Posts by LittleToe

34

Where did JesusGet this Idea From?

by gumby in

as we all know, jesus many times quoted the old law, but then he'd give a further application of that law.

one example is the passage in matthew 5:43,44 which says, "you must love your neighbor and hate your enemy (44) however i say to you, you must love your enemy and pray for those persecuting you".. so, the question is....where did jesus get the idea from which says "you must hate your enemy"?

did the 'law' teach this idea?.

LittleToe

Didier:I suppose there should really be an option for a lying, cheating, insane Son of God, but I thought Satan was supposed to occupy that role?

35

Getting Married

by KW13 in

jw
friends

i've waited to mention this yet because certain dates needed confirming but just to let you all know i am getting married next month with megan!.

we may appear to be too young but you must understand .

1) we do love each other and we don't want to wait.

LittleToe

Congrats and good luck

Successful marriage is a crapshoot, where you can do a lot to improve the odds, or just let it slide over the horizon of failure. I've seen them succeed when young and fail when older; and vice versa. As Gary already suggested - grow together; and try to keep the lines communication open, including vainly attempting to get to understand the whole Mars/Venus thang

34

Where did JesusGet this Idea From?

by gumby in

as we all know, jesus many times quoted the old law, but then he'd give a further application of that law.

one example is the passage in matthew 5:43,44 which says, "you must love your neighbor and hate your enemy (44) however i say to you, you must love your enemy and pray for those persecuting you".. so, the question is....where did jesus get the idea from which says "you must hate your enemy"?

did the 'law' teach this idea?.

LittleToe

CS Lewis exclaimed that due to the statements recorded as purportedly being from his lips, Christ must have either have been:

A liar;
Insane; or
Genuinely the Son of God.

Anyhow, the Golden Rule is one of the best known sayings attributed to him (regardless of whether or not it was unique at the time), and the one most open for use and abuse, in a world that is familiar with it.

52

First Date Etiquette

by Crumpet in

so i am going on a blind first date this weekend?

i havent done any dating really - well ever.

i just end up with people for years and years by accidents of fate i guess.. what should i and shouldnt i do on a first date?

LittleToe

What a wonderful experience!

I'm strongly of the opinon that Divine influences (label them what you may) bring us into contact with people whom we can help and can help us. It may be only a "moment" or a couple of words, but our lives are touched and some kind of net benefit to the universe is accrued. I've seen it so many times that I consistently listen to that "inner voice of intuition" (no, not a literal "voice") and go with that tangible "flow".

Even if you never meet this lassie again, you have both been blessed with a special "moment" in time that has been invaluable to you both. Live for and in such moments, as they are far more fulfilling that an orgasm or two.

A word of caution - it can be intoxicating. Don't permit your ego to raise its head if you get more and more of these kind of experiences. Keeping your feet on the ground is essential. The alternative is becoming so heavenly minded that you become of no earthly use! Else you become a cult-leader and eventually find yourself on the wrong end of a gun.

37

Gas prices soon to pass $4.00 mark

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i remember last year, a lot of blame against the republican congress for doing nothing to stop big oil companies from raising prices.

democrats are in office now, and no one seems to be saying anything.

why are the democrats not being the night and shinning armor about gas prices?.

LittleToe

I would suggest that one of the most efficient cars owned by an American on this Board is probably owned by Elsewhere. He owns a new Cooper Mini. Its still not that efficient compared to many of the cars we have in Britain, though. I have a friend who recently bought a car that can do 65+ miles on a gallon of gasoline (Citroen C3 - I just love Citroens, having owned many over the years).

Our gas prices are about the $10/gallon mark, so $4 would be a god-send.

As was outlined in the original post, there has been gross underinvestment in the oil industry over the last few decades, combined with the lack of interest in efficient cars in the USA. There's a complete re-think needed on energy strategy, that needs to be driven right down to the consumer! Welcome to a world where the bottom line of each year's balance sheet is the main thing shareholders are interested in

I would contest the Chinese threat to gas use, however, as the more recent glitch was more to do with their dearth of coal for their power stations (I had to write a Masters paper on this a few months back). They switched out to gasoil as an expensive alternative, for a wee while, because their industry needed power. They simple haven't got enough cars to even compete with Europe, far less the USA, when it comes to their demand.

