Being the health conscious guy that I am, I prefer brown rice.
Introspection
JoinedPosts by Introspection
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16
What is Race?
by Marcos in.
is race really a valid concept or is it more of an arbitrary distinction based more on skin tone and/or culture?
marcos (open to learning)
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31
What about praying NOW???
by JNS2 innow that my decision to leave the organization is made, there is definitely a sense of relief.
i know i'm leaving a controlling organization, not my faith in god.
so i'm still praying at various times during the day, but it has become a very odd thing now.
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Introspection
First of all, before reading this let me make it clear that these comments are not meant to point any fingers personally, but are general observations. With that in mind:
Starfish's observation about the old habit comment brought to mind one other point. I think one way you can distinguish religious people is how much of their practice is driven by conditioning. This behavior is very common and prevalent in all religions, even the ones that are non-theistic. The point is you really are not doing anything different regardless of the content or difference of belief, you're only doing what you're used to. This to me is about as DEAD as it gets, because anybody can do what they're used to doing, even non-religious people and animals do this.
The question itself of how to pray or whatever other how-to can be a type of conditioning, just another habit. It's this desire of wanting to KNOW, whereas when you get right down to it you can't REALLY know for sure - though you can just be yourself. Now I should note here that when I say be yourself I certainly don't mean go with your old habits, but at the same time don't try to re-condition yourself by forcing yourself into a certain way of behaving, because that is just an extension of your habit of wanting to know. This is true humility, not the phoney crap like sitting in the back of the hall or saying some humble sounding thing, as if words alone changes your attitude, (by the way, even if you really think you are unworthy and is human rubbish, that is still a self centered attitude - it's just that you have a low opinion of self) but simply and honestly acknowledging when you just don't know.
Look, if you pray then chances are you believe that God can read hearts, right? So what difference does it make what words you use? If it's all about being open and honest, then just be open and honest with yourself and let the words come out naturally. The real question is do you mean what you say? You can have the perfect little formula and include God's will, others, yourself all in Jesus name Amen but again that can just become a dead habit. You might as well be reading it out of a book at that point, because just because it is committed to memory it doesn't mean you mean any of it. "Let your yes mean yes and your no, no." - no?
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16
What is Race?
by Marcos in.
is race really a valid concept or is it more of an arbitrary distinction based more on skin tone and/or culture?
marcos (open to learning)
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Introspection
Well, as long as people want to be part of a special group, race will just be one of many categories they can put themselves in. Obviously a difference exists - but is it significant? Why would it be significant? That's all you have to ask. But hey, aside from broad tribal identifications like race and culture, we can always resort to the individual arrogance thing. I saw a bumper sticker today that says something like: "You are unique - just like everybody else." Go ego!
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Wasting PRECIOUS time !?!
by JNS2 ini was just feeling guilty wasting all this time reading these threads, new & old.
but then it occurred to me how much time i spent going to 5 meetings a week, going in field service, studying & preparing, getting dressed up & travelling back & forth to the kh for more than two decades.
i have a long way to go to catch up!!!.
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Introspection
Well, I'm all for moving on but not if it's completely ignoring your life experience. I've never seen that work for anyone, it may put it out of your mind temporarily but if you don't look at it when it comes up, it will inevitably come up again. You can either work through something or decide it's not important enough to bother with - both are fine, so long as you are completely honest with yourself.
Let me pose a question: What are you catching up with? Of course I understand that having been a JW for such a long time, you missed out on a lot of what other people have experienced in life. But goals are not permanent - once you attain something it stops being a goal. It is very practical to have goals, but I think it's useful to see it for what it is. The truth is, the biggest waste of time and energy is probably being time-conscious. It's fine to have goals to shoot for, but if you're sitting there looking at the clock or calendar all the time you're just spending energy on the fact that you're not there yet, not on attaining it. Whatever you endeavor to attain, hopefully you can enjoy the process of getting there. This is contrary to what we were taught as witnesses, the whole "keep your eyes on the prize" business. If nothing else, you can see how your quality of life from day to day can become stressful when you think that way. Life isn't a race, if anything I would like to finish later rather than sooner!
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78
What song sums up your JW experience?
by sleepy inits got to be rage against the machine, "killing in the name of" .
just had the bassline to this song rumbling through my head, havent heard it for ages though .
you need to know the chorus.
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Introspection
Dare to be Stupid by Weirld Al Yankovic..?
Actually, in terms of the emotional tone I think of Iris by the Goo Goo Dolls - I was out but not fully out mentally when I heard this:
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And I don't want the world to see me
Cuz I don't think that they'd understand
When everything's made to be broken
I just want you to know who I am -
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WT lit for sale! BV etc.
by Introspection inokay here is a list for anyone who might be interested.
i am willing to let these go for shipping cost, though if something is really worth big bucks i'd appreciate it if someone would let me know just because i can use the money.
these are available to non-jw's only, and i will only sell if you post a message to that effect.
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Introspection
You know I have yet to see Animal Farm! There's this one guy who facilitates the XJW support group around here that used Snoball as his name, I understand it's from that movie. I should go rent it sometime.
BTW, for real connoisseur of this cr.. err, researchers who are concerned with this, let me know if you want to check and see if which edition it is etc.
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Introspection
For some reason this thread (as a whole, not any messages in particular) reminds me of that DiGiorno commercial:
"You like delivery pizza?? I like delivery pizza!"
"It's not de-li-very. It's Di... Di... It's French."
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WT lit for sale! BV etc.
by Introspection inokay here is a list for anyone who might be interested.
i am willing to let these go for shipping cost, though if something is really worth big bucks i'd appreciate it if someone would let me know just because i can use the money.
these are available to non-jw's only, and i will only sell if you post a message to that effect.
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Introspection
Here's more:
Yearbooks: 1986-1997
Other Misc. Books:
'Babylon the Great Has Fallen!' God's Kingdom Rules!
Choosing the Best Way of Life
Commentary on James
God's "Eternal Purpose" Now Triumphing - For Man's Good
Holy Spirit - The Force Behind the Coming New Order!
Is This Life All There Is?
Let Your Kingdom Come
Our Incoming World Government - God's Kingdom
"The Nations SHall know that I am Jehovah" - How?
Then is Finished the Mystery of God -
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WT lit for sale! BV etc.
by Introspection inokay here is a list for anyone who might be interested.
i am willing to let these go for shipping cost, though if something is really worth big bucks i'd appreciate it if someone would let me know just because i can use the money.
these are available to non-jw's only, and i will only sell if you post a message to that effect.
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Introspection
Shhh Lisa! I'll never get rid of them now! lol.. Actually, I might mention too that if you are in the San Francisco bay area then local pickup is possible and there would be no need for shipping.
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WT lit for sale! BV etc.
by Introspection inokay here is a list for anyone who might be interested.
i am willing to let these go for shipping cost, though if something is really worth big bucks i'd appreciate it if someone would let me know just because i can use the money.
these are available to non-jw's only, and i will only sell if you post a message to that effect.
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Introspection
... All of them?? Hey that would be great, I'd email you but it's locked. Feel free to contact me that way, the email link is the little envelope next to my name and we'll make the arrangements.
Mark