do you every worry about dying?
do you think that you probably won't have a very long life?
I don't want to die. I have a life I enjoy (usually) and love and purpose.
After a suicide attempt in 2001 (due to extreme extended chronic pain) even after I called 911, I realized that I was ok with dying. I wanted to live, but I was no longer afraid to die. The only real fear I have is dying a lingering, painful death, or death by fire or falling.
so many testimonies from those of you that have left the clutches of the witnesses that have dramatically altered your lives, yet there seems to be those among you that feel human nature is an immutable entity locked into sideboards that will not (cannot) be altered.
history is replete with scroundrulous characters, and contemporary examples could easily be recounted to support the notion that the human condition is a product of thousands of years of genetic inheritance destined to continue unchanged into the distant future.
hence a pretty pessimistic outlook for humanity.. curious to know if that is the prevailing sentiment..... carmel
The influences of family, social religions political groups, etc., culture and traditions passed on for generations including bigotry, predudice, violence, dependencies, hiding family "secrets", being a "have" or "have not", or "my ____ is better than your ____" all feed our human "nature". Such generational ingraining is difficult to break at a personal level, let alone at a group or social level.
Most humans are social creatures and seek the surrounds and approval of other like people. If there are no others of like-mind available, then individuals change their own attituded, behaviours, etc., to fit in and be accepted. (Peer pressure)
For a deeper look at who we are as a species, look at tribalism and it's range of good to horrid (tribe takes care of it's own to tribe elite kill any "subject" that crosses the elite's shadow)
today i sat and really realized how absolutely hopeless i feel.
i have had so many things happen in my life this year and a huge percentage of it has been items i have to face or tackle.
i have prioritized and organized myself to death and i am so very overwhelmed.
Awww (((( Sparky )))) With everything you've been through and done for others, your turn is long overdue!
I am proud of you! I have been taught that when all else is in the dark, a Gratitude List will help. Even if you don't FEEL grateful, there is pleanty to be grateful for, at least at an intellectual level.
I am grateful for so much in my life that I just cant list it all. The biggest thing I am grateful for is that I want for very little.
Hugs to you all - you're all on my list!
mark smith and i pulled this prank during the approximate time-frame as the others.
mark had been disfellowshipped from the church of christ at age 19, i from the jw's at the same age.
mark and i were 25 and 26 respectively at this time.
Nate: A "mate" to an Aussie means good buddy....
You are one mahvolously sick schmuck! I love it!
Hugs
B
was the 1861 invasion of the confederate states of america also wrong?
Good point, Dune.
was the 1861 invasion of the confederate states of america also wrong?
Was Iraq part of the United States just a year or two before the invasion?A better comparison might be: Was the 1893 invasion of Kingdom of Hawaii by soldiers from the USS Boston and the "regime change" that occurred at that time wrong?
(Our government has apologized for that, btw)
The invasion of the confederate states is similar in many ways to the invasion of the Feds in Oregon against the Death with Dignity act and the Oregon Medical Marijuana Project. The cause is the same: Do states have the right to govern themselves when their government differs from the general federalists attitude and laws.
Iraq is another issue entirely. The "intelligence" was incorrect, and our President for the People who had invasion of Iraq on his agenda from day 1 and did everything within his power to see that goal succeed, used this bad "intelligence" to his advantage. I watched it come down thinking all along on "what is this guy doing? What is he trying to hide by stirring up a war with Iraq?" I'd still like to know.
wow, got the jws at my door a few minutes ago.
i'm taking a slow morning, doing my christmas cards, drinking coffee, listening to christmas music.
i got on the computer for a minute to get an address and the doorbell rings!
An offer of Wassal might have been appropriate at that point... afterall they were going door to door carrying the "message".... hee hee.
my wife and i have a new cat - a 7 month old blue smoke persian named olly (pedigree name is pannonius olympian).
olympian he is too - weighing in at 5kg already !!.
he's extremely timid, and hides pretty much constantly, meowing (squeaking now cos i think he's made his throat sore, poor mite).
I had 2 cats toilet trained - we started them at about 6 months, shortly after they were fixed. The only problem was we had only one bathroom in the apartment, and when we used the loo we had to take out the trainer. I lost one cat to illness, and almost lost the other. She never got back on the toilet after her illness, but if she HAD to use a litterbox, she would stand on the rim with 3 feet and balance with 1 foot in the litter until her unsanitary deed was done. She preferred to go outside. (I've always had indoor-outdoor cats - and cat doors are simply the cat's meow!)
of 1 to 12. one being almost no true spirituallity, and 12 being as spiritual as possible in this life?.
i give them about a three.
really like a third grade spirituality.
ditto on the great post, Nate.
As a whole I rate the WTBTS as a -12 One for each apostle they ignore (wasn't Paul the "replacement" for Judas? - they follow Paul closer than any of the others).
As individuals, -12 to maybe a 6 for those who really really believe and do good work.
I NEVER felt any spirituality or "connection" when I was growing up except for the time when I was about 5 and saw "Jesus" walking down the street and he told me I was going to grow up and be "0k". He was right . I tried prayer many times but felt I was talking to the wall (or my bed or...).
For me, it took going to AA while getting and staying sober to begin to grasp a "higher power" and tghe beginnings of a sense of spirituality. Like they say in AA: Religion is for those who fear hell. Spirituality is for those who have been there.
my wife and i have a new cat - a 7 month old blue smoke persian named olly (pedigree name is pannonius olympian).
olympian he is too - weighing in at 5kg already !!.
he's extremely timid, and hides pretty much constantly, meowing (squeaking now cos i think he's made his throat sore, poor mite).
D. made a joke, about dumping the cat, thank god.
Some "jokes" aren't funny, but intended to hurt instead.
