Posts by Ravyn

17

Dark Comfort

by Ravyn in

dark comfort.

warm and rich like black rum.

the blood pulsed thru her veins.

Ravyn

heathen sex has been compared to death. it is an allusion to a vampyric sexual experience.

Ravyn

37

Do You Feel Better Since You Stopped Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

so many witnesses have been ill. i'm not talking about the flu or a cold, either.

many witnesses suffered from ailments that were not necessarily common to most people.

i know of jw's that had to literally run out of the meetings every week because they said they were allergic to perfumes and different scents.

Ravyn

relief! how do you spell it? S T O P G O I N G T O M E E T I N G S !

the first few weeks I was like--OMG!--people actually DO OTHER THINGS on Tuesdays and Thursday nights and Saturday and Sunday mornings!

Ravyn

17

Dark Comfort

by Ravyn in

dark comfort.

warm and rich like black rum.

the blood pulsed thru her veins.

thanks xena and sheila! I have a book planned that will allow me to include my poetry, but it is in a sort of 'almanac' format, basically dealing with finding the magickal and erotic in everyday life---recipes, songs, travel suggestions, short stories, myths, decorating hints, a collection of 'adult' goodies.

Ravyn

7

Wicked Caress

by Ravyn in

wicked caress.

cold sharp blades tipped her fingers.

double-edged razor her tongue.

Ravyn

truth is more wicked than lies when someone does not want to face it. and some truths are lies in disguise. truth can be painful, stark, naked, and things we usually associate with negativity. so I figured that maybe the absolute truth could then be considered wicked if you were looking at it from that angle......

Ravyn

37

Do You Feel Better Since You Stopped Meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

so many witnesses have been ill. i'm not talking about the flu or a cold, either.

many witnesses suffered from ailments that were not necessarily common to most people.

i know of jw's that had to literally run out of the meetings every week because they said they were allergic to perfumes and different scents.

Ravyn

within two yrs of my leaving the JWs my lupus went into remission, I got out of the wheel chair and I lost 100 pounds. they developed a fantastic new drug with few side effects for the narcolepsy, I found a wonderful man, married him and we are living normally ever after.

Ravyn

12

Churchaphobia Returns

by Carmel in

two weeks ago my wife informed me that the local unitaran universalists wanted me to speak at their church service which is only two blocks from our house.

she failed to tell me they had originally asked her and she passed the buck, but alas, wiley as she is i agreed to it then heard the "rest of the story".

so last sunday i decided i would case the joint by attending their sunday service which was a great talk about the black tenor, paul roberson.

Ravyn

HUH?
Carmel-
*They do seem to accept others and be very tolerant, however, their roots by definition are confined to the Judeao/Christian heritage but they claim to take "inspiration" from other non-christian religions. Can't quite bring themselves to accept that the other world religions may be from the same source. *
The UUs are the ones who gave me refuge when I left JWs and I am currently a member of CUUPs--Covenant of UU Pagans. They gave me financial aid, sent me to college, and basically gave me room to grow. They asked nothing back. But I did speak to their Youth Group a couple of times about dangerous cults and 'how to handle a JW at your door'(I brought in the Reasoning Book and the kids knocked on my door and tried to stump me---afterwards they wanted Reasoning Books of their own to use against the JWs...I chuckled when I thought of how many books I 'placed' that day--as an apostate! I wanted so badly to hand in one last time slip!)
It has been my experience that the UUs differ according to the locale---down here in the South they are primarily xtian-oriented, but I never found it the case up in new England--to the contrary, I met more Buddhists and Pagans than anything else.
Ravyn
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http://www.uua.org/aboutuua/principles.html
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all;
Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion, and the transforming power of love;
Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit.
Spiritual teachings of earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.

The Purposes of the Unitarian Universalist Association

The Unitarian Universalist Association shall devote its resources to and exercise its corporate powers for religious, educational and humanitarian purposes. The primary purpose of the Association is to serve the needs of its member congregations, organize new congregations, extend and strengthen Unitarian Universalist institutions and implement its principles.
The Association declares and affirms its special responsibility, and that of its member societies and organizations, to promote the full participation of persons in all of its and their activities and in the full range of human endeavor without regard to race, color, sex, disability, affectional or sexual orientation, age, or national origin and without requiring adherence to any particular interpretation of religion or to any particular religious belief or creed.
Nothing herein shall be deemed to infringe upon the individual freedom of belief which is inherent in the Universalist and Unitarian heritages or to conflict with any statement of purpose, covenant, or bond of union used by any society unless such is used as a creedal test.

