Posts by garyneal

82

Why is God speaking in riddles?

by sosoconfused in

it seems for most of the bible that god spoke directly to people and told them what to do.

he wrote things on rocks.

he gave them laws.

garyneal

What is with all this other stuff? Calculations? Days for years added to some obscure events?

I obviously believe that all of that stuff is manmade if for no other reason than to make the inventor and/or the followers feel special. (as rebel8 pointed out) I believe that real truth that is closest to anything that would come from G-d would be so simple and yet so profound that many would not choose to believe it simply because truth just cannot be that simple. Especially to the individuals who love riddles.

122

Theists - Why does Morality require the existence of God?

by cantleave in

"without god in your life, you cannot have a moral compass",,,, please explain to me why you think that should be so?

.

garyneal

As others pointed out, it is easy to see why there seems to be two kinds of morality. One seems relativistic and the other is absolute. The absolute would imply that their needs to be a source of authority which for the theist (and I assume you mean Christian) would be G-d. However, the Christian paints himself into a corner (often unknowingly) when he states that without G-d he would be a sinner. Considering that the true test of character is whether or not you would do the right thing even when no one is watching, this assertion says little about that person's character.

85

My Letter to Brooklyn about the Parousia that got me disfellowshipped

by cofty in

this is the letter i wrote back in '96 about the parousia.

following the '95 watchtower that disconnected the "generation" from 1914 i began to look carefully at end-time prophecy and soon discovered what i knew were basic errors in what i had been taught.. i was a loyal jw at the time and was still serving as an elder.

i used only watchtower publications in my research.

garyneal

Well, um, thanks Lars.

66

So apparently I'm now a Secular Humanist

by Oubliette in

jw
friends

i was doing some research on the subject of beliefs and belief systems when i came across an on-line survey/test that supposedly helps you determine which religion or philosophy is most like your current beliefs.

if you're curious, you can take the quiz here: belief system selector quizafter answering the 20 questions the results were spit out!

tada!!!.

garyneal

1. Orthodox Quaker - Religious Society of Friends (100%)
2. Mainline - Liberal Christian Protestants (81%)
3. Mainline - Conservative Christian Protestant (79%)
4. Liberal Quakers - Religious Society of Friends (76%)
5. Seventh Day Adventist (66%)
6. Unitarian Universalism (64%)
7. Taoism (59%)
8. Mahayana Buddhism (58%)
9. Reform Judaism (57%)
10. Eastern Orthodox (56%)
11. Roman Catholic (56%)
12. Theravada Buddhism (55%)
13. Hinduism (52%)
14. Sikhism (51%)
15. Neo-Pagan (48%)
16. Islam (46%)
17. Orthodox Judaism (44%)
18. Scientology (42%)
19. Bahai (40%)
20. Jainism (40%)
21. New Age (39%)
22. New Thought (39%)
23. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormons) (38%)
24. Secular Humanism (36%)
25. Christian Science Church of Christ, Scientist (29%)
26. Jehovahs Witness (25%)
27. Non-theist (20%)

87

My Son is studying the lie, this is long but I need help !

by oldflame in

listen, israel: the lord our god, the lord is one.

the lord our god, the lord is one.

jesus is god: .

garyneal

34

The Mark of The Wild Beast, How Does One Receive It? 666

by Este in

the first thing that needs to be determined is who or what is the wild beast ?......

estephan.

1and it stood still upon the sand of the sea.. and i saw a wild beast ascending out of the sea, with ten horns and seven heads, and upon its horns ten diadems, but upon its heads blasphemous names.2now the wild beast that i saw was like a leopard, but its feet were as those of a bear, and its mouth was as a lion's mouth.

garyneal

What?! You've never been an Independent Fundamental Baptist! Therefore, you cannot possibly know the correct interpretation of scripture. All that nonsense about war. The true mark of the beast is a barcode that has been stamped or tattoed on your right hand or forehead (old light) a microchip containing your identity that has been inserted in your right hand. This is because the ancient language depicts 666 to mean the same thing as 'to prick.' As in to prick this microchip in your right hand or forehead.

By the way, the wild beast whose mark you will be receiving is R-O-N-A-L-D W-I-L-S-O-N R-E-A-G-A-N because all three of his names has 6 letters (old light, because the man has now been dead for years) is a supercomputer in Belgium known as the B.E.A.S.T. (Belgian Electronic Accounting
Surveillance Terminal) which will have a complete record of every man, woman, and child on the planet. The numbers 666 means three sets of 6 numbers that will make each and every person's identity.

10

What Should Be The Attitude Toward Opposers Who Encourage Jehovah's Witnesses To Read Apostate Material?

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

what should be the attitude toward opposers who encourage jehovah's witnesses to read apostate material?

here is a jw apologist's viewpoint.. .

http://defendingjehovahswitnesses.blogspot.com/2013/05/what-should-be-attitude-toward-opposers.html.

garyneal

Wait a minute, I thought witnesses were not allowed to have their own websites defending their beliefs. Does the SLAVE approve of this?

89

Mouthy Grace is not well. Please send love.

by return of parakeet in

jw
friends

in another thread, mouthy said she was "not well" and mentioned "kicking the bucket.

i believe she needs some encouragement and well wishes.. mouthy, you don't need to respond to this thread if you don't feel up to it.

just consider it an exceptionally long get-well card..

garyneal

Get better soon Grace.

47

Is the U.S. headed toward financial ruin? Your opinions please....

by tresdecu in

jw
friends

not trying to sound like a conpiracy nut...but just read this article:.

http://www.moneynews.com/archives/trump-aftershock-american-economy/2012/11/06/id/462985?promo_code=103fc-1.

is this just a lot of talk?

garyneal

I think the money system needs to be replaced. The only real benefactors now are the super rich, everyone else is just struggling now and falling behind. Something is going to give.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6oBo8CJxatQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jqvKjsIxT_8

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPtt7JC2TiA

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3P7izAUe3ZM

20

Bachelor's Degree

by mamamo in

jw
friends

i finally graduated with my bachelor's degree last saturday.

i really wish i hadn't taken as long as i did.

my high school graduation was 30 years ago.

garyneal

Congratulations! I hope you do find a better paying job. -- and look for one that has a pension.

In the states, your best bet is a government job if you need a pension. I will give this one to my dad, by the time he reaches retirement age he will have a pension from two jobs (the army and the prison system) plus his social security. All with no college degree to boot.

Me, I will be lucky if I have a decent sized 401k to live on and I have a BS in Engineering. My how times have changed.

At any rate, congrats on the degree, may it take you where you want to go.