talesin

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Posts by talesin

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  225

  Cult or Religion

  by Richard C B in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is a cult and what is a religion?

  its open to debate.

  who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

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  talesin

  I haven't read the whole thread, as I'm sure there is a lot of master baiting in the 18 pages, but hmmm ... the name Richie is just too familiar, and this thread bears the mark of a, perhaps, experienced troll. Hey, Richie, ca va? If it's you, we never clashed. Hope you are well, but don't you think it's a bit messed up? xx
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  225

  Cult or Religion

  by Richard C B in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what is a cult and what is a religion?

  its open to debate.

  who has the authority to say for certain what is a cult and what is a religion?

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  talesin

  Hi, Richard! Well. I just had to join the conversation when I saw you posting this *gem* of the Truth TM. : ))

  2. What did Jesus say about false Christians?
  
  “They publicly declare that they know God, but they disown him by their works.”—TITUS 1:16.
  Jesus warned that false prophets would corrupt Christianity. Outwardly, they seem like true worshippers. Their churches claim to be Christian. But you can recognize such people for what they really are. How? Only true worship produces genuine Christians with recognizable qualities and ways.—ReadMatthew 7:13-23.

  Of course, Jehovah's people TM declare that they are the chosen ones.

  How do we recognize these Christian followers of Jehovah?
  
  Is it the elders who weave on the platform, too drunk to keep their equilibrium? Or the Special Pioneer, who 'fudges' her/his time sheet? Maybe, it is the Judicial Committee member who can't sleep at night, because he punished a child rape victim, and let his/her rapist go free, after which the victim committed suicide.

  Or perhaps it is the father who turns away his 'prodigal son', because son hasn't gone through the proscribed punishments (re-instatement procedures) that the local BOE has set forth.

  Yes, true *Christians* show their colours. By their deeds you will know them BY THEIR DEEDS.
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  57

  40 years on - and still in Damage Control mode!

  by Bungi Bill in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  earlier this morning, i posted off to the the institute of engineers an application for membership as an "engineering associate":.

  - today being just over 40 years since the congregation's retards elders made me abandon my apprenticeship.. (in this part of the world, the pre-1975 hype was taken to that level.

  not being content to prevent young persons attending university, they went one step further and treated with hostility any youngster who would "tie up five years of their lives" by entering into an apprenticeship.

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  talesin

  That calculus is a b***ch! (haha)
  .

  But it's all worth it now, congrats. xx
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  37

  On the realization you will not "live forever"

  by problemaddict 2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  something struck me last week.

  i have been dealing with what i can only describe as a fear of death.

  i'm not old and not in bad health.

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  talesin

  To the OP,

  This reality can lead to daily happiness. Death is inevitable, and not to be feared. The thing is, to enjoy the moments that life offers, be kind, to yourSELF and others. Begin each day with a great stretch like a cat, and realize that every moment is unique, and some are special in that you will treasure them forever.

  Death is not to be feared, we can only hope it will be swift and relatively painless. After that, we are dust in the wind...... it matters not.

  Just my 2, as we used to say.

  xx
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  42

  Why are GMO's bad?

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh4bi60alzu.

  first person to say, "this scishow episode is a monsanto conspiracy," is a rotten egg..

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  talesin

  Agreed. With any new technology, we should have learned caution by now. Medicine is constantly changing. As is all science.

  Think of the guy who developed String Theory - he was laughed out of the scientific community in the 50s or 60s. After his death, the theory was recognized as valid, and he is now lauded. That is the nature of science. It's being curious! What is the most important question in science? It is Why?

  Yes, as I see it, the biggest concerns (for environmentalists of every stripe) are with the prevalence of corn sugars, soy and other products - even without the GMO discussion, this is a serious issue, because it's not good nutrition. Chemicals are not good for us .. antibiotic resistance is a good example. It's become a big problem, since the baby boomers (my generation) was the first to consume mostly antibiotic-fed livestock. It's just 'something to think about'. I can't eat commercial eggs - I am allergic to cephalosporins - which is the antibiotic fed to chickens, and gets concentrated in the eggs. No turkey, either. Now, this is what the alergy specialist confirmed when I got tested for penicillin allergy (a close cousin to cephalosporins - if the spelling is wrong, one drug is called "Keflex").
  
  So, proof positive that we are not aware of what these changes in our food may do to future generations, just as medicine did not know that viruses existed until very recent history. It's science - progressing, and a "Candle in the Dark".
  
  Caution is the word I would use. I really dislike "fear factor" tactics, whether they are used by the left or the right... whether it's about terror or food activists gone rampant. I think we would agree on that, and look forward to more lively discussion in the future. : )) Perhaps we have similar leanings, I am just an a somwhat opinionated, old, hippie anarchist, and that can be a bit challenging to deal with, at times. Ayup.
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  59

  Why don't you do anything?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i'm not jw, so i see this all standing up and very clear from an outsider perspective (i am still seeking my path).

  i joined the blog a few weeks ago.

  i dated a divorced jw (jw from birth) for a couple of years recently.

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  talesin

  WireRider

  Yes, I have, I do, and I also have worked for years with youth at risk and people who live with MI (Mental Illness).
  

  It's great to see a web surfer like yourself, making a post to this forum. I celebrate you for supporting us, and hell to the yeah!
  
  I love to see / read folk who are here to SUPPORT, and not tear down.
  
