I thought this story was absolutely amazing! My next door neighbor, who is an athiest, commented after seeing this movie, "I now have ten times as much faith in nothing as I used too". (he...he...)
FM
FairMind
JoinedPosts by FairMind
-
6
On PBS right now - Touching the Void
by SixofNine inno, not an existential porn flick, it's a the most incredible true story of survival thru sheer stubborn will that you will ever hear about.
.
it's especially faith strengthening for atheist.
-
-
-
33
Whats Your View on most JW's
by XBEHERE inits safe to assume that many jw's come on here and just read posts.
in fact i did it for several months before posting anything.
i have seen many, many helpful posts giving encouragement, etc.
-
-
FairMind
I agree about 100% with XBHERE. I am one of Jehovah's Witnesses and I am not brained washed into thinking that the WTS is Jehovah's "organization". Doctrinally the WTS is no worse than other religions and in most cases it is better. The problem (and this exists in other religions too) is with management (being the clergy, elders, GB, etc).
It seems that when people leave the JW organization they assume that their life would have been better had they never been JWs. This might be true but perhaps not. Had a person not been one of JWS would they 1) have furthered their education? 2) Have given up nasty habits like smoking? 3) Have lived a more moral life? 4) Have read the Bible more? Who knows? Being bitter only hurts you. When you hate, you only lessen yourself and this holds true whether or not you’re a JW.
FM
-
1
Captives of a Concept Book
by FairMind inrecently on this website i learned of a book entitled "captives of a concept" and there was a link to a website where it could be purchased.
i purchased this book ($5.00 for a down load in pdf format) and have completed 128 of the 148 pages.
this is a fantastic book and i recommend it to all who want validation that the society is not god's organization.. the concept of course that holds all jw's captive is that those of the professed anointed (really the gb) comprise the faithful and discreet slave of jesus' illustration.
-
-
FairMind
Recently on this Website I learned of a book entitled "Captives of a Concept" and there was a link to a website where it could be purchased. I purchased this book ($5.00 for a down load in pdf format) and have completed 128 of the 148 pages. This is a Fantastic book and I recommend it to all who want validation that the Society is not God's organization.
The concept of course that holds all JW's captive is that those of the professed anointed (really the GB) comprise the Faithful and Discreet Slave of Jesus' illustration. Don Cameron offers irrefutable proof in historical context that shows this could not be the case. He also points out the deceptive tactics (and out right lies) they use and have used to hide their many false teachings. No lover of the REAL truth could read this book and still believe the WTS is God's organization. Has anyone else read this book and if so what are you thoughts?
FM
-
18
Serena Williams - a good role model
by TheOldHippie in.
serena's dress at a london show yesterday night.
not quite a kh dress ...............
-
-
FairMind
If Venus or Serena are baptized JWs then it has happened within the last two years (or so). I remember reading newspaper articles about them where it was mentioned that they not baptized JWs. I think they (at that time) were delaying baptism until later (maybe when their tennis careers were over). Their mother is I understand a JW.
The WTS certainly deserves criticism for a lot of things but I don't think one of them is the conduct of the Williams sisters. They are young, attractive and successful and their actions show it.
FM
-
23
WT CD to be released annually
by ezekiel3 in.
announced at service meetings this week: the wt cd (the digital repository of wts publications) will be released every year.. previously the wt cd was released every two years.
-
-
FairMind
This change should enable the WTS to drastically reduce expenses. Most households in the developed nations have PCs and will be able to use the CDs and discontinue receiving the annual bound volumes. It is a whole lot cheaper to create a CD as opposed to an ink and paper bound volume. Since many people falsely perceive that a CD cost more to make than a bound volume, I imagine that voluntary donations for each CD will be greater than that for the paper bound volumes (a plus for the WTS).
It is my opinion that paper bound volumes will not be discontinued as there are some who do not have PCs. Internet upgrades? This could happen but I doubt it unless a firm mechanism to generate contributions for the upgrades is put in place.
