Phantom Stranger

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Posts by Phantom Stranger

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  32

  Higher Educaton

  by franklin J in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what is the current thinking of the watchtower society concernng higher education these days?

  in 1977 i entered college from a full pioneer status and was duly criticized from the local elders.

  back at that time, higher education was actively discouraged.

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  Phantom Stranger

  Alf, is there any indication of what courses or majors are recommended? I assume that liberal arts is discouraged and technical degrees are recommended.

  By the way, many posters on this thread have lamented about income limitations due to their lack of a degree. Many universities are offering credits for life experience now - Phoenix is the best-known, but Marylhurst in Oregon is another. They have online programs.

  But another path is to start your own business or practice - if you are competent and get the job done, no one wants to know if the owner got a degree. When a business is evaluating suppliers, it's experience and track record that count.
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  15

  How have our views changed on tolerance?

  by Phantom Stranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jws, we were taught that we had all the answers - that we knew the truth and no one else did.

  we were taught that no one knew as much as we did.

  we were taught that we were better than others.

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  Phantom Stranger

  By the way, Gretchen, I prefer the term "acceptance" to "tolerance", but I don't think it's common usage, so I went for the cheap route.
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  88

  Are Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY Welcomed Here?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in view of the fact that there are mostly ex-witnesses on this forum, the question is," are jw's truly welcomed here?".

  it seems to me that if a poster supports the witnesses in any way, that they will know about it.

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  Phantom Stranger

  So I'm confused, Min. I understand that if you follow the dictates of the WTS, you don't read this site, you don't read Ray Franz, and you don't watch Madonna kiss Britney on MTV. So what? Their hypocrisy is not my concern - in fact, it's none of my business. If a person, JW or not, shows up here and posts pro-JW positions, the discussion should be respectful - a problem that many threads seem to struggle with.

  It seems that many take up a contrary position while doing the old Saturday Night Live Weekend Update skit: "Jane, you ignorant slut!"

  "Take away paradox from the thinker and you have a professor." - Søren Kierkegaard

  
  
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  15

  How have our views changed on tolerance?

  by Phantom Stranger in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as jws, we were taught that we had all the answers - that we knew the truth and no one else did.

  we were taught that no one knew as much as we did.

  we were taught that we were better than others.

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  Phantom Stranger

  Thanks for the great responses.

  Now, how many of us know XJWs that seem to operate the same way they did when they were JWs?
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  66

  Is There Anything That You Would NEVER Forgive?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anything??

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  Phantom Stranger

  SheilaM, I understand if you're saying that you feel strongly about this topic - many on this thread seem to feel the same way as you. If Laura Davies, a leading writer on recovery from childhood sexual abuse, says that it's possible to forgive an abuser, even if it's not required for functional recovery, then why is it "idiotic"?

  I posted the passage from her book to provide just that perspective - that it is possible to forgive, but not essential.
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  31

  Minimus & His Mother

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i love my mother dearly.

  she is a very good person in her late 70's.

  she's caring and a "good christian woman".

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  Phantom Stranger

  Man will never cure the common cold, devise a system of mathematics that is both complete and consistent, or be right when debating his mother.
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  25

  What Is The Foundation Of Faith Belonging To a Jehovah's Witness?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  jw's are told that they have a faith unlike any other.

  what is the faith that the typical witness has??

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  Phantom Stranger

  OK, are you talking about the foundation of doctrine coming from the WTS, or the foundation of faith of an individual JW? Reading the topic heading, it sounds like an individual. If the WTS wants the individual JWs to buy off on the infallibility of the GB, and the individuals largely do not (as AlanF states), then why are they JW's? What do they have faith in, and why?
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  5

  There are some places where the road does not go in a circle...

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ... and there are some places where the road just keeps going.

  " - pleasantville (the movie).

  jehovah's witnesses like to ask, "where else will you go?

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  Phantom Stranger

  Although a bit heavy-handed in spots, it is a good movie, and a good allegory for emerging from the WTS. I'd recommend it.
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  88

  Are Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY Welcomed Here?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in view of the fact that there are mostly ex-witnesses on this forum, the question is," are jw's truly welcomed here?".

  it seems to me that if a poster supports the witnesses in any way, that they will know about it.

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  Phantom Stranger

  I agree with that 100%. It is disappointing to see people leave the WTS and retain the mode of thinking that they were taught by it.
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  88

  Are Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY Welcomed Here?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in view of the fact that there are mostly ex-witnesses on this forum, the question is," are jw's truly welcomed here?".

  it seems to me that if a poster supports the witnesses in any way, that they will know about it.

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  Phantom Stranger

  So did we magically become smarter? Or did we start using what we already had?

  Our abilities remained constant. Our fear of using that ability decreased.