Posts by Cicatrix

27

What "cult-like" practices have you noticed with Born-Again Christians?

by booker-t in

jw
friends

i recently went to a "pentacostal church" with my neighbor who has been a devout pentacostal for 30 years.

she has been asking me for years to come to her church since i left jw's so i finally went with her a few sundays ago.

i must admit i was nearly scared "speechless".

Cicatrix

Well, I don't know that I'd call it a cult-like practice, but my ex-stepmother, who claims to be a born again Pentecostal, called my grandmother after my aunt died simply to tell my grandmother that my aunt was going to hell because she was in the "wrong religion". It was an incredibly unloving, unChristian thing to do, and Grandma is still hurting from it over a year later. Perhaps my ex stepmother's religious ideas influenced what she did, but I think it stemmed more from the fact that she couldn't cause a division between my grandparents and my father (their son) after he divorced the woman.

At any rate, it reminded me a WHOLE LOT of all the Watchtower studies on the fate of unbelieving mates and family members at Armageddon. What I can't figure out is why people who claim to be Christians can make such "authoritative" claims, in light of the scriptures that say not to judge others.

39

Guideposts and Serena Williams

by Triple A in

imagine my surprise when my wife shows me the cover of the october 2004 guideposts with serena williams photo on it and the caption, "serena williams serving the spirit.

" for those that have not heard of the guideposts, from its own pages, "guideposts is a monthly inspirational, interfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks of life.

its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential.

Cicatrix

No need to apologise, Triple A, it's good therapy. From time to time I find myself amazed that I could've been so gullible is all.

Perhaps Ms Williams is manifesting her doubts with that article herself. Either that, or she just didn't study enough:)

46

Favorite Movie

by Ghosthunter in

jw
friends

i'm sure there's been several threads regarding this subject.

but, i thought i would start one again.

sunday afternoon is my favorite time to watch movies.

Cicatrix

"The Secret of Roan Inish"

"Sleepy Hollow"

I love mythology, and every time I watch these movies, I find yet another mythological connection.

72

WHY DO YOU INSIST on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

by Terry in

have you made the same effort investigating the history of how scripture was written down, compiled, redacted and selected as you did reinforcing your jw doctrines week after week at the kingdom hall?.

if you have; then you know it cannot be factual.. there have always been agendas.

the people with the agendas needed to wield power and using an invisible backup agent was a great device for controlling others.. somebody is always insisting they have an invisible and mysterious source of divine information and selling it like hotcakes and syrup.

Cicatrix

"anyway, he's uninterested in his creation at the moment."

Or maybe the divine believes wholeheartedly in free will and is allowing us the opportunity to exercise it.

" i think if God exists, he's far more enlightened than someone who's harder to please than my drunk Irish father"

I agree:)

39

Guideposts and Serena Williams

by Triple A in

imagine my surprise when my wife shows me the cover of the october 2004 guideposts with serena williams photo on it and the caption, "serena williams serving the spirit.

" for those that have not heard of the guideposts, from its own pages, "guideposts is a monthly inspirational, interfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks of life.

its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential.

Cicatrix

Oops, I see we cross posted, Triple A:)

"and if she ever gave herself to ~~Rome~~ Brooklyn"

Lol, laughing while my heart is breaking. Tears of a former Brooklyn clown.

39

Guideposts and Serena Williams

by Triple A in

imagine my surprise when my wife shows me the cover of the october 2004 guideposts with serena williams photo on it and the caption, "serena williams serving the spirit.

" for those that have not heard of the guideposts, from its own pages, "guideposts is a monthly inspirational, interfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks of life.

its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential.

Cicatrix

"A usual matter of contention among Witnesses is whether the Williams sisters are actually Jehovah's Witnesses or not. Their mother certainly is one of us, and has been for years. The father certainly is not. (He often takes cigarrette breaks during the sister's matches.)

Based on Venus' and Serena's own words and actions, the answer is yes. She was asked in a recent interview what her involvement is with Jehovah's Witnesses.

quote:
Venus Williams: Well, we believe -- it's just like tennis. You can't just go once a month and expect your game to be on top. You have to reiterate everything. We believe in good association, association with fellow Witnesses, not becoming too involved with people that don't have the same beliefs and same values that we do. We go to meetings three times a week. They encourage us. You learn there, you learn more, just continue learning until you get a better understanding of things. I guess you are aware that we do house-to-house witnessing. I can't do that at all because I'm on the road. Getting more popular, I don't know if I can go house-to-house. I'm thinking about that."
This was in the freeminds.org link. It has no date, though. The first link also had a quote stating she's a JW, but the date is 2002. I wonder how old the freeminds article is. I wonder if she still feels the same (lots of youngsters fade or quit). Evidentally until recently, she considered herself JW, and most likely the public does still.
It'll be interesting to see how things are handled.
Btw, thanks for the links, Triple A .

39

Guideposts and Serena Williams

by Triple A in

imagine my surprise when my wife shows me the cover of the october 2004 guideposts with serena williams photo on it and the caption, "serena williams serving the spirit.

" for those that have not heard of the guideposts, from its own pages, "guideposts is a monthly inspirational, interfaith, nonprofit magazine written by people from all walks of life.

its articles help readers achieve their maximum personal and spiritual potential.

Cicatrix

" what does she do to make anybody think that she is currently a JW? "

That's what I wanted to know, but everyone is too busy trashing her looks to stick to the issue.

I was wondering if she's baptised or not,or if she even claims to still be associating with the JWs, because we all know things are handled in a different manner if she's not.

72

WHY DO YOU INSIST on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

by Terry in

have you made the same effort investigating the history of how scripture was written down, compiled, redacted and selected as you did reinforcing your jw doctrines week after week at the kingdom hall?.

if you have; then you know it cannot be factual.. there have always been agendas.

the people with the agendas needed to wield power and using an invisible backup agent was a great device for controlling others.. somebody is always insisting they have an invisible and mysterious source of divine information and selling it like hotcakes and syrup.

Cicatrix

"Why has man/woman thought about a higher power/creator through time? Because evolution from a non thinking source cannot produce the complexity of life seen in the hearts and minds of honest thinkers.

On the other hand, there seems to be honest thinkers who can concieve of the contrary."

And there are also thinkers who see no controversy in the concept of a thinking source using evolution to create;)

72

WHY DO YOU INSIST on clinging to the Bible as anything other than fiction?

by Terry in

have you made the same effort investigating the history of how scripture was written down, compiled, redacted and selected as you did reinforcing your jw doctrines week after week at the kingdom hall?.

if you have; then you know it cannot be factual.. there have always been agendas.

the people with the agendas needed to wield power and using an invisible backup agent was a great device for controlling others.. somebody is always insisting they have an invisible and mysterious source of divine information and selling it like hotcakes and syrup.

Cicatrix

Hi Terry,

I found this article online whilst surfing around. It may give you some insight into your question.That is, if you are truly wanting to understand, and aren't just espousing your own agenda;)

http://www.uua.org/uucf/duncansermon.html

26

Anyone like Poetry?

by Frenchy in

hey, anyone out there like poetry?

have you a poem that you wrote that you would like to share?

or just a favorite poem (by anyone) that you would like to post and talk about?

Cicatrix

DIY,

You wrote a very moving poem-one of those that makes you stop for a moment and think deeply. Remember right down to the marrow.I like how you used something which is generally seen as so mundane, the humble staple gun, and it's "click click click" to make your point.And "seized to a whisper"is such an awesome line.

Thanks for sharing.