"Great observation, Amicus.
Despite what the adherent believes are his own thoughts, his thought processes must dovetail perfectly with the institution's in order to be accepted. Institutional thought processes, institutional conscience. All this while believing with all his heart that he is pleasing to God. The Oracle says so.
In truth, the LAST thing God wants is an automaton.
Milligal, this is the type of gross hypocrisy that Jesus condemned. Curiously, JWs spend there entire lives attempting to adhere to a standard that leads them AWAY from Christ - and nobody in the "brain trust" seems to get it.
Carlos" Interestingly enough, possibly out of embarassement, or maybe out of curiosity I later on spent 100's of hours studying this topic. I have spent far more time studying the "scriptures" after I left the WTBTS than I ever spent while one of them. My only "conclusions" are that anyone claiming to represent "the god of the bible today" is full sh**. Anyone predicting bible prophecy is full of sh**. Probably the "New Testament" is mostly full of sh**. The historical record of the Hebrew Scriptures is cool. Too bad the modern Jews never learned what those writings tried to teach them. The collected words of Jesus are most cool. Too bad modern Christians don't follow them. If one has to sum up the message of both it would be something like this, Don't trust Politicians or Religionists. Mine your own business and try your best to ignore the assholes. Oh! Although one has to dig deep, I'm sure there is text that says something like, "If you grow a garden at home, don't waste your time on squash".
amicus
JoinedPosts by amicus
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9
Making God's Commands Arbitrary
by milligal inthere's a philosophical theology behind the premise that people who blindly obey (a.k.a.
'sheeplike') have no inner sense of morality or ethics.
take for exampe the idea of shunning, jw's shun those that they are told to shun.
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amicus
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74
How do we know that humans have been around for more than 6000 years?
by inkling inafter a conversation with my dad last night, i realized that it is fairly.
easy for jws to weasel out of issues involving the fossil record because.
a) the wt has very little to say on the subject and b) witnesses are.
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amicus
Some Scientists are dishonest, some merchants are. Some politicians (no, I won't comment) try to help their constituants, some don't. Some Military leaders honestly try to limit troop losses, some newscasters try to tell the truth. Human nature,
Honest historians/scientists try to sift through any evidence of the historical record to produce an accurate document.
Currently evidence points to mankind as we know it developing in Africa 150k years ago? The cool thing is that science is exploding based on accumulated knowledge. We may be killing ourselves off as a species, but we are gonna go out knowing more than our ancestors ever dreamed possible. Kinda cool when you think about it. Modern religions need to adapt pretty rapidly to still stay viable. That Southern Baptist Deacon that I worked with in Jamaica 10 yrs ago has to work a whole hell of a lot harder to try to convince me (or anyone) that anyone of African descent is sub human. Yep, not uncommon 10 years ago in the Southern US.
My guess is that his bigotry is begining to fade away. It is probably being replaced with a new bigotry, but at least the US bigots are slowly being cornered. We white boys are rapidly becoming a minority, and based on our history I'm not sure that isn't really a bad thing.
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WTS and the Iluminatti
by heyfea in.
i heard rumors that the wts is member of the iluminatti.
heyfea.
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amicus
In their dreams. They aren't even close to the muscle required for that level of game playing.
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Making God's Commands Arbitrary
by milligal inthere's a philosophical theology behind the premise that people who blindly obey (a.k.a.
'sheeplike') have no inner sense of morality or ethics.
take for exampe the idea of shunning, jw's shun those that they are told to shun.
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amicus
This is why people who know a lot about the Bible very rarely convert to the Watchtower. One of the first things they spot in the organization is the legalistic / Talmudic approach to Christianity on which salvation is based. Those who have never educated themselves in the Bible and who are only nominal church members often fall for the faulty logic and sophomoric reasoning in the Society's publications.
"I have also noted that people with large guilt complexes often join legalistic / authoritarian religions. People who have lived very troubled or sordid lives often go through a change where their internal pendulum swings in the opposite direction. They shift from being loose and licentious to being stern, judgemental, and devoted to religious dogmaticism.
I think that the average JW (despite giving up freedoms of every kind) feels a sense of security and well-being in dutifully following religious rules, regulations, and programmed activity. Much like the first-century Jews, they feel that spiritual purity is linked with following many rules and regulations. They feel that God's favor will only come through following a Talmudic, systemized form of worship despite what their true heart condition might be."
I had to read this twice to get it, but you pretty much summed up my generation. I converted in early 1970 with many of my friends, but we were mostly young radicals. Young radicals raised by authoritarian parents, schools etc. We were hardcore for a few years, but eventually went full circle and realized this "Grand Revelation" was just more of the same bs.
