A god that created a digestive system capable of bellowing out the loudest and most offensive of sounds and smells is truly ironic. he obviously does not take himself or us seriously. (if there is a god, otherwise, natural selection is one ironic system)
Separation of Powers
JoinedPosts by Separation of Powers
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9
Why Do Religions Lack A Sense Of Irony?
by metatron inhttp://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/iranians-behind-tehran-version-of-happy-sentenced-to-six-months-in-prison-and-91-lashes-9741014.html.
good grief.
the more fanatical the religion, the more it seems to lack a sense of self reflective irony.. .
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"how did we do?" service meeting part
by nowwhat? inthe elder was just giddy with excitement!
20,000 hours put in!
14,000 tracts and brochures!
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Separation of Powers
The congregation I attended did better than any of the congregations any of you attend! Oh, sorry, my old personality as a Witness came out.
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I loathe authority
by punkofnice innow i'm not preaching hatred here i am just expressing how i've felt for years even when i was a jw.. i totally loathe the police/policticians...any authority......anyone that is over anyone else.
i have a total hatred of them all.
i wonder if it's because i was raised a jw?.
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Separation of Powers
Probably part of it. Some of it may be an overbearing parent while you were in your formative years. Like you, I have an issue with authority for some reason, probably as noted.
One of the things that has helped me to wake up to the fallacy that is the Witnesses, is the idea that in the new order we will be free, at last free, thank god almighty we are free at last!!! Anyway, according to the ORG that is simply not the case. We will have to obey the "princes," there will be scrolls with rules, lots of em and we will have to obey some guy, we will be told where we can live, we will have to conform for a thousand years to t the same guys that run the show now. We will be like the Eloi in H G Well's Time Machine....drones with perfect health.
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I'm out- Random thoughts on leaving as I look in the rear view mirror
by Skinnedsheep init is amazing to look back at three years and see the journey that we have taken.
i went from being an elder to fading completely in the course of those three years.
along the way i am happy to say that my lovely wife woke up and realized that the truth is nothing but a lie.
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Separation of Powers
Wow...sounds like we are from the same congregation...
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If you feel deceived
by Pinku inyou may be feeling deceived, and may be thinking:.
if jws were gods people, why did they become exactly like the catholic church of the middle ages turning themselves into dogmatic folly?
while claiming to be gods appointed channel on earth, how could they become a cult of intolerance with its raging commanders, a cult where all questioning is banned, and shunning is openly encouraged?.
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Separation of Powers
The old Buddhist addage is one I live by....Be here now. It is simple, it is profound. Wherever you are...be there. Envelope yourself in the moment whatever it is.
As for being deceived and your allusion to Van Gogh, I understand your premise. Van Gogh HAD to paint. It was his purpose. It is true, as jgnat states, that his life was tumultuous and full of pain, but he did create some masterpieces that will forever be adored. (Check out Starry Night over the Rhone, a work not as well-known as Starry Night, but my overall favorite)
Yes, we need to move on. Don't let the ORG continue to take away from you. Start today. Be here now.
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Was Charles Russell delusional or just a con artist?
by keyser soze ini've seen him referred to as both on this forum.. did he sincerely believe that he was an inspired prophet whose end-time predictions and biblical interpretations came from god?
or was he just a shrewd businessman who saw a market of disillusioned christians who believed that armageddon was imminent that he could exploit?.
i personally lean toward the latter.. .
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A little of both....
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Scottish independance in two days what do you think?
by barry inone thing i would like to say is will the union jack be changed because the scottish flag is incorpreted in it.
if the union jack is changed will we change our australian flag because the union jack is in our flag?
even hawawi has the union jack also fiji and many other commonwealth countries.. .
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Separation of Powers
Although I appreciate the desire for a sovereign state and political autonomy, the financial implications on a global scale will be palpable. The impact of Scottish independence will probably destabilize the euro to some degree and would add more fervor to the Catalan Independence movement going on now in Spain. If it happens, the US dollar and British pound will probably experience a significant bounce as euro holders go to more stable currency, but the global financial markets will probably get wacky...
