patio34

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Posts by patio34

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  9

  I don't take the Bible literally . . ?

  by patio34 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just a little thought on that subject.

  is that like you wouldn't take "snow white and the 7 dwarfs" literal?

  comparing the bible to a fairy tale, or myth?

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  patio34

  Just a little thought on that subject. Is that like you wouldn't take "Snow White and the 7 Dwarfs" literal? Comparing the Bible to a fairy tale, or myth?

  Or would it be like saying It's a book of parables that one should look for the morals behind the story (you would have to go far on some of those sanguinary stories!!)? Such as in Robin Hood and His Merry Men?

  Or does the phrase indicate that it's pretty much meaningless--the Bible that is? As it it were written literally, but is not true in many instances, so 'let the reader use discernment'?

  If one were speaking of a legal, medical, biography, or any other piece of non-fiction, would that term (not take it literally) ever be used? But, if you were referring to a fictional work, it would be implicit that it was not to be taken literally.

  So, what does it mean to say "The Bible can't be taken literally"?

  It seems to me to be an astute sidestep of the infallibility of the Bible and would not offend anyone. But I just want to know others'take on it.

  Thanks.

  Puzzled Pat
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  9

  RIGHTEOUS INDIGNATION

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  when jws are angry due to some injustice their 'organization' has experienced, they allow themselves to have this anger and label it "righteous indignation".

  but ... when ex-jws are angry, the society calls it 'gnashing our teeth in anguish, whinning, bemoaning some defective spiritual condition, or mad-dog apostates.'.

  now, the time has come for ex-jws and really anyone not associated with the jws to have righteous indignation as the watch tower society and its leaders are going to face public examination of their dirty laundry.

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  patio34

  Six,

  I think Amazing is referring to the upcoming Dateline (?) show in June that is on this subject.

  Amazing,

  Is that right?

  Pat
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  21

  Homosexuals and Evolution

  by patio34 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  on monday past, the la times health section had an article on homosexuality, especially the traits visible in young toddlers.

  it also delved into possible causes of homosexuality and the latest research and theories.. there was an interesting comment in the article something like "it's a peculiarity in evolution that homosexuality occurs because it precludes procreation.

  " in evolution, whoever produces the most offspring are the ones who pass on their genes.

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  patio34

  JanH,
  Thanks for the erudite answer to my query. It made a whole lot of sense.

  I have recently run across the fact that offspring inherit genes from each of their parents. Richard Dawkins in "The Blind Watchmaker" makes that point and also that since 'mother' preferred a certain kind of 'father' for kiddies, the offspring can tend to prefer the same type. Not quite the big Freudian mystery of marrying someone like your mum or dad. And some studies have indicated that people prefer to select people just like the ones they were exposed to in the 1st 6 yrs of life.

  And it is credible that homophobia is a social occurrence. Thanks.

  Joelbear,
  I don't think anyone said 'weeding out' homosexuality. That seems to be a derogatory term. The term was 'selected' out because of no offspring. The rest of your comments were over my head, I guess.

  Waiting,
  It's true in my case that I'm trying to overcome the 'homophobia' that has been bred in me thru the Bible. I guess some may choose to call that 'obsession' but their dictionary must be different than mine.

  Thanks for your thoughtful posts.

  Pat
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  5

  Face the Facts

  by Scarlet Pimpernel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the emperor has no clothes!

  there is no god in gods organisation!.

  chocolate fish can't swim!

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  patio34

  Hey Scarlet Pimpernel,

  I can verify that my sister, the Empress, does in fact wear clothes!

  It's pretty cool having a sister who is the Empress!

  Pat
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  72

  Adoption by Jehovah's Witnesses is blocked

  by expatbrit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  adoption by jehovah's witnesses is blocked .

  the independent - united kingdom; may 26, 2001. by brian farmer.

  a couple originally approved by a council as adoptive parents have been refused permission by social workers to adopt a child, because they are jehovah's witnesses.

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  patio34

  Expatrbrit,

  That was an interesting news article. I can understand the natural mother's feelings. But have sympathy for the JWs also.

  Pat
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  27

  Answered prayers

  by Oldhippie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  looking back over many years of prayers, i cannot pinpoint any time when i felt, unequivocally, that i had received a personal response to my prayers.

  can anyone here relate any experiences where you have felt that god answered prayers for you?

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  patio34

  Comf,

  I wasn't sure what OutnFree meant either by playing into the hands of folks like me.

  OutnFree,

  What did you mean? I'm not being aggressive, just my personal opinion on prayers and God.

  Thanks for telling us about your search for freedom. I got quite a chuckle about your da'ing experience. I bet some people really started thinking about it in a good way.

  I'm just fading into the sunset as far as they're concerned, because of my 2 sons and family. But I miss having 'closure.'

  Lindy,
  Thanks for the explanation. It seems to be pretty well documented that positive attitudes, prayer, etc. help the immune system. And, as you state, that can be achieved in many ways.

  Pat
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  9

  Dear Witnesses, just suppose....

  by SixofNine in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just suppose for a minute, that there is this guy.

  a nice guy.

  has a really good record of trying to do the right thing.

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  patio34

  Hi all,

  I think that the description that AA uses and that some Catholics have borrowed fit EVEN MORE for us. And that is "Recovering JWs." It IS a recovery process. We need 12 steps--at least--to become our own person again.

  It seems the 1st step is educating oneself. Or could it be "Hi my name is Pat and I have been enslaved by a cult." Or how about . . .

  Pat
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  44

  Contact Equals Suicide?

  by patio34 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  didn't find an appropriate forum for this unique perspective:.

  'our planet spends billions on searching for extraterrestrial life.

  have they never thought seriously about the question: what would happen if we found it, or if it found us.

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  patio34

  Lindy,

  That is a huge site. Thanks for the tip!

  Logical,

  In "The 3rd Chimpanzee" book, the point is made that it took tens of thousands of years to even progress to agriculture and past stone tools for early man. So, we are relatively moving at the proverbial speed of lite technologically-speaking.

  Pat
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  33

  Song parody: Beverly Hillbillies

  by Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  [sung to the tune of the beverly hillbillies].

  come and listen to a story about a man named chuck.

  a rich presbyter, he was about to lose his luck,.

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  patio34

  Seeker,

  Bravo! A standing ovation for cleverness!

  Pat
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  8

  Giving the Gift of Life--Blood

  by JAVA in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my elderly mother was hospitalized twice since january, and received blood transfusions both times.

  she is alive today because of this life-giving treatment.

  i donated blood last week (the first time) for the following reasons:.

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  patio34

  Hi Java,

  Perceptive point--the yuck factor. However, one thing I did was to remove my blood card and get any notice out of my file at the doctor's.

  Anyone notice--and this seems important--a phrase in the Durable Power of Attorney the WTS pressures the R&F to fill out (I know one jw who dutifully keeps it on the seat of his car in case of an accident!).

  This phrase is that the DPA cannot be nullified orally. Even by the patient themselves! IMO, this is scary.

  So, if any have it at their doc's or hospital, be warned. There's no backing out. I need to go to the hospital and get mine out of my file soon.

  Yes, I definitely would take blood. It's just another oddity about the jws.

  But I haven't donated. Partly because of having been ill in the last 2 years and have become a bit gun-shy about needles. Don't even get a flu shot.

  Pat