Carmel

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Posts by Carmel

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  38

  Question for ex-JWs who are Christians

  by whyizit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i noticed that many who post here have kind of thrown the "baby out with the bathwater", when it comes to the bible and god.. i understand that there is a fine line between love and hate.

  maybe they blame god for the deception.

  maybe they don't trust anything to do with god any more.

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  Carmel

  Perhaps your question does not apply to me as I took a different path than that described by Christianity, although I believe there was a historical person whose Jewish name may or may not have been Jesus (Yeshuah). It took nearly 18 years as an agnostic before I could accept the existance of a "divinity" but that essence is "unknowable" and beyond attribution. So most of the terminology used in discussions about accepting or rejecting a "god" be it of the bibilical version or that of the Veda's or Koran or other texts is too confining and reminds me of the endless debate about how many angels can stand on the head of a pin. I was never angry or bitter about my brainwashed by the JWs, just took an more rational approach to things and weighed my formal education with what little intuition I fealt I had to get to where I was succeptable to a new religious paradigm.

  carmel
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  28

  "Newbies"

  by Butters in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  uh, hello, uh, well, i wanted to know how long it will be before the "newbie" title comes off?

  i noticed that some others who have been here since 2004 still have the title "newbie".

  how many years do you need before you move up?

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  Carmel

  blondie, you can't remember that far in antiquity!

  21,000...sheezebbbbb
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  31

  Squirrel in my Bedroom

  by OUTLAW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  good morning jwd!..as many of you know i live in the wilderness.this morning i woke up to scatching on my window..odd i thought,what is that?..just then a squirrel comes diving through my partially open window..i did what any fearless mountain man would do.i hid my nuts..lol!

  !..i tried to catch the little varmint with a fish tank net.that didn`t work,he`s just too fast..so i brought one of the huskeys in the house.took him about 5 minutes to figure out why he was in my bedroom.dogs are never allowed in my bedroom.he finaly spots the squirrel grabs it and took it outside..he got a nice treat for that..whats next?..a deer in the dining room..a bear in the bathroom?...outlaw

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  Carmel

  what's next?? Pussy in the pantry!b
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  27

  2007 YEAR TEXT: (Zephaniah 1:14) 14 “The great day of Jehovah is near.

  by What-A-Coincidence in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  message: .

  i was just told that the 2007 years text is (zephaniah 1:14) 14 the great day of jehovah is near.

  it is near, and there is a hurrying [of it] very much.

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  Carmel

  This reminds me of the good old days in Alaska. Alaska Air Lines was proud of their record of being the airlines with the fewest late departures and arrivals. To them, being 45 minutes late was right on time! Me thinks they used Eskimo watches...

  carmel
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  16

  I QUIT !!!

  by Frannie Banannie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did any of you do something really naughty and forbidden after you left the wts?

  i waited almost 6 months, then realized i could smoke because there wasn't anyone to tell me what i can and can't do, so if i wanted to, i could smoke......so i did.

  it wasn't long until i began to regret doing that.

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  Carmel

  ((((((Franie)))))))

  carm
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  20

  the most important question of your life

  by rlg222nc in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this message only takes about 4 minutes to read and it is too important not to read.

  i want to ask you the most important question of your life.

  the question is: are you saved?

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  Carmel

  Did Jesus shave, ron?
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  31

  Where in the Bible does it say man has free will?

  by lovelylil in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was doing some research on another topic and this scripural point kept coming up - jesus said "no one comes to me unless the father who sent me draws him" this word draw means to "entice" or "attract".

  in light of this statement, does this mean we actually do not have free will to decide to serve christ?

  for it says we cannot do so unless drawn by god.

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  Carmel

  My will cost me $150, not free at all!

  caveman
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  396

  Who is Jesus? Is he God?

  by BelieverInJesus in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i live in memphis.

  months ago, i had some jw's come by and talk with me.

  i'm a believer in the holy bible.

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  Carmel

  Jesus said He was the "image" of His Father. That works for me.

  carmel
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  4

  The good, the bad and the ugly of religious belief systems

  by lovelylil in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there have been several posts talking about the good religious beliefs systems do and the bad.

  i thought we could list some here as well as what you all find to be the downright ugly side of religious systems.

  i'll go first.. the good is that religious belief systems tend to give others with like beliefs a sense of belonging and community.. the bad is that this type of system will often try to exalt itself over all other beliefs systems by teaching that it alone has a corner on god, truth and the bible.

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  Carmel

  The paint brush is too broad! History indicates the early stages of a religon are creative of a great elan that overcomes manmade barriers, unites the hearts of divergent peoples, tribes, nations. Over time they loose that cohesiveness, are corrupted by want of leadership, egos and rankerous elements. They loose their moral bearings, and begin to use the power that common belief affords for self agrandizement. Soon they compromise principal for personal gain and factions splinter the once socially advancing movement into contending sects. The original message has to be re-newed as the light is hidden by the dross of human shortcomings. Yet, humanity advances each time a new religion is born. Society is propelled to greater levels of unity while accomodating greater diversity. The cycle is repeated time and again.

  So what you see in terms of different sides of the coin are attributable to historical evolution that has afflicted all the worlds' religions. Not unlike the cycles in political systems.

  carmel
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  33

  How can I be free ?

  by youcanhaveago in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can anyone tell me how i find peace of mind ?

  how i feel my life is not pointless ?.

  i truly feel lost .

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  Carmel

  Wanting to feel worthwhile and having purpose is one of the characteristics that distinguish us from the animals. All they care about are the mundane things of life, food, rest shelter, copulating, promulgating allels, etc. We need to feel we are contributing, a kind of trancendance, so to speak. All cultures manifest the same urgings to some degree. So, if religion or loss thereof has robbed you of that, consider you are still capable of finding purpose in life, re-building a new world view that includes you as an important part of the advancement of humanity. Time and effort, motivation, and action will all lead to a better state of mind. The further away from the branding iron of the cult you get, the less you feel the heat and the effects thereof.

  I think you will find ways of coping and turning you life around. You've already mentioned your family. A good starting point.

  carmelb