BlackSwan of Memphis

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Posts by BlackSwan of Memphis

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  22

  What song sums up how you feel now?

  by sweet pea in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me now i've officially left i finally feel i'm moving on and making a new life.

  christina aguilera sums it up.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eki_s04w-im .

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  erynw took mine ;-)

  (good pick girlie )
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  12

  The God Delusion

  by BlackSwan of Memphis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been wanting to post this for awhile, but didn't.. i said something about a year ago in regards to dawkins that i have to retract.

  i had made a comment re him which was just rude and made more likely out of being scared or possibly just plain ignorance.

  can't find it, but it's quite possible that some might recall it.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  Diamondblue, interesting. That is exactly the opinion I had before starting to read the book! lol ...

  I think because it's religion, any kind of criticism looks harsh because... well, the topic is religion, and that's it.

  Yeah, this is the point he basically makes in the beginning. And it was an eye opener for me. It opened a door to how I was thinking things through.

  Awakened: Yeah, I've seen that listed online, but my library doesn't have it...Yet. Thank you for the links.

  Gopher, hey there! No problem. And ya know I was amazed at some of the stuff I learned about how atheists have been treated so badly. Through the GD I was able to locate a few really interesting websites for atheists. I'll see if I can find them and post them later.

  i found it as preachy as a religious book but did appreciate a lot of the points he made.As the book went along the preachiness did ease up some. the jw's evolution book is mentioned about 3/4 thru the book.

  i do reccomend it , it is an informative read . i've not read any of Sagan's although i have had them reccomended to me.

  I haven't found it preachy. I've actually found it somewhat comical and really thought provoking. Haven't gotten that far yet. I'm in the middle right now. Sagan wrote this book that made some great points about social issues and how to reason on them. I'm going to the library this week, I can find it and get the title for you.

  He also uses humor - sometimes with a typically British 'sting' to it. I think it spices up things, although I'm sure some will be offended by it.

  YEP I love this aspect. It's that wry humor that makes you think and chuckle at the same time all the while going "BURN!" (thinking of Kelso from that 70's show)
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  12

  The God Delusion

  by BlackSwan of Memphis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been wanting to post this for awhile, but didn't.. i said something about a year ago in regards to dawkins that i have to retract.

  i had made a comment re him which was just rude and made more likely out of being scared or possibly just plain ignorance.

  can't find it, but it's quite possible that some might recall it.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  otwo, no problem at all. I'm already looking for his other works in my libary as well as some of Sagans.
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  12

  The God Delusion

  by BlackSwan of Memphis in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been wanting to post this for awhile, but didn't.. i said something about a year ago in regards to dawkins that i have to retract.

  i had made a comment re him which was just rude and made more likely out of being scared or possibly just plain ignorance.

  can't find it, but it's quite possible that some might recall it.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I've been wanting to post this for awhile, but didn't.

  I said something about a year ago in regards to Dawkins that I have to retract. I had made a comment re him which was just rude and made more likely out of being scared or possibly just plain ignorance. Can't find it, but it's quite possible that some might recall it.

  Dawkins is actually so intelligent and funny and deserves kudos for saying it like it is.

  About 3 months ago I started searching for it in my library and they had one copy which was ruined, so they finally got a new one in and I was able to check it out.

  Anyhow, it's an incredible book. And after the first couple of chapters I had to start thinking about some of the things I've said re atheism and atheists.

  I'm not sure how to put it, other than just to say I'm sorry for being such a closeminded twit about things and for talking about something I really had no business talking about, making an opinion without really knowing what I was making an opinion about.

  I've tried to spend some time here reading more than talking. Going back to old posts from long time posters and have learned alot.

  So I am really sorry just for ya know being a butthead.

