just realised after nigh on 100 posts i don't have a welcome thread, i know it is arrogant to do your own but screw it i want a welcome
We didnt want you to think that we were 'love bombing' you - so we generally ignored you and hoped you would go away! LOL
Just like most congregations really!
Only kidding of course- I dont blame you for starting your own thread!
Welcome Marius!
Gary
the hall i was in the last few years was not a bad place.
most of the people were middle class, some had college educations (like the po and his wife); they generally weren't over critical.
of course there were a few elders and publishers that were pains but for the most part the people in that hall were pretty decent.
Mine was shite; the older generation were ok and quite liberal but the younger were power hungry, pretentious, arrogant, lacked emotional intelligence in fact some lacked any intelligence; they were egotistical, they were overly dogmatic; they were false and two faced; they were elitist (although none of them showed anything worthy of being 'elite'). They were greedy, self righteous, and generally plastic people with plastic smiles and plastic lives!
It was great getting out of that negative environment and realising thats despite how they made me feel, I was worth more than the lot of em put together.
Gary
Men have it easier to be honest.
We dont have to fight for our rights to equality both in society and in an employment context; and we dont have to fight for our right to become spiritual leaders and teachers.
We also didnt have to protest radically to ensure considerable changes in gender awareness and to get a vote; further we are paid more statistically.
All of that and the above suggests that us men have life easier!
Gary
From a pagan perspective everything is connected; the land we live on, the people and other lifeforms we share it with and including the universe we live in - we are all aspects of divinity itself.
G
when i was jw, i didn't know any vegetarians.
they had the teaching that god had allowed us to eat animals, so we just eat animals.
no questions asked.. just recently i started to consider being vegetarian.
...on my plate!!!
You took the words out of my mouth!
Gary
when i was jw, i didn't know any vegetarians.
they had the teaching that god had allowed us to eat animals, so we just eat animals.
no questions asked.. just recently i started to consider being vegetarian.
So I've got fillet thingies which substitute for chicken and I have quorn mince. I've used quorn before and I love it in chilli or bolognese.
I dont think I could ever convert to vegetarian but however it has prompted me to consider more humane and ethical sources for meat and poultry; perhaps more organic than mass produced.
But what will I do without actual chicken? and I like fish, and apparently you are not "veggie" if you eat fish. hhmmmm
Eating free range chicken and fresh fish isnt a bad thing- eat what you want honey!
Gary (of the ever supportive class!)
i find that i still have an internal dialogue - a bit like i used to when i walked around talking to god like my life depended on it trying to cultivate that elusive relationship with him.
i like to call it internal dialogue because otherwise they could bring in the mental health professionals...don't ask me who "they" are - do i look/act/sound paranoid?!
so before "they" take me away: do you still find you talk to yourself in your head when you see things of especial beauty that might previously have inspired a prayer of thanks (and maybe still do - don't worry i am over with the castigation of the religious, for now!)?
Another point that came to mind as I was sending this message is that Satanus is spot on with his comments about everything being ultimately connected and the fact is that many nature based spiritualities have this philosophy. For me, the divine, nature and ourselves are one and are ultimately connected to each other. For some the connection is deeper and they are more aware of it, for some they are blissfully unaware of it and choose not to even look.
I no longer pray in the Christian sense but commune with the divine which is predominantly what I believe you are achieving when you have this 'internal dialogue' you describe - whether you are aware of it is a different matter.
Our will (or wishes) if strong enough can create physical results but you have to work with it physically as well as spiritually. To coin a rather poor joke, it is no good praying to win the lottery if you dont buy a bloody ticket.
Its funny but I have always held such beliefs but our environment as JWs prevented us from achieving the ultimate balance of caring for our every physical,emotional and spiritual need. Its no surprise then why many ex fundamentalist Christians turn to neo paganism as a means of achieving this balance and ultimate awareness of their connection to that above and below.
Just a few thoughts matey
G
i find that i still have an internal dialogue - a bit like i used to when i walked around talking to god like my life depended on it trying to cultivate that elusive relationship with him.
i like to call it internal dialogue because otherwise they could bring in the mental health professionals...don't ask me who "they" are - do i look/act/sound paranoid?!
so before "they" take me away: do you still find you talk to yourself in your head when you see things of especial beauty that might previously have inspired a prayer of thanks (and maybe still do - don't worry i am over with the castigation of the religious, for now!)?
So before "they" take me away: do you still find you talk to yourself in your head when you see things of especial beauty that might previously have inspired a prayer of thanks (and maybe still do - don't worry I am over with the castigation of the religious, for now!)?
I have always held the firm belief that the closer we are to nature, the closer we are to divinity; whether that be Goddess, God or some other higher being; the internal dialogue you mention is actually quite natural and nothing to be concerned with, in fact you should develop it and treasure the results.
Gary
i've been away for quite a while busy in the studio.. album due for release july/august with launch gigs planned.. i know there's alot of people on here that appreciate music, so i hope you like the taster tracks.. here's the link http://www.myspace.com/garybinksmusic.
peace.
lowden.
Good luck with the new album fella.
The three tracks on myspace are pretty cool - looking forward to hearing more.
Gary
no this isnt a film or anything lol.. anyone remember luna off this site?
where the hell is she at?
.
Speak of the Devil LOL
Gary
