bernadette

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Posts by bernadette

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  147

  Merry Becomes A Muslim (a bit long)

  by Merry Magdalene in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  who is merry?

  i was born in 1965, the same year that malcolm x was assassinated.

  my father had committed suicide a few months into my mother's pregnancy so we lived with her parents until she married again when i was about 18 months old.

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  bernadette

  Merry, I'm just curious cos when I was growing up we used to have small groups of travelling sufis visiting our area and they'd put on a show for everybody. To me they were such a liberated, happy band of people - it was even whispered that they tolerated homosexuality - we did not feel judgemental just awestruck.

  Now that I am questioning everything, what do I find - the sufis fall into the group we speak of of as mystics and they all beliieve and have believed (down through the ages) the same things through their own experiences.

  I notice though that you have labelled such experiences as 'romanticism'. Do you therefore discard them or have you put them on hold as it were.

  bernadette
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  60

  Does The Memorial Mean ANYTHING To You???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wondering.

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  bernadette

  no show for me too.

  i agree with you minimus

  To those that believe they should go because it's a command-----Jesus was talking to the partakers----not just observers. So if you go because you believe you're supposed to, realize that you must partake, too. (Plus, no one can judge you now).

  such a pantomime
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  19

  When

  by fullofdoubtnow in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm not much of a poet, trev is the writer in this house, but i wrote a few lines earlier today about my feelings for him and my friends on the board, and he is encouraging me to post them, so here goes.

  when i was lost, you helped me find myself.

  when i was in chains, you helped me to break free.

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  bernadette

  thanks Linda - that's beautiful
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  117

  I'm Attending the Memorial

  by RichieRich in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my lovely girlfriend and i sat down over a homecooked meal, and discussed the pros and cons of attending the memorial.. i decided, with her support, that we would attend.. i spent years of my life pretending to be a witness to please my mother.

  when i left the witnesses, my mother said some hurtful things.. and those things really hurt me... for a while.

  but i established myself as my own person, developed my own relationships, and have gotten a good start on my own life.. i don't know that i want to hurt my mother back, but i do want to make it abundantly clear to her, my grandmother, and all the members of my former congregation, that richierich is alive and kicking.. and i think that walking into the kingdom hall, dressed respectfully in a suit, yet with full piercing jewelry intact, and with erika wearing something classy that steals the brother's eyes, and draws glares from the humble sisters, will be just the thing to send that message to my mother.. i don't plan on partaking or making a disturbance.

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  bernadette

  richie I've changed my mind about going myself. The reason - I bumped into a dub. She told me the meeting was buzzing with excitement last tuesday - 50 members of the congregation are auxillary pioneering during april. It brougt back to me all the frenetic over doingness of JW's and have decided I can't take it just yet. May be next year

  But stick with your plan, not trying discourage you.
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  19

  Im going back to the meetings

  by purplesofa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  april fools!!!!!!!!!!!!

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  bernadette

  Nearly fell off of my chair opening your thread........... its too early in the morning for such shocks
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  13

  Atheists For Jesus - Richard Dawkins

  by mavie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://richarddawkins.net/article,20,atheists-for-jesus,richard-dawkins.

  rather enjoyable, especially the picture of dawkins in the "atheists for jesus" t-shirt..

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  bernadette

  Interesting article Mavie

  From reading the article I am sort of seeing religion as the vehicle for superniceness - and wonder in our day if science will/has taken over that role.

  I'm thinking of all the selfless doctors, nurses, vocational people who labour over and above the call of duty and who are mostly athiests.
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  22

  Saturday Fluff - Give that Person a Prize

  by Crumpet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is there any thing or invention or activity you feel is trivial but worthy of a prize?

  here is your chance to nominate and give a reason.

  anything qualifies!.

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  bernadette

  juni

  Do you mean Rice Krispie Treats w/melted chocolate on top Bernadette?? Oh.....scrumptious.

  they are yummy too.

  The stuff i had my eye on are actually chocolate covered peanut butter - like m&m's. Delicious, just had my fill
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  22

  Saturday Fluff - Give that Person a Prize

  by Crumpet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is there any thing or invention or activity you feel is trivial but worthy of a prize?

  here is your chance to nominate and give a reason.

  anything qualifies!.

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  bernadette

  peanutbutter covered chocolate crisps - my prize would be, that the person who has some would share them with me. That person knows who they are.

  actually I think its the other way round - chocolate covered peanut crisps.
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  147

  Merry Becomes A Muslim (a bit long)

  by Merry Magdalene in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  who is merry?

  i was born in 1965, the same year that malcolm x was assassinated.

  my father had committed suicide a few months into my mother's pregnancy so we lived with her parents until she married again when i was about 18 months old.

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  bernadette

  Thanks Merry for sharing your story.

  Was just reading the rlink on women's rights in Islam.

  Women Rights In Islam Regarding Education

  The Qur'an and Hadiths of the Prophet both obligate Muslim men and women to acquire knowledge and education. It is a duty for every Muslim. For example, concerning knowledge and education the Qur'an Sura 35 Verse 28 states:

  Those truly fear Allah, among His Servants, who have knowledge.

  Prophet's Hadiths repeatedly emphasizes the acquirement of education and knowledge for every Muslim male and female. For example, one Hadith states that, " Seeking knowledge is a duty of every Muslim, man or woman." (Ayisha Lemu 1978: 25). Another Hadith states, " Seek knowledge from the cradle to grave." (1978:25). Another Hadith states that, " The Father, if he educates his daughter well, will enter Paradise." (The World Bank Report July 9, 1993: 25). Yet another Hadith states that, " A mother is a school. If she is educated, then a whole people are educated" (1993: 25).

  Can definitely vouch for that - at the scool that I attended, 98% were muslim (all girls), everyone was a dedicated student. The environment was amazing - equipped me with a love of learning for life.

  Islam without the politics is very spiritual.

  wish you you well on your journey.

  bernadette
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  53

  What are YOU passionate about?

  by lonelysheep in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, so we all know the wt used to be our passion till that died!.

  what are you passionate about today?

  kids are an automatic, and so are spouses for some people.. i'm referring to your interests that make up the core of you..

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  bernadette