Posts by riverofdeceit

17

Thinking like a Jehovah's Witness would think

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

thinking like a jehovah's witness would think on a prior discussion thread a couple of individuals pointed out.

to me, that i am more or less infected with "witness" think.

other words, i still think like a jehovah's witness.

riverofdeceit

If you were an ex-witness how did you overcome
"Witness" think?
I was forced into living in the "world" and had no choice but to adapt. I then realized that JWs didn't own any patent on morality.

Do you still adhere to any of the standards that
we were once taught as Witnesses?

Yeah, some of them. I don't steal, I don't lie (much, but in fairness, all Witnesses lie, even if they don't know it)... But it isn't because the Witnesses taught it. See above.

How do you purge the mental brainwashing
propaganda of "Witness" think?
I knew I couldn't survive in the real world without doing so, and I wanted to. I was raised in the religion and once old enough to think on my own, quickly realized that everything they were teaching was just a bunch of ideas developed by a few men in power. Some of the ideology was based good morals, but like I stated, they by no means had that patent. The other ideas were cool sounding but based on nothing (paradise earth), and others were outright dangerous(blood doctrine, etc.).

My sister has the idea that it is only witnesses that don't curse, don't watch R rated movies, don't commit fornication with everyone they meet. (I try to explain that many just don't do those things around other JWs. *except for the fornication thing...which is pretty much the same as far as ratios go both inside the religion and outside from my observations.) Sure, they get caught and they get punished (unless they are pedophiles or they know a powerful elder)...but how is that taking a moral high road. Not doing stuff because you'll get punished (or not get rewarded) has nothing to do with morality. I mean, isn't that exactly what Satan was trying to prove to God with Job? (not that I buy the Job story, anyhow, but...) Job is only righteous because he has Gods blessing. Without the blessing, Job would reject God. They preach what "Satan" preaches.

69

Have you ever had an encounter with a UFO?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

when i was about 16 years old, a group of us friends would go hiking a lot on the weekend.

we would rough it to some degree, just a sleeping back and sleeping under the stars.

one night, while hiking into a lake in northern california, we all were sleeping in a clearing just out of legal distance from a small mountain lake we liked to fish in.

riverofdeceit

I'm just saying, Most people that claim they have seen UFO's (alien spacecraft) are just wrong about it. As a result, those that possibly have are forced to have a larger burden of proof put upon them. I am a skeptic. It is in my nature. I really would love to be "proven" wrong about most of the things I am skeptical of. Honestly. I believe that there are indeed aliens. I also believe that they are most likely not what most people think they would be like (beings with two legs and large heads and big eyes) I have no proof of such things at all, as nobody that I know of has indisputable proof of them either. However, the likelyhood of the universe and how large it is having other lifeforms in them capable of more than we humans are is greater than not.

You have to admit though(ok, you don't have to), a lot of the people claiming alien encounters are, well, not really the most reputable people. Same with psychics, mediums, religious leaders, etc.

69

Have you ever had an encounter with a UFO?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

when i was about 16 years old, a group of us friends would go hiking a lot on the weekend.

we would rough it to some degree, just a sleeping back and sleeping under the stars.

one night, while hiking into a lake in northern california, we all were sleeping in a clearing just out of legal distance from a small mountain lake we liked to fish in.

riverofdeceit

I want to add, I am an extremely skeptical person. I am an atheist. I don't believe in magic, spirits, ghosts, mediums, etc. I'll express my doubts to those who have said they have seen unexplainable things like ufos. I really, really have doubts about aliens abducting humans and experimenting on them and think that most if not all of those claiming them are lying or crazy(or were under the influence of some sort of mind altering chemical).

69

Have you ever had an encounter with a UFO?

by free2beme in

jw
friends

when i was about 16 years old, a group of us friends would go hiking a lot on the weekend.

we would rough it to some degree, just a sleeping back and sleeping under the stars.

one night, while hiking into a lake in northern california, we all were sleeping in a clearing just out of legal distance from a small mountain lake we liked to fish in.

riverofdeceit

What you saw was definitely a ufo. You couldn't identify it and it was flying. I have strong doubts about whether or not contact has been made with alien beings(or spacecrafts), however. I can't completely rule it out but, just because I can't explain something doesn't mean there isn't another explanation. I saw a UFO once when I was a kid, too. Was it an alien spaceship?Probably not. I know what it wasn't. It wasn't a plane, it wasn't a helicopter, it wasn't a hot air balloon or a weather balloon either, and I haven't forgotten about it.

With the size of the universe, the chances that we on earth are the only "intelligent" beings in it seems unlikely.

