JamesThomas

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Posts by JamesThomas

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  10

  God's name ??

  by Ade in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i know this has probably been covered before, if so i apologize for dragging it up again.

  1) is it acceptable just because its an accepted pronunciation to call god je-ho-vah

  2) should the witnesses constantly be saying jehovah this and jehovah that, as it seems to me to be taking up gods name ( if it is correct ) in a worthless way.

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  JamesThomas

  Why is it important to pronounce an ancient tribal war gods name correctly? Superstition perhaps?

  I understand the desire to truly honor the Source of all life and universes as it's often an innate and powerful aspiration (it has certainly been one of mine). However, in this special circumstance -- showing reverence to our Fount and Sustenance -- perhaps it would be advisable to not just blindly give our highest form of honor and attention to a primitive deity; no matter what the masses do. When it comes to the actuality of God, it may be wise to throw tradition and personal deities to the wind.

  j
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  15

  Is a "Pure" religion an oxymoron?

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems that everyone i know who claims to be in the right religion, has the idea that their religion is some how more pure or perfect then all others.

  whether is a christian faith as a whole, or an individual sect of christianity.

  yet, no one seems to be willing to see that their religion, has, does and will do the same.

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  JamesThomas

  Pure religion clearly seen as an oxymoron, is a valuable observation, free2beme.

  Religion is a product of the ever-changing mind; as is our personal god(s) of which religion is but a story in which they dwell; as is the "me" whose story it all is.

  We have made an important discovery that the minds "spiritual" and "personal" fruits are unreliable. So, now what? Shall we pick more apples? Or find the true Source from which the orchard grows?

  What actually sees the mind and all it's grand and cherished stories of gods, universe and self? Is IT, part of the drama? Does IT change or morph? Perhaps the purity and truth we seek is so close and intimate, it was missed.

  What really looks out these eyes?

  

  j
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  9

  Just stopping by to say Hello

  by berylblue in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read the "woman in doghouse" article on yahoo, and i suddenly remembered - hey, i used to be a part of that sorry cult.. .

  i almost never remember my days as a depressed, abused jw anymore.

  there is life after the wtbts.

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  JamesThomas

  Hello little dear! Always a joy to see you here. Please come buy more often.

  j
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  12

  the true path ??

  by Ade in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  thoughts, please indeed proofs of the true faith / church / religion .

  backed up firmly by scripture .can indeed any religion be described as having no , idol worship , man made doctrine , conscience controlling of its members.

  if not which is the correct way to worship god at this moment in time and that to come.

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  JamesThomas

  Ade, you can not know the "truth path" until you have a foundation in reality -- which poppers is eloquently pointing you to.

  Asking questions about God, or life, or truth, is a fools errand if first there is no clear realization of who/what I am. For if our identity is false, so then is everything that persona believes to be. In other words: a lie, can not know truth. Does that make sense? If we view through a glass-darkly, everything perceived is dark.

  When all beliefs regarding self and universe are absent, what remains? How deep does that go? Who/what, are you, really?

  No matter what your precious Bible tells you, perhaps, just perhaps, the actual living truth of what the word G-O-D points to, is not so tiny and limited as to be absent or separate from what you truly are. I understand this can be offensive to Christians and other deity worshippers who embrace small definable concepts and beliefs of the divine....but you did ask.

  If there truly is That which has no beginning and no end, what does that make you just beneath all the ego and beliefs of "self"? So, this is not an ego trip. Rather deep, honest and earnest investigation -- in a sense -- will be the end of "you" and an expansion of God. It's like a crucifiction.

  j
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  39

  I NEED ADVICE ON WHAT TO RECOMMEND

  by ElderBarry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi.

  one of the girls i work with, wenda, is studying with the dubs!

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  JamesThomas

  The idea of telescopes and nature and actually reading the Bible

  One of these offers insight that is unrestricted, real, vast, and true. The other goes out of it's way to see how small, foolish and mythological it can make the divine.

