startingover

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Posts by startingover

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  23

  The Crux of the Matter For Me

  by MrDarkKnight in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it has been very interesting and beneficial reading the posts and comments of everyone on the board since i joined back in june of this year.

  the recent efforts of mankeli have made me consider exactly what it is i have issue with when it comes to the teachings of the wtbs and jehovah's witnesses.

  i have stated my background before: 38 years in the organization, 10 years at bethel in responsible positions, 15 years an elder with circuit and district responsibilities and parts on circuit and disctrict assemblies, a former member of the hospital liason committee and a presiding overseer for 5 years.

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  startingover

  For years I have said that 607 is my main issue. But really #4 deserves that spot. How absurd indeed.

  Great thread BTW, it really lays out the main issues in a few short paragraphs.
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  59

  Is it God, the Bible or just the Dubs?

  by Slidin Fast in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

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  startingover

  I think this paragraph is all important and always ignored by believers. Thanks for posting it Qc.

  The Fall myth is the entire basis for the Atonement myth that followed in the NT. The disgusting idea that butchering an animal would pay for breaking religious rules , I.e. that something else living can be forced to act as makeweight in a divine court of justice allowing the lawbreaker to continue Scott free, reaches is most immoral and shocking climax when expressed as human sacrifice. Why so many cultures seem to favour this immoral practise is a subject for another thread but it is a sign of a retrograde culture that makes up a supernatural need to murder someone else.

  Shades of Grey, thanks for the honesty. You wanted to believe in Jesus so you found a way. I suspect that is the case with most believers. I personally base my beleifs on reality no matter where it takes me.
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  1495

  An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

  that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

  still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

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  startingover

  History has been made at the top of the previous page, AGuest actually made a post without her condescending (Peace to you). Check it out.
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  1495

  An Old Argument.... does it hold water?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  estimates range from 4 million to 15 million children die from starvation each year on this planet.

  that's between 500 and 1700 children a day, depending on what numbers you accept.

  still, no matter which numbers you use, doesn't this make you arrive at one of the following conclusions?.

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  startingover

  You could have eliminated pages and pages of gibberish if you would have said this earlier:

  in fact,there is another choice: that the Most Holy One of Israel has never promised to solve the ills of THIS world... but only those of certain people IN this world.

  For all those fence sitters out there as I once was, this admission may just allow them to get rid of all their superstitious beliefs.
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  107

  Video of my Circuit Assembly visit!

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ttprya0kk.

  this is the video my apostabuddy put together about last week's caper.

  enjoy!.

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  startingover

  Just bumping it up to find out about Traverse City
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  107

  Video of my Circuit Assembly visit!

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ttprya0kk.

  this is the video my apostabuddy put together about last week's caper.

  enjoy!.

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  startingover

  Serenity

  Do you happen to know what part of MI the ones attending were from. Traverse City by any chance?
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  134

  Christians Please Explain

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since leaving all organized religion, all superstition, all acceptance of deity, i have a terrible time truly understanding 'religious' thought.. i really do.. how is it possible for thinking people to just accept, without proof, all they accept?

  this morning i overheard a conversation between two christians in a coffee shop.

  they say to me 'dad, what's wrong with just being a nice, good person?

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  startingover

  Sizemik said:

  What I don't believe defines me I guess . . . which is strangely opposite to those with a firmly held religious belief.

  What I don't believe . . . is that there is a higher power responsible for the way things are . . . with malevolence, benevolence, all knowing, all powerful. I don't believe in a God that rewards and punishes while presiding over this randomness. It can no longer make the slightest bit of sense to me on the most basic level. It has all the hallmarks of a human concept . . . inspired by human needs. Maybe it's fear of the unknown, fear of death, survival, the need to dominate, personal comfort, whatever.

  What I do know . . . if a God reveals himself in some way . . . through physical evidence or miraculous revelation (even a voice from within would do it if I was confident of my sanity) . . . and that God made sense to me in the context of the world around me . . . I would gladly choose him.

  Exactly how I feel about the situation. I just want to add concerning the last 5 words in that quote, I have uttered those words too. But if a being like that emerged and was anything related to the bible god, I would sooner die than believe and worship. At this point things have gone on much too long and too many games have been played for me to be involved.
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  107

  Video of my Circuit Assembly visit!

  by serenitynow! in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-ttprya0kk.

  this is the video my apostabuddy put together about last week's caper.

  enjoy!.

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  startingover

  I can understand why you do this, it's very brave, and I'm sure you get a good feeling doing it. I have no doubt that many of us would love to do the same thing. But, IMO, the end result is that you are reinforcing the beliefs of most everyone in the crowd. I think their applause proves that.

  One could argue that it is only by efforts such as this that change will take place. May be that's true in some situations, but I think when you are dealing with people who are under mind control, this probably isn't the best method.

  I bet whoever put those cards in the programs was having a hard time containing themselves watching them deal with you. I'm surprised they didn't try to make contact with you at the end.
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  7

  Much Belated "Thank You" to Hillary_Step and Gregor

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was among those christians who fought against your 'tirades' against us - sometimes in rather fierce battles behind the scenes, sometimes on public threads here.. but, about two or three years ago - after hillary had already departed the forum, and years after my discussions with gregor - it hit me just how right the two of you were.

  perhaps hillary will never see this - maybe gregor has also left the forum for the most part.

  i don't come here often, but when i do i find myself on the side of the battle they occupied then.

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  startingover
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  1

  Atlantis

  by startingover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you have a pm.

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  startingover

  You have a PM