This image illustrates the extent of the damage:
fulltimestudent
JoinedPosts by fulltimestudent
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What's the future of Buddhism in China ?
by fulltimestudent into make a start to discussing that question, which i suggest reflects on the future of china itself, i'd like to post two videos (i think i may have posted one of theese videos before).
they both originate from the same night, but there are subtle differences (which i'm not criticising).. the occasion was the buddha's finger bone relic ceremony at the famen temple, in shaanxi province, china on 09/05/2009.
the singer is faye wong and she sings the buddhist heart sutra.
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Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock
by fulltimestudent infrom: business insider, australia.
beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.
the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.
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fulltimestudent
Chinese interests now extend further away from China.
Chinese carrier Cosco is transforming Piraeus – and has eyes on Thessaloniki
- Helena Smith in Athens - theguardian.com , Friday 20 June 2014
Chinese management skills and business activity also builds increased activity in other ports. For example, activity in the Greek port of Piraeus has tripled since Chinese giant Cosco bought half the management rights.
Seated in his pristine office overlooking the port of Piraeus, Captain Fu Cheng Qiu sums up the magnitude of China's interest in Greece.
"No other country in Europe offers such potential," he says as cranes in constant motion move containers from ship to dock outside. "We believe that Piraeus can be the biggest port in the Mediterranean and one of the most important distribution centres because it is the gateway to the Balkans and southern Europe."
Five years ago, Fu's employer, the global shipping carrier Cosco, acquired the management rights of half of the port in a €500m (£400m) deal that has seen business activity triple. Under the Chinese company's watch, about 6,000 containers a day are transferred through the terminal with breathtaking efficiency. "It's a huge investment that is teaching us a lot about management skills in a foreign country," says Fu, who has overseen the remodelling and expansion of the piers now controlled by Cosco under the 35-year concession.
As the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, arrives to conduct an official three-day visit to Greece, it will be the success of China's state-run shipping group at the forefront of talks. With Beijing hoping to further cement its foothold in a country viewed as offering the easiest entrance to Europe commercially, Chinese officials are eager to replicate Cosco's business model elsewhere. "The Chinese and Greek economies are mutually complementary," Li wrote on Wednesday in the conservative daily Kathimerini. "Greece is accelerating privatisation and infrastructure construction. China will encourage its well-established enterprises to play an active part in this process."
Already China has expressed interest in purchasing the port of Thessaloniki, Greece's state-run railway network and a majority stake in the other half of the port of Piraeus still under government control. All three are expected to be put to international tender as part of an asset-stripping drive aimed at trimming the twice-bailout country's monumental debt load. Rumours are swirling that Athens' international airport – and new international airport on Crete – will be added to the list.
"China wants more cooperation with Greece in airport, rail, road and other infrastructure development," added Li, insisting that tourism would also become an important growth area. "In this fast-changing world, China and the EU, as the biggest developing country and the biggest bloc of developed countries in the world, share common interests and have a greater need for each other."
The enthusiasm is echoed by Greek officials. Nearly five years into its worst economic crisis in living memory, Greece is thirsty for investment seeing it as the easiest way to offset an unemployment rate that at 26.7% remains the highest in the EU.
"Cosco's presence in the port of Pireaus … has brought great benefits to the Greek public sector," the merchant marine minister Miltiades Varvitsiotis said last week as he dismissed suggestions that Beijing was exploiting Greece because of the bargain prices at which much of its infrastructure was being sold. "It has proved to be one of the most important and profitable investments to have to happened in a global harbour … and because of this we are trying every day to reinforce this relationship."
For Spyros Mercouris, who is seen as the arbiter of improved cultural ties with China – the basis for the economic cooperation now taking root – that relationship is as much about the two nations shared sense of history as the very modern demands of globalisation.
"There's a shared sense of belonging to ancient civilisations that has helped lay the foundations for what we are seeing now," says Mercouris who has organised several groundbreaking shows in China as Greece's pre-eminent curator of exhibitions. "It has helped cut the vast distance between the two countries."
Cosco's presence has fast turned Greece into a portal through which Chinese products are daily passed into the European Union – a strategic plan that Beijing intends to take further with the expansion of processing rights enabling it to ship goods under EU label.
With investors also poring in, the surge of interest has reanimated Athens' resident Chinese community. "Our phones are ringing off the hook," says Li Ang, who heads the capital's Greek-Chinese Commercial and Cultural Association. "Investors want to buy five-star hotels, wineries and olive oil companies … people who left with economic crisis are flooding back. Greece is a great place to do business in and the prices are very good."
