Posts by Qcmbr

If it is
(and there is some evidence:
1/ Jews returned to Jerusalem
2/ Wall around Jerusalem being built
3/ Gospel has been preached worldwide.)
then we will be in for a hard time.
If it isn't we get our very own ticking clock of time on this earth. One way or another we'll either see our maker or cease to exist(a far scarier thought to me than any end times scenario.)

34

Our New Orleans is gone.

by LyinEyes in

jw
friends

after talking to many of the evacuees from new orleans and watching all of the local coverage , interviews of surviors ,they are just thankful to be alive.

they are also in deep despair over family members who they can not find, they don't know if they are alive or dead.

not to mention the ones they know are gone.. there are so many are just heartbroken that the home they knew is gone forever .

Qcmbr

I never realised the scale and significance of this whole event - as a backdrop to the real human suffering there is the end of something special. New Orleans is gone. The houses that have been flood damaged will in all liklehood have to be rebuilt but it seems to be an area of high poverty so, who will rebuild those homes? Its quite amazing to see almost an entire city destroyed in a day - a sobering thought.

I know that many don't believe the bible here which is fine - its just very humbling to see how in just 24 hours everything that we make with our own hands can be gone, taken from us. Its a biblical moment even without religion.

121

Why do people hate Americans?

by dorayakii in

maybe the correct word is not "hate", but "distain" or "dislike"... .

many people were against the war in iraq and dilike president bush, has this had a baring on how people view americans?

when america flexes its military muscles how do you feel?

Qcmbr

Whenever there are aid efforts it is more often than not US wheat, whenever there are financial donations they are normally (and there have been exceptions) when US aid is far greater. Europe owes its financial and political existence to an America that gave money hand over fist after the second world war and then poured money into defending us from the spread of Russian communism. American soldiers died in two world wars thousands of miles from their territorial interests in Europe. I am ashamed of many in Britains rush to blacken the name of America.

My freedom I owe to grandfathers and grandmothers from here and from across the Ocean. The greatest threats to my liberty and family come not from the US but from a Franco - German Europe which is eroding my political power, my country's autonomy, religious freedom and culture. I want to have more in common with the US than I do with Europe - personal preference. France has time and time again shown its only desire is to be in charge of everyone else. Britain never waged a war to overcome Europe - every time it went into Europe (not counting Henry V) was to sort out someone else's mess. America has to do the same now. World policeman sucks because no one wants you but the vacuum of power will always be filled by some less benovolent bully.

The stars and stripes fills me with hope - in this age their is no other nation that comes close.

121

Why do people hate Americans?

by dorayakii in

maybe the correct word is not "hate", but "distain" or "dislike"... .

many people were against the war in iraq and dilike president bush, has this had a baring on how people view americans?

when america flexes its military muscles how do you feel?

Qcmbr

I love America. The indigenous peoples had a very balanced existence with nature (those who didn't died out) and then the Founding Fathers built a modern America that has at its core freedom and liberty. No other nation on earth ever was built with such lofty ideals and managed to stick to them. America is still the greatest nation this world has ever known and as a Brit I can think of only two other large countries (Canada and Australia) that I would feel no qualms over standing shoulder to shoulder with.

What I hope for in the future is that America can reduce its consumption on world resources, hold fast to the things that have made it great and to stop the erosion of the family.

The disaster in New Orleans has hit America hard but they will recover. If such an event occured here in Britain we would be in bad shape because not only are we so dependant on electricity that we would starve and die of thirst in a matter of weeks but we would have no national reserves to cope. If Liverpool had just been swamped we'd have national gridlock and 20,000 trapped people with little chance of survival IMHO.

Britain once stood for something great and our children have carried that to America - we faded into the background and I'm ashamed when we do little for the world because we no longer have the financial muscle to do so. I also watch America with trepidation and self interest - my breakfast cereal, bread and maize products all are produced in the US:)

32

Is the bible inspired?

by jwfacts in

i am trying to determine if it can be proved that the bible is inspired, and was wondering if most people here believe it is or is not.. i am writing a document on proof of inspiration, but it has ended up more of an article that shows the bible can not be proven to be inspired.

i will be interested in what people think about it when it is finished.

however i am worried that posting such an article may alienate those on jwd that believe the bible to be gods word.

