Posts by The Scotsman

64

DEMONS

by Band on the Run in

jw
friends

growing up in the fifties and sixties, stories of demonic possession were prevalant in the watchtower and awake.

i was terrified.

we were told they would bother you if you were faithful, but also if you fell away.

The Scotsman

Demons are as real as you and me.

I do not fear them.

4

Advice/Encouragement from experienced Faders?

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

when your insanely active jw family members start leaning on your more moderate jw family members who still talk to and associate with you to get them to "mark" (aka "shun") you, how do you channel your anger/frustration into something useful?.

i keep trying to show the moderate jws the contrast between the unkind active jw's shunning behavior and the real love the christ spoke about.

it works to keep my moderate dub family in touch with me but it doesn't really do anything for my mood.

The Scotsman

Someone said to me or maybe I read it (can't remember now!) that one of the greatest defences we have is to look happy, content and pleased with our life.

JWs think that everyone that leave's must be faithless, immoral, depressed, worldly etc etc.

If you can show that life after Watchtower is pretty good it is harder for them to ignore you.

The slanderous stories that went around about me were shocking. Biggest was I had a breakdown and was severely depressed. but application of the above was the best response.

I was invited to my sisters wedding (big JW event) and I went out of my way to tell anyone that asked how I was that everything was great, great job, going holidays etc etc. It puts them off balance and they start to view you as almost normal.

When I first left I was pretty much shunned by everyone but in time people started to mellow, my mother started to phone again and people sent emails etc. Direct family members really backed off but it is better now - not great - but better.

My final point I suppose is that it will never be perfect - you, me and everyone else that fades, DAd, DFd will be viewed as an outsider to some extent and to be kept at some sort of distance - though for some moderate JWs that distance is minimal.

Best of luck with it - this site is living proof that life after Watchtower can be great and can include those who are still active JWs.

The Scotsman

28

Dawkins Letter To His Daughter

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

to my dearest daughter,.

now that you are ten, i want to write to you about something that is important to me.

or is it the kind of thing that people only believe because of tradition, authority or revelation?

The Scotsman

Nothing in the universe is beyond science.

I suspect you will find it difficult to prove that scientifically. Prove to me via science that God does or does not exist? It cannot be done - this is a matter of faith. Also your statement highlights the great lack of humility within the science community in general.

I also need to pick up on a point you directed at PSacramento.

Please do'nt procreate if you do'nt plan to teach your kid critical thinking.

Critical thinking makes me question evolution and atheistic world views.

This is a 2 way street - critical thinking works in both directions, it is not merely critical thinking if someone questions God, spirituality or creation.

The Scotsman

28

Dawkins Letter To His Daughter

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

to my dearest daughter,.

now that you are ten, i want to write to you about something that is important to me.

or is it the kind of thing that people only believe because of tradition, authority or revelation?

The Scotsman

Sheesh - yet another thread about Dawkins!!!

I tell you - Richard Dawkins should start his own religion - he would make a fortune and would have millions of adherents eating out of his hand.

Looks like he is messing with his kids mind just the way JWs do.

His letter pretty much ignores the possibility of faith based belief - that would be due to the fact he does not have faith in such things himself. Faith in anything supernatural is beyond science to prove/disprove so to turn around and ask the question "show me the evidence" for "everything" is a failure to recognize that Faith in God, Faith in life after death or Faith in any kind of supernatural life etc, is beyond science and may not have direct physical evidence.

Also for Dawkins - the ultimate test for anything is "science". But even within the realm of science their is a lack of cohesion and agreement. Within the letter he uses this line -

Scientists - the specialists in discovering what is true about the world and the universe

But what if the scientists disagree - who do we believe, follow or accept as the "truth about the world"?

Some scientists are athiests and some are not. Which is correct? If I shout "show me the evidence" I will be none the wiser as neither will have absolute evidence to "prove" their position. So ultimately it comes down to a personal choice.

As far as I am concerned we should let kids grow up in there own way without pre-programming them to think a certain way - religious, scientific or otherwise.

The Scotsman

12

Hey Brits! Have you got snow?

by highdose in

jw
friends

i hear things are getting bad in the old country?

food shortages and money/ fuel running out.... i could start ranting here about the scandinavien countries who manage just fine with snow... but i'll let someone else do that.. i just heard that some people in north yorkshire got snowed in a pub for 8 days!...

poor things;).

The Scotsman

We have about 1 and a half feet of snow! Coupled with below zero temps 24 hrs a day - its crazy.

I have dug my car out about 6 times in the last week.

A lot of JW meetings have been cancelled in the area - bet they were gutted!!!

The Scotsman

44

When Was The Last Time You Said A Prayer?

by minimus in

jw
friends

do you ever pray?.

have you felt, "what the heck?

it's worth a shot"?.

The Scotsman

Every day.

65

Help me become a real CRAZY FUNDIE ATHEIST parent!

by bohm in

jw
friends

hello friends!.

once in a while you hear about fundie atheists, and i have desided to become one.

but i need a bit of advice.. you see, apparently the fundie atheists are as messed up as their worst religious "fundie" counterparts, so i got some expectations to live up to.. i have desided to focus on how i should raise my child, since the religious dickery i hate the most has to do with how children are raised.

The Scotsman

Journey-on

I enjoyed your posts on this thread -

89

Thanks and Goodbye

by brotherdan in

jw
friends

i really do appreciate all the help you guys have given me in this process.

but it's time for me to leave.

it was time for me to leave the wt (at least in my mind) when it became damaging to me.

The Scotsman

brotherdan

All the best for the future.

I agree pretty much with what you say - JWN is not what it used to be. I usually just take a break from visiting the site every so often.

Rather than a place to help JWs/ExJWs it has become a place to tear down each others beliefs - not to mention a PR site for people like Richard Dawkins and the atheistic community.

Anyway - God bless you in your journey ahead.

The Scotsman

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