We shall see..
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The Books That Redefined C.T. Russell's Beliefs
by Maat13 inaccording to wt history, as a youth/young man, ct russell was unsatisfied with a number of explanations he was taught about the bible.
as a result he went on a quest to 'study' the bible himself.
ultimately this led to an organization that now requires its members to read bible aids to help them understand the bible.
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Separation of Powers
I guess at that age its really hard to remember....good luck to you on the next decade.
BTW, I enjoyed your review of the Separate Identity.
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The Books That Redefined C.T. Russell's Beliefs
by Maat13 inaccording to wt history, as a youth/young man, ct russell was unsatisfied with a number of explanations he was taught about the bible.
as a result he went on a quest to 'study' the bible himself.
ultimately this led to an organization that now requires its members to read bible aids to help them understand the bible.
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Separation of Powers
I hope that when I am 97 I will be as comfortable making blanket assertions by misreading posts.
Several points, I personally don't believe Russel's comment that he "never read anything Miller wrote." Would you have admitted reading something by such a failure? I mean, they didn't call it the Great Disappointment for nothing? Your comment that Russel's "connection to Miller was the belief inherited from Barbour" is pretty much all the proof you need to know that he "knew of and most likely examined the writings of Miller" as quoted from my previous post.
As for my associating "all end of age belief with Miller" suggests that you didn't fully read my post or simply decided to disregard its premise. In either event, it is a testament to the fact that you believe that your position is the only one worth considering.
Thanks for the mental gymnastics. You may want to limber up next time.
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The Books That Redefined C.T. Russell's Beliefs
by Maat13 inaccording to wt history, as a youth/young man, ct russell was unsatisfied with a number of explanations he was taught about the bible.
as a result he went on a quest to 'study' the bible himself.
ultimately this led to an organization that now requires its members to read bible aids to help them understand the bible.
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Separation of Powers
FYI Old Goat...and the name may well apply, my comment was in reference to Smiddy's mention of both Barbour and Miller...if you reread my post, which might be difficult unless you have your glasses, you will notice that it does not address the question of the poster, it simply states, sarcastically I might add, that Barbour and Miller were biblical powerhouses!
As for my curriculum vitae in all things Russel, let's see, where should I start? Unlike many Witnesses, I was all in...emphasis on "all." I had in my possession at one time, the entire set of Studies in the Scriptures which I had read. Mind you, not good reading cause I like pictures. From The Divine Plan of the Ages to Atonement. No, I do not include the Finished Mystery because, as you know, it was Rutherford who penned that fiasco. Unless, of course, you subscribe to the belief that Franz wrote it (I do by the way, having dissected his writing style over the course of decades of research).
As well, having had access to a library that could only be comaprable to the Gilead library or that kept under lock and key at 24 Columbia hts, I would say that I have read most of the foundational writings of Russel in Zion's, as well as portions of his Food for Thinking Christians, Tabernacle and its Teachings, and several other monumental literary works.
Now, as for your assertion that Russel was not influenced by Miller, based apparently on the position of Schulz and de Vienne, I would suggest that a simple cursory examination of the religious fervor at the time would counter that position. It is difficult to assume, as apparently Schulz and de Vienne do based on your comment, that the effect of William Miler and his "movement" would not impact the impressionable mind of Russel as he started on his path to religious enlightenment. His affiliation with George Storrs by 1876 and his later affiliation with Barbour by 1877, would indicate, at least to this perspicacious student, that he knew of and most likely had examined the writings of Miller. As for being influenced by them, well, let's just say, Miller expected the end by 1843, Russel by 1914. He did not obviously agree with Miller's calculations but subscribed wholeheartedly to the belief that the epoch of time in which he was living was the "time" of God's greatest intervention. I think it goes without saying that THAT is exactly what Miller believed. Somewhat of a kindred spirit don't you think?
Well, I guess that just about sums it up. And yes, I would bet.