Posts by Aalena

13

Abraham's Sacrifice

by Aalena in

i'm taking this philosophy class(oh no worldy wisdom) and the instructer mentioned how it always bothered him how abraham's god(yaweh or jehovah to us) had put him through the ordeal of even asking him to sacrifice his son.

i identified with this because it's something that always bothered me as well.

i know it was supposedly just a "test" but to me it doesn't seem like something jehovah would ever do when taking into consideration his characteristics outlined in the bible.

Aalena

Having a wedding to shoot last weekend and like... 3 papers to write I haven't gotten a chance to return! I see more opinions than anything that proves beyond a doubt that Abramam was real or a parable or just a fluke. I've yet to check out Shotgun's link yet, but it sounds interesting=) Once I've researched things a bit on my own I'll go there to see if anyone collaborates my findings!

Honestly, I've been leaning towards the thoughts of the bible NOT being real. However, I DO know that the WTBTS tends to take a number of things EXTREMELY literal-- well, when I was growing up they did. It is very possible that *THEY* have the tunnel vision. One thing that always turned me from them is their incapicty to evolve as human beings because of their fears of turning away from God. I wish they would realize that doesn't mean losing God, only understanding the world and everything in it better! I didn't understand that so eloquently while I was in the religion, but now it's much easier to articulate those thoughts=)

1

[disgruntled] Mormons and 7th day Adventist vs. JW's

by Undaunted Danny in

mormon opposing views top 20 web results out of about 19,300 search took 0.26 seconds.

Aalena

Yah.. you searched Yahoo=p

My very close "mormon" friend and I were talking about this just a few days ago and it's scary the similarities between mormons/JW "apostates" and their feelings. He showed me numerous sites much like these that were centered around apostate mormons. No clue about seventh day adventists, though.

13

Abraham's Sacrifice

by Aalena in

i'm taking this philosophy class(oh no worldy wisdom) and the instructer mentioned how it always bothered him how abraham's god(yaweh or jehovah to us) had put him through the ordeal of even asking him to sacrifice his son.

i identified with this because it's something that always bothered me as well.

i know it was supposedly just a "test" but to me it doesn't seem like something jehovah would ever do when taking into consideration his characteristics outlined in the bible.

Aalena

I'm taking this philosophy class(OH NO WORLDY WISDOM) and the instructer mentioned how it always bothered him how Abraham's God(Yaweh or Jehovah to us) had put him through the ordeal of even asking him to sacrifice his son. I identified with this because it's something that always bothered me as well. I know it was supposedly just a "test" but to me it doesn't seem like something Jehovah would ever do when taking into consideration his characteristics outlined in the bible. I mean, it's a bit deceiptful and manipulative-- both qualities the bible(or perhaps it was JWs) suggests he is VERY much against. If God is perfect, unfailing, etc. how could he even begin to deceive someone in this way only to test their loyalty? Job now comes to mind also. Would God REALLY make someone suffer just to win a bet with Satan?

I suppose this post is questioning Christianity more than JWs but am not certain. Perhaps someone has taken the accounts completely different than how I was taught to read them.

The thing that is scary to me is that it has me questioning the bible and christianity now. Those are only two very small thoughts that have started these questions. It's a bit overwhelming, though, since I've gone the majority of my 25 years believing there was a Supreme Being, namely the christian one mentioned in the bible. Or, perhaps those accounts were not to be taken literally? I think I'll do some research and see if there is proof that Job and Abraham lived on earth. It's been a long time since I have thought about any of this. =)

Thoughts?

5

Demonized Software...

by Agent 1 of 1 in

how does the society view software or media that seems to be from the devil?

if i'm watching a satanic ritual file downloaded from a web site, is that file demonized?

if the original file is possessed and gets duplicated, are all the other duplicated files possessed as well?

Aalena

Xegony Server=) Been playing for about 4 years but lately my time is limited due to trying to finish school before I'm 30!;)

Aalena is my toon's name=p

55

Continuum, Consciousness, Being

by onacruse in

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matter exists.. matter does not disappear from the universe; it transforms, at times, but in some form or other (energy) it continues to exist.. so what is "consciousness"?

it also exists (and we are individually proof of that fact).. can our personal "consciousness" cease to exist?

Aalena

I remembered one last incident. We held my father's funeral at a non-denominational funeral home since he and most of his family were not JWs(I was very proud of my mother for doing that). On my mother initial visit to the funeral home to make arrangements, while she was inside the back window in her Ford Explorer --shattered. So? you may say... well, it shattered so that the glass fell OUTSIDE of the car. Not one peice of glass was inside of the back of the Explorer.

Maybe those things seemed a bit larger than they were because of the emotional times we were experiencing... but still odd, nonetheless. Definately not your typical run of events and it definately made me think about death differently than I had been taught to believe.