FM
-
41
How much would you say the average JW donates in $$$ ?????
by run dont walk inregarding donations, what would you say the average jw would donate in $$$ in a one year span.. some are richer then others, some have no children, some have 6 children, i imagine it would vary quite a bit.. so what would be a fair average, $1,000 / year per person ?????.
now when i say donation, i mean every dollar a person gives, this would include contribution boxes in the hall, assemblies, etc, donations for magazines, books, videos etc, every possible thing one would donate money to the watchtower for.. if $1000 a person is a fair number, then multiply it by 6,000,000.
= $ 6 billion dollars a year, nice scam watchtower.
-
-
FairMind
When the accounts report is read in my congregation the contributions to the WT for the WWW are not mentioned. Assuming these to be about the same as made to the local congregation would provide a monthly dollar amount of $700-$1200 or about $80 to $100 per publisher.
Reading through the many posts on this topic does give rise to some interesting thoughts and questions. 1.) Why would it be a concern to some that the WT receives donations but not an equal concern that other religions also receive donations from their members? 2.) Based on the small average amount of donations received from WT members could it be that the WT's motive is not driven by monetary greed? 3.) So what if the WTS has accumulated a large measure of wealth over a period of 100 years (give or take), does this of it self make them evil? 4.) What specific individuals (especially at upper levels) within the WTS have accumulated vast personal wealth because of contributions made to the WTS?
It seems to me that money is necessary to run any large endeavor. The WTS certainly takes measures to protect their assets but heck.... anyone who is not prudent with what wealth they might have is also not wise. I guess I just don't see why contributions’ being made to the WTS is a big deal. What I see as important issues are the WTS' double standards, abuses of power and attitude of being above question in any matter.
FM
-
33
WHAT IS THE LAST TEMPTATION YOU REFUSED?
by Terry ineverybody gets tempted some way some time or other.
what is the last temptation you faced and refused?
why?
-
-
FairMind
The last temptation I refused to give into was to tell a MS in our congregation just what I thought of him. Aside from the occasional fleshly temptations thrown my way, the temptation to tell others (especially elders and MS) exactly how I feel are the ones I fight against the hardest.
FM
-
31
WHAT DO YOU BASE YOUR PERSONAL OPINION ON?
by Terry ineverybody seems to have opinions.
often they are strong emotionally based opinions.. what do you base your opinions on?
do you expect people to respect your opinion?.
-
-
FairMind
Only other people have personal opinions. Everything I believe is a proven fact (at least that's my personal opinion) or it's what my wife says.
FM
-
20
What if potential convert sat in back of K.H. and talked w/ shunned j.w.'s?
by hubert ini've been hearing a lot about shunned j.w.
's having to sit in the back of the kingdom halls when they go to meetings.. so, what would happen if a new bible study person went to the kingdom hall for sunday meeting, (or whatever) and sat in the back of the hall, and talked to the shunned j.w.'s?
also, are there always shunned j.w.
-
-
FairMind
An announcement was made at our KH several months back that an unbaptized young lady was no longer an unbaptized publisher or approved associate. Shortly thereafter we received information from the platform warning brothers (young and older) against the flirtatious advances of young attractive women (especially of the unbaptized variety). Makes me wonder what I missed out on...lol.
FM
-
33
In Watchtower World---What Do You Think The Society Thinks of JWD???
by minimus indo you think they "know" us?
do you think the service department looks here to find out how to write the next watchtower??
?
-
-
FairMind
A recurring thought is that they might, just might.... be trying to identify those of us who post here and are still JWs and actively associating with our respective congregations. Our related experiences within the organization have similarities but each is uniquely our own. Sharing several different experiences might provide enough details for a 'spiritual-detective" to compile stealth-apostate suspect lists that would be sent to the BOEs in the suspect's congregations. Am I paranoid? Yes, I've been trained well!
FM.