Posts by crownboy

14

Black JW are Losing Out on Opportunities

by JT in

jw
friends

a few days back a thread was started that dealt with persons who had given up things in behalf of the "truth" college, retirement, dreams, etc.

as a black man i see the impact that wt has had on me, thankfully i live in an area where if you are a black person you can have opportunities that as a black person you may not find in miss.. .

i look back at myself at all the job advancements i turned down due to being a jw, i used to work for a white guy who told me, james you have the abilities that would make you a good manager, i said to myself --no way-- i see you guys working 50-60 hours a week, and i got meetings and parts yes responisiblities in the congregation that are far more important than some "job" .

crownboy

I guess JT could have been on the cover of Black Enterprise magazine had to listened to his old boss.

Of course, you do make valid points. There seems to be a defeatist mentality in the black community in general, but definitely more so among black JW's. I've known quite a few talented brothers myself who "put kingdom interest first" and squandered opportunites for potential success. In my congregation (black), there may be only 2 brothers with college degrees, none of the elders (though they all have good jobs), and I'm pretty sure I'm the only person in my age group that's in college. I'm certainly glad you are doing well for yourself, and stay safe, I think I heard the maniac snipper struck again this morning. BTW, what did you secularly as a JW? Are you in college to better yourself at your current job, or to change careers?

Also, as larc pointed out, blacks aren't the only ones that get screwed by the Watctower, either. I've seen tons of convention experiences with white brothers talking about giving up opportunites. Maybe if the Society had richer members, they wouldn't be scraping for finances? So silly, and sad.

25

Scholar Touts Oldest Link to Jesus

by Double Edge in

jw
friends

.

wasn't sure if this was posted earlier... i found it interesting:.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021021/ap_on_re_us/jesus_inscription_6

crownboy

Yerusalyim, don't you think that if this find is true, it could further complicate the whole "perpetual virgin Mary" thing from your Catholic religion, seeing how Joseph is James' father? Or am I totally clueless as to how you guys have rationalized