18

Any Other Widows Here?

by Panda in

jw
friends

so for me it's been 9 months since mr.panda died.

people have said it would "get easier" "fade" etc.

for me none of this has occurred.

LittleToe

They say that the first year is the worst, what with all the anniversaries, etc., and that with time the pain eases but never totally goes away, eventually becoming bearable.

{{{hugs}}}

84

Sincere Question to Anyone who Believes in God

by Big Tex in

lately it's occurred to me that one day i will die.

being raised in a cult that teaches you, you will live forever without dying will warp perspectives.

and i've been working hard on coming to terms with that realization, and it's becoming more and more okay.

LittleToe

~waves at Pat~

Haven't seen ya since that weekend in Florida - howzya doin?

29

Imaginary Friends can help you get over divorce Apparently

by Crumpet in

its been suggested to me by someone who clearly is not aware of my atheism that adopting an imaginary friend could help me find my purpose in life after a relationship breakup.

it annoys and perplexes me although i realise everyone has a right to their own opinion.. however my opinion is this:.

my husband hasnt left me - i've never had a husband and i certainly hope i never have that misfortune or get ill enough to suffer such poor judgement as restricting myself to the bed of one person for the rest of my life when i personally am certainly not willing to keep such a promise.

LittleToe

No offense taken, here. Just offering a reality check to a few voiced opinions.

You're a special young lady. I'd hate to see some of your more extreme reactions, to the difficulties life has thrown at you, solidify into a bitterness that impacts your ability to interact with others in a civil and tolerant manner

29

Imaginary Friends can help you get over divorce Apparently

by Crumpet in

its been suggested to me by someone who clearly is not aware of my atheism that adopting an imaginary friend could help me find my purpose in life after a relationship breakup.

it annoys and perplexes me although i realise everyone has a right to their own opinion.. however my opinion is this:.

my husband hasnt left me - i've never had a husband and i certainly hope i never have that misfortune or get ill enough to suffer such poor judgement as restricting myself to the bed of one person for the rest of my life when i personally am certainly not willing to keep such a promise.

LittleToe

I have had negative exposure to JWs but I did spend a number of years visiting other churches and mixing with other religions, before I decided none of them had answers to suit me.

There's a gulf of a difference between deciding that something is not the source of the answers that you seek, and actually developing a phobia about it.

I can't help feeling very offended when I feel that request for shared experience has been abused for some unsolicited preaching about God which has f-all to do with my situation.

Then you take offense too easily. People will offer advice and consolation out of the frameworks with which they work within. I suspect a JamesThomas-style reply of "still your mind and observe what it is that is feeling all these negative emotions about you ex" is just as likely to be of little use to you. Yet many here have a great deal of respect for James, and would be surprised to see someone rail against him for profering such an opinion.

Opinions are like a$$holes - we all have one. Sometimes we just need to give a nod of thanks that someone cared enough to respond, and move on and do what we find useful anyhow.

29

Imaginary Friends can help you get over divorce Apparently

by Crumpet in

its been suggested to me by someone who clearly is not aware of my atheism that adopting an imaginary friend could help me find my purpose in life after a relationship breakup.

it annoys and perplexes me although i realise everyone has a right to their own opinion.. however my opinion is this:.

my husband hasnt left me - i've never had a husband and i certainly hope i never have that misfortune or get ill enough to suffer such poor judgement as restricting myself to the bed of one person for the rest of my life when i personally am certainly not willing to keep such a promise.

LittleToe

I am sure anyone who suggests that I follow Jesus does not mean to insult me by suggesting that I owing to a relationship ending am now mentally incapacitated to the extent I would consider reverting to a primitive regressive fantasy world either.

Interesting opinion. Openmindedness and tolerance runs both ways...

Is it truly possible to be a religiophobe with negative exposure to only one religion?