Posts by violias

151

If you don't believe in God where do you get the strength to cope?

by Miss.Fit in

jw
friends

i know there are some here that are going through some tough times.

some of you do not believe in god.

some are not sure.. i was told recently by a friend to pray to god for help and he would comfort me.. my first impulse is to pray.

violias

I have been helped a lot by the author Sam Harris,. He has two books I have listened to, " Waking Up a Guide to Spirituality without Religion " and " The End of Faith". I also purchased two audio books by the late great Christopher Hitchens.

I still believe in God but listening to Sam Harris ( in particular ) has given me a much more balanced view . When I first started reading this board I would refuse to read any atheist threads- it was just fear. Also sometimes mocking occurred and I felt that was uncalled for considering where we all came from ( a high control religion ) . Sam Harris was able to reach past that fear and get to my rational mind. I will be forever grateful to his books and you tube videos and his blog. I also found years ago a website that appealed to me called " Logically Critical" it is not current but all the episodes are up for anyone to listen to.

http://www.logicallycritical.net/Welcome.html

at the top there is a links and episodes link. to hear the episodes just click that link. He is really great and funny too.

151

If you don't believe in God where do you get the strength to cope?

by Miss.Fit in

jw
friends

i know there are some here that are going through some tough times.

some of you do not believe in god.

some are not sure.. i was told recently by a friend to pray to god for help and he would comfort me.. my first impulse is to pray.

violias

Misfit,

I read this thread thinking it was current . I am so glad you went to a doctor and you are feeling better.

I recall in my 30's realizing one day I did not have one single opinion that did not start with " I'm one of Jw's and we don't believe that ( words to that affect) or more commonly " elder bro. so and so says this" . I had reached the breaking point with depression and was near suicide. A wonderful psychologist and meds saved my life initially followed by years of therapy. Btw, my mom also had a break down and had ect with serious memory loss and I wish she had given us up. My life might be different now.

I still believe in God ( and use Jehovah as if feels familiar) and do pray but it is more of a connection with a higher state than formal prayer. Sam Harris I think calls it mindfulness. I enjoy listening to him b/c he so rational. I know a book I read that helped me was this one

http://www.amazon.com/Reading-Bible-Again-First-Time/dp/0060609192/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1422120125&sr=8-2&keywords=taking+the+bible+seriously

this is reading the Bible seriously but not literally. I don't pray for forgiveness either, I ask the people involved for their forgiveness . I try to do no harm and make some contribution to this world. I can't imagine what else a God would want from us anyhow.

16

I think I figured out the WT's end-game

by nowwhat? in

the plan is to build many new kingdom halls with the "commercial' appearance.

store front flat roof etc.

after completion the gb will announce the tribulation is upon us!

violias

elders have told l me they knew it was just a Corp. and a lot of jobs depended on it. I believe the folks at the top know this is just a business and are keeping it going b/c it supports a lot of them.

43

Je Suis Charlie

by Slidin Fast in

this incident in paris makes me feel absolutely furious.

yes i feel desperately sorry for the victims and their families no one should have to deal with that.

the thing that makes me feel absolutely incandescent though is the attack on freedom of speech and expression.

violias

Thanks Simon

Sam Harris is pretty amazing. Love his podcasts. I have 2 of his audio books.

13

Was Cynthia Franz ever disfellowshipped?

by breakfast of champions in

i seem to remember that she was not ever dfd even though she was present at the fateful meal, but i don't remember where i saw that.

it seemed like they specifically targeted raymond, but cynthia was left alone.. i tried searching jwn, but the search feature seems to be not working.. also tried googling the answer, but to no avail..

violias

Definitely outspoken woman. Barbara is my heroine Borg does not like that. That will put you In the Jezebel group and get you canned.

19

Interesting statement made by CO. Is this new?

by stillin in

in his first talk of the week the co mentioned that people don't get df'd for joining the military or registering to vote because they are already gone, as compared with smoking secretly, which would merit df'ing.. i have been toying around with registering to vote in the next election (us) so this intrigues me..

violias

I am not sure but removing one from the cong. from voting could be an ACLU issue. I know the difference between DF and DA is moot, semantics or just legalize. It keeps them out of hot water with the government. But can a church say you can't call yourself one of them if you vote? Most folks ( older ones anyhow) take voting very seriously. it is a right you have as a citizen.

43

Je Suis Charlie

by Slidin Fast in

this incident in paris makes me feel absolutely furious.

yes i feel desperately sorry for the victims and their families no one should have to deal with that.

the thing that makes me feel absolutely incandescent though is the attack on freedom of speech and expression.

violias

the response by Sam Harris is really interesting . I know several of you guys follow him.

13

Was Cynthia Franz ever disfellowshipped?

by breakfast of champions in

i seem to remember that she was not ever dfd even though she was present at the fateful meal, but i don't remember where i saw that.

it seemed like they specifically targeted raymond, but cynthia was left alone.. i tried searching jwn, but the search feature seems to be not working.. also tried googling the answer, but to no avail..

violias

I was told by a boe that they are not really concerned about the apostates wives as they feel the wife is just following her husband . So women don't count if they just follow their husbands. They count if they are the jezebel type , not married , etc. Woman, as in Islam, don't have much status ( chattel ) in the Borg but having an elder husband can offer some protection, which it did in the above cases. I am assuming that none of the wives mentioned were extremely vocal and active and just followed their husbands lead. Being vocal ( jezebel type) will get your arse burned.

This is what I was told by a boe who were going after an elder who had the nerve to just walk away from the "truth" . They had no interest in DF'ing the wife as she was just following her husband lead.

43

Je Suis Charlie

by Slidin Fast in

this incident in paris makes me feel absolutely furious.

yes i feel desperately sorry for the victims and their families no one should have to deal with that.

the thing that makes me feel absolutely incandescent though is the attack on freedom of speech and expression.

violias

Latest Pod Cast by Sam Harris on this subject

http://www.samharris.org/blog/item/after-charlie-hebdo-and-other-thoughts

14

talk me off the cliff please

by sowhatnow in

my son, at age 25 finally, was able to get accepted into a community college.

but i dont have words of joy to share with him.

im instead dizzy with fear of possible financial failure.

violias

at 38 I went to college, starting with a 2 yr college. We lived paycheck to paycheck, grants, loans , etc. I was not going to let anything stop me. I found a way. He can do the same thing. It may take a while, but it is so worth it. I am the first person in my family to attend college. I wanted to set the bar higher than was set for me.