but, funny:

Lesbians Claim Credit For Falwell Demise

http://www.bilerico .com/2007/ 05/003107. php
<http://www.bilerico .com/2007/ 05/003107. php>

"The Lesbian Death Angels, concerned that Rev. Falwell's
followers will misattribute the cause of their leader's demise to
their antigod or to some weenie group like Soulforce, have announced
that, in a mass worldwide action, they hexed at 10:30 am today and that
the subject of their hex was the Rev. Jerry Falwell. In other words,
they are claiming to be responsible for Jerry's death and wish the
world to know that they are proud of it to boot.

"The LDA is the international body of pro-choice radical lesbians
who meet in secret and not-so-secret cells, covens, and as individual
practitioners each Tuesday morning to try to set the world back on its
axis one hex at a time. Previous targets have included rapists who found
themselves strangely compelled to walk into police stations and turn
themselves in and others. This is one of the few successful hexes they
have publicly taken credit for.

"The LDA is still contemplating their next target for early karmic
justice. The list of potentials is long. They wish to thank the Goddess
for her swift response today."

Can't you just see Jerry Falwell's facewhen he gets to 'wherever' and he stands before a ...Goddess ?

LMAO

20

Jerry Falwell dead

by needproof in

jw
friends

all together now : dum dum dum , another one bites the dust!

dum dum dum, another one bites the dust!

Rabbit

I was watching the noon news and they mentioned Falwell was dead and I said to my wife, "Yep, the Lard needed him more than we did. Praise the Lawd ! Thank ya', Jebus !"

I thought it was over, THEN...ABC NEWS BROKE INTO MY WEATHER REPORT WITH..."A SPECIAL BULLETON"! REV. FALWELL IS STILL DEAD !

Jesus H. Christ ! I thought he woke up and died again. THAT would have been news worthy of breaking in to the weather.

*sheesh* We're gonna have to listen to his spiritual life story for weeks now. His followers should be happy for him...he's "ascended", right ?