Markfromcali

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Posts by Markfromcali

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  78

  CO's talk: "Those who leave the truth say they've never been happier"

  by truthseeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yep, it's true.

  while giving his usual spiel about how true christians should struggle, he says that some of those who have left the truth, say they never felt better.. .

  the answer: "they don't have to stuggle anymore.".

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  Markfromcali

  Frankie I don't know specifically because I'm not interested in the workings of such narrow minds.

  I'll tell you what though, before I read this thread I've already had the thought recently that this organization is as good as gone. They are a non-issue.

  I do think you're basically right though, in that their struggle is with themselves. Even honest JWs recognize that there's the whole internal struggle which they think of as imperfection, it's not all about Satan. Forget the part about being happier, if someone is struggling with themselves how is that someone you should listen to? It's like let me know when you're done then we'll talk.
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  8

  Paradise; What's yours?

  by ljwtiamb in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  here's something that i always wondered as a jw: with the virtually limitless tastes, hopes & desires, as well as cultures, families and backgrounds, did we all have the same idea of paradise in mind?

  it used to (bother?

  ) me that, perhaps the pictures of fruit & animals that i carried around in my service bag, were not paradise for everybody.

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  Markfromcali

  It used to (bother?) me that, perhaps the pictures of fruit & animals that I carried around in my service bag, were not paradise for EVERYBODY. In fact, I now feel that much of our perceptions of the eternal reward are based on a very shallow understanding of things.

  Good call. After all if your idea of paradise is just a really good lemon chicken or something then shallow is an appropriate word. We probably all know the beliefs that it's all going to be vegetarian and one big nudist colony, as if these external things are what's important. Not that there's anything wrong with those things, but speaking of love it would be like only going by how someone looks and totally ignoring who they are as a person, whereas we know sometimes when you find the ones that are special to you thats what is really unimportant.
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  51

  Did we become JW because we wanted someone else to do our thinking for us?

  by Rod P in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ask yourself the question "do i have the kind of personality that is attracted to a strong person or entity that speaks with authority, and is very assertive?".

  most of us just want to follow the leader.

  it makes us feel protected and secure.

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  Markfromcali

  The subject of teaching is closely related to the topic though, in other words is teaching about the teacher doing your thinking for you? Are questions asked (if any are) just so you can highlight the points you set out to make, and word for word right out of the paragraph for that matter? Just having something to say and saying it does not a teaching make, especially if there's supposed to be some discernment and understanding on the other end.

  Of course, if you are under the impression that it's all about thinking you would think teaching is so important. But if it is not all about thinking then even if there is actually some skillful teaching going on that only goes so far.

  "I'm a teacher - you know what I mean - and I do my little turn on the catwalk.." -Right Said Fred teaching
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  4

  Religion and Relationships?

  by DocHayes in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  how much does religion factor with who you decide to have a relationship with?

  of course as a jw you weren't supposed to marry or even date someone who wasn't a dub.

  but now that you're out how much does that matter?

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  Markfromcali

  Not only does one or both parties being religious or not matter, it also depends on what religion is to you. Actually, basically it depends on what relationship is to you. While I appreciate that intellectual stimulation can be a part of it, I don't see relationships as a matter of thought process alone, or any process at all. All of that may be there, but the bottom line is what are you about, what is your life about, (or what life is to you) and how does that fit in with the other person - or whether it does fit. I guess I would say the processes is just how that plays out.

  It's a challenge to find someone who thinks similarly as you or not, but it's even harder to find someone who doesn't live life based on thoughts and beliefs. Actually, that's what we all want isn't it? Sure you might find someone who believes a certain way, or is smart and interesting, but these factors alone do not automatically make someone you'd want to be in a relationship with. Isn't it true that sometimes you can look at someone who is otherwise very attractive in different ways, but there is just something missing?

  And not to be negative, but frankly even when you like everything about each other the relationship doesn't necessarily always work out anyway. Whether it's geographical distance, career or whatever, life situation sometimes just does not match up like the people do. Sure we can work on that, and that part of it is a process, but when life isn't just about that perfect girl or guy, you just don't drop everything else and focus on the relationship exclusively. We may have other relationships in our lives like if you're a parent and so on...

  It may seem rather difficult, but I think the key is to not compromise how you want to live, and then the relationship part will be in context of the life you want to have. Of course there's the give and take, but the bottom line is finding out what is really important - then we can let the rest of that go.
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  27

  What's the last good fantasy or scifi book that you could'nt put down?

  by Leander in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  so what's the last fantasy/scifi book that you read that was just so good you could'nt put it down until you were done reading it?

  i need a few recommendations, i'm in the mood for a good book.. for me the last really good scifi book was orson scott card's "ender's game".

  for a long time i avoided this book because i thought it was aimed at a younger audience, but after hearing so many people praise it i finally took a chance on it.

