"Let him without sin cast the first stone."
At that point, a stone came out of the crowd and killed the adulteress stone dead.
'Mom', said Jesus, 'Sometimes you really tick me off.'
Courtesy of Bart Ehrman video.
Joe Grundy
JoinedPosts by Joe Grundy
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20
"You can't Disfellowship me ......."
by Phizzy inif i ever get the threat of being df'd i think i will say :.
" the religion i left a few years ago no longer exists, you can't disfellowship me from a religion that i never had fellowship in !"..
i know this will make no difference at all, as would whatever i said if they had made up their minds, but it would point out how very very silly the whole idea would be.. any other ideas to briefly sum up what a stupid thing dfing is ?.
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Scottish independance in two days what do you think?
by barry inone thing i would like to say is will the union jack be changed because the scottish flag is incorpreted in it.
if the union jack is changed will we change our australian flag because the union jack is in our flag?
even hawawi has the union jack also fiji and many other commonwealth countries.. .
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Joe Grundy
These are just some random thoughts from a Brit (Welsh) who never was a dub.
When we had the referendum on devolution (settled 50.2% in favour, 49.8% against) no details of what the effects would be were available, IIRC. All was to be settled later. I remember a quote 'Few problems are solved by creating more politicians'. We now have an extra layer of bureaucracy with well-paid politicians, civil servants (6,000+), buildings, etc., and the 'Welsh Assembly' is now the 'Welsh Assembly Government'. Some outcomes have been good, some bad (IMO), some mixed.
Many issues (and major ones at that) are 'to be settled later' - by negotation. It seems to me that to be democratic, if there is a 'Yes' vote it must be followed promptly by a General Election in Scotland so that people and parties can put forward what they would wish to negotiate for.
In the UK the age of majority is 18. In this referendum, 16 and 17 year olds have been given the vote. In legal terms these are children, able to consent to sex (for example) but regarded as not able to consent to sex with a person in authority (eg a teacher). Unable to make an informed decision on that but able to make an informed decision (irrevocable?) on independence? Discuss.
On the principle of a democratic right to independence, these thoughts occur:
Some parts of Scotland (Highlands and Islands?) have expressed the view that they feel so far removed from Edinburgh that they would like independence. Allow a referendum?
Some parts of England (eg Cornwall) likewise?
What about Catalonia and the Basques?
How would the US feel if California wanted independence?
And, not wanting to be controversial, wasn't the American Civil War about the wish of some southern states to be independent from the then US?
So many questions, and I haven't even mentioned currency and the EU yet.
My gut feeling, based on no evidence, is that the 'Yes' campaign has been particularly vociferous. With a cool head, and in the privacy of the polling booth, I suspect that the 'No' vote will win.
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Depression and Faith
by Joe Grundy inthis is only jw (should that be jw.org now?
) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life.
but many similarities, i feel.. i never was a dub, was raised in a 'gospel hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective.
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Joe Grundy
BiL just called to see me.
\his opening words were 'I am a broken man'. No he isn't, he is a strong man, I couldn't have dealt with the stuff he has.
I am calling on all my reserves here in a bid to help my sis and BiL through this without calling thier faith into question.
I can't be the only one doing this, can I?
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Depression and Faith
by Joe Grundy inthis is only jw (should that be jw.org now?
) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life.
but many similarities, i feel.. i never was a dub, was raised in a 'gospel hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective.
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Joe Grundy
This is only JW (should that be JW.Org now?) related in that it is connected with religious faith which dominates a person's life. But many similarities, I feel.
I never was a dub, was raised in a 'Gospel Hall' tradition, have been for many years an agnostic/atheist and am a fairly cynical/suspicious individual as befits an ex-30 year detective. I try not to be judgemental and consider myself as open-minded and very much 'live and let live'. My major life issues at the moment are:
1. Renewing my drivers licence
2. Getting some cosmetic work done on my car
3. Diplomatically and politely extricating myself from a relationship with an older woman
4. Deciding where to move on to next.
So, nothing really substantial.
