this is a touchy topic for some because of strong beliefs about god's nature.
many believe that the nt bible is a law book, designed to give us exacting instructions and formula on what to do and not to do.
on prayer to the holy ghost (holy spirit), the new advent says:.
Ross, since you imply our messages are basically the same, why is it that when I speak of a truly unlimited and infinite God, it is most often those who boldly label themselves as "God Loving" that ignore or are offended by such posts? Why is it that generally the more scriptures a person quotes, the less likely they are interested in hearing of what truly has no beginning and no end?
j
this is a touchy topic for some because of strong beliefs about god's nature.
many believe that the nt bible is a law book, designed to give us exacting instructions and formula on what to do and not to do.
on prayer to the holy ghost (holy spirit), the new advent says:.
Ross:
James:
Its one thing living in God, but the rational mind also likes to be able to explain it somewhat to others. You are no different. You still try to point to something that is bigger than ourselves by using words. At best we can describe something huge and all encompassing and say that its bigger than that...
Actually if there were no words in my posts they would be closer to the mark.....and so beautifully Zen. It's just that one of my pet peeves is how tenaciously the mind wants to reduce and define God as if it is just another thing or personage (or three personages), just another piece or fragment of existence which moves about through time and space. This type of language most always reinforces the sense that we are separate from the Divine, and so we need to do something in order to enter it's little circle, appease it somehow or motivate it to save us and come to us. This causes a great deal of suffering in the world and divides us into the godly and the ungodly. It's all BS. What does all time and space exist within??? What is the truth of being and existence at every ones and everything core right now???
On the other-hand I feebly -- and all too often sounding like a arrogant ass -- attempt to point to what is truly without beginning and end, and so then the actual reality of our foundational BEING and real Identity here and now. It's not about appeasing or moving towards anything apart from us. It's about seeing what IS -- ALREADY.
If others also fumbled around trying to point to a truly INFINITE Source, rather than a somehow circumscribable, confusing and conditional one, I probably wouldn't feel a need to step in and mess up their threads.
That said, in the end, what anyone of us says or don't say, doesnt matter.
j
my parents became jw's in the early 60's just before i was born.
i was raised as a jw but hated everything about it from a very early age.
going door to door was the worst growing up.
Welcome, ex-nj-jw.
I can't get rid of the deep seated hatred I feel for this cult and its teachings!!! It's been 24 years, you think I'd be over it already!!! Anyone here feel the same?? How do I move on??
I suggest you sit silently, and nonjudgementally meet with the hatred.
Clearly see that it is just old thoughts and connected emotions; and more importantly clearly see that which is meeting with the hatred is not hatred; not in turmoil.
Now you have the power to consciously decide what you will do. Continue to feed the hatred, or bid it good day and move on.
If you decide to let go of it and move on, it may show its face again. Not a problem. Nonjudgementally sit with it again as if it was a hurting child. Be kind. In this way hatred becomes a teacher showing you the dynamics of the mind and body. You begin to see more clearly what you truly are, and are not.
j
i hope this will be as respectful a debate as possible.
here is the premise: many of us (most) seem to be ex jw's on this board.
that means, whatever your motivation, for a time you bought into the theology of jw to one degree or another.
If we worship as the "most high" an image of a god which kills, then the highest morals set before us are extremely low and very dangerous. It's a small step for us to kill in the name of our ruthless little deity.
j
my wife and grandaughter went to church with me this morning.
i really would like to believe in god and christ but it all comes from the bible and the first scripture that was referred to was a contridiction.. 1 sam.
15:29 says,"he will not feel regrets, for he is not an earthling man so as to feel regrets.".
I just don't know what to think of life and God.
Take the hint, and stop thinking about life and God.
A time comes when wisdom arises and sees all thoughts about God and Life, are void of the reality of God and Life.
Stop thinking about what is ultimately significant, and just be with Life, right here, right now, in the only real expression of Life there ever is.
You now know that thoughts and beliefs are not the way. So, what's left?