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Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock
by fulltimestudent infrom: business insider, australia.
beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.
the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.
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fulltimestudent
To see how much the world has changed, consider this list of the world's largest ports in 2012.
In the top 20 sea ports, nine are in China. Only one is in the USA, and its arguable that LA Port owes its inclusion to the China trade
Reference: World Shipping Council: http://www.worldshipping.org/about-the-industry/global-trade/top-50-world-container-ports
TOP 50 WORLD CONTAINER PORTS IN 2011, 2012
Rank Port, Country Volume 2012 (Million TEUs) Volume 2011 (Million TEUS) Website 1
Shanghai, China 32.53 31.74 www.portshanghai.com.cn 2 SIngapore,Singapore 31.65 29.94 www.singaporepsa.com 3 Hong Kong, China 23.10 24.38 www.mardep.gov.hk 4 Shenzhen, China 22.94 22.57 www.szport.net 5 Busan, South Korea 17.04 16.18 www.busanpa.com 6 Ningbo-Zhoushan, China 16.83 14.72 www.zhoushan.cn/english 7 Guangzhou Harbor, China 14.74 14.42 www.gzport.com 8 Qingdao, China 14.50 13.02 www.qdport.com 9 Jebel Ali, Dubai, United Arab Emirates 13.30 13.00 www.dpworld.ae 10 Tianjin, China 12.30 11.59 www.ptacn.com 11 Rotterdam, Netherlands 11.87 11.88 www.portofrotterdam.com 12 Port Kelang, Malaysia 10.00 9.60 www.pka.gov.my 13 Kaohsiung, Taiwan, China 9.78 9.64 www.khb.gov.tw 14 Hamburg, Germany 8.86 9.01 www.hafen-hamburg.de 15 Antwerp, Belguim 8.64 8.66 www.portofantwerp.com 16 Los Angeles, U.S.A. 8.08 7.94 www.portoflosangeles.org 17 Dalian, China 8.06 6.40 www.dlport.cn 18 Keihin ports*, Japan 7.85 7.64 www.city.yokohama.lg.jp/en/ 19 Tanjung Pelepas, Malaysia 7.70 7.50 www.ptp.com.my 20 Xiamen, China -
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Russia and China to Build a Huge New Port south of Vladivostock
by fulltimestudent infrom: business insider, australia.
beijing (afp) china and russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast asia on russias sea of japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses growing alliance.. the seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, chinas state-run peoples daily online reported late wednesday comparable to britains busiest port immingham or le havre in france, according to european commission statistics.. the new facility will be located in far eastern russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the chinese border.
the region is also close to north korea.. chinese and russian leaders inked a deal on the port at mays conference on interaction and confidence building measures in asia (cica) in shanghai, the report said.. the move represents the latest step by beijing and moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.. resource-hungry china is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while russia at odds with the west over its annexation of ukraines crimea peninsula is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards asia.. the same report spoke of the commencement of construction of the gas pipeline from yakutsk to china.
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fulltimestudent
FROM: BUSINESS INSIDER, AUSTRALIA
Beijing (AFP) – China and Russia will build one of the largest ports in northeast Asia on Russia’s Sea of Japan coast, reports said, in a further sign of the powerhouses’ growing alliance.
The seaport is expected to be able to handle some 60 million tonnes of cargo a year, China’s state-run People’s Daily Online reported late Wednesday — comparable to Britain’s busiest port Immingham or Le Havre in France, according to European Commission statistics.
The new facility will be located in far eastern Russia, just 18 kilometres (11 miles) away from the Chinese border. The region is also close to North Korea.
Chinese and Russian leaders inked a deal on the port at May’s Conference on Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Shanghai, the report said.
The move represents the latest step by Beijing and Moscow to boost their energy and infrastructure ties.
Resource-hungry China is seeking to diversify its sources of energy amid booming domestic consumption, while Russia — at odds with the West over its annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea peninsula — is seeking to refocus its gas and oil exports towards Asia.
THE SAME REPORT SPOKE OF THE COMMENCEMENT OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE GAS PIPELINE FROM YAKUTSK TO CHINA
Last week, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Gaoli attended the groundbreaking of a gas pipeline that will help Russia supply China under a huge energy deal.
After a decade of tough negotiations Chinese and Russian leaders inked a 30-year deal, $US400-billion agreement in May that will eventually involve 38 billion cubic metres of gas annually.