67

Born Gay?

by Sam87 in

jw
friends

hi everyone, just wondering what your thoughts are on people that say they are born gay?

ive heard that this isnt actually possible, and that there is no scientific backing to it, im personaly not gay but i was just wondering what some of you think on this matter, and if you have anything to back it up with, thanks,.

.

riverofdeceit

Who cares. As an adult, I know what turns me on. I know what doesn't. My attraction to girls was there some time around early elementary school(I'm a guy). I didn't learn that, I didn't choose that. My sexual attraction to them came later on, but not much later. I'm sure my attractions have been partly influenced by how my life has gone, and have probably changed slightly over time, but at its core, I know I am heterosexual. I doubt it is much different for anyone else, gay or straight.

The only conscious choices I have made are with whom my relationships have been with, and these have been based upon who I think I will be compatible with both mentally and physically. I am attracted to the opposite sex but not all of them. Just because I have a penis, doesn't mean that every vagina turns me on. Sure, technically they go together, but just because they go together and could serve the purpose of creating a child, doesn't mean that is the only(or best) enjoyment I can receive from it. Mentally, it has to be the right person to be truly enjoyable, hopefully for the both of us.

28

Were You/ Are You A Sheep Or A Goat???

by minimus in

jw
friends

well??

?

riverofdeceit

goat

16

The plot line to almost all movies that come out today.

by free2beme in

jw
friends

ever notice how much every movie follows the same plot line and pattern, so much so, that you can set your watch by it.

here it is .... the introduction - the short moment in the beginning of the movie that has you listening to characters explain themselves and their past.. the point - the short moment that follows the introduction that explain what this movie will be about, and offer at least a couple subtle points that will be major in the end.

(example, a small character mentioning something they know, someone they know or a history they share).

riverofdeceit

free2beme....If you are tired of that plot structure, rent Mulholland Drive. You end up thinking "What the hell was that?" after watching the whole story fall apart ten minutes from the end, and then you have to use your brain to figure out what you've been watching the whole time. One of my favorite movies; it's like a psychological novel filled with symbolism and enigma that suddenly all makes sense when you figure out what's going on.

Any David Lynch movie is like that. (except for maybe the one with Richard Farnsworth..."The Straight Story"):

Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me (I'd recommend the tv series first, if possible)
The Lost Highway
Blue Velvet

16

The plot line to almost all movies that come out today.

by free2beme in

jw
friends

ever notice how much every movie follows the same plot line and pattern, so much so, that you can set your watch by it.

here it is .... the introduction - the short moment in the beginning of the movie that has you listening to characters explain themselves and their past.. the point - the short moment that follows the introduction that explain what this movie will be about, and offer at least a couple subtle points that will be major in the end.

(example, a small character mentioning something they know, someone they know or a history they share).

riverofdeceit

I'd recommend for you:

Memento

November ( I think that is the name. It has Courtney Cox in it.)

Don't read anything about them, just watch them.

46

Anyone know a good hangover cure?

by fullofdoubtnow in

jw
friends

not for me, i might add.. my boyfriend, who isn't a big drinker, went out with his best mate and a few other friends last night on a birthday celebration.

they went to see some led zeppelin tribute band, and around a few pubs as well.

he staggerred in at around 1:30am, just after i'd gone to bed, very much the worse for drink, and had to make frequent visits to the loo all night.

riverofdeceit

Get a quart of one of the electrolyte-replacing sports drinks, like GATORAIDE, add an equal amount of water, (so you have 2 quarts total) and invite him to quaff deeply of the cup over the next few hours.Be careful not to overdose on the over-the-counter pain meds like ibuprofen.

Aha, a drinker. Gatorade(or powerade). is the best thing, also, saltines help a lot with the upset stomack. If I have a night of heavy drinking(much less infrequently, I'd like to add), I make sure to have gatorade by my bedside. Rehydrates better than water. This will only help avoid hangover, mind you. If you drank so much you're puking, all you can do is puke until you are done.

537

evolution or creation? lets talk...

by Sam87 in

jw
friends

ok, lets have a discussion about where we all came from, evolution or creation?

(or whatever you beleive in of course) every one put down there main reasons, along with reasonable facts and backup as to why.. .

hopefully this doesnt start to many arguments, lol.. .

riverofdeceit

The way I see it is that I have two options:

base my opinion on where all of the facts point. Some questions have not yet been answered, but the questions that do have answers, have facts to back them up.
a. base my opinion on...um, a story, ignoring facts altogether. b. recognise the facts, but claim ~~reasonable~~ doubt because...well, because we really like the old story.

I'll bet you can guess where I stand.