from the jw's to the catholics, happiness is promised!
religions are supposed to breed happiness.
spanner
demar,
Your point of how we are nothing without Christ, is a RELIGIOUS teaching, not a Christian teaching. Christ, (whether he was the son of God or not), taught that we don't have to think that we are sinners, always lowering our personalities into the guilt complex that scully and James Thomas spoke of, didn't he? That's what I get from it anyway.
skeptic,
I can't say that I can relate to being born again, but your points are valid.
Brad
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i am curious to see how many varieties of opinions there are on what it means to be spiritual.. brad (i will post my interpretation at the end)
One sense of what it means to be spiritual, to me, is this:
To understand that we are but a grain of sand on the sea shore, as far as our individual importance to the rest of the universe as it functions, in all its wonder. But, at the same time, to understand how significant and important a roll we individually play in the universe, by our exchange of love, respect and energy with others, especially within our immediate circle of friends/family.
And ultimately that these two seemingly contradictory points can still be so very true, proves that there is such a perfect balance that exists in the universe, and that we are all a part of that balance, along with every other being that exists in this universe.
Boy, that was harder to put into words than I thought it would be. I hope it makes sense to other people, the way that it does to me.
Brad
from the jw's to the catholics, happiness is promised!
religions are supposed to breed happiness.
spanner
Interesting thoughts Francois.
From my personal observation of different people from different religions, it seems that the more ABSOLUTE the religion, the further the people in it are from displaying UNCONDITIONAL LOVE. And people that are unable to love unconditionally do not seem to attract the type of energy that promotes happiness.
Also, when people are so dogmatic in their thinking, it limits their ability to have an open mind. This leads to judging and condemning, other things that do not promote happiness in their souls. This is the way that I see it, anyway.
Brad
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i am curious to see how many varieties of opinions there are on what it means to be spiritual.. brad (i will post my interpretation at the end)
I am curious to see how many varieties of opinions there are on what it means to be spiritual.
Brad (I will post my interpretation at the end)
my daughter is graduating from high school next month.
she has lived with me all her life.
her mother, a good and faithful dud, ran off with a 'worldly' co-worker five years ago.
Good for you, Maverick!!!!!! Kids teach us so much, don't they.
Brad
my daughter is graduating from high school next month.
she has lived with me all her life.
her mother, a good and faithful dud, ran off with a 'worldly' co-worker five years ago.
Maverick,
I honestly think that there is no such thing as being too nice, but then I read how you are willing to sit at the back and I have to remind myself of a few things that apply here.
Your ex has cheated your daughter out of the opportunity to have a pleasant experience. This changes the law of relativity in the situation. It is up to you to make it more balanced again. If you make a sacrifice (by sitting at the back.. never mind that she may not come even if you do) your wife and daughter will think that SHE(ex) is right. She is NOT RIGHT. She has put an unfair condition on her daughter's experience.
Your daughter should get UNCONDITIONAL LOVE from both of you. If your ex will not show it to her then you have to. I don't mean to sound preachy, but it seems as though you are making too many sacrifices.
Everything in life is relative except for liars, cheaters and thieves. Your ex has upset the balance. You are likely the only one who can right it. Your daughter will understand what you are doing, I think.
Brad
25 jan 1996 : column 1162to the noble baroness, lady faithfull, if this was a matter with which she had to deal.
i do so because it actually happened in oxford.
the child of two jehovah's witnesses aged eight was knocked down, severely injured and was bleeding to death.
What's the scripture??....... something like, 'to the extent that you do it to the least of these, my brothers, you do it to me also'. Don't JW's realize that the harm they inflict on their kids, etc is like they are doing it God? What am I saying, of course they don't!!!!
Whether this is an extreme case by a couple of looney tunes or not is irrelevant. The fact is that they would likely be praised by the GB for demonstrating such a strong faith to sacrifice their own son. The fact that the freaks that did it are allowed to still feel like "GOOD CHRISTIANS" by the GB is a testament to the danger and havoc that the WBTS creates.
There is no minimizing or rationalizing what they did!!!!!!!! They are bad excuses for human beings and will reap what they sow.
Also, although I am sure the eight year old had a hard time dealing with it, in the long run, hopefully he was better off. (Hopefully he wasn't taken in by OTHER witnesses)
Brad
i was listening to a talk on www.freeminds.org where this circuit overseer was discussing the impact that the events in n.y.c.
had on the brothers at bethel.
the major reason it was on the site was different than this point but i found this appalling enough for it to stand out in my mind.. it amazed me that this person, in discussing what happened, constantly encouraged the listeners to imagine the effects that the "brothers in bethel" must have felt to have to see such horrific events.
I was listening to a talk on www.freeminds.org where this circuit overseer was discussing the impact that the events in N.Y.C. had on the brothers at Bethel. The major reason it was on the site was different than this point but I found this appalling enough for it to stand out in my mind.
It amazed me that this person, in discussing what happened, constantly encouraged the listeners to imagine the effects that the "brothers in Bethel" must have felt to have to see such horrific events. Not once did he mention anything about the poor people that actually died or the loved ones that would miss them.
Just another example of the lack of empathy they show. To suggest that witnesses of a tragedy should deserve more concern than the people directly involved in the tragedy is extremely shallow-minded.
Anybody have any examples of a similar thing?
Brad
how's the holiday weekend going for y'all?
mrs ozzie and i are catching up with blissisignorance and her very handsome mr bliss.
anyone who can "brew" his own shiraz like mr bliss is real handsome in my books!!
self-righteous (which by the way I didn't like!!!) I was too nice of a human to have this rather arrogant feeling.
Brad
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do you think that at least one active person on this board is working for the watchtower and trying desperately to get information on people here?
do you know who you can really trust on this site, or is everyone a potential watchtower spy?
I'm sure there are some JW's lurking. They can't help it. It goes along with their paranoia. What is interesting is that, once we are out, we lose that sort of paranoia and just want them to leave us alone.
Brad
