Posts by Carlos

102

ARE YOU AN INTELLECTUAL? Why not?

by Terry in

jw
friends

i think i heard the word "intellectual" for the first time when i was less than ten years old.. my grandmother said to me that the presidential candidate for the democratic party (adalai stevenson) was an "intellectual".. the way she said the word...the timbre of her voice...the look of admiration on her face...led me to believe this was a good thing indeed!.

i think i may have asked her what the word meant, but, i don't recall exactly what she told me.

perhaps enough to confirm that this fellow stevenson was a "thinker" of admirable stature.. fast forward.. by the time my teen years came along there was a kind of dichotomy in society between so-called "eggheads" and common folk.

Carlos_Helms

Main Entry: in·tel·lec·tu·al
Pronunciation: \?in-t?-'lek-ch?-w?l, -ch?l, -shw?l, -chü(-?)l\
Function: adjective
Date: 14th century

1 a: of or relating to the intellect or its use
b: developed or chiefly guided by the intellect rather than by emotion or experience : rational
c: requiring use of the intellect <intellectual games>
2 a: given to study, reflection, and speculation
b: engaged in activity requiring the creative use of the intellect.

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While it's probably fairly obvious to others, Terry...I don't think I qualify as an "intellectual." There are far greater intellects right here in my own neighborhood...or on JWD. There are people who are more well-spoken, well-versed, and well-qualified to speak on "the deeper things" - and I'm content with that.

I am somewhat of a "thinker," however.

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Main Entry: think
Pronunciation: \'thi?k\
Function: verb
Date: before 12th century

intransitive verb
1a: to exercise the powers of judgment, conception, or inference : reason
b: to have in the mind or call to mind a thought
2a: to have the mind engaged in reflection : meditate
b: to consider the suitability <thought of her for president>
3: to have a view or opinion <thinks of himself as a poet>
4: to have concern —usually used with of<a man must think first of his family>
5: to consider something likely : suspect <may happen sooner than you think>
— think·er noun

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Perhaps it's just of a matter of semantics - or perhaps motive - but it SEEMS that "intellectual" describes the person who thinks in order to be measured (ie: Mensa); whereas "thinkers" are more all-encompassing and holistic. In other words: I can be a thinker without being "an intellectual;" but I can't be "an intellectual" without thinking.

Or...maybe they're the same thing and I'm averse to group categorization.

Carlos

40

Does anyone else have a problem with conformity?

by milligal in

jw
friends

recently my husband and i moved south to an area known as the 'bible belt' for his job.

we are northerners and from a liberal area.

i just cannot seem to tolerate the amount of 'shut-up and put-up' around here.

Carlos_Helms

"Conformity is for the hive and the hive minded drones.

But...it never hurts to drive on the same side of the road as everyone else.

Those who despise "californicators" may take heart in knowing that California is getting heavily "mexifornicated" these days."

And yet, bees have successfully survived for millions of years with their "hive-mindedness." Fascinating, isn't it?

I think it's about respect. Some people have achieved some success in life that they at least partially attribute to their "WAY of life." If someone exists within a system that works for them, who am I to disrupt their lives? Diversity is good; being disruptive can get you hurt...or killed. It could be that there's a time coming where "conformity" may actually be the purest form of "non-conformity." Thinking "outside-the-box" isn't just jumping from one box to another box that, for the time being, suits your fancy.

As Dave so aptly put it (nicely stated, Dave): "My experience in life so far has taught me that tolerance for the differences of others is an important trait. It's something I'm still working on, having come from such an intolerant religion and upbringing. The more tolerance I express towards others, the more tolerance I am shown in return. Tolerance is a far stronger basis for community than conformity."

Be as non-conformist as you like. But if you come into my space or my home to forcefully interject your life into mine, there will likely be some very "unpleasant" consequences. If someone chooses to "act out" in the neighborhood or community, he can certainly take responsibility for the results.

Carlos

60

To ex-JW's who became real "Christians"

by startingover in

i have a question.. what is your belief now regarding hell?

a place of torment?

the grave?

Carlos_Helms

One more thing:

Nvrgnbk said:

"Burning flesh?

That evokes a very different image than simply being separated from love."

It depends on your perspective. Our desire for unconditional love has been described as a "burning." If the desire for love is eternally unrequited, isn't it essentially "consuming"?

