daniel-p

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Posts by daniel-p

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  36

  pope blaims atheists for global warming

  by John Doe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  got jesus?.

  .

  http://www.examiner.com/x-10853-portland-humanist-examiner~y2009m8d29-pope-blames-atheists-for-global-warming.

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  daniel-p

  I recommend you reconsider and reexamine this. The abuse of human and environment alike predates the arrival of Europeans by millenia.

  This is an excellent resource:

  http://www.amazon.com/1491-Revelations-Americas-Before-Columbus/dp/140004006X

  Mass extinctions, large scale environmental engineering, resource-driven societal collapses.... All these things have been around for a long time in N America.

  I concede you may be correct with this: have you ever read Jared Diamond's "Collapse"? My point is, however, that environmental domination has been historically encouraged by traditional Christianity (contrary to the stewardship principles present in other parts of the Bible). I think Manifest Destiny is one of the largest examples of this, on a collossal scale.

  My argument is better restated that Christianity does not have the most prominent role in unsustainable use of the environment (cultures around the world have shared in this for eons as you bring out), but that it is a very ignorant thing to say that atheists have done so. In fact, I would say that athiesm and agnosticism breeds a better understanding of science, since only then does everything stand on its own merits... there's no universal scheme to obfuscate the search for truth; natural processes are revealed for what they are, without being malformed to fit Biblical doctrine. This is not to say that science and athiesm/agnosticism has not exhibited environmental and human exploitation, but that Christians are some of the first ones to rationalize using earth's resources unsustainably, since, if the Earth is going to be burned in fire or whatever, what's the point in leaving anything for future generations? In fact, it seems that most monothiestic religions believe similarly.

  Some Christians rightly place more importance on the themes of a stewardship role of the Earth, but it is by no means a consistent message throughout the Bible. it seems to vary author by author.
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  22

  Getting Offended: A Method of Control

  by daniel-p in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was always frustrated with how much counsel and advice was given at the kingdom hall on how not to offend others.

  it seemed like complete immunity was given to the person getting offended.

  they were never counselled to just mind their own business, but if anyone had any reason to be offended about something you had done, the elders, or that person, would be sure to let you know about it.. most of the time it was nobody's business.

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  daniel-p

  burns, check your pm
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  36

  pope blaims atheists for global warming

  by John Doe in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  got jesus?.

  .

  http://www.examiner.com/x-10853-portland-humanist-examiner~y2009m8d29-pope-blames-atheists-for-global-warming.

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  daniel-p

  Actually, "inconsiderate use of the environment" began, at least in America, with Christians believing they had a God-given right to exploit the land without giving heed to their effect on other cultures and the ecological system (see Manifest Destiny). It stems from the primitive belief that Man is here to dominate the earth and "subdue it," beliefs encouraged by the archaic mindset of Biblical authors.
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  22

  Getting Offended: A Method of Control

  by daniel-p in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was always frustrated with how much counsel and advice was given at the kingdom hall on how not to offend others.

  it seemed like complete immunity was given to the person getting offended.

  they were never counselled to just mind their own business, but if anyone had any reason to be offended about something you had done, the elders, or that person, would be sure to let you know about it.. most of the time it was nobody's business.

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  daniel-p

  It is a powerful tool of control, and it is not limited to the cult. It is widely used in larger society.

  BTS

  I agree, Burns. You see it everywhere, most often from people who feel society owes them something.

  daniel, I wasn't aware that a man's hair could be too short. Do they not have bald elders where you come from?

  Canary, this was a congregation in Southwest Florida in which I spent a year after leaving Bethel--not where I'm originally from. They had some very patriarchal families in this particular congregation, and if you wanted to be a part of the "family" you had to bend to their will in many more matters than what the Bible said.

  This way they can continue to feel superior and self-righteous about themselves.

  I think that's the crux of it: it's about self-righteousness.

  Good grief... your hair was too short so they removed you? omg... unbelievable!

  Jeannie, more accurately, it was their dissatisfaction in how I complied with their mandate that they didn't like. I grew my hair out just a bit, and then kept it that way. Apparently, I was to grow it out pronto to the approved length. They didn't say anything abot it until some other brother walked up onto the stage for the number 1 talk right before I was supposed to, making a point to humiliate me.

  Taking offense is a way for someone else to subvert another person's fundamental rights and freedoms.

  A JW takes offense that so-and-so is Inactive™, and takes it upon himself to chastise and judge the other person, in an attempt to change the person's behaviour, in which they have a right and a fundamental freedom to partake.

  A follower of The Religion of Peace™ takes offense at a newspaper cartoon depicting a book they believe to be holy in a less than flattering situation, and threatens to bomb the publisher and creator of said cartoon, in an attempt to subvert freedom of the press and freedom of speech/ expression.

  It's the cry-babies who take offense who get their arses kissed in this topsy-turvy politically correct world.

  Perhaps it's time for reasonable people to get offended at the unreasonable and illegal behaviour of these crackpots. Tolerance is for pussies.

