Posts by FlyingHighNow

posted

101
org is dying
by lambsbottom in
1. watchtower
2. beliefs
i don't understand why so many ex jws and faders think that the jws will continue to grow and thrive as a religion.

i still attend a meeting once a week and you can smell the death of the religion creeping up when you hear the talks, read the study wts and hear the letters from the gb.

the way the organization has changed is a sign that it reached its peak (in "healthy" membership) long ago.
FlyingHighNow

The difference between 1975...1995..and now is the Internet.

Think about how different the org is now compared to 76, when I started studying. There is no book study night. There is one AWake per month and one Watchtower issue for the public. All the books are in softback now. Pioneer hours are cut way down. Circuit assemblies are cut down. The governing body has become so toxic, that people don't feel any joy anymore. They feel oppressed and their self esteem has just about been obliterated. People were staying sick from all the stress by the time I left. I can't imagine what it's like for them now. And they just look ridiculous when they come into the place I work, dressed in meeting clothes. The boys wearing ties and dress shirt and the little girls wearing ugly dresses. They think they stand out as so well groomed and respectful, but they just look pitifully dated, not unlike that movie Pleasantville.

YOu can't oppress people, in the heavy way the JWs do, forever. Remember when the iron curtain fell?
6
the Protestant world could in fact be worse than the Catholic Church.
by nonjwspouse in
1. watchtower
2. child-abuse
at the request of bju, the nonprofit godly response to abuse in the christian environment (grace) is currently investigating the university for how it's handled sexual abuse.

more than 100 people have come forward to grace investigators, and the report is due out in the next few months.

boz tchividjian, the head of grace, believes christian organizations across the country have failed victims in similar ways, and that the protestant world could in fact be worse than the catholic church.
FlyingHighNow

Schools cover up child abuse and colleges cover up rapes and other kinds of violence.
359
Come On And PLAY!!!
by snowbird in
1. social
2. entertainment
this here is very educational.. http://www.funtrivia.com/tournament/jwd-trivia-quiz-75350.html.

come on, y'all.. sylvia.
FlyingHighNow

I'm heading off to work soon. Take care and thank you for being the sweet, breath of fresh air on this forum that you are. If it weren't for good ladies and gentlemen like you and Coco, there wouldn't be much reason for coming around here.
359
Come On And PLAY!!!
by snowbird in
1. social
2. entertainment
this here is very educational.. http://www.funtrivia.com/tournament/jwd-trivia-quiz-75350.html.

come on, y'all.. sylvia.
FlyingHighNow

Just dropping in to say hello and a very good morning to you, Sylvia and to Coco.
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

Caedes, if I was ashamed of my belief that there is some kind of god, I wouldn't tell you or anyone else about it. I'm not ashamed. On JWN lately, it actually takes guts to admit that you're not an athiest.
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

No. Simply, it does not follow. It's an illogical concept to begin with.

Yes, you have decided that you don't believe in God. You have a belief that there is no god(s). It is not something anyone can prove right now, so you have faith that your conclusion is correct. And it goes in your file with whether you believe capital punishment is right or not, or whether you believe kids should be spanked or if there are aliens out there somewhere or Yeti's hiding from us in the woods.

I believe there is/are no god(s). I have no belief in god(s). Niether you nor I can say there are no gods. There is no way to prove there are no gods. So we can say we believe there are no gods. We can say we believe gods or yetis don't exist. We can't prove it either-- right now.

I find this profound quote of John Lennon's to be worth pondering.

"I BELIEVE IN EVERYTHING until it's disproved. So I believe in fairies, the myths, dragons. It all exists even if it is in your mind. Who's to say that dreams...aren't as real as the here and now?" ***John Lennon***
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

Except it isn't a 'feeling on the existence or non-existence of gods'. It's stating that the claims believers make regarding the existence of gods is lacking substantive evidence. NOT a personal belief system.

Not singly, but as a part of the person's personal belief system. Yes.

Hey, I don't believe there are fairies or unicorns. It hasn't been proved either way though, so believing there are not fairies or unicorns is part of my personal belief system or if you prefer, system of beliefs. Every person who can think has a system of beliefs.
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

Are you saying that unbelief/disbelief is a belief?

If you believe there isn't a god, is this not a belief?

Yes, in a backwards way it is. An atheist believes there is no god. There is no way to prove there is or is not god(s). So whether you are an athiest or diest or theist, your feeling on the existence or non existence of god(s) is your personal belief. The word belief isn't a bad word.
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

Atheist: An individual that finds insufficient evidence for the thousands of gods purportedly in existence based on the claims of their adherents. NOT a belief system.

You're right, that would only be one belief in an individual atheist's personal belief system.
194
Atheism is a Belief System
by seekchristonly in
1. watchtower
2. bible
is atheism a belief system.

after all the atheist believes there is no god .so if that's the case then an atheist if a person of faith.

they have faith in the fact there is no god.
FlyingHighNow

So basically, a belief system is not religion. It can involve a set of commonly held beliefs in a group or community. It could be a science community or an online community. There are online communities of atheists and they do share common beliefs and tenets.

: a feeling of being sure that someone or something exists or that something is true

Everyone who can think has a system of beliefs.