For most of human history I'd say that politics and religion were both intertwined. It's only very recently that we've begun to see governments making policy without direct involvement of the religious establishment. However, I don't think this new development is by any means the norm. In many places across the globe, even in this country, religious sentiments of segments of the population make their belief systems powerful brokers in governing.
Posts by bigboi
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9Politics and religion
by onacruse ini've often posted that, imo, politics and religion are simply 2 heads on the same hydra--the hydra of social interactions, each "head" contributing its own part to the constraints of how we interact with each other.. i was just talking with a friend, and he pointed out to me a distinction that merits consideration:.
you can walk away from a religion, with the consequent restructuring of your belief-system.
but the results of political decisions (taxes, benefits, etc) are forced upon you, nation by nation, and you have no choice (in spite of your vote).
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51
Feral elders
by SixofNine incame to my door this morning.
seems they want to clean up the books or somesuch.
they said that they had some serious "accusations" against me, and would be having an elders meeting (...."uh..uh...it's a judicial meeting" ) this wednesday evening.
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bigboi
I agree with Lady Lee. I say, with the assistance of a lawyer, threaten legal action against them for liable and defamation. At the very least it'll buy you the time you need to square things away with family and friends.
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26
Ladies, don't you hate it when guys over analyze everything?
by Maverick ina by-product of being a genuis-type guy is the tendancy to read too much into every action, word or event in a relationship.
i have killed more than one relationship this way.
with the gf's giving me comments such as, "why can't i have a normal boyfriend?
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bigboi
Mav, it could be that you simply have a really sensitive bs detector.
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Why Preaching From House to House Is a WASTE and a SCAM!
by minimus inlogic tells us that the "preaching work" is alot to do about nothing.
knocking on doors when no one is home is a stupid waste of time!
the odds of finding a bible study that gets baptized after leaving a person a tract or magazine has got to be ridiculously low.
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bigboi
The main reason I'd say it's a waste is because of the enormous amount of JWs who are just god-awful at it. I mean even most pioneers just suck at talking to people about their faith. Most of them are just concerned with getting in their time and placing the monthly quota of literature. It'd probaly do them a whole lot of good to focus on developing people with the gift of preaching and teaching. They won't do that, because then Brooklyn wuld lose it's prized center stage position.
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One Devastating Bible Passage
by Farkel ini used the following quote from mark 9:38-40 in another thread, but thought it might be worthy to have people comment about it in its own thread: .
"john said to him: "teacher, we saw a certain man expeling demons by the use of your name and we tried to prevent him, because he was not accompanying us.
but jesus said: "do not try to prevent him, for there is no one that will do a powerful work on the basis of my name that will quickly be able to revile me, for he that is not against us is for us.
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bigboi
I haven't read the scriptures themselves so I'm not familiar with the context. However if in one instance, Jesue was talking about a person who may have believed in his power, though not a personal associate or follower, then I can understand his comment about "he who is not against us is with is". However, if the second instance mentioned is in the context of an argument with the Pharisees, or a group that is clearly opposed to Jesus, his follwers and his work, then I can understand his saying "he who is against me scatters". Both instances were forms of hyperbole, meant to get a rather expansive point across about who could be identified as friends, and how the efforts of those opposing him would eventually come to nothing. I think the two instances were intended to have nothing to do with the other. It seems that there are two totally different points Jesus was trying to get across.
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91
~Post your favorite Conciousness Raising song lyrics here~
by FlyingHighNow indon't we all love our freedom of speech?
i miss the days when i was growing up when rock groups, singer/songwriters and other types of entertainers spoke out against racism, the vietnam war, etc.
it felt to me like people were more passionate about making the world a better and more fair place.
