Posts by DJS

37

"What exactly is his world view? from Cofty I see nothing but, anti-life, anti-love, anti-hope"

by cofty in

villagegirl's question on another thread was probably supposed to be rhetorical but i want to respond to it.. many times people of faith express similar misapprehensions about those who don't share their views on eternity.. i want this to be a positive thread.

an opportunity for atheists to share what moves and inspires them.

what do you live for, what gives your life meaning and purpose?

DJS

Ditto to all of this. I am an optimist, and I wouldn't want to live in any other time period. If this was 115 years ago most of us over 34 would be dead. I no longer worry about every war or economic downturn leading to Armageddon, which is really a pessimistic negative way of looking at life. I belileve the world will continue to improve; the air and water we breathe and drink is cleaner than it was 50 years ago and getting cleaner each year. Even the third world is improving and more improvement is on the horizon.

Hydrogen powered and electric cars are nearing a reality, which will likely change the world drastically - for the better no doubt. Medicine and science continue to advance, improving quality and length of life.

I could go on and on. But I won't for now.

85

I'm Returing To Become A Jehovah's Witness Again

by Space Madness in

jw
friends

a little background, i faded in 2007 and have been out ever since.

i started studying at 18 and have no jw realitives.

i'm returing because my life is heading in the wrong direction.

DJS

Yeah Space, I think maybe you should change your name to Space Cadet. Going back to befriend like minded JWs viewed as spiritually weak by the Borg? Yeah, that's a good strategy. Designed to gain the bad attention of the elders. Nobody loves you? And you have been out a while? Are you lovable? To have friends you have to be a friend. I'm losing more sympathy for you the longer this thread goes on.

288

Is it just me or has this site become a Believer/Atheist warzone?

by BU2B in

jw
friends

i enjoy the odd thread about evoloution vs creation, etc but lately it seems that a large percentage of threads here devolve into fighting between atheists and theists and distract from what most of us here see eye to eye on, the wt and related things.

i wish things could be more civil here and fr people to realize that people will never see eye to eye on the topic.

it gets so tiring to see the contstant bickring and fighting on those threads.. they seem to go on page after page but very little of substance is discussed seeing as the existence or non existence of a god can be proven by anyone.

DJS

LisaRose, Regarding your comments: "I was thinking about this lately and it occurred to me that one reason people keep fighting to hang on to their belief in a diety is that you are taking something away from them (faith) while giving nothing back other than cold, hard facts. If you do not understand that, then all the logic in the world will not work."

My experience is that leaving my belief system behind has given me EVERYTHING. I like myself and the world so much more now than I ever did when i was a theist, and it isn't even close. I no longer have to spend energy defending a belief system either to myself or others. I no longer have to think that I am right and 'they' are wrong. I no longer have to judge others or worry about them judging me. And I no longer have to worry about some imaginary god giving me a carrot or hitting me with a stick because I fail in some way (I mean really doesn't he/she have something better to do than worry about my sorry ass - like stopping clitorectomies or genocide or rapes or domestic abuse or wars or chemical attacks on civiilans or . . . .) I have been able to center my life around an old pagan philosophy: "Harm no one." Very simple. As long as my behavior or anyone else's doesn't harm anyone, I see no need to waste energy thinking about it.

My atheism has given me everything. Lurkers and theists alike. Think about this.

62

Ok, now I know why you atheists get so spittin' mad at some believers.

by Julia Orwell in

jw
friends

cuz they feel like they're banging their heads against a wall.. i don't really fall into the category of atheist or believer, but i'll go where the facts lead me.

that generally leads to atheism, and is why atheists end up getting mad and therefore rude at believers: they will lay out facts, raise questions, play devil's advocate, and reason in an evidence-based, structured way.

i've seen it many times before on this forum.

DJS

Julia,

Yes you finally understand. I am proud, young grasshopper! Circular arguments AARRGGHH. Non-rational. Don't let the facts get in the way of what you want to believe. All of the things that annoy me. You finally get it!!! Cofty, Snare and a few others have so much patience with the hard core theists. I admire them. I don't have such patience and absolutely hate repeating myself. And I hate circular arguments. It's why I don't much participate.

Many studies have illustrated that JWs are the least educated religious group, for obvious reasons. That, unfortunately, is often reflected in this forum and no doubt contributes to the frustration you feel.

