darkuncle29

Joined

• started 54 topics
• posted 1,429 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by darkuncle29

• 
  60

  The Problem with Atheism by Sam Harris

  by nvrgnbk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the problem with atheism(this is an edited transcript of a talk given at the atheist alliance conference in washington d.c. on september 28th, 2007).

  to begin, id like to take a moment to acknowledge just how strange it is that a meeting like this is even necessary.

  the year is 2007, and we have all taken time out of our busy lives, and many of us have traveled considerable distance, so that we can strategize about how best to live in a world in which most people believe in an imaginary god.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  So, let me make my somewhat seditious proposal explicit: We should not call ourselves “atheists.” We should not call ourselves “secularists.” We should not call ourselves “humanists,” or “secular humanists,” or “naturalists,” or “skeptics,” or “anti-theists,” or “rationalists,” or “freethinkers,” or “brights.” We should not call ourselves anything. We should go under the radar—for the rest of our lives. And while there, we should be decent, responsible people who destroy bad ideas wherever we find them.

  I really like this idea, of not chosing to be the oposite polarity of 'religious' beliefs. It seems to me very Art-of-War.

  He spoke alot about meditation, and using our own minds to explore consciousness, and I like how he pointed out that we each need to build our own 'telescopes' if we want to explore that area.
• 
  17

  The difficulty of recovering from JW teachings

  by DT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it's difficult to free yourself from years of cult influence.

  i'm concerned that i may still be suffering from hidden assumptions that i haven't considered.

  i'll have to examine my thinking for the rest of my life, but that's not necessarily a bad thing.. it would be easier if we could reject everything we were taught, but that's not really possible.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  I agree with you that removing all of the Borg implants may not be possible or even the best approach, and then there are also the implants that you don't even know are there. Perhaps for some of the deeper rooted beliefs and thought processes, awareness and modification is preferable to forced removal-if that is even possible. I think they got it right with "Religion is a snare and a racket". I also think that the org is a good example of how not to behave. By shaking off the mental shackles of the WTS, we notice other areas of life that have mental control and can get away from them too.

  I don't think there is any one true religion or way of seeing the world. I think that there are many parralel paths, but that we each have to take our own journey. But with that said, I do tend to keep on the lookout for others on a path that try to enforce it on other people-religions, political groups, ect. Anytime sobody tries to sell me their only true whatever, I mentally hold them at arms length like a wrigling thing and try to gently let them be.
• 
  23

  Bizarre conversations

  by RebelWife in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  tula and i started talking about this yesterday.

  can anybody tell us what's going on here or how to deal with these goofy conversations?

  we're not talking about anything even remotely connected with religion, god, the bible or jws.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  I do this to my partner sometimes, but I've gotten better and now stop myself mid story when I can. If I'm tired or sleep deprived then I fall back.

  My mother does this alot. She didn't use to. I think its a symptom of stress and anxiety mixed with sleep issues and maybe just a little bit of regular crazyness. She can talk to me on the phone for an hour and go on about stuff that I don't care about or that is not relevant at all. So I sometimes preempt her with "Yes or No? Blah blah blah?" Its about comunication. As for the right or wrong way to answer, I don't believe it matters really, what matters is if meaningful information was comunicated.
• 
  40

  2nd AA meeting. Would value opinions

  by digderidoo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i went to my 2nd aa meeting last night and came away with doubts as to whether this would work for me, so would value peoples opinion especially those who attend aa.. there were one or two there that were quite evangelical, which obviously works for them.

  also within the program there is alot of emphasis on god or a higher power.

  for many this higher power is the group itself, yet for some it is god.. i spoke to someone sitting by me about this who said that to make sobriety sometimes you have to fake it and go along with the god thing.. at the end of meetings there is a short prayer which i do not want to take part in.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  Not an AA atendee, but my sister went to NA. I wish that she'd stuck with it.

