Posts by fulltimestudent

72

Coping With Atheism (Long-ish Post...sorry!)

by humblepotato in

jw
friends

long time lurker (2009-ish), first time poster.

first of all, i want to say thank you everyone who contributes to these boards and provokes stimulating conversations and thought processes.

all the opinions and different perspectives are very enlightening.

fulltimestudent

Family issues are one thing, but the 'God thing' is another. That description indicates where I am now, but I think I had a rather relaxed journey from a point, not so long before I started my journey out, where I spent a whole day in fervent prayer telling Yahweh and Jesus how much I loved them both, on to a point where I could be described as an atheist.

Do you really think it matters a lot whether you believe (and talk to) a personage whose existence we can only attempt to imagine? OR, whether we do not believe in such a personage?

Even when I was a mentally out and got the big pork chop award, I was still a believer. I suggest our journey from there should be gradual and relaxed.

It will not make a skerrick of difference in your ordinary everyday life, whether you believe in a divinity or not. As you may observe, the lives of unbelievers is not much different to that of believers. Good things happen to both and sometimes bad things.

I say all the above while acknowledging that I get a bit of fun out of ridiculing the supposed existence of some super-human divinity with supposed super powers, but who never deigns to demonstrate them to us.

Just relax and have an interesting trip to wherever you finish up - grin.

Evidence of Buddhist ideas infiltrating China

by fulltimestudent in

a famous ancient site that has evidence of buddhist ideas infiltrating china is the dunhuang caves.

from a western viewpoint, archeologist aurel stein discovered a room full of ancient documents in these caves in dunhuang, nothwest china.. here's aurel stein in the tarim desert.

the wikipedia entry notes that: .

fulltimestudent

A famous ancient site that has evidence of Buddhist ideas infiltrating China is the Dunhuang Caves. From a western viewpoint, archeologist Aurel Stein discovered a room full of ancient documents in these caves in Dunhuang, Nothwest China.

Here's Aurel Stein in the Tarim desert.

The Wikipedia entry notes that:

Stein's greatest discovery was made at the Mogao Caves also known as "Caves of the Thousand Buddhas", near Dunhuang in 1907. It was there that he discovered a printed copy of the Diamond Sutra, the world's oldest printed text, dating to AD 868, along with 40,000 other scrolls ( Link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aurel_Stein )

Some scrolls described the paradise to which the Amitbha Buddha promised to take (at death) his followers, who had called on his name, and some of the illustrations (wall art) seemed based on those Sutras (scriptures), like this one:

Paradise of Amitabha, ink and

And In another Pure Land, or Paradise painting:

Shakyamuni, the historical Buddha, with his hands in the vitarka-mudra (gesture of preaching), sits between two bodhisattvas. A dancer and an orchestra perform before him. Another group sits below them. The Buddha has the sun and the moon on his robes, the cosmological emblems of Mount Shumeru. The scene is probably intended to represent Shakyamuni's cosmic aspect as expounded in the Lotus Sutra. Two mythical creatures standing on golden islands, the double-headed jiva-jiva and the kalavinka, flank this second group. A row of donors are shown at the base of the painting.

Even Jewish documents have been found there:

Selihah (penitential prayer) leaf written in Hebrew. 8th or 9th century CE

All these illustrations and documents have been important in re-constructing the conversion of East Asia to Buddhism, and the presence of many other religions in the caves.

Another scholar, important to the study of these documents, was Paul Peliot seen here in the "library cave" which contained some 50,000 documents, the largest group of ancient documents ever found.

Paul Pelliot examining manuscripts in the Library Cave, 1908

IF such things interest you, the caves are not difficult to visit these days. This China Central Televison documentary shows what you could see in the area.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sb0FaBfzRxg

2

South Korea and Japan

by fulltimestudent in

japanese prime minister has been visiting the us for talks.

the problem of japan's relationship with south korea was likely on the table for discussion.. the opinion of many observers, is that it may be a long time before japanese atrocities during their near 40 year occupation of korea will be forgotten.. a south korean film, my way (in english) crystallises the emotions felt in both korea's and in china.. more about the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/my_way_%282011_film%29.

and a dramatic segment of the film, where the amazing russian advance across japanese held china (manchuria) and into korea, brought the russian military onto the sakhalin islands and only a few km from the japanese island of hokkaido, scaring the the japanese leadership with the thought that if the war did not end, there would be a russian invasion of the mainland.

fulltimestudent

Hey! I made a mistake this morning. The above battle scene between Russians (USSR) and Japanese was an earlier fight, in July 1939, called the battle of Nomonhan or Khalkhin Gol. The only time, prior to later in WW2, when the Japanese army can be said to have been defeated.

