Posts by ringo5

85

Ban on Jeans , T-Shirts & Shorts after the Convention

by dozy in

jw
friends

apr km insert.

"even during leisure time , such as when going out to eat after the programme , we should dress as befits ministers... and should not wear such clothing as jeans , shorts or t-shirts.

what a witness this will give to the community.".

ringo5

Guess that means these would be

a no-no?

54

Shocker!!!---leading up to my plan

by Junction-Guy in

jw
friends

well folks, i started writing a big post and then the keyboard acted up on me, so i lost everything i was saying.

first of all amanda was right, this isnt anything i can just walk away from, it is'nt something that i can just put behind me and move on.

this involves my sexuality and my childhood experience growing up in the jw cult.

ringo5

I can't imagine how hard that must be, glad your feeling more at ease with it.

I find it hard to open with my family about my feelings about their religion, so I can't really imagine having the courage it would take to reveal this kind of news to them. (it would be easier if you thought they would be supportive)

I saw this thread here tonight and inview of your headgear, thought it apropos http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/25/130338/1.ashx

((((Junctionguy))))

ringo5

ps those are hetero hugs by the way

171

The vote is in: SCIENCE vs RELIGION......who won?

by Terry in

history has demonstrated:.

religion is following orders by implicitly trusting someone or something.. science asks questions.. religion purports to answer questions.. science seeks to disprove its own conclusions.. religion seeks to reinforce its own dogma.. science is error-correction toward adjusting for realities as they unfold.. religion internalizes against reality by mocking up a substitute.. science is the most recent development of the human mind.

technology proves science to be successful in advancing human progress.. religion disdains human progress and waits for the end.

ringo5

Narkissos - I submit that the core of "spirituality" has to do with this "pause" or "interruption" moment which is necessary but very frightening to most of us as we are led by our own "cinetic energy," going on with the flow, in the course of social life, no matter how absurd it would look should we stop and zoom out (hence we generally don't until we have to). That's what the mystical (not exoterically religious) understanding of shabbath, repentance, cross, non-willing, non-acting, is about imo. It is the "null" point where you have to halt, over and over again, as you come and go, Not another "land" in which you could stay, walk or build, in spite of the superficial religious imagery. It is scary because when you stop you are never sure you will start again, or how, and it is much easier to keep on moving as you are. It sure looks a lot like death and has its own risks of definitive inertia. It is the very emptiness of the sanctuary, so disappointing if you go there looking for "something," yet wonderful when you "get it" -- in laughter or in tears.

Ok, now this is put into terms (technical) I can relate to, thanks.

I would suggest this "nulling" process is what James Thomas is always on about.

JT - There is a REALITY that does nor require or need our meager religious or scientific mental constructs and paradigms

The process of simply "seeing" for the sake of appreciating reality in that context would be a good "nulling process", in that once in a while our minds may need calibrating to avoid dangers of polarized thinking that "inertia unchecked" would otherwise cause.

How often a person needs this "nulling" is another subject, but most of us are probably overdue

Edited to add -

What a dear man you are, Narkissos for showing me the brake pedal before I lurch around that curve full speed!

Terry, does this mean you're calling the debate a draw?

5

Cargo Cult Story : Jesus has competition...

by ringo5 in

jw
friends

i apologize if someone has already posted something concerning this religous clash in the south seas , but i thought it quite interesting for a few reasons.

how religions can be born under the right conditions.

one man's hope is another man's delusion.

ringo5

Beuller....

(or it could be nobody knew what "competion" meant, until I fixed that booboo, lol)

5

Cargo Cult Story : Jesus has competition...

by ringo5 in

jw
friends

i apologize if someone has already posted something concerning this religous clash in the south seas , but i thought it quite interesting for a few reasons.

how religions can be born under the right conditions.

one man's hope is another man's delusion.

ringo5

I apologize if someone has already posted something concerning this religous clash in the South Seas , but I thought it quite interesting for a few reasons.

How religions can be born under the right conditions
One man's hope is another man's delusion
Violence and religion seem to be inevitably intertwined

Cargo cult lives on in South Pacific
By Phil Mercer
BBC News, Tanna, Vanuatu

At the base of a sacred volcano in an isolated corner of the South Pacific young men play the "Star Spangled Banner" on bamboo flutes.
Every February they parade in old US army uniforms with wooden weapons.
Others go bare-chested with the letters "USA" painted in bright red letters on their bodies.
Nearby, a giant Stars and Stripes flutters in the breeze from the main flagpole.
This is the heart of John Frum country on the island of Tanna in Vanuatu.
Villagers at Sulphur Bay worship a mystical figure who they believe will one day bring them wealth and happiness.
Time of upheaval
"John is our god," declares village chief Isaac Wan, who beats his fists into the ground to emphasise his words.

"One day he will come back," he says.
Believers are convinced that John Frum was an American.
The name could well have come from war-time GIs who introduced themselves as "Jon from America."
Devotees say that the ghost of a mystical white man first appeared before tribal elders in the 1930s.
It urged them to rebel against the aggressive teachings of Christian missionaries and the influence of Vanuatu's British and French colonial masters.
The apparition told villagers to do all they could to retain their own traditions.

It's a little bit weird but it makes me feel really patriotic
Marty Meth
US visitor
Anthropologist Ralph Reganvalu told the BBC that the sect was a "cultural preservation movement" that was born during a time of upheaval.
"There was a whole period in history known as Tanna Law where the missionaries put in this series of rules about what people weren't supposed to do and the movement emerged because of this oppression," he said.
Homage to the US
World War II and the arrival of US troops on Vanuatu was a defining time for the movement. They had a name for their spiritual deity. He was John Frum.
Villagers believe that their messiah was responsible for delivering to them the munificence of the US military.

