He provides the "Do-it-yourself kit" and instructions. Leaves it to us to figure out the rest! Me thinks your "growth" is more a realization that the concept of "have-God-do-it" mentality enables an unhealthy dependency on a vain imagination.
carm
Posts by Carmel
-
15When God is not there anymore
by purplesofa indo you remember, or do you do this ........talk to god, ask god for things, thank god for things and get angry at god?.
when i remove this mysterious, allusive god out of my mind and not rely on god, i have to go within myself for answers and think about things logically and not put off feelings to him and feel them within myself and deal with it on a whole different set of laws and bounderies and rules within myself.
does this make sense to anyone?.
-
-
-
113
Question: Demons
by ladybug25 ingrowing up, i remember hearing stories from my own parents and others in the congregation about experiences with demons.
sister x wore a t-shirt that she purchased at a second hand store and the demons attached themselves to the shirt and gave her problems.
certain movies and/or cds would give a family problems.
-
-
Carmel
One should read Eliene Pagel's book, "The Origin of Satan". She is a christian scholar who traces the concept of evil (satan, devil, demons, etc) from pre-christian roots to present day paranoia about the subject. Kids are taught things that affect their thinking for their entire lives. Their own imaginations enhance their closely held beliefs and it becomes as real as any halucenation.
carmel
"As to the question of evil spirits, demons and monsters, any references made to them in the Holy Books have symbolic meaning. What is currently known among the public is but sheer superstition."
(Compilations, Lights of Guidance, p. 512)
-
4
Land of Fugitiveness
by I.Wonder ingood day everyone!.
genisis 4:14 says: here you are actually driving me this day from off the surface of the ground, and from your face i shall be concealed; and i must become a wanderer and fugitive on the earth, and it is certain that anyone finding me will kill me.. 16 says: with that cain went away from the face of jehovah and took up residence in the land of fugitiveness (or nod') to the east of e den.. 17 says: afterward cain had intercourse with his wife and she became pregnant and gave birth to e noch.
then he engaged in building a city and called the citys name by the name of his son e noch.. .
-
-
Carmel
This is the first account of humans engaging in composting! That would lead to enhanced agriculture and the formulation of complex doctrins of dichotomy transfigurations.
carm
-
23
I know what the Big Announcement was tonight at my hall.
by JimWood inso i get this phone call from an apostate friend and i am informed that the c.o.
are at the hall tonight.
so i accidentally printed out 50 copies of the letter from paul hoeffel (un/dpi) and somehow or another they ended up on all the windshields of the cars at the hall.
-
-
Carmel
Yep Jim! The "Rupture" is near!
love it!
-
24
question for Atheists with children?
by unbeliever inwhat do you tell your children about god or his lack of existance?
i know i have a long time before i have to deal with this but my jw mom did ask me what i will teach my son about god.
i have no plans to tell him god is real.
-
-
Carmel
Personally I think the only honest action is to tell your children that there is no way of proving one way or another. Either side bases their beliefs on a degree of "faith". If there is a God, you can't excape being influenced by "its" existense, and on the flip side, if there isn't then obviouly "it" can't influence. A good secular education especially a few logic courses and a non-biased review of history and how religions were founded, evolved and were corrupted my give them some degree of insite to counter the one-sidedness of purely secular views.
todbbbbbbbbbbb
-
17
Questions for the forum...I need some help understanding
by truckerich ini was just wondering just because the wts have made a mess of things and have done things that are questionable.
is jehovah still the name of god?
does he exist?
-
-
Carmel
You are in an excellent position right now and many here have given you good council. The independent search for reality (truth) is critical to your health and well being. The "true seeker" will, however, have to set aside a whole host of preconcieved notions, prejudices and conditioned responses. You will be buffeted from every side by those wanting to bring you into there particular camp (world view) and that's okay. Be patient, read, ask questions, be skeptical. Ultimately you will sort out reality from falsehood and no one can take that away from you.
carmel
-
29
I DID IT!! I DID IT!!! I DID IT!!!!!
by pmouse ini have finished my last class and will graduate on october 14th with my bachelors degree in business administration/management thirty three years after graduating from high school and 30 years after leaving the borg!
one more step in the healing process.
and one more step forward with my life.. paula.
-
-
Carmel
If I wouldn't get arrested for child molestation, I'd give you a big kiss! Way to go!!
carmel
-
23
How did you come to be a Christian?
by BlackSwan of Memphis inobviously this goes out for the christians on the board regardless of denomination or lack thereof as the case may be.. why am i asking?.
i'm just curious.. i'm always asking myself, "what the hay am i missing?".
i know what the bible says.
-
-
Carmel
after leaving the borg as a teenager I spent nearly 18 years seeking a "true" church then gave up in futility. I came to believe that Jesus was ONE of thee "Christs". Hence, by definition I am "christian" in that I accept the station of the "Christ" but unlike most Christians I don't see Jesus as exclusively so designated.
carmel
-
21
A reminder to all of you....
by LivingInReality inshannon here.... a confessed "lurker" for a very, very, long time and a rare poster to the board......i just wanted to drop a quick note to all of you.. please keep doing what you're doing..providing a refuge for so many.
you all make me feel reassured that if in 4 years from now i may have a breakdown (because deprogramming is a lifelong ailment) and need to find strength and encouragement, or even just someone to hear my story and believe me...i will always know that you are all here.
no judgment, no criticism...but instead providing a way for anyone who visits this board a little challenge at times, a large amount of humor, some psychological services...and a great big dose of the real truth.. you guys are great...you make me laugh, you make me smile and you make me feel fantastic about my decision to leave by your constant reassurance that truly living is all about thinking for yourself.. i'll be sure to start posting more regularly because i'd like to start to get to know you guys better and in turn become a source of comfort, wisdom and humor to others that have gone through what we have.. hugs to you all.. shannon.
-
-
Carmel
Go Shannon!!!
carmel (guy)
-
16
Friends wanted to strenghten my faith in china
by Noble indear brothers and sisters, .
it's incredible that such a wonderful forum exists!
how glad i am.
-
-
Carmel
Well, I'm not your brother but according to geneticists we are all at least 50th cousins, so how goes it in Bejing? or are you in one of the "villages"?
You may find this group is a tad different than you expected. Stick around and Welcome!
carmel