“We are today starting the biggest construction project in the world,” Putin said at the ceremony outside the Siberian city of Yakutsk.
Zhang said that he hoped the pipeline would be completed within four years.
“China is to devote consistent and unswerving effort to establishing a strategic partnership of energy cooperation with Russia as agreed upon by the heads of state of the two countries,” he said, according to China’s official Xinhua news agency.
Reference: http://www.businessinsider.com.au/afp-china-russia-to-build-seaport-report-2014-9
Map showing location of Zarubino
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What's the future of Buddhism in China ?
by fulltimestudent into make a start to discussing that question, which i suggest reflects on the future of china itself, i'd like to post two videos (i think i may have posted one of theese videos before).
they both originate from the same night, but there are subtle differences (which i'm not criticising).. the occasion was the buddha's finger bone relic ceremony at the famen temple, in shaanxi province, china on 09/05/2009.
the singer is faye wong and she sings the buddhist heart sutra.
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fulltimestudent
I'm going to use a description from http://www.china.org.cn/english/TR-e/43270.htm to tell the next bit of the story (don't worry I'll get to the point soon.)
The temple was built because the pagoda was there, and the temple became famous because of the pagoda. According to historical records, Famen Temple Pagoda used to be wooden, but it collapsed between 1567 and 1572 in the Ming Dynasty.
When it was rebuilt in 1579, the pagoda became a thirteen-storey brick building and was called the Pagoda for Sakyamuni's Body. The existing pagoda is the rebuilt one. The octagonal pagoda is more than sixty meters high. Horizontal boards on four sides of the first storey are inscribed respectively with "Pagoda for Sakyamuni's Body," "The Beauty of the Town," "The Buddhist Relic Glows" and "The Pagoda Shines." Under the eaves of the pagoda's first storey are carved brick pillars in the shape of claws, curtains, brackets and rafters. Carved under the eaves from the second to the eighth storey are brackets and supports for brackets; the eaves are built of bricks piled together. The other storeys' piled brick eaves have no brackets or other component parts. They may have been rebuilt later. The thirteenth storey has destroyed and made into an octagonal cover. The steeple has a copper body in the shape of an inverted bowl and a bead.
and then, in 1982, after heavy rains and flooding in Shaanxi, the pagoda's foundation subsided, cracked, and more than half the pagoda collapsed.
Now I'm getting to the point, the government and the Temple authorities agreed the Temple should be repaired (the Government paying much of the cost).
During the preparatory work was carried out in 1986, including cleaning up the damaged pagoda and excavation of its attached underground palace, a large quantity of valuable relics were discovered in the underground palace.
The underground palace consists of seven parts: steps, corridors, balconies, passageway, front chamber, central chamber and rear chamber. Totaling 21.12 meters long and covering an area of 31.84 square meters, it is the largest of all underground palaces of pagodas already known today. Discovered from the underground palace are relics of Sakyamuni’s finger bone, a four-doored pure gold pagoda with single eave and a precious bead on top, double-side pure gold staff with twelve rings, a silver staff with gold flower design, two discs and twelve rings, a gilded silver Buddhist ablutionary basin with mandarin duck and posy designs and a silver bodhisattva statue. These important discoveries have made Famen Temple famous all over the world.
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What's the future of Buddhism in China ?
by fulltimestudent into make a start to discussing that question, which i suggest reflects on the future of china itself, i'd like to post two videos (i think i may have posted one of theese videos before).
they both originate from the same night, but there are subtle differences (which i'm not criticising).. the occasion was the buddha's finger bone relic ceremony at the famen temple, in shaanxi province, china on 09/05/2009.
the singer is faye wong and she sings the buddhist heart sutra.
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fulltimestudent
The Famen temple is very ancient, so old in fact that it's origins are obscure. Some of the materials in sections of the temple indicate a date in the first half of the first century. To think of that in context, visualise that as Jesus was preaching, some Chinese were building this Buddhist temple located near the former capital city of Changan (now Xian). There is a belief that it was one of the temples that the Indian King Asoka ordered to be built, but that cannot be corroborrated, and as I said that dating is entirely dependent on dating the materials. If we want corroborating evidence, (i.e. something in a written record) we have to opt for a later date.
We can can find written evidence that this temple was in existence during the northern Wei dynasty. That dynasty was formed by Xianbei people who swept into north China and ruled between 386 and 534.
Either way its old!