85

I'm Returing To Become A Jehovah's Witness Again

by Space Madness in

jw
friends

a little background, i faded in 2007 and have been out ever since.

i started studying at 18 and have no jw realitives.

i'm returing because my life is heading in the wrong direction.

DJS

Dear Madness,

You need to do what you think you need to do, and I wouldn't try to talk you out of anything. However, it seems to be that your current situation is at worst temporary. I don't understand making a quasi-permanent (especially one with potentially bad results) decision based on a temporary situaiton. But that's me. Find some friends; they are everywhere. I have found MANY great friends upon exiting the JWs nearly 20 years ago.

Also, if you do go back it seems that they would consider you 'bad association' for a while. The borken lamb returning to the fold isn't typically treated kindly and gently in JW land. You will be watched and unlikely nutured as you desire and apparently require. In addiition, there may be lurkers who recognize your profile and may 'out' you upon your return.

If you return and make a big JW mistake with alcohol or girls or guys or whatever, the JC will not be kind and you will be ostracised, DFed, etc., which will likely place you in even greater emotional and psychological danger. I have seen many go back into the Borg only to slip up fairly quickly and be dealt with harshly. It isn't a kind loving borganizatioin.

And finally (and if you read my posts you will know that I have said this before) I think it is more than a bit pathetic that humans NEED religion or control groups to make them behave or feel good. Geesh, Madness, grow a par. Evolve. Find or develop the strength inside yourself.

99

Survey: Who Here Believe In God/The Bible? Who Are Not Sure? Who Do Not Believe?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think there are many that still want to believe in a god but just aren't sure.. personally, do you believe in a god?.

are you a "spiritual" person?.

DJS

No and No. I believe the bible has some merit for history and to chronicle a bit of man's struggles. That's it.

162

True Stories from the Tower - Part 1 "From Anointed to Pedophile to Bethelite"

by BluePill2 in

before i dive into the actual write-up of this experience, let me put some things straight.. i have thought long and hard if i should write more about my experiences during the 10+ years at different branches.

during these years i worked from financial department, service department, home office and different it assignments.

as you can imagine one sees and hears and reads a lot of stuff going through different stations in different countries.

DJS

I'm not surprised. Once I became an elder I noticed that the closer I got to the core of the apple the more rotten the apple became. I considered it a hate-filled dark, nasty little cult WHEN i was an elder.

89

An Elder Reads CoC !!

by TTATTelder in

i have recently joined the site.

i was just appointed an elder this summer.

i started discovering the ttatt (the truth about the truth) last year after putting a few things together myself concerning the leadership and then doing some research online.. i really enjoyed jwfacts.com, jwsurvey, and others.

DJS

Welcome!! CoC definitely helped me along the path. I remember feeling, rather than a sick feeling, simply a feeling of relief and a big smile came over my face when I realized I wasn't so smart! I had been deceived all of my life when I thought I was a pretty bright guy!!

33

First Post - Introduction

by Syme in

jw
friends

this is my first post on jwn, and i would like to take a few lines to introduce myself.. i currently am still in the organization, though my conviction in the last 1-2 years is more or less agnostic/atheist (closer to atheist).

i am an ex-elder and mts graduate, having served in another 3 congregations, apart from my home one.. the reason for the above-mentioned conviction shift has to do with science and rational, logical thinking generally, and with the grand theory of evolution, specifically.

it took me long, endless sessions of hard reading and study of serious scientific literature (plus cross-matching all the quotes and claims in jw evolution-related literature), to finally make the shift from utterly firm religious belief to doubt, and then to lack of religious faith.

DJS

Welcome!!!

Your journey to non-theism, as I have pointed on on this forum several times, is fairly typical. You are a much welcome addition to the theist/non-theist dicussions.

58

"Jesus is My Boyfriend" Christianity

by cofty in

there is a trend in modern evangelical, charismatic and "non-religious spirituality" that gets dangerously close to erotic love of jesus.. it's something that i first observed during my christian years especially in the lyrics of christian songs and sometimes during open-prayer times.

if you haven't experienced open prayer you are the lucky ones.

everybody adopts the shampoo position - elbows on knees, head in hands - and whoever is "moved by the spirit" speaks up for a while, followed by an awkward silence, followed by two people speaking up at the same time, followed by silence, and so on.. anyway back to the topic, here are a few random examples .... "lord i give you my heart.

DJS

A lot of this is creepy? What part of this isn't creepy?