AlmostAtheist

Joined

• started 257 topics
• posted 5,296 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by AlmostAtheist

• 
  9

  Not so 'cute' cartoon but I thought of JW kids

  by 5thGeneration in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  .

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  >> I used to beg my grandmother to die cause I thought that was the only way for her to make it into the new system

  You're not the only one that thought stuff like this -- and I wasn't a kid. You can't help it, really. You put two and two together and realize that dying before the Big-A is the only way your "worldly" loved ones can have a "real life".

  Of course, a person ought to be able to sit back and say "WTF?" when they realize their belief system forces them into a logical dilemma like that. But JW's (and any cult, really) are much bigger on "dilemma" than "logical".

  Dave
• 
  62

  TV progams that must be not be viewed at all costs

  by TooBad TooSad in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the elder giving the public talk a couple of weeks ago told the congregation that there are more and more.

  movies and tv programs, like charmed, or books and movies like harry potter that must be avoided at all costs.

  because they are a direct link to demonism and spiritism.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  Yeah, but announce "Star Wars" from the platform and see how many head-nod's you get. They won't touch that one, despite its "force" and all that. Arbitrary, like all their other silly rules.

  And agreed on Smash Lab. It's so obviously an attempt to be another Mythbusters, that it has the copy-cat strike against it. That it also sucks is just the final nail.

  What about that "truth" show from Fox, with the lie-detector? "We destroy the lives of people stupid enough to let us -- Next, on Fox!" Pass, thanks...

  Dave
• 
  15

  Islam-What the west needs to know.

  by avishai in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  interesting documentary.

  .

  http://openflv.com/watch?v=ota5mzk4ma==&p=0

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  Add'l links:

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Islam:_What_the_West_Needs_to_Know

  http://www.whatthewestneedstoknow.com/view_trailer.asp

  Is there a video from the other side of this issue that could be viewed as well, for balance?

  Dave
• 
  26

  2008

  by jefferywhat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i have noticed, and posted a little bit about all the buzz surrounding this year.

  there is a little bit of a whisper campaign going around that armageddon is coming this year.

  from other posts i notice im not the only one who is seeing this, there is alot of "reminders" that we need to be obedient and trusting of the fds ( which i am of course), along with reminders to stock up and prepare for disasters etc they are really pointing to something.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  Sounds like somebody's been playing with their Li'l Prophet Construction Kit, doesn't it?

  Dave
• 
  17

  Even if we only said good things about JW's we wouldn't be allowed to post

  by JH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  lets imagine for a moment, that we were all jw's in good standing here, and saying nice things about the watchtower, i'm sure the watchtower would discorage us from coming here and posting.. why is this?.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  If nothing else, they'd always be able to pull the ol', "Buying out time for the more important things" line. That's a lovely catch-all to chase you away from things that aren't "wrong" in any remotely scriptural sense, but that they still don't want you doing.

  Dave
• 
  28

  Those ole' JW feelings.......................

  by ScoobySnax in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you know i never been happier, got the best relationship i ever had, living life free............. but you know there is still the old nagging in the back of my mind.

  i miss my jw days, and i don't think i'll ever escape them.

  guess it's just a part of me.....

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  >> There was a time when I could provoke on here....... bet I've been replaced.....DAMN!

  Merely augmented... ;-)

  What do you miss? The handshakes? Giving talks? Compliments after the meeting on your comments?

  JW's -- and any similar group -- provide a lot of "strokes" that the real world tends not to provide. It's understandable that it could be missed.

  Dave
• 
  14

  Any ideas on how to reply to my old JW buddy?

  by AlmostAtheist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey all, .

  i happened upon an old email address for a friend i knew back in my jw days.

  a very close friend, in fact.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  With the good advice I got here, I wound up trimming it all down. I don't bring up his faith at all. Here's the new version (minus all the how-ya-doin' stuff)

  >> When did you get reinstated?

  You knew I was DF'd maybe 6-7 years ago. Well, I was reinstated 5-6 years ago. But I don't attend the kingdom hall anymore.

  >> Send me your number so I can call.

  Then I gave him my number.

  We shall see, eh? Keep your fingers crossed and your talismans polished!

  Dave
• 
  14

  what to say?

  by xig28 in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  hello i just started a new profile here but i have been wandering around here for awhile.i have seen many stories somewhat similar to what i have right now.

  i have read many post from people here and they have been somewhat helpful ,but now i need help with a little of my own problem.

  for future refrences i apologize if my story isnt as descriptive as i want it to be but please read until the very end.. well for starters i am 16, yes i am young and have my entire life ahead of me to enjoy but idk if i can fully enjoy it but please just listen to my story.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  I don't mean to seem gauche or insensitive, but people are always as happy as they can be in whatever circumstances they find themselves in. If you try, you can find pictures of smiling kids, even though they has distended abdomens from lack of food. The fact that a person is "happy" is meaningless. Are they living up to their potential? THAT's the question. (Or is it? I don't really claim to know.)

  Your friend will probably not respond to factual information you provide for her. Her attachment to her religion is an emotional one, and all the "logic" surrounding it is just window-dressing. I know, because I did it too. There is endless discussion on this board and elsewhere about what it takes to wake a person up to the reality of the false doctrines taught by JW's. There isn't any answer though, because it isn't a fact-based belief. It is a premise-based belief, that being that the Governing Body dispenses what Jehovah expects the flock to accept as "truth". If it turns out not to be true (and only the Governing Body can make that determination), then they change it, and it becomes the new "truth".

  Defeating that premise is the key -- but it's a vicious circle. They say it, and thus it's true. Since it's true, it's true. Unless it's false, and if it were false, they'd tell us. (Head hurting yet?)

  Yes, if she got out of JW's, she'd have a better shot at a "real" life. No, if you stay with her you will probably not have a great relationship. No, she probably won't leave JW's no matter what you say. Yes, you should probably try. :-)

  There is plenty of info here on this site and all over the internet to help you build a case. Your best bet is probably to pick something small and ask her about it. "What's this 'Beth Sarim' place that I heard the Witnesses built?" you might ask her. She probably won't know what you're talking about. Google it, and you'll know. Then you can tell her, and she can ask around and find out what their answer is. (They always have an answer). Then you can ask about some other little point. Then another. Not abrasively, just out of curiosity. You might trigger something in her -- you never know.

  Good luck!

  Dave
• 
  10

  The Zen of drinking alone.

  by BurnTheShips in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  read and be enlightened.. http://www.moderndrunkardmagazine.com/issues/03_03/03-03_zen_drinking_alone.htm.

  slainte!.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  Genius. Perfect. Thank you for this!
• 
  47

  jwd confusion in relationship... help

  by jocettejane in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i'm having a difficult time with my recently announced fiance.

  he happens to be a jwd.

  i am not, nore ever have been.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  AlmostAtheist

  >> C'mon peoples, I really want to know if there is some way to help him.....

  We don't have much info to work with, Jo. You both love each other and you're both doing things that are unintentionally sabotaging your relationship. He's read the thread -- perhaps it would be best if you both sleep on it, then print out the thread and use it as a starting point for discussion?

  There are couple's counselors that you can visit to help. Coming to understand each other's point of view couldn't be a bad thing. It's been pointed out that this thread has made him aware of how you feel. Talk with him, see if he's REALLY getting where you're coming from. And of course, you need to understand things from his angle.

  It's hard enough to understand yourself and your own motivations, let alone come to understand someone else. But you've both got to make that effort in order to get through this.

  Dave