  An old American Indian was know to have said to a Christian (who was likely trying to give him a Bible): "Your God lives in words on paper which come to nothing in the wind and rain. Our God lives within the wind and rain."

  To each his own.

  j
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  39

  I NEED ADVICE ON WHAT TO RECOMMEND

  by ElderBarry in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  hi.

  one of the girls i work with, wenda, is studying with the dubs!

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  JamesThomas

  What book should I recommend?

  I wouldn't recommend a book; rather suggest she spend more time seriously investigating nature by looking through telescopes and microscopes and hiking out into nature to get a damn good sense of the ungraspable infinite expanse of life and universe. Then she will likely be able to see the foolishness of attributing such unending wonder and beauty to some little tribal deity.

  j
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  18

  Wow....Long time since i've been here

  by blaid in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wow...i didnt know this place was still around...long time no see.

  anybody on here that was here a couple years ago?

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  JamesThomas

  I remember you, blaid. Nice to see you back.

  Sounds like things are moving fast for you. Don't forget to stop and smell the roses. Seriously.

  j
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  19

  HELLO THERE!

  by Hamboozled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been reading for days and wanted to finally introduce myself.

  i'm swamboozled's husband and i thought it only appropriate to make my name hamboozled.

  i think our names pretty much reflect how we feel in being mislead for so many years.

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  JamesThomas

  Hi, Ham.

  if this is not the true religion what is?

  You can not offer a valid answer to this to people too ignorant to hear.

  "True religion", is an oxymoron. The actual reality of truth can not be encapsulated by the minds thoughts, ideas, concepts and beliefs -- which is all religion amounts to. You want to know truth, then forsake religion and other mind generated "truths", and simply be very present with the reality (truth) of life and consciousness in and around you right now.

  THERE IS NO TRUE RELIGION! Truth, is too alive, too close, too immediate, too endlessly wondrous to be captured and distilled into a belief system. Religion is one of the major factors which blind us to what is -- and has always been -- here, already.

  j
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  21

  What the Bleep Do We Know!? Movie

  by Sailor Ripley in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was just introduced to a new flick and thought that you might want to check it out.

  i'll not give any review as i don't want to sway your interpretation.

  i will say that i found it interesting and could be appropriate based on some postings i've read here.

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  JamesThomas

  Welcome to the forum, Ripley.

  I have commented on this movie many times here, and even started a thread on it once.

  What I feel is most important about the movie is not what it contains, but rather that it may motivate some to question their sense of reality/self.

  With enough courage there can be a stepping out of the comfortable paradyme we are presently in; and by doing so there can occur major leaps of understanding and a closer more intimate sense of oneness with all reality. In other words, we can just shrug such a movie off and do nothing, or we can make the effort to actually question and investigate deeper into our own sense of being and existing.

  The movie is not important; however, what you do is.

  I hope the majority of responses you have received in this thread do not detour you from frequently stepping outside the box.

  j
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  24

  Is this life all there is???

  by Core88 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been a df'ed witness for two years now.

  i have had a son around that same time moved twice and changed jobs all around that same time.

  it has been the hardest two years of my life.

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  JamesThomas

  Welcome, Core88.

  uncertainty is still a concern in my life. What are all your thoughts?

  Perhaps "thoughts", are the problem; and the last thing you need is more.

  When there are no thoughts about the future of life, what is here then? There is Life. There is this present moment of existence; which is all there ever is. Be kind to yourself and so allow yourself to see how thoughts and fears of future-life steals away the reality of life now. See this; really see it; and then there will be a natural tendency to laugh away life-stealing concerns when they show there little heads.

  Spend more time being silently and openly present and attentative with this moment of life in and around you, and less time thinking, judging and concerning, and see what natural harmony and peace arise. The universe thrives on your silent attention, and rewards you for it. It is the natural way of things.

  Be still.

  j