Posts by Max Divergent

39

Do you still Pray?

by Dustin in

jw
friends

since i stopped being a jw i haven't prayed.

so the other day i went to supper at my parent's house who are still jw's, and they prayed before we ate.

it was a very strange feeling, and it stirred up alot of weird feelings.

As a JW I ended up with a couple of basic prayers that just rolled out when I had to pray for others - like at metings. Sometimes I meant them, but only when I wanted to express somthing to the people I was in front of - usually making up with nicness what the other bastards took away with their meaness.

My wife would get cranky if I tried not to do it at meal time, I frequently 'forgot' and had to be 'reminded'... I didn't really believe in a God (although I pretended to myself that I did) so it was no more than a physical activity to me and a pretty silly one at that!! It was the first thing to go.

I did get a bit emotional and offer a general prayer to whatever/whomever might be listening after GWB gave his divisive 'you're with us or against us' speach as it brought back all the JW persecution complexes (being that I prefer liberal democracy and progressive social policy over half-hearted totalitarianism). But I've never felt the need before or since, and felt a bit silly after the event.

Regards, Max

23

Hoorah for Australia and Germany!

by Kenneson in

jw
friends

as it now stands, the australian government has pledged $810 million to the tsunami relief effort.. germany is next with $674 million.. japan--$500 million.. u.s. trails in fourth place with $350 million.

http://news.yahoo.com/asiadisaster click on "leaders tour tsunami areas, up donations".

while the u.s. government could do a lot better, the private sector is not doing too badly.

Max Divergent

Australia has the balance of power role in south east Asia and the south Pacific betwen secular liberal democracy and the "alternatives", so the aid is probably a mainifestation of that. It's a difficult part of the world.

I think it would be intersting to see how much $$$ the Muslim countries of the Earth contribute to their "brothers", compared to the "infidel" nations, that they disdain so.

As at 5 Jan, Bahrain, Brunai, Iran, Kuwait, Libya, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and UAE had given a grand total of US$68m to their Muslim brothers. "Stingy indifference" the Islamic leader in Aust called it.

There are a lot of things we need to get done here at home too. I am sure that sounds cold, but I don't want the US to promise more money than it can deliver, or end up taking money away from necessary programs here because they over extend.

The US has spent it's capital on Iraq and stuff... most countries invest capital, but (by his own admission) GWB spends it so that there's nothing left for anything else... it shows.

By my math that's over 1.687 Billion SO FAR. Divide that up amongst the 150,000 poor souls and their families.

No... the 150,000 are dead and don't get money, nor do the families get any cash. The money is for immediate relief and rebuilding civil infrastructure (roads, houses, cities) for the tens or hundreds of millions of survivors in the region and those who will be born in the next thirty or so years.

What can you build in the US for $1.687b? Stuff all, but that has to rebuild the coastlines of a dozen countries.

I'm curious (and I don't know) do all of these $$ figures include charitable orgs, or is it just what the government sends?

In Australia's case, it's what the Govt sends in cash. If the US sent the same as Australia on a per capita basis, it'd be about $20 billion in green paper from the Fed, PLUS military, private, corporate and charity efforts.

Max

26

JW's protected from Tsunami by going to the meeting... from bethel

by Max Divergent in

jw
friends

came across this from one of the "faithfull".... now just watch out now you inactive ones there's a tsunami looking for you, so just be sure you "keep you eyes on the prize ocean".

just spoke to [some bethalite at a bethhell near you] last night.. she was telling us of the news regarding our brothers and sisters in the tsunami region.

in one area all the brothers were at the meeting when it struck, except for one sister who was home sick and a 6 member family of inactive ones who were caught up in it because they hadn't gone to the meeting.

Max Divergent

Howdy Uncle!! Great to see you around again!!

...skeptical enough now to believe that these types of "Bethel-sourced" stories are sheer fabrications?

Actually, I think the WTS is more dishonest than that... they collect all the scant and weak evidence that supports their position, selkectivly ignore/discredit all the contrary facts/evidence, and then say and write things that are technically not totally false but according to any objective standard are false and deceptive. They do it all the time.

