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Joe Grundy
JoinedPosts by Joe Grundy
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49
Contemplating a Major Life Change.
by Joe Grundy innever was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
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49
Contemplating a Major Life Change.
by Joe Grundy innever was a jw, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.. retired in 2004, lived in cyprus 2005-2010. back here in wales since then.. just back from a holiday in france (most recent of many).
love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.. just seen an advert for a country estate (british-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties).
family would be abe to come and stay for free.
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Joe Grundy
Never was a JW, but been here long enough to have made some friends and respect opinions.
Retired in 2004, lived in Cyprus 2005-2010. Back here in Wales since then.
Just back from a holiday in France (most recent of many). Love the country, the lifestyle, can get by in the language.
Just seen an advert for a country estate (British-owned) they want someone to live on site, do a bit of handyman stuff, etc., look after (mainly Brit) holiday visitors in return for zero rent (only utitlties). Family would be abe to come and stay for free. I know the area well (Cognac) and have French friends nearby.
I am fortunate (but I paid for it) to have a police pension which is quite a bit more than adeqaute (even if I was paying full rent). I am very very tempted, not least because if worst came to worst I can pack the car, stick it on a ferry and I'm on a home run.
I am very, very, tempted, and in a mind to call the owners tomorrow. My adult children say 'carpe diem' - go for it.
Any comments?
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6
Have I Missed Something? Boko Haram.
by Joe Grundy ina group of bastards, in the name of their islamic religion, under the name 'boko haram' (or 'western education is forbidden') have kidnapped hundreds of youg girls from their school and are threatening to sell them - not least because in their religious view the girls should be married, not pursuing education.. .
have i missed the wt public statement condemning this?
or that of other religions, come to that?
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Joe Grundy
Then I stand corrected - but there is a dearth of items in the news media from religious groups condemning this.
What about a fatwa on the culprits, for example?
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6
Have I Missed Something? Boko Haram.
by Joe Grundy ina group of bastards, in the name of their islamic religion, under the name 'boko haram' (or 'western education is forbidden') have kidnapped hundreds of youg girls from their school and are threatening to sell them - not least because in their religious view the girls should be married, not pursuing education.. .
have i missed the wt public statement condemning this?
or that of other religions, come to that?
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Joe Grundy
A group of bastards, in the name of their islamic religion, under the name 'Boko Haram' (or 'Western Education is Forbidden') have kidnapped hundreds of youg girls from their school and are threatening to sell them - not least because in their religious view the girls should be married, not pursuing education.
Have I missed the WT public statement condemning this? Or that of other religions, come to that? What about the islamic leaders?
I am generally anti-interventionist (I have family in the military) but in this case I woud be delighted to see Special Forces from various countries sent in.
Anyone still want to say that religion is a force for good?
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31
Smoking
by FL_Panthers ini heard that the witnesses used to smoke back in the day.
is this true?
if so, what was the reasoning behind this?.
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31
Smoking
by FL_Panthers ini heard that the witnesses used to smoke back in the day.
is this true?
if so, what was the reasoning behind this?.
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Joe Grundy
I believe that if you use the 'search' facilty here you'll find posts relating to the ban on smoking being introduced by WT (mid 70s?) and the deadline given to JW tobacco farmers to give up thei farms/change crops or face the consequences. I don't think that I'm imagining this - it was a big thing at the time IIRC.
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11
Bible Authority - A Cop-Out?
by Joe Grundy inmentions in other threads 'inspired' me to consider this point.. this is a quote from paul's jwfacts site about christadelphians (not a million miles removed from jws):.
"the bible is god's word and the only message from him.
it is without error, except for copying and translation errors.".
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Joe Grundy
Bartelby's just fine, thank 'ee, better than me with me old farmer's lung (cough, cough). And all that cafuffle with the wedding that wasn't but at least me and Edddie got a few drinks out of it ...
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11
Bible Authority - A Cop-Out?
by Joe Grundy inmentions in other threads 'inspired' me to consider this point.. this is a quote from paul's jwfacts site about christadelphians (not a million miles removed from jws):.
"the bible is god's word and the only message from him.
it is without error, except for copying and translation errors.".
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Joe Grundy
"Then it's not without error."
Exactly right, of course - and that's why I was surprised to see this statement from a group/sect/cult that holds the bible in such high esteem. I can only surmise that as in so many similar groups the adherents either don't stop to think about this or if they do think better of raising questions for fear of the consequences.
I find it fascinating in terms of social anthropology (in an amateur way), most especially in groups where whole lives are determined by strict doctrinal adherence to particular interpretations of unreliable texts. Happens in all religions, of course, not least the myriad of islamic sects.
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11
Bible Authority - A Cop-Out?
by Joe Grundy inmentions in other threads 'inspired' me to consider this point.. this is a quote from paul's jwfacts site about christadelphians (not a million miles removed from jws):.
"the bible is god's word and the only message from him.
it is without error, except for copying and translation errors.".
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Joe Grundy
Mentions in other threads 'inspired' me to consider this point.
This is a quote from Paul's JWFacts site about Christadelphians (not a million miles removed from JWs):
"The Bible is God's word and the only message from him. It is without error, except for copying and translation errors."
That opens a can of worms, doesn't it?
Another recent thread prompted me to watch the Bart Ehrman youtube lecture 'Misquoting Jesus' on copying and translating errors - fascinating - and led me to the (not original) thought that once one allows for 'copying and translation errors' combined with deciding which bits were literal and wich allegorical (144,000 anybody?) - let alone later 'corrective interpolations' - one can just about make the Bible say anything one wants.
I was brought up in the Plymouth Brethren where there are no clergy but every 'brother' (keep quiet, sisters!) is expected to be his own student and unsurprisingly their history is characterised (as so many cults/sects of the time) by doctrinal splits. (JWs avoided this by rigid centralised authority a la Rutherford). Well-meaning in the most part but hopelessly under-educated in the most important part of their lives (religion) and prepared to make other peoples' lives a misery because of their own unbending beliefs.
And, of course, to question is to put oneself beyond the pale.
Sad, in so many ways.
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29
Suggestion for JWFacts
by ILoveTTATT ini have a suggestion for jwfacts, and to help make the article easier to write for paul, the collective jwn community can help.. in his article of "religions similar to jehovah's witnesses",.
http://www.jwfacts.com/watchtower/similar-religions-to-jehovahs-witnesses.php.
paul uses mormons, cristadelphians, etc.... i suggest he also use iglesia ni cristo.
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Joe Grundy
I hope that no-one takes offence at this - it's not meant to be offensive, merely recounting my experiences.
I lived in Cyprus 2005-2010 and had many friends in the filipino community there, including a Filipina fiancee and a Filipina who became my ex-wife no. 2. Religion was very important to very many of them, but it didn't seem to matter too much which religion it was as long as there was a sense of community and (importantly) a good social scene. Not surprising, of course, in a mistreated and expoilted community of ex-pats which the Filipinas surely were.
Most I spoke to had no idea of even the basics of the creed they subscribed to and were equally happy in the most orthodox RC church and the most charismatic pentecostilist protestant groups. It was far more about the social and supportive side of things.
Which, come to think about it, isn't so much different from many adherents to whatever religion, including JWs. Ask specific questions about the particular doctrines and beliefs of 'their' group and how they differ and you're unlikely (IME) to get a cogent and succinct response.
In particular reference to this religion, when one considers the pinoy diaspora (almost universally an exploited minority) it isn't surprising that it proliferates.