Posts by Roski

65

'Crocodile Hunter' Irwin killed

by Simon in

jw
friends

.

very sad .

such an enthusiastic / passionate guy.. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/5311298.stm.

Roski

looking_glass ...

I think you'll find some posts from the Aussies (incl. myself) on another thread.

Perhaps Australians - in general - are a little less vocal about stuff. Just a cultural diference in some ways. I think Steve's somewhat 'over-the-top' personality was a little strange to some Aussies when he first became popular (remember he is a Queenslander) and maybe that is why he was first popular in the US; and maybe that is why he married a non-Aussie. Difficult to generalize. However, his divergence from the norm was a good education in itself - in many ways. All cultures change and grow in different ways and at different times and I think the legacy Steve has left to Australia is a good one. But, don't confuse silence with lack of concern and interest. Australian culture has changed significantly in the past few years - a product of globalization I'm sure, but the understated rather than the overstated is probably still more the norm.

52

Crocodile Hunter - Steve Irwin - DEAD!!!

by misspeaches in

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,20349888-2,00.html.

crocodile hunter steve irwin dead.

september 04, 2006 02:14pm.

Roski

Sad to see someone so passionate about the environment die so early. He grew up in a family of 'average' folks who loved the environment and turned their interest into a business. He created a further vision for that and worked hard to achieve what he did. He has done a lot of good for the environment and awareness of environmental issues in Australia and overseas. His zoo is not far from my home. Someone mentioned that his staff talked badly of him. Maybe he expected a similar committment from them? He missed his mum very much after her death - I hope they are together again.

23

grief & jw's?

by carla in

reading the other thread made me wonder, do jw's ever truly grieve at the loss of a loved one?

i can see in front of other jw's they feel the need to maintain the party line, but in private?

Roski

Firstly - my condolences to those who have posted about their loss - a loss is a loss regardless of the time that has passed.

In view of my experiece - and my family - I have wondered the same thing. I lost my son over a year ago and in that time have had no e-mails/calls from any JW ( just 2 e-mails from one -good- friend of 30 years). I knew and helped a lot of people during my time as a JW (I'm not df/da). Family are JW's. My father is still an elder and not one call from him or my mother. I have seen them twice - briefly - since his death and there has not been one mention of my son. I'm not sure JW's can process death well. After his death I certainly would have given anything to believe in an earthly resurrection, and it proved to be very painful that I could not. Maybe the belief of a resurrection hinders the grieving process - I'm not sure, I don't see why it should any more than other beliefs. I'm not sure that it isn't something to do with the denial of being part of this world/system, and psychologically/ideologically living in the 'new order'. Some dictatorships (eg Nth Korea) have lilttle evidence of cemetries - even war cemetries - and in their nationalistic rhetoric tends to deny death rates (beyond what would seem to be a normal cover-up of the economic situation) as a way of reinforcing racial superiority. It's just a guess. But certainly, the coldness makes grieving difficult - but maybe stonger in the end. It has helped me see why I felt uncommitted to the 'truth' after many years and has spurred me on to look at alternative points of view.

44

A 1975 story

by TooBad TooSad in

jw
friends

while i was in high school in the mid 60's i was told that the end was so near that i would not get to graduate from high school so i should not be concerned about being drafted due to the war in vietnam.

well i got drafted but did not pass my physical due to a medical problem.. i then considered go to school in the late 60's to enter the medical field.

i was encouraged by the elders not to do this because the end is so near and why get schooling for a profession that you will not need in a few years?

Roski

In Australia I can remember Ted Bromwich - CO - (whom I believe is now deceased) saying "We can't say for sure - but we can think - so lets think aloud....) and continue to count down the months to 1975, with suppositions re the creation of Eve. My mother still insists that the society didn't give any definite date :-( and my father (elder) still believes the society will get it right.... In the meantime I have had to pay for my own education ( will never go to high school) and that of my children (shouldn't waste time learing a musical instrument - etc.) and we battle on...now I have to try to convice my parents that they 'may' die in this system, or need aged care...and guess who they are angry at...???

65

Hard Evidence of Life After Death, is there any?

by Blueblades in

.

are you a blind believer or do you have evidence of a continued existence beyond physical death either personal in nature or from scientifically valid sources?.

blueblades

Roski

I'm not sure how 'hard' the hard evidence would need to be to a skeptic, however the VERITAS research program at the University of Arizona, among others, may provide some useful information. The Institute of Noetic Sciences also has some interesting information and links.

Some books I've read recently on this subject - and found interesting are:

Physics of the Soul - Amit Goswami, Ph.D.

