Posts by venus

6

Suggestions for bookreading

by CitizenofEarth in

i just read the "atheists book of bible stories" by fred titanich, and i rather enjoyed it.

alot indeed.

do you have any suggestions for books that touches the same subject?

You will find this problem with every scriptures because they are not meant for literal reading just like currencies are not meant to be viewed as just a piece of paper. Talking snake, talking donkey ... are the clues that they are not literal. What is being conveyed matters not the means through which it is conveyed. Here is a sample how I benefit from scriptures:

In the OT, Joseph was sold by his own brothers out of jealousy which backfired on them later—the very thing they wanted to not happen (fulfillment of Joseph’s dream) happened. This teaches you would reap what you sowed / thought. Good story—whether true or false.

In the NT, Jesus reaped what he did not sow. In spite of the good things he did for them, they returned evil to him. This too is good story whether true or false because it teaches us a practical lesson: You do your duty without having expectation of others because people act according to their liking.

Both the principles are needed for our lives:

One teaches where we should have expectation (expect results for everything I do), and the

other teaches where we should not have expectation (don’t have expectation about others)

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

I have a subtle approach in this matter; hence I perceive in her an inner beauty I really feel jealous of. As many others she too had doubt about God (in which case she is equal to others), yet could choose a life of benevolence. (http://time.com/4126238/mother-teresas-crisis-of-faith/) It means she had a practical psychology that tells her: If God exists, what I do would well be received by Him; if He doesn’t exist, still it is good because I lead a life that brings benefit to my fellow creatures. In either case, she was not a loser.

17

Today's WT Paragraph 4

by Slidin Fast in

i thought that this little gem deserved a thread of it's own.. 4. why is it important for us to be present at the memorial if at all possible?.

4 reflect on the importance of attending the memorial.

remember, congregation meetings are part of our worship.

venus

Jesus says:

'Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles...and all your meetings including the memorial?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’--Mathew 7:22, 23

When someone tells God, “I really love you because my name need to be kept in your “book of remembrance”—“the book of life” this is not agape, but conditional love, ugly love, because it is based on need which obviously means I would not love you if I don't have any need.

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

Hi _Morpheus

You are free to agree with her critics.

My point was to highlight the fact that Mother Teresa was like any other women, but was behaving differently from them. When someone gifted her a luxurious car, it did not make her feel good about it as women often do. She put it for auction. A very rich man purchased it giving her a price 100 times more than its actual price which she donated it to her Charitable Trust.

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

Hi WhatshallIcallmyself,

You mean to say if one unscrupulous student manages to get a degree using some foul means, that would automatically discredit the degree of all students in the world who earned it through their hard work?

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

Hi Wasanelder Once,

Critics can say anything and it doesn’t cost a penny. I have visited Mother Teresa’s Head Quarters and seen things with my own eyes. Among the many famous AWARDS Mother Teresa received, very significant ones are the following:

Padmashree Award (for extraordinary service from Hindu Nation) August 1962

Bharat Ratna (Jewel of India, from Hindu Nation) March 1980
Pope John XXIII Peace Prize January 1971
John F. Kennedy International Award September 1971
Jawahalal Nehru Award for International Understanding November 1972
Templeton Prize for "Progress in Religion" April 1973
Nobel Peace Prize December 1979
Order of Merit (from Queen Elizabeth) November 1983
Gold Medal of the Soviet Peace Committee August 1987
United States Congressional Gold Medal June 1997

Six HONORARY DOCTORATES from world famous universities such as Harvard, Cambridge..); and numerous written about Mother Teresa.

In the interview (by Edward W Desmond, 1989) published by Time Magazine, to the question “Why have you been so successful?” She humbly said “Jesus was acting through me, and I am with Jesus 24 hours.” On question about conversion of people from other religions, she said: “My mission is to give Jesus to all. Seeing what I do they realize I am in love with Jesus.”

“During the award ceremony [Templeton Prize in England] Prince Philip said: “Mother Teresa, we know very well that you are the last person in the world who would seek rewards and recognition, but I also know that you are the first person that deserves all of that.”

If critics are right, then these Governments and universities were fooling themselves?

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

I admire the perfect understanding of Bernard Shaw with regard to the qualification of Bible to be God's word:

“No man ever believes that the Bible means what it says: He is always convinced that it says what he means.” --Bernard Shaw

7

Questions For Jehovah's Witnesses

by Vanderhoven7 in

here are some tough questions designed to determine honesty of the witnesses you meet.. 1. is post secondary education currently discouraged by your religion?

2. does your religion teach, that with rare exceptions, only baptised jws will survive armageddon?.

do you believe jehovah will completely destroy billions of people at armageddon?.

venus

JW claim of being the only true organization on earth reminds me of what Bernard Shaw wrote about patriotism:

“Patriotism is, fundamentally, a conviction that a particular country is the best in the world because you were born in it....”

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

Here is another example of one who is more than a human (Mother Teresa) who used to read daily this inscription on the wall of her bed room:

"People are often unreasonable, illogical and self centered;
Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;
Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;
Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;
Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;
Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;
Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;
Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;
Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and your God;
It was never between you and them anyway."

15

TRUE SCRIPTURE EXISTS, A LIVING ONE

by venus in

i find three categories of people according to the way they display their human qualities—(1) more than humans, (2) less than humans and (3) mixed in those qualities in varying degrees.. when i observe how they are all faring with their choices, it tells me what i should do and what i should not do.

hence my scripture is the mankind and letters are living human beings—present and past.

though it is not possible to see beyond an individual’s birth, i can see the history of nations (collective individuals) beyond their present generation into their past, through many generations which shows how their past deeds contributed to their present reality.

venus

Hi Wasanelder Once

I don't dismiss serious subjects saying "I like turtles."

I pay serious attention when people say things and try to read in between the lines. Here is one that shocked me from toe to head:

My professor related an experience which he encountered when his team made an expedition to Mali. They saw a woman living in a cave; yet taking care of 20 orphan children. She herself is an orphan. She has no facilities (even no light in the cave) which we are all familiar with, no income, no relatives and no outside support whatsoever. She is human in form, yet more than a human.