I think that's MUCH more dishonest that just telling lies because it's cunning, calculated, systematic deception that's hard for believers to spot.

it happened at 7:30 AM .... All this talk about JWs at the KHs kinda makes me wonder what time they START their meetings!

I think that's becuase of different time zones. A clock in Indonesia was shown when the water stopped it at 9.30 Sunday morning, so it's the inactive and the latecomers who were outside Jah's loving protection!

Remember children, be at the KH half an hour early so as to rejoice in the blessings and safety that comes from being in the middle of the congregation...

Cheers, Max

26

JW's protected from Tsunami by going to the meeting... from bethel

by Max Divergent in

jw
friends

came across this from one of the "faithfull".... now just watch out now you inactive ones there's a tsunami looking for you, so just be sure you "keep you eyes on the prize ocean".

just spoke to [some bethalite at a bethhell near you] last night.. she was telling us of the news regarding our brothers and sisters in the tsunami region.

in one area all the brothers were at the meeting when it struck, except for one sister who was home sick and a 6 member family of inactive ones who were caught up in it because they hadn't gone to the meeting.

Max Divergent

Came across this from one of the "faithfull".... now just watch out now you inactive ones there's a Tsunami looking for you, so just be sure you "Keep you eyes on the ~~prize~~ ocean"

Just spoke to [some bethalite at a bethhell near you] last night.. she was telling us of the news regarding our brothers and sisters in the Tsunami region. In one area all the brothers were at the meeting when it struck, except for one sister who was home sick and a 6 member family of inactive ones who were caught up in it because they hadn't gone to the meeting. In another area all the brothers were at a district convention so they were safe and in Aceh the worst hit area all the brothers were in the hills where they had been for a while after having been driven out after all the recent religious persecution in the area over the recent past! Some Kingdom Halls throught the Tsunami affected areas have been destroyed which is to be expected.

So, salvation from Satan, God, natural disasters and kryptonite are all brought to you by "The Truth" (TM) and local affiliates at your local Kligon Hall or District Jamboree...

Good lord...

Max - of the "buggered if there's a big wave" class

And the deepest of sympathy for the peoples of the region and visitors, whatever their race, creed or religion. We've been to many of the affected areas more than once and always enjoyed the hospitality and generosity of the locals who've been so terribly hurt by such a massive disaster in such a vulnerable region

34

JW Says:--JWs Are "Not Required" To Go Door To Door!

by Voyager in

http://www.postindependent.com/article/20041217/valleynews/112170011 .

overcast 29. .

Max Divergent

They just ignore the regular community accepted meaning of words... so, 'not required' is true in the sense that noone puts the proverbial gun to a person's head saying 'I require you to accompany me in the D2D work...'

...but they do say things liker 'if you don't go on the D2D work, you are putting a figurative gun to your own head by displeasing God and denying the obligation Jesus put on you to for forth and preach'...

I think the community would take that as 'required', but the JW can say it with a straight face and almost believe it themselves... all they do is redefine words to suit their version of truth.

GIVE ME FREEDOM FROM RELIGION

39

You mean Britain has increasing violent crime? I'm Shocked, Shocked!!

by CaptainSchmideo in

[ previous week | recent columns index | following week ]have great britain's restrictive gun laws contributed to the rise in violent crime?.

dear cecil:.

Max Divergent

>>But the UK has some of the strictest gun-control laws in the world. How could gun crime possibly be on the rise?

Because the guns are imported and distributed illegally - like drugs. They're quite common there as I understand it. I think the idea in America is that is the public are armed legally, then criinals are less likely to risk being shot by committing crime.

Personaly, I think social and economic issues are more of an issue than fear of getting shot.

12

Ozzie's Weekend Poll #119

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

well, it's certainly been an eventful week!

i hope this weekend is a time of resting and recharging the batteries.

so, let's settle down with a relaxing drink (especially a shiraz!

Max Divergent

1. Family study

HAH!! Did one once I think.... like once EVER, and that was only coz Mrs D had a guilt trip after a talk... It just seemed so pointless.

2. Daily text with the family

Can't remember ever doing that... not even the day of the sole family study... maybe I did though? I never read the bible either unless I was at a meeting and following along.

