Posts by Open mind

posted

36
Are You A "Dictionary Atheist"?
by cofty in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
there is more to .. atheism than simple denial of one claim; it's actually based on a scientific attitude that values evidence and reason, that rejects claims resting solely on authority, and that encourages deeper exploration of the world.

atheism is not solely a negative claim about gods, but is based on a whole set of positive values ... that denial of god thing?

it's a consequence, not a cause.
Open mind

Marking for later.
Thanks.
om
38
The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .
Open mind

Sorry I haven't been around for a couple days to respond. Thanks for all the great comments.
Heaven: "Headshipt is just another aspect/degree of oppression and slavery. It is not a loving, True North Principle. "
I like the sound of that.
At my wife's recommendation I just finished listening to the audio book "Infidel" read by the Author Ayaan Hirsi Ali.
What an incredibly brave woman. It was creepy seeing many psychological and cultural similarities between Islam and the JWs. Although, the Islamic life Ayaan lived through was MUCH worse than the typical JW experience, IMO.
om
12
JW Culture Survey: Two-piece swimsuits? OK for JWs?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
up front, i'm not talking about jw baptisms.

we all know the approved female attire is a "modest" swimsuit and even that's not modest enough, so they slap a big t-shirt over the "modest" swimsuit.. .

i'm talking about anywhere else jws and water would mix: the beach, the pool, the river, etc.
Open mind

In the 70's & 80's where I grew up, a pretty conservative US state, two-piece was definitely a no-no.
Then I moved to Calipornea and it was JW Girls Gone Wild!
Uh. OK, not really. But like Mrs Jones said: two-piece is OK in California.
om
12
JW Culture Survey: Two-piece swimsuits? OK for JWs?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
up front, i'm not talking about jw baptisms.

we all know the approved female attire is a "modest" swimsuit and even that's not modest enough, so they slap a big t-shirt over the "modest" swimsuit.. .

i'm talking about anywhere else jws and water would mix: the beach, the pool, the river, etc.
Open mind

Up front, I'm not talking about JW baptisms. We all know the approved female attire is a "modest" swimsuit and even that's not modest enough, so they slap a big T-shirt over the "modest" swimsuit.
I'm talking about anywhere else JWs and water would mix: the beach, the pool, the river, etc.
1. What was acceptable JW female swimwear when & where you grew up?
2. What's acceptable where you are now?
And, if you're so inclined, let us know what geographical area you're talking about.
om
38
The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .
Open mind

Just remembered another wrinkle in the Headship Principle which my wife and I haven't used, but I'll pass it along for general reference.
If Elders try to swoop down on a fading female JW with a bunch of questions trying to catch her off guard, she can pull out her can of "Headship Spray" and keep them at bay for at least a few days.
"I'm sorry, but out of respect for my Husband and the Headship Arrangement, I'm not really comfortable talking with you brothers without my Spiritual Head being present."
Anyone ever try that one?
om
45
Seeker4 Here - Anyone on Who Remembers Me From H20 & JWD?
by Seeker4 in
1. jw
2. friends
seeker4 - robert smith from vermont.

former jw, elder, pioneer, etc.

i've got a few thousand posts on these sites, but haven't posted for a year or two.
Open mind

Hi there Seeker!
Good to see you pop in again.
You posted this thread about a month before my first post here:
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/129757/1/As-An-Atheist-Finding-Real-Spirituality-After-JWs
It resonated well with me.
Glad to hear you're continuing to land on your feet career-wise and I look forward to hearing more from you.
om
38
The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .
Open mind

thetrueone: " Its just another segment of why men love being a JWS"
On the surface it may sound great, from a control-freak man's perspective, to be handed the mantle of authority over your family. But if anyone takes even a minute to look at how it plays out in real life, they realize it doesn't really work. Stories of JW wives that leave their oppressive JW husbands are a dime a dozen. The JW husband only has control as long as his wife continues to buy into it. In developed countries, truly "WT submissive" wives are very rare, IMO. JW husbands take note or suffer the consequences.
om
38
The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .
Open mind

Dana Bug: "We're a team, not a hierarchy. I like it that way."
The words often attributed to Jesus, The Golden Rule, are IMO, probably the most valid advice for human relationships ever uttered.
Why would anyone, regardless of their gender, agree to be steam-rolled by another human based simply on the Argument from Authority?
If we both feel strongly about an issue, let's discuss the merits of all sides. And the first question I'll ask myself internally is: "How big of a deal is this to me?" If it's not that big of deal, let the other person have their way.
om
38
The WT Headship Principle (tm): Did you ever REALLY buy it?
by Open mind in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i believed that god was the big boss and his first-line supervisor was jesus.. .

everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my jw life.. .

but this bit, i never bought into for even an instant: the husband is the head of the wife.. .
Open mind

I believed that God was the Big Boss and his first-line supervisor was Jesus.
Everything beyond that got a bit shaky for me throughout my JW life.
But this bit, I NEVER bought into for even an instant: The husband is the Head of the wife.
Not once in our many years of JW marriage did I ever play the "headship" card. Nor did I think it made any sense.
How about you?
om
2
Tomorrows WT Study
by lavozsa in
1. watchtower
2. bible
does anyone have the study article for tomorrow's wt study.

i'd like to disect it for my jw wife to show her how the kool aid is flowing regarding the older ones losing faith..
Open mind

Go to,
http://www.jw.org
Click on "Downloads", "Digital Publications, Magazines"
Get the December 2010, Study edition.
om