soft+gentle

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Posts by soft+gentle

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  81

  What does faith mean to you?

  by exwhyzee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all memorized the definition of faith... faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for...yadda yadda.. it seems like more and more as time goes by and our scientific knowledge base grows, we need less and less faith and fewer things can be attributed to god.. do you think we need faith or is faith just a word we use to feel ok about being too lazy to keep looking for the answers ?.

  what does faith mean to you now?.

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  soft+gentle

  exwhyzee

  I was, over the last few days, re-reading the God delusion because I have been critcising him a lot recently and felt I ought to give him another chance. Well I came accross your argument above. I remember when I first read the book that Richard Dawkins' philosophy made a a huge impact on me and helped me get my head out of what the society was teaching. So I would recommend reading this book.

  But now in re-reading I found that Richard Dawkins argues for Darwinism from principles of utilitarianism which he then extends to believers to belittle their faith. But most believers here are not solely utilitarian as you will find. I just thought that this basic distinction may help to ease frustration but still allow for heated debate. eidt: on the other hand I am not that well versed in philosophy and have only an armchair understanding, so please disagree and fire away.
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  41

  How do you deal with your "down" time?

  by compound complex in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  by that, i don't mean so much what you do in your leisure time but how you manage the freedom to choose what you will or will not do.

  off the wt treadmill, i no longer feel guilty about what is now my neglect of theocratic activity; however, after a nonstop week such as i have just lived through (barely), i am doing nothing, going nowhere, and accepting no new obligations (for the moment).

  i can stare at the sky, enjoy the beautiful day and not worry that demons are rushing to fill the void in my empty skull.. you?.

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  soft+gentle

  Coco - I have also found myself staring at the sky and enjoying the swishing of the wind through the trees - almost like being by the sea.
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  81

  What does faith mean to you?

  by exwhyzee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all memorized the definition of faith... faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for...yadda yadda.. it seems like more and more as time goes by and our scientific knowledge base grows, we need less and less faith and fewer things can be attributed to god.. do you think we need faith or is faith just a word we use to feel ok about being too lazy to keep looking for the answers ?.

  what does faith mean to you now?.

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  soft+gentle

  eva luna - lol yes.
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  81

  What does faith mean to you?

  by exwhyzee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we all memorized the definition of faith... faith is the assured expectation of things hoped for...yadda yadda.. it seems like more and more as time goes by and our scientific knowledge base grows, we need less and less faith and fewer things can be attributed to god.. do you think we need faith or is faith just a word we use to feel ok about being too lazy to keep looking for the answers ?.

  what does faith mean to you now?.

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  soft+gentle

  faith means boldly going where no one has gone before
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  36

  What's so mysterious about "generation" (genea) in Matthew?

  by kepler in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  thanks to a number of notices about a website titled www.jwfacts.com, i took a quick tour and found some very informative pages and charts about the organization's positions and history.

  thanks also to a number of posters for their reminders.

  i can't summarize the whole site in a topic, but it did include a history of the interpretation of the phrase "this generation", appearing in matthew 24:34.. "truly i say to you that this generation will by no means pass away until all these things occur.".

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  soft+gentle

  Kepler

  re your opening post and Matt1:17

  One can make a significant point to a witness with that verse
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  56

  Greetings! My first post

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hello all at jwn!

  i have been a lurker here the last few months and have been going through the process of researching both sides of the story of jehovahs witnesses.

  i was raised in the borg, got married and now have a young child.. my wife is very much dedicated to the organization and will justify anything the "slave" does putting it off on the borgs imperfection.

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  soft+gentle

  hi BU2B

  that song says it all.

  I like to approach the pre cult personality too and am often amazed at what witnesses spontaneously say when they speak from the heart. However I do tend to believe that if a person is happy to be a witness let them be to work it out in their own time. Meanwhile take the time to address your own losses. BUt it is a very tricky situation and full of lonlinesses and isolation.
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  57

  Rick Fearons wife Inez passed away

  by mouthy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did anyone hear that rick fearons wife inez passed away???

  ?.

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  soft+gentle

  Rick I am deeply saddend by this news and I cannot imagine what you are going through
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  182

  David Cameron Confronts Cristina Fernandez (UK v Argentina)

  by cofty in

  1. social
  2. current

  cameron briefly confronted the argentine president cristina fernandez de kirchner when they met at the g20 meeting in mexico today.. the prime minister told ms fernandez she should "respect the views" of islanders who are taking part in a referendum on the issue of control.

  - read more at bbc.... i never thought i would offer praise of a tory leader but hey credit where its due..

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  soft+gentle

  *stifled laughter*
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  39

  Is the FDS losing control?

  by Hermano in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe there is growing unrest amongst jws.

  they may not be very cohesive or organized, but the rigorous demands for obedience coming from the leadership and the unbending, never ending list of rules, not to mention the end that has been ever so-close for so long yet never climaxes, has a lot of jws frustrated.. don't get me wrong.

  i know there are some jws that will hang in there no matter what they're told to do and will obey without question.

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  soft+gentle

  a friend of mine went to a funeral recently intending to speak to disfellowshipped relatives of the deceased whom she knew would be there (my firend is not related to the deceased or her family and is a witness). She said to an elders wife "Where is Cathy (not her real name) I can't see her anywhere, do you think it would be alright to go over and offer my condolences". Without a second thought the elder's wife said yes of course it would. (Cathy is disfellowed and her relative had passed away). So my friend went and asked another relative of the deceased where Cathy was and without a blink this relative who himself is an elder took my friend to her. So my friend spoke to Cathy for a couple of minutes and hugged her twice. No one has criticised her actions or said anything to her.
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  90

  Just wanted to say...

  by tec in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... how truly great this place is.. i have not been on many forums, but i think this one is unique and strong in a very important way.

  it is of course a support group for those exiting the wts, or trying to deal with remaining within it, first and foremost.

  but the awesome thing about this place is how it welcomes everyone.

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  soft+gentle

  and yes tec JWN is a good place to be.