I knew a few guys (lifers) who would crap their pants at the prospect of leaving Bethel. They would not know what to do and how they would have supported themselves. Most had no skills and would have been devestated if they found themselves out in the world and having to find work and shelter. Even some who had to leave, like my brother-in-law (my sister got pregnant), had a job lined up with a "brother" and sadly found out it was just talk. They ended up living in my parent's basement.
Posts by Etude
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68More WT Propaganda: Low Paying Jobs are OK for Family Heads. Just "Don't Miss the Meetings!"
by Oubliette ingod, evidently, wants you to be poor: .
a newly baptized brother is married, and he and his wife have three small children.
one day, a workmate suggested that he and the brother move to another company that paid a higher wage and provided more benefits.
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14
What does it take to break the ache?
by Terry inthe problem with reality is.
.it is too real.. reality stings.. reality is a headache.. a bit of fantasy and diversion is about all the aspirin you can take to deflect the throbbing ache of reality.. fantasy?
maybe "magic" is a better choice of words.. daydream when you're bored at work?.
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Etude
Reality is the Cod Liver Oil we must take in order to purge or intestinal track and stay healthy. The opposite (fantasy, escapism, etc) is like the ice-cream cone with everything on it that will give us cavities and a tummy ache. Oh, but is it ever so good!
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Dawkins-The Greatest Show on Earth
by KateWild inas many may be aware.
i don't like the man.
but i have chosen to review the first chapter of his book.. chapter 1... only a theory?.
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Etude
I can’t say I don’t like Dawkins the man. I can say that I don’t like the smugness with which he criticizes those who don’t agree with him, especially when some of those people are other scientists. He has been widely criticized for his “Memes” theory (his own invention) because it is inexact and impossible to “prove”. As such, it fails to explain or be a means to concretely show how Natural Selection has seen fit to give us something for which we have no need for, namely the concept of a deity.
I do make a distinction between the theory of Gravity and the theory of Evolution. The difference is that a scientific theory in general is based on hypotheses that can be corroborated, substantiated, experimented upon, etc. The important thing for me in that definition is the method by which that is accomplished. Often, it is reproducible and the discrete steps for the process are clearly stated.
This is the reason for why there’s a difference between the theory of Quantum Mechanics and String Theory. String Theory (better yet Super Symmetry) cannot be experimented upon or physically verified. And so, it remains a very plausible conjecture while still named a “theory”. Evolution takes on a similar aspect in that, while it is a very plausible conjecture, much of the mechanism for how it happens cannot be duplicated or demonstrated by experimentation. Even when there are reports of Evolution in action due to interesting mutations, they only support the idea of mutations but not HOW the culmination of mutations bring about a new feature, let alone a new organism.
As some have suggested, “Evolution in action” amounts to adaptations by certain organisms to their environment. That could simply mean that the organism already has the ability in its genotype to produce changes, not that it spontaneously arose. The observed change in itself is not a demonstration of a new evolutionary process which gives rise to an organism's ability it didn’t have before. That’s not to say that the process does not exist. But for Science, it is not a fact until it can be explained and repeatedly demonstrated.
This also brings confusion about the verb “prove” (/pro͞ov/). The parent root “proof” (n.) is simply a repeatable process which will either confirm a thing or to validate it. So in the absence of a verifiable mechanism (the proof), it’s difficult to, however likely, to make definitive statements about a thing, especially in Evolution.
Einstein’s theory of General Relativity is being seriously challenged by other physicists for assumptions it makes about Time. In fact, some scientists believe that they can eliminate time all-together from Einstein’s equations and solve some of the problems with the missing matter and energy (Dark matter and Dark energy) that is theorized must exists in order to keep galaxies from flying apart. So where does that leave such a “theory”? Well, it doesn’t mean it’s entirely wrong. It may mean that some aspects of it are in doubt. It may mean that some initial assumptions were incorrect. Ultimately, to me, it means that we need to look at things with an attitude of less certainty and fewer absolutes.
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bad manic episode-went to hospital
by love2Bworldly inhi-- for those of you who struggle with bipolar & depression, just wanted to share my experiences.
i had a major manic episode last month and spent a week in a phsyciatric hospital, what an experience that was!
not fun.
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Etude
The Depakote word triggered my memory. It’s something I heard on the news recently. Apparently, Abbot Laboratories was fined $1.5 BILLION for the off-label promotion of Depakote. That’s not to say that it doesn’t work in some instances. The problem is pharmaceutical companies are getting greedy and are marketing their drugs for other uses. For that and for failure to disclose safety data or for kickbacks, they’re being fined by the FDA:
GlaxoSmithKline -- $3 billion -- Avandia, Wellbutrin, Paxil
Pfizer -- $2.3 billion -- Bextra, Geodon, Zyvox, Lyrica
Eli Lilly -- $1.4 billion -- Zypreza
And the list goes on. The efficacy of Statins has also been recently called into question. It’s a bitch being sick.
