OneEyedJoe

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Posts by OneEyedJoe

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  23

  Another Subliminal Image? On the JW Website

  by The Searcher in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this image appears on the current main web page - as you scroll the "witnessing" photos.. weird "facial" image at the guy's right shoulder.. .

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  OneEyedJoe

  Pareidolia, as FTS said.

  The reason posts like this disappoint me so much is because it shows that people have such a difficult time moving on from what caused them to be trapped in the cult in the first place. Humans are great at pattern recognition and imbuing meaning to things. Even when a true pattern or meaning is absent, we see it. We saw a pattern of answered prayers, correct predictions, and loving behavior in a cult where no such pattern exists just because we'd been primed to see it. You'd think people who'd been fooled by a cult (and who'd fooled themselves into believing it) but eventually woke up would be better at asking "How might I be fooling myself here?" before posting things like this.

  Plus it just makes apostates look like loony conspiracy theorists and that helps no one.
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  22

  So.....Blended VS Single Malt

  by ctrwtf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wondering.

  for you scotch lovers, i've been partial to singles for a long time, but was recently given a bottle of johnnie walker green.

  i think i've fallen in love.

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  OneEyedJoe

  Drink whatever tastes good to you. That's really all there is to it. The snobbery means bugger all.

  I typically prefer single malts just because they're a little more interesting to me - you can taste the particulars of what went into it more clearly vs having a blend that's targeting a specific taste profile.
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  4

  Something to laugh about

  by HappyGal in

  1. social
  2. humour

  when you've been in a cult and then get out what should you do?.

  laugh about it!

  find the funny.. that's what the ex-jw in this you tube video did.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1r60wd-k0nc.

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  OneEyedJoe

  I enjoyed that, thanks. One of the things she said stood out - that by making fun of the cult she was able to help a DFed person see it for what it is. As serious a topic it is, and in spite of all the damage it's done to countless lives, it's a good thing not only to expose it in a serious manner but also to laugh about it and mock it, because comedy and humor can allow people to explore concepts that would otherwise trigger their defenses. Satire is a powerful thing.
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  32

  Using the term "Watchtower" when talking to a JW

  by Sanchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone else noticed how alarm bells go off inside a jw mind as soon as they hear someone that "is out" refer to the leaders of this org as "watchtower"?

  i've chatted with a few friends now about my doubts and each and every time i've started using phrases such as "watchtower said this" or "watchtower did that", i can almost see their heads about to explode in anger, as if they've just realized they are talking to the lucifer himself.

  some have even interrupted and corrected me by reminding me that it's not "watchtower", it's "god's organization".

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  OneEyedJoe

  Yes. For sure. Only people who are out make a distinction between the watchtower and god himself, so it's a dead giveaway that you're an apostate. Though, depending on the goal that can be useful - their reaction can be used to point out that they don't make a distinction between the organization and god himself, and it shouldn't be too hard to make the point of how dangerous that can be.
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  22

  Update: Got my Judicial Committee cancelled

  by Sanchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  original thread here.

  update: so, after the meeting i had with elders a few weeks ago as outlined in my original thread, they met as a body and once again called to tell me that after considering my case they still thought a judicial committee should be held against me and asked to be there "thursday at 7:30".

  all of this, i remind you, because of posting coc on facebook.

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  OneEyedJoe

  At this point, were I in your shoes, I would be incredibly tempted to make another apostate post on facebook. Just to let them know that 1. their system is so obviously flawed and not guided by holy spirit and 2. that you were just screwing with them to show them that you could and 3. you really don't care about any of it.
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  30

  Why is it so hurtful to be shunned? Why object to it?

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it seems like many feel hurt or saddened by the practice of shunning by witnesses.. yes, when ones who we were close to, perhaps family or ones we thought were close friends choose to follow the warped directions of the society, it may seem hurtful.. but really, our reaction is up to us.

  the fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never real or genuine.

  no, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance.

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  OneEyedJoe

  It's hurtful because humans are social beings that fear ostracism instinctively. The flavor of shunning that JWs practice is particularly hurtful because it has built-in victim blaming - those shunning you blame you for having to shun you. We humans are also susceptible to suggestion - hearing that your being shunned is your fault enough makes it more and more likely that you'll start telling yourself the same thing.
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  27

  "If the Earth were just a little bit further from or closer to the Sun, we would all freeze or burn"

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'm sure we've all heard this argument by theists employing the fine-tuning argument.

  are you aware, however, of exactly how much this "little bit" really is?

  theists would have us think that the slightest change in the distance would have drastic implications for survivability.

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  OneEyedJoe

  Just imagine if life has evolved in the sub-surface oceans of Europa - it must be marveling at how finely tuned its environment was just for it - this life wouldn't be able to survive if not for Europa's oceans. The frozen surface of the ocean keeps the life forms from venturing too close to the surface where they'd be killed by the radiation from Jupiter. Europa is even just the right distance from Jupiter that tidal forces keep the internal temperature perfect without tearing the moon apart. These life forms would surely think that the odds of another planet existing with these fine-tuned conditions would be astronomical. Surely Europa was created just for them!
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  10

  PS. 105:15 Anointed...

  by tor1500 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this week bible reading is ps.102-105.

  i noticed in ps 105:15: saying, “do not touch my anointed ones,and to my prophets do nothing bad.".

  so are these part of the 144,000?

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  OneEyedJoe

  Literally every description of the 144,000 is taken by JWs to be figurative, except for the number. A number that, in context is clearly figurative - it is 12,000 from each of the 12 tribes of isreal and since their coming out of isreal is taken to be figurative then the number of tribes they are taken from is figurative so the total number must also be figurative. Furthermore, essentially every number in the book of revelation is considered to have some figurative/symbolic meaning. 10 is "earthly completeness" 7 "godly completeness" 6 is falling short of godliness, etc etc. Why is this number different?

  I've never heard any JW give anything resembling a reasonable defense of 144,000 being literal.
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  94

  American democracy in crisis

  by slimboyfat in

  1. social
  2. current

  okay cut to the chase.

  the united states has got a problem.

  hillary clinton is so unpopular that practically any republican who ran against her would probably have beaten her.

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  OneEyedJoe

  If you want to let Trump in by accident and precipitate the end of civilisation, I guess Green or Libertarian is the way to go.

  It's that kind of thinking (along with the winner-take all electoral system) that has us stuck with two bad choices. Voting 3rd party may aid in someone you don't want winning this year (which it sounds like is going to happen either way) but if enough people go for it, it will get the 3rd party a voice in the next election which could have a huge impact going forward.
  
  
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  25

  Any regrets whilst you were in the Org

  by Tallon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the biggest regret i have is of 'shunning' persons who were disfellowshipped and for 'marking' ones deemed as bad association.. there's no way i can approach these people to ask them for forgiveness as i've emigrated to another country however, by this post i'd like it to be known..

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  OneEyedJoe

  Same here. Worst thing I did was not inviting a couple of my cousins to my wedding. They'd never even been baptized, but since they were raised in the cult and were dating (and presumably sleeping with) lots of worldly guys, my whole family decided that they might as well be disfellowshiped since they knew better.