Posts by circare

36

God and religion etc..............................

by Zep in

the communist world, it may be noted, has one big myth (which we call an illusion, in the vain hope that our superior judgment will make it disappear) it is the time hallowed archetypal dream of a golden age (or paradise), where everything is provided in abundance for everyone, and a great, just, and wise chief rules over a human kindergarten.

this powerful archetype in its infantile form has gripped them, but it will never disappear from the world at the mere sight of our superior points of view.

we even support it by our own childishness, for our western civilisation is in the grip of the same mythology.

circare

Ditto Path, I find life around us fascinating. The human body and psyche, the world, the universe and all the possible concepts associated - simply amazing! I prefer to see them as evidence of a higher intelligence as compared to concepts like evolution.

7 you make a good point, definitely Jesus life and ministry holds a lot of food for thought. Although examining that, in my mind, gets all tangled up with the consideration of whether the bible is God's word or not.

What an interesting statement Zep, that the 'instinct or desire to believe is more than enough of a basis to believe.'. I like your attitude here. However, obviously the desire to have or see something a particular way does not mean that it is that way. I'm not sure at this stage how to believe just because I would like it to be.

Like you waiting, I think that a sense of well being comes directly under one's own influence with or without a belief in God. Yes to get that balanced perspective! Every time I think I might be getting close, someone comes along with a different perspective, and shakes things up again. I sometimes think life is like those 'sand pictures'. Where are the absolutes to pin everything on? Or doesn’t it matter anyway?

27

Looking for someone

by Maxee in

hi every one i have started a new job so my time is limited on the net.

(broken relationship property settlement he took everthing including computors) .

is any one interested in being my email friend.

circare

G'day Nelly, I like your nick.

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

circare

RF the only references I can find in the JW publications about the Catholic Church and their business dealings were ones speaking of dishonest business (and dealings with the 'gangster elements'), and commercial dealings that were to further political ambitions.

I am sure if we have a chance to compare notes, there would be a lot of similarities in our growing up, don't you think? I remember going thru' the BTG book at the book-study too. I enjoyed the first part with the history, but not the second part on the application and fulfilment. How about you? The references in this book to the CC have mainly to do with the doctrinal teachings. There are references to Christendom and commerce, where it discusses the scripture in Rev., regarding the merchants moaning the loss of their religious markets with the fall of BTG . The BTG book refers to the three areas of Satan's world as being religion, politics and commerce and warns about involvement with the world. However commonsense would tell us here that involvement with commerce would have to be relative involvement. We all have to make a living, we all have to purchase foodstuffs etc. and pay our taxes, because of the commercial nature of the society we live in I don't think any witnesses can survive without some involvement.

I found most of the references in the JW publications in regard to the Catholic Church are with regard to their political involvement and their history.

I am still not sure that there is hypocrisy in an organisation based in an affluent country being affluent.

Personally I see the buildings and real estate as being a part of the running and organising of the publishing and preaching work. To me any 'profits', from the cost of actual printing of the publications, would have to cover the buildings for the printing presses, the buildings for the administration, the buildings for the housing of the volunteer labour, and the day to day living costs of caring for all of the above. I personally do not begrudge any of the so-called 'profits' from the magazines or books going to cover these related costs.

Waiting I always enjoy your posts, you have such a 'wicked' sense of humour. I tend to be rather serious with my posts and some of the subjects we get into are 'heavy', so I love the way you lighten things up around here.

6

A reminder for waiting

by Seven in

dear waiting, if you submit 5 posts per day starting tomorrow, you will reach the milestone 1,000th post on september 25. this is just like waiting for mark mcgwire to break the homerun record.

i don't believe that your record will be tainted by the rumored use of the controversial supplement androstenedione-enabling one to post long after normal bedtime hours.. seven sosa

circare

Simon! Simon! Yooohhoooo Simon!

Is waiting allowed to claim the label of PMS with 'crummy' posts like this?

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

circare

Hi all. I haven't had much of a chance to 'drop by' over the last couple of days, so I have sort of lost the thread of what we were discussing, but ploughing on….

7 interesting comment from your friend regarding the pressure brought to bear on the CC due to decrease in funds. Not sure if this would have the same effect on the JWs tho'. The older faithful ones have been used to 'doing things on a shoestring' in the past here in Australia. I think they would probably just 'bite the bullet' and go back to doing things the hard way again. May be it might have a dampening effect on the younger ones? The few other branch offices I am familiar with would, I think, all react the same way. I can't really speak about the bros. reactions at Brooklyn or Patterson. Perhaps a significant drop in meeting attendance and field service would have more impact?

Zep glad to hear your conclusion, I thought for a minute you were telling me there were major flaws in the local footy club.

36

God and religion etc..............................

by Zep in

the communist world, it may be noted, has one big myth (which we call an illusion, in the vain hope that our superior judgment will make it disappear) it is the time hallowed archetypal dream of a golden age (or paradise), where everything is provided in abundance for everyone, and a great, just, and wise chief rules over a human kindergarten.

this powerful archetype in its infantile form has gripped them, but it will never disappear from the world at the mere sight of our superior points of view.

we even support it by our own childishness, for our western civilisation is in the grip of the same mythology.

circare

Thanks Zep for posting this topic. It is something I also have been thinking about for some time.

