What is your agenda? (page 2)

jgnat

Dan my man,

Wouldn't a "pro-peace rally" be a de facto anti-war demonstration?

Actually, the two are completely different, and reveal a different perspective. This is one of my pet peeves. Our society is so hung up on being AGAINST things, that few people are DOING things to make our world better.

For example, our condo board sent out a newsletter, "You are all slobs! The dumpster is a mess! Clean up after yourselves!" I was disgusted with the board, because this was probably the least effective method of dealing with the problem. First of all, the entire complex was painted with the same broad brush. Accusing us all just diminished the power of the statement. Second, if I have been labelled a slob already, how motivated am I going to be to clean up my act?

Much more effective is to expect and reward positive behavior. "With the addition of a recycle bin, we have managed to reduce the volume of garbage picked up every week, resulting in significant cost savings to the complex. In addition, we have had a garbage-free parking lot for two whole months. Way to go, guys!"

Phantom Stranger

Dan, before you left, did you ever come across anti-JW info, news stories, etc.? Did you believe it the first time you saw it?

gumby

Elsewhere ya knucklehead,

My agenda is to collect as much lent and thread as possible so I can make it into a rope and climb all the way to heaven.

First.......your going to have to find yourself a skyhook to tie it to......ya silly. Gumby

franklin J

hey Phantom,

Excellent post.

this really made me think, and I am not ashamed to say that I had to reread it several times to really catch the underlying meaning.

Yes, Phantom, Ido agree with it. I have come to the same conclusions-albeit through a different channel-that directs my life and actions. "Positeve thought" and "giviing the benefit of the doubt" or what ever you want to call it- "paying it forward" ; "turning a lemon into lemonade"; etc, has brought me results in life. Some might attribute this to the "Golden Rule" ("do onto others") and give the character of Christ the credit for this. However, ancient history, with Hammurabi's code ( ancient Mesopatamia),had a similar teaching. It did not, I think, originate with Christ.

This post was a particularly good topic for this very specific forum.

the Greek philosophists, I believe, ultimately came to the same conclusion ( well with some things, anyway). I have not read Pirsigs book, but after reading your excerpt, think it might be an interesting read.

I always enjoy your postings; always an intelligent , rational reply. And my invitation to drinks is always open--when in NY give me a shout.

hope all is well

Frank

jst2laws

Hello Phantom Stranger,

Defining yourself by what you are against is a tricky business, and is very limiting, compared to committing yourself for something.

Seems most of us come out of the org with our heads spinning and all we know for sure is what we left and why. And we are against it. I agree with you, we need to keep growing past what we are against and figure out what we are for.

Many seem to have a vendetta against the WTS. Much work has been done debunking their theology, illuminating their translation biases, bringing hidden actions to light, and exposing direct harm done to unfortunate individuals. Some have stated that their goal is to topple the WTS and to expose it as irrational and untruthful.

While I am immeasurably appreciative of the tough for-runners in the exjw movement who have done the above, those who have not moved on from it have become dinosaurs. Their research is priceless but as individuals some seem to have become stuck in a vindictive, flesh eating Watchtower attack mode. In that regard I appreciate your quote from Mother Teresa above. The rest of us hopefully can move along supporting and enabling those who are exiting.

Very positive thoughts, Phantom.

Jst2laws

Phantom Stranger

J, Frank, thanks for your reading and commenting on such a lengthy post.

Regards,

PS

Aztec

Thank you PS! That was well presented and I understand the premise of it. I'm glad you had a chat! I really, really like you both and I'm glad you could talk about agendas.

My agenda is to help those who need it and help myself in the process.I agree with Thomas Hobbes that nothing any of us do is entirely selfless. Ask Expat if you want an explanation. He understands it far better than I. I can give you a quick summary but, I don't think I'm entirely capable at the moment.

~Az *taking a nap*

DanTheMan

Dan, before you left, did you ever come across anti-JW info, news stories, etc.? Did you believe it the first time you saw it?

I made an art of keeping my head in the sand as a JW, so I really never heard too much about the org from sources other than the org itself. I remember seeing an advertisement in a local paper where a church was going to give a presentation on JW's, that's about all I remember.

Here's my point - by January of 2002, I was fairly certain that I would never set foot in a KH again. I was emotionally and physically done with JW's. My plan at the time was to be one of those pitiful "couldn't live up to it" types that never goes to meetings or anything, but still believe on some level that it is the troof. It was only by my internet research regarding the factual, historical aspects of the Watchtower that really freed me from the mental prison. I am so grateful for websites such as this one, and freeminds, but especially for Ray Franz's books, that convinced me that the rat I smelled wasn't my imagination.

Country Girl

Always.. always... listen first, with your intuition, and then with your heart.

CG

Phantom Stranger

My personal interpretation, Dan, would be that you made a decision to pull your head out of the sand and do the Internet research. Something in you changed before you came across the information - the information didn't make you look for it, you chose to look for it. That something, no matter how down you were at the time, was a glimmer of inner strength, seeking how to live without the WTS.

What is your agenda?

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