Posts by slimboyfat

37

A question JWs almost never ask, but should

by slimboyfat in

it occurs to me, if i was starting from scratch choosing a religion or belief system to join, there's one good question i should like answered first:.

does this religion promote a way of life and view of the world that would be satisfying even if not a single word of its doctrines are true?

if jws honestly answered that question i doubt many would say it's a good choice.

slimboyfat

Why Xanthippe? I absolutely do mean that the practical effects of a belief system matter much more than any supposed "truth" value, or correspomdance to reality. This video, I've shared a number of times, is an excellent description of the situation that I agree with.

https://youtu.be/cyx0rNyxFrk

I belive there's a real world out there, of course. What I doubt is the ability of us humans ever to finally capture that reality in language. I belive in the reality of the external world. What I disbelieve is the correspondance theory of truth.

So the question: does this religion promote a view of the world and way of life I am happy to experience without regard for any considerations of the 'transcendent'.

Is infinitely more relevant and important than the dumb question: are the things this religion teaches about the world true in the sense of corresponding to physical reality?

3

Using the Search on This Forum

by BluesBrother in

i often look at the search button to see if a topic has been posted, but all the replies seem in random date order with many very old , and not running in order.. can anybody give any tips for finding recent threads, if they have been posted?.

thanks.

slimboyfat

Advanced Google search using this website at the domain.

https://www.google.co.uk/advanced_search?hl=en

37

A question JWs almost never ask, but should

by slimboyfat in

it occurs to me, if i was starting from scratch choosing a religion or belief system to join, there's one good question i should like answered first:.

does this religion promote a way of life and view of the world that would be satisfying even if not a single word of its doctrines are true?

if jws honestly answered that question i doubt many would say it's a good choice.

slimboyfat

I'm thinking of the many JWs who say: "I'd love to learn violin, I'll do it in the new system". Or are interested in politics or animal welfare or whatever, but put it aside because the "end" is coming soon.

Having children, education, a love life at all if you are gay, travelling the world ("in the new system we'll travel the world by yacht" heard that one?), pursue an art or craft. Often pushed aside for "the sake of the kingdom".

JW ideology inhibits a good life now. Some other religions are actually capable of promoting a good life not hindering it.

On some level JWs are aware that being a JW is a recipe for a miserable life here and now. They accept it because they think there is better to come.

37

A question JWs almost never ask, but should

by slimboyfat in

it occurs to me, if i was starting from scratch choosing a religion or belief system to join, there's one good question i should like answered first:.

does this religion promote a way of life and view of the world that would be satisfying even if not a single word of its doctrines are true?

if jws honestly answered that question i doubt many would say it's a good choice.

slimboyfat

It occurs to me, if I was starting from scratch choosing a religion or belief system to join, there's one good question I should like answered first:

Does this religion promote a way of life and view of the world that would be satisfying even if not a single word of its doctrines are true?

If JWs honestly answered that question I doubt many would say it's a good choice. Yet other religions and belief systems probably could pass that test. In fact I read a book, "Good and Bad Religion" by Peter Vardy, that encourages such a practical evaluation of religion on that basis. He asks whether the religion promotes freedom, creativity, compassion and so on. JWs must score very poorly on all these.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Bad-Religion-Peter-Vardy/dp/0334043492/

This approach to evaluating JWs and religion generally is much more productive that merely an evaluation of whether the doctrines are "true".

40

Now this is weird, ever heard of the "Mandela Effect" ??? What if... ?

by Greybeard in

jw
friends

now this is weird, ever heard of the "mandela effect" ???

i know how crazy it sounds but i got to tell you, this article about the governing body finally admitting the "faithful slave" was not divinely appointed by jesus in 1919 was epic to me.

like a mandela effect feeling.

slimboyfat

Never heard of Mandella effect before. I just visited the twilight zone of the Internet. Can't say I'm convinced. Has this got something to do with Jung's ideas on synchronicity. Can't help thinking it's all attempts to ascribe meaning to reality that doesn't belong there.

3

Awesome Article From An Old Friend Of Ours

by freemindfade in

and a good friend of mine.

i know for exjw-political reasons this link won't work on here, but its worth copying and pasting to read.

enjoy!.

slimboyfat

I watched the shunning one it was pretty good.

12

"Shunning" - now a Watchtower word?

by slimboyfat in

i know jws have long used the word "shun" in a general sense, as in "shun what is bad".

but i think they have long avoided using the word in relation to disfellowshipping.

in external media or literature wherever the word "shunning" was used in a piece about jws it was usually a good indication it was critical of watchtower and not a neutral or supportive commentary.

slimboyfat

It's perhaps careless rather than design. I can imagine younger Watchtower writers have read media reports that talk about shunning, not realised the word is sort of proscribed in Watchtower speak, and just used it when writing Watchtower material.

22

Best of Topics

by Simon in

jw
best-of

some people had a penchant for posting their topics directly into the "best of topics" area.

it seemed more than a little arrogant to me that some imagined their every utterance was immediately a greatest hit but maybe people weren't clear on what that area was intended for .... from now on you won't be able to start new topics there.

if anyone wants to submit a topic to be added there (perhaps an index to a curated list of other topics by a user or on a certain subject / theme) then just start one in "suggestions" and pm me and, if it is suitable, then i'll move it into there.. existing topics posted there recently have been moved to more appropriate areas..

slimboyfat

Generally I don't like the attention. If people want to assemble a shortlist and vote on my top ten I'm okay with that.

12

"Shunning" - now a Watchtower word?

by slimboyfat in

i know jws have long used the word "shun" in a general sense, as in "shun what is bad".

but i think they have long avoided using the word in relation to disfellowshipping.

in external media or literature wherever the word "shunning" was used in a piece about jws it was usually a good indication it was critical of watchtower and not a neutral or supportive commentary.

slimboyfat

I don't think it used to be though. I could be wrong.

12

"Shunning" - now a Watchtower word?

by slimboyfat in

i know jws have long used the word "shun" in a general sense, as in "shun what is bad".

but i think they have long avoided using the word in relation to disfellowshipping.

in external media or literature wherever the word "shunning" was used in a piece about jws it was usually a good indication it was critical of watchtower and not a neutral or supportive commentary.

slimboyfat

I know JWs have long used the word "shun" in a general sense, as in "shun what is bad". But I think they have long avoided using the word in relation to disfellowshipping. In external media or literature wherever the word "shunning" was used in a piece about JWs it was usually a good indication it was critical of Watchtower and not a neutral or supportive commentary. A few years ago I think I searched the WT library for the words shun, shunned, and shunning and did not find them used in relation to disfellowshipping at all. (I can't repeat this now because I don't have the library)

Yet now the word "shunned" is used freely on the website for their practice:

https://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/faq/shunning/#?insight[search_id]=98e51141-6fb3-43a2-9ddd-91c7ec5ac653&insight[search_result_index]=1

And the elder used the word freely during the "shunning" convention talk:

https://youtu.be/WK7GPoGkWw4

This seems like a small victory for critics of the practice that the Watchtower has finally admitted that their policy amounts to shunning.

What's next, Watchtower articles defending the "art of mind control"?