Thank you, Simon
fulltimestudent
JoinedPosts by fulltimestudent
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18
Suspected sex offender finally arrested!
by LoveUniHateExams in... aaand it's julian assange.. here's the footage of his arrest.
try not to laugh.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oqjinzjq_e.
#believeallwomen.
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18
Suspected sex offender finally arrested!
by LoveUniHateExams in... aaand it's julian assange.. here's the footage of his arrest.
try not to laugh.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oqjinzjq_e.
#believeallwomen.
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fulltimestudent
I did not know that the woman was a CIA employee (agent?)
So maybe it was a bit like those cold war days exposes of Soviet agents trapping western pollies with fake prostitutes and then blackmailing them into being favourable to the USSR?
Ummm,! you're not being sarcastic, are you Simon?
Is there a source that you can recall?.
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The Truth about the bible
by TTWSYF init really is common sense, but nobody here seems to recognize or acknowledge this blatant and obvious truth.. the holy bible is the result of the catholic liturgy.
they used these scriptures in their religious practices and confirmed which books would and would not be part of their cannon.
they picked, preserved and promoted these books and gave 'the word of god' to the world.. i know that pisses off some folks, but it is the truth [not the 'truth'tm].
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fulltimestudent
I'm rather surprised that no-one has mentioned the Eastern church, In the first few centuries most christians lived in west Asia. And, probably missionaries of that early church had preached their message all the way across Asia even as far as China. Just because we live in a world where the ROMAN church has been the dominant force in the Eurocentric world, doesn't mean that was always the case.
Let's think about the 'church' as it was in the first century. Undoubtedly, it was controlled by James and his family, at least until the Roman's destroyed Jerusalem and excluded ALL Jews from the city, The best descriptive term to describe that early group of believers is this - "the early church.'
So when did it become the "Roman Catholic Church?" It's difficult to fix a specific date, and I suggest that it was a gradual process, but certainly by the time of Constantine we could define it with that specific term. The only problem we have then, is that Constantine moved the capital of the political empire to the new capital of Constantinople - also known as Byzantium (now an Islamic city named Istanbul).
There is every reason to believe that the religious power of the church became centered in Constantinople also, as nearly all emperors after Constantine were christian (I can only think of Julian the Apostate as the only non-christian emperor) and issued religio-political edicts governing the lives of Roman citizens throughout both the eastern and western sections of the empire.
The western section of the empire was increasingly unimportant until the barbarians conquered Rome and we see a divide between the barbarian controlled Europe and the Graeco-Roman eastern section now generally known as the Byzantine Empire.
As I'm sure you guys will be aware, Constantinople survived as a Christian centre for centuries even surviving the horrifying sacking of the city by the European christian crusaders, Only the the Islamic tsunami ended Constantinople's christian heritage, and contrary to the opinion of many, christians were treated better by their muslim conquerers than their ancestors had been by the christian crusaders of the fourth crusade in 1204, who had looted the city's treasures and raped the women of the city(including nuns).
Would you not think that logically, Orthodox Christianity should be seen as the rightful lineage?
Not that I care in a spiritual sense> A plague on ALL these religious pests!
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Suspected sex offender finally arrested!
by LoveUniHateExams in... aaand it's julian assange.. here's the footage of his arrest.
try not to laugh.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8oqjinzjq_e.
#believeallwomen.
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fulltimestudent
As I recall the sex charge was based on this incident.
The woman who laid charges and Assange had spent the night together, They had had sex during the earlier part of the night. In the morning Assange wanted to have sex again and the woman refused- exactly how the situation has not been made clear, (at least to my understanding) but in some way Assange did penetrate her again. The woman laid charges and under Swedish law, since the woman claims she said No!, Assange could be charged with rape.
Ever been in that situation yourself? In some countries (I understand) even if you are married and your wife says No! and you persist and have sex, you could be charged with rape.
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On the 'political' aspects of the case.
\The commentary on Australia's government owned ABC, last night, was that the world owes Assange a big debt as he exposed some of the lies behind the invasion of Iraq (Australia was complicit in that deal). I do not see either of the two major political oligarchies that could form Australia's next government advocating open government, and hence supporting Assange, doing anything to help him.
