Posts by rebel8

2

What's the harm in believing in falsehoods?

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

some people wonder if others' beliefs should not be challenged--just leave them alone--do not be a "voice of reason".. what's the harm of belief?what's the harm of not thinking critically?

here are 365,632 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.what's the harm of believing in medicine that doesn't work?

368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages what's the harm in not being vaccinated?

rebel8

Some people wonder if others' beliefs should not be challenged--just leave them alone--do not be a "voice of reason".

What's the harm of belief?
What's the harm of not thinking critically? Here are 365,632 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.
What's the harm of believing in medicine that doesn't work? 368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages
What's the harm in not being vaccinated? http://www.jennymccarthybodycount.com/Anti-Vaccine_Body_Count/Home.html
And we all know this one.

78

Why do JWs have this* on their FB pages now?

by Kudra in

.

rebel8

It would be awesome if there was a "Sparlock doing sign language while jumping the shark and wearing a 1914 t-shirt" pic.

21

Why do Atheists Celebrate Christmas

by givemejustalittlemoretime in

scientist and atheist richard dawkins has admitted he does celebrate christmas - and enjoys singing traditional christmas carols each festive season.. the writer and evolutionary biologist told singer jarvis cocker that he happily wishes everyone a merry christmas - and used to have a tree when his daughter was younger.. dawkins, one of the most famous atheists in the world, was interviewed by sheffield born cocker when he stepped in as a christmas guest editor on radio four's today programme.. 'i am perfectly happy on christmas day to say merry christmas to everybody,' dawkins said.

'i might sing christmas carols - once i was privileged to be invited to kings college, cambridge, for their christmas carols and loved it.. read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-1100842/why-i-celebrate-christmas-worlds-famous-atheist.html#ixzz39dwxid00 ?.

rebel8

cofty is right. The failure to believe in something does not necessarily mean adoption of a set of common beliefs or practices.

Christmas is mainly a cultural event with a smidge of religion sprinkled on top, like all holidays. Atheists are allowed to partake of culture, with or without sprinkles.

6

The Pope countermands Jesus Own Command to preach

by fulltimestudent in

jw
friends

most xjws likely have matthew 28:19,20 burned into their brains, if indeed they ahve brains left after years of boring meetings.. but, in case you have forgotten the text, it says:.

go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the father, and of the son, and of the holy ghost: teaching them to observe all things whatsoever i have commanded you: and, lo, i am with you alway, even unto the end of the world.

happiness, according to the wts would be yours if you loving prreached the message to endless shuit doors and minds.. but, according to the pope:.

rebel8

48

Can anyone give me any advice on how to get rid of cockroaches?

by Jeannette in

i have sprayed, i have bug bombed, i have sprayed some more.

i threw things out i thought that they might have a nest in.

i soaked some things in hot water all day.

rebel8

Have you tried singing la cucaracha?

Boric acid has its risks with chronic use and ecological risks.

39

I do not miss anything about the conventions

by Darth Fader The Sequel in

this weekend nearly everyone i have ever known or that i am related to is sitting in a convention.

i miss none of it!!!!.

i do not miss:.

rebel8

I could really go for a crappy cheese danish right now.

6

What are the phases on a cult exit journey?

by Fernando in

jw
friends

for reasons i am still trying to fully understand and explain i was not able to properly pinpoint, identify and name the phases of my cult exit journey as i was going through them.

now i feel the need to even more.. some phases that came to mind this morning for me:.

identity crisis (who am i, what do i believe).

rebel8

I don't know what happened to my link. Here it is. (edit: Nope, not working. Here's the text link: http://www.amazon.com/Toward-Emotional-Recovery-Jehovahs-Witness-ebook/dp/B004XVZNDQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1406467350&sr=8-1&keywords=10+Steps+Toward+Emotional+Recovery+After+Being+a+Jehovah%27s+Witness)

Anyway, what I noticed is there are some phases in common, so I started writing them down when I was a counselor, to use with future patients. After I stopped being a counselor, I put it all in a book. Of course, not everyone is exactly the same.

What I realized is most people don't seem to want an analytical book like this. They like to read stories and figure it out by themselves. (As evidenced by this thread having so few comments--but check those that have stories!)

That is just not how my brain works--I'd rather skip the ambiguity and get to it. Figure out the method and just do it. OP seems to have a brain similar to mine.

47

Just got off the elevator with Anthony Morris

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

at the international convention here i just got off the elevator with anthony morris.

he was heading to the basement and i was heading up to administration.

i rode one floor down with him before i went up to my destination.

rebel8

I remember hearing stories that people would ask George Benson to sign as witness on their blood cards.

Perhaps you should have asked Anthony for his autograph or a lock of his hair. lol

6

What are the phases on a cult exit journey?

by Fernando in

jw
friends

for reasons i am still trying to fully understand and explain i was not able to properly pinpoint, identify and name the phases of my cult exit journey as i was going through them.

now i feel the need to even more.. some phases that came to mind this morning for me:.

identity crisis (who am i, what do i believe).

rebel8

Here 's something I noticed ex-jws often go through, in terms of phases.

40

Athiests: Do you ever wonder... what if?

by toweragent in

jw
friends

i'll start by saying, i'm a ministerial servant who is trapped in the religion.

my wife is hardcore...but i've slowly been getting her to lighten up, so i'll take it!

all my friends and family are jw's, and i am employed by a jw (who is actually a great boss).

rebel8

toweragent: I'm at such a crossroads... I don't know if God exists or not.

It's brave to accept uncertainty.

But then I hear comments like: "Ignore the bible, only listen to the words of Jesus."

How does anyone even know who Jesus is without the bible? If we don't believe the entire surrounding text, why believe cherry picked quotes of Jesus written down after his death, frequently by people who didn't even meet him?

The lack of quotes condemning something, for example, homosexuality, is not impressive IMO. He said he didn't have time to teach them everything but more would be revealed with time and through his other followers. Does his silence on something equal condoning it? If so then I guess pedophilia and snorting cocaine is fine too.

(For the record, I do NOT believe homosexuality is morally wrong, and I have lobbied FOR gay marriage. I just don't understand the use of the bible to support that position.)

Jesus defined marriage as between a man and a woman. While he's on the subject, he could have mentioned man and man/woman and woman too. That would have saved millions of people from hate crimes, discrimination, etc. for doing something that is quite natural for them (born that way) and harms nobody. 1-2 lines in a speech one day and he could have saved the world so much pain and violence.

Jesus lied too.

The bible is not inspired of any loving god or loving son of his.