scotoma

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Posts by scotoma

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  25

  Racism, Justice and What Goes Unnoticed

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a well educated friend (who happens to be african - american) and i love our discussions because i can talk to her openly and honestly, with less guardedness than others.

  on one hand, i feel i'm right - but on the other hand, i acknowledge that she may have a viewpoint that i haven't considered.. we argue about obama - she, that he may lose due to racism, i , that racism didn't prevent him from being elected.

  as to 'justice for trayvon' being a reason for black on white violence, let me ask the following:.

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  scotoma

  A lot of white people adopt african american babies.

  Obama is not a true progressive. He wasted all of his political capital and still got no respect.

  The reason I would like to see Romney win is to end the stalemate. The racist Republicans aren't going to let Obama get anything done.

  It would be better if Romney wins and the Democrats take back the house in 2014. You'll have two years while the money people open their wallets to create the illusion things have improved.

  Also, Romney flip-flops like crazy. That's really a good thing. He knows what he needs to look like to get the republican nomination. He will be a big disappointment to Republicans and probably will reach out to the democrats once they get back control of both houses.
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  7

  Soul

  by on the rocks in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how many of you since leaving the wt now beleive in a soul that will survive your physical body?

  any thoughts?.

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  scotoma

  The idea that the "soul" is you has a sound scientific basis. Dualism is passe. Some have written about the contrast between platonic dualism and hebraic holism. Look it up.
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  5

  Transpersonal Psychology affirms the spiritual dimension apart from scripture.

  by Fernando in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  discussions on jwn have led me to start reading about the substantive work of psychiatrists carl jung, john weir perry, loren mosher, stanislav grof and others in "transpersonal psychology".. stanislav explains in this 1-hour long but very revealing video that he had no exposure to religion but became aware of dimensions beyond space-time through controlled psychiatric research experiments with psychedelic drugs (lsd).

  this got him started on further research (much without drugs) in "transpersonal psychology" for around 45 years.. his terminology and explanations of the "hylotropic" versus "holotropic" states of consciousness maps powerfully to the "spiritual" versus "physical" in scripture and life (for me at least):.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rxrhfowj0u.

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  scotoma

  Psychedelics and meditative states are great for entertainment and passing the time. Relaxation techniques are moderately effective at relieving stress.

  All that stuff was something to do if you were part of a primitive tribe and the last log on the fire became a glowing ember and there were no books to read and you weren't sleepy and your sexual partner was snoring.

  Calling this stuff "deeper" is based on the idea there is something in there. The mind is capable of fabricating all sorts of stuff and of course you can never get to the "bottom" because neurons keep firing and your attention acts as feedback to structure the shape of things on the imaginary canvas.

  The next level above self-interest is other-interest. There is nothing higher than the social sphere. Going inside is like looking at the mirror image of a mirror image of a mirror image....

  But if you feel you need to do it then do it. It's no worse or better than watching TV.

  It's not going to save you from death anymore than religion.

  I've met a lot of people who meditate regularly. They don't seem to have any greater enlightenment than anyone else.

  Meditating means one day you're going to get up - have a great meditation experience and you will die the next day just like everyone else.
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  25

  An ex-Jehovah's Witness turns Cult Leader

  by iamwhoiam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can't believe i just now heard of this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2oa4oigvo.

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  enjoy!.

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  scotoma

  If this guy can think he's Jesus then certainly Jesus could think he's Jesus too.
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  25

  An ex-Jehovah's Witness turns Cult Leader

  by iamwhoiam in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can't believe i just now heard of this.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ml2oa4oigvo.

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  enjoy!.

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  scotoma

  The man definitely has charisma. He's charming. Attractive. I wouldn't compare it with the watchtower at all. Think of David Splane. Nothing charismatic about him. It would be like following a cone head. The Watchtower is a charisma killer. Charisma is a gift and can't be learned. Established religions exploit the Charisma of its founders. Russell probably was Charismatic. The real Jesus was probably charismatic.

  This is a phenomenon that shows up in about 1% of the people. It can be used for constructive purposes. Some actors have the quality.

  Here are some similar characters:

  Carl Jung

  Obama

  Kennedy

  Steve Jobs

  Hugh Heffner

  Tony Robbins

  The women that follow them are searching for real live characters out of romance novels.

  This is further proof that the great religious leaders can be crazy.
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  30

  A heart-wrenching comment from the JW survey...

  by cedars in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've just received this comment from a country in the south china sea.

  i'd rather not be more specific than that.. the english is poor, but the message is heart-wrenching.

  any who question whether ordinary publishers wrestle with doubts need only read this message.

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  scotoma

  This is not unique to JW's. It is repeated over and over by devout people in all religions. The fact that he still believes in god is an indication that he really hasn't gotten very far. Every religion bamboozles its members. To escape the transcendental deception one has to start putting quotes around everything in the "Holy" writings. Instead of saying - "Jesus said...." it is better to say Unidentified writers have reported that "Jesus said..."

  This technique needs to be repeated over and over until it becomes an ingrained habit. At first it seems futile. But sooner or later it sinks in.

  to have said "Jesus said..."
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  3

  National Teachers appreciation week

  by lostinthought in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know that there were a few threads on nures' week, but before this week ends, it's also national teachers week also!

  i respect all the nurses( i almost became one) but i found my true calling in education.

  it was my job that helped me "wake up" to the truth about the "truth"...it was working with children (and some adults) on a daily basis that helped me to see not all wordly people are bad.. say thank you to a teacher tomorrow!.

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  scotoma

  Ms. Suga,

  My lesbian 7th grade science teacher (1957):

  Let me make a fool of myself trying to defend creationism.

  Indulged my interest in rock collecting by hauling me to meetings of the local geological society. Once per month my parents allowed me to miss the tuesday book-study to attend that "worldly" meeting with my teacher.

  Explained the night sky and constellations before dropping me off at home.

  Took me out to find fossils at the local quarry.

  Allowed me to do experiments in organic chemistry after school using the schools equipment. And didn't charge me for breaking expensive condensers and retorts.

  Thought I was going to be a scientist.

  Ended up a JW janitor.
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  21

  If we evolved - What purpose does guilt serve?

  by usualusername in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  scotoma

  Ususalusername: You were smart enough to ask the question. That's the most important part.
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  4

  Disclosure By The NSA?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does a newly released nsa document admit getting messages from et's ?.

  http://www.ufodigest.com/article/official-et-disclosure-nsa-document-admits-et-contact-kevin-w-smith.

  i wanna see if this gets confirmed as an authentic document.. metatron.

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  scotoma

  There is plenty of evidence of aliens visiting the human reservation we call earth.

  They will appear and communicate at the appropriate time.

  I don't believe in the abduction experiences but I do believe in the many military encounters that are pretty well documented by mentally sound and trained observers.
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  17

  Emergencies: What Do They Hope To Do?

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some congregations are giving publishers lists of items and procedures for unnamed emergencies.. and what do these naive people, bereft of critical reasoning, hope to accomplish?

  are they fantasizing about living, enmasse, in the kingdom hall?

  do they have large food supplies stored there?

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  scotoma

  Store up a supply of half-pint bottles of whisky, brandy, gin, vodka with the tax label in place to certify the bottle is legit. Also get a good stash of cigarettes or roll your own materials.

  Worth more than gold in a disaster. Gotta be discreet in usage so you aren't killed for your stash.