Posts by Mr. Ted

i was thinking today (again, for i may well have already written something similar before) that if one word of christian theology has any chance to survive into (and, perhaps, past) the so-called "post-modern" era that would probably be "grace".. i wrote "word" rather than "concept" or "notion" because "grace" is not easily reduced to a single meaning.

in the bible the hebrew and greek words usually translated as "grace" ("undeserved kindness" in the nw overtranslation) happen to fall both sides of an unlikely semantic "border," between aesthetics ("grace" = "beauty") and ethics ("grace" = exception to, or excess over, "justice").

and in christian tradition too the idea of "grace" has been construed in a number of ways.

Mr. Ted

Oooooo-la-la, a Frenchman you say!

"love". Just a bit too univocally positive for this French mind, but I guess that's the best one can do in English.

So, Mr. Frenchman, why is "Love" so limited, so positive? Are you talking about a "love affair, table for one" (Upon reflection, Narkissos is Greek for "Narcissus," isn't it?) or a trip to the dark side with that other Frenchman, Marquis De Sade, "love affair, dungeon for twenty," who said: "In order to know virtue, we must first acquaint ourselves with vice." And then kicking down the door, added: "Lust's passions will be served; it demands, it militates, it tyrannizes!"

You French are so naughty!

My problem with "love," I suppose, is the basic problem of theodicy -- that "love" for all its ambiguity covers only a "bright side" of reality.

Oops, I thought "Love is a Battlefield." (Was that Benatar or Rimbaud?) [Refer to De Sade.] In this post-modern world, if it truly is post-modern, are we still trudging through theodicy, attempting to paint a happy face of God? "He loveth; he killeth!" Haven't we arrived at a concept of love as a diversified spectrum? A mutating virus? a fecund meme?

Love: ever since Eve shared her "fruit"! ever since Buddha shared his tangerine! ever since bored-again George WBush gave the world the finger! Like, "All you need is love." (I think Charles Aznavour said that.)

[OMG, I can't stop using emoticons! ]

With utmost respect,

My favorite philistine, Ted

25

Words in other languages which have different meanings to when we say them

by The Nothing Man in

jw
friends

does anybody know of any words, which are spelt and pronounced the same, which are used in other languages but which mean completely different things?

as an example (which doesn't work i know) love in english means affection, but love in say, spanish, means hate?

dumb example i know, but do you catch my drift?

Mr. Ted

OK, gotta ask: what prompted this question?

Because it just so happens, in my twisted private life, I've got a "list." I'm sure I'm gonna regret this in the morning.

kill (Arabic) friendly

buzz (Arabic) nipple

thumb (Albanian) teat

gush (Albanian) to hug each other around the neck

dad (Albanian) wet nurse or babysitter

mama (Georgian) father

bless (Icelandic) goodbye

sofa (Icelandic) sleep

punk (Japanese) flat tire

fart (Turkish) talking nonsense

arse (Turkish) violin bow

finger (Yiddish) toe

willing (Abowakal language, Australia) lips

song (Vietnamese) to live life

bash (Zulu) toe

And the list goes on and on -- but out of mercy, I'll stop here.

Ted

17

My Story - Part 3

by Jeremy C in

my story - part 1. my story - part 2. in my previous thread (part 2) i stated that i would talk about my experience as a regular pioneer in this thread.

all of them took a special interest in me and gave me encouragement.

i told him i would think about it.

Mr. Ted

Jeremy, I really enjoyed your personal story. Very well written. I'm glad to hear that you're starting college. A mind (and a talented one at that) is a terrible thing to waste.

Though I'm older than you, I could really identify with the conflict you felt over your love and talent with art. I, too, went through similar thinking about a career in the arts. I believe your avatar is one of Rembrandt's self-portraits, is that correct?

So, gotta know -- are you back into the paints, pencils, brushes, and all those self-expressive media? Hope so!

When I was in high school I also received awards for my paintings and sculpture. I was always known as the class artist. Also, I was a skilled guitarist and songwriter (wrote a song for a band that was made into a record and -- to my elation -- was actually played on the radio). I also did a lot of writing -- I wrote a play which was produced during my senior year. Yet, with each success I received negative feedback from the congregation. I felt bad. Felt I was pleasing myself and men -- and not God.

Why is it that artists are viewed with such suspicion among Jehovah's Witnesses? Somehow, in my experience anyway, it's all related to that forbidden "love of the world." Creativity is passion that is beyond the control of the Society. That old "where your treasure is -- there your heart is also." And, of course, one couldn't trust the heart since it was "treacherous."

