Posts by nilfun

9

New Order / True Faith

by seattleniceguy in

jw
friends

hey all,.

i'm just kicking it here in japan, sipping some sake and listening to tunes.

right now i am chilling to some new order.

nilfun

Wow, TheListener...very interesting info.

49

this is a very simple question which came to my mind shortly after i broke free from the jw/fundamentalistic mindset.. assuming (1) that "god" didn't do and say everything that the bible texts record him doing and saying, and (2) that the writers were not cynical, machiavelical atheists forging a "god" for the sole purpose of mind control, but really believed in their "god", the question is: how did they dare make their "god" speak and act?.

this question, of course, is pointless to you if you believe (1) that "god" did do and say everything that the bible texts record him doing and saying, or (2) that the writers were cynical, machiavelical atheists forging a "god" for the sole purpose of mind control.. but if you are somewhere in between, as many of us are (i think), this is a fascinating question which can help us get a better idea of the true nature of faith, between passive "fear of god" and the audacity of literary creation.. any taker?

nilfun

A writer who was sincere in the belief that he was recording the words and acts of god would be one who perhaps had a powerful visual or auditory sensation of "God". Why then would they be afraid to "dare" to write down God's deeds, especially if the god himself was commanding them to? I think nowadays, most would view such experiences as hallucinations of one kind or another, and those who had these types of experiences as a bit cracked -- but then the question: can there be found any "light [coming] through" those "cracks"? I personally lean towards the belief that many of the words were written with an agenda to control...but I have also read on the board about how there are common threads that run through different religious traditions -- maybe the commonalities are the light? It's an interesting question and kind of confusing for someone like me whose bible education mostly came from Watchtower/Awake, The greatest Man book, etc.

99

Police caution woman for breastfeeding in public!

by nicolaou in

i just watched the local bbc news and there was a story about a woman who'd fed her baby while sitting on a public bench.

she finished and was on her way when a police car drew up beside her and asked her to stop.

there had been a complaint.

nilfun

Hearing that a meddling twit complained about a mother who is simply feeding her baby -- sad.

Hearing that the police actually bothered to get involved in what should be a non-issue -- kinda scary.

When I was breastfeeding in public areas, people were actually gross enough to suggest that I feed my baby in the bathroom. Yuck! I wonder how many of them would take their plates and go sit on the toilet to eat their lunch.

7

"Kinder cuts draw faithful fans " --article about JW bloodless surgery.

by LDH in

i like the way the say some would just "bleed out.".

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=32615.

in hundreds of surgeries a year, doctors take bloodless route .

nilfun

It isn't the title, LDH. I think I might have just killed it, that's all. I thought it was a pretty interesting article. (I have a few deeply imprinted memories/fears in regards to the whole blood issue, I guess that's why the story caught my eye.) Hopefully I won't be ~~box-office~~ thread poison and kill this thing again.

7

"Kinder cuts draw faithful fans " --article about JW bloodless surgery.

by LDH in

i like the way the say some would just "bleed out.".

http://www.portlandtribune.com/archview.cgi?id=32615.

in hundreds of surgeries a year, doctors take bloodless route .

nilfun

In an attempt to avoid these battles, the bloodless surgery program has developed a consent form that allows parents as much leeway as possible, basically stating that the hospital will do all it can to avoid transfusion, but acknowledging that transfusion can occur as a last resort. By signing this form, parents and guardians are allowed to stay involved with the child.

So the JW parents signing this form are essentially consenting to a blood transfusion for their child? There's even a JW coordinator who acts as a go-between for patient and hospital staff, so I am guessing that this arrangement has the blessings of the WTBTS? Are they trying to find a way to phase out the "no blood" doctrine without too much fallout?

50

I think I might have a DEMON in the house!!!!!...Spooky!

by Legolas in

jw
friends

for about a week or so now!

it all started one day when i was in the laundy room and i heard my husband pull up in the driveway, shut his door, unlock the door to the house, shut the house door, so i go down to greet him ( with a big kiss and hug, as i always do

anyway i get down stairs and he is not there so i assumed that he was already out feeding comet!

nilfun

I do however go around the house closing doors and windows when a scary movie is on TV. Do you do that to?

*raises her hand*

21

Fire in Portland!!

by Gretchen956 in

details are sketchy yet, but my brother tim, whom many of you portlanders have now met, had a fire in his apartment this morning.

the damage isn't total, but its devastating.

he did not have rental insurance, and the fire marshall says the cause is an extension cord he had daisy-chained into a surge protector.

nilfun

I'm so sorry to hear this, Gretchen956. I too was wondering if y'all needed any clothing or personal items (())

31

If women could beat the crap out of men

by gumby in

most of us in this world realise men can whoop their wives.

we have been used to the idea that men are heads in households.

men, when they want to, can use their biggerness, strenght, and power to overpower the woman.. just what if......the roles were reversed and the woman were more powerful than a man?.

nilfun

I am repulsed by the thought of anybody (whether male or female) who would use their superior strength to abuse and intimidate their partner.

There are some women out there that abuse men right now. The cases that I knew of were not pursued by the abused men because they were laughed at by some and shamed for "letting" a woman hurt them in this manner.

I think, (like FHN's take on it, if I understand her point correctly) -- if women were, as a rule, physically stronger than men, then I believe that many women would probably be -- like many physically stronger (and not-so-physically strong) men already are today -- just as prone to be kind, loving, and able to occasionally "sweep" their partner off their feet... Most men don't use their powers for evil, and I think most women would likely be the same way.

12

Theocratically approved RAPE!

by nicolaou in

would a loving god instruct certain men to rape certain women?.

"everyone that is found will be pierced through, and every one that is caught in the sweep will fall by the sword; and their very children will be dashed to pieces before their eyes.

their houses will be pillaged, and their own wives will be raped.

nilfun

I look at it as some guy's attempt to justify the heinous act of rape. Writing a command as if it came from his God -- the pillagers and rapists were kinda trying to cover their tracks...

40

I dislike holier than thou people

by MsMcDucket in

jw
friends

i was raised to be pentacostal.

i hated that religion and their holier than thou attitudes.

so, i went against my mother and listened to the dubs.

nilfun

Yep, they can be annoying.

"It is more difficult to be a complete human being than a saint. It means nothing can be excluded or suppressed." ~ Steven Levine

I'd rather struggle to be real -- than try to win the approval of the holier-than-thou's anymore.

So sorry to hear your children are shunning you (())