Posts by Carmel

so as you can see this is my first post here...it's going to sound a bit jumbled i'm sure.. i stopped going to meetings exactly a year ago primarily due to my realization of my role as a "woman" (well i'm 22 but anyway..).

to me, being a jw woman means a life as a subserviant housewife who can make no decisions and can only excel by pioneering.

i realized that's the way the whole bible is...totally male-dominant.

Carmel

Head of household was merely a phalic status! You're right though! The JW posture toward the women was one of my reasons for challenging and questioning, which eventually got me in hot water. carmel

25

Laptop Advice

by Mysterious in

jw
friends

i was hoping to get some feedback from those of you that have laptops.

i know what i need primarily in terms of system specs so i am more interested in feedback regarding brands.

if you have a laptop i would be interested to know the brand, whether you bought it new or used, how long the warranty was, if you had any issues with it during or after the warranty (and whether these resulted in you having to take it in or send it away for repairs), if you would buy it again, if you recommend the brand on the whole.. i am currently leaning towards toshiba having met a few people that had bad experiences with dell.

Carmel

Sitting here musing over the anti-Appleites....while loving my new Macbook! carmel of the "former IBM group think" class

2

More Earthquakes? What did Jesus really mean?

by FuzzyPaul in

i think that when jesus said "... there would be earthquakes in one-place after another ..." he was saying those things would happen but that those things were not the sign, he said those things must take place but the end is not yet.

disasters are unavoidably distracting.

what jesus said was of similar content to his discussion of the galileans whose blood was mixed with a sacrifice or those 18 persons who died when the tower of siloam fell on them.

Carmel

....and the king of the north is....?

26

Happy is the Man!

by Elihu/Elijah in

hi firends,.

let's use and old witness saying; "turn a stumbling block into a stepping stone".

i was a member of a few congregations in the so-california desert area for many years.

Carmel

I'd be interested in a biblical set of references that specifically condemn the celebration of Christmas, based on it being of "pagan" origin. carmel

18

True Religion

by purplesofa in

how long was true religion really on the earth and when?.

thank you .

purps.

Carmel

Probably not what you were looking for, but then I find most xjws are justifiably skeptical about religion....

"True religion is the basis of divine civilization. Material civilization is like unto the body; divine civilization is like unto the spirit. A body without the spirit is dead, although it may be clothed in the utmost beauty and comeliness.

In short, by religion we mean those necessary bonds which have power to unify. This has ever been the essence of the religion of God. This is the eternal bestowal of God! This is the object of divine teachings and laws! This is the light of the everlasting life! Alas! A thousand times alas! that this solid foundation is abandoned and forgotten and the leaders of religions have fabricated a set of superstitions and rituals which are at complete variance with the underlying thought. As these man-made ideas differ from each other they cause dissension which breeds strife and ends in war and bloodshed; the blood of innocent people is spilled, their possessions are pillaged and their children become captives and orphans.

Thus religion which was destined to become the cause of friendship has become the cause of enmity. Religion, which was meant to be sweet honey, is changed into bitter poison. Religion, the function of which was to illumine humanity, has become the factor of obscuration and gloom. Religion, which was to confer the consciousness of everlasting life, has become the fiendish instrument of death. As long as these superstitions are in the hands and these nets of dissimulation and hypocrisy in the fingers, religion will be the most harmful agency on this planet. These superannuated traditions, which are inherited unto the present day, must be abandoned, and thus free from past superstitions we must investigate the original intention. The basis on which they have fabricated the superstructures will be seen to be one, and that one, absolute reality; and as reality is indivisible, complete unity and amity will be instituted and the true religion of God will become unveiled in all its beauty and sublimity in the assemblage of the world."b

(Abdu'l-Baha, Divine Philosophy, p. 160)

42

Would U Pray To God Under ANY Circumstances???

by minimus in

jw
friends

even if you say you're not a believer in "god", if something bad was happening, would you ever give it a shot, and ask (jehovah) god for help??

?

Carmel

There are three stages of prayer, not just the act of beseaching. If one only asks then assumes some form of divine intervention will do the work, sorry, ain't gonna be anyone up there! If we are "believers" then beseaching must be followed by rational decision making (volition) then action. Think of it as a "do-it-yourself" kit that requires it being opened up and completed following the instructions. If done in accordance with the "divine standards" (beatitudes) the least that will happen is you will come out the other end a much better person.

carmel

9

The 'Worse and Worse' Fallacy - Recent Items

by metatron in

jw
friends

in the november 24 "the week", you can learn that forests aren't necessarily decreasing.

( pg 10).

"in a surprizing new study, scientists have concluded that a growing number of countries are reversing the trend toward destruction of their.

Carmel

This is the most "Radiant Century" by many standards. Old shiboliths in religion, ethics, politics and even science are being shattered to be replaced by what is utilitarian, ethical, more just and in line with reason and good will. Certainly the opposite gets the headlines, but virtually every discipline is undergoing transformation. We are one of most richly blessed generations being able to witness monumental evolutions in human affairs.

Much yet to accomplish, but the "new world order" is crystalizing and no one can stop its progress.

carmel

46

Something happened at church yesterday

by lovelylil in

jw
friends

so my hubby wanted to go to church yesterday.

it was a non-denominational one in the town next to ours.

i went along because he feels he needs a church to attend to keep him on the right track.

Carmel

I reccommend you find a "disorganized" religion. Then you will have the full support of those of us who can't remember what day of the week it is and our wives wrap our lunches in numbered brown bags.

carmel