An ancient Buddhist thought says basically the 'wake does not steer the ship'. Most people, unaware of this, allow their past to control them. In this sense it is true, our past has a great bearing on our future, but only because we allow it.
Steve
jst2laws
JoinedPosts by jst2laws
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14
How much does your childhood have a bearing on your future?
by jambon1 inwhen a lot of you were being taken along to the kingdom hall as children, i was involved with school projects and my dads favourite football team.. we were a community family.
we had bonfires, haloween parties, new year parties & to some extent christmas.
i also gathered among around 13 000 other people to watch our capitals biggest football (soccer) team every 2nd week.
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Panorama - Child abuse
by Amha·aret indoes anyone remember the bbc panorama on child sexual abuse within the jws?
it was about 6 or 7 years ago that it was on.
i was wondering if anyone has info on where to find the program or at least some clips of it.
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jst2laws
Hello,
There was a problem with selling copies or rebroadcasting it. I don't remember the details.
Try PMing AndersonInfo here. Barbara would be your best chance of getting info.
Steve
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Right To Die?
by hamilcarr inor a government ban on assisted suicide?.
assisted suicide of healthy 79-year-old renews german debate on right to die.
roland magunia/agence france-presse getty imagesby mark landlerpublished: july 3, 2008frankfurt when roger kusch helped bettina schardt kill herself at home on saturday, the grim, carefully choreographed ritual was like that in many cases of assisted suicide, with one exception.. ms. schardt, 79, a retired x-ray technician from the bavarian city of wurzburg, was neither sick nor dying.
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jst2laws
It ends for everyone eventually. When the game is no longer worth playing why keep standing in the field? It is possible to die without fear and regrets rather than hanging on to a greatly diminished existence. What happened to viewing life as a journey and death as only a part of that journey?
I don't understand why we impose on others the requirement of "pain" as the only justification for ending their journey. What about mental pain of loss of control of one's life, isolation from friends and family or loss of mobility. And how about ideals? Didn't Socrates choose to drink the poison rather than recant? Was not that choosing death? Do we not admire someone who puts their philosophy and integrity above life itself? Why is life worth quiting for integrity but not for autonomy? Somewhere along the line the quality of life diminishes to where it is not worth it. How often do people hang on to a miserable form of existence only because they are afraid of the alternative.
I vote for choice. And I admire someone willing to buck the chagrin of a fearful society to assist a person in their choice.
Steve Realist in search of reality
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Is "consciousness" overrated?
by Narkissos indisclaimer: this is the rambling of a french mind, where the single word conscience embraces what the english language distinguishes as "conscience," "consciousness," "awareness," and is closely related to connaissance, "knowledge".. to this french mind "consciousness" appears as a wonderful yet bittersweet product of reflection (the specular or "mirror" metaphor being central to it).
although it is objectively related to animal sentience, our view of consciousness, i think, is entirely dependent on the seminal technique (the "technique of techniques," as french theologian gabriel vahanian put it) of language / symbolism (the ability to point to "things" even though absent or non-existent) and imagination (representing "things" on our inner and cultural "mind map"), from which both memory and anticipation as we know it derive.
functionally it serves a practical purpose, which is precisely technique: through this way of dealing with "things" we can "change" them.
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jst2laws
Hello Narkissos, There you go thinking too much. If we would stop thinking about consciousness perhaps we would have a better chance of experiencing it. I would suggest that THINKING might be over rated rather than consciousness. For example, the comments of BTL. But Open Mind has already point that out and Voideater contributed something meaningful to the question.. As for CC's reference to Descartes "I think, therefore I am" I always liked that. But what if Descartes had a more Eastern taint. Perhaps he would have suggested, "I am, therefore I think". But then we may have diverted 400 years of great western science that now has come 360 and is itself wondering if maybe this great material reality is only a product of consciousness? Good to see you posting, Narkissos. And good topic. Steve, the Realist in search of reality
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jst2laws
Panhandle here,
PCB
Steve
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15
Need a little JWism rule help for the ex-Mormon board.
by seven006 ini began posting on an ex-mormon board a while back and in a thread titled just had my first beer i made a comment that reading about mormons having their first cup of god forbidden coffee or bottle of satan brewed beer is just like reading about exjws having their fist birthday cake and christmas tree.
http://www.postmormon.org/exp_e/index.php/discussions/viewthread/6805/ .
one of the people responding to my comment asked about the no birthdays and no christmas jw club rules.
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jst2laws
Dave,
How you doing, YOU OLD FART.
Steve
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Why Jesus didnt address the Father as Jehovah?
by Tino insince the jehovah witnesses claim that god must always be referred to jehovah and the fact that others don't do this proves jehovah's witnesses are the only true church, why is god not always identified as jehovah in the bible?
why did jesus not address the father as jehovah?.
