Posts by Utopian Reformist

116

Can any believer answer this?

by LucidSky in

it was the point i decided to become agnostic.

i found my final stumbling block in my search for god.

i asked (myself as well as others): why would god create carnivorous animals before sin?

Utopian Reformist

Here's an additional "spoke" to stick in the biblical "wheel" or just for thinking out loud:

If the original created paradisaic environment containing plant, animal, ocean and human life was perfect, then explain the logic behind the limitation in their lifespans (other than mankind's pending reward with the tree of life prospect).

If sin had not existed, would Adam have fed the animals and sea creatures from the tree of life so they could enjoy eternity too? If not, for what purpose would their deaths serve other than fertilizer? Obviously, they were not needed for sacrificing since sin had not occurred, thus precluding any arrangement for atonement.

How would the Creator help Adam cope with the eventual deaths of animals he may have befriended and raised as companions? What explanation would be given him, or does human perfection entail an absence of emotions other than joy? Interesting, huh? Why would the omniscient Creator develop life forms with term limitations in so many millions of species? If eternal life is the grand reward awaiting humans someday, will it include a full-range sampling of all species (plant, insect, mammal, reptile, amphibian, cellular, fish, even dinosaur) of life as we know it today?

Did the introduction of sin (disobedience?) and punishment cause enough imperfection to mutate the once perfect genes in all the main varieties and species of creatures to spring forth and evolve into the many unpleasant types we are not usually fond of today?

9

WATCHTOWER TAKEN DOWN

by Smokey in

i have been pondering a lot of what is going on with jws regarding the current issue of child molestation and i am concerned that a lot of this will be settled out of court and these horrible crimes will not be remembered.

i know already that this situation has died down somewhat since it first came to light.

i feel really bad and hope that these people will receive their justice.

Utopian Reformist

Unfortunately for mankind, human society will continue to be plagued with organized religion just as politics, corruption, crime and disease have been taking their toll for centuries. Hopefully, modern science along with medicine and technology can assist the human race in a positive manner and be used for global benefit, perhaps demonstrating once and for all to the Creator/Divine Being that mankind is ready, willing and prepared to meet, learn and live and work together in perpetuity.

Personally, I believe most of the unexplained prophecies in the bible are either already fulfilled in history or simply not inspired. I believe if the 144,000 were literal, they were definitely chosen before the end of the first century (simple math). I believe after the apostle John passed on, ALL organized "christian" religions since then are an apostasy, but an apostasy to what? We may never know whether until after death or divine intervention, if it ever comes.

One thing is for certain, organized religions have proved that they definitely do not have any better answers, and never will. The toughest part of deciding to keep some sort of faith in your life after leaving a cult or religion is realizing and accepting we do not have any definite answers and it is impossible to speculate within reason or logic. You may spend an eternity searching for "truth" which may not be available, and that could very well be the Creator's plan. Would you share top secret informaiton with a planet in this condition? Where is the line drawn between pity, compassion and love and frustration? Maybe we have to demonstrate more achievement, I don't know. Perhaps the atheists and agnostics are further along spiritually than the rest of us, allowing and accepting our limitations and being content and continuing productive lives void of pointless debates.

I have resigned myself to accept I do not have the power nor energy any longer to seek the impossible. If the Creator is there waiting and has a timetable, so be it. I hope his plans are positive and are activated soon, if not, I hope science keeps expanding life and medicine can fnd ways to preserve it. I am just glad to be out of organized religion and have one less parasite feeding on my little corner of this world.

19

The Next Big JW Issue?

by larc in

jw
friends

what do you think will be the next big jw issue that should be brought out into the open?.

i think it could be the extreme physical abuse of women and children.

with all that bill bowen is doing, i don't think that he should be the one to take this on.

Utopian Reformist

TAXES!!!

35

How do ex-JW's actually choose another religion?

by buffy in

jw
friends

ok, here's my question.

how do you go from being a jw to being a whatever (methodist, lutheran, etc.

) i've been invited to go to many churches with friends, but, i have no desire to ever set foot in any church.

Utopian Reformist

In addition, since the term spirit and spirituality have a broad range of meanings and applications, why not consider developing and nurturing the types of spirit that are borne from feelings and emotions. This too is a form of spirituality.

For example, aren't you happy when you help someone? That is a spirit of joy. When it happens, don't let it fade. Hang onto it. "Pay it forward" so to speak, and pass it around. There is alot of beneficial fruitage humans are capable of without resorting or relying on religious motivation for everything.

Making someone happy, even yourself, does not require attending meetings, deep study of religious material or a sense of obligation and compulsion. All that is required to spread more good in this world is MOTIVATION and EFFORT.

I help people because they NEED it and the results make me feel like a contributor. It has nothing to do with anyone's beliefs or religion. If you need a belief system just to figure out that people should help one another and reduce human suffering, then I question your ability to comprehend in general. Remove the veils and blinders, and start smelling the roses in life. Get out there and contribute. Earn a new degree or your first! Find a way to volunteer! Meet and help your neighbors. Patch up broken relationships, make the first move with lost contacts. Pay your bills! Clean up your credit, your house, your garage! Build something, learn a craft, study music, play an instrument. Get a hobby. Travel, learn a new language. Play sports, join a club. Move to a new area! Just do something for your sake and LIVE!

Start living and fill your life with enriching, enlightening things and keep learning and improving at everything for as long as you are alive. I forgot the person who said this, but it goes "do all the good you can, for as long as you can, to as many as you can" and you will have a good life.

