there is no typical jw personality type.. any of us who were in the religion for a number of years will remember all sorts of individuals.
there is as much variety among jws as there is in the general population.
some were arrogant and judgemental but others were humble and kindly.
cofty,
Talking about global flood (sea-level rise) is the sign of people who are genuinely concerned about the future, not the sign of a cult. For example, (http://www.worldwatch.org/files/pdf/Livestock%20and%20Climate%20Change.pdf) (http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?newsID=20772#.VtqJ83194rg). (http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs339/en/).
many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of god.
it seems they feel that it is god’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts..
people’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning!
many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of god.
it seems they feel that it is god’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts..
people’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning!
Cofty,
You have done your best as you are a worshipper of evolution theory—I envy your zeal and integrity to a theory.
many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of god.
it seems they feel that it is god’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts..
people’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning!
Freemindfade,
You said: “The universe is indifferent, there is no "God", that's not so difficult to reconcile.”
Indifferent universe is how we perceive it to be. There are many people who profusely thank God for good things in life and they also fault God and others for pain and agony. Yet a balanced view can see that both aspects emanate from a purposeful plan, but our mind perceives them as positives or negatives due to the subjective power of the minds discrimination. Deeper introspection reveals all that is felt or transpires is neutral in nature and meant to balance the cosmic existence. Water, for example, is key for sustenance of life. Our body is almost 60% water/blood in a cycle of circulation. Fresh air is inhaled and stale air exhaled. Medically, smooth functioning of the digestive system is an endorsement of wellness. Extreme weather conditions, floods or earthquakes, etc, causing torment, are in fact mind-boggling acts of ecological, geological and biological equilibrium. There is a definite purpose to all activities. The so-called good or bad is, thus, interwoven in myriad ways incomprehensible for many.
Therefore, be it pleasure or pain all events are meant for sustenance of the infinite ladder of life. Whether individuals understand or not, underlying realities matter little in the super-scale of grand hierarchy though personal preferences are determined by our needs and greed. Prayers change nothing, but our own mind doesn't accept whatever is ordained. If God were to speak to or advise each one of us that He means the best for each being in Creation, the mind would have rejected Gods decrees on the premise that God is ignorant of what is good for each entity. This may be the reason why God chose to work in absolute silence.
many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of god.
it seems they feel that it is god’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts..
people’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning!
We have no answer to the question “Will God intervene if he cares for mankind?” We can only say it is good if He does.
But I personally feel that He should not intervene, and this system of things should end in a nuclear holocaust. Why do we need humans on earth who do not care for fellow humans, other species and the environment itself? How long can a person expect to cut a branch and continue to sit on?
many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of god.
it seems they feel that it is god’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts..
people’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning!
Many people find it difficult to reconcile suffering and existence of God. It seems they feel that it is God’s obligation to shield humans from ill-effects of their short-sighted acts.
People’s hobby has something to do with this kind of reasoning! When something good happens, they easily see their hard-work as the cause behind it. When something goes wrong, they seek to blame others, which goes even up to God.
Yet it is not very difficult to see cause behind suffering here on earth itself without going out into outer-space. In the case of individual, our vision may be limited. Yet in the case of nations, we can see cause behind their suffering. Jews are a sample case. They have been a suffering nation many a time. William Shakespeare knew Jews mainly as money lenders (for example, The Merchant of Venice)—a trade that has the potential to invoke enmity in others. Jesus knew them as those creating trouble even for the innocent. (Mathew 23:37) Their forefathers adopted an exclusive mentality saying they are the chosen people of God and others are pagan, which too made people inimical toward them. Another example is of African nations who are known for their poverty. Even when the affluent restrict the number of children being born to them, the poverty-stricken nation do not seem to show any restraints in this vital aspects—which invite suffering for them.
If such short-sighted acts of nations can bring suffering for them, the same principle applies to individuals too though cause may not be visible at times.
i am amazed at how people will go to extreme stretches of logic to explain or justify the supposed actions of their god (lower case g intentional, no upper case deserved).
i have seen people with wonderful bullshit detectors in normal life, throw all of that ability away in order to retain their hope of a creator who cares for them.
i am agnostic, certainly not atheistic, since i think atheism is not provable.
Cofty,
I do not have a definition of God. I was just saying my position: We can find both: order and disorder, suffering and sorrow, rich and poor, health and disease, pleasure and pain ….. Taking one side, one can say there exists a God whereas taking other side, one can say God does not exist.
The very fact that religions do not agree with each other shows that God is not interested in people having correct knowledge about Him. If He is not interested, Why should we?
If you are in the Now (being fully involved in whatever you do), you are in heaven [if you are distracted, or if you try to correct other people, have expectation from others, do things the society does not approve ... you make your life a hell]. It means Heaven can be a reality in your life even if you do not believe in God or not.
i am amazed at how people will go to extreme stretches of logic to explain or justify the supposed actions of their god (lower case g intentional, no upper case deserved).
i have seen people with wonderful bullshit detectors in normal life, throw all of that ability away in order to retain their hope of a creator who cares for them.
i am agnostic, certainly not atheistic, since i think atheism is not provable.
xelder,
You very truthfully put: “the Bible is clearly a record of people's attempts to justify their actions and beliefs by transferring those actions and desires to be in line with god's will.”
Recently, Christendom theologians have come out with their "best" explanation of suffering—Suffering exists because ‘God too wants to experience suffering through the suffering of humans, or when we go through suffering, Jesus and His Father are completing their suffering through us.’
There is order in the universe (hence the word cosmos) which argues for God's existence. Then there is also chaos in the universe which argues against the existence of God. That means God has left the belief optional, leaving each one to come to his own conclusion.
according to quantum theory and non-locality, two particles, can act in unity.
for example, take a and b (photons or electrons for example).
pair them, then separate them, and put them on either side of the planet.
Prologos,
You put a great truth in a humorous tone.
Your comments remind me something else: God’s style of functioning! In some major religions, the word God as they use in their language also means “one who acts in a way that he does not exist” which enables each person to have his own conclusion about God. When we see order in the universe, one can say He exists, yet one can also see chaos where he can also say He does not exist. Why, even when scriptures are trampled with, He does not prevent it.
according to quantum theory and non-locality, two particles, can act in unity.
for example, take a and b (photons or electrons for example).
pair them, then separate them, and put them on either side of the planet.
sparky1,
You completed my post. Thanks for that!