55

Continuum, Consciousness, Being

by onacruse in

.

matter exists.. matter does not disappear from the universe; it transforms, at times, but in some form or other (energy) it continues to exist.. so what is "consciousness"?

it also exists (and we are individually proof of that fact).. can our personal "consciousness" cease to exist?

Aalena

hmmm... I re-read the original post. Do we continue to have some sort of concousness after we die? I cannot be sure on that. Being forever taught that we do not it's difficult for me to believe otherwise. Things happened after my father died that made me question that though.

The day after he died my little sister found 3 missed calls from the hospital room where we had all spent the previous 2 weeks... the calls were dated the day after he passed when no one was anywhere near that hospital, let alone that hospital room. Also the day after, my father's deer antlers that he had in a box that was stored on a high shelf in our garage were spread out all over our lawn. Our garage appeared untouched and the box was no were to be seen.

Do we live on after we die? We all do in one form or another. In my father's funeral notice I wrote that one of the greatest comforts I had was to know that my father had a key part in shaping the life that was ahead of me and his influence would forever be imprinted in my life. In that sense, he will always live after death.

55

Continuum, Consciousness, Being

by onacruse in

.

matter exists.. matter does not disappear from the universe; it transforms, at times, but in some form or other (energy) it continues to exist.. so what is "consciousness"?

it also exists (and we are individually proof of that fact).. can our personal "consciousness" cease to exist?

Aalena

I'm fairly convinced our bodies are only vessles that harbor who "we" are. I watched my father take his last living breath. It's very surreal to think back on it. To stand infront of someone who is dying... to stand there when someone has told you to say your goodbyes because it won't be long until they pass away, is an odd and obviously somber type of anxiousness. It's almost unexplicable to convey the feelings of having to watch for their every breath, wondering if each was their last and to keep waiting after they have taken that last breath until you finally realize that they are no more. What is even more un-nerving is the apparent lifelessness that exists when they have died. Just a second ago, just a moment ago, just 10 moments ago-- they were alive and warm and a "being." I'm positive there is more to it than simply our bodies giving out and ceasing to work. There is that living spark that leaves-- that is more complex than our molecular make-up. I think it's something no one can justly explain. One just has to experience seeing a life begin and cease to understand.

5

Demonized Software...

by Agent 1 of 1 in

how does the society view software or media that seems to be from the devil?

if i'm watching a satanic ritual file downloaded from a web site, is that file demonized?

if the original file is possessed and gets duplicated, are all the other duplicated files possessed as well?

Aalena

Funny thing: My mother came in and saw an MMORPG i was playing called, Everquest. It's loosely based on dungeons and dragons... but really not. It's basically an online version of Lord of the Rings. Anyhow, she finally looked at how I was playing it one day(after about 4 years of playing this game) and exclaims, "Angela! What are you bringing into my house?? Are they casting magic? That is demonic!! You are inviting Satan into this house!" I calmly asked her if she had seen anything in this house or experienced anything in this house for the past 4 years I had lived here that was demonic or satanic happen and of course she had to say no!

Silly silly silly I sometimes listen to her and her JW friends talk about the experiences that others have had with demons and I chuckle quietly to myself. They don't realize that they sound schitzophrenic!

13

Speaking of Shunning

by North Girl in

jw
friends

for those who don't know me i've never been jw but am interesting in understanding.

anyways, i was wondering when you were a practicing jw and you had to shun people, deep down how did you feel?

did you feel right in doing so or did you always know that it wasn't right?

Aalena

I just remember feeling akward. I also remember feeling that the person being "shunned" was a bad person-- someone that was a threat to my spiritual nature. As I matured a bit I just ignored what was insinuated I should do if I were to meet someone not in "good-standing" with the congregation and treated them as I would treat anyone I have met in life- with respect and dignity, I realized that my mind had been molded to think that way(whether intentional or unintentional).

I've experienced extremeties from others, though. A couple that had a son my age when I was growing up and my family has known for over 20 years was in my work recently. I did not see them at first. I turned suddenly because I felt someone staring at me and turned to meet the wife's eyes. I smiled-- she looked at me blankly and then I looked away.

Just last night I received a phonecall from my little sister who is a regular pioneer and who's husband served in bethel and is an elder. She asked if I would take the wedding photos of a girl who she studies with. Apparently, the man the girl is marrying is DF'd and the woman that was originally taking their wedding pictures backed out because he had failed to be reinstated when they thought he would be. That sickened me-- the wedding is a week from Sunday. No class.

11

Racism - American Idol?

by confusedjw in

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earlier this season there were some reports and accusations of racism in the voting for the american idol.. but now with the last two seasons being capped off with a black and white finalist and the black singer winning both times should this put to rest the accusations?

Aalena

Latoya London was my favorite and the most talented, imo!