this is a distilled (and from memory) reconstruction of a chat this morning.... my 81 year old ex-baptist minister friend dub and i went to starbucks for coffee and conversation.
dub likes to start conversations with strangers.. today a seminary student caught his eye.
they talked for about half an hour before dub dropped me into it.
If someone feels that they Know God, they do not have to prove it to anyone in the first place. And it does not make them a religious fanatic because they have a belief in a higher power. Many people who are not fanatics are spiritual. Spirituality and fanaticism can be two seperate things imo.
edited to add; by Terry's assumptions can an atheist also be a fanatic?
i have always been intrigued about why we dream and recently signed up for a course on dream interpretation.
the course includes a great book written by sigmund freud.. this would have been oh soo taboo if i was still in the borg.
probably would have been df'd for it.. was wondering how many others out there have studied a subject or experimented with new ideas that "mother" would not have approved of since leaving the org, and what you learned from it?
Lisa,
Meditating is a great way to get in touch with your subconscience self. I believe we can learn from our inner selves. (some people call the inner self the soul of the person)
Since I have been learning more about dreams and how to influence them, I have been sleeping better and waking up more refreshed. Sleep is very important for our bodies and minds and lack of sleep affects our overall health.
I recently went to a conference on Alzheimers and one of the greatest risk factors of the disease is insomnia! Make sense since our brains cannot rejuvenate itself with lack of sleep.
Also people with high levels of anxiety usually have trouble sleeping too. I am learning a lot from this class and would love to see more like it.
I am glad you meditate, it is great for body, mind and soul. Thanks for your comments.
this is a distilled (and from memory) reconstruction of a chat this morning.... my 81 year old ex-baptist minister friend dub and i went to starbucks for coffee and conversation.
dub likes to start conversations with strangers.. today a seminary student caught his eye.
they talked for about half an hour before dub dropped me into it.
I'm confused as to how you go from "I don't and can't KNOW god" to "Anybody who tells me that they DO is somebody I view with caution." I don't look at humans with such numerical precision because humanity is much more uncertain than certain. When someone tells you, "I know God" you should be naturally skeptical, however there is no hazard present that demands one proceed with caution just because someone makes such a claim. To make an assumption of hazard in this case it to CREATE hazard for all involved, leans on a stereotype and profiles a perfect stranger. Many people who claim to "know God" actually just know OF God and are embellishing their relationship.
-Sab
Very well said! Lilly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uads9caywh4&list=uu5siqfsjttx7gijqfwo2aaa&index=15.
Lets not confuse homosexuality with pedophilia though. Most homosexual men are interested in consensual sex with other men and do not rape little boys. Leo Greenlees was a pedophile.
I attended a gathering with Mark Palo there some years back and I believe the guy is credible. Sad story really.
i was describing jehovah's witnesses to a family member who had no idea whatsoever about them.
i may be straightforward and describe things in terms i have learned since reading about cults, but i was not over the top in any way.
i was simply stating the facts in a way that did not try to put any positive spin on anything.. my family member said, "so they are basically the amish but with televisions and electricity.
Carla,
Yes JW's do knock on Amish doors. A group from my KH once went down to PA to work in a territory where the need was great and it was an Amish on, One sister told me how the Amish women were fascinated by all the makeup the JW sisters were allowed to wear and the colorful clothes, LOL.
From what I heard, they didn't get too far with the Amish anyway.
i have always been intrigued about why we dream and recently signed up for a course on dream interpretation.
the course includes a great book written by sigmund freud.. this would have been oh soo taboo if i was still in the borg.
probably would have been df'd for it.. was wondering how many others out there have studied a subject or experimented with new ideas that "mother" would not have approved of since leaving the org, and what you learned from it?
Thanks everyone for the great comments!
Oz, I have been learning that you can in a way "program" what you dream. You can meditate on certain thoughts and train your mind to dream the types of dreams you want it too. Its called dream incubating.
For instance I will sometimes go to bed meditating about my mom who passed 12 years ago, and then I will see her in my dreams.
Dream interpretation is very ancient. Last night during my studies we talked about dreams written down on clay tablets found in Nineveh. Oh course since this was biblical it got my attention.
Many ancient people believed dreams where instructions or warnings from the Gods, and the Jews and early christians were no different either. Really opened my mind to things.
Anyway, I eventually want to learn how to help others interpret their dreams. I've been fascinated with this topic since I was very young. And I am happy to be able to now really have time and ability to study this topic. As well as other "taboo" to the Witnesses.
And yes I keep a dream journal too. Last night I actually had 3 seperate dreams. I find this to be very theraputic and helps with my PTSD.
i was describing jehovah's witnesses to a family member who had no idea whatsoever about them.
i may be straightforward and describe things in terms i have learned since reading about cults, but i was not over the top in any way.
i was simply stating the facts in a way that did not try to put any positive spin on anything.. my family member said, "so they are basically the amish but with televisions and electricity.
Yes I agree with the Amish being similiar to JW's. My daughter says its because they are both puritan based religions? Meaning they oversimplify teachings of the church and believe seeking any pleasures of the world is displeasing to God.
i have always been intrigued about why we dream and recently signed up for a course on dream interpretation.
the course includes a great book written by sigmund freud.. this would have been oh soo taboo if i was still in the borg.
probably would have been df'd for it.. was wondering how many others out there have studied a subject or experimented with new ideas that "mother" would not have approved of since leaving the org, and what you learned from it?
Yoga is supposed to be a false religion to the WT. I never understood that when I was in. Its just a way to excercise and relax to me. I've tried meditation too and surprisingly was not over taken by demons, LOL
.
about a month ago, i wrote a post about a sister that keeps coming to my apartment giving me watchtowers.
i called her an older sister.
she is in her late 50's.
I agree with Kurtbethel,
I take care of elderly people for a living and one of my patients told me she does not like to hang around old people. I said to her "young lady, you are 80 YEARS OLD!". She told me that "age is not a number but a state of mind". And she is right because she has more energy then many people half her age!
i have always been intrigued about why we dream and recently signed up for a course on dream interpretation.
the course includes a great book written by sigmund freud.. this would have been oh soo taboo if i was still in the borg.
probably would have been df'd for it.. was wondering how many others out there have studied a subject or experimented with new ideas that "mother" would not have approved of since leaving the org, and what you learned from it?
Fernando,
I am starting to believe in the Religion being an enemy of God. All religions are man made. Since leaving the WT I have been more focused on my spirituality and what makes me unique as an individual. I really have no desire to attend a church building although I am still a Christian, meaning I follow the teachings of Jesus Christ. (golden rule, love thy nieghbor, etc).
I believe Jesus came to break down religion and religious barriers to God.
Charles T. Russell had one thing right and it is my favorite quote "Religion is a snare and a racket".