My younger sister and her husband have retained their fairly fundy xtian faith - and, indeed, probably got together and got married because of it. They are good people - always willing to help anyone of any faith or none. My BiL has co-founded an independent 'free church' church, has spent time helping out in deprived places in Eastern Europe, and (being ex-military) works with SSASRA, a non-denominational organisation which provides pastoral care to the military.
I disagree with their religious views, but I cannot fault their commitment, or the good work they do. BiL and I have many lively discussions about religion but they are rock-solid in their views.
Their faith has seen them through some horrendous times. They had three sons. The eldest has (I suspect) a form of autism. He will never be able to live on his own. The youngest is in the military, has seen some dreadful tours, but is scheduled for redundancy. The middle son, the brightest (and close to my own kids) was killed in a senseless road accident aged 13. I and my kids spent many hours at his bedside whilst he was in a coma.
That sets the scene. My sister and BiL retained their faith through all this - and I would never challenge it because of the comfort it gave them.
Yesterday, out of the blue, my BiL came to call, just 'for a cup of tea' (as we say here in the UK). He is a wreck. He came to see me because he knows that I suffered a 'burn-out' many years ago, have experience of depression and 'got over it'. He was in tears (no problem, been there) and is on medication which I hope will help.
This was not the time for a religious discussion, but a couple of things came up.
I am an unreconstructed atheist and sinner, take my pleasures where and when I can, and gladly accept any hypothetical punishments which the deluded believe is coming to me (my words not his). He is a man who has always lived by his faith, has relied on it to help him through, has done many good works in its name.
I hope that with appropriate medical help he can come through the other side of this. I did. I hope his religious belief helps him. 'Whatever gets you through' as they say.
There is a time for every thing (is that Ecc. something in the OT - I have an earworm of The Byrds) and right now is not the time for discussions of deep religious accuracy.
I can't help but wonder -how many dyed in the wool dubs are in my Bil's position? At least he can share without being branded 'apostate'.
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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
Just contemplating: my road trip from here in west Wales to Andorra and back (wandering through France) was about 2000 miles. My car (a Jaguar x type 2.0d) did 58 mpg overall, including 130kph on motorways and some of the scariest mountain roads I have ever driven on.
Maybe I am programmed to be a perpetual 'road-tripper'.
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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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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
This is, perhaps, my theme tune:
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Are we imperfect from birth?
by Pinku inare we imperfect from birth?.
there may be some scriptures that say we are imperfect from birth because of (fictitious) adams sin.
such verses make no sense like many other prima-facie meaningless verses such as joshua 10:13; isaiah 40:26; john 3:13;11:26 ........ however, there are scriptures that say we are capable of displaying perfection which is already within us.
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Joe Grundy
This is a good question, though nothing to do with religion.
Factors have already impacted on the new-born baby - genetic inheritance, matters influencing the health and well-being of the mother before and during gestation, etc. - and its environment upon and following its arrival will shape it for the rest of its life.
'Perfect' needs to be defined, of course, and I would submit that no-one and nothing is 'perfect' because if they/it was that would be an end to development.
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I wonder if they disfellowshipped this guy
by kneehighmiah inhttp://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/trial-halted-after-man-accused-7659735.
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Joe Grundy
Curiouser and curiouser.
This is a story about 'Andre's' lawyer:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-28979459
How did 'Andre' come to choose him?
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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
likeabird:
You are exactly right. The problem I have found when contemplating life in some small lovely towns in France or elsewhere is 'whay would I do all day?'. And there is a need to factor in the costs of fairly frequent trips back to visit family, etc.
My plan would be to spend no longer than three months at a time wherever I went then return to UK for a visit. That way (with luck) I could avoid having to deal with local bureaucracy - re-registering the car, etc. - and my travel insurance, car insurance, etc., should cover it.
This is a bit like being a kid in a sweetshop - almost too many options!