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jst2laws
Is it possible that Jesus was not promoting the old concept of 'Jehovah of Armies', who 'exacts punishment on sons for the sins of fathers', is a jealous god, a vengeful god who egotistically defends he "name" by violently punishing all who do not honor him? Jesus was a mystic, a teacher of higher consciousness, eastern philosophy, which even he had a difficulty selling to the Jewish mythological level of consciousness. Not only did he never use the "name" of the old concept of god but promoted a concept of god who was not vindictive, demanding, jealous or violent. He referred to his concept of god as a loving father. He promoted LOVE, thus the mythic 10 commandments (ans the other 600+ laws) dissolved down to 2, both about LOVE. "God is Love" his otherwise inept followers conclude. Jehovah's Witness's exemplify the world of religious fanatics who cannot break beyond the mythic level and grasp the revolutionary message. They cast his spiritual message into a literalist mold in which they find security and power as the caretakers of truth. They miss the opportunity to grow in consciousness, to 'enter' and all those who listen to them likewise are not 'allowed to enter'. Most here can relate to this tragedy. Most no longer seek higher consciousness. The only hope left for many is the physical reality. We are surely here to experience this physical reality, but it is a shame many have allowed the WT and Christendom to rob them of the true message of a great Aramaic speaking Jew who had the insight of Einstein, the humility of Gandhi and the self sacrificing love of Buddha. Steve
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You Who Have Been on the Board For Awhile - What Are your Concerns ?
by flipper inwell, it's late.
i need to go to sleep, got home from work, but i thought i started a newbie thread why not a thread for those who have been on the board a long time , or for awhile now ?
so, lay it on me, what are your concerns for jwd ?
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jst2laws
HS,
Please indulge me. Push back from you computer, and step outside, all the way to the edge of your railing and look out at the beautiful reality in front of you, even in the night. I know it is fantastic, and you know why I know. Enjoy, relax for a few moments. Ok, now come back to this.
If you are content, PLEASE CALL ME. You need help.
Actually, it's good to see you playing here. However, it moves me to PM your debate opponents to warn them of the lopsided battle in which they engage.
I also miss Xena and her friend in the skirt. What has happened to her toe.
Steve
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Are You Ever Afraid To Post Your Views On This Board?
by minimus indo you ever get nervous making a post, knowing that perhaps you''re going to get "picked on" in one way or another??
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jst2laws
Belbab,
Yup, I get pretty nervous, it's like giving birth to a baby and I am not even a woman.
I am always afraid of saying too much, that I am out to lunch, that I am blowing my horn, that I am being too authorative, and and who the hell do I think I am to express my opinions to others.
Something like that.
And when I click on the send button,
Immediately I think what the hell did I do that for.
belbab
Auwh, Belbab. I can relate to that, especially now after so many years of opportunity to evolve past all of this. Yet, I still come back occasionally to type, click and gasp, "why did I do that". The apprehension is not about WHAT I'm typing, but it is about WHY I'm typing. The proverbial, "What was I thinking" quandary is more regarding 'why am I doing this again'.
Maybe it's about guys like us feel like we should be evolved enough to be able to put things more clearly than we seem able to when we hit the 'enter' button. I guess my fear is that I'm still as stupid as I was when Farkel prolifically pointed out how stupid I was. That's it. Farkel never seems to feel stupid when he hits the 'send' button. That's what we are missing.
Damn, I have attained another epiphany.
Steve
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Why socialism will not work in America...
by zeroday inthe great experiment is failing.... .
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/11/mncuud91o.dtl.
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jst2laws
Oh, boy
What have I done?
Gregor,
What is this success you point out as the merit of capitalism?
Gee, I don't know where to start. How about highest standard of living in the world. Longest average life span, greatest amount of personal freedom and a miniscule fraction who renounce their citizenship, not to mention that our poor are fighting obesity, not starvation, just to mention a few.
The indicator of success you suggest is that others want to immigrate to the US. Why do they want to immigrate?
See above.
I suspect we can agree it is not because they have made a rational investigation of political/economic systems and choose ours.
You suspect wrong. See above.
Do you not agree most who 'want to immigrate' feel a bit disadvantaged and want a piece of the pie? Does this make ours the best system? Simply being the object of desire does not make us the best, anymore than being the hottest soccer mom in the neighborhood makes a her the best woman or human. It's flawed reasoning. Perhaps the "critics" are looking at something deeper.
This statement is so convoluted and trite I don't know what to say. The US as a sexy soccer mom drawing immigrants to their doom? That's just dippy.
As for Simon and HS disliking the country, maybe you are taking their ideology personally. I'm inclined to think they are pointing out flaws in ideas and policies of a system rather then dissing the pretty soccer mom that everyone wants.
When someone only focuses on your personal flaws and never has anything nice to say about you would you feel that they dislike you? duh. I repeat, whether they like or dislike this country means less than nothing to me. But it is rather obvious.
I will don't think I will address this other than, you completely ignored the reason for immigration I suggested and you give absolutely no evidence to support an off handed dismissal. I thought you would agree but considering your reasoned response I think I need to just let this go.
Journey-on,
I'm too tired to be serious. I'm reminded of the statement that America is the only place in the world where 'a poor black child can grow up to become a rich white woman'. But that's irrelevant. I'm sorry. As for America being a land of opportunity, things change. Now, instead of growing up learning the family business or learning a profitable trade from scratch, our land of opportunity is limited to getting a degree, preferably in a prestigious university, so that we have the "opportunity" if getting a fair paying job with a major corporation. But this is not a local problem. The entire western world has become limited to this 'opportunity'
You have NO IDEA the story I could tell you! Why do you think I'm so adamant about this?
I'm inclined to believe those of you that rant against the American system are those that have failed to take advantage of it. You've failed in some way and are disappointed to the degree that you want to blame anything and anybody but yourselves for your failures or your lack of achievement.
Dude, without knowing anything about me you suggest I'm a looser and simply do not share your belief system because I '"failed" in attempting to take advantage of the wonderful "American system". Please, how do I respond to such nonsense without sounding like a capitalist I despise. I have been DAMN successful but I will not lower myself to proving it it this context. HS as well, if he will forgive me, has been VERY successful. Maybe in a more private situation, if you care to know the truth, I will dispell your misconceptions about the capitalistic successes of the people you suggest are failures. But not tonight. PM me if you sincerely want to evolve.
Steve