  I don't know you from Adam, but I think for now, being newly sober, that going would be a good thing for you. I agree that the evangelical types there are going to push your exJW/cult buttons. The fact that you can see that I think is a good sign. I don't know about your area, but I've heard that there are some atheist AA groups. I think an important part of the AA or therapy route in sobriety is to learn about yourself, what your triggers are, to know how you think and react to stimuli. And armed with that knowledge, learn to adjust or adapt healthier habbits and thinking.

  Anyway, good luck with it.
• 
  15

  OF INTEREST TO NEW YORKERS?

  by Dansk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just saw this on richard dawkin's site: http://richarddawkins.net/ and thought it might interest new yorkers and others on jwd:.

  two ex-jehovah witnesses to tell why they became atheists.

  by nyc atheistssee:.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  Not in NY, but think its still cool.
• 
  29

  Advice Please

  by mouthy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my modom is going ( all turns red) so sue my daughter & grand-son said i need a new whole set ... i have been to 4 computor shops ....two said not to get vista they are no good & three said xppro is no good ,the vista i can get for $799.00 the xp i can get for $698.

  can you give me advice on vista & pro please ....

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  To more technical minded folks: Could her speakers be buzzing due to stray RF in the ground wires of her electrical system, say from lighting ballasts or heaters running?

  Grace, I would reccomend staying with what OS you are familiar with. If you curently use XP, stick with it. I helped my dad and later my grandpa set up their computers, both came with Vista preinstalled. I hated it. I still hate it. My laptop has Xp and I'm used to it.

  I think elsewhere posted a thread about Vista SP1 due out in February. I don't remember the details.

  Good luck Grace.
• 
  27

  My Comprehensive Introduction

  by Fadeout in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  sorry since im not dfd and still have family in the org id like to remain in contact with, i have to keep this deliberately vague..

  raised a jw, i was never considered zealous but was always good.

  the kind of guy that gets encouraged to reach out for privileges.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  And yet, this man, who saw through the elaborate WT deception, could not follow his arguments to their logical conclusion and see the Bible itself for what (I feel) it really is—a great work of human literature.

  I'm 100% with you there.

  I also like how you said life isn't fair or cruel, it just is. Seeing and navigating the fluctuations of life unfolding, working with what is and not against the current part of the cycle. That's why Taosim appeals to me.
• 
  216

  I'm a Pioneer Married To a Wonderful Brother Reaching Out to be an MS...

  by cognac in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  and petrified... i just recently became a pioneer and always had nagging questions in the back of my mind.

  so, i decided that when i have get a study i would research all the questions as i go along so as to prove everything in the truth... i got 4 studies in about 2 months.

  all was fine, until i reached i think chapter 6 in the bible teach book about the resurrection.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  Welcome to the board, and the journey. At the stage you're in, you will feel pain; the loss of your belief system hurts like the death of a loved one. Know that you are not alone, take a breath and let the anxiety of this pass. Take it slow, there's no need to rush.
• 
  18

  SPIRITUALITY THROUGH THE UNIVERSE

  by Dansk in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've not hidden the fact that i'm an atheist, something i've come to through what i believe is thorough research and experience.

  however, while i no longer consider myself religious i do believe i am spiritual.. i do not believe the universe was created by an all powerful being, but that the universe is that all powerful being.

  in other words, we are all part of the universe, as are all sentient and insentient bodies, and we are subject to its laws.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  but that the universe IS that all powerful being

  I like this idea.
• 
  27

  Were You Ever Snubbed In The Hall & Didn't Know Why???

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  were you ever treated by the elders, their families and "the friends" in a way that made you feel you were unwanted?.

  there's probably nothing worse than realizing that you are not being treated with the same dignity and love as others.

  once we come out of the organization, we expect better but sadly the real world can be cruel too.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  darkuncle29

  They were a prissy clicky bunch, no? I was sortof a smart nerdy weird kid, plus quiet and shy, so the "cool" kids-read here the bad elder's kids would have nothing to do with me. And that didn't bother me too much as I didn't like them anyway, knew they were untrustworthy.