UpAndAtom

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Posts by UpAndAtom

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  4

  Global Dimming?

  by frankiespeakin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1027879546389218797&hl=en

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  UpAndAtom

  Thanks.
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  124

  Debaters: Let's have It Out !

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this thread was going to be about the true church.

  but i simply changed the title.

  okay ... so my experience thread set the stage for what seems to be a need to debate catholicism ... maybe because in the minds of many, there is a comparison to the watchtower ... a comparison which i believe is false.

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  UpAndAtom

  To quote a source of information far wiser than I...
  
  "...the church is within yourself and not in any pope nor preacher, nor in any building but in self! For thy body is indeed the temple of the living God, and the Christ becomes a personal companion in mind and in body; dependent upon the personality and individuality of the entity as it makes practical application of the tenets and truths that are expressed."
  
  Edgar Cayce Reading 5125-1
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  11

  Thanks for the "Daily Text"

  by TheHypnoToad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my mother just sent us a daily text.

  well i needed it.

  it was quite useful, i used it to kill a bug and throw it (bug and daily text) away.

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  UpAndAtom

  All glory to the Hypno Toad.
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  15

  How does one prepare for a meeting?

  by UpAndAtom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?

  what happens if they don't?

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  UpAndAtom

  Thanks for sharing everyone. It seems the highlighting is one of the things that this religion should be know for. I am unaware of any other group or organization that expects members to highlight magazines. Since it seems expected, you would think they would provide space in and around the magazine text to fill-in-the-answers. What's next; hand your magazines in at the end of a meeting to get corrected?
  
  So what happens when a non-JW shows up spontaneously at a Kingdom Hall? Wouldn't they be completely out of place and have no idea what's going on (since they have not studied)? It doesn't seem to leave room for non-JW's to enter a discussion... does it?
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  15

  How does one prepare for a meeting?

  by UpAndAtom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?

  what happens if they don't?

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  UpAndAtom

  Thanks for the input everyone. I'm surprised at the number of response regarding highlighting.
  
  If someone never highlights their book, but still gives answers is that somehow frowned apon?
  
  Do wise and knowledgeable elders in the congregation still highlight their magazines?
  
  The Sunday meeting is starting to sound like an exam one has to study for, but are there consequences for not studying?
  
  I ask because I recently heard someone say they had to study, and I thought to myself, 'What for?'
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  15

  How does one prepare for a meeting?

  by UpAndAtom in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how does a typical jw that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical sunday meeting?

  what happens if they don't?

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  UpAndAtom

  How does a typical JW that has been in the organization many years prepare for a typical Sunday meeting? What happens if they don't?
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  184

  UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!

  by Lady Liberty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  oh.... how the saga goes on!!

  i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!

  ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!

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  UpAndAtom

  I suppose my answer depends on the spirit in which the 'crime' was committed. I can't have you thinking I'm insensitive. I draw a distinction between groups that actively promote hate, and spur of the moment immature behaviour which I think this was.
  
  Regardless, I hope that I would have the courage of conviction to forgive and forget in any scenario you present me with, and to ask for forgiveness from my maker when I found it too hard.
  
  There's nothing to be gained by escalating this.
  
  I like your screen name.
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  50

  If there is no life after death

  by onacruse in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so where does that leave us?

  leave me?.

  the logical consequence would be that i should get absolutely every little piece of self-gratification i can get before i die.

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  UpAndAtom

  I can sympathize with your thoughts. I think many intelligent people eventually ask themselves this question. The people that don’t find an answer go right ahead and do whatever they want. This has always been a dangerous place for spirit creatures to live in fleshy form. I have asked myself the same questions. Taking stock of your ideals is certainly a good way to find an answer.
  
  In the end, it was the kind words I received from friends, neighbours and complete strangers on the Internet that brought me a joy I don’t think I could ever obtain by being selfish (I help people, friends and neighbours in person and via the Internet) It’s a wonderful feeling and although I feel spiritually rich, I am in fact materially poor.
  
  I feel the pinch at the end of my working week after the bills have been paid; so I’ll be there for you if you ever decide to evaluate your options, and figure that you’ll have more luck conquering a small nation, instead of yourself. I’ll be there to support you, to make you smile when you are downhearted and sad, to lift your load when it’s too heavy to bear, in gentleness, in kindness, in long-suffering, in patience, in mercy and brotherly love. I won’t have you go down that path alone, and I promise to visit you in jail :-p
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  184

  UPDATE!: THEY ALL ADMITTED EGGING US -Elders now know, heads are rolling!!

  by Lady Liberty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  oh.... how the saga goes on!!

  i swear we could write a novel about our life exiting the watchtower!!

  ok..many of you read what happened..our house was egged and so was my sisters car that was parked here, and "frosty" was attacked!!

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  UpAndAtom

  Am I the only one that thinks it's funny for a middle age man to knock over a snow man! That's about as harmless as it gets - quite amusing really! Forgive and forget. Laugh it off. Anything is just going to cause trouble. All this trouble over a friggen SNOW man for crying out loud and a couple of eggs! (and YES I have been the victim of an egg attack on my car's paint in Summer). Good fences make good neighbours.
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  53

  WHY GOD CANNOT FORGIVE YOU

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it is little understood by christians what a difference there is between themselves and judaism; especially on the matter of whom god forgives and why.. a christian expects to sin against many people in the course of their life, but; proudly boasts that they aren't "perfect just forgiven.

  " this is wrong by judaism's ethical, moral and theologic standards.. let me explain why.. in judaism; only the person you sin against can forgive you!.

  if you steal from bob; only bob (the injured party) can forgive you.

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  UpAndAtom

  If others damage you, the only way to fix that damage is by forgiving them. By forgiving them, you are manifesting within yourself a process whereby they don't need to pay you back, and you won’t owe them anything either. Anything in excess of this is human and doomed to failure.
  
  I disagree that Karma is well oiled, unless you mean snake oil.
  
  Karma has been bastardised from the earliest times of human history, long before the day of Jesus. Denying the spiritual aspect of humanity is what keeps one man subject to another’s will. Hence, the necessity of the Christ making a personal appearance on Earth as Jesus to sort the whole mess out! You have touched on a very deep subject that has its roots at the very cornerstone of life and free will in the Universe.
  
  I will agree with you that mankind is in a world of trouble and confusion abounds in all subjects of this nature. We are in a right mess.
  
  Karma is not about that “greater power” keeping the scales of justice even. Those scales of justice were given to us, built right into the fabric of free will and the consequences that come with it. As we draw closer to God, we will start to see imperfections within ourselves that makes us ashamed, embarrassed and guilty about our own actions. Karmic consequences is something we do to ourselves, in order to balance things right, so that we feel good about drawing closer to God (if that is what we want)
  
  PS.
  SPAZnik. There's a few scriptures of that nature which I find fascinating. I can't help but feel there are little gems of spiritual lessons to be learnt, which we have so far overlooked.