Beyond the Brain - Birth, Death and Trranscendence in Psychotherapy -Stanislav Grof

The Physics of Consciousness - Evan Harris Walker

An Experiment with Time - J.W.Dunne

There are many other sites and publications available that deal with this subject in various ways and from various perspectives, however I think it is safe to say that there is an obvious shift in scientific thinking towards different models of the brain/consciousness paradigm. Quantum Physics obviously has much to do with this. In addition I think there are two other points to keep in mind. 1. Our science-based models are a product of Western philosophy and research and account for a very short peroid of history. Most (if not all) other cultures accept the belief of a spiritual world or 'afterlife' without question. 2. Personal experience cannot be quantified and reproduced in a laboratory - but does that make it any less valid? In academia in general there has been a shift from predominantly quantitative research to viewing qualitative research as being of equal merit. Perhaps for those people who have experienced a 'different' kind of phenomena the question is more easily answered, regardless of whether all scientists agree with the conclusions or not.

29

death of a friends child; funeral obligation

by franklin J in

jw
friends

a friend of mine just lost his young 4 year son in a sleigh accident.

the child ( the same age as my young caroline) sledded down the front hill of his property into the path of an on coming school bus.

terrible tragedy.. my wife and i ; who have known them for some time; must attend the service this eveing.

Roski

So sorry to hear of your friend's loss. It will be during the coming months that your friends will value the support you give them.

40

How do you feel about death?

by 3rdEye in

jw
friends

hi all, forgive me and my n00bness if this has been discussed, or if i started this thread in the wrong place.

how does everyone feel about death,and what happens to you afterward?

do you still believe what the wts teaches?

Roski

To those people who offered kind thoughts - thanks you.

40

How do you feel about death?

by 3rdEye in

jw
friends

hi all, forgive me and my n00bness if this has been discussed, or if i started this thread in the wrong place.

how does everyone feel about death,and what happens to you afterward?

do you still believe what the wts teaches?

Roski

Having been a JW for many years, this is a subject that, since leaving, I have given some thought. However due to lack of time and resources my progress has, until now, been limited. A couple of weeks ago my son died suddenly, and that has been quite a reality check in trying to get my thoughts together. My first reactions were - 1. as I kissed him godbye for the last time I definitely no longer felt fear of death. 2. If I could believe in anything I would llke to believe that an earthly resurrection is God's promise. No, I don't feel that life on earth would be boring as I believe knowledge is as infinite as the universe. Unfortunately I don't have the luxury of this belief, nor any other solid belief - at this stage. So, I have begun my search. With the kind assistance of one board member I have a list of books dealing with the bible's authorship and its historical perspective. I have ordered books on metaphysics, quantum theory, the afterlife, reincarnation and another version of the bible. This may be a lifetimes work and I don't know where it will take me - maybe the full circle. But I do know that I need to look at the evidence and find answers - whatever form they may take. My starting point is that I do believe in an 'intelligent' universe, and I do see logic in the argument for the continuation of an energy/force. Whether that force is extended within the paradigm of the Christian belief system or some other, I do not yet know. Numerous events occuring around the time of my son's death have propelled my thoughts along this line. Since leaving JW's (family still in) I have had a foot in each camp - sceptical of the bible and religion and leaning towards new age thinking and alternate philosophies, but still finding it difficult to disbelieve. I know the journey ahead will be a long one. I'm not at all sure this will help anyone else--just my thoughts.

12

Seoul court rules against (JW) pacifists who reject draft

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,261720,00.html

july 16, 2004. seoul court rules against pacifists who reject draft.

it says the threat from the north makes it necessary for all south koreans, regardless of religious beliefs, to do military service.

Roski

Actually, there has been quite a bit of debate in South Korea about this very subject, with some JW winning the right to not go to the military and not go to jail. The article you have quoted is the English language version, and not reflective of the whole debate. Also, recently a survey found that a large majority of people between the ages of 25-40 saw the USA as the major enemy and not North Korea. As of this month, South Korea has dropped the title of 'worst enemy' in relation to North Korea. Perhaps you would be surprised at the level of sympathy for the north, which is why this issue with the JW's got so far in the legal system. I'm not defending JW's(although they suffered in jail a lot), just setting the record straight. South Korea has no love of the US and is moving toward recognition of the North's regime at a rapid pace; maybe not by soem academics, but certainly by the younger generation....those with an increasingly large vote.

48

DATING OLDER MEN/WOMEN

by sandy in

what are your thoughts on this?

would you date someone significantly older than yourself?

have you done so in the past?

Roski

Haven't posted for a long time, but will reply to this...

My husband is 18 years younger than myself and from a different ethnic background. We have been together for 10 years. It was the marriage that would never work. I have kids but 'we' don't, although he comes from an asian culture than sees kids as a necessity. He told me that before we married he wanted to break it off - due to intense family pressure- but he couldn't control himself - he wanted to marry. Some of his friends, and family have experienced divorce and marriage problems, but we are fine. I once told him after a lot of family pressure that he could go if he wished, as I would not like to keep someone under force. He said "you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, how can I live without you....when you get old we will jump off a building together..." So there you go.....and..he is very good looking (as I am told constantly by females of either ethnic group). Maybe I was just lucky....