However, when the Northern Wei collapsed and the Northern Zhou ruled the area, the Emperor Wu, did not like Buddhism and the temple was nearly completely destroyed. It was partially re-built during the Sui dynasty, and then greatly enhanced during the following Tang dynasty.
Here's an image, of the temple.
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What's the future of Buddhism in China ?
by fulltimestudent into make a start to discussing that question, which i suggest reflects on the future of china itself, i'd like to post two videos (i think i may have posted one of theese videos before).
they both originate from the same night, but there are subtle differences (which i'm not criticising).. the occasion was the buddha's finger bone relic ceremony at the famen temple, in shaanxi province, china on 09/05/2009.
the singer is faye wong and she sings the buddhist heart sutra.
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fulltimestudent
To make a start to discussing that question, which I suggest reflects on the future of China itself, I'd like to post two videos (I think I may have posted one of theese videos before). They both originate from the same night, but there are subtle differences (which I'm not criticising).
The occasion was the Buddha's finger bone relic ceremony at the Famen Temple, in Shaanxi Province, China on 09/05/2009. The singer is Faye Wong and she sings the Buddhist Heart Sutra
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H3xoUd3cG7s
Now note the differences in this version:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcscgv4wUvE
I think everyone is likely to agree that this is a beautiful, moving auditory experience, and I'm glad I heard it. But in the first version the focus is on the experience.
In the second, we can see the occasion - an important occasion as I will show.
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Jesus as a Ransom for Humans or not
by fulltimestudent ini have not got an answer (theoretical or not) to the above question.. but the main text book (introducing the new testament- its literature and theology - achtemeier, green and thompson) for my study unit (early christian literature and thought) in the assigned reading for today's lecture on the gospel of john, has a section on the ransom.
it says (p. 237): one of the few passages that explicitly speaks of jesus dying for others is mark 10:45:.
"for even the son of man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.. .
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fulltimestudent
I have not got an answer (theoretical or not) to the above question.
But the main text book (Introducing the New Testament- Its Literature and Theology - Achtemeier, Green and Thompson) for my study unit (Early Christian Literature and Thought) in the assigned reading for today's Lecture on The Gospel of John, has a section on the ransom. It says (p. 237): One of the few passages that explicitly speaks of Jesus dying for others is Mark 10:45:
"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
The next paragraph goes on to discuss the last supper and its symbolic meaning in the synoptic gospels. But John's gospel using little material from Mark or the other synoptics, uses quite different language (John 10:11-18);
11 “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. 12 The hired hand is not the shepherd and does not own the sheep. So when he sees the wolf coming, he abandons the sheep and runs away. Then the wolf attacks the flock and scatters it. 13 The man runs away because he is a hired hand and cares nothing for the sheep.
14 “I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— 15 just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep. 16 I have other sheep that are not of this sheep pen. I must bring them also. They too will listen to my voice, and there shall be one flock and one shepherd. 17 The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
So did John, writing this some 6 or 7 decades after events that influenced his life, re-imagine the words he places in Jesus' mouth and most striking of all says almost nothing about the last supper, re-worked by Paul (though he claims it to be "church tradition") into the central ceremony of church life.
Raymond Brown, a famous Catholic scholar thinks that the reason for the different style of the Gospel of John and the associated letters is that the documents are evidence of a separate community (does he really mean a different church) to the Pauline Church and the Jerusalem church, with the Johannine community placing emphasis on different aspects of the Jesus story.
Whoever wrote the Wikipedia entry writes:
Chapter 21 states that the book derives from the testimony of the "disciple whom Jesus loved" and early church tradition identified him as John the Apostle, one of Jesus' Twelve Apostles. The gospel is closely related in style and content to the three surviving Epistles of John such that commentators treat the four books, [1] along with the Book of Revelation, as a single body ofJohannine literature. According to most modern scholars, however, the apostle John was not the author of any of these books. [2]
Raymond E. Brown has proposed the development of a tradition from which the gospel arose. [3] The discourses seem to be concerned with issues of the church-and-synagogue debate at the time when the Gospel was written. [4] It is notable that, in the gospel, the community appears to define itself primarily in contrast to Judaism, rather than as part of a wider Christian community. [5] Though Christianity started started as a movement within Judaism, Christians and Jews gradually became bitterly opposed.
Did this community celebrate the Lord's Evening Meal? Just how did they think of themselves in relation to Jesus? Did they speak of Jesus as a ransom for them? How did they connect to the Pauline communities? What was their hope for the future?
I'll see what they Lecture says.
