gaiagirl
JoinedTopics Started by gaiagirl
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2
Carl Sagan on how to recognize truth
by gaiagirl induring his presentation of the gifford lectures back in the 1980's, carl sagan was asked by an audience member "how do you recognize the truth when it is upon us"?
carls answer was quite thoughtful, and has application to many avenues of life, including claims by various religious groups:.
it is of course, difficult.
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Make a statement you have found to be TRUE.
by gaiagirl injw's like to refer to their body of beliefs as "the truth", even when those beliefs are adjusted or even reversed, giving rise to the question 'if this is "the truth", then what were the beliefs which were promoted as "the truth" until the change'?.
state something you have actually found to be "true", in the sense that, in your experience, it agrees with what is observed in the real world.. .
i'll start: knowledge is power
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Do JW's watch movies in their homes which they would not watch in theatres?
by gaiagirl injw's sometimes speak about how they don't wish to "stumble" non-jw's or cast a bad light upon the organization.
do jw's watch movies at home which they would not want non-jw's to observe them watching in a theatre?.
if they do, do you feel that they are really concerned about what the non-jw's think, or are they more concerned with being observed by other jw's?
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Do the beliefs of JW's actually improve the quality of their lives?
by gaiagirl indo the beliefs common to jw's cause them to have a happier worldview and a better outlook on life?
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Do JW's intentionally act so as to bring persecution on themselves?
by gaiagirl insome witnesses state that "gods people will be persecuted" or "if you are not being persecuted, then you better examine your life".
a jw who works where i do poured the last cup of coffee out of the pot, and was asked to make another pot for the other workers.
he responded "sorry, i have to go to work now".
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Do JW's EVER admit to being wrong about any topic?
by gaiagirl inwitnesses are trained to believe they are right when speaking about the bible and their beliefs, even when reminded that their beliefs have been "adjusted" for "new light".. .
do jw's you know admit to being wrong on any point, whether or not bible related, or are the "always right" even when shown to be wrong?
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When were the Earliest Bible books composed?
by gaiagirl inaccording to the table in the back of the nwt, genesis and exodus were composed around 1300 bce, by moses (who also wrote in exodus about his own death, nice feat).
however, the oldest existing copies or fragments of genesis are only from around 200 bce.. .
additionally, comparison of genesis with sumerian and babylonian creation accounts reveal many, many similarities, and the sumerians and babylonians had there stories long before 1300 bce...so it appears that someone copied someone else merely changing a few names to suit a different audience.
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Do JW's assist "worldy" people after natural disasters such as Katrina?
by gaiagirl inwhen new orleans was flooded, did jw's in the area or from out of town gather to help those who were not jw's?
or were there efforts focused only on kingdom halls and the homes of jw's?
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Do you believe humans can solve the problems they create?
by gaiagirl inwtbts says that "it does not belong to man who is walking to direct his steps", however the genesis account says that god viewed the humans as having "become like us", in other words, like gods.. .
further, the story regarding the tower of babel indicates that god confused the language because "there is nothing that they have in mind to do that will be unattainable for them".. .
so, it would seem that human capabilities rival those of god, and god is worried about it.. .
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Was there ever a GOOD time to be a JW?
by gaiagirl inconsidering the history of the "organization", and how beliefs, practices and attitudes have changed through time, was there ever any time that a "international bible student" or jw was relatively more enlightened or had more freedoms than members of other religions?
or have they always been enslaved to one set of superstitious beliefs or another, to a greater degree than most other religions?