17

JW alternatives to holidays

by YellowLab in

even though you couldn't celebrate holidays growing up as a jw, did your parents ever have alternatives instead?

in my case, we never celebrated christmas, we had "surprise day" usually a week before.

instead of celebrating thanksgiving, we would have a turkey dinner a few weeks later.

Ravyn

We had Surprise Day too---only it was usually on December 25th becoz of the school holiday. And we had turkey on Thanksgiving because they were on sale. And I got gifts on my birthday because it was usually close to the last day of school and since I always got A's it was for a good report card. When we got older and Surprise Day ebcame to difficult to hide from other JWs we starting celebrating mom and dad's anniversary as a family and it got to the point where we made worldly christmases look like pathetic imitations--and it was on Nov 21st, so in time enough for some of the xmas sales to start. It still to this day pisses me off to think the last anniversary we celebrated I spent hundreds of dollars on them and my father was cheating on my mom and planning his escape(but he did not return any of the gifts!)

Ravyn

11

HELP!!!

by truthseekers2 in

jw
friends

we are trying so hard to reply to questions that we are being presented with by family members.

hubby received a letter from his sister yesterday, replied to it, and received another email from her today.

we just sent her info this evening addressing her claim that the society encourages us to research and compare (yeah right) and that they claim to be a prophet while delivering false prophecies.

Ravyn

Disclaimer: I personally do not believe any of this crap. However you did ask what other Christians believe about these scriptures, so here are the quotes from a commonly used Bible Commentary which can be found on this website:

http://bible.crosswalk.com/Commentaries/MatthewHenryConcise/

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Hebrews 10:25 "not forsake the gathering of ourselves together, as some have the custom, but encouraging one another, and all the more so as you behold the day drawing near."

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible:

Verses 19-25 The apostle having closed the first part of the epistle, the doctrine is applied to practical purposes. As believers had an open way to the presence of God, it became them to use this privilege. The way and means by which Christians enjoy such privileges, is by the blood of Jesus, by the merit of that blood which he offered up as an atoning sacrifice. The agreement of infinite holiness with pardoning mercy, was not clearly understood till the human nature of Christ, the Son of God, was wounded and bruised for our sins. Our way to heaven is by a crucified Saviour; his death is to us the way of life, and to those who believe this, he will be precious. They must draw near to God; it would be contempt of Christ, still to keep at a distance. Their bodies were to be washed with pure water, alluding to the cleansings directed under the law: thus the use of water in baptism, was to remind Christians that their conduct should be pure and holy. While they derived comfort and grace from their reconciled Father to their own souls, they would adorn the doctrine of God their Saviour in all things. Believers are to consider how they can be of service to each other, especially stirring up each other to the more vigorous and abundant exercise of love, and the practice of good works. The communion of saints is a great help and privilege, and a means of stedfastness and perseverance. We should observe the coming of times of trial, and be thereby quickened to greater diligence. There is a trying day coming on all men, the day of our death.

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Matthew 28:19,20 "Go therefore and make disciples of people of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the holy spirit, teaching them to observe all the things I have commanded you."

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible:

Verses 16-20 This evangelist passes over other appearances of Christ, recorded by Luke and John, and hastens to the most solemn; one appointed before his death, and after his resurrection. All that see the Lord Jesus with an eye of faith, will worship him. Yet the faith of the sincere may be very weak and wavering. But Christ gave such convincing proofs of his resurrection, as made their faith to triumph over doubts. He now solemnly commissioned the apostles and his ministers to go forth among all nations. The salvation they were to preach, is a common salvation; whoever will, let him come, and take the benefit; all are welcome to Christ Jesus. Christianity is the religion of a sinner who applies for salvation from deserved wrath and from sin; he applies to the mercy of the Father, through the atonement of the incarnate Son, and by the sanctification of the Holy Spirit, and gives up himself to be the worshipper and servant of God, as the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, three Persons but one God, in all his ordinances and commandments. Baptism is an outward sign of that inward washing, or sanctification of the Spirit, which seals and evidences the believer's justification. Let us examine ourselves, whether we really possess the inward and spiritual grace of a death unto sin, and a new birth unto righteousness, by which those who were the children of wrath become the children of God. Believers shall have the constant presence of their Lord always; all days, every day. There is no day, no hour of the day, in which our Lord Jesus is not present with his churches and with his ministers; if there were, in that day, that hour, they would be undone. The God of Israel, the Saviour, is sometimes a God that hideth himself, but never a God at a distance. To these precious words Amen is added. Even so, Lord Jesus, be thou with us and all thy people; cause thy face to shine upon us, that thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations.

