Divergent

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Posts by Divergent

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  9

  Who have heard of Bacha Bazi, a sick culture.

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  islam, i don't know about this religion.. the practice of bacha bazi , "boy play.. rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in afghanistan, particularly among armed commander who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population.. an american soldiers, lance cpl.

  gregory buckley told his father, from his bunk in southern afghanistan, he could hear the afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.

  at night we can hear them screaming, but we're not allowed to do anything about it.

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  Divergent

  This is a case of culture before religion. As you would know, the majority of Muslims are anti-homosexual. In fact, the penalty for homosexuality is DEATH according to the Quran. However, Islamic practices vary from country to country, determined by various cultures. This is why even if the "holy book" prohibits it, culture may permit it. People choose what they want to follow, just like how there are differing practices in other religions. Another case of "it's not right, but it's ok" mentality
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  44

  Why do people follow demonstrably False Prophets?

  by WireRider in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  why does everyone just turn a blind eye to the false teachings of the watchtower?

  the bible warns us many times and in many ways not to follow false prophets - including the lake of fire.

  fundamentally why do the followers of the watchtower just ignore the very bible they claim to live by?.

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  Divergent

  Next time, every time, you set foot into a "Kingdom Hall" you are promoting the terrorism of others.

  Many here are still stuck & forced to go for the sake of family. It should read "If you donate to the worldwide work" instead
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  9

  Who have heard of Bacha Bazi, a sick culture.

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  islam, i don't know about this religion.. the practice of bacha bazi , "boy play.. rampant sexual abuse of children has long been a problem in afghanistan, particularly among armed commander who dominate much of the rural landscape and can bully the population.. an american soldiers, lance cpl.

  gregory buckley told his father, from his bunk in southern afghanistan, he could hear the afghan police officers sexually abusing boys they had brought to the base.

  at night we can hear them screaming, but we're not allowed to do anything about it.

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  Divergent

  Those participating in this practice were themselves abused as children. They can't get back at those who abused them, so they do it onto others instead. It's similar to hazing / ragging where those who were subjected to abuse become abusers themselves. It's an endless cycle!
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  17

  The Appeal and Draw of the Watchtower

  by Saved_JW in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i first left the watchtower organization in 2008, a flood of emotions came back to me.

  betrayal, anger, resentment, deep depression from the relationships lost.

  emotions seemed to guide my viewpoint of others as well.

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  Divergent

  eyeuse2badub:
  The appeal and draw for me and my brothers was:
  it was our mother's religion and we HAD to go or get our ass whipped.

  Similar to my experience. I was born-in, taught that this was "the truth", and lacked exposure to other ways of thinking. Dissatisfaction led me to discover TTATT & break free as a young adult. This religion has zero appeal & draw to me. If I had not been born-in, there is no way that I would ever be a JW!
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  19

  Elder On Tablet During Prayer

  by jw07 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during a prayer in the kh all our eyes are supposed to be closed, right?

  i've never been one to fully my eyes during prayers.

  i'll close them down, but just enough that i can still peep around at what's happening without being noticed.. there's something i've noticed a certain elder doing for the second time now.

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  Divergent

  RichardHaley:
  Attendants are to remain alert at all times even during prayer. This is emphasized more at larger gatherings like memorial and assemblies.

  
  

  True. However, I haven't seen this during congregation meetings, only during conventions, where the attendants are instructed NOT to close their eyes but to be vigilant & on the lookout for any suspicious activity / threats. Besides, the brother was looking at his tablet half of the time, so it wasn't likely that he was assigned to look out for the rest of the congregation
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  19

  Book Review: The Hunt for Vulcan: . . . And How Albert Einstein Destroyed a Planet, Discovered Relativity, and Deciphered the Universe

  by Viviane in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i recently read this book and found it to be excellent.

  it's the story of how we never stop knowing, how science works (even when it doesn't), how gracefully math can describe the world we live in and more.

  the story begins with how sir isaac newton, author of pricipia mathematica and holder of the lucasian chair at cambridge, developed math to describe the gravity and the motion of the planets with no need god holding them in place.

