jgnat

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Posts by jgnat

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  39

  What is a morally upright life?

  by jgnat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is it relative, or do all human societies and cultures hold at least some things to be good?.

  i don't think right and true is "universal" other than what is right and true for people.

  a dolphin or a praying mantis may have alien perceptions of what is "good".

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  jgnat

  I don't think we are getting smarter.

  https://www.ted.com/talks/james_flynn_why_our_iq_levels_are_higher_than_our_grandparents

  We are displaying adaptability.
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  39

  What is a morally upright life?

  by jgnat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  is it relative, or do all human societies and cultures hold at least some things to be good?.

  i don't think right and true is "universal" other than what is right and true for people.

  a dolphin or a praying mantis may have alien perceptions of what is "good".

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  jgnat

  Moral decline? Where?
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  144

  Have you ever read the review of Steven Hassan's books on Cult news.com?

  by Enzo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi, to everyone my username is enzo, .

  recently a saw a video presented by john cedar presenting steve hassan as a cult expert.. .

  but read this reviews presented on cult news about steve hassan's books, and it's up to you make your own opinion about the video.

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  jgnat

  I couldn't find an EC list of cults. Enzo, could you provide a link or are you talking through your hat again?
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  52

  I loathe authority

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  now i'm not preaching hatred here i am just expressing how i've felt for years even when i was a jw.. i totally loathe the police/policticians...any authority......anyone that is over anyone else.

  i have a total hatred of them all.

  i wonder if it's because i was raised a jw?.

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  jgnat

  I feel like Dennis the Menace at times. I've worked within authoritative structures my entire career, and from all appearances, I am highly compliant. My sanity comes from applying the principle behind the rules, and by extension feeling free to bend the rule if it doesn't fit.

  If I can poke a bureaucrat and get away with it, I'll do it.

  I have deep respect for policemen, firemen, emergency room attendants, and the leaders who do their best to protect and prevent harm. When we need them to, they can provide order in chaos.
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  144

  Have you ever read the review of Steven Hassan's books on Cult news.com?

  by Enzo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi, to everyone my username is enzo, .

  recently a saw a video presented by john cedar presenting steve hassan as a cult expert.. .

  but read this reviews presented on cult news about steve hassan's books, and it's up to you make your own opinion about the video.

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  jgnat

  What happens in a lot of families where there are tensions? very often they don't speak years with each other.. or till they dies. And good family relations are broken.. Very sad, with my work I often deal with such situations.... why is this conduct accept, and why is nobody ring on the alarm bell? - Enzo

  Others have already pointed it out, but I will reiterate.... the difference is the institutionally imposed shunning rather than a personal decision. I have family members that I barely talk to because of their conduct. I reduce harm to my psyche by limiting contact. On the other hand, a Witness parent may be required to shun their child for the most minor infraction, like smoking, or believing differently. I believe the parents also suffer psychic damage by going against their native instincts to simply love their family.

  I personally know of an example of an intelligent, loyal, loving young man, college educated, who is rejected by his parents for fear of contamination of his "apostate" beliefs. What is the danger? He no longer believes that the Governing Body is the Faithful and Discreet Slave to be obeyed at the cost of everything else. He is being shunned for his intelligence!
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  24

  should i marry and have a child with my partner

  by stevepill in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  hi, iv'e been a regular observer on this site for a while and would be very grateful for input from witnessess and non-witnessess.

  ti widll try keep it brief to avoid too much reading!.

  background:.

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  jgnat

  I say the first child to come out of your relationship is a rebirth of communication. When you have a full understanding of each other's most intimate thoughts and desires, then you can safely think about having a baby together.

  So make improved communication a condition of having children, with counselling if necessary.

  Use a condom every time.
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  18

  Excellent article: Inherited Religiosity: What it means for how nost 'Believers' believe

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  inherited religiosity: what it means for how most believers believe.

  by yoginder sikand.

  03 april, 2012countercurrents.org.

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  jgnat

  Steve, I think you are right about rebelling but not too far.

  So what does it say about the WTS that tries so strongly to warn it's youth not to stray, not to go to college, limit their access to "worldly" influences, hold the threat of disfellowshipping and shunning yet has a dismal record of keeping them?
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  18

  Excellent article: Inherited Religiosity: What it means for how nost 'Believers' believe

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  inherited religiosity: what it means for how most believers believe.

  by yoginder sikand.

  03 april, 2012countercurrents.org.

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  jgnat

  Vidiot, the bible belt I was thinking of is in southern Alberta. I've lived there, too. Case in point, the "Parable Christian Bookstore" warehouse with a prominent location on gasoline alley, or the Prairie Bible Institute in Three Hills.
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  33

  EBOLA -why should America take the lead in handling it?

  by hamsterbait in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  millions have died in africa from civil wars where the governments have squandered money on bombs guns and tanks, whilst allowing millions more to die of malaria, diarrhoea and other treatable diseases.

  thousands more have died in nigeria from religious killing than ebola.. and now big bad america is the one they all turn to (in mainly muslim countries) to save them, just like kuwait did in 1991.

  (condemned after for their interference).

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  jgnat

  Well, they do have control of a large portion of their natural resources, don't they? And at some point their intellectual capital will be tradable as well. Prospering nations are trading nations.

  I am dead-set against isolationism. It only hurts the continent/country that isolates itself.
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  18

  Excellent article: Inherited Religiosity: What it means for how nost 'Believers' believe

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  inherited religiosity: what it means for how most believers believe.

  by yoginder sikand.

  03 april, 2012countercurrents.org.

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  jgnat

  I can see that. But there is also the tendency for young adults to strike out on their own and explore new ideas. Maybe this tendency is more freely expressed in some cultures. But I find that I did not stay with the denomination of my parent's, and my children believe a little differently than I do. And I've changed quite a bit.

  I do see a tendency to accept cultural truths in whatever milieu we find ourselves in. One would stand out as a Buddhist, for instance, in the middle of Bible Belt Alberta. An outlier may keep mum with his neighbours how far his beliefs stray from the "norm".