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Matthew 24:45 "Who really is the faithful and discreet slae whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?"

Matthew Henry Concise Commentary
on the Whole Bible:

Verses 42-51 To watch for Christ's coming, is to maintain that temper of mind which we would be willing that our Lord should find us in. We know we have but a little time to live, we cannot know that we have a long time to live; much less do we know the time fixed for the judgment. Our Lord's coming will be happy to those that shall be found ready, but very dreadful to those that are not. If a man, professing to be the servant of Christ, be an unbeliever, covetous, ambitious, or a lover of pleasure, he will be cut off. Those who choose the world for their portion in this life, will have hell for their portion in the other life. May our Lord, when he cometh, pronounce us blessed, and present us to the Father, washed in his blood, purified by his Spirit, and fit to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light.

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the problem I see in using any of this to argue with a JW is that JWs WANT to be special, NEED to be the ONE AND ONLY TRUE BELIEVERS and therefore will not be able to fathom that all the rest of Christianity does not count these particualr scriptures of any more significance than most other scriptures. It is kinda like opening someone's refrigerator and pulling out a half empty jar of sweet pickles and on the basis of that 'proof' accusing them of having a bizarre eating disorder that compulsively craves sweet pickles.... you can pick any scripture at random and create a whole new religion based on it if you can convince your 'followers' that it is a a unique scripture that applies only to them and that God himself speaks thru you and said that no one else but them can possibly understand it---ooooo aren't we special?

just remember the first thing you need to reason with someone is someone who is capable of reason and rational thought.

Ravyn

17

Dark Comfort

by Ravyn in

dark comfort.

warm and rich like black rum.

the blood pulsed thru her veins.

Ravyn

Dark Comfort

Warm and rich like black rum

the blood pulsed thru her veins

yet never blushed her pale skin

to touch her was to burn your fingers

with raw heat like silk

her flesh barely containing it

her eyes showing the deep

ruby flames burning within

Infritah, elemental, primordial

soft, delicious, comforting

like the grave to a weary soul traveller

who cannot rest his chilled

limbs without first tasting

her heat like that sweet rum...

intoxicating, coursing thru his veins

to share depths of warmth

like swimming in a hot spring

layers of amber, glowing red, topaz

lapping with promise of more

floating, his head in her lap

the musky smell of burning

desire he turns his face

into her warmest place

eager to return to where

he came from so so long ago

but in a different way

craving her comfort to surround

his hard and painful reality

but wanting to thrust until

it hurt her as much

as it hurt him

tasting the salt of his own sweat

and her tears

but she smiles!

ah the coppery taste of her!

to take delight in her comfort

for just a moment

and then explode

in the ecstasy of being spent

laying on her like a damp shadow

distant throbbing now subsiding

she encircles him in arms

of pure and welcome death.

Ravyn Giuliani

7

Wicked Caress

by Ravyn in

wicked caress.

cold sharp blades tipped her fingers.

double-edged razor her tongue.

Ravyn

Wicked Caress

Cold sharp blades tipped her fingers

double-edged razor her tongue

Cut thru mediocrity and status quo

To entice the rogue of heart

From the middle of his

common, safe road.

She beckons with one crookd finger

Gloved at first so as not to scare

Her red lips dripping with

forbidden juices

to the first lived and the unknowing damned.

She has him when he veers off course

to the edge of the pavement

subtle movements quick and accurate

her touch on his sleeve is innocent

to only those who

wish to see it so.

She bathed in perfumes

of distant places

some existing, some no more

to cover the tang of human blood

and sin and freedom-

the scent of freedom scares more

than the scent of eternal death...

the scent of life well lived and pleasure

is more repugnant to

slaves than burning flesh...

So she hides in gardens

of his own making

delusions and tales he tells himself

to justify his junket

and his own lying heart.

Once she touches his flesh he is lost

her caresses bring such

wicked dreams and stark passions

that he forgets who he was

and only wants to be who he is!

Another Xtian bites the dust!

Another Child grows up!

Another Captive is set free!

Seduced by the wicked caress

of Truth.

Ravyn Giuliani