You raise a good point.
Never really thought what would happen in this situation until now.
supposing a man's wife has had an affair, confessed all and genuinely regrets what's happened.
the husband, after much soul searching and agonising, realises how much he still loves her and how much both of them want to rebuild their shattered relationship.. why should that woman then have to sit in front of a judicial men-only committee and give a blow-by-blow account of her affair?.
how would that make her husband feel, knowing that his wife is sharing intensely private stuff about her affair with several other guys?.
You raise a good point.
Never really thought what would happen in this situation until now.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
OK, but why THIS specific belief with re-incarnation? Why this deism for which there is no evidence? Why not aliens?
I suppose because it goes against the conventional teachings of Christianity, which to be honest, i'm feeling more and more alienated with (pardon the pun)
So everyone would have to define "good" in the same way and all agree at all times on what "good" means. Also, since when has religion ever stopped wars, wiped out hunger or created equality?
I think we all know in our heart of hearts what "good" actually is. Helping the poor, not commiting violence towards our fellow man (and animal for that matter). I'm not talking about religion either, more of a set of values.
No, there isn't "evidence" for evolution, there is simply evidence and proof. Evolution happened, happens and will happen
Well, i did state that i believed in evolution....Evolution and atheism are completely different.
No, not in the same vein. There is TONS of evidence and proof for evolution. It is a FACT. There is ZERO evidence for any higher power of any sort
I beg to differ. No one knows what occurred before the big bang. We can speculate, but no one, as you put it, has solid proof and evidence on what was before the big bang.
And Cofty, the difference is that i believe there is a higher power there. As opposed to not believing there is one at all.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
Ok, point taken. Sorry for the hostile behavior.
Your points:
Why do you believe this if there is no evidence for it?
Because i still want to believe in something more, i want to think that this isn't all there is. I think it's a pretty good halfway point for me to think that evolution did occur, but there was something that orchestrated it. Something put into the very fabric of cells that enable them to evolve even today.
Why would everyone be better if they believed this? Why should anyone believe this with no evidence?
If the "reward" for good deeds and a selfless attitude was there, and everyone believed it, there would be no wars, a lot less hungry, and equality for all. I think for the argument of whether there is a God or "higher being", or not will never be solved. On one hand you have "evidence" saying evolution happened; but that does not mean that there wasn't something that set the whole process in motion. In the same vane, there is no solid evidence saying there is "higher power" behind it all, although i am willing to accept that this could be the case.
Sorry again for my negativity before.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
Steady on, it's this direction that i'm gravitating towards.
Looks like you still got that judgmental JW mindset. I clearly stated this is my belief right now, but am open to any other theories.
The only evidence based belief system is Atheism, and i'm not at the right stage of my life to accept this as fact, although i do accept it is plausible.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
Today, he is watching and observing, but at the begining of life/creation he set the rules where things can evolve.
There is no evidence, as he never steps in. No miracles, no divine intervention.
I think that this conclusion, to me anyway, helps me to be a better person, and if everyone followed this way of life we would have peace love and eternal happiness. Yes, we would still die, but our reward would be an immortal soul where it can bask in the infinite consciousness.
I agree, my theory or belief has cracks in it, but my journey seperate to JW beliefs has taken me down this path. I am willing and open to explore any amount of beliefs and traditions with the freedom of thought that the JWs so vearmantly oppose.
..specifically, the suffering of animals.
you can talk about free will/sin/people choosing to not listen to god etc to explain human suffering being allowed.. but how can you love a god that allows animals, that haven't sinned or chosen to not have anything to do with god, to have their short lives ended in often long, drawn out, painful ways.
i could list stories i've read that would probably make you feel ill, but i'm not looking to shock anyone or start an emotional debate.
My theory (or belief) is that there is a God or entity that we cannot comprehend, that is just watching and observing.
Evolution did occur, but it was orchestrated by this unknown entity we call God.
Everyone, during there life, has the opportunity to do good to others, to love, to be a good person. And if we can tap into that goodness and love in our life everyday, at our passing we can reside in the infinite consciousness that is not of this earth. Only then we will fully understand the meaning of life.
If we do not do good deeds, and have hate in our heart, we begin the process again, same soul, different body, but with no recollection on our previous life/life's. This process can be infinite, until we dig deep into our present consciousness, and understand the real meaning of Jesus words.
I believe Jesus was a prophet, and the record of his works are accurate, but people have taken it too literal, and not spiritual enough. As for the rest of the bible, the jury's out for me on that one. The Hebrew scriptures may well have been written as a metaphor or to illustrate the darkness that man has spiritually. As for the Greek scriptures, i believe everyone back then took Jesus words as literal as we do today. They didn't grasp the Actual spiritual aspect of it.
Like i said, that's where i stand on my belief right now. This no doubt might change in the coming years.
great report by abc on the abuses in jw-dot-org land.... i hope it opens a "floodgate" of future news reports and exposes.
if you ask yourself, "why hasn't the watchtower leadership changed their policy on the 2 witness rule?
if one or more persons on the gb has victims out there that can't come forward because of the 2 witness rule, then that would explain the permanent road block to policy change that is obviously in place.
I think you might be spot on.
Can you imagine the fallout if it got uncovered?!
i don't know how many of you still participate in the sunday wt study, but i unfortunately still do.
even though i was asleep half of the time, i did notice something i thought i should share with the rest, in case you haven't noticed.
a lot of the paragraphs were worded strongly against partaking and used clear language of intimidation and discouragement toward anyone thinking of partaking.
It totally felt like that was the vibe being given off at the WT today.
This is first proper push to discourage people from partaking that i can remember....I wonder what they are going to do when the number goes up for yet another year??
right now, at this point in my life, i feel like i should be angry, sad, upset, annoyed, whatever emotion that most of you guys here feel or have felt.. but the overwhelming feeling i get, and i have got since waking up, is indifference.. i think that this might be my subconscious coping mechanism.
when i go to the meetings or take part in any other wt related activity, i don't care.
i just really couldn't care less.. i mean, i do care, but i think it's more a fascination now about the whole thing.