No. Not one shread. Not so much as the slightest inkling of a shread.
Rapunzel
JoinedPosts by Rapunzel
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33
Just ONE shred of Evidence?
by Honesty inis there just one shred of evidence that proves beyond any doubt that jesus appointed the leaders of the jw's (c.t.
russell, j.f rutrherford, nathan knorr, or the governing body) as the faithful slave?
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131
All Things Mystical - Real or Not?
by Sirona ingareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.
i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.
some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".
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Rapunzel
Hi Narkisssos - I believe that the expression "thrown out" means rejected or dismissed as invalid. These studies have been "discarded" from the domain of serious consideration or inquiry. I think that this is what was meant.
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36
My nephew is getting baptized
by coolhandluke inif you got to choose who your children would be, i'd choose luca.
he is all the things that i'd like to be myself.
there is no human who holds more weight for me than him.
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Rapunzel
Dear Cool Hand Luke - I just want to say that, in every meaning of the word, you are really "heroic." For me, a person is heroic if they show integrity - if they remain true to their ideals, their duties, and to themselves - even in the face of adversity. Your nephew is an extremely fortunate young man to have you as an uncle.
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131
All Things Mystical - Real or Not?
by Sirona ingareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.
i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.
some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".
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Rapunzel
I would also like to point out the etymological ["true root"] connection in meaning of the two words, mysticism and mystery. As Andre Comte-Sponville states in The Little Book of Atheist Philosophy - "Though it is true that mysticism and mystery have the same root word, they are only words, and words prove nothing, The real mystery is not in words but in the world. It is in the spirit, whenever it starts asking questions or looking at reality from a different angle. What is mysterious? Being is mysterious - everything is mysterious! Again, Wittgenstein expresses it perfectly: 'Mysticism wonders not how the world is but that the world is.' This brings us back to the quesion of being ('Why is there something rather than nothing?'), except that it is no longer a question. Nor is it, quite, an answer. Rather it is an experience, a sensation, a silence."
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131
All Things Mystical - Real or Not?
by Sirona ingareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.
i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.
some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".
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Rapunzel
Hi Sirona - In your very first post, you quote Gareth Knight on the impossibility of communicating a "mystical" experience in words. As Joseph Campbell mentions in Myths To LiveBy, the same could be said of any experience whatsoever - "In fact, as I think everyone must surely have discovered in his lifetime, it is actually impossible to communicate through speech any experience whatsoever, unless to someone who has himself enjoyed an equivalent experience of his own...Moreover, thoughts and definitions may annul one's own experiences even before they have been taken in..."
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131
All Things Mystical - Real or Not?
by Sirona ingareth knight (real name basil wilby) is an author who i respect.
i have met him - he is getting old now but he's no less intelligent or fascinating.
some 40 years ago he wrote a well respected book called "a practical guide to qabalistic symbolism".
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Rapunzel
Hi Narkissos - It seems that the game to which you refer may have had its origins in the Far East, not the Levant.
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29
Hmmmn..Intresting Convo with my DAD last NIGHT
by dirtyknections inso me and my father who is an elder get into yet another rather tense discussions about the bible .
and my new found "beliefs".
one of the things we discussed was my belief that the way we conduct studies... .
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Rapunzel
I agree with you, Parkeet. Nobody with the education/intellectual development beyond that of a child would believe lliterally in the poetic mythos of Adam and Eve. Perhaps the people living 150 years ago accepted it, but today, the people who literally believe in Adam and Eve have been relegated to the fringes of society - fundamentalists and other morons. It's not even a question [as is commonly believed] of religion versus science. It is a question of one science [i.e. way of knowing] utterly defeating and replacing another primitive science, or way of knowing.
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29
Hmmmn..Intresting Convo with my DAD last NIGHT
by dirtyknections inso me and my father who is an elder get into yet another rather tense discussions about the bible .
and my new found "beliefs".
one of the things we discussed was my belief that the way we conduct studies... .