  Great book and I really recommend it to everyone regardless of religious persuasion. Even if you come away with a belief, one gets a better understanding of atheists and atheism and their views.
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  54

  We're all connected- Spiritual Atheism

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as you know, common theists believe in a literal "god" who supposedly created and rules the universe; while common atheists reject the idea of "god" altogether.. generally,spiritual atheists are people who do not believe in a literal "god" (thus the term "atheist"), but still consider themselves to be (often deeply) "spiritual" people.. for spiritual atheists, being "spiritual" generally means to have thoughts, words, and actions that are in harmony with the idea that we are all, in some way, connected - that the entire world can be thought of as one entity made up of smaller interacting entities.. therefore, spiritual atheists generally feel that as they go about their lives striving to be personally healthy and happy, they should also be striving to help the world around them be healthy and happy.

  this empowering concept is referred to as "wholistic ethics".. although spiritual atheists do not believe in a literal "god"; they generally recognize "god" as an important and powerful symbol of the inter-connectedness and one-ness of the universe.

  they see that, individually, everything in the universe is a part of "god"; and, collectively, everything in the universe is "god".

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  nvr, your posts never cease to amaze me.
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  13

  Anybody watch Ghost Hunters last night?

  by momzcrazy in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  on ghost hunters revelations (yes, my wednesday guilty pleasure) grant said he was religious.

  but when people have haunting problems and tell the "congregation" most of the time they are "shunned" by other members.

  he was happy to be able to provide help to those whose religion turned them away.. i thought it was interesting, maybe he was a witness.. momz.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  Momz, I think so. I think, at one point, she was a huge reason why he left. It was said it was a toxic relationship.

  We were wondering though if this is the same person he fathered his new baby with.
• 
  13

  Anybody watch Ghost Hunters last night?

  by momzcrazy in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  on ghost hunters revelations (yes, my wednesday guilty pleasure) grant said he was religious.

  but when people have haunting problems and tell the "congregation" most of the time they are "shunned" by other members.

  he was happy to be able to provide help to those whose religion turned them away.. i thought it was interesting, maybe he was a witness.. momz.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I was wondering what other religion would put him in that position. I just looked for their website and apparently it's down for maintenance.
• 
  13

  Anybody watch Ghost Hunters last night?

  by momzcrazy in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  on ghost hunters revelations (yes, my wednesday guilty pleasure) grant said he was religious.

  but when people have haunting problems and tell the "congregation" most of the time they are "shunned" by other members.

  he was happy to be able to provide help to those whose religion turned them away.. i thought it was interesting, maybe he was a witness.. momz.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  yep we watched it last night.

  I wondered the same thing. His choice of words were very interesting.
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  6

  Men are just happier people

  by helncon in

  1. social
  2. humour

  what do you expect from such simple creatures?

  your last name stays put.

  the garage is all yours.. wedding plans take care of themselves.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I read this to my husband the other day and he had to admit that some of it was right.
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  10

  Funeral I went to Saturday, has made me think a lot about. . .

  by Pioneer Spit...oh, i mean Spirit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this fabulous 42 yr old, fun, smart, dear wife and mother of 2 teenage boys.

  she was incredibly close to her older sister, they were best friends, and naturally the whole large family is devastated.

  even her sons' basketball coach stood up to speak of her and sobbed uncontrollably about how dear a person she was, especially dying so young.

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  BlackSwan of Memphis

  What I'm getting at is: We matter to one another though. I'm grateful for this site and for the people (real or imagined) here. Love the one you're with, that's all, because who knows what tomorrow may bring! My husband just said to me that our real friends and loved ones want our happiness, they are the ones that matter most.

  My brother in law said to me about a year ago, my husband's little brother, you make a new family. And that is what I set out to do.

  And I'm doing it. I've done it. There are people in my life now, both in my everyday "real" life and those on line that I care very much for. They include exjw's and never been jw's.

  If there is one thing I learned, that I truly wish I would have understood as a JW, be grateful for the people in your life that love you for who you are and are willing to go the extra mile or two for you. Be thankful.

  ***thank you