Think only when necessary. The mind is a tool only. The rest of the time SILENTLY be present and really feel what it is to be alive. Feel the air as it passes through the nose. Feel the chest expand and contract with each breath. Feel and be present with LIFE; with REALITY.....and see what beauty arises.
Sit and silently watch the mind. Clearly see that all thoughts and their connected emotions are only passing clouds upon the unmoving still pool of Consciousness which is the most close, immediate and intimate of what you truly are. Look deep into this pool of pristine purity and realize what you really are....what all truly IS.
You are not anything which is believed to be. Genuinely know thyself; and you will have found what you seek. It's that close.
j
the wts has this nice little explanation for everything.
how can man be .
only six thousand years old, how could a global flood have actually taken.
I believe in the strength of knowledge and understanding.
Not a problem. However, without knowing yourself first, without differentiating between what is REAL and what is not, within you, how can there be any genuine knowledge and understanding?
j
this is a touchy topic for some because of strong beliefs about god's nature.
many believe that the nt bible is a law book, designed to give us exacting instructions and formula on what to do and not to do.
on prayer to the holy ghost (holy spirit), the new advent says:.
The Gospel of Thomas seems to indicate the same concept.
Bernadette, I suggest that if you sincerely feel a sense of agreement that our true Source is genuinely limitless and boundless, that you then not be satisfied with it being a "concept". Rather, earnestly seek within your most immediate and intimate sense of being and existing. Look past the mind and all it's words, beliefs and concepts, and discover what is wondrously and undeniably Real.
Realize what you really are.
j
the wts has this nice little explanation for everything.
how can man be .
only six thousand years old, how could a global flood have actually taken.
WHAT IF I AM WRONG AGAIN?
It's garanteed you'll be wrong, unless you step out of the minds conjecture and concepts.
You can not get the reality you seek out of a book, or from other peoples thoughts and beliefs, or from your own thoughts and beliefs.
Learn to differentiate between what is thought, and what is real. Still the mind and venture deep into the actuality and reality of silent existence at the core of your being.
You can not know living Truth, as the changing world of things are conceptually known. The truth you seek is silently lived -- as your own unfathomable Being.
j
this is a touchy topic for some because of strong beliefs about god's nature.
many believe that the nt bible is a law book, designed to give us exacting instructions and formula on what to do and not to do.
on prayer to the holy ghost (holy spirit), the new advent says:.
This is a touchy topic for some because of strong beliefs about God's nature.
Ah yes -- beliefs about God's nature.
Beliefs are thought. Unreal pictures and words playing upon the invisible screen of the mind. Practical in many ways, but when it comes to the Reality which the word G-O-D points to, the mind's thoughts and beliefs can only diminish and break apart what is truly unbreakable. The Bible is a grand display of thought fragmenting and minimizing the Divine. A small god, expressed by small minds, for our small minds. Fiction.
What is it that all gods, all seemingly separate and isolated things and phenomena exist within? What truly has no beginning and no end? What is it which unites everything and everyone -- no matter what little shard of existence our minds create to which we pray?
j
i was able to find a list of people killed by god, but not satan.
did satan actually kill anyone?.
sab, brick testamentnumber killedcumulative totallot's wife for looking backgen.19:26, bt11er who was "wicked in the sight of the lord"gen.38:7, bt12onan for spilling his seedgen.38:10,. bt13for dancing naked around aaron's golden calfex.32:27-28, 35, bt30003003aaron's sons for offering strange fire before the lordlev.10:1-3,. num.3:4, 26:61, bt23005a blasphemerlev.24:10-23, bt13006a man who picked up sticks on the sabbathnum.15:32-36, bt13007korah, dathan, and abiram (and their families)num.16:27, bt12+3019+burned to death for offering incensenum.16:35,.
Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinnedWho was the cause of that sin??
Good thing us humans have morals higher than the ruthless bible god, or we would be killing the children and grandchildren of those people who committed a capital offense.
j