35

How do ex-JW's actually choose another religion?

by buffy in

jw
friends

ok, here's my question.

how do you go from being a jw to being a whatever (methodist, lutheran, etc.

) i've been invited to go to many churches with friends, but, i have no desire to ever set foot in any church.

Utopian Reformist

Have all of you lost your minds? Have you succumbed to weakness all over again and insecurity?

If you are still inclined to serve your God and feel a love for him, then just do that on your own, in privacy and allow the rest of the world to marvel at your inner peace and happiness and learn beneficial examples from your behavior and interaction with human society.

If you feel the need to place yourself in a regimen again, or need group validation and approval to feel like your worship and relationship with your Creator is meaningful, then I say beware because you are sliding back into co-dependency.

Your relationship with your Creator is YOUR personal responsibility, and cannot be shared. Haven't you learned that organized religion does more harm by interfering with that relationship? Your mediator is supposedly Jesus Christ, not any group or humans with labels, and denominations.

Get a hold of yourselves, get a grip, take control, take responsibility for your personal beliefs and stop leaning and depending on other humans for what you alone will have to answer for in life and in death---YOUR ACTIONS.

You own your name and your life and the Creator knows it and only you will be blesses and/or judged as such, according to the record of your life's actions and reactions.

Now, if the Creator exists for you, and you still desire to worship and serve him, then begin communicating with him directly. If He exists, and still loves the human family, and you believe some or all of the Bible, then he obviously hears prayer and cares for all creation. That should be enough for anyone.

Why waste time in an organized group who will only attempt to speak for God, attempt to explain the unexplainable, attempt to interpret debatable concepts and only add more religious baggage to your life?

Haven't you had enough? If you want community, if you want company, if you want friendship, if you want people in your life, then go make friends! Make friends by meeting people without religious premises and see humans for who they are, in all varieties and develop a real rapport with someone, anyone or everyone.

The best common ground is always kindness to strangers and trust. Give it shot, you won't be disappointed. Almost all humans desire the same things, like love, peace, security, etc..

Show some of that and you will make people feel comfortable, cared for and they will reciprocate. And for once, do it from pure motivation, not from a religious frame of reference and see the difference it makes in your life.

Just my $1.98 on religion in general.

7

URGENT NEED HELP!!!

by Utopian Reformist in

i urgently need help tracking and identifying a new elder in this area.

m. girard basora (calls himself boris)currently serving with the cranston, ri congregation.

please let me know if anyone knows him, knows of him, or remembers him from the past.

Utopian Reformist

THANK YOU. Help no longer necessary.

7

URGENT NEED HELP!!!

by Utopian Reformist in

i urgently need help tracking and identifying a new elder in this area.

m. girard basora (calls himself boris)currently serving with the cranston, ri congregation.

please let me know if anyone knows him, knows of him, or remembers him from the past.

Utopian Reformist

THX ZEV, LISA and OUT2BFREE:

Can anybody try his name with other east coast (MA, RI, CT) contacts you still have and see if it brings up anything?

I really need the info ASAP. I appreciate any/all efforts and will owe everyone bigtime! Here's the info again!

M. GIRARD BASORA (goes by BORIS)
serving as elder in CRANSTON, RI congregation

7

URGENT NEED HELP!!!

by Utopian Reformist in

i urgently need help tracking and identifying a new elder in this area.

m. girard basora (calls himself boris)currently serving with the cranston, ri congregation.

please let me know if anyone knows him, knows of him, or remembers him from the past.

Utopian Reformist

THX ANYWAY LISA! How are you and your family doing? I hope everyone is GREAT, HAPPY and HEALTHY!

We have been so busy that it's impossible to describe. I hope to get back to posting again soon. I miss the gang! I hope all is well with everybody.

Right now, I really need the background on this elder ASAP so I am scrambling for information. Hopefully some of the east coast contingent will help out. If not, I can always call Alan as a last resort.

Anyway, great to hear you're alive and kicking! YOU GO GIRL!

7

URGENT NEED HELP!!!

by Utopian Reformist in

i urgently need help tracking and identifying a new elder in this area.

m. girard basora (calls himself boris)currently serving with the cranston, ri congregation.

please let me know if anyone knows him, knows of him, or remembers him from the past.

Utopian Reformist

HI EVERYBODY:

I urgently need help tracking and identifying a new elder in this area. His name is:

M. GIRARD BASORA (calls himself BORIS)currently serving with the Cranston, RI congregation. Please let me know if anyone knows him, knows of him, or remembers him from the past. Let me know your experiences good or bad and help me put together a quick profile.

I need everyone's help today as this relates to an urgent committee situation. You can post here or send me e-mail to " [email protected].

Thx alot!

623

Name the song from a snippet of lyric

by Simon in

and no cheating by searching on the internet!.

a man my age is very young so i'm told.

why do i feel so old.

Utopian Reformist

Here's one for the sixties / protest & psychadelic crowd:

The year was 1967 and this song was banned by the US GOVT:

"the eastern world, it is exploding'"
"violence flaring, bullets loading"
"you're old enough to kill, but not for voting"
"so tell me what's that gun you're toting"
"even the jordan river has bodies floating"

"and you tell me over and over and over again, my friend, you say you don't believe we're on the ******** ** **************!

It's my all time favorite reflection song from the sixties.