Carlos

60

To ex-JW's who became real "Christians"

by startingover in

i have a question.. what is your belief now regarding hell?

a place of torment?

the grave?

Carlos_Helms

Isn't it just like people to only see things through there own peculiar lens. We all do it. I, for instance, am BIG into self-responsibility. If I end up in "hell" it is because I asked to be in "hell."

First of all, in response to those who don't believe in "God," it is clear that you still believe in "a" god or gods of one sort or another. Look up the definition of "god" for a complete understanding. If your desire is to "shock and awe" Christians with disrespectful speech designed to hurt, it doesn't hit home with me (I think I "invented" disrespectful speech and few can measure up to my low standards). But disrespectful speech does reflect negatively upon your character.

In response to those who hold to the JW definition of "hell" as "the pit" or "the common grave of mankind," I can only say that Jesus didn't refer to it that way.

For those who tend towards a more traditional Christian definition of hell, one must consider what likely exists or does not exist in the spirit realm. Certainly the descriptive terms that Jesus and others used to describe "hell" are referencing a condition...and that that condition is an eternity without God's influence. We have no idea, for instance, the degree to which God interacts with us on a moment-by-moment basis. I assume, based upon my own experiences, that it is almost constant. Hell, as I see it, is God finally and completely honoring our request to be "godless" (essentially, being a 'god unto ourselves') as indicated by our ceasing to turn to Him in our sinful state and by rejecting His mercy and grace. "Life" - and pain - teaches us that. Hell is no more "God" interactions. No more "God" arrangements. No more "God" miracles. No more hope.

In perfect justice, everyone gets exactly what they want...exactly what they ask for. No more bail-outs. Perfect justice is beautiful. Since I have no intention of ever "being" there, I won't be. That is faith. I have no problem at all with Christian hell. I don't see it as a threat...I see it as the ultimate in self-responsibility and achieving the desires of the heart. If I don't want God, I won't have God.

Carlos

40

Does anyone else have a problem with conformity?

by milligal in

jw
friends

recently my husband and i moved south to an area known as the 'bible belt' for his job.

we are northerners and from a liberal area.

i just cannot seem to tolerate the amount of 'shut-up and put-up' around here.

Carlos_Helms

Please accept a public apology for my unnecessary "rant." Sorry, Milligal.

I usually don't do the tangent thing; but I found one...and I took it! Must have been some kind of mood that day. Usually, I re-read these things before posting and, honestly, that doesn't sound like me.

Now Hortensia, my dear.

"As for the term "californicate," it kind of pisses me off. The reason California is such a huge state is because people from most of the other states want to live here, so they move here in droves. Then they act like California is the same sort of place as the place they came from. But if I said things like "people from Montana don't know how to drive," you'd have my guts for garters. If you don't stereotype me, I won't stereotype you!"

Did you stop to think that maybe the rest of us don't want to experience what California has experienced? As such, the term "californicate." I love to visit my relatives in California, twice per year for about a week...then it's back to God's Country for some peace.

And why would people from Montana need to know how to drive? You don't "drive" a horse.

BTW...any self-respecting Montanan wouldn't get caught dead in a pair of garters!

Peace!
Carlos

45

More Evidence that Jehovah Is a Tyrant

by WTWizard in

i have observed that jehovah god is far from the loving father he portrays himself to be.

stifling my sex drive, and then exploiting it by using it to get me into a cult, hardly qualifies god as being loving.

and neither does continuing to stifle the sex drive after i am trying to leave the cult and quite likely using the hounders to reclaim me as their slave.. i found another web site that any theist should urgently look up before looking into any religion, whether jehovah's witnesses or any other "christian" or islam religion.

Carlos_Helms

"I love how "Christians" try to defend the OT God."

Good! "Love" is a fine start.

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"The OT God has exhibited traits we would more associate with people like Hitler or Stalin."

Maybe the problem lies in the association. I don't recall the Bible saying anything about how God felt when he wiped people out. Did he gleefully kill thousands? Were the actions arbitrary...on a whim? We attempt to justify our actions based upon necessity as we see it. Others may or may not see the same necessity. Perfect justice considers necessity.