They were awestruck by the army's cargo of tanks, weapons, refrigerators, food and medicine.
John Frum day is held annually on 15 February. This year's celebration marks the 50th anniversary of the sect's formal establishment.
It also recognises the day when villagers raised the US flag for the first time.
Through this homage to the US, disciples hope their ethereal saviour can be encouraged to return.
"It's a little bit weird but it makes me feel really patriotic," said Marty Meth, a retired businessman from New York, who had travelled to Tanna to see the festivities.
"It's really nice to see Americans welcome here since in so many places in the world we're not so welcome these days," he added.
Waiting and hoping
Sulphur Bay lies in the shadow of Mount Yasur, an active volcano whose roar can be heard far away.
Many followers of John Frum believe his spirit lives deep within the volcano.
Every few minutes Yasur bellows.
Watching and listening from the crater's edge is both exhilarating and frightening. A deafening growl is followed by the blasting of molten rock high into the sky.
These rumblings are a constant reminder for villagers that the spirit of John Frum remains as potent as ever.

Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true
Christian youth worker
About 20% of Tanna's population of 30,000 follow the teachings of one of the world's last remaining cargo cults.
Other islanders can barely disguise their contempt for it.
A Christian youth worker told me how he thought the cult was childish. "It's like a baby playing games," he insisted. "Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true," he said.

I put this view to Rutha, who's married to Chief Isaac's son. She was unfazed.
"I don't care what they think," she says gently without a hint of displeasure. "John is our Jesus and he will come back."
The John Frum Movement is still trying to entice another delivery of cargo from its supernatural American god.
In the meantime his disciples continue to wait and hope

I thought the comment by the Christian youth worker had a ring of beautiful irony to it.

A Christian youth worker told me how he thought the cult was childish. "It's like a baby playing games," he insisted. "Those people are holding on to a dream that will never come true," he said.

Here's the link http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6370991.stm?ls

Here's another link that reports on recent violence relating to a breakaway prophet....http://www.religionnewsblog.com/7167/cargo-cults-feud-with-prophet-freds-sect-splits-pacific-island

for more background here's a story from the Smithsonian website...http://www.smithsonianmagazine.com/issues/2006/february/john.php?page=1

Cheers,

ringo5

30

Faders: Would you prefer attention from the elders or not?

by ringo5 in

jw
friends

this question may produce some flaming, but so be it.

i've noticed many are freaked out, annoyed, worried, or simply felt harrassed when faced with the prospect of a visit from the elders when trying to fade.

others, or at times the same ones, complain that they recieved no inquiry from them at all or very little.

ringo5

i think that they think if you're inactive it is because you are sinning.

Good point. Or have sinned and feel ashamed, or want to lead a selfish life of sin (which in their mind could even include university). There is no "honourable discharge", nor is there is any good reason in their mind to leave because they really feel "where else would we go?"

i said what i have always said' i have doubts that it is the truth'. they don't know how to handle that statement. they don't understand it.

I'm a little surprised but glad that worked for you. Many people on here have related how admitting this to the elders has set in motion the wheels of a kangaroo justice (in tribute to the Spanish Inquisition) until they made sure those doubts couldn't spread to the unread (bustin a rhyme for jehober)).

Welcome, jersey girl BTW...

ringo5

85

Is Faith Dangerous? A Question for Believers...

by AllTimeJeff in

i hope this will be as respectful a debate as possible.

here is the premise: many of us (most) seem to be ex jw's on this board.

that means, whatever your motivation, for a time you bought into the theology of jw to one degree or another.

ringo5

DD To answer the question, faith is only dangerous to nonbelievers!

OK, I'll bite and state the obvious scenario here.

Take one faith-ridden Muslim, add one breastplate of explosives, insert into roadside cafe, and presto, disastrous results for ONE believer and MANY MULTIPLES of non-believers.

Oh, wait, this almost supports your statement, as faith in this case was much more dangerous to non-believers.

Still, it would seem to indicate danger, hmmmmm..........

18

Best TV Shows no one watched - "Six Feet Under" & "Arrested Development"

by UnConfused in

these two shows are omg good!

watch "six feet under" episodes in order for a great drama.

watch "arrested development" for a smart smart comedy.

ringo5

"Rescue Me" fan here... funny and tragic

32

They make mistakes just like 1st century christians did.

by GBSJG in

when i'm discussing problems i have with the wts with my family they often say well they make mistakes just like the early christians did, they are not perfect.. i try to argue that if you think that way you can go to any christian church and say the same.

but usually they say that compared to other religions the wts makes less mistakes so you should go there.. i know that such reasoning doesn't make sense to me but what is a good response to this?.

ringo5

Use their own words....

*** w52 7/15 p. 430 ‘Keeping Strict Watch on How We Walk’ *** Some, seeking to find justification for their careless conduct, point to the mistakes that faithful men of old made, such as Noah, David and others. But these overlook the fact there is nothing to indicate that those servants of God repeatedly erred in these respects.---- And these deflections were written down so that those coming after them who erred in like manner might take comfort and hope in God’s mercy, but not to excuse sinning or to justify laxity.—Rom. 15:4.

74

~ Poem: For WOMEN only~

by FlyingHighNow in

jw
friends

men may not not appreciate this, but i have a hunch a few of you women will.

feel free to disuss:.

a woman's poem.

ringo5

This kind of thread has been done before and another one is soon started with a parallel theme, only with the female being the target of the physical abuse. It progresses until both threads are subsequently locked.

What is rather funny is that those females that have enjoyed a chuckle at this poem, would no doubt have a very different reaction to a female being physically abused, even if it was just meant in jest.

It goes to show that some women have double standards to live up to.