2

South Korea and Japan

by fulltimestudent in

japanese prime minister has been visiting the us for talks.

the problem of japan's relationship with south korea was likely on the table for discussion.. the opinion of many observers, is that it may be a long time before japanese atrocities during their near 40 year occupation of korea will be forgotten.. a south korean film, my way (in english) crystallises the emotions felt in both korea's and in china.. more about the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/my_way_%282011_film%29.

and a dramatic segment of the film, where the amazing russian advance across japanese held china (manchuria) and into korea, brought the russian military onto the sakhalin islands and only a few km from the japanese island of hokkaido, scaring the the japanese leadership with the thought that if the war did not end, there would be a russian invasion of the mainland.

fulltimestudent

Japanese Prime Minister has been visiting the US for talks. The problem of Japan's relationship with South Korea was likely on the table for discussion.

The opinion of many observers, is that it may be a long time before Japanese atrocities during their near 40 year occupation of Korea will be forgotten.

A South Korean film, My Way (in English) crystallises the emotions felt in both Korea's and in China.

More about the film: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/My_Way_%282011_film%29

And a dramatic segment of the film, where the amazing Russian advance across Japanese held China (Manchuria) and into Korea, brought the Russian military onto the Sakhalin Islands and only a few km from the Japanese Island of Hokkaido, scaring the the Japanese leadership with the thought that if the war did not end, there would be a Russian invasion of the mainland. That's something the west would like to forget, as the anniversary of WW2's end approaches.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fuUR95-o_fw

9

What happens when an elder bullys witnesses, both young and old

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

mental and physical intimidation (bullying) while young increases the probability of mental illness as an adult.

that's the conclusion of a recent study.. "bullying may be more scarring than child maltreatment because while society recognizes child abuse as a serious problem, and supports its victims, people just don't see bullying the same way, wolke said.

"there're still people out there who think that bullying is a normal rite of passage you go through and toughen up, etc.," he said.but bullying leaves people with poor self-esteem and a lasting sense of distrust of other people, he told live science.

fulltimestudent

So where does this leave Bible incidents such as that discussed in Galatians 5:12, where Paul wishes that those (probably from the Jerusalem congregation ) teaching the need for circumcision would castrate themselves. (self-mutilation, similar to the psychological problems seen in the practise of 'self-cutting,') yet here we find this claimed apostle acting like a bully

International Standard Version
I wish that those who are upsetting you would castrate themselves!

Some think that the Greek sense of the verse, is that the teachers of circumcision should be cut off from the congregation, as in this explanation of the text,

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
12. they … which trouble you—Translate, as the Greek is different from Ga 5:10, "they who are unsettling you." were even cut off—even as they desire your foreskin to be cut off and cast away by circumcision, so would that they were even cut off from your communion, being worthless as a castaway foreskin (Ga 1:7, 8; compare Php 3:2). The fathers, Jerome, Ambrose, Augustine, and Chrysostom, explain it, "Would that they would even cut themselves off," that is, cut off not merely the foreskin, but the whole member: if circumcision be not enough for them, then let them have excision also; an outburst hardly suitable to the gravity of an apostle. But Ga 5:9, 10 plainly point to excommunication as the judgment threatened against the troublers: and danger of the bad "leaven" spreading, as the reason for it.

reference: http://biblehub.com/galatians/5-12.htm

But isn't that social exclusion as bad as self-mutilation? Perhaps its even worse. So the bullying attitude is evident right from the beginnings of Christianity.

2

Pakistan welcomes China's President to Pakistan

by fulltimestudent in

a week ago, china's president xi visited pakistan.

the visit took place against background news that the pakistan government had extended the lease on gwadar port (built by the chinese) to forty years.

during xi's visit agreements were formalised on sections of a huge infrastructure agreement that will link the port to china's western provinces.

fulltimestudent

So Pakistan gets 46 billion dollars worth of infrastructure investment, which will create a new economic zone from the enlarged port and running all the way north to the border with China and onto the ancient city of Kashgar. The infrastructure development will include a new highway, new railway and pipelines.

What will China get?

