my italian friend loves going to the "feasts" that occur in italy, boston or nyc.
these feasts feature a "saint" with dollar bills pinned around her and they parade the saint in a long procession and chant "viva (whomever)".
they are quite serious about this and are proud to talk about the past generations of observers who appreciated the events.
EP:
"Faith" in discussion with "atheism" generally refers to faith in God or deity.
Presumably as opposed to mere faith that the sun will appear to rise tomorrow morning over the eastern horizon, etc. :-)
Not an argument, but curious, so let me rephrase the question:
Is it your view that faith in God or a supreme intelligent creator exists outside of religion?
my italian friend loves going to the "feasts" that occur in italy, boston or nyc.
these feasts feature a "saint" with dollar bills pinned around her and they parade the saint in a long procession and chant "viva (whomever)".
they are quite serious about this and are proud to talk about the past generations of observers who appreciated the events.
EP:
Is it your view that faith exists outside of religion?
my italian friend loves going to the "feasts" that occur in italy, boston or nyc.
these feasts feature a "saint" with dollar bills pinned around her and they parade the saint in a long procession and chant "viva (whomever)".
they are quite serious about this and are proud to talk about the past generations of observers who appreciated the events.
EP:
So, show me the long and bloody history of atheism where people were kill because they wouldn't become atheists or in the name of atheism.
It has been my impression, admitted possibly subject to propaganda, that U.S. Soviet Russia and China in the past have been guilty that kind of adversity to people practicing faith in their political arenas.
~Binadub
my italian friend loves going to the "feasts" that occur in italy, boston or nyc.
these feasts feature a "saint" with dollar bills pinned around her and they parade the saint in a long procession and chant "viva (whomever)".
they are quite serious about this and are proud to talk about the past generations of observers who appreciated the events.
Hello Orthodox1:
I have not been following the thread, so I don't know what has been said about Catholicism prior to this. There is a group who call
theirself "AnointedJW" who posted an article about what faith is. They defined it much the way you do:
Faith is a grace, a gift by God. . . . to seek truth always and everywhere, no matter where it leads.
I had been watching Oprah Winfrey's "Super Soul Sunday," which presents a variety of spiritual perspectives, and this morning they had an Episcopalian
minister who expressed views of faith very much like the AnointedJW article and something like you said above as well. In my response to their article for the day, I said: He said spirituality and belief in God is not dependent on denomination but God within the person. He even quoted Jesus saying, "the Kingdom of God is within you." When asked, he even said he did not believe people need to attend church on Sunday. He denounced any idea of people telling others what they should believe--that people are responsible for their own faith and beliefs. I was impressed at how much his perspective of God and Christ agrees with mine--and yours [AnointedJWs] as being rather outside of "religion."
Another former Catholic exJW on the forum, who first tried Baptists and other evangelicals after leaving the WT, then returned to Catholicism, then married and Episcopalian and ventured in that direction, is now somewhat agnostic/searching. He responded to my post and said something like what you said above about Catholicism. My response was:I get turned off religiously by Catholicism when I see the pomp and elaborate costumes and ritualism displayed, as well as the adoration of the Pope when he visits. It was similar when in my visit to Israel we were taken through a number of Catholic church shrines (which I DO credit the Church for preserving these historic places for us to now visit) and seeing priests walking in flowing garb and swinging a lamp with burning incense, etc. That kind of ritualistic ceremony means nothing to me. (Although, I admit that kind of thing was characteristic of Judahism and the temple before Christianity. Not so much with Gentile Christians.)
I think you're right that a lot of individual members of these religions are more progressively liberal. I am just not drawn to the ceremonial "traditions," or things like belief that confession to a priest, baptizing infants, "last rites," etc. holds significance for personal faith. It's fine if that is what makes a person feel spiritual and connect with God; it just isn't my thing. I get more from Nature in a walk in the wild and whispering my sentiments to God privately.
I do credit the Catholic movement greatly with preserving the canon we call the Bible, much art and a rich history. I don't agree with their historical concept of Christianity in the first and second centuries. A lot is being revealed about that in our last century by both Bible and secular historians and archeologists.
