Posts by poppers

18

Catholic Church: Sorry little girl... you're going to hell

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

and there is nothing you can do about it because you can't eat bread!.

http://www.cnn.com/2004/us/08/19/communion.denied.ap/index.htmlchurch says girl's communion not valid.

brielle, new jersey (ap) -- an 8-year-old girl who suffers from a rare digestive disorder and cannot eat wheat has had her first holy communion declared invalid because the wafer contained no wheat, violating roman catholic doctrine.. haley waldman, 8, is shown in her communion gown in this undated family photo.. now, haley waldman's mother is pushing the diocese of trenton and the vatican to make an exception, saying the girl's condition should not exclude her from the sacrament, which commemorates the last supper of jesus christ before his crucifixion.

poppers

Having grown up Catholic this is the saddest thing I've ever heard of. Not to make allowances for such cases is despicable, all in the name of some rigid belief which has nothing to do with today's reality. Shameless - even as an ex-Catholic I find it embarrassing.

Organized religion, regardless of denomination, is the very thing preventing people from seeing God in eachother and in themselves.

42

So then, here's a question...about "meditation"

by onacruse in

jw
friends

recent threads have got me to thinking about this.. i've never "meditated," insofar as i've always understood the term.. i always avoided even trying to "meditate," (and still have a reluctance even to consider doing so) because the wts not-so-obliquely suggested that "meditation" was parmount to 'opening your mind to demons.

' even though i've totally trashed the wts mumbo-jumbo, i still find in my soul a reluctance to embark on such a journey.. kate gave me a different perspective last night.. so, your comments, and especially, your experiences?.

craig.

poppers

There have been some good responses to your question. I resonate with several based on my own experiences. As a long time meditator (27 years) I got hooked into the process itself - in other words 'I' was a meditator who could achieve a desired state for a period of time. But as Mark pointed out those states fade and the world is still there staring you in the face when they are gone. It wasn't until I questioned the existence of this 'I' did meditation reveal itself to be my natural state of awareness prior to the arising of who I thought I was. Who I thought I was doesn't actually exist - it is just a bundle of concepts that are clung to; in other words, who I thought I was was only thought itself - an ego that was identified with. What you are before that ego arises could be called meditation.

Many so called techniques to arrive at this natural state of simple awareness keep that awareness at bay because the ego structure which is using them remains in place, and it will struggle to remain the center of your experience of the world - it desperately wants to survive. The ego structure becomes frightened and threatened when told that it doesn't really exist, and in most cases will go running in the opposite direction clinging to thoughts, ideas, and concepts because then, at least, it knows it's still there.

Meditation can creep up on you when it is least expected, as some have pointed out - while doing bead work, for example. Or just walking around in nature with eyes wide with the wonder of what's before you without trying to interpret it in any way. It is the antithesis of every mind held position, and that's difficult for a western mind in particular to accept because we seem to identify who and what we are by mental activity. By the way, if this doesn't post in paragraph form will someone please clue me in on how to do that.

43

My Mom just passed away.

by El Kabong in

jw
friends

dear friends.

i've posted earlier this year that my mom suffered a stroke.

i just got the news that she passed away this evening.

poppers

My condolences go to you and your family.

poppers

26

A Parody of a typical Watchtower Article for your amusement: enjoy!

by Terry in

jw
friends

(matthew 24:14).

[matthew 24:14]

but, does this lead to true happiness?

poppers

First - oops on my last post. That was one of the funniest pieces of writing that I've read in a long time. Where do I send in my subscription money for the follow-up articles?

26

A Parody of a typical Watchtower Article for your amusement: enjoy!

by Terry in

jw
friends

(matthew 24:14).

[matthew 24:14]

but, does this lead to true happiness?

poppers

Terry,

19

The Six Planes of Higher Consciousness???????

by frankiespeakin in

c&p i find this interesting not saying it is correct just interesting: .

http://www.mysticism.net/print/planes.htm.

the mystic's life lesson #4 .

poppers

Hi Brenda, Not to denigrate the attainments of others who can astral travel and have all sorts of other mystical experiences, but I would question whether such attainments indicate enlightenment. Paranormal abilities tend to trap one into believing they are something special and that by having them it sets them apart and above others. It is ego-enhancing. Equating mystical and paranormal experiences with enlightenment is a common misunderstanding. Enlightenment is beyond ego/mind.

37

Do you have anger issues because of mistreatment by JW's?

by LyinEyes in

i have been reading the thead on jw suicide the last two days and i have to admit, i am boiling mad, angry, and literally have thoughts of wanting to put my hands around some of the jw's who have abused so many......lol!!!!!!!

i realize this is not at all funny, but i do laugh at how i let this get to me to the point of fantazing of slapping some of the "higher than thou" jw's i have ran across in my life and those whom some of you decribed.

i read scully's story and wanted to choak the ones who did not pass her the emblems at the memorial.. i get so mad when i read how some of the jw's want to pass judgement on the one's who have committed suicide , saying they will not be resurrected.