Posts by Whiskeyjack

28

Philosophy - is it worth the bother?

by Abaddon in

jw
friends

i fully admit to only having dabbled in the waters of philosophy up to now.

i kept on being put off by the smell... .

having said that, is there anyone more clued up than me about the subject who can tell me anything that might make me change my mind?.

Whiskeyjack

Yes. philosophical studies can help one be more aware of one's thinking style (many of us are mentally lazy!) much like a basic understanding of psychology (personality profiles, cognitive styles, etc...). We are the result of our environmental programming (some good, some bad in most cases) and our inherited genetics.

Thinking requires work just like athletic activities require sweat! Don't be put off by intellectuals who delight in engaging in pissing contests ("nerds" can be just as competitive as "jocks") and ignoring real world experience. The key is balance (as always).

W.

3

Another UN News story...

by Elsewhere in

http://editorials.arrivenet.com/rel/article.php/4929.html .

for decades, the watchtower bible & tract society (wts) has been teaching .

change in teachings among jehovah witnesses .

Whiskeyjack

Thanks Elsewhere.

A good article for further research with the timeline. Do you know anything about the author?

W.

22

Mothers Doubts: Latest Update

by diamondblue1974 in

jw
friends

further to my previous thread i thought i would share an update with you on the situation with my mother... .

essentially my mother has been a jw for 30 years and we had a long conversation which involved me running through my reasons for no longer going to the meetings; she seemed quite receptive and agreed for me to send the documents and articles relating to the un.

well that very evening she went to see her elders without actually seeing the documents and asked about the un saga....apparently the elder told her that 'this was all sorted out ages ago and yes this has come from the apostates' 'the society has never been a member of the un and that this just a hoax designed to stumble people....' hmmn.

Whiskeyjack

DB,

I sympathyse fully with your dilemma since it's so similar to my own with my parents and their somewhat fragile faith ("where would we go?").

However, she agreed (if I recall correctly) to look at your evidence fairly didn't she? Get the source documents from the U.N. and hold'em in reserve for a future argument. Your mother is being lied to (to what extent will you permit this?) and she's inferring that you're stupid/gullible or an outright liar yourself if she won't at least compare facts!

If you both have regular contact an opportunity will likely present itself down the road the next time she mentions honesty, fairness, truthfulness and so forth.

W.

27

Toronto ApostateFest Scheduled For July 30th

by lawrence in

jw
friends

i'll be hosting an apostatefest at my home in north york, ontario (15 miles from downtown toronto).

pm me and let me know if you are interested in coming.

i have a large yard, a screened porch, and a large house (if it rains).

Whiskeyjack

OFC,

Thanks for "volunteering" to be the most "memorable" one at the party!

W.

59

What's your favorite soap opera

by Netty in

jw
friends

allright all you closet soap opera fans, now is the time to come clean!

what is your favorite soap opera and why?

dont lie, ya know you watch 'em.

Whiskeyjack

I got hooked on Coronation Street in the 70's when I was a little kid since it on when I got home from school in the afternoons (I still miss Hilda Ogden!). I still watch the Sunday morning round ups if I'm up and about that early. I was surprised to learn "Karen" was a JW child who still had trouble dealing with her past (shunned by her mother).

It's also very strange watching the long term characters' actors grwong so old now.

W.

27

We are NOT appostate

by jimakazi in

jw
friends

not to rain on the collective parade but what makes people here think they are appostate?

most of us have come to a rational conclusion that the jw / wtb is directed by a bunch of old men not directed by the holy spirit, is fallable, and cynically changes doctrine.

so to be against that is not to be appostate.

Whiskeyjack

Who know? In the U.S., it seems you can sue people for just about anything!

W.

14

Arts Degree Bummer

by JW83 in

jw
friends

is there anyone out there who can relate to the awful hollow feeling you get when you finish 4 1/2 years of uni to be qualified for absolutely nothing?!

i have to do postgrad next year to make anything of my honours degree & at the moment i am working part-time as a legal secretary, which i absolutely hate.

i think i have a severe case of burnout ...

Whiskeyjack

Undergraduate business degrees are losing their currency as well unfortunately (a pox on all stupid MBA's). Unless you're in a technical field, you need 6-7 years of education these days to find meaning ful (and decent paying!) work in western countires now.

Many undergrads have to go to community colleges after their university and hope the earlier education pays off later. Mind you, we have that "block" retirement later this century to look forward to.

W.

27

We are NOT appostate

by jimakazi in

jw
friends

not to rain on the collective parade but what makes people here think they are appostate?

most of us have come to a rational conclusion that the jw / wtb is directed by a bunch of old men not directed by the holy spirit, is fallable, and cynically changes doctrine.

so to be against that is not to be appostate.

Whiskeyjack

Jmakazi, I think for many it's a coopting of a "negative" designation much like Sub-Saharan Afriacan-Americans calling each other "my nigger". A mocking and rejection of the authority of the "labelers" if you will. My take on it anywaya. W.

15

Ain't Karma Grand?

by Low-Key Lysmith in

jw
friends

i just found out that the po of my old cong who presided over my disfellowshipping meeting was just disfellowshipped himself for a long history of horriffic physical and emotional abuse of his wife and family.. while i feel terrible for his family, i can't help but crack a smile when i think of him sitting in a cell (he was incarcerated for his evil deeds) stewing in his own juices.

when i was a kid in the cong, this guy was the most opiniated, judgemental, hateful asshole i have ever known.

i feel to some extent that justice has been served.

Whiskeyjack

It's good to know there some real justice out there now and again.

W.

12

I haven't been posting much lately

by Dustin in

jw
friends

i haven't been posting much lately.

i needed to take some time away, and figure out how i really felt about my feelings on life and religion in general.

this website really heped me gain a little closure on my exit from the jehovah's witnesses at a time when i really needed it.

Whiskeyjack

No problem Dustin. I was and still am a big brother to four siblings so I know what you mean. I still haven't made my mind up about God or the meaning of existence either but I've decided to "try" to be happy just "being here" and take the rest as it comes.

It's great that you're going back to school (hopefully you can study in an area of interest to you-I got stuck with a business program since it was all my bank would help pay for). The last couple of years I've hit one of those "valleys" in life (and if my second sib. hadn't stepped up to the plate, I probably wouldn't be here now - so life does offer one "payback") and have had to confront stuff like my JW upbringing and its after effects that I thought I had put behind me but am trying to move forward again.

I've learned to really value the people who "are there" for everyone else around them since they're what makes life bearable and balance my disappointment in humans in general.

W.