.
well i say the same condition for life evolving are relatively repeated over and over again in perhpas billions of solar systems with different combinations of chemical reactions producing all kind of self replicating molecules not just carbon based or dna based.
many stars having a much earlier formation and intelligent life much more before our earth was formed billions of years ago.. .
Are We the Only Life in this vast Galaxy?
In the universe at large, highly unlikely. Lighting may not strike the same place twice, but I'd bet it hits a few places more than others over billions of years. If the conditions are right, look what happens. And it would happen entirely different elsewhere.
long time lurker, first time poster.. .
i'm an ms (accounts servant) in a large congregation in canada.
over the last several years i've faught a hard-won battle to rid my mind of all religous and supernatural beleifs.
As for the OP, the same line of reasoning lead me to atheism. The questions asked of the JW faith and god weren't answered by another. Seemed too close to a compromise of logic and purpose, an easy way to settle for something familiar and comfortable rather than commit to the reasoning and search that began the exit.
That being said, I think there's no definite way to prove/disprove god. I don't find it uncomfortable to contemplate Spinoza's version or the ideas offered by eastern beliefs, what I know of them.
just got word that my youngest brother died of pancreatic cancer.
he was diagnosed in early august.
this has been really tough for me and my family..
Sorry for your loss. I wish you and yours strength in this difficult time.
I dated a xjw girl once. She said it was the blind leading the blind and she was right to a large degree. I've had much better relationships with women who have no religious background. Your mileage may vary.
august 20, 1940: author cox was arrested and charged with the murder of deputy sheriff dean pray.
cox had been actively working in association with watchtower for 33 years prior, and had been assigned at the time by watchtower to the portland, maine congregation of jehovahs witnesses.
cox carried credentials issued by watchtowers president, j. f. rutherford.
So? One incident over 70 yrs old.
Does the OP have a point?
so elder x came over the other day to convince me about why jehovah's witnesses have 1914 correct.
i wrote about this some time ago, but the elder never returned.
he caught me off-guard, and unprepared.. he went through the reasoning book (p95), and pointed out all the reaons (day for a year, daniel, 360 days, 2520 ...).
Eh, I've no desire to debate; it's just an opinion as the majority of apologist true believers have no interest in listening anyways. At the very least, it benefits doubtful lurkers
As for this one, if you can make horses drink, carry on.
so elder x came over the other day to convince me about why jehovah's witnesses have 1914 correct.
i wrote about this some time ago, but the elder never returned.
he caught me off-guard, and unprepared.. he went through the reasoning book (p95), and pointed out all the reaons (day for a year, daniel, 360 days, 2520 ...).
Well have fun following your imperfect organization and it's publications.
so elder x came over the other day to convince me about why jehovah's witnesses have 1914 correct.
i wrote about this some time ago, but the elder never returned.
he caught me off-guard, and unprepared.. he went through the reasoning book (p95), and pointed out all the reaons (day for a year, daniel, 360 days, 2520 ...).
The organization has many flaws, but don't allow yourself to be mislead out of it so easily.
If the "organization" is directed by god and is the "truth", how can it have flaws?
i searched to see if there was already a thread on this but didnt see one.... .
i was thinking about this weird-a@# struggle we have all found ourselves in and one of the worst things about it is not having a soul in the world to talk to.
we find ourselves isolated from those who know us best, those we've loved dearly and the new people we surround ourselves with could never begin to understand (non-jws).
If you want to be understood as a jw, then your best chances are online, by either post or pm. Not many people in everyday life have an idea or want to know.
In time, your wish to be understood as a former jw will give way to being understood as everyday joe/joanne.Then the former won't matter as much as it does now.
As for some formal method of support aka the buddy system, I dunno. Roll the dice.
0.02
PS Steve2 does make some good points.
well if someone came to you saying they were going to sacrifice one of thier children to god because god spoke to them telling them to do so what would you conclude?
would you tell him to be faithfull to the voice and do it so they can become god's friend like abraham was?.
http://www.voiceofdharma.org/books/pp/ch2.htm.
From the Psych Today article Sizmik linked to, the following are the benefits of one person who hears voices;
My first thoughts here are that everything this woman says her voices "do" for her are things everyone does internally whether be it a decision making thought process, self assurance or matters of conscience. Perhaps such people just have the transmit gain in their head cranked up to 11 and the mind creates a voice where most just think. Perhaps it's really all just the same thing and the diff is just a matter of degree.
It was also interesting to note from the article that the majority experienced their voices after severe trauma. Sounds like a defense mechanism the mind may create to survive/deal with the effects.