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fulltimestudent
I think the comments likely refer to the American Bethel, There are, of course, many national 'bethels' and life there may be quite different. Sometimes the unique characteristics of each 'bethel' are the result of jw life competing with a particular national culture and/or the personality of the Branch overseer and/or the branch committee. (uope those terms are still used - its a long time since I was involved) And, added to that mix there will be the personalities of each jw who signs up for bethel life. Some are more suited than others to a communal lifestyle.
When I was 'in' I was close to several members of the local bethel family, and I dont think that there was much friction in the Sydney bethel. Though, one non-bethel brother working (years ago) on the new Ingleburn facility, always referred to it as 'the funny farm.'
I think the wives of prominent Jws may have found it most difficult, as any bright woman would become frustrated at just being a cleaner or cook. One branch overseer who I recall as a particularly nice guy (Jon Wilson - now dead) assigned his wife to design something in the old Strathfield bethel. That caused a lot of murmering in the congregations, where males carefully guarded their 'privileges' and seldom allowed women any say in things like the paint color for the KH.
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12
massive hail storm hits Sydney
by zeb innews reports.
"golf-ball size hail.
" anyone know anyone who was under that?.
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fulltimestudent
From the deep depths of my memory. It was, I think, 1948 and a huge hailstorm hit Sydney. The great concourse of Sydney's Central station had (in those days) a completely glass roof, and every panel was smashed, resulting in today's much more limited expanse of glass.
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12
massive hail storm hits Sydney
by zeb innews reports.
"golf-ball size hail.
" anyone know anyone who was under that?.
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fulltimestudent
I wasn't, but then for some reason storms seem tso go round the inner west suburb where i live. A few heavy showers last night, so I likely will not need to water the garden for a few days. And maybe 3-4 minuts of small hails stsones
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Cardinal George Pell sentenced to 6 years in Jail
by smiddy3 intoday cardinal pell received a sentence of 6 years in jail with a 3 years & 8 months before he is eligible for parole.. and he has been put on the sex offenders register list for the rest of his life.. his appeal case comes up in june .. i wonder what pope francis will do now ,wait till after his appeal is heard before he acts ?.
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fulltimestudent
I think one recent anecdotal story about Pell, illustrates what sort of person he is.
An abuse survivor alleges he spoke to Pell about the priest who abused him, and Pell replied, "Did you enjoy it!" It appears that he had little sympathy for anyone who was abused by a catholic priest. (An attitude that many elders seem to have).
Its hard to feel any sympathy (in connection with his age and health) for him as he begins his jail sentence, particularly as he was this christian churches"enforcer' for the sex rules instituted by the church (e,g, sex only in marriage, adultery, homosexuality estc)
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Cardinal George Pell convicted of sex abuse
by wozza inhe is the highest rank catholic to cop this in australia .
his case was suppressed for some time but now is public ,.
the news is just breaking on tv he has right of appeal still denying guilt.
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fulltimestudent
One of the young boys that George Pell raped committed suicide some years ago. Australia's ABC tells the boy's reaction to the rape, under the heading ....
How a devastated family watched their son's life spiral after George Pell abuse
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17
Jehovah’s Witnesses Hunted Down And Deported
by Bangalore injehovah’s witnesses hunted down and deported.. https://bitterwinter.org/jehovahs-witnesses-hunted-down-and-deported/.
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fulltimestudent
The difficulties in Xinjiang have a complex background, As far back as Roman times, the then early Chinese state, the Han Empire had established a presence in Central Asia, as this map indicates.
The separation of the two empires (Rome and China) was then caused by the Sasinanian (Persian) Empire. Later in time, China and Persian Iran began a trading relationship that is still active (I've personally met a large group of Iranians in China - about 12 years ago- on a buying junket).
The so-called 'Silk Road' (a term I do not like to use, as the 'East-West Trading Network' is a far better descriptive term to describe this network, which at times involved maritime trading) passed througn what is now called Xinjiang. At times in history, various Central Asian Turkic empires also held parts of this territory, From a contemporary viewpoint, a modern historical episode could BE deemed to commence with the rise of the Manchu (Qing) Empire. The Manchu were one of the various inter-related people that fought with what we now call China and at times established similar kingdoms to the Chinese Empire and later become integrated within the Chinese Empire. During the Manchu rise to power several groups like the Turkic people now called Uyghurs (And the Tibetans) became part of what is more correctly called the Qing Empire. That Empire included Han* Chinese also, with the ruling Manchu elite choosing to live in Beijing.
