RR,
thanks for the reminder, but I have a life.
Mulan,
I'll say the 1930's and 40's. I really dig the Big Band era. I think the average age of jazz musicians isn't so good either. <g>
Sean
SEAKEN2001
JoinedPosts by SEAKEN2001
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48
Turn back on God because of WTS or JW's??
by IWish4Truth inin my opinion, it's one thing to not agree with organizations that impose certain rules upon it's members, but it's quite another to turn one's back on god himself because of disagreements.
is there not still some higher power out there who has the best interest of humans at heart?
how can it be denied, especially in these terrible times, that something or someone is gonna have to step in and take over and end this havoc.
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63
I Love You......Life
by DannyBear inimagining the beauty of a loved ones face, long departed.
remembering a single moment in life that causes your spirit to sing.
having that sensation that you just awakened to a whole new world, filled with that tingle in your stomach feeling, you had when kissing your very first lover.
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SEAKEN2001
Having a good belly laugh with Dad or Brothers
Taking a drive through New England with my wife
Being in the "Zone" when playing ball
Being the first skier off the lift after a fresh blanket of powder
A good Cabernet Sav. with crakers and cheddar cheese
Home brewed french roast coffee with fresh cream, anytime.
Books, movies, music that moves you to tears
...Sean
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MICROSOFT and the WT
by one inbill gates has a new title "evil slave", .
or new light will make him look like the wild beast?.
i mean he invented windows 95 and the explorer browser (most likely the one you are using righ now).
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SEAKEN2001
...and if you add up the 6's it makes 18!!!!!!
urr...or is that...? Oh shit! I thought I saw a prophecy in there somewhere!
Never mind...
Sean
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Sunday mornings........ I love them!!
by Mulan inmy friend just called me from her cell phone, and is out in service, sunday morning.
complaining like mad.
it's snowing here, and she is miserable.
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SEAKEN2001
Oh, I'm with you cous. I love Sundays, too. And, coincidentally, it's snowing here too. (after 70 degree weather two days ago).
I usually watch CBS Sunday Morning and log on to the Web with my laptop. Am now watching football with my Guiness in hand (well, I did have to put it down to type this <g>) and will go out and shovel some snow later (have a cold though so won't be out too long).
The only thing I miss is spending time with my wife and friends. But, what the hell, I have TV, the Web and beer! Ahh, that's the life! <g>
What would your friend do if she just decided she doesn't want to do that "service" thing anymore? Would her husband go ballistic or just put up with her? Why doesn't she just say "no"?
See ya,
Sean -
17
what purpose religion?
by teejay inlast night a program remembered the japanese attack on pearl harbor sixty years ago.
amidst all the historical details, a story of a serviceman stood out.
he was a youngster then, still in his teens and stationed in hawaii, when he sent his mom a card to let her know of his condition.
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SEAKEN2001
"Being entertained by tales is one thing. How do you explain the empirical data pointing to better health, happiness and longer life enjoyed by religious people over their less-religious neighbors?"
Empirical: relying on experiment and observations rather than theory, based on practical experience without reference to scientific priniciples.
Empiric: {Archaic} a practitioner without proper qualifications and regular training; charlatan; quack.
Apparently, that word has not always had a positive conotation. I'm not sure what the empirical data shows when relating to health and happiness. But I can say with confidence that data is often over-played and can be manipulated. It may be true in several cases that people seem healthier and happier when found to be "church goers". But that really doesn't say much about religion. I think church is a social function and that the benefits are most likely due to the human need for connection and communication with fellow humans. What do we say about those who are not church goers who live a long and healthy life? They are what we would term an anomaly.
Anomaly: departure from the regular arrangement, general rule, or usual method; abnormality.
Anomalous: 2. being, or seeming to be inconsistant, contradictory, or improper. -SYN. see irregular.
Some might see this data an an anomaly inside an anomaly.
The problem with data and statistics is that they don't actually apply to any individual in real life. The data can be used to help explain certain trends seen in certain circles. But what to do about those anomalies!?
Right or wrong, the thought that came to mind while reading the study you posted was that it came from a part of the country given to strong religious attitudes. The study may have been carried out in objectivity, I don't know. But I wonder where the subjects of the study were culled from. I also wonder if it is possible to do a study that that yields the opposite results simply by choosing different subjects? Even by accident. I suspect this is possible. In the one study the churchgoers are the normal, the regular. In the other they are the anomaly.
I do not wish to toss out all studies and draw no conclusions from any data. But I can't help but notice that catagorizing an otherwise happy non-church-goer as likely to die an early death as irresponsible. Who of us would do that? So, what purpose, really, does a study like this serve? I think, one it's own, not much. However, if we include it along with studies from other sectors of human society it may have more use. I suppose it really depends on who gets to say "this is regular" and this is an "anomaly".