Frenchy I don't think a belief in God can be something that is chosen on a whim either. There would have to be some basis - what could be a basis for this faith in your opinion?

I would like to believe there is more reason for faith in God than the positive psychological benefits.

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

circare

Hi again Red, Zep,Waiting,

I understand that my comments and questions may seem to be putting me at odds with you all. That is not my intention. I would just like to sort out the reality from the emotionalism. Not that there is anything wrong with emotions but it does not give one much to use when discussing this with others.

Red I have been doing a little re-reading and I can't find the articles you were referring to about the Catholic Church and its' business dealings? Could you perhaps let me know which ones they were?

Also I was curious as to what you meant when you said

The WTS held itself up as an example of true Christianity....using all money to further the preaching work. Everyone is a volunteer, noone gets paid, EVERY CENT is used to further the preaching work. Finding out that this rhetoric was all lies is the thing that bothers me.

I am not sure what point you are making here. Don't they use the funds for the preaching work?

Hi Zep,
I was wondering what other organisations you have belonged to?
Would there be some that would not fit the Orwellian Nightmare?

Waiting the nuns and priests I have had contact with have not lived 'high on the hog' in my opinion either. (About the same as the bro and sisters in the respective Bethel homes.) There are exceptions of course depending on which order they belong to, as you would know some have vows of poverty etc and they live very ascetically.

I think there are a lot of Catholics that follow their Pope and their religion very seriously - to the point of crawling on their hands and knees long distances to do penance, or pilgrimage to a particular holy statue, site or relic. Being a former Catholic you would also be aware that for the thousands that disregard the words and directives of their Pope there are as many again who bind their lives by them.

Edited by - circare on 4 September 2000 10:0:7

15

Registration deadlines

by Seven in

jw
friends

to high school juniors and seniors, pay attention.

to the registration deadlines for you sat and act's.

the first sat will be given on oct. 14, 2000. deadine is sept. 12th.

circare

Hi 7, thanks for the fill in. Interesting to see the similarities.

Also an interesting quote. There's has been a lot of truth in that statement in times past. Must say tho' - "She doesn't have what it takes." - does not fit my picture of you.

7, Path & Waiting,
Hope you all enjoyed your weekend. We had a very warm and pleasant spring day here for our Sunday.

35

Most disgusting thing from Watchtower Corp.

by spectromize in

jw
friends

one thing that really doesn't add up with the organization and their registrating to be a corp.(yes i have to put this in quote sorry it's called non-profit corp.) is the very fact that they play in the worldly system of things while they tell you to keep out of it.

(while they see nothing wrong in themselves playing the stock market with other peoples money) think about it where did jesus say to register god's organization as a corporation?.

furthermore if you were living in jesus' period of time who would be the president-vice-president-secratary- treasurer-shareholders...?.

circare

Sorry Red and RF didn't mean to ignore your posts. In my 'speed read' I missed your comments on the bottom of the previous page.

I agree, the FDS claims to be the channel of spiritual feeding from Jehovah.

If you consider yourself a member of the WTBTS and business details have not been revealed or vital information withheld then I can understand you would be upset.

I am wondering when would you consider the funds not being used for the preaching work? What area of costs do you consider not to be involved with the printing costs?

Would anyone here have ever been involved in any voluntary community organisation or charity? All by law here are required to have presidents, secretaries and treasurers. They all have to manage whatever funds have been donated or raised by fund-raising activities. Even the tiny poor ones, who only operate on a few thousand a year, will take a portion of their funds and invest them in an interest bearing term deposit of some kind for the paltry interest. It would be making poor use of the money otherwise wouldn't it? I would consider it irresponsible for an organisation to not manage, as best it can any surplus funds it has from time to time wouldn't you?

I am sorry for the pain and hurt we are all experiencing in varying degrees. A sense of betrayal is not easy to get over. I did not intend to invalidate anyone's experiences or means of expressing their feelings. I just wanted to express mine too.

15

Registration deadlines

by Seven in

jw
friends

to high school juniors and seniors, pay attention.

to the registration deadlines for you sat and act's.

the first sat will be given on oct. 14, 2000. deadine is sept. 12th.

circare

Hey 7, thanks for the info. It is pretty much the same way here. Our Junior High is grades 7-10, Senior High is years 11 and 12.

So the SAT and ACT's are not compulsory?

Here we have the School Certificate (SC) at end of Grade 10 and the Higher School Certificate (HSC) at end of grade 12. These are compulsory. The SC helps if you want to go to a college or TAFE (technical college) for a trade or workforce skill etc. The HSC results, called Tertiary Entrance Results (TERs) are for entrance in a Uni. Degree course.

Currently here the trial HSC is over and the 'real thing' is coming up in a few weeks. Of course everyone knows it is far harder for the parents at this stressful time.

Btw what do the initials SAT and ACT's stand for?