Posts by JamesThomas

130

Atheist Miracles

by Perry in

jw
friends

i reworded a variation of a common critique of atheists to my own liking.

no, i do not hate atheists, i love them!

they keep me from getting bored.

JamesThomas

It is much easier for Perry to believe he understands who he is and that he has a purpose, to feel stable because his core belief system is stable. For liberals and progressives this is not really possible because our core beliefs are less rigid and more willing to adapt as new information and understanding presents itself. Which means that we are reshaping our understanding of who we are and how we relate to society, even if in small ways.
The protective walls around Perry's core beliefs are tall and rigid. They are his identity. He believes that salvation is dependent upon being correct on issues of faith. When confronted on a particular belief, he is not only confronted on an idea held to rigidly but he is feeling an attack on the very core of who he understands himself to be. Our questioning him causes him to be jolted about his beliefs just as questioning a Jehovah's Witness does. (I know, I know- I had to go there. Because, Perry, you may have left the dangerous mind-control cult but your thinking process is the same as it ever was.)

OTWO, this was well said IMHO.

Would you not agree that like Perry, all of us are continuously weaving concepts and beliefs into our identity right this moment?

Can we clearly see how we allow our minds to create a seemingly “real” identity out of abstract thoughts, concepts, beliefs and occurrences? And if so, what sees this? What must remain outside the story to see the story? What are we really?

Just asking.

146

Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses

by Brother Jeramy in

allow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.

i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.

some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).

JamesThomas

Dear Jeramy,

Welcome, and as you can see coming here is going to expose you to all kinds of thought provoking opinions and ideas. Hopefully some will motivate you to look ever deeper into your beliefs; or hopefully help take you outside of all beliefs and abstract concepts entirely.

I applaud you for seeing through the JW sect and way of viewing “reality”. Yet, this is a superficial awakening -- as you still unquestionably champion the belief that a primitive anthropomorphic deity, introduced by ancient desert tribesmen is the mastermind and origin behind all the wondrous mind-boggling expression of life and universe. Can you not sense or imagine something infinitely greater? I'm certain most children can and do. There is a far deeper depth of being in the eyes of your family dog than anything you can ever read from your Bible....if you have eyes to see. If you have eyes to see...

41

How Do You Feel About All The Time You Wasted Being. A Jehovah's Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

all that i can say is....what a shame!

JamesThomas

I'm pretty much on board with freemindfade, on this one.

If you live in the past, you're depressed. If you live in the future your anxious. If you live in the present you can be happy.

In my world, most of our problems and angst can be traced to the mind habitually dwelling on the past (and extending it into the future which is just dwelling in more past), while at the same time being numb and blind to the present-moment that is generally void of problems. If you think about embracing someone while hugging your friend or lover, you miss all the wondrous real aliveness of the moment with your beloved. Same with all life.

It really helps to realize that you can stand back and watch the mind and all its commentary and story telling, and see clearly that none of it is you, because you are silently watching it (clearly see this and know this and you have just stepped outside the box that most humanity suffers in).

The mind can only express via learned past circumstance and knowledge gained. As far as the ever fresh and new reality of this moment it is speechless and pretty much useless -- unless you need to fall back on how to drive a car or bake a cake. 90+% of thought is needless and often painful (natures way of saying: "shut the fuck up -- be still")

Silent-presence is vast and beautiful, an extension of ones being, but it has to be appreciated and soaked in -- to know that.

40

What is the truth?

by hardtobeme in

jw
friends

that is what my professor of philosophy asked us last night at class.. he said that pontius pilate asked jesus that question and that it was a hard one that jesus couldn't answer.. what do you think about this question?

what is the truth?

does the gb has any truth?

JamesThomas

Can truth be defined from a fanciful position; or understood viewed through a lens of delusion?

Perhaps the foundational-truth – that many seem to be seeking in various degrees – can only be known via the light of our own true identity.; or in other words: by seeing clearly from and as we truly and genuinely are, rather than through what we merely think, assume or believe ourselves to be.

Stop for a moment, can it be seen that everything ever thought, believed, felt, and experienced as our entire existence is an ever-changing movement unfolding before a silent, unmoving presence that is closer and more intimately “self” than any cognizant thought, emotion or occurrence? What/who are we really?

Just asking.

113

Are you religious or are you spiritual? Wake up to what?

by Deltawave in

there is a huge difference between been religious and been spiritual.

been religious is about been superior to others in the sight of god.

however, been spiritual is about self awareness, inner peace and unity with the natural world.