Couldn't see the point of reading the bible - what was in there was only valid if it was confirmed in the publications, so I used to just wait untill the publications were read to me at a meeting.

3. Pre-study on public transport

You must be joking!!!!!! I did go through a phase of pre-study for a month or two. In the end it was a scribbled highlighter randomly scrawled over the mag on teh drive to the hall or while slipping inot the back room during the talk.

4. Street witnessing

Once, and once only... that was at a Shopping Ctr... bloody awful idea... you had to talk to people and be seen with the JW's and all that sort of bad stuff...

5. Backroom meetings!

Yuk... had a few of those... no avoiding them though... I was fairly good at getting away with it though.

6. Shepherding calls

Making them was fun, recieving them was a pain in the arse. In latter years I was always the Book Study Asst, so the Conductor had a vested interest in not hassling me lest I be unavailable to take the group when he wants to nick off one night or for the weekend group...

7. Offerimg a subscription

Only offered it a few times, placed a couple... it was all the damn forms that was annoying. It wasn't much different to offering a mag really.

8. Hall cleaning

Only went if I had to if I'd be conspicuios by my absence.

9. Reading the secondary articles

What are they? :-) I never read the main articles!!! My total attention span was about 1 minute per magazine, I'd hear someone say somthing if there was anything I needed to know.

10. Brother/Sister Zealous

I pretended to be one so as not to be hassled and enjoy the maximum congregational privilages for the minimum possible work... so being around those ones wasn't a bad thing, though it was trialsome and strong liquor was required after ones escape... they were painful...

11. Other (please detail)

I was incredibly busy doing Sweet F. All really.

39

You mean Britain has increasing violent crime? I'm Shocked, Shocked!!

by CaptainSchmideo in

[ previous week | recent columns index | following week ]have great britain's restrictive gun laws contributed to the rise in violent crime?.

dear cecil:.

Max Divergent

>>Simon, you are always dissing america...

You guys just aren't used to a certain class of the English ... their main sport isn't soccer, it's sledging the French... if they're not doing that, then it's the Americans or the Germans... minor amusement is gotten from making fun of the Welsh or Irish.

If they find an Australian, then saying something about colonials or convicts is a reflex action... if they can't find a white 'forigner' to pick on, then they have a complex system of internal bickerings/snobberys seemingly based on regional accents and social class... or even which newspaper people read...

It's truly astonishing how embedded and reflexive all that stuff is with so many people over there... but if you complain about it, that just encourages them...

26

New book by Jim Penton, and revised book by Carl Jonsson.

by cyberguy in

jim penton?s new book is out, "jehovah's witnesses and the third reich: sectarian politics under persecution.".

see amazon-- http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0802086780/qid=1099371922/sr=8-1/ref=sr_8_xs_ap_i1_xgl14/002-3179410-1163212?v=glance&s=books&n=507846.

also, there?s an updated version of "the gentile times reconsidered: chronology & christ's return," coming out shortly (as indicated from an email i?ve gotten from carl jonsson).

Max Divergent

When I visited the Holocaust museum in Washington, DC we were given an identity card of a person who died in the Holocaust.

Mine was of a Witness, Willibald Wholfhart (1927-1945) of Austria. His family were active in the ministry and his father was the local overseer, despite Govt opposition. After the Nazi's invaded in 1939, his father was arrested and executed. His older brother went to a concentration camp and his other brother was executed for refusing to join the military. The rest of his brothers and sisters were taken away later by the Germans.

Willi was sent to a convent where a Nazi instructor attempted to indoctrinate him. He later refused to salute Hitler and was sent to dig trenches in front of the invading allies in 1945.

He was killed there.

64

Do You Look Down on "Religious" People Now That You're No Longer a JW?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i try to respect everyne's opinions on religion but i find myself thinking, "what's wrong with these people?

"

Max Divergent

I'm only really bothered when they get jobs like Prime Minister or President... right now I'm very botherd since they've gotten those jobs in the UK, US and Australia...

Since the conservitive god-fearing nutcases got re-elected with a majority in the House and Senate in Australia, the abortion issue has suddenly come up out of nowhere... apparently there's a newly discoverd 'epidemic' of abortions that they didn't notice until after the election...

God, please help us against Your followers...