"Better is the end of a matter..." The "end of the matter" was the timely arrival of the prophesied Messiah, by which all nations would bless themselves and provide the strong possibility of a resurrection. ALL things considered...not a bad ending.

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"Quit blaming God for your mistakes?"

"What about the ones that you didn't make, but He went and pretended you did anyway so you could suffer bad consequences anyway, even though you did everything perfect?"

"Pretend"? LOL...only people "pretend" - and they are expert at it. Who's done everything perfect?

If you suffer due to no fault of your own, then you're a victim of circumstance. Happens all the time. If I stumble and fall into rush-hour traffic, in that split second before I'm crushed, I should blame God for my lack of coordination? He COULD have prevented it. Why didn't he?

Carlos

24

Have you ever caught Elders in compromising situations?

by Cheetos in

i ran into two of them at a (r) rated violent movie during a very boring assembly once, i knew them and they knew me i didn't give a dam and they knew it, they seen me go out and i seen them go out of the theate so we were all even and grinning all the way back to events center.

Carlos_Helms

What? Other than lie, cheat or steal?

No...not really.

Carlos

4

A question for your consideration.

by TooBad TooSad in

if the jw's did not have a gloom and doom, the sky is falling theology, would.

they have any growth beside the babies that they make?

the only reason that.

Carlos_Helms

It is my understanding that there are currently more x-JWs in the US than active ones.

Add to that the numbers who've been exposed by family or friends...or studied and rejected the notion. That has to number in the tens of millions.

There are LOTS of people who know all about the watchtower and have exercised their right to say "nope." I think it's less about the theology (which is strange enough) than the way it is practiced.

Carlos

17

McLellan book & the GOP reaction...chance to wake up JWs?

by sir82 in

jw
friends

don't want this thread to turn political, but.... have you noticed that just about every administration response to scott mclellan's new book attacks the messenger?

"he's disgruntled"..."it's not like him"..."we're disappointed he chose to do this"....etc.

not one word (that i have seen or heard) disputing the actual contents of the book.. sound familiar?

Carlos_Helms

I apologize for helping to politicize it.

I think the original theory posted by Sir82 is a valid one as long as it's apples we're comparing apples to. Truth must be the common thread...and I have serious doubts about the validity of McClellan's accusations.

My apologies for the hijack.

Carlos

40

Does anyone else have a problem with conformity?

by milligal in

jw
friends

recently my husband and i moved south to an area known as the 'bible belt' for his job.

we are northerners and from a liberal area.

i just cannot seem to tolerate the amount of 'shut-up and put-up' around here.

Carlos_Helms

Not really. "When in Rome," ya know?

What you are describing to me is the foundation for an overall miserable experience while you are there. If you are planning to make it your home, you will need to learn something about local culture and customs and - to some degree anyway - cooperate with the unwritten "code."

I live in a very beautiful area of the country. If it weren't for -30 degrees in the winter, the place would be overrun. This is, traditionally, one of the more conservative areas of the US. Today, however, it is not uncommon for people to move into the area because of its beauty, wide-open spaces, and relatively safe environment. SOME of those people have taken it upon themselves, then, to change what they previously saw as valuable and pristine into something more convenient and "to their liking." Basically, they want to californicate the place. For instance, WE understand that if you pave the roads (presumably to make them safer), "they" will come. Yes...they come. And they come in droves, thereby creating an UNSAFE environment.

I don't know what it is about folks who move around a lot, find beautiful places to live - and then pay no attention to what gives the place its beauty in the first place. Another "for instance" is the town in which I live. It is built around the base of a beautiful mountain with the snow-covered Rocky Mountains in the backdrop. In the last ten years, wealthy immigrants have sold their homes in less-desirable places for exorbitant prices and have moved into this area and have built grandiose monuments to themselves up the side of the mountain that gives this town its character! The whole thing baffles me. It is the same folks who show up at school board meetings, city and county commission meetings and generally raise a stink about how inconvenienced they are living in this back-woods, one-horse town. Try being born and raised here and have to deal with artificially hyper-inflated real-estate on $45,000/year.

If I was you, Milligal, I'd try and be a little more understanding of the local customs and the way people think. There's a reason they're in their comfort zone...and they're not likely to appreciate a Johnny-come-lately coming in to fix what ain't broke.

Carlos

Carlos_Helms

Posts by Carlos_Helms