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Rapunzel
Hi Dirtyk's - I remember reading some time ago a thread that focused on the very issue that you bring up. Basically, the modus operendi of the Watchtower organization is a very planned one. The typical Watchtower "study" did not arise or develop by chance, The organization definitely does not want to encourage independent thinking. Quite on the contrary, the Society wants to indoctrinate and regiment the "publishers." You know the typical question and automatic answer routine as well as anyone. As you also know, the "method" used in the weekly Watchetower magazine study and the book study is the same as that used when a person is studying to be a Witness. The method of study is the same.
This method is purposely mind-numbing and is designed to induce a semi-hypnotic mental state in those participating. The intention is diametrically opposed to fostering independent or critical thought. This was the point of the thread that I mentioned above. In fact, this thread mentioned how the techniques used by the Witnesses have themselves been studied by psychologists. These techniques are a sort of brain-washing.
I am sure that this thread was posrted here on this discussion board. This board has a "search" feature. Perhaps this thread or similar threads could be found. Maybe you could search using the terms - "book study, hypnosis; psychologists." The thread appeared within this past year.
In any case, the various "studies" were purposely designed to be as they are. They are intended as a brain-washing technique.
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38
I feel very sorry
by mouthy inlast night i listened to the conferance call with the bowens.
i thought it was excellent .i feel they are doing a marvelous work & are to be commended .
i am very sorry i upset bob porter.
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Rapunzel
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08329a.htm
As ancient Hebrew had no vowels, it is generally considered impossible to definitively determine exactly how the so-called "Divine Name" would have been originally pronounced. As I understand it, both ways of pronouncing the name - "Yahweh" and "Jehovah" - are acceptable variants, with "Jehovah" being the "Germanized" form. I believe that the usage of "Jehovah" came into English via German. This fact is due to the very significant influence of German biblical scholarship. For several hundred years, German scholars were at the vanguard of biblical exegesis. Just think of Kittel's work in the field. For example, the "Yahwist" edition of the Pentateuch is labelled the "J" version, not the "Y" version. As I know, the Hebrew "Yahweh" is spelled "Jahwe" in German.
To my knowledge, there are many Jews [mainly, but not exclusively, Orthodox] who take great offense - to the point of outrage - whenever they hear either "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" pronounced. For me, it's just superstition. And, it's all one whether someone uses "Jehovah" or "Yahweh." I really cannot see how it should make any difference to Christians how the "Name" is pronounced. It's ridiculous that people should get "hung up" over such a detail. It's like asking: "Which is the 'correct' way, Pierre, Pedro, or Peter? All three are variants of the same name; just as Michael, Michel, and Miguel are all variants of the same name.
The only thing that people should be concerned about is whether the pronunciation of either "Yahweh" or "Jehovah" will offend listeners of arious cultural/ethnic groups. It seems to me that there are other, more "neutral" terms at which people would not take offense.
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37
My Story - Part 1
by Jeremy C ini have never posted my personal story about my years as a jw, and my departure from the organization.
i thought that my personal story might be of interest.
it is my hope that some of my experiences and observations might be of help to some of you who have recently left the organization.
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Rapunzel
Jeremy - Thanks for your well-written and thoughtful post. It was indeed a pleasure to read it. I have a question. You mention the amazement of garbage collectors finding smurfs, fine albumns, and Franz' books in the garbage can. My question is: Are you refering specifically to his Crisis of Conscience and In Search of ChristianFreedom? Or are you referring to other books? I ask this question because, to my knowledge, witnesses are not even supposed to touch such books, never mind buy a copy. So, how could they throw away in the trash something that they never had [or were supposed to have] in the first place?
I have another question. As I remember, that blue Aid To Bible Understanding was replaced by another volume. Do you know the reason for this replacement? Was it because Franz had made such a significant contribution to the writing/editiing of the "Aid" book?