Posts by JamesThomas

9

Second Life: Has anyone seen this?

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

i saw this today on one of the early morning shows.. was wondering if anyone has checked it out?.

.

Does God have any one organized religion he supports?

by general in

jw
friends

this is an open ended question meant to iniate a debate.. .

general .

JamesThomas

Does anyone have any insight they would like to share on this matter??

In agreement with Seeker4 here. If you are seriously looking for truth, I suggest you step back and have a nakedly honest and sober look at the factors which are involved in your dilemma.

You seem to be relying only on the Bible to ascertained your idea of "God". Generally what is found in it's pages is a very limited, anthropomorphic and paradoxical tribal deity. I doubt that any two people completely agree on the Biblical description of "God". Trying to form concrete conclusions using the Biblical-god as a medium, is like sculpting with liquidise mud.

May I suggest that you sincerely question your borrowed concepts of what the word G-O-D is referring to. Start by putting your Bible on a shelf, and then spending silent time in nature. Look through telescopes at the night stars, and microscopes at the endless life here, that you may get a deep sense of the vast infinite nature of the universe (there may be countless universes). Then ask yourself: is it wise to give credit to a limited tribal god for such INFINITE grandeur and beauty? Certainly the true Source and Sustenance of such living wonder must be greater still!

Words from books are only fossilized ideas and interpritations of the carnal mind. They are in no way the living reality which is feebly being referred to. Be with what is real. Silently meet with the truth and actuality of Life in and around you. Be still and see what words and thoughts have hidden from you. Look deep into the immediate and vibrant sense of being.

Perhaps God is not so small and conditional as to be restricted to a specific religion; or for that matter, confinable or influenced by any thoughts and beliefs.

j

11

Do you think that Jehovah and Jesus should take some of the blame?

by booker-t in

i truly love jehovah and jesus and no matter what i will always serve them, but sometimes i feel that jehovah and jesus are the blame for satan the devil getting totally out of control.

i just don't understand(and maybe never will) why jehovah and jesus have allowed satan and the demons to cause nothing but heartache for thousands and thousands of years.

people always talk about free will and that jehovah has a bigger plan ahead but why should people have to suffer misery in order to possibly gain happiness?

JamesThomas

It seems very common for confusion to be the result of unquestionably accepting the dogmatic beliefs that finite-tribal-deities are responsible for the existence of an infinite universe. Little wonder you can't make sense of it.

j

141

Maybe There's a Heaven...

by LittleToe in

i don't often open up discussions on my beliefs or experiences in life, but i feel a need, so please excuse me if you feel it untoward.

neither is this a poxy swan-song, i'm just opening up my heart a little.. today i had cause to reflect on a conversation i had with my [now ex-]wife shortly after my epithany.

everything was so new and unknown.

JamesThomas

Anima/animus?

No, I was not referring to phenomenal structures at all, be they conscious or unconscious.

The reason subjects such as this one get tossed around for thousands of years is that focus and importance is placed on the interrelationship of the phenomena of feelings, emotions and events. Such focus appears to separates "us" into the haves and have-nots, and supports and reinforces the belief and sense that "we" are all separate and isolated entities.

I was referring to That which unites us one and all. That which all phenomenal expression unfolds in and is dependent upon. More along the lines of what Steve is sharing.

j

16

Check out this amazing vocalist!! (I think she is also a JW)

by exwitless in

jw
friends

she has an amazing voice.

you have to hear it for yourself.

and while you're listening, check out the book case behind her.

JamesThomas

Angelic.

141

Maybe There's a Heaven...

by LittleToe in

i don't often open up discussions on my beliefs or experiences in life, but i feel a need, so please excuse me if you feel it untoward.

neither is this a poxy swan-song, i'm just opening up my heart a little.. today i had cause to reflect on a conversation i had with my [now ex-]wife shortly after my epithany.

everything was so new and unknown.

JamesThomas

Interesting thread you got going here, Ross.

May I suggest that there is that which is not alive, but rather is Life itself. There is that which is not loving or loved, but rather is Love itself. This actuality is the foundational reality of what we all are, what all existence IS. Sometimes it shines through the dense mind-generated life-story, and is quickly interpreted, labeled, flavored, colored and incorporated into the story.

The tale may be that it was some separate thing or some individual that touched us; when actually and truly this indescribably immediate, intimate, pure and vast Unity/Oneness/Love, is what we are. It's you.

j

24

Hi I am new at this

by lmspink in

hi i am new at this.

i am so glad to have found this site.

didn't realise there were so many people who felt the same way i do !!!

JamesThomas

Didn't realise there were so many people who felt the same way I do !!!!

So you feel like shaving your head and body, painting yourself purple and blue, and running naked through the streets too?

Welcome.

j

45

What is your favorite Bible Translation?

by Lo-ru-hamah in

do you have a favorite translation?

king james, niv, or others that i might not of heard of that are perhaps more poetically written.

or a style/version that you particularly like?.

JamesThomas

Sometimes, Terry, I wish you would take a moment to get your thoughts together that you may melodiously articulate your sense of things.

23

Don't know what to belief anymore?

by GBSJG in

i'm in my twenties and am raised as a jw by my parents.

i've been reading this board for over a year.

have read several books: crisis of consience, apocalypse delayed, who wrote the bible, the bible unearthed.

JamesThomas

[Do] you choose what in your mind is the most reasonable?

What is in the mind? Thoughts, ideas, interpritations, facsimiles and representations. None of it real; as a thought of a tree -- is not a tree.

The basis of your problem is simple: you seek truth in beliefs, when beliefs are inherently lies.

Thoughts and beliefs have an important and practical use in day to day existence. However, when it comes to discovery of ultimate Truth, nothing the mind can offer is IT.

When the mind is completely still and quiescent, what is here?

Stop giving credence to beliefs and mind generated stories and drama. Let go and fall into the vast depths of the silent and actual reality of Being within your most intimate center, and see what can be found here. Look past the mind's facades and discover what is Real. Realize what you really are.

Be still, and know...

alt

j

6

The heart of the true believer.

by Elihu/Elijah in

this is my first time posting.

i read many of the comments provided by forum users and immediately started to experience once more the pain and hurt that i, my wife, and others feel who have been labeled and made to feel unworthy by, the organization.

the way i cope in my life is to believe in god's own words, not man's.

JamesThomas

Welcome, Elihu.

Thank you for your concern and good will.

Continuing to study God's Word will solve your inner conflict.

If you are referring to study of the Bible, it may be more common -- because of the contradictory and confusing nature of the Bible -- to become more perplexed and conflicted. That said, if it works for you, it works for you.

Personally, much of my inner conflict was alleviated when I stopped reading the damn thing and stopped reducing the Divine to anthropomorphic tribal deities that required my appeasing.

j