in a discussion with some other dear ones, the question was asked as to what such ones put their faith in.
in response to one comment that"one can't function without faith," another disagreed, stating ones can, that "many do so every day... the ones who have trust" (in things like the sun rising in the east versus the west).
that trust extended to "faith" based "on nature and the natural order of things.
"Stumbled" is used by JW's and some Protestant fundamentalist sects, Qcmbr.
i first encountered it over half a century ago when we were on holiday, and a group from a fundamentalist Pentecostal church had a block-booking alongside us. They included a large group of teenagers who were overheard taunting one of their number with being stumbled.
That was the last time I'd heard it till I somehow took a wrong turning and landed up in JW land.
i believe christ is god.
when i left the witnesses i believed i had to be agnostic.
through a scheduling conflict, i studied the new testament in college.
What personal attack? Neither Sab nor I made one. Why should you make remarks like that with impunity, Cofty?
That was a definite and unwarranted personal attack from you.
for any old-school ex-jws here that remember my many posts about my abusive jw mother and my sister committing suicide because of it...she passed away this morning because she began to bleed out and refused a transfusion.
she had been in the hospital for a month.
it appears she suffered a stroke and wasn't found by the brothers & sisters for three days (they missed her at the meetings).
So very sorry, Tatiana
i believe christ is god.
when i left the witnesses i believed i had to be agnostic.
through a scheduling conflict, i studied the new testament in college.
Though, actually, you just did, EP! ;)
i believe christ is god.
when i left the witnesses i believed i had to be agnostic.
through a scheduling conflict, i studied the new testament in college.
Band, you wrote " This is a habit born of the JW's".
You've absolutely hit the nail on the head. Several of us have noticed that the group of "militant atheists", as someone accurately described them earlier this evening on another thread, are not only reacting strongly against the JW's they were part of until recently, but are clearly using those same techniques, learned and developed under the WT's tutelage, in attempting to argue their case.
By and large, Christians don't do that. They have a prayer life. Catholics have a rich devotional life unknown to JW's, and Christians of other traditions also have a deep faith that does not require the "evidence" so often demanded by some of the atheists here. In talking with the very few JW's with whom I still, less and less frequently, interact, I've observed that to me it's as though they are in a forest but literally can't see it as they are not only focusing on a single tree, but on a small flake of bark on that tree.
These atheists are like that. But they're quite good at it, at painting white black and completely fudging an argument and befuddling an opponent as a point is twisted and twirled.
Bet they were good on the doors, someone said! And Band, you have it spot on!
With respect, they won't like that. Now i'll duck to avoid the fallout!
is it the united states of america?
is it democracy?
is it communism?
On this board the moderators decide.
while i am no fan of mother teresa after reading some of the revealed facts about her life and work - i thought this was just a little out of the realm of polite conversation (but was interesting):.
atheist group at dartmouth plans anti mother teresa event.. .
http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?id=4503.
Yes, she did do mostly good, bohm, and that mostly, as you say, contains the difference.
The difference is that, being human, she was not perfect.
while i am no fan of mother teresa after reading some of the revealed facts about her life and work - i thought this was just a little out of the realm of polite conversation (but was interesting):.
atheist group at dartmouth plans anti mother teresa event.. .
http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?id=4503.
So what? (I actually know that anyway.)
I really liked Larry Hagman in everything he did.
He was interviewed recently on The One Show on BBC One, before the new series of Dallas came onto Channel Five. He came over as such a very nice man, clearly sick but totally game, witty, kind.
Loved him. Lovely that Linda Grey was with him when he died.
while i am no fan of mother teresa after reading some of the revealed facts about her life and work - i thought this was just a little out of the realm of polite conversation (but was interesting):.
atheist group at dartmouth plans anti mother teresa event.. .
http://www.campusreform.org/blog/?id=4503.
Angharad,
We have this from snare and racket
Charliko, you really can be a mean spirited, sarcastic, patronising poster. Maybe If I saw a little more 'Christ' in you, I would take you seriously.
We have the above from Palmtree, "bravely" posting now that Angharad has rebuked me.
What was I doing? I was objecting to the vilification and character-shredding of a dead woman who devoted her life to the poorest and most destitute. I was also objecting to the swathes of evangelical atheism sweeping across this forum, intimidatingso many from posting, though they are talking among themselves andsome are writing to me.
My style may have too much Bernard Levin in it for the tastebuds of the North American continent, but I feel that this forum, which was for me, and for so many, initially a refuge from Watchtower bullies, is being potentially ruined by those with an entirely different agenda, and my PM box contains many messages from those who feel the same but don't dare post it in public.
Angharad, you chose to rebuke me publicly. I have done nothing of which I am ashamed, and I will continue to fight in the corner of the underdog, as I have done all my life, publicly and in private.
They have every right to be atheist. They do not have the right to sneer at those who believe, to try to destroy any vesitiges of faith left in those already wounded by the Watchtower, to intimidate most of those who disagree with them from posting where they post, nor, surely, to expect to vilify someone like Mother Teresa without allowing her the right of a defence on her behalf.
Shame on them and shame on those who jump onto their bandwagon, and those who let them do so.
Finally, I will now say publicly what I said in private, I have not carried anything over from another forum, as you said in your post. I was a member of New Chapter's forum for a few weeks only. I did not like it, so I left, and those there will know full well that I left politely and not as a result of a row. It was my choice to do so because it did not suit me. No argument. And no argument to be carried over here.
Thus, your very grounds stated for your rebuke to me were not true grounds, although I acknowledge that you, not having been a member there, cannot know that. those who are there but who are so evident here can substantiate what I say, but that is their choice. I speak the truth.
