Posts by scotsman

In my (albeit limited) experience, the outward symbols of an individual's religion do not necessarily cause problems, at least they didn't in my childhood (the 70s & 80s) nor do they at the schools my nephews currently attend, nor do they in most workplaces. I have never it found offensive to be educated alongside, or work alongside, someone wearing a head scarf, a cross, or a turban. I do agree with Dansk that education should not be segregated.

It is true that if you go to another country you are expected to obey their laws, but France is instituting a new law that affects its minority citizens who are not visitors and the law didn't exist when they moved there or were born there, hence the objection. Yes, they should comply with the new law, but the reaction to the ban will outweigh the benefits of neutral classrooms.

Will this apply to Universities?

57

French MP's ban all overt religious symbols from the classroom

by yxl1 in

jw
friends

i must admit, i was happy when the bill was past taken from http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/3474673.stm

french mps back headscarf ban.

there are about five million muslims living in france

scotsman

I have to say that I am uneasy with this decision.

Simon, in what sense are the yarmulka and turban connected to "religious bigotry and dangerous cults"?

21

Why Do Jewish Leaders Want to Censor Mel Gibson?

by RubyTuesday in

.

jewish leaders want a monopoly over the spiritual life of the jewish people, and do not want them to learn about the liberating faith of christianity because jewish leaders would lose their power.

http://www.supportmelgibson.com

scotsman

Simon, that's off topic!

21

Why Do Jewish Leaders Want to Censor Mel Gibson?

by RubyTuesday in

.

jewish leaders want a monopoly over the spiritual life of the jewish people, and do not want them to learn about the liberating faith of christianity because jewish leaders would lose their power.

http://www.supportmelgibson.com

scotsman

Just to follow up on Abaddon: Gibson's faith (and that of his father) rejects the Second Vatican Council. I suggest you do some research in to that before you leap to defense of the film. Unless you are strongly Roman Catholic I find it hard to imagine you'd have much in common with unreformed Roman Catholicism.

It is also a little rich for a group of Christians to say:

Leading Jewish organizations, sadly, have a history of attacking Christian beliefs and cultural values.

Hhmmm...

21

Why Do Jewish Leaders Want to Censor Mel Gibson?

by RubyTuesday in

.

jewish leaders want a monopoly over the spiritual life of the jewish people, and do not want them to learn about the liberating faith of christianity because jewish leaders would lose their power.

http://www.supportmelgibson.com

scotsman

Maybe, as the victims of millenia of persecution their fear is understandable. And if Gibson's film is a message of true Christianity then you should welcome the opposition as it would be fulfilment of Christian prophecy.

Braveheart did indeed incite hatred of the English. At cinemas here and in Ireland the audiences cheered at anti-English scenes. It was nauseating.

40

Where were you when you decided to quit being a JW?

by Steve Lowry in

jw
friends

for me, it was at the hall.

it was an evening meeting.

i felt a kind of mental surge within me brewing and i got and went to the men?s room.

scotsman

CoC does seem to be most helpful for those who need to de-programme. I don't think I'm the only one who lived the Witness life culturally as opposed to spiritually, and for me the workings of the GB didn't need debunked as I never believed in them as athe mouth piece of God. I've used CoC for reference but not as a read through.

40

Where were you when you decided to quit being a JW?

by Steve Lowry in

jw
friends

for me, it was at the hall.

it was an evening meeting.

i felt a kind of mental surge within me brewing and i got and went to the men?s room.

scotsman

I was on a flight home from Rome when I decided I had to tell the object of my affection that I was in love with him and I had to stop being a Witness. Two weeks of depression later my mother and I were sitting on the lawn drinking gin and she told me she knew I was gay (she'd pasted and copied instead of copied and pasted and discovered a letter I'd written). I replied that being gay didn't make me depressed, but pretending I believed in the 'truth' did.

I stopped everything for 6 gloriously exhilarating months, climbed mountains, swam seas and looked at life afresh. Then I went back to meetings as an observer for a few months, but I knew instantly I didn't accept any of it. I met a guy, started a relationship and one night told my Mum that this would be my last meeting as it wasn't working. Turned out to be an unofficial marking talk in which I was described but not named. A meeting to remember.

Life has continued to be gloriously exhilirating, enhanced by having my man by my side.

30

The Elder's Boy's Club

by minimus in

jw
friends

why do some elders love being elders?

it's because they belong to a club.

it's an exclusive club.

scotsman

Is this an American thing?

The elders here don't seem to hang out unless they have to. At least my father didn't, my brothers don't and in my short period as an elder, I didn't.

79

Do you still believe in God?

by IT Support in

i'm a recent departee and am now re-evaluating all my previous beliefs and there's none more fundamental.

however, i'm not sure where to start: i'm sure i don't need to say there's an enormous amount of nonsense out there.

frankly, in spite of their other stupid teachings, i am considering reviewing again the articles in wt library as i think they do try to sincerely prove the existence of god.

scotsman

There was an interesting interview with Robert Winston on R4 last week on the programme Devout Skeptics - you may be able to find it on the BBC site and listen to it as his take on belief in God was very interesting. He's Jewish and left his faith in young adulthood but has returned to it, in a way. He's isn't sure if God created man or vice versa. As individuals with faith had a higher chance of surviving in the concentration camps he suggested that faith may well be a product of evolution, as it can enhance survival.

Sounded like he has a thoroughly postmodern sort of faith.

If you want a faith, but not too focused, go visit the Unitarians.