Sean
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48
Turn back on God because of WTS or JW's??
by IWish4Truth inin my opinion, it's one thing to not agree with organizations that impose certain rules upon it's members, but it's quite another to turn one's back on god himself because of disagreements.
is there not still some higher power out there who has the best interest of humans at heart?
how can it be denied, especially in these terrible times, that something or someone is gonna have to step in and take over and end this havoc.
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SEAKEN2001
RR,
was Jesus a Christian? Did he read the same Bible you read? Why do you answer?
What you do not seem to be hearing is that I, like many others here who do not claim any special relationship with God, accept you and your personal beliefs. You are a human being the same as I and have the same strengths and weakensses. You are no more or less capable of being duped as I am. I do not know what you read and how you act. But I can tell you that if you act as God would act, if you are godly, you will be closer to imitating Christ than any man or women who merely says they are a believer. I am suggesting to you that it does not matter to God what you call yourself or who you claim to follow but how you live. It deos not matter to God who does and who does not believe in his existance. You seem to be under the immpression that God is keeping track of who is on speaking up for him and who is not. Presumably, those who are not are to be dealt a harsh discipline.
Have you considered that Jesus, who you believe to have walked the earth as a man, would understand the human condition and avoid making the mistake of seperating mankind into believers and non-believers. I will suggest that you follow your own advice and read your Bible. ut do so critically. Try to figure out what Jesus really said and how he really acted. Then, compare that with what you say and how you act. If you find yourself getting uncomfortable it is because you have been duped into thinking that you are special. You are not. That realization can be discomforting. But if you ever do get it, if you ever do find understanding, you will stop all this silly proselytizing and just get on with being god.
Sean
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ex-JW Community Not An Activist Community?
by mikepence inplease see http://xjwnews.com/article.php?sid=29&mode=thread&order=0 and add your thoughts in the comments section, or here.
reproduced here for your convenience:.
mike's corner: ex-jw community not an activist community?.
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SEAKEN2001
Mike,
until your last post I was getting pissed off with your lack of sense. I usually try to be of few words and I tend to just shrug my e-shoulders and just move on. But you are using tactics used by so many cult leaders to guilt people into action. Your suggestion that tose of us who don't share your passion for action against the WTS are not being "honest" with ourselves is heavy-handed and raises the cackels. Can't you just accept that this is not an organized "community" and search elsewhere for the memebership for your cause.
That's what I was going to say. <g> But now I see that you have admitted that you are learning. Ahh, aren't we all.
I would ask you (and all the others who are working to bring the WTS to it's downfall): How has the exposing of the WTS that you have personally experienced affected you on a personal level? Where you glad to find out that everything you had beleived in was a farce? Did that increase your trust in humans? in God? in anything? Even if you have managed to recover some sense of balance in your life what makes you think that others will be as strong? Are you willing to tear down the beliefs of others simply to prove to all you know that you were right about their precious "Society"? Will you be there to provide them the psychological therapy they may need to recover in their own lives?
If I were you, I would think about what kind of commitment your are willing to make personally to help these people you plan on seperating from their religion. What will you replace the missing bricks with?
Sean
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High Standards in "the world" ??
by IWish4Truth inyes, im a newbie here, so my idea is to get the different viewpoints of people with different experience, strength, and possibly some hope to offer.
it's quite obvious to me that my view on certain matters upset some but; oh well.
i can handle it.
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SEAKEN2001
IWish,
welcome to the forum. It will take some getting used to people disagreeing with your or getting upset over things you say. In the world of JW's this was considerred a bad thing. In reality, it is better to get a objection to your own views, in that it tests your true undertstanding of your topic or your own beliefs. If you are recently questioning the JW belief system you are likely still closer to the limited scope of thought among that group than you are to your potential for free expression and objective thinking. Don't get discouraged. It can be a hard road. But it is worth it.
As to your expressions about the lack of standards, I disagree with your assessment of the situation. It sounds to me like you're still relying on the rhetoric of the WT writing department. Perhaps you have not really been out into the world? Have you travelled? Have you been exposed to different cultures? Or have you been basing your comments on your own limited experience in your own community. If so, that's not really fair. How can you say the "majority of the world" has no standards if you have not been out into the world and studied the "majority"? Where is your data? What studies are you relying on to support this statement?