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Bush- Hoping to be vindicated by historians for erradicating terrorism
by nvrgnbk innevermind that most contemporary historians view him as the worst u.s. prez ever.citing history, bush suggests his policies will one day be vindicatedby dan eggenwashington post staff writer .
monday, june 9, 2008; page a03 meet george w. bush, time traveler.
he's in poland in 1939 as nazi tanks advance on warsaw, then flying with his navy-pilot father to battle imperial japan.
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amicus
Worst President in my lifetime. I think he should be in a cell with some of the same ones he refused to pardon when he was Gov of Texas. I expect he will retire in comfort and eventually establish a GWB library.
Heh, there will probably be a Bible somewhere in the Library. History has very little to do with truth. Most Evangelical Christians I attempt to discuss issues with are as misinformed as Jw's. Some are worse!
Total change of subject, but I've thought for many years the only help for the ol' US is for a military coup. The political process has clearly failed.
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time to leave after 42 yrs of marriage
by tiffy0212 inmarried 42 yrs and ready to leave.
my husband is a jw and has been for 38 yrs.
i even joined from 1974 to 1985 to keep my family together.
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amicus
Life is good.
One constant in mankinds history is that people will go to extraordinary lengths to be free. Freedom in a wasteland is better than servitude in a paradise...to some. Leave that bondage. Take whatever wealth you are comfortable leaving with and get the hell out. Go anywhere, read some books, watch some movies...go hiking, buy a house if you can and plant a garden. Go to a library, read a lot of books. Forget your brain dead husband. Slaves are slaves. Be FREE! If there really is a god, my garden attests to the fact that he would you approve of you taking some initiative and becoming a life form worthy of drawing breath.
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update...husband made appt. with the elders, what do you think of this?....
by New light for you inok... so my husband felt bad that the elders wanted to meet with us and he wasn't responding... so he set it up for saturday at 2 even though everyone said dont meet with them.
oh ya, and everyone said not to meet with them at your house, but again, he didn't want to rock the boat.
it's funny, though he was the first one to leave, he's still afraid and doesn't want to "raise any red flags" he's willing to just say "we're discouraged, can you just leave us alone fora while" feel free to yell at him (robert7).. here's the thing.
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amicus
I never told the local elders that I thought the WTBTS was evil, but I did tell my oldest and best friend (he lived a few congregations away). I haven't heard from him since. The local congregation still hit's my door from time to time and seems to have amnesia.
I'm sorry to have lost my old friend (especially as he had borrowed thousands of dollars worth of tools/equiptment that was never returned). But who could really count on a "friend" that would abandon you for something like the WTBTS? Sadly, one of my experiences with the Jdubs is that my local (worldly) neighbors are far more reliable when it comes to returning borrowed items, returning favors and just flat out accepting me as I am.
So, I think you should just leave. Who cares what they think? Go about building a *normal* life (whatever the hell that means). Let them persivorate about where you went.
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Do your words count on J.W.D. ?
by caliber insometimes you have a topic that lights up the board, a virtual flow of thoughts and expressions, other times you.
feel like just a extra pint of water going over niagara falls !
are the words you type here like yesterdays .
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amicus
It depends on your reason for posting. /shrug
Some come here to entertain. Some come for help. Some come for the community. Some to vent.
This is the internet, well...actually kind of a cool spot on the internet. A niche spot, but it's becoming one of the golden oldies.
Within this niche, Simon allowed a varied garden to grow.
Read one of Frenchy's old short stories. Did Frenchy care if anyone read what he wrote?
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News Flash !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
by TooBad TooSad inmy wife excitedly told me that she talked to the wife of an elder that just came back from.
the special training for elders in upper state new york and that the elders are being told .
to go back to their congregations and to get them ready for the great tribulation.. i said to her that is great news !!!!
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amicus
"Fear sells!!!"
That comment pretty much sums it all up. Politicians use it, Religions use it.
Intelligent discussion is so passe. Hot button topics for the win!
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Single? Do You Cook for Yourself?
by compound complex indear friends,.
as i cook away, preparing a hearty breakfast before the robust walkabout that awaits me, i recall an earlier conversation with a married friend whose wife prepares him beautiful meals.
if you're a single person, it's typical to throw something together hastily and eat it on the run.
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amicus
My Mom hated housework and cooking, She had 4 kids so those duties were passed unto us. My brothers and sister cleaned, cooked, gardened while my Mom did charity work at the local Catholic Church.
I don't regret it a bit. I've been single most of my life but when I find a woman that captivates me, I'm comfortable inviting her over for dinner.
I admit my tastes are somewhat extreme, but I'm cool with that and share it with anyone who cares to discuss things such as....