Posts by quietlyleaving

The way I understand the being "complete alone bit" is that it is not a suggestion that we isolate ourselves from others, rather that we quit finding our identity in others. In other words, who we are is no longer dependent on or defined by another. Actually it may improve interpersonal relationships, because we bring a wholeness to them. IMHO.

I understand what you are saying nvr - and I am mostly positive about eckhart tolle. In fact his pointers help me tremendously in my day to day interactions with my husband and friends. But I don't know anyone else in my area who practices such things.

Perhaps my feelings of isolation have to do with my situation and I need to take steps to alleviate that. Eckhart tolle's pointers can only help one up to a point in that respect.

53

The Origin of Fear

by purplesofa in

maybe you can see how the jw religion uses fear on its people.

how it is effective.

how it works.

quietlyleaving

purps

Just wanted to add my experience of Eckhart Tolle.

What I like is that he reccommends to be still with nature. I found that very relaxing and educational because on one level you drink in the beauty of nature and its gentle yet strong presence but on the other hand you become aware of its struggle and agony to be. So there is a sense of agony and ecstasy which imo mirrors life.

So one can observe nature and enter nature metophorically - which enables one to learn to do that with life - the agony and ecstasy of life - but all the time knowing that one can disengage and go to a place that is silent and still to rest and transform.

The part that I was a little sceptical about was what you drew attention to - the alone bit. IMO one has to make an effort to be more gregarious and if you are a naturally non-gregarious sort of person then its going to be very tough to live in the real world. Just my 2p worth.

19

I'm starting to really get into the New Testament. This is great!

by MichaelM in

jw
friends

stuff i never really touched much when i was a studying with the witnesses.

i'm in awe.. amazed.. at the things jesus is saying/doing.. some of it is even putting me in tears.

one chapter that i really love so far is i'm in luke and i'm reading about the woman who came into the pharisee's home and started kissing jesus' feet and jesus told the story of the two people that owed money.

quietlyleaving

Hi michaelM

The new testament has some really amazing stories. Jesus was so courageous, radical and inspiring in that story.

30

Egypt Outlaws all Female Circumcision

by Rabbit in

egypt has somewhat joined civilization.

with all the misogynistic practises in the middle east already, taking away a woman's right to actually enjoy sexual relations, is barbaric and pitiful.

their 'lot' in life in one (1) more country just got a little better.

quietlyleaving

sorry double post

30

Egypt Outlaws all Female Circumcision

by Rabbit in

egypt has somewhat joined civilization.

with all the misogynistic practises in the middle east already, taking away a woman's right to actually enjoy sexual relations, is barbaric and pitiful.

their 'lot' in life in one (1) more country just got a little better.

quietlyleaving

FGM is a truly sickening and barbaric practice. But from what I understand it began as a cultural practice.

To really understand why humans would do such things to one another we'd have to understand the stakes of survivial back then when the practice evolved.

I agree though that religion became the vehicle for perpetuating the practice and its the religious mindset that resists change.

But change can only come about through eduction of why and how it evolved so that we can all help one another in a spirit of understanding, because people simply aren't going to come forward to co operate if they have to face disgust and horror - the practice will continue underground.

But on the other hand if we don't express horror and disgust will we feel motivated to action to bring about change

Wow what a complicated bunch we are

36

Protests at our District Assembly Tomorrow

by JH in

jw
friends

i heard on tv this morning that a few will protest at our assembly which will be held in quebec city friday, saturday and sunday.. i heard that someone who lost a family member due to blood policy will protest in front of where the assembly will be held..... i'll try to find a link to this story... .

quietlyleaving

I think one is in the pipeline at our assembly too.

I'm not sure of the legal ramifications though.

For instance is it alright maybe to print business cards with an internet address on it and leave it on seats, or in toilets at the convention?

Could one be hauled away by the police for disturbing the peace or causing a fracas

In other words would one be breaking the law?

I'm completely ignorant on this having spent most of life in the borg.

71

Has Islam lead to an increase in Atheism?

by nicolaou in

ever since 911 and the subsequent attacks in bali, madrid, and london it seems that everyone feels they have a licence to criticise islam (they do).

fundamentalist and many mainstream christians deride the backwardness of a religion that creates suicide bombers and 'honour' killers.

of course, it was only a small group of hardcore islamist extremists that carried out these attacks but the whole community has been tarred by them, and perhaps in some sense it is only right that the majority of 'reasonable' and peaceful muslims do accept the part they play in providing the soil for these people to grow in.

quietlyleaving

NVR

The problem with religion is that it blends this truth so thoroughly with the venom of unreason........

Is it religion that blends the truth so thoroughly with the venom of unreason or us humans simply because we still have to survive and we instinctively put our survival first and everyone else's somewhere else? Don't we do it today with scientific discoveries?