First Gwadar is a port that means it can deliver oil and gas to its western provinces without the long trip around S.E.Asia, second it means another commercial route to Africa and Europe that can be used in the case of disruption. Third, if the hopes of increased prosperity are realised, it will help stabilise the political situation on China's western border, not just in Pakistan but also in Afghanistan (remember the billions of dollars that western nations promised to re-build Afghanistan after the American invasion, apparently just empty promises). If the project succeeds it will also benefit Iran (only 100 km or so away)

A similar project is being built through Myanmar, that can revolutinise the economies of Myanmar and S.E. Asia.

In China's north, another zone to Eastern Russia is being built that can create a new economic zone around the area where China, Russia and North Korea meet.

2

Pakistan welcomes China's President to Pakistan

by fulltimestudent in

a week ago, china's president xi visited pakistan.

the visit took place against background news that the pakistan government had extended the lease on gwadar port (built by the chinese) to forty years.

during xi's visit agreements were formalised on sections of a huge infrastructure agreement that will link the port to china's western provinces.

fulltimestudent

What was so special about the Gwadar Port agreement?

Anil gupta explains:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H-kFL3Vb2tQ

2

Pakistan welcomes China's President to Pakistan

by fulltimestudent in

a week ago, china's president xi visited pakistan.

the visit took place against background news that the pakistan government had extended the lease on gwadar port (built by the chinese) to forty years.

during xi's visit agreements were formalised on sections of a huge infrastructure agreement that will link the port to china's western provinces.

fulltimestudent

A week ago, China's President Xi visited Pakistan. The visit took place against background news that the Pakistan government had extended the lease on Gwadar Port (built by the Chinese) to forty years. During Xi's visit agreements were formalised on sections of a huge infrastructure agreement that will link the port to China's western provinces.

The Pakistan Airforce provided an aerial Guard of Honor to escort the Presidential plane from the border: (The fighter planes are a joint China-Pakistan development)

https://www.facebook.com/ApertureSensation/videos/vb.567503256680182/779033985527107/?type=2&theater

or

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lv2_S5uMoNo

9

What happens when an elder bullys witnesses, both young and old

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

mental and physical intimidation (bullying) while young increases the probability of mental illness as an adult.

that's the conclusion of a recent study.. "bullying may be more scarring than child maltreatment because while society recognizes child abuse as a serious problem, and supports its victims, people just don't see bullying the same way, wolke said.

"there're still people out there who think that bullying is a normal rite of passage you go through and toughen up, etc.," he said.but bullying leaves people with poor self-esteem and a lasting sense of distrust of other people, he told live science.

fulltimestudent

Mental and physical intimidation (bullying) while young increases the probability of mental illness as an adult. That's the conclusion of a recent study.

"Bullying may be more scarring than child maltreatment because while society recognizes child abuse as a serious problem, and supports its victims, people just don't see bullying the same way, Wolke said. "There're still people out there who think that bullying is a normal rite of passage — you go through and toughen up, etc.," he said.
But bullying leaves people with poor self-esteem and a lasting sense of distrust of other people, he told Live Science. "Being socially excluded and being a social outcast is about the worst stress that we can experience, more than other pains."
Although people are becoming more aware of how harmful bullying can be, efforts in the United .States. to tackle the problem are spotty, said William Copeland, an associate professor of psychiatry at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, North Carolina, who helped conduct the study. "I think it's often the case that children that are bullied are not always supported in that, and told to deal with it themselves," Copeland said."

Reference: http://www.livescience.com/50641-bullying-child-maltreatment-mental-health.html?

Many elders within the J/witness organisation excuse their bullying tactics, with the excuse that they are being strong for Jehovah. Which may partly explain why so many young people are leaving the witness organisation.

1

The Intellectual Weakness of Christianity

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

i liked this alvin toffler quote:.

how apt it is for those who set their minds in the concrete of faith.. how apt it is, for jehovah's witnesses who are not allowed to doubt, even when the teachings of the organisation appear to be idiotic.. back in the 1930's the j.witnesses predecessors were forced to believe that the "princes of old," were going to come back and live in joe rutherford's big californian mansion.. how stupid was that!

time forced them to unlearn that, but only because they were told they could.. how stupid to let someone else decide what you can think!!!

fulltimestudent

I liked this Alvin Toffler quote:

How apt it is for those who set their minds in the concrete of faith.

How apt it is, for Jehovah's witnesses who are NOT allowed to doubt, even when the teachings of the organisation appear to be idiotic.

Back in the 1930's the J.witnesses predecessors were forced to believe that the "Princes of old," were going to come back and live in Joe Rutherford's big Californian mansion.

How stupid was that! Time forced them to unlearn that, but only because they were told they could.

How stupid to let someone else decide what you can think!!!!