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  Markfromcali

  In the buttons above you should see one that looks like a speech bubble button. (not the ones with i or ? up where icon is, down in the post window next to the smiley) Just highlight the text you want to quote, copy and paste it in your message and then highlight again and click that button to put it in the quote box. You can also type < q > (without the spaces) at the beginning of the text you want to quote and < / q > to unquote.
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  29

  Out of rehab

  by Cygnus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was discharged today from the rehab center in the hospital.

  there were 14 inpatients there and i was the least of their worries.

  i would take 8-15 10/325 generic norco (think strong vicodin without too mcuh tylenol) a day and that's it.

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  Markfromcali

  Speaking of acupuncture, they have these little patch 'needles' with a dull point that you can wear on your ear, it's basicaly like a little piece of bandage with a piece of metal on the point, and you can wear it and stimulate the point yourself. I've had it before (though not for rehab) but it does make you feel better, the experience was quite euphoric. I would imagine for rehab purposes (which is what they are generally used for) it can effectively balance things out.
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  10

  Centre or fringe?

  by Narkissos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jws we were weekly told about making "jehovah," "the kingdom," "spiritual" or "theocratic interests" the centre of our lives.

  many of us bought into it and really tried hard to do so.

  committing oneself to full-time service was thought of as a natural way of "putting kingdom's interests first" and focusing on what was "most important".. forget a moment about the specific wt crap.

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  Markfromcali

  In time, however, some of the "professional idealists" start noticing that professionalism somehow spoils the fun, and begin to envy the candid enthusiasm of the "amateurs". The interest seems to elude the centre, irresistibly occupied by prosaic day-to-day business, however "important," and persistently slides to unrelated events, people or interests in the fringe. Try to focus on the "essential" and you lose it. Forget about it and it re-emerges in the most unexpected places. The first will be the last?
  

  This is certainly part of my experience. Does that find any echo in yours?

  This brings to mind the idea of beginners mind from the well known zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki. The expert, professional idealist basically has a mind that is more structured and rigid than a beginners, therefore the possibilities are limited whereas the beginners mind has many possibilities, being completely open.

  Another aspect of this is reflected in Dogen's words: "To study the self is to forget the self." Given the above it would mean to forget this learned, rigid mental structure. And of course this does not mean you forget the practical knowledge and abilities you've acquired, it is just the identification with these things as self that is forgotten. When none of it is taken as self, then you are both free from the structure and free to use it at the same time. In effect people end up believing in an ideal and they are limited to those defined boundaries, whereas functionally speaking it is far better to have that flexibility.

  It's like a child's outlook of wanting to be a fireman or some other role that seem like a good one to strive after, but the role is only the appearance, doing the work is something else. So the question becomes who does the work? Before you learn how to be a fireman, there was still someone that has to learn. But this isn't about acquiring knowledge, it goes back to that beginner's mind that is open to all possibilities. We remember this when we forget this acuired sense of self.
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  51

  Did we become JW because we wanted someone else to do our thinking for us?

  by Rod P in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  ask yourself the question "do i have the kind of personality that is attracted to a strong person or entity that speaks with authority, and is very assertive?".

  most of us just want to follow the leader.

  it makes us feel protected and secure.

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  Markfromcali

  Ask yourself the question "Do I have the kind of personality that is attracted to a strong person or entity that speaks with authority, and is very assertive?"

  But... Since when are JWs strong and speak with authority? LOL Assertive maybe, but when you take the other stuff out of the equation being assertive by itself just doesn't go very far. Of course I guess it's all relative, but I mean come on, really... Atleast in hindsight..

  "We're all out of powdered toast!" - Ren & Stimpy pleading to Powdered Toast Man
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  29

  Out of rehab

  by Cygnus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was discharged today from the rehab center in the hospital.

  there were 14 inpatients there and i was the least of their worries.

  i would take 8-15 10/325 generic norco (think strong vicodin without too mcuh tylenol) a day and that's it.

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  Markfromcali

  Don't have anything to say except that we're with you. Keep us posted.
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  17

  The Bible and Scripting

  by purplesofa in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was a teenager i became familiar with transactional analysis.

  it says we all have life scripts we live by.

  here is some information i got from various sites online.

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  Markfromcali

  Yes we are effected, but it doesn't have to be anywhere near what it means to someone who identifies with the content. Sure we can talk about the Bible and how people take it, but it doesn't really matter because if that's where you are then you can base it on anything - it is just unconscious behavior. Look at it from the other perspective: If you don't identify with a particular story, then you will have that kind of influence on someone who does. So it can work both ways, although ultimately you find it just doesn't really touch you even if everyone around you is caught up in it.

  And it can start very small, but that is not to say it is insignificant. A great example of this came from a woman I know who was relating an experience in watching a kid's movie with her daughter, and it was the line "What's inside you is stronger than any spell." Needless to say she found that to be a profound statement. We just need to get in touch with it.