  Your user name reads "geek" in a great way ,,,,,,,,,, kinda like majorgeeks ..... you are reaching out to help. Much love and light to you!

  xx
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  59

  Why don't you do anything?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i'm not jw, so i see this all standing up and very clear from an outsider perspective (i am still seeking my path).

  i joined the blog a few weeks ago.

  i dated a divorced jw (jw from birth) for a couple of years recently.

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  talesin

  To the OP.

  What I do know is a 1000 different TTATT dissociated websites isn't going anywhere and has no impact. Which is the basis for the WT/JW - if you leave, or if they kick you out, you'll have no place to go. You're screwed. Give them some place to go and feel welcome. It underminds the whole love you or your f@#$ked mentality that makes them so effective. Half want to leave, and the other half can't figure out how. Give them away. If you countermand their control over people and they will fall. Stop waiting in the wings and talking about gossip and wishing. Propaganda and money is their weak points - be better at it - they will fall. Minds will be free.
  I'm going to bow out for now. But you all really have a chance to make a difference if you unify, present a unified front, educate, and provide an alternative for recovering WT/JW.

  Indeed.

  It's important to realize that every member of the exJW 'community' is a cult survivor. To quote the poster Oubliette, who has proven to be one among many of our great teachers (and it is, I believe, his profession), It's a cult!

  If we were recovering Moonies, would you have the same expectation? This is not a criticism, but an observation (learned that expression from a friend) ..........

  Organizing exJWs is like herding cats. You can try! i think we do best, with a supportive group, and individual attention to specific issues.

  I think it would be nice if we all embraced anarchy, which is to say, to HELL with rules! The principle of anarchy and mob rule is not as portrayed in Mad Max - it means the "community" decides justice - not a government, but the local village. If you abuse MY child, you will live OUTSIDE the village, and we MAY choose to share our food!

  It doesn't work well in our present western culture, but it is an interesting, and I think, tribal, concept.

  xx
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  39

  Had you thought of feeling sorry for the G.B?

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i only bring this to the board, because a friend of mine once said he felt sorry for the footballers who made so much money.

  that comment stayed with me, and over the years,the more i thought about that comment the more i agreed with him.. i admit the g.b destroy people's life's and are the sublimation of all that's good in people's life.

  there only excuse is a fantazy asylum they claim to believe in.

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  talesin

  These are not 'self-made men'. They are indolent, politically-wise, serial abusers, and most likely, sociopaths. They are the worst of corporate America.

  PIty? Sure. Do I care? Not a shred.

  xx
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  42

  Why are GMO's bad?

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sh4bi60alzu.

  first person to say, "this scishow episode is a monsanto conspiracy," is a rotten egg..

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  talesin

  I agree with what you said in an earlier comment DJS, in that a rational, scientific approach is the way to go.

  Just like with any manipulation of the natural order of things (for lack of a better term), It only makes sense that we won't know for a few decades, or perhaps, generations. Truth be told, it is corporations who fund research . That's the part that leaves me feeling a bit queasy about GMOs. I also don't like the fact that my government refuses to have them labelled as such. I want the right to choose - my body only gets the best of fuel! (true)

  The issue of seed monopoly is real. There are a lot of newspaper articles online (not facebook or blogs or what I call 'biased rags', but real news) that we can read, about farmers and court cases with the "M" corp. Farmers are not happy. Local farmers are not happy about GMO crops, either - now, that's from the horse's mouth.

  My mind is open to listening to other people's ideas, and yeah, I defend their right to speculate. Like Johnny said "Whatever gets ya through the night, is all right, with me." The thing is, I'm not really into conspiracies. I just want more facts, and less obfuscation from governments and corporations.

  Having lived through Bill Gates' story (ie, was teaching PCs at a community college in '85, and had to change business models several times when first WANG went under, then Gates screwed those of us who had the awesome very first MACs !, then the anti-trust charges brought against him by the government in early days when he pushed DOS-based systems out through monopolistic (is that a word? tired here!) business practices - yeah, I worked in computers), I was and am leary of his involvement with anything, especially under the guise of 'helping the poor'. The food crisis and why it exists is a whole 'other' topic.

  Are GMOs "bad"? I do not know. Should we be cautious, and use common sense about the ecosystem and our bodies? Hell to the yeah!

  
  I think that only time will tell. And yeah, we should only believe facts. I'm queasy about the whole thing, because of Gates, and because when it comes to health, and money, we've been lied to before (tobacco is the best example).
  

  
  Heck, a researcher at the local NRC (National Research Council), Dr. Stan Kutcher (MD) was one of the researchers that was implicated in the largest (2012) health care fraud of all time, GlaxoSmithKline $3B and Paxil. Crazy, to see a local political candidate, and Medical Doctor involved. It really hits home.

  It's important, like you say, to check sites that end in .edu, or places like the Mayo Clinic about health care, etc.

  
  

  Always sound advice!

  
  
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  37

  I'm a coward.

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since the move, it has been so enjoyable to not have jw's breathing down our necks asking why we didn't make the meeting, or having to pretend to be "spiritual" in front of family all the time.. 90% of my week is virtually stress free.

  then, my mom calls or texts wanting to talk to her grandkids.

  every dang call, she asks about the new congregation, if we went to the meeting, etc.. why can't i tell her to fk off?

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  talesin

  Hey, you are not a coward. The relationship we have with a parent is different from any other. The mother-son and father-daughter dynamic is especially powerful.
  
  Don't feel bad - your feelings are always valid. No guilt or shame, please!
  
  I couldn't add anything to the advice that is already on the thread, except my support. I'm not very good in the 'Parental Unit' Department. * grins *

  xx