There are nearly 22 million Muslims living in China. During the so-called 'Cold War' the American security forces attempted to foment unrest in, at least, two areas of China, Tibet and the south of Xinjiang (where most Uyghur live. I wont go into those American efforts (unless someone requests it), suffice to say that they have failed in Tibet, but have had a limited success in south Xinjiang
Of the ethnic groups that live in Xinjiang, the Uyghur people number nearly 9,000,000. The second largest group are Han Chinese (see below) but there about 13 different nationalities, including Kazakhs, Kirghyz, Manch, Xibes, Tajiks, Ozbeks, Tatars and even some Russians. Some of these groups are small, some large. There are near to 1,4 million Kazaks and near to one million Hui. Most of these people are likely to be Muslim.
One poster wants to see the,problems in Xinjiang as the Chinese government persecuting Muslims. I don't think that is true. Why? First of all, there are Muslims all over China, so why is this problem only occurring in Xinjiang? There are over 30.000 mosques in China, the oldest dating to the 8th century is located in Xian.If you know the history of Islam, you will appreciate that mosque must have been established close to the beginning of Islam, There are some in south China, close to port cities that were the centre of trading with the Arab bloc before Europeans even found the skill to navigate around Africa (truth is the early Portuguese navigators enlisted the help of Muslim Arabs),
There are no reports of 'persecution' of Muslims in other parts of China, only in Xinjiang. So what's different in Xinjiang? I'm sure the 'experts' that know all about this, know that China has a border with both Afghanistan and Pakistan - both being centres of Muslim terrorism. Do these 'experts also know that there have been many terrorist incidents in Xinjiang, In one, more than 100 people were slaughtered by five knife wielding terrorists. In your country, what would be the result of such an attack? These attacks have been happening for at least 10 years. It is also known that a training camp for Xinjiang terrorists was established in Taliban held Afghanistan, The Chinese authorities would surely wonder what will be the result of a new government in Afghanistan with Taliban membership (its rumoured, but has not yet happened),
So what about these prison camps? I do not doubt that there are such camps, but how big/many would they have to be to hold one million prisoners? But granting for a moment that there are a lot of prisoners held, and there is a program to re-train their outlook, isn't that what a lot of western people think should be happening in their own countries?
One final comment. The program apparently being attempted in Xinjiang is not directed at Islamic thought. Neither, is the program that seems anti-Christian directed at all Christians, In both instances these programs are directed at anti-state activities. In the case of christian activity its directed at those who sneak into China using the pretext that they are English teachers, also at those groups that do not want to register their activity
If anyone, thinks the Chinese government can control the thinking of 1.4 billion people, then they need some re-education in reasoning. A security guard, I once had a talk with (via an Australian Chinese interpreter) said, "No-one can stop Chinese people from doing something they want to. That was one of the messages in the cultural Revolution. Its "OK to Rebel." I've seen it happen here in Australia, PRC Chinese told they cant do something, and then arguing for a long time that they should be allowed to do it. But it can be a problem when your enemy adopts that thinking. If you wish, learn Chinese and start using the internet. It can, I'm told be pretty ferocious, But yes, there are a few topics that cannot be discussed,
* However, even though the term Han is applied to those who the West sees as Chinese, the reality is that 'Han' really includes all the racial groups that over the centuries accepted Chinese civilisation. And, there we see the principle difference between East Asia and Europe. When the western Roman Empire collapsed (under the pressure exercised by Central Asian nomads, some of whom had pressured the Chinese Empire, Europe broke up into smaller Nation-States. In East Asia, the pressure came from peoples like the Mongols and Manchu's in the north and the Turkic peoples in the West, the Tibetans - and others - in the Southwest and Tai (Thai) people and Burmese people in the south. Over the centuries, areas controlled by each party, waxed and waned, and what you see today is contemporary China, with over 160 different ethnic groups in the border areas. Most of them living in autonomous areas. So almost the direct opposite of the European experience.