For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy ' - Eccl. 7:7.
Hatred is what stirs up contentions, but love covers over even all transgressions .' - Proverbs 10:12
a new article for those who are interested.... http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/patterson-on-the-line-watchtower-claims-that-paying-cash-bond-would-cause-immediate-irreparable-harm-and-hardship.
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cedars.
For mere oppression may make a wise one act crazy ' - Eccl. 7:7.
Hatred is what stirs up contentions, but love covers over even all transgressions .' - Proverbs 10:12
i looked through your posts but couldn't find your life story.
have you written it?.
i would love to read your progression from/through jw to avid scholar :).
I have to add my voice to this thread. This forum is often much deeper due to your contribution Leolaia. I really appreciate it.
I don't always agree with you, but you often cause me to think again. I have great respect for the way you present things honestly and without any apparent bias.
I have learned many new things through your posts.
Thanks again,
FG
first off a big thanks to everyone here, you have received me with much love and support.
i appreciate all that have contributed their time and hardwork over the years here at jwn.. this post here is directed to those who are on the fence like i was.
i hope this helps you in some way to understand both the doubts and indoctrination.. i am also currently an active jehovahs witness and have been for almost 20 years (26 years old).
Sulla: But I've had dealings with more than my share of JW apologists and know enough to say that they all have the same diseases
That is generalization straight out of the WT. They would call all who were formerly associated who disagree with them "mentally diseased". To generalize in such a blanket way is to stoop to the level of someone who doesn't understand the issues or is trying to press a very specific agenda.
I think Emery made a perfectly reasonable post, and your response tries to undermine the strength of it. Many of us know the upside of the org. Denying it as if to say that someone is effectively "still in" by acknowledgeing any positive aspect does little to show a balanced view to those others who are on the fence.
my math background is embarassing.
my public education was very sad.
although i received good grades in college track math courses, i never understood the underlying ideas or motivations.
I am among the people who love mathematics. It can be argued that pure mathematics is the only non-subjective form of knowledge.
Most people who are not good at math just don't bother, or say that they dislike the subject. So I'd just like to give big respect to BotR for not having a good math education but having the desire to know more.
Often the subject becomes more exciting when applied to something you enjoy or find interesting in iteself. For example I am fascinated by probability, and as a consequence I find the game of poker to be a great outlet for my brain to sort out these concepts. I am not a gambler per se. I don't buy lottery tickets (mostly because I do understand probability well enough), but I find poker helps to keep my mind quite engaged in continuing to assess probability from various angles. As a result I find that many of the concepts translate well into other decision making situations in life.
My point is that the branches of mathementics are so numerous it's good to find something that peaks your interest. I like all math in principle, but some subjects are more interesting than others. Equations to me are interesting, but I can't see myself spending a lot of time on them. However a study of Alan Turing's work and how binary numbers can demonstrates the ultimate limits of AI and consciousness just helps me appreciate what an amazing world we live in.
you know what i'm talking about: the trite, often-repeated phrases that convey the person offering the prayer has drawn a mental blank, and utters these words while their brain desperately searches for the next cliche', so they can conclude the ritual with the required tag, "in jesus' name we pray".... (is that like the postage stamp?).
ok, i'll kick this one off, and take the most obvious:.
"forgive us where we fall short....".
Jake - that's funny I must've still been typing the same thought when you were posting yours.
you know what i'm talking about: the trite, often-repeated phrases that convey the person offering the prayer has drawn a mental blank, and utters these words while their brain desperately searches for the next cliche', so they can conclude the ritual with the required tag, "in jesus' name we pray".... (is that like the postage stamp?).
ok, i'll kick this one off, and take the most obvious:.
"forgive us where we fall short....".
Lately prayers have become a "how many times can I say Jehovah" during my prayer contest. I seems to just get thrown in like a word whisker like "um" would get used
So true. As if we would do that talking to our father. I don't even call my dad by his first name - I know some do these days. I find it less personal. But even if I did use his real name, if I said to him "and Joe could you do me a favour Joe, and Joe please look after mum because Joe you know she needs supporting ... Joe" he'd think I'd completely gone la-la.
i wound my way to a place both dark and light .
whose aspect was deeply grave yet of cheerful .
within the heightened stalls were untold rows.
'The Shadow of the Wind' is an awesome book.
Nice post CC - beautifully written.
has anybody heard an official reason that the trinity brochure is deceased?.
the gb have been released basically new versions of old brochures with wild abandon, and yet the trinity brochure which has absolutely no equivalent is no longer in print.. why?.
we all know there were dodgy references/quotations therein, but you would think by now the gb would have put some effort into a viable replacement if it were posssible.. nobody seems to be making too much of this as far as i can see.. the trinity brochure was very naughty.
You might be able to get it if your congregation still has a supply on hand (it was never a fast mover anyway), but I am 99% certain they are not in print anymore.
The GB must have taken an active decision to discontinue it. I am wondering if it is an implicit acknowledgement that the content was wrong, or what other explanation is there? If the blood brochure was just no longer printed with no replacement what would you think?
BlackSheep - good point - the contents appear online. I am wondering if it is a sanitized version or an exact replica of the print copy. I will try to find a hard copy to check.
has anybody heard an official reason that the trinity brochure is deceased?.
the gb have been released basically new versions of old brochures with wild abandon, and yet the trinity brochure which has absolutely no equivalent is no longer in print.. why?.
we all know there were dodgy references/quotations therein, but you would think by now the gb would have put some effort into a viable replacement if it were posssible.. nobody seems to be making too much of this as far as i can see.. the trinity brochure was very naughty.
NL - You are correct, I think they must be playing it safe. But then wouldn't it just be easier to leave the Trinity brochure in play. Some people are asking questions as to why it isn't available. (I am still in - I know)
has anybody heard an official reason that the trinity brochure is deceased?.
the gb have been released basically new versions of old brochures with wild abandon, and yet the trinity brochure which has absolutely no equivalent is no longer in print.. why?.
we all know there were dodgy references/quotations therein, but you would think by now the gb would have put some effort into a viable replacement if it were posssible.. nobody seems to be making too much of this as far as i can see.. the trinity brochure was very naughty.
Bu seriously speaking there is a void. The Trinity is used as a big differentiator and yet there is nothing of substance to defend the position. Had the brochure been good it should have been an indispensible asset. Many of the faithful saw it that way. Many don't know why it isn't available.