Posts by bavman

20

Recent E-mail Exchange with my Mother

by bavman in

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 .

bavman

Thanks Blondie. I will review Hassan's book. Yes, patience I will try to have. I went to meditation tonight. A definite help.

20

Recent E-mail Exchange with my Mother

by bavman in

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 .

bavman

It took my Mom a week but she did respond....

Dear Greg: It is too bad you didn't do more research before you made the decision to dedicate your life an get babtized. That's what we all do . Make sure of all things. I don't know who your referring to that pushed you into believing it or else but that's not the way We do things. If communication between both parties was done it could have saved much grief. Its hard to be a mind reader. Also, I don't know who or what your referring to as being dishonest but I know that's not how truth works either. I've never came across that all the years I've been in the truth. A person can do all the study they want of all religions. Theres only one true God(Jehovah) One Lord. One Bible. One faith. One Babtism. Eph.4: 5. If our beliefs are not based on Gods Word, "2 TIM.3: 14,15" their just a lot of refuse. Out Creator teaches us the right way and we must draw close to him and he will draw close to us. Mens teaching do not draw us close to Jehovah. Satan is the god of this system of things and he is making himself into an "angel of light". He knows he has a short time left. People of all cultures, walks of life are streaming to Jehovahs mountain. We are happy to be part of that too. Isa.2:2-4. Love Mom

12

Roof Repair-Could Any Brothers Give a Hand?

by bavman in

a friend/co-worker of mine who is an inactive dub told me today that the old hall i went to is getting a new roof.

however, he was upset because only "special" people are being allowed to work on it (himself not included, nor his active, in good-standing father).

it seems you have to be "invited" to work on your own kingdom hall roof now.

bavman

A friend/co-worker of mine who is an inactive dub told me today that the old hall I went to is getting a new roof. However, he was upset because only "special" people are being allowed to work on it (himself not included, nor his active, in good-standing father). It seems you have to be "invited" to work on your own Kingdom Hall roof now. I knew people working on quick-builds had to be part of the in-crowd but I hadn't heard about this applying to your own hall before. Geez! What is behind this anyway? Legal issues, or what? Anyway, it's too bad because I actually have many fond memories of working on halls (barn-raising style). Just another example of the heart and soul being lost in JW land. Perhaps it's just getting that way all over though...Hmmmm....wonder if the Amish are having these problems?

33

Do you still pray/talk to yourself like you used to?or wish very hard?

by Crumpet in

jw
friends

i find that i still have an internal dialogue - a bit like i used to when i walked around talking to god like my life depended on it trying to cultivate that elusive relationship with him.

i like to call it internal dialogue because otherwise they could bring in the mental health professionals...don't ask me who "they" are - do i look/act/sound paranoid?!

so before "they" take me away: do you still find you talk to yourself in your head when you see things of especial beauty that might previously have inspired a prayer of thanks (and maybe still do - don't worry i am over with the castigation of the religious, for now!)?

bavman

I don't pray but I do have internal (hah! almost said eternal) dialog in my head. I am pretty sure everyone does except for the most disciplined. I do meditation practice daily. This with the goal of first of all stilling the dialog in my head...taming my mind if you will.

20

Recent E-mail Exchange with my Mother

by bavman in

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 .

bavman

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

13

Were You Taught Evolution in School? Comparative Religion?

by bavman in

where you went to school, that is secondary and high school.

was evolution taught?

is it taught in european school?

bavman

Where did you go to school "Choosing Life"?

38

Why So Many More Atheists in Europe?

by bavman in

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.

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?

33

The Village - Similar to the JW's?

by Good Girl or Bad Girl? in

i 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?.

bavman

Never saw it. I believe that movie is rated "R" isn't it?

13

Were You Taught Evolution in School? Comparative Religion?

by bavman in

where you went to school, that is secondary and high school.

was evolution taught?

is it taught in european school?

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?

38

Why So Many More Atheists in Europe?

by bavman in

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.

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.