As you can see, most of us here will not simply accept your comments as being valid without supporting evidence. It has been my experience that "many" people have higher standards than do so-called "Christians" who often talk the talk without actually walking the walk, to borrow a corporate cliche. But that's just been my personal experience. It may not match your own. To get a real idea of what standards are like in the world we would need to study the data of many more communities objectively.
Sean
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48
Turn back on God because of WTS or JW's??
by IWish4Truth inin my opinion, it's one thing to not agree with organizations that impose certain rules upon it's members, but it's quite another to turn one's back on god himself because of disagreements.
is there not still some higher power out there who has the best interest of humans at heart?
how can it be denied, especially in these terrible times, that something or someone is gonna have to step in and take over and end this havoc.
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SEAKEN2001
I really don't have the time to type this reply because I'm too busy seeking my own selfish desire and acting immorally. But, just this once, I'll take a break from my self-serving life to comment on this all-important and all-consuming subject of God.
Please, when will it ever be allowed that people can make up their own mind about God and religion without being cast into the "evil" sin-seeking world of wicked "atheists" and god-haters and persecuters of his chosen people.
When you who espouse the belief in God criticize non-believers, do you ever step back and listen to yourself? Have you ever asked yourself, "if God is so good and the very epitome of love why is it such a big deal that we question him, even to the point of disagreeing with his 'hands off' policy"? I think to myself, if I am God I will allow anyone to question me and beleive as he/she sees fit. If I were of any other mind I would be false to what I myself claim to have given freely to all humans.
If you are comfortable with believing in a active God who actually participates in your life that is fine for you. I have absolutely no problem accepting you when you hold to those beliefs, nor do I have a problem with your discussing with me those beliefs. But why is it so hard for you to accept my lack of those same beliefs and accuse me of some wicked act if I attempt to discuss my beliefs with you? There is something wrong with that.
I imagine there are some among you christians who can honestly accept people who do not beleive in your god. But people of that sort are not in the majority among you. On the other hand, there appears to many among the "atheist" community of mankind who accept a wide variety of fellow humans regardless of what "god" they claim to obey and worship. I'm sorry, but I just could not continue to claim some sort of special relationship with God while associating with some so-called christain group, by whatever name. Actually, my understanding of Jesus Christ, is that he objected to ritual beliefs and religous attitudes in general. He believed in the Father and claimed to immitate him. That was it. He didn't make a big deal out of who believed in what and who joined or didn't join. Perhaps he was saying it doesn't matter what you believe as long as you're acting divinely, or being God.
But that just won't do will it? You will have to point out that man cannot be God, and on, and on, and on. You think it's so important to be right about God. You're right because God says you're right and God's right. Right?
Great comments from some of the other "atheists" here.
BTW, if I had to classify myself I would claim more to be a Deist than an Atheist. Not that it matters, but I prefer to believe in God and in life beyond our fleshly existence. No bathwater or babies were involved in this decision.
Sean
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Product Advice - Digital Cameras
by Celtic indo any of you know anything about digital cameras, as i need some advice on buying one.. the family are in the antiquarian print and map dealing business.
many of the old steel engravings are black and white with very fine detail, ink clarity in various stages due to fade out from age, early 1600's - 1860's.. we are looking to put some of these images onto the internet in specialised hosting communities that deal with this business.
image size flat is from a few inches square to 24"x20"+.. which camera would be particularly well suited to the purpose and which features would we be needing ideally?
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SEAKEN2001
There is no simple answer. It primarily depends on how you intend to use the images created by the camera. What concerns me is the fine detail found in maps. Most consumer grade cameras will not be adequate for capturing the detail. Size will also be a consideration. To digitize a 20" x 24" print will create a HUGE file size at even a medium resolution. Take your time and do your research. There are professional imaging devices available for this kind of work but they are usually only found in the Professional market and can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. If your family is not planning on professional results you can probably compromise somewhere along the line and preserve the quality you really need for the purpose you have. You can get professional equipment through a leasing company and pay a monthly fee plus an per image cost. Or, alternatively, use a service bereau and pay them to create your images for you.
I have an Olympus and it cost over $600 a couple of years ago. Same camera these days is less than $300. But it will definently NOT handle fine detailed etchings or text. Most consumer camera are great at capturing colored pictures. They are NOT good at capturing text or fine line drawings. That takes special equipment. Actually, a desktop scanner will usually be a better choice for text and line drawings, scanning at a high resolution in 2-bit or 4-bit depth. Files sizes can still get very large but the results are good when printing to hard copy. Screen viewing is poor with bitmaps in general so think carefully before you decide to splurge on equipment that won't create images that can be viewed on the screen anyway.
The advice to check the net and some of the sites mentioned is good. Take your time and learn something about the technology before you spend your money.
Sean