  Right on, Skully. The only reasonable way to deal with people who get offended is to ignore them. Ironically, this mentallity is exactly contrary to personal responsibility. If they had that, they would hold themselves responsible for their own actions, and not anyone else's. If you do that, what's the point in getting stumbled by another person? It just doesn't make sense.
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  22

  Selling Sacramento, CA Convention Deal to Skeptical Public

  by dannyboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i live near sacramento, ca and earlier this week the local convention authority held a big deal press conference announcing a "deal" with jehovah's witnesses (see clip below).

  based on comments to local news media on their websites, more than a few people are not too crazy about the idea..... i heard an interview on a local station where the head guy [of the convention authority] was defending (sounded very defensive) the city's deal with the dubs, by saying "well, they'll bring hotel dollars, food dollars, and they'll be visiting all of our local museums, evening life, and entertainment attractions.....so the monetary impact will be huge for us...".

  specifically discouraged from doing any of those "extra" things..... hope those attractions aren't hiring more employees to handle the witness "crowds"........ also, during the interview, he said that the convention authority would be able to select the dates for the various conventions.

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  daniel-p

  Well at least the Denny's and Applebee's will be busy. Other than that, I'm not sure....
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  22

  Getting Offended: A Method of Control

  by daniel-p in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was always frustrated with how much counsel and advice was given at the kingdom hall on how not to offend others.

  it seemed like complete immunity was given to the person getting offended.

  they were never counselled to just mind their own business, but if anyone had any reason to be offended about something you had done, the elders, or that person, would be sure to let you know about it.. most of the time it was nobody's business.

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• 

  daniel-p

  I was always frustrated with how much counsel and advice was given at the Kingdom Hall on how NOT to offend others. It seemed like complete immunity was given to the person getting offended. They were never counselled to just mind their own business, but if anyone had any reason to be offended about something you had done, the elders, or that person, would be sure to let you know about it.

  Most of the time it was nobody's business. It was nearly always a matter of conscience. But for some reason, it was one of the primary methods of controlling behavior. No matter that Proverbs specifically discourages taking offense when none is intended.

  My mother was a perfect example of this behavior. With several different individuals in the congregation (all women of about her age), she sent letters explaining to them something they had done or some behavior their were exhibiting that she felt wasn't appropriate. These letters always caused a stir, and divided the sector of the congregation who knew about it.

  I've been at the recieving end of someone taking offense several times. One time was when I was trying desperately to pioneer while very sick and on the verge of homelessness. Aparently, the haircut I gave myself was too short, and some anonymous pioneer "sister" let the PO know about it. Eventually, I was effectively removed as an MS for this, because my compliance wasn't perfect enough. It was then that i really realized that taking offense at someone else was all too easy in the congregation, and the elders often allow themselves to be used for the satisfaction of others, if they themselves are not the ones initiating the "taking of offense."
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  20

  Article: Is Wrongful Excommunication Legally Redressable? About Mormons, JWs and other religions

  by AndersonsInfo in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  (ohio app.

  1061, not reported in p.3d, 2000 wl 1879053 (wash.app.

  1085, not reported in p.2d, 1999 wl 58767 (wash.app.

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  daniel-p

  It would be interesting to see how this issue is played out overseas. I wonder if the Watchtower will have a harder time defending their respective legal entities throughout the world when it comes to unethical treatment of members in countries like France, Spain, Russia, Germany, etc.
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  19

  October 2009 Kingdom Ministry

  by MissingLink in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  download here: http://www.sendspace.com/file/m28m78.

  scans provided by ingersoll.

  this is for canada..

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  daniel-p

  Does WT not know that Information Wants to Be Free? This schedule will LEAK into the wild and every publisher who wants a copy will have a copy. How hard is it to take something down from the board an slap it onto a scanner or copier?

  Well, maybe they don't really care about who has copies. Maybe they just don't want to print it in everyone's KM anymore, and they know copies will proliferate themselves.
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  12

  Hey, maybe this is why JW's are worn out and miserable- Chronic Fatigue

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i made a comment about chronic fatigue syndrome (cfs) on another thread about why all pioneers seem to get sick, but i thought that cfs might deserve a thread of it's own.. i remember one pioneer who said she had "chronic fatigue syndrome.

  " she read it in the awake and she decided she had it.

  it was a syndrome that the doctors cannot prove or disprove, it is a syndrome that explains exhaustion when the other jw's say there is nothing wrong with you.. gathering information not from awake could be a real eye-opener to people like her.

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  daniel-p

  I had all the symptoms of CFS when I went off of my hypothyroid meds. Now that I'm back on, I'm fine. Thyroid is one of those things that doctors can miss, (or not treat properly) that can cause people problems.

  And its also something that cannot be identified without a specific blood test (TSH). Meaning that all the alternative quackery practitioners will never find it. They'll do muscle testing instead. Might as well consult the Urim and Thummim.
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  79

  A Question Ex-Jws and Atheist On This Site

  by Blue Grass in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i have a question for the regulars on this site which are mainly ex-jws and atheist.

  my first question is just for the atheist.

  why do you guys spend so much time discussing and researching a book you believe to be fiction?

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  daniel-p

  Hey Bluegrass, you should check out this other site where there's tons of smart people who praise Jah day and night: www.knobgobbler.com