a currently active jdub acquaintance occasionally stops by to say hello and we share a wee dram or two.
after the general small talk of new cars, exotic vacations and sports we often get into the "why" we are xjubs.
he is a well educated publisher who holds a phd in child psychology.
The most obvious and totally insane pagan-belief (that very few question) is giving credit to the infinite spender of life and universe to a primitive, human-like, male deity created by ignorant and superstitious desert-tribesmen thousands of years ago.
I suspect that a tree is far more wise in this regard.
things are often more than the sum of their parts.
the letters typed onto this page, for example, are more than just letters.
they've become a series of ideas and concepts.
My wife has told me that I'm the most "spiritual" person she knows, but I don't even believe in god (or spirits or anything supernatural).
The most “spiritual” people that I know, don't embrace any beliefs at all. None. Rather they have clearly discerned the difference between all beliefs, concepts and ideas, and the true self which silently observes it all.
things are often more than the sum of their parts.
the letters typed onto this page, for example, are more than just letters.
they've become a series of ideas and concepts.
“And sometimes neurons in the brain become more than just neurons. They become consciousness.”
I guess that makes sense if we completely ignore what is happening within a neuron and all matter (for that matter). Within every molecule, every atom there is immeasurable amounts of information and data transfer that must be sent and captured, unraveled and understood, and actualized before anything can function or exist. What is it that must be here for communication, discernment and implementation of precise and complex operations to occur? And not just within our silly coconut heads, but within every atom?
It would seem that the neurons are not the cause, but rather the result or effect of.
But what do I know?
i'm looking for those who have found the path/way of reason.
i include a few notes to those i have approached so far.
these past attempts seem too slow.
Dear Traveler,
I have a question for you which is
totally sincere because I honestly would like to hear what you have
to say.
What is it like for you as a profit of God, or someone who has intellectually found the “Way”? Someone who has diligently worked their way through the puzzle and maze that the Divine put in place to filter out the masses from those like yourself who trudged on?
How have you changed? What is the paramount difference in how you now feel and think? In what ways has knowing God's mind changed you?
Again – I'm not joking here, or mean any insult to you. I honestly would appreciate hearing more about you and your journey (if you are willing to share), I bet that many here would be interested as well.
So far you have been pretty cryptic; how about some simple and honest speak?
If you had only a few moments left to live -- what is it really -- that you would want to share?
i'm looking for those who have found the path/way of reason.
i include a few notes to those i have approached so far.
these past attempts seem too slow.
What of real value has all your precious ideas, beliefs and concepts given you that do not amount to absolutely nothing when you are fast asleep?
a theist made this casual statement on another thread,.
from ancient accounts hostile to christinity, we can learn about (jesus).
as a theist, how could they possibly trust the source to suggest this to himself?
We all struggle, each and everyone as we identify as “self” the thoughts and beliefs of the mind.
Many, many have killed and died protecting these precious illusions.
well, i have been lurking on this site for several months and i recently decided to join as a member.
i have made several observations and would like to make a few comments.. first, i am perplexed by the attitude of many on this site that are either former or active (but apostate) jws.
they seem to have a strong hatred for the wts and also for rank and file jws.
Welcome Heisenberg.
It's obvious you have a healthy uncertainty ;)
What is truth? In the last sentence you made (IMHO) a wise observation towards realizing truth by seeing what it is not: “Don’t believe everything you think. The brain is just as treacherous as the heart.” The rest of your post was just the “treacherous” play of thoughts, beliefs and emotions. Do you see that?
Forgive me if I am wrong, but I would interpret what you are saying as: we will not find truth in thoughts and emotions. The reason for this is that we can simply not find a stable foundational TRUTH in the ever-changing turmoil of mental and emotional activity. Which is why we have kept asking the same questions and getting nowhere throughout our history.
So, perhaps, the remaining question is: is there that which is still and unchanging?
did you know there is nothing more insane than being partly indoctrinated and partly free?.
the level of cognitive dissonance is ridiculous!.
i have told this story before, so i'll shorten it to cut to the chase.. in 1987, i was dating a professional psychotherapist with a view to marriage.
Terry, rereading my comments to you this morning, they appear pretty insulting. But please know that there was absolutely know sense within me of a personal attack on you. Rather, just a feeble attempt at trying to make – what I consider to be – a very important point. A dynamics that is likely responsible for all man's inhumanity against man and the destruction of our environment. I was just kinda yelling at the whole world to wake the hell up! before we self-destruct.
You are one of the few people who I feel a connection to and feel free to talk to in this way.
Keep up the good work.
did you know there is nothing more insane than being partly indoctrinated and partly free?.
the level of cognitive dissonance is ridiculous!.
i have told this story before, so i'll shorten it to cut to the chase.. in 1987, i was dating a professional psychotherapist with a view to marriage.
That's all I'm saying.
did you know there is nothing more insane than being partly indoctrinated and partly free?.
the level of cognitive dissonance is ridiculous!.
i have told this story before, so i'll shorten it to cut to the chase.. in 1987, i was dating a professional psychotherapist with a view to marriage.
“How about false information and disinformation, then James?”
Ya, what about it?
You clearly know that the mind can not even begin to grasp the genuine aliveness and reality of a tree; and at best can only reduce it down to conceptual words and thoughts a million light-years distant from reality. And yet, you unquestionably accept as valid and real what it says about who you and the rest of the universe is??? There, there is your “false information and disinformation,” Terry. As clear as clear can be. You see it don't you.
“You” were embarrassed, because you whole-heartedly accept the mind's definition of “self” as a flaccid-little-shit being drug around by the monkey-mind like a puppy with a chain around its neck.
There is only one way out of this insanity -- and it ain't Jesus -- it's you.