This began to create mixed feelings within me, because I had a natural talent and passion for art. I was already excelling at school in the area of art and was beginning to gain the recognition of teachers for my abilities. I tried to alleviate my dissonance by telling myself that I could wait to be a professional artist in the new system. In the new system,

Well, I made my choices and, now, I can only move forward. And forward is where I desire to look.

Wishing you the very best, Jeremy, with an exciting and creative future!

Ted

19

"Grace" and "post-modernity"

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

i was thinking today (again, for i may well have already written something similar before) that if one word of christian theology has any chance to survive into (and, perhaps, past) the so-called "post-modern" era that would probably be "grace".. i wrote "word" rather than "concept" or "notion" because "grace" is not easily reduced to a single meaning.

in the bible the hebrew and greek words usually translated as "grace" ("undeserved kindness" in the nw overtranslation) happen to fall both sides of an unlikely semantic "border," between aesthetics ("grace" = "beauty") and ethics ("grace" = exception to, or excess over, "justice").

and in christian tradition too the idea of "grace" has been construed in a number of ways.

Mr. Ted

Your expansive erudition certainly casts a shadow over the provincial village of my intellect. That being said, it may be indicative of my own ignorance and naivete but as a young JW I never really understood the theological idea of "grace."

I never recall "grace" being expounded upon in the literature or at the meetings. Undeserved kindness, yes. (If it was, I must have been sleeping.)

When I heard the song "Amazing Grace," I assumed it meant "divine love."

As regards the future, I would think the idea of grace would depend if humanity continues to move in a secular direction or not. To my understanding, Christian grace is predicated upon the idea of one's being unworthy, sinful, deficient. Is such a denigrating idea beneficial to survival in a secular, materialistic world?

Rather, I think the word and idea of "social" love, religious or non-ecclesiastical, with its dialectical freight, would have a better chance of surviving. Of course, the idea of sexual love has proven its timelessness.

Ted

42

I just can't pick up my pieces and continue with my life...

by justhuman in

jw
friends

i'm feeling so down lately my psycology has reached to the bottom.

sometimes i wish i never been born.

looking back my life all there is left is pain.

Mr. Ted

"It's a new dawn
It's a new day
It's a new life
For me
And I'm feeling good!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcaKtQfts-M

There's been a lot of good advice in this thread. Trust going forward.

Best wishes for you,

Ted

edit: the first one should work?

34

Does anyone remember the pic about the apostates at end of 1000 yrs.....

by chrisjoel in

jw
friends

it was a picture about those who would take a final stand against the new world order like a camp outside of the true worshippers.

so satan would be let loose for a little period and then anyone who agrees with satan ...ends up looking like keith richards with earings and is deserving of death.. anyone remember the pic?.

Mr. Ted

Hmmm ... maybe I'm missing the point. But it looks like a fun party to me. Got your lake. Got your casino/hotel in the background.

Is this "kind of" what the July 4th South Lake Tahoe Apostafest will be like? If so, yeah! -- I'd like to be there!

Ted

263

Growing up a gay Jehovah's Witness (My Life Story)

by m0nk3y in

i feel the need to express how i feel and felt about my life as a gay man.

i was brought up from birth as a jehovahs witness.

this has played a major part in my life and it has been a real struggle to get past.

Mr. Ted

Hello GentlyFeral:

All I have is a memory of an old PBS documentary in which a researcher conducted orientation-changing therapy for months or years and put together a paper to be read at a conference. (By the time the conference occurred, he had collected more info which convinced him his own paper was wrong. He tried to take it off the program, but I can't remember if the conference organizers insisted on it being presented or not. Anwyay, he told everyone at the conference that his own "de-gaying" therapy program didn't work.

Are you thinking of Dr. Gerald Davison, professor of psychology at USC? In 1971 (?) he developed a treatment for homosexuality called "Orgasmic Reorientation." Along with his "research," he made a documentary film of how this therapy would work. He initially believed in his therapy -- but by the time it was shown at the American Psychological Association -- he knew all of his "research" wasn't effective.

Ted

10

I took my df son and his two df friends to dinner tonite..in my hometown...

by oompa in

jw
friends

oh what fun!...i was so hoping some brudda an sistas would be there...or maybe even an elda....but no such luck.

maybe it is all the threads of hurt here recently...usually parents bitchin at or shunning kids....even grown kids and grandkids, but they just make me want to help as many abused kicked to the curb dubs as possible.

i love you guys...............oompa.

Mr. Ted

Good for you, Oompa. Parents and children need to stay close -- no matter what..

Ted