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  Divergent

  That's not a proper Vulcan sign... lol
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  30

  The Captive Mind of a former bethalite.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i see years of acute economic crisis ahead for the w.t.

  this is evident with letting go of " volunteer" bethalites throughout the world.

  but my thread is on the consequences to the individual, and the organisation of letting " volunteer" bethalites go.. so what happens to the captive mind of the former bethalite when they are let go from bethel?

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  Divergent

  truthseeker100:

  Don't ever PM me you got that!!.
  I am sure all of us would love to hear about your life experience. Did you learn about the witnesses as a result of a study session at a federal penitentiary?.

  Not hostile. Yeah. Right...
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  183

  JWs have more good points than bad

  by lsw1961 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  1) many who were on the destructive path have been transformed by their teachings (this includes me who was once vicious, and presumptuous and atheistic).

  2) equal monthly pay to all members of the bethel community regardless of whether they are bc members or sweepers.

  this is something that still remains as an unattainable dream for the world.

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  Divergent

  Isw1961:
  This shows one should take JW teaching in its essence, not in its details (which means: accept Kingdom Message, at the same time choose between other teachings—for example, ensure your own material independence flouting their teaching on higher studies for which there is no punitive measures taken)

  
  

  "For which there is no punitive measures taken"... LOL

  
  

  True, you went for higher education while your dad is an elder, but it might not have been taken so seriously back then

  Why not consider the current situation. Ask yourself these questions:

  
  

  1. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you go for higher education?

  2. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you go for higher education?

  3. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you send your children for higher education?

  4. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you send your children for higher education?

  5. Is it possible to be appointed as a ministerial servant / elder if you encourage higher education?

  6. Is it possible to remain as a ministerial servant / elder if you encourage higher education?

  7. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you go for higher education?

  8. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you send your children for higher education?

  9. Would you be viewed as spiritually strong or spiritually weak if you encourage higher education?

  10. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you go for higher education?

  11. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you send your children for higher education?

  12. Would you be viewed as going against the direction of the organization / disrespecting the organization, if you encourage higher education?

  13. If you choose to go for higher education, would the elders meet with you to discourage you from doing so?

  14. If you choose to send your children for higher education, would the elders meet with you to discourage you from doing so?

  15. If you encourage higher education, would the elders meet with you in the back room for a "friendly chat"?
  
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  27

  Received a YouTube Hate Message

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's witnesses are such loving people with christian personalities, are they not?.

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  (ps, yes, i have a youtube channel.

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  Divergent

  SAHS:
  Actually, I’m not really a “coward” so much as I choose to play it safe and cautious in order to not subject my longtime JW parents to any sadness, emotional pain, or shame. As much as I detest the JW cult for its dishonest and harmful policies and practices, I also know that my parents are very good, quality, and basically kind folks. The fence on which I must walk is more of a tightrope, but the real villain here is the WT cult organization, and I wouldn’t want my parents to suffer needlessly on account of it. Emotional blackmail, yes. It’s certainly a test of my unselfish compassion toward my mislead but very loving parents. (My sister and her family, and my aunts – well, that’s another story. We’re not exactly close, so to hell with ’em.)

  This is pretty much irrelevant as the scenario that I'm referring to is an entirely different one. An abusive individual lashes out at the OP, but does not dare to do so by posting a public comment, as he / she well knows that they would get flamed by other users if they do. Hence, the cowardy private hate message. Obviously, you misinterpreted my post

  Edit: I just noticed your comment above mine. I wasn't referring to you but rather the person on YouTube who insulted Cappy, that's why I used the term "He's". If it was meant to be for you, then I would have used "You're"
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  27

  Received a YouTube Hate Message

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jehovah's witnesses are such loving people with christian personalities, are they not?.

  .

  (ps, yes, i have a youtube channel.

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  Divergent

  He's a coward. Didn't dare to post a comment where everyone would see it!