Posts by El blanko

19

Placed an ad today

by seattleniceguy in

a few days ago someone posted an article in the ny times, i believe, that talked about fundamentalist christianity and how its rhetoric about the gruesome destruction of non-believers (as depicted, for example, in the left behind series) was eerily similar to the attitudes in extremist islam.

since leaving the witnesses, i have been angered at their hateful rhetoric, and especially at how they masquerade as a benign, loving religion when they really treat non-believers with contempt when it comes to actual interactions.

it's passive-agressive, especially since they claim that it is not them, but god, who will do the destruction.

El blanko

The Watchtower: A "hate-filled ideology"?
Ask JWs about the gruesome fate they see for 6 billion non-JWs close at hand!

Just to be the devil's(?) advocate for a moment:

Mankind: A "hate-filled species"?

Ask mankind about the gruesome fate they see for future billions, because of rank material selfishness and warmongering.

We are all dying anyway and if it took all of us to die in order for this earth to prosper and regain it's health - so be it

Whilst understanding the need for your advert to help vent your own feelings of frustration, what do you think it will actually achieve? Would you like a JW to get his head kicked in by an unreasonable moron who reads your advert and get's all fired up?

15

What is WT position on UFOs?

by badboy in

jw
friends

anyone know?

El blanko

Satan may have a good sense of fashion and time - it's weird that the 1950s UFO encounters looked like B-movie saucepans and then in recent times, slick images with beautiful light displays. Either Adobe PS has a lot to do with it or they are simply military craft (it's possible), visitors from other planets (not sure), naughty spirits mucking around (possible).

I have three friends who have witnessed UFOs, and know of another (a JW who refuses to talk about it).

When I was a serving JW I simply blanked the phenomenon and placed the blame on Satan's shoulders. To be honest, as far as I am concerned, it's as likely an explanation as any other. Without hard evidence who can say for sure?

The contemporary boom in interest can partially be explained by the crumbling spine of religion within society and our origin becoming uncertain once more. The idea of alien races is nothing particularly new, yet helps mankind to again grasp on to a mental security blanket.

Personally, I do not believe that another physical race of beings comes to the earth to inspect and observe our development. How boring and predictable is mankind.

31

"We do't believe in war."

by hubert in

i've heard this time and again from my j.w.

sister-in-law and daughter.

yet, when i found this hymn book, "sing praises to jehovah", i was shocked to find war songs in it, such as ... "gaining victory over the world", page 3.. "god's warriors are advancing", page 39.. "proclaiming jehovah's day of vengeance", page 189.. "see jehovah's army"!

El blanko

I would hope that Almighty God would be a God of war, otherwise he would not exactly be pragmatic concerning truth & justice. One definition of war is a sustained campaign against crime & poverty. In order to wage that war you need an army

The war you are quite rightly not supporting (I hope) is the ungodly war waged by mankind with their lust for material greed and power ..?

18

Do your acquaintances know you?re a JW (or former witness)?

by senselessly sane in

jw
friends

i remember deliberately not telling people when i was growing up, and cringing when my mom made an effort to tell my teachers.

although i no longer hide it, there are still people i consider friends who do not know i grew up jw.

sometimes it?s just that the subject of religion does not come up often, and when it does, it would be weird to say something now after i?ve known someone for years and have never mentioned it.

El blanko

Nothing to be ashamed of really. I would have more shame telling somebody I had rattled through endless relationships, squandered £50k on drugs etc

Having a set of religious beliefs and sticking to them is nothing to feel shame about IMO.

I revealed all a few years ago to most of my friends and they were and are fine about it.

11

a sad comment regarding Jesus

by anew in

jw
friends

i realized, the other day, how far the wt has really gone from the original gospels.

i was having a minor argument (again) with my mother regarding my no longer being a witness.

she sarcastically asked me what i did believe in..was i going to go out and join those ... ... catholics?

El blanko

Well I have been of the mind lately when reviewing the faith that almighty God goes beyond language anyway and the word Jehovah to almighty God may have little actual relevance in these times.

The JWs have turned that combination of letters into a form of idolatry IMO.

Almighty God gave the word Jesus and this word was then placed before the believer and Jesus was the word raised above all others.

I take this understanding from scripture and use my common sense.

What does the word Jehovah really say about God anyway? Keep saying it over and over and it becomes as meaningless as any other word.

10

A bitesize chunk of the Hindu faith ...

by El blanko in

i wrote this for a friend a few days ago and thought it may have some use here.

i realize that this is only scratching the surface of the faith and hope i have not offended anybody.

the hindu faith has affected millions of people for hundreds of years and re-emerged as a guiding light in contemporary times.

El blanko

My old landlord is a 'swami'. What a delightful man he is. He would drop by my place on Sundays, and bring me a plate of Indian food. Every week, after temple, they had a potluck, and he would make up a plate for me. He knew I was sick, and alone, and always made that effort to encourage me and treat me to an Indian feast.

Regardless of their belief system being true or false - you just have to respect free Indian food ..!

10

A bitesize chunk of the Hindu faith ...

by El blanko in

i wrote this for a friend a few days ago and thought it may have some use here.

i realize that this is only scratching the surface of the faith and hope i have not offended anybody.

the hindu faith has affected millions of people for hundreds of years and re-emerged as a guiding light in contemporary times.

El blanko

Hmmm... strange Carmel, according to the book I read the history of the belief system stems right back before Christ and there are possibe links with ancient Grecian philosophy and reincarnation has always been a key feature ..?

10

A bitesize chunk of the Hindu faith ...

by El blanko in

i wrote this for a friend a few days ago and thought it may have some use here.

i realize that this is only scratching the surface of the faith and hope i have not offended anybody.

the hindu faith has affected millions of people for hundreds of years and re-emerged as a guiding light in contemporary times.

El blanko

Yep, the caste system is an oddity amidst a religion that appears on the surface to preach tolerance.

I read that the caste system is necessary to create structure and should be seen as the small supporting the tall and the tall supporting the small - this was probably devised by a light-skinned guru in good social standing to help maintain his palace of riches

I think you will find that the contemporary and Westernized version of the Hindu faith has done away with the idea of rank through skin colour, but the origin of that belief system is clearly there and active in other parts of the world..!

26

Just read "Who Wrote the Bible", another book recommendation please?

by lookingnow25 in

i just finished reading "who wrote the bible" by friedman after seeing someone reommend it on here.

i was enthralled and finished it in record time for myself.

i'd never considered anything that could be called 'higher criticism' before.

El blanko

A very good read. It was a bit disconcerting to read that the author believes the earth is inhabited by aliens, and some other bizarre stuff.

Ah forget it then, I know the sort of person behind the book. It's that new age vision of conspiracy + UFOs + theosophy thrown in for good measure. I have read a book by David Icke + other lectures & essays and they all group together. I'm sure David likes that particular author as well.

This contemporary theory about Christ not existing, and certainly Christ being a Buddhist, started during the later part of the 19th century by a group of mainly European individuals who decided to blend Eastern Mysticism with Christian Theology. If you study the kind of individuals involved they were basically setting up their own personality cults and desired guru status.

Madame Helena Blavatsky has a lot to answer for ..! Her cohorts were an interesting group, yet were also tricksters and charlatans promoting unification of all world religions through mediumship and intuitive learning. Helena also opposed the Christian faiths hold upon the Western mindset and in her own way sought to destroy it. An interesting character to study in fact

30

Do Jws really want to have a study??

by ellderwho in

this is the second time in a row the witneses have stood me up for a study.

i give my name and number, and nothing.

not a phone call notta.

El blanko

If you complain to the body of elders, I'm sure you'll get what you want