JamesThomas

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Posts by JamesThomas

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  20

  As An Atheist: Finding Real Spirituality After JWs

  by Seeker4 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've written on here several times about how the witnesses have a really shallow spirituality.

  remember how there were spiritual activities, "sacred service" as it was often called - bible study, prayer, meetings and field service - and everything else was considered not a spiritual activity, not sacred service?

  they toyed with expanding the 'sacred service' definition for a short time.

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  JamesThomas

  Seeker:

  Perhaps it might be better expressed as being connected with life, the world you live in, being in the here-and-now, awareness based on compassion for what is around you. I'm not exactly sure how to express it, but I see it as learning to live with as much awareness and respect and connectedness as possible.

  Yes, how to express what words can not capture: the reality and actuality which the mind exists within, but can not circumscribe. For me words like God, Divinity, etc, only point to what is actual and real, right here, right now. Not as some thing objective and separate, but rather so close, so connected, intimate and real as to be ones true and boundless identity.

  You explained as well has I have ever seen it explained, Seeker4.

  j
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  20

  As An Atheist: Finding Real Spirituality After JWs

  by Seeker4 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've written on here several times about how the witnesses have a really shallow spirituality.

  remember how there were spiritual activities, "sacred service" as it was often called - bible study, prayer, meetings and field service - and everything else was considered not a spiritual activity, not sacred service?

  they toyed with expanding the 'sacred service' definition for a short time.

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  JamesThomas

  I agree. The smaller our concept of god (the divine and sacred), the larger the sphere of evil. Having no god, there is no definable edge to what can be viewed as sacred and divine.

  j
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  24

  Do you still believe in the Return of Christ? 66% says in 2007

  by magdalenefan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i thank you for your support for my sadness over my divorce, and not taking in the faith of the witnesses no more.

  i tried the search engine for some articles and it said it was being updated.. i am still believing in the word of god, i dont believe anymore in greedy people.

  how many here believe that christ will still return?.

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  JamesThomas

  Dear Magdalenefan,

  Sounds like you are going through some stressful times. It's understandable you would want to reach out to a deity for some hope of salvation. However, I suggest going to the root of the problem, and quietly sitting and watching the mind. See how the mind creates a confusing grand-drama out of patchwork remnants of past-down beliefs and current emotional pain.

  When we uncover the dynamics of the mind and the agony that can result from blindly allowing the mind to dictate our "reality", we then have the freedom of choice to not go there. But we have to clearly see what's going on, first.

  There is a very peaceful witness to the minds activity; and it can be recognized as our foundational reality and identity. Then, life seems to not be so harsh around the edges. We have found a divinity far more real than any deity we seek outside the reality of here and now.

  Good luck.

  j
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  23

  Today Is My Point of No Return - Or Is It?

  by TheMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  almost every night, i would get a phone call from my book study overseer, asking how i was, where i was.

  whereas witnesses, when they experience hard times, stop going to meetings?

  of course, my wife and i want to leave the witnesses, and i don't want to offend anyone in the process.

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  JamesThomas

  My wife and I have decided that it would be best for us to just stop altogether. I think that, for us, it'll be much more painful if we dragged this out too much longer. Wish us luck!

  You are both wise. Follow your innate wisdom, and never forget the blessing of having each-other.

  Good luck!

  j
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  49

  Professed Atheists who have helped society

  by RWC in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  there seem to be quite a number of atheists who comment here.

  when they argue how bad religion has been for society they point to actions done in the name of religion that are indeed horrific, such as the inqusitions.

  there are also examples of course of non believers who have done great damage to society.

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  JamesThomas

  There are those who out of respect for a wondrous universe have created a god and worship it.

  There are those who out of respect for a wondrous universe can not accredit a measly god for it.

  So what? We're all here together.

  j
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  22

  Life with Jehovah's Witnesses...

  by Who are you? in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we are getting ready to host my mates extended family today.

  hosting this particular extended .

  family of jehovahs witnesses has become fairly predictable over the years.

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  JamesThomas

  Welcome, WAY.

  j
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  23

  Today Is My Point of No Return - Or Is It?

  by TheMan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  almost every night, i would get a phone call from my book study overseer, asking how i was, where i was.

  whereas witnesses, when they experience hard times, stop going to meetings?

  of course, my wife and i want to leave the witnesses, and i don't want to offend anyone in the process.

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  JamesThomas

  I want to leave. I see myself leaving. Just how do I get there? It seems I don't have a problem leaving, it's just my unwillingness to hurt people. Either way, why is this so difficult?

  So, leave.

  Stop worrying about other peoples reactions. You are not hurting people. They are hurting themselves; they will hurt because you are not what they want you to be....and this IS NOT YOUR PROBLEM.

  Get off the fence, leave, and let the chips fall where they may. Be true to yourself and your family.

  Focus more on the present moment with your family, and give less attention to the mind's drama concerning what others are going to think about it.

  j
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  6

  Conflicting conclusions.

  by Blueblades in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  two books that i just finished reading come to conflicting conclusions.

  the first one is by john mcgraw, brain and belief.

  the second one is by dr. don morse, searching for eternity.

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  JamesThomas

  Which is wishful thinking, which is actuality?

  Two sides of the same spinning coin, they are both wishful thinking. Actuality is simply not found within the imitations of words and thoughts.

  I strongly suggest we will never ever find the truth we seek in a book, belief, or in someone or something seen as separate. It will be discovered as the most real, intimate and immediate sense of self and being, or not at all.

  j
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  25

  Do you (still) pray to God?

  by Marcel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  im still a witness, but my mind is shunned, already.

  im staying for fear, since i dont have anything outside the jw's.

  im not a hardliner saying im sure jw's are wrong or god dont exists, but i confessed myself that i just dont know and i guess strongly that a menmade organization which behaves and acts like the wts cant be the right.

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  JamesThomas

  Welcome, Marcel.

  I pray occasionally. Not to a tiny image engraved in my head as before, but rather to the beloved, mysterious and intimate vastness of presence and existence.

  Having no God, Divinity has no definable boundary or edge.

  j
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  16

  O.P

  by Shadower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been given a question.what does o.p stand for?

  i have studied the nwt for quite a while and i have no idea what it is .

  can somebody enlighten me please.thanking you.

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  JamesThomas