Posts by asleif_dufansdottir

46

IQ and JWs

by Freedomrules in

jw
friends

do you think there is any correlation between intelligence and membership?

most jws i've known aren't that bright, and it seems that most that leave are really intelligent.. just an observation.

any thoughts?.

asleif_dufansdottir

Nevertheless, to exercise your philosophy, maybe it's not that they refuse to think, but just that they think differently. To state your example, couldn't a Christian say that a person in India refuses to think and learn about Christianity?

This issue of our fictitious Indian is not refusing to think and learn about Christianity. The issue with those who were raised in another religious environment, is that their "default" religion, if you will, is something else. The "default" religion (the one the vast majority accepts as 'normal') in the US and most of Europe is Christianity, even if the person does not live what they themselves consider a "Christian" life, they pretty much accept without question that the Bible and Christianity are 'right'. They don't have to be convinced a whole new paradigm to accept that the Bible is what we are supposed to follow. In my example, the person raised in a Hindu culture would have to overcome culture and upbringing to accept Christianity. Think of how the US population acted at the suburban Californian young man who joined the Taliban - they couldn't imagine he would "believe that stuff".

JWs, on the other hand, spend a lot of time finding fault with and focusing on what is wrong with both 'worldly' people and other religions. Yet, when any suggestion is made to judge the WT by the same standard, you can almost hear the mental brakes screech and smoke, and they often react in great anger. Anger out of proportion often points to a guilty conscience...I wonder how many suspect the WT is a corrupt organization that has nothing to do with God, how many know but for one reason or another don't want to leave it, and how many are so afraid it is they refuse to consider it?

46

IQ and JWs

by Freedomrules in

jw
friends

do you think there is any correlation between intelligence and membership?

most jws i've known aren't that bright, and it seems that most that leave are really intelligent.. just an observation.

any thoughts?.

asleif_dufansdottir

Mostly I'm frustrated that they refuse to acknowledge the major problems in the org (pedophilia and the UN thing, to mention the latest of a long list).It's their refusal to think that gets me.

90

God, where are you?

by onacruse in

i haven't seen you posting here lately, and i just wondered if everything is ok?.

i've always considered you my best friend.

but lately i've been thinking about a lot of things, and it occurred to me: you've never said one word to me in my entire life, even though i've sent you thousands of messages; not exactly what friends do to each other.

asleif_dufansdottir

Realizing the JWs were not "the true religion" was the last straw in my believing in God - at least the God the Bible talks about that has this religion everybody on earth is supposed to believe in.

I looked in several churches...always eventually found that "snare" and "racket" early JWs talked about. At the end of my rope religiously, I thought, OK, it must be JWs - I've fought so hard against them being the true religion, maybe it's them. Then I found it it wasn't.

Something snapped. I had begged for clear answers and directions. Moses got a burning bush, for crap's sake! I got nothing! That's when I came to the conclusion that being left to stumble in the dark was not acceptable, if that God wanted me to follow him, he had to do better. And he didn't. So I don't.

13

The WT on witchcraft

by figureheaduk in

felt a little bored earlier so i decided to take a trip over to the wt's badly researched propaganda official site, when i stumbled upon this little gem concerning the wiccan faith:.

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/4/1/article_02.htm.

it's the usual waffle from the (old) boys in brooklyn about paganism is worshipping satan, only the bible (and by implication that the wt) is the absolute "truth" blah, blah, blah.

asleif_dufansdottir

I never knew anybody who lived in as constant a fear of demons and demon possession as the JWs I knew.

46

IQ and JWs

by Freedomrules in

jw
friends

do you think there is any correlation between intelligence and membership?

most jws i've known aren't that bright, and it seems that most that leave are really intelligent.. just an observation.

any thoughts?.

asleif_dufansdottir

How about a factor that is indirectly related to actual IQ - the ability to ...how do I want to say this...think from another person's point of view??

Maybe an example will better explain. I was the only one in my Sunday School class as a kid (including my teacher), who could comprehend that if I'd actually been raised in India, in a culture that did not automatically assume that Christianity was right, I might not see why Christianity was the "true religion". As a JW, I could understand perfectly why "worldly" people were not interested in our message, and did not scoff at their stupidity and blindness the way almost every other JW I knew did.

I was the only one I knew who was bothered by God ordering the deaths of thousands of people who just didn't know any better. Plus I thought he sucked for ordering the animals be killed. It sure wasn't their fault their owners were "pagan"...and why did they have to suffer and die because "God's chosen people" got greedy if given the opportunity to loot??