Qcmbr

When scripture is given by a prophet it is inspired. When it is retranslated and sometimes wilfully mistranslated (there are strong bias towars an interpretation that fits your belief) we then get a history somewhat removed from the original.

The critical issue here (if I may be so bold) is not so much 'is the bible inspired?' but are you inspired when you read it? Even if you had the most inspired piece of verbatum text ,a perfect recording of deity it would still mean naff all to the reader who wanted to build a god in their own image(be that materialism, science, anger etc..)

There are times when I have felt really inspired (normally when I've been living a clean life, attending to my family and been more focused on spiritual matters than is normally the case ;) When I read the bible in those conditions its almost as if I'm reading something different, it feels like I'm reading a best seller (hehe I guess I am) and can't wait to find out more. When I feel that inner hunger it becomes obvious to me (IMHO) what the mistakes and the errors are and what the real stuff is, the bits God managed to get past years of dogma and translation.

Quick example -

(Old Testament | Exodus 7:3 - 4)

3 And I will harden Pharaoh's heart, and multiply my signs and my wonders in the land of Egypt.
4 But Pharaoh shall not hearken unto you, that I may lay my hand upon Egypt, and bring forth mine armies, and my people the children of Israel, out of the land of Egypt by great judgments.

A fundamentalist reading says simply: Pharaoh has no free will, God is playing nasty games that will ultimately lead to deaths of many innocents.

That never ever sat right with the concept of a loving God to me and it shouts to me as a clear mistranslation - ie it should read Pharaoh will harden his heart and I will multiply ... then it fits with verse 4 which is prophetic not malicious.

If I am not inspired when reading holy material then it doesn't really matter whether its inspired or not and also when someone is inspired to a limited extent it doesn't always matter what they are reading / hearing, they will receive the good and leave the bad. When uninspired leaders read scripture you get crusades and jihads, when inspired leaders read it you get peace, compassion and sacrifice IMHO.

10

Bad jobs in the new system

by JH in

jw
friends

.

everybody pictures the new system as a paradise, but i'm sure that there will be lousy jobs, just like today.. well, some will be garbage men, picking up the trash house to house.

not too pleasing for a new system job.. name other lousy jobs some will have to do even in the new system.

Qcmbr

If we look at it practically live after the end should be:
Self - sustaining (no more fossil fuel?)
Non - polluting (no plastics or dangerous chemicals)
Non- toxic (no pesticides.)

Now if there is a millenium I presume that the earth would need to undergo changes to make it like the garden of eden (I think that's right) so maybe pesticides won't be required.

Of all the lifestyles ever chosen by people possibly the hardest but most self sustaining is an agrarian based community with large extended families working together. Maybe this is what will be required? Most of what we do today is entertainment based or consumption based. Even our mode of transport is a trade off between consumption / entertainment and utility. I think our entire culture of consume , make money, consume, throw away, comsume etc.. will cease.

I look forward to a simpler life, slower, more thoughful and gentle - if not for me for my children or their children ..

5

Isn't it amazing?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i was watching the news coverage of the disaster and seeing how bad it is turning.

i find it so amazing how as human beings, we can become like animals in our nature in seconds.

killing, lotting, stealing and showing no love of neighbor.

Qcmbr

I'm scared about who I really am once the veneer of civilisation is gone.

47

Do You Think The Watchtower Will Help The Hurricane Victims?

by minimus in

jw
friends

maybe they'll take a cue from president bush and get involved?

?

Qcmbr

Not all religious groups that are helping are listed on the FEMA site - maybe the JWs will be helping with what they've got where they can.

In times like these I guess recriminations can happen after, right now I guess even 1 JW helper is welcome.

http://lds.org/