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Jehovah's Witnesses Rank-and-File Are the Elite Witnesses Pension Plan!
by BucketShopBill init's all about money these days in all the kingdom halls and changing title from the congregation over to the watchtower organization so the governing body and all their trusty aids can have a nice retirement.
who is going to provide for all the jws heading towards retirement age over the next five to ten years, men and women in bad health who must work because the watchtower through their salesmen (cos, dos) promised we all would be in god's paradise and "worrying about material things shows a lack of faith".. .
the governing body is showing they are worried about money because all they are talking about is "sign the secret envelope and obey the promise you made to donate each month!
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fulltimestudent
BucketShopBill:
According to the Bible I read Paul supported himself, don't know which Bible you read where Paul was taking cash from people to support the cause.
Sure Bill, and the JWs love to quote that when it comes to pioneer's supporting themselves (though as a special pioneer I did get supported (grin) sort of! ).
But let's take a closer look at early Christians. In addition to the collections in the Jerusalem church early in Acts there were, if you really focus on the activities of the early Christians, you will see a lot of collections and contributing going on across the Christian sub-group.
So, may i get to reach up and get your Bible off the top shelf, dust it off and open to hmm!, let's start at Roman's 15:26-28..
26 For Macedonia and Achaia were pleased to make a contribution for the poor among the Lord’s people in Jerusalem. 27 They were pleased to do it, and indeed they owe it to them. For if the Gentiles have shared in the Jews’ spiritual blessings, they owe it to the Jews to share with them their material blessings. 28 So after I have completed this task and have made sure that they have received this contribution, I will go to Spain
Who was poor (without support) in the Jerusalem congregation? Do you really think that James (who was pre-eminent in the Jerusalem church) was out carpentrying all day, or was he being fed by someone else?
Now can check for yourself 2 Corinthians 8.
The Macedonian Christians discussed there are praised by Paul, because even though in deep poverty, they were generous.(vs2), in fact Paul writes, they ...
2 In the midst of a very severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the Lord’s people. 5 And they exceeded our expectations: ... see that you also excel in this grace of giving.
As you read on in Ch.8 you'll see that Titus got the job of taking the cash to the Corinth congregation.
But you specifically pointed to Paul, making tents to support himself. The question is whether he did that all the time?
So let's look in your Bible again (btw, I'm using the NIV), this time at 2 Corinthians 11:8,9:
Was it a sin for me to lower myself in order to elevate you by preaching the gospel of God to you free of charge? 8 I robbed other churches by receiving support from them so as to serve you. 9 And when I was with you and needed something, I was not a burden to anyone, for the brothers who came from Macedonia supplied what I needed. I have kept myself from being a burden to you in any way, and will continue to do so.
How would you understand Paul's way of life now?
For an evangelical Christian view of this topic, you could read this Christian courier article:
https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/173-support-of-gospel-preachers-the
You may also like to read 2 Corinthians ch. 9 with this topic in mind.
I am not a Christian and I do not really give a rat's arse what they do. Personally, I gave little when I was a JW, mainly because I had little to give. (Note my comment on pioneering). I judge that burst of enthusiasm for Jesus (and, that's who I was trying to emulate) cost me and my then wife, a million bucks in forgone income, something I now deeply regret.
However, as I said, this matter of asking for money is deeply embedded in religion. You can find something similar in Buddhism.
In the early church where did they have their meetings? The usual answer is that they met in private homes (house-churches). But poor families were likely to be living (in cities) in one room in tenement buildings. So they depended on wealthy Christians to provide meeting places. In some of the buildings, believed to have been house-churches, there is evidence that the building was extended at times to allow for larger groups to meet. We have no idea how that was paid for. I suspect it was likely a combination of volunteer labour and contributions. Sound familiar?
Of course, when Christianity became official, real estate was no longer a problem, it is known that Constantine and his family gave land and built very large basilicas for the church commencing an era of government patronage of Christianity. And over in India, King Ashoka - repentent of killing so many people in his wars, played much the same role. In both those cases in the end the money for the sustenance of religion came from people - either as a voluntary contribution or an involuntary one through taxation.
The witnesses today seem much concerned about real estate, but they are not the first Christians to have that concern
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Banana Surprise
by VivaVegas ini made accidental but prolonged eye-contact with a single hot sister while she was eating a banana....the banana was fully in her mouth and neither one of us looked away.....are we dating now?
are either of us guilty of fornication??.
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fulltimestudent
Freegirl2006
I think you are now considered engaged.
ummm? do you mean physically engaged, or merely abstractedly?