JamesThomas

...belief takes a holiday from reality

Well said.

The question remains: what beliefs, religious or otherwise, presently blinds us to what is genuine?

Radically and thoroughly subtract all beliefs and abstract mental concepts and stories about self and other -- and what remains? What is real?

22

How do JW's know that the bible is inspired?

by cappytan in

asked a friend of mine this question the other day.

here was his answer: "well, because paul said, 'all scripture is inspired of god...'".

but seriously, that argument is like saying, "the bible is inspired because it says so!

JamesThomas

Is the Bible inspired?

When I take a serious look at life and nature I am overwhelmed by its complexity and beauty.

When I take a serious look at the Bible I am perplexed by its childish contradiction and foolishness.

Personally, I have all the proof I need, that the Bible is not inspired by anything other than man's imagination.

14

Missing the point?! Is this what Jesus had in mind??

by Deltawave in

is this what jesus had in mind?

to be a spiritual person you must:.

underline your books.

JamesThomas

Delta,

I personally have no way of knowing what Jesus had in mind, or if he even existed. Other than that I pretty much agree with what you are saying.

Religious beliefs are generally just words and thoughts; abstract concepts weaved by the fantastic imagination of the mind that are far removed from any actual reality or truth that they proclaim to contain.

Every thought ever thought and every word ever written about a tree, is not a tree.

16

Are Jehovah's Witnesses ever "good enough", must they remain anxious and fragile for fear they will not be saved by their works?

by Trailer Park Pioneer in

as a jehovah's witness you know you can never do enough without hearing stories of another witness doing twice what your doing and living off half the money your living on because they give all their time and money to the watchtower.

this is totally bunk, reading romans 7:21-24 paul knew his condition was hopeless without the free gift from god.

paul put all his emphasis on jesus christ, not some self-appointed apostles whose proof offered up is over 150 years of failed prophecy!

JamesThomas

If you worship an immoral deity know to commit genocide at the drop of a hat, you are never good enough. You can only hope that within the myriad to be killed, you are somehow over-looked.

That's the price paid when reality is exchanged for words in a book.

160

"The organisation is imperfect, but it doesn't affect my relationship with Jehovah"

by Alive! in

i've noted active, devoted jw's state the above.. and, it's not a problem for me to remain trusting of god, i just don't trust religions or men.. recently, a member of this forum stated that he remains an active jw, in the family of god's people, wanting to encourage and do good - whilst recognising that the pastoral leaders (the gb) have shipwrecked the faith of many, being unsound scripturally etc, etc.. stop and think about this - the bible says to not follow after those who lie and hurt the faith of "little ones".. the pharisees were accused of traversing over lands and expending much energy to make a single convert - only for that convert to end up worse of than he started off with.. it's one thing to not believe this is the 'truth' and feeling the awful pressure of managing ones life, trying not to lose ones family.. it's quite another thing to declare oneself to be a christian believer of god's jw household, and somehow believe the god of love would use corrupt liars to parade as jesus' brothers in the urgency of last days.

really?

and, to then visibly promote faith in corrupt men, and try to bring converts into a place where the rulership is wrong.. some of us are dying from hurt here.......give me a break..

JamesThomas

When people surrender their life to a primitive tribal deity created by ignorant sheep herders thousands of years ago, don't expect any sane activity to follow.

12

Christ in You The Hope of Glory:Being Realized

by hopeofglory in

the mystery of the ages was revealed to the gentiles 2000 years ago.

the mystery is "christ in you, the hope of glory" (colossians 1:27).

the churches do not and never will teach this even though it was revealed to the gentiles.

JamesThomas

The mystery of the ages was revealed way before 2000 years ago. Restrictive time tables and names is only a product of the story-telling mind.

That said, Hopeofglory, I feel your core message is a very noble one. However, the language of Christian mysticism is extremely awkward and often contradictory. Why use the Bible and its phraseology in an attempt at a pure message when the book itself is so full of crap? It is also an extremely confusing exercise in non-duality via duality.

What you are trying to convey ultimately has nothing to do with religion or belief systems at all, so why use language that is overly loaded with preconceived concepts and strong held beliefs? Why muddy the waters? Saying nothing, may be more productive (IMHO).

Perhaps it is best to focus on ourselves; and if we see we are standing on a soapbox delivering an earthshaking message, it is likely a huge ego at play, and we have made no real progress at all.

Better to be like a salt doll thrown in a river.

Does this make any sense?