Carmel

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Posts by Carmel

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  13

  What There Is to Enjoy About Christmas

  by WTWizard in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as witlesses, you always hear about christmas in a negative light.

  all the running around to get gifts that will be returned the day after, the bills that come in january, the drinking and driving, and all the energy "wasted" on christmas lights and the headaches they get listening to christmas carols all day.. there is a good side of christmas, independent of the religious aspect of it.

  i remember when i was little, i most looked forward to the gifts.

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  Carmel

  Two four day week ends in a row! carmel
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  79

  How long have you been out now?

  by hillbilly in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  days?

  months?

  years?

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  Carmel

  47.75 solar years. carmel
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  17

  How do you have a "personal" relationship with Christ???

  by bluesbreaker59 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, so i haven't been posting a lot lately.

  been doing alot of thinking, soul searching, etc.

  also been busy with work, making money, hanging with my new girlfriend, and just enjoying my first christmas season.. .

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  Carmel

  I empathize with you. I've never been able to comprehend what a "personal relationship" with someone you've only know in the abstract is like. I personally think it is a mix of vane imagination resulting in a lot of self delusion and wistful thinking...but then isn't that the basis of most believers considering what some of the doctrins of contemporary religions promulgate... carmel
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  30

  Where have you turned to?

  by Robert7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very curious, since i am myself trying to figure out where to turn to, if anywhwere.

  (i am still debating if i am truly an atheist at heart and religion in general turns me off at least as of now) where have you turned to since you left the wt?

  i would imagine that many people who became witnesses had spiritual needs (which is ironic why i am feeling atheist, lol) but have you gone to other churches, stopped going to church, become atheist, etc?

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  Carmel

  I gave up looking after 15 years and IT found me! carmel of the detchment class
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  6

  Going to Church

  by Undecided in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i will be going in a few minutes.

  i don't believe the crap i hear from the pulpit, but i do like the people, and they put up with me quite well.

  i guess they think i will come around someday, who knows, it could happen but i doubt it.

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  Carmel

  I wanted to go to my place of worship today but the road is still partially blocked between here and Home Depot. Maybe next Sunday the wife and I will once again grace the hallowed halls of light fixtures and plumbing! Praise be new light! One for the bath room and one for the rental living room! carmel
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  42

  Is all religion in some way abusive?

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wish to thank writetoknow for prompting this question from his thread "hating religion is it bigotry?".

  what has been your personal experience?.

  consider the impressionable mind of the infant.. is it fair to indoctrinate them with dogma?.

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  Carmel

  Given that there are over 2000 denominations of Christianity alone, and hundreds of divisions of the other major religions, I can't answer as to the nature of "all religion", but I do know I'm not being abused nor do I know of any of my faith that are. carmel
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  21

  Are the Anointed real?

  by yknot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear jwders.

  as i continue to question all that i have ever known, i am now at the subject of the anointed .

  was there ever anyone really anointed after pentecost?

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  Carmel

  Jesus was annointed. carmel
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  208

  Self Deceit and Faith.

  by hillary_step in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this thread is inspired by a comment made on another thread, but i thought it would make an interesting discussion.. self deceit is described as a "misconception that is favorable to the person who holds it".

  my premise is that faith is a form of self-deceit - lying to oneself.. so, i would ask of the "faithful" the following questions and would request that they be read carefully to ensure no that there is no misunderstanding of purpose.. 1) in what way is faith not self-deception?.

  2) is a person who has faith in a god that you do not believe in, say for example siva, practicing a form of self-deception?.

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  Carmel

  faith allows me to drive to work, assuming other drivers will stay on their side of the road. Faith assures me that adhesion and cohesion will continue tomorrow and that phototaxis will be around too. Faith inculcates in me the confidence that water will continue to seek its own level, that grease will lubricate, that heat will coagulate protein. Faith is a part of all my reasoning processes. Faith it the foundation of deductive and inductive analysis. Faith is the balance that meters emotion with reason. I have faith this will engender. carmel of the "faithful"
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  15

  DIsfellowshipping without a meeting with you

  by myababes in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi there i have only signed up on here a couple of days ago after 8 years of being left.

  i have always read the posts along the way but have never had the courage to join in till now i suppose it shows i must be moving along.

  i was brought up in the truth but never ever believed it even from a young age.

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  Carmel

  Myababe, I've all my family save one or two still witnoids. I've simply made new friends, friends that are closer to me than family could ever be. So they have faded well into the background, so far back, I don't know which of any of them are still alive, where they live or anything else about them. My life is full with community activities, intellectual, spiritual and social stimulation and satisfaction that I am adding, ever so slightly to the advancement of civilization. I wish you the best. carmel
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  11

  Atheists-Ever Find Yourselves Debating the Finer Points of Christianity?

  by B_Deserter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  every once in a while, i find myself in a debate online where i end up advocating a particular biblical explanation.

  i just find it to be a fascination mental exercise at times.

  every find this true of yourself?

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  Carmel

  Jag, I wasn't aware anyone believed that God wrote the bible! As to it being difficult for a "believer" able to see both sides of the various doctrinal connudrums, I have no problem with what many see as contradictions. If you take them literally then you are stuck in a tail chasing exercise. Most of the bible (IMHO) is constructed to demonstrate a concept or principal, not to relate an historically accurate rendering. but then, I'm not mainstream, am I? carmel