I don't think it was just my IQ that got me out of the JWs and Christianity in general, I think it was the way I thought.

54

Does your cat eat grass?

by JH in

jw
friends

my cat lives inside, and once in a while i bring her outside.

i bring her outside to walk and get exercise, but no she sits there and eats grass.

that's all she does is eat grass.. then she comes back inside and a few hours after she throws up the grass she ate.

asleif_dufansdottir

Good for her health? Not so sure. When she eats grass, she finally throws up, and then she has diarrhea afterwards for days.

I would only worry if the grass she ate had chemicals (either pesticides or fertilizer) in it. That might be a problem.

31

Hallo from Scandinavia

by viktoria in

hallo everyone out there.. .

little old me from scandinavia wants to say "hallo" to you all.. i ve been lurking for some time now, but couldent find the courage to write.. i m trying to fade away quiet and elegant but the dubs are after me like a group of blood hounds.. i feel so very very miserable about it all.

at this moment the most "loving and zealous" couple in my cong.

asleif_dufansdottir

Asleif-dufansdottir...your alias is from Iceland isn´t it?

Kind of. It's 9th century Norse, but Iceland kept the Old Norse language and names around much longer than anywhere else.

31

Hallo from Scandinavia

by viktoria in

hallo everyone out there.. .

little old me from scandinavia wants to say "hallo" to you all.. i ve been lurking for some time now, but couldent find the courage to write.. i m trying to fade away quiet and elegant but the dubs are after me like a group of blood hounds.. i feel so very very miserable about it all.

at this moment the most "loving and zealous" couple in my cong.

asleif_dufansdottir

Hej Viktoria!

Congratulations on making your decision and being firm in your choice! Do you still have family that are JWs? Is there some reason you do not wish to come out and disassociate yourself (in order to stop the harassment?)? I can tell you, if it was me they were calling on all hours of the day and night, it would be a very short time before I decided I didn't care if no JW would speak to me! Your situation may be different, however. Keep us informed about how it is going. Don't be afraid to ask the board for advice or just vent!

Liz

54

Does your cat eat grass?

by JH in

jw
friends

my cat lives inside, and once in a while i bring her outside.

i bring her outside to walk and get exercise, but no she sits there and eats grass.

that's all she does is eat grass.. then she comes back inside and a few hours after she throws up the grass she ate.

asleif_dufansdottir

It's true they don't need claws to put a dog in it's place When we farmed we had a doberman cross (total goob)...one day Max, one of our medium sized but muscular toms was sitting with his back to me. I reached over to grab something off the ground and lightly brushed his back. Max thought it was the dog messing with him (they didn't fight but goober-the-dog liked to try to play, Max had more dignity than that), and spun around with a roundhouse and nailed me with his closed paw (no claws) that hurt. And left a bruise. I was amazed at how hard he could hit! Of course Maxie was horrified when he realized he'd hit me instead. He was all purrrrs and rubbing and "I'm sorry, don't cut back on the kibble, it was the dog's fault." It always impressed me that a rather small cat didn't feel he needed claws to put a rather large dog in his place.

54

Does your cat eat grass?

by JH in

jw
friends

my cat lives inside, and once in a while i bring her outside.

i bring her outside to walk and get exercise, but no she sits there and eats grass.

that's all she does is eat grass.. then she comes back inside and a few hours after she throws up the grass she ate.

asleif_dufansdottir

Well, it ended up that Smokey ran away. Don't know what happened to him. Sure hope he found him a good home somewhere.

Maybe he ended up at a place like mine. Every cat within blocks who needs help manages to find my back door. It's like infallible kitty radar. I swear there's a little kitty sign out there that says, "Suckers live here"...just a couple of days ago I looked out to see a Cornish Rex (kind of a rare breed) gorging himself on my potted catnip. I walked outside and made his aquaintance. He was very friendly (and bossy - if I remember right, one of the breeds that went into the making of the Cornish Rex was Siamese). He even let me pick him up (when he was full ) and carry him around the neighborhood looking for his owner (cats like that aren't usually found wandering outside). I was very relieved when we found his house (he'd got out when the dogs were let out).

Declawing: I have known people who swear that their cats aren't affected by it. I've met some that seem OK. It's certainly better than killing them or throwing them outside to die young, but every single cat I've ever had with serious personality problems (hating other cats, spraying, aggression, fear) was declawed. I don't think it's coincidence. Also, anyone who would declaw a cat on all 4 paws should be shot.