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bigboi
Tupac Shakur~ Unconditional Love
What y'all want?)Unconditional Love (no doubt)
Talking bout the stuff that don't wear off
It don't fade
It'll last for all these crazy days
These crazy nights
Whether you wrong or you right
I'm a still love you
Still feel you
Still there for you
No matter what (hehe)
You will always be in my heart
With unconditional love
Come listen to my truest thoughts, my truest feelings
All my peers doing years beyond drug dealing
How many caskets can we witness
Before we see it's hard to live
This life without God, so we must ask forgiveness
Ask mama why i got this urge to die
Witness the tears falling free from my eyes
Before she could reply
Though we were born without a silver spoon
My broken down TV, show cartoons in my living room (hey)
One day I hope to make it
A player in this game
Mama don't cry, long as we try
Maybe things change
Perhaps it's just a fantasy
A life where we don't need no welfare
Shit with our whole family
Maybe it's me that caused it
The fighting and the hurting
In my room crying cause I didn't want to be a burden
Watch mama open up her arms to hugging
And I ain't worried bout a damn thang, with unconditionl love
In this game the lesson's in your eyes to see
Though things change, the future's still inside of me
We must remember that tomorrow comes after the dark
So you will always be in my heart, with unconditional love
Just got the message you've been calling all week
Been out here hustling on these streets, ain't had a chance to speak
But you know, with you and me it's on G
We could never be enemies, cause you been such a good friend to me
Where would I be without my dogs
No wonder why when times get hard
Cause it ain't easy being who we are
Driven by my ambitions, desire higher positions
So I proceed to make Gs, eternally in my mission
Is to be more than just a rap musician
The elevation of today's generation
If could make 'em listen
Prison ain't what we need, no longer stuck in greed
Time to play and strategize, my family's gotta eat
When we make somethin out of nothing
No pleasure in the suffering, neighborhood would be good
If they could cut out all the busting
The liquor and the weed the cussing
Sending love out to my block
The struggle never stops (unconditional love)
I'll probably never understand ya ways
With everyday I swear I hear ya
Trying to change your ways while gettin paid at the same time
Just had a baby with the same >>>eyes<<<
Something inside, please let me die these are strange times
How come I never made it
Maybe it's the way the played it in my heart
I knew one day I gotta be a star
My hopes and all my wishes
So many vivid pictures, and all the currency
I'll never even get to see
This fast life soon shatter us
Cause after all the lights and screams
Nothing but my dreams matter
Hoping for better days
Maybe a peaceful night, baby don't cry
Cause everythang gonna be alright
Just lay your head on my shoulder
Don't worry bout a thang baby
Girl I'm a soldier (huh)
Never treated me bad, no matter who I was
You still came with that, unconditional love -
16
King David seemed like a tyrant
by Gopher inthe bible presents many writings by the second king of israel, david.
he is presented as a musician with many psalms and praises to jehovah, the god of israel.. the chronicles of israel tell us that despite all his faults (including some accounts presented in detail in those chronicles), that king david was a man whose heart was close to jehovah and in whom jehovah found great favor.. certainly david was a courageous warrior.
he routed the jebusites out of the hilly city of jerusalem, a feat very difficult to accomplish.
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bigboi
I see the story of David as mainly one of a man of awesome power and responsibilty, who also happened to be quite flawed. However, despite all that he never wavered in his devotion to and faith in God. I for one don't see anything wrong with that.
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Only Congress Can Postpone Federal Election
by blondie inhttp://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/75061/1.ashx
http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/local/9140951.htm
posted on tue, jul.
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bigboi
The Federal government has no authority to postpone an election. It would have to make a law in order tobe able to do so. I'd say if anything were to happen, then let the folks at the local level deal with it. The Feds should stay out of this.
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211
Go Get Em COSBY!!!
by Flash incosby has harsh words for black community
by don babwin, associated press writer
chicago - bill cosby (news) went off on another tirade against the black community thursday, telling a room full of activists that black children are running around not knowing how to read or write and "going nowhere.
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bigboi
((Bigboi)), I'm sure it doesn't mean much, but I've agreed with pretty much everything you've written.
Well it is what it is. Most of the problems in the Black community are class based. We share a common history and heritage but today, like in every major community, there is a class difference and a generation gap. Dudes like Cosby and JT have a hard time understanding us young folk and our wild and crazy ways I guess.
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John Kerry on Larry King Live
by Mulan inlast night john kerry and his wife, teresa heinz kerry, were on larry king live.
heinz kerry: yes, absolutely.
kerry: absolutely.. .
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bigboi
Realizing that social issues are complex and not black and white is not flip-flopping.