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Florida teacher suspended over [JW] kids Pledge of Allegiance
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.azcentral.com/news/free/20131106florida-teacher-suspended-over-kids-pledge-allegiance.html?odyssey=obnetwork.
associated presswed nov 6, 2013 3:34 pmspring hill, fla. a florida school district has suspended a teacher after requiring a fourth grade jehovahs witness to participate in the pledge of allegiance.. the tampa tribune (http://bit.ly/1arwmom) reports that the hernando county school board recently concluded an investigation.. the student, who is jehovahs witness and prohibited by the religion from worshiping objects, refused on religious grounds, the investigation found.. officials said teacher anne daigle-mcdonald twice placed the students hand over his heart when the class recited the pledge.. the student told mcdonald during the incident that jehovahs witnesses do not worship objects, and that he stood during the pledge of allegiance out of respect for the country, but was not permitted by his religion to place his hand over his heart, according to the investigation.. after the student informed mcdonald of this, mcdonald went to the front of the class and said, if you dont want to say the pledge, you still have to put your hand on your heart and if you dont want to do that, you should move out of the country, according to the report.. the report also shows mcdonald said something about there not being a religion that prohibits doing the pledge, according to the investigation.. the district says that mcdonald violated a host of state education rules, professional conduct principles and the students right to free speech and freedom of religion.
several other students in the class corroborated the allegations, according to the investigation.. mcdonald was removed from student contact, and placed on alternative assignment on sept. 12.. while speaking to administrators at the school on that date, mcdonald said she thought the religion applied only to holidays, but said she did not attempt to contact the students parents for clarification, according to the report.. the investigation showed that she also said she didnt think it was good practice to regularly place hands on students, and that she feels strongly as a citizen of the united states that one should show respect to the flag.. superintendent lori romano ordered mcdonald be suspended five days without pay, reported the incident to florida department of education and ordered mcdonald provide proof of completion of diversity training..
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Etude
I don't even look at that as soley a religious problem but as a constitutional infringement on several levels. It’s like forcing Quakers to take up arms or sanctioning prayer in school. I know those are separate issues. But, it’s the idea of infringement that they have in common. It even involves speech rights, since speech is not always spoken while in the process of expressing your views. The teacher was out-of-line.
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Introduction
by Pyramid God ini'm somewhat new here, even though i've posted a few times, so i decided it was time i properly introduced myself.
i've been lurking for several months.... .
i was born into the jw and served for 21 years.
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Etude
Welcome Pyramid God. I hope that whatever happens you're able to maintain a decent relationship with your family. Being cut off and shunned can be a difficult thing. Family helps. At the same time, hang in there and maybe you'll be able to influence them. You never know.
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148
Well it is time for me to say GOODBYE!!!
by mouthy init has been nice talking with you.but i seem to upset a few because of my faith.. so have a great christmas.... & be good, i wont be here to send you to your rooms .
i have grown close to many of you.... if i have ever said anything to hurt you sorry!!!!.
when i kick the bucket i am sure "mary" who ssometimes post will let you know.. mouthy grace gough.
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Etude
I've been on and off here for over a decade, mostly because I've been busy. Still, I can't recall anyone being offended by your faith. I don't have time to look up any of our past exchanges. But if there was anything you might construe from me or anyone else, that is no reason to leave. You're a valuable person because you have something to say, even if others don't agree. That's the nature of this place. We discuss, argue, agree, disagree, etc, etc. Think of it this way: whatever you say can either be inspirational for someone or a challenge to others. Either way, it's all good.
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113
Elders receive a report that I am openly displaying false religious symbol
by confusedandalone inwhen you look at the image above what do you see?
a sneaker or an outward display that i am now following after another religious group?.
well yesterday i had a 10 minute conversation with an elder who finally got the balls to call me.
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Etude
Baahahah! That's not entirely on point but it's funny as hell. I would have said: "...when studied by Witnesses..."
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113
Elders receive a report that I am openly displaying false religious symbol
by confusedandalone inwhen you look at the image above what do you see?
a sneaker or an outward display that i am now following after another religious group?.
well yesterday i had a 10 minute conversation with an elder who finally got the balls to call me.
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Etude
The situation you describe, confusedandalone, is typical of the type or reasoning that the cult breeds. It’s possible that HQ could reject the issue as banal and the elders have to stop this line of assault. But if they’re really after you, they could justify it with other things. It won’t change their means of justification. When I wrote to them about the inconsistency between the Malawi party card issue and the Mexican military card brothers had to carry, their lack of response told me volumes.
While at Bethel in the mid 70s, they would not iron your blue jeans. Apparently, Knorr felt that all the gays in Brooklyn Heights wore jeans and did not want to encourage bethelites to look the same. However, if you paid the dry cleaners, they would press them for you. When I moved to the Farm in Wallkill, I tried to get my blue jeans pressed. They refused. When I asked why they said that in Brooklyn the view is they do not press blue jeans at the laundry and they would follow suit. I replied that in Brooklyn they will press them for you at the dry cleaners if you pay. Their answer was: “Well, we’re not Brooklyn.” I took this up to the home servant (whose name I can’t recall). He was a stocky man with salt-pepper hair and walked with a limp from a knee injury or deformity. Regardless, this dude was a black hole when it came to logic.
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Political correctness. What is it to you?
by Hortenzie ini see it as a form of discrimination against non mainstream ideas and opinions.
that's why i don't understand why so many hold it as of a great value.
what do you think?.
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Etude
I guess that's why there's a grammatical part of speech called "synonym". It means that we use different words, or in this case a phrase or expression, in order to mean the same thing. I don't differentiate between being politically correct and being sensitive to others in certain contexts. I say "certain contexts" because I don't think it's always beneficial to be politically correct of "kill" someone with kindness if that will help keep them in ignorance about an issue or unduly protected them from the truth. Sometimes, you just have to tell it like it is.