Having said that, my favorite bible scholar and historian was Fr. Bargil Pixner, (RIP April 2, 2002) from Tyrol in Europe. He was a prior of the Benedictine community of the Dormition Abbey in Jerusalem. He introduced his theology to both Catholics and Protestants. He was an accomplished archaeologist and biblical topographer who was responsible for uncovering parts of the Essene Quarter on Mt. Zion, where it is believed Jesus held his "last supper." His books are my favorites. Don't know if they are still published. His contributions to Biblical research are indispensible.
I also appreciate much of the charitable perspectives of Catholicism, which I think are superior to many other denominations.
Catholicism has advanced, imo, for not excommunicating people, much less shunning them, if they don't agree with all the teachings of the Church. That allows people more spiritual freedom than exists in denominations like Jehovah's Witnesses, and is much more progressive in that way.So that's my view of orthodox religion, fwiw.~Binadub
*a rebound is the need to fill a void with something we partly had confort in; whether in romance or faith.... .
i posted the following in another thread, and i welcome your feedback - especially if you disagree with my logic.
"as per one of my notes, my biggest fear is my, our, natural tendency for confirmation bias.
Does anyone here see any problem with the statement that the exisence of the Christian God originates from written scriptures?
Would you say most of what we know about science, evolution, math, history, etc., etc., was learned from written material?
Some from lecture--but that also applies to Christian theism.
~Binadub
nb: this is internet re-post lindsay mannering's article.
enjoy reading.
comments (538)|likes (81)if ever there was a reason to hide under the covers with a box of wine and swear off menfor good, this might be it.
My suspicion is that Lauren may have detected indicators on the date that Mike may be a controlling nut type who might be a jealous domineering abuser, possibly even dangerous.
Symptoms:
Said playing with her hair was known to be "flirting" (which I happen to think is baloney--he must have been reading too many how-to's).
Accused ordinary politness as leading him on ( #one warning sign imo) by:
* making eye contact in conversation;
* had nice conversation over dinner;
* saying "nice to meet you".
These are the things he listed as sending him the plus signals. The not answering his repeated messages after the date are the minus signals.
Plus signals + minus signals = "mixed signals." So he got all the plus signals (leading him on) on the date.
So he says of these so-called leading-him-on's (what I call normal polite): "In my opinion, leading someone on (i.e., giving mixed signals) is impolite and immature. It's bad to do that."
His language sounds like chastizing a child.
The repetitions in his email suggest a disturbed rambling mind, not just another disappointed guy. Most mature adults know that hurt feelings in dating go both ways for men and women and most people have been on either side of it at one time or another.
I would be leary of anyone who thinks this guy is normal, like it's just the way all men are, as one poster suggests. Uh-uh.
What would he do if a babe really did do some things to "lead him on"? (Probably run.)
This guy seems desperate and not to be gotten involved with. She should change her email and send him a postal letter.
Jmo,
~Binadub
i was thinking about how to explain to a family member how i have no fear or issue with not living in a paradise earth etc.
they dont believe i left the jws for good reason, they think like every jw that i must be bitter about the religion or something.. .
i am an atheist and for many reasons i dont fear death, but i was trying to think of a way to explain it from a jw perspective when it hit me...... it doesnt matter.. option a: do t believe in god and believe that i will die and there will be eternal nothingness.
I believe in prolonging life, but I don't believe in prolonging death
Not sure I understand the difference. :-)
~Binadub
i found this video posted on facebook.
it should also be on freeminds.org and freedomofmind.com .. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k_tu5o_webs.
Thank you jamiebowers.
~Binadub
i have posted this experience of mine before- it's time to resurrect it again.. in 1999 i was in bed asleep and i had a dream- my father and i were shoping at a clothing store called fazios, that i hadn't been inside since i was a boy (closed for many years).
we were looking at some denim overhalls and in walks my mother and brother ( she died in 1991 and my brother had died five months previously).
they told my dad, it's time to go.
moshe and robdar:
Thanks for sharing your "coincidences." I've experienced a number of rather incredible "coincidences" myself. It definitely influences one's perspective.
~Binadub
jesus loathed the talmud and broke as many of its laws as he could on any occasion that presented itself.
so if jesus broke the laws of the talmud, wouldn't he have been disfellowshipped if he did the same thing to the watchtower.
a jehovah's witness can be disfellowshipped or disassociated if he/she breaks this rule in the elder's manual: rebellion against jehovah's organization.. what say you?.
I have no doubt that the WTS would disfellowship Jesus. They would even disfellowship Russell (for not believing the 1914 for one thing).
~Binadub