Dear Greg: Just a note to Thank You for the card and for remembering us on our anniversary. We had a very nice 45th anniversary. The only thing that would have made it better is if You and ***(my sister) could have celebrated with us . Love,Mom Dear Mom, Glad you enjoyed your anniversary. Yes, I (and I am sure Sue also) would have enjoyed celebrating with you. I would have been glad to have been there if I had been invited. I do understand I wasn't invited because I am not a witness anymore. I also hope you understand I wouldn't be welcome back as a witness believing (and also not-believing) what I do now. I would go back you know if I felt it was the right thing to do. I told the elders that as well....that I needed to search and if I felt it was the truth in the future I would be back. So, if you feel I am wrong in what I am about to say I am open to talking about it. The JW religion is not a religion you can stay in if you don't believe it yeah know...unless you are o.k. with being dishonest. I would have been content searching while still in but I wasn't allowed to do that. I was pushed to believe it or else. Belief doesn't work very well that way. I am enjoying this time working on myself and searching. I have taken a college course on Sociology of Religion, have read much concerning all different religions (read much from other religion's "holy scriptures"), researched how geography, culture, and time influences different belief systems. I have gone to many different places of worship, met many people from all different backgrounds. It has truly been an eye opener for me. I never could have done this if I had stayed a witness. The effect has been greatly beneficial. I can see the common threads between people and am more open myself. I could never go back to a religion that would stifle that. I felt like I was shriveling up a few years ago and now I am growing again. It's a great place to be. I wish you could be here with me. The door is open. Love, Greg
bavman
JoinedPosts by bavman
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Recent E-mail Exchange with my Mother
by bavman indear greg: just a note to thank you for the card and for remembering us on our anniversary.
we had a very nice 45th anniversary.
the only thing that would have made it better is if you and ***(my sister) could have celebrated with us .
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Were You Taught Evolution in School? Comparative Religion?
by bavman inwhere you went to school, that is secondary and high school.
was evolution taught?
is it taught in european school?
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bavman
Where did you go to school "Choosing Life"?
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Why So Many More Atheists in Europe?
by bavman intop 50 countries .
with highest proportion of atheists / agnostics.
(zuckerman, 2005)below is a list of the top fifty countries containing the largest measured percentage of people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or non-believer in god.
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bavman
I think a lot of people have said Christian but they don't actually practise - never go to church and never ever think about god. I'd be more interested in seeing stats showing who actively practises their faith in any way - other than getting drunk at Christmas...
This is also very much the case here in the states. Most of the people I went to school with and have worked with are like this. Even in this so-called Christian nation.
in view of my previous suggestion that the USA are (or, sound) more religious now than, say, in the 19th century. More religious, I feel, in the sense of a slide from rational deism to (multi-)confessional theism, at least in public expression. That suggestion may be wrong, though. Anyone cares to discuss it?
Yes, from what I read from the founding fathers this would be true compared to say what we hear from George Bush today. It would seem to be political suicide here to say you are an atheist or agnostic or deist. Not sure why (since many people are that) other than the fact many religious types have become more organized politically (moral majority).
-What I find amazing also are the huge mega-churches here springing up. Many young people go to these. Very simple style of worship...singing, association, and lot's of emotion. Perhaps a reaction to the presumption there are no morals left here in the states?
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The Village - Similar to the JW's?
by Good Girl or Bad Girl? ini just watched m. night shyamalan's the village, http://imdb.com/title/tt0368447/.
i've seen it mentioned here before that this movie reminds people of the jehovah's witnesses.
what things are similar?.
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bavman
Never saw it. I believe that movie is rated "R" isn't it?
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Were You Taught Evolution in School? Comparative Religion?
by bavman inwhere you went to school, that is secondary and high school.
was evolution taught?
is it taught in european school?
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bavman
Where you went to school, that is secondary and high school. Was evolution taught? Is it taught in European school? It wasn't where I went to school. Oh sure, the obligatory mention was made but it was very general, nothing specific. I even had a biology teacher who made it known he believed in Creationism and seemed upset he couldn't talk about it in class. Same thing with religion...only general beliefs were talked about and certainly nothing was really compared.
I believe all these things should be presented early on so that kids can make a real choice and really get to understand other people. Is it this way anywhere?
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Why So Many More Atheists in Europe?
by bavman intop 50 countries .
with highest proportion of atheists / agnostics.
(zuckerman, 2005)below is a list of the top fifty countries containing the largest measured percentage of people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or non-believer in god.
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bavman
I don't know that I believe the stats I posted either. Why China has the stat it does is just one example. I posted the stats mainly as a way to get the discussion started. However, the perception I get from reading and watching (way to much on this subject for my own good probably) is that Europe has a lot less belief in God. My perception has been that Britain has a little more belief than the rest of Europe but not as much belief as the U.S. I have seen some stats here in the U.S. that would put belief in God at 80 % of the population. Now again, I am not sure that can be trusted. Seems way too high to me. Perhaps my question should have been: Is it true that Europeans are mostly atheists and most Americans are believers in God?
Then again, how would you define God? Some who say they believe in God actually don't believe in a personal God at all but instead a panentheistic God or something of the kind.
I like the ideas that everyone came up with though. Seems to be a complicated question. Leaves me with more questions than answers.
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For women over thirty!
by helncon inthis is for all you girls 30 years and over.... and for those who are turning 30, and for those who are scared of moving into their 30's...and for guys who are scared of girls over 30!!!!....
this was written by andy rooney from cbs 60 minutes.
andy rooney says:.
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bavman
Lol! I see a whole lot of truth in what he wrote. No offense to women here under 30 but in general I agree with Andy.
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Why So Many More Atheists in Europe?
by bavman intop 50 countries .
with highest proportion of atheists / agnostics.
(zuckerman, 2005)below is a list of the top fifty countries containing the largest measured percentage of people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or non-believer in god.
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bavman
Top 50 Countries
With Highest Proportion of Atheists / Agnostics
(Zuckerman, 2005)Below is a list of the top fifty countries containing the largest measured percentage of people who identify as atheist, agnostic, or non-believer in God. These figures do not necessarily represent the number of people who are identify themselves as "atheists." For example, in Estonia in 2004, 49% of people surveyed said they did not believe in God. At the same time, only 11% of people in the country identified themselves as atheists.
Country Total country
population (2004)% Atheist/
Agnostic/
Nonbeliever in GodNumber of Atheists/
Agnostics
Nonbelievers in God
(minimum - maximum)Sweden 8,986,000 46 - 85% 4,133,560 - 7,638,100 Vietnam 82,690,000 81% 66,978,900 Denmark 5,413,000 43 - 80% 2,327,590 - 4,330,400 Norway 4,575,000 31 - 72% 1,418,250 - 3,294,000 Japan 127,333,000 64 - 65% 81,493,120 - 82,766,450 Czech Republic 10,246,100 54 - 61% 5,328,940 - 6,250,121 Finland 5,215,000 28 - 60% 1,460,200 - 3,129,000 France 60,424,000 43 - 54% 25,982,320 - 32,628,960 South Korea 48,598,000 30 - 52% 14,579,400 - 25,270,960 Estonia 1,342,000 49% 657,580 Germany 82,425,000 41 - 49% 33,794,250 - 40,388,250 Russia 143,782,000 24 - 48% 34,507,680 - 69,015,360 Hungary 10,032,000 32 - 46% 3,210,240 - 4,614,720 Netherlands 16,318,000 39 - 44% 6,364,020 - 7,179,920 Britain 60,271,000 31 - 44% 18,684,010 - 26,519,240 Belgium 10,348,000 42 - 43% 4,346,160 - 4,449,640 Bulgaria 7,518,000 34 - 40% 2,556,120 - 3,007,200 Slovenia 2,011,000 35 - 38% 703,850 - 764,180 Israel 6,199,000 15 - 37% 929,850 - 2,293,630 Canada 32,508,000 19 - 30% 6,176,520 - 9,752,400 Latvia 2,306,000 20 - 29% 461,200 - 668,740 Slovakia 5,424,000 10 - 28% 542,400 - 1,518,720 Switzerland 7,451,000 17 - 27% 1,266,670 - 2,011,770 Austria 8,175,000 18 - 26% 1,471,500 - 2,125,500 Australia 19,913,000 24 - 25% 4,779,120 - 4,978,250 Taiwan 22,750,000 24% 5,460,000 Spain 40,281,000 15 - 24% 6,042,150 - 9,667,440 Iceland 294,000 16 - 23% 47,040 - 67,620 New Zealand 3,994,000 20 - 22% 798,800 - 878,680 Ukraine 47,732,000 20% 9,546,400 Belarus 10,311,000 17% 1,752,870 Greece 10,648,000 16% 1,703,680 North Korea 22,698,000 15%* 3,404,700 Italy 58,057,000 6 - 15% 3,483,420 - 8,708,550 Armenia 2,991,000 14% 418,740 China 1,298,848,000 8 - 14%* 103,907,840 - 181,838,720 Lithuania 3,608,000 13% 469,040 Singapore 4,354,000 13% 566,020 Uruguay 3,399,000 12% 407,880 Kazakhstan 15,144,000 11 - 12% 1,665,840 - 1,817,280 Mongolia 2,751,000 9% 247,590 Portugal 10,524,000 4 - 9% 420,960 - 947,160 USA 293,028,000 3 - 9% 8,790,840 - 26,822,520 Albania 3,545,000 8% 283,600 Argentina 39,145,000 4 - 8% 1,565,800 - 3,131,600 Kyrgyzstan 5,081,000 7% 355,670 Dominican Republic 8,834,000 7% 618,380 Cuba 11,309,000 7%* 791,630 Croatia 4,497,000 7% 314,790 http://www.adherents.com/largecom/com_atheist.html
Anyone know of any reasons for this? Has this been studied? What say you European ex-dubs?
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What do you know about Unitarian Universalists?
by Good Girl or Bad Girl? ini'm just wondering if anyone has looked into this faith or church or religion or whatever you might call it?
it seems like a positive community, but i have also read things about it that seem borderline scary to vulnerable people who are looking to fit in somewhere... .
i'm not looking for a religion to convert to or anything like that.
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bavman
Hey GG/BG, I have gone to a few different UU churches here in Milwaukee. Pretty cool people and I have a couple UU friends. Very mixed beliefs but in general VERY open-minded and accepting. I even went through the introduction classes at two of these churches. A good book to get about them is: An Introduction to Unitarian Universalisim - A Chosen Faith by Buehrens and Church
Website: http://www.uua.org/
I recommend going there to get a feel. No obligation although they may pass a basket (throw a buck in if you want). Just going there is educational because they have speakers and subjects on all different religions.
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I Need A Comeback Statement
by journey-on inwhen i suggested to my jw sister that the wts has caused so much pain and division in our family, she told me it was because my brothers and i had made the choice to leave.
we were responsible for the division---not the society.
we are the ones that chose to leave the love and protective shelter of jehovah's organization and we are the ones that have the choice to return to the fold.. i need an intelligent comeback, preferably one that will plant a seed, not one too sarcastic.
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bavman
I don't let them get away with that. I tell them I have simply woken up but it is YOU that have chosen to shun me. Tell them they are always welcome to be and talk with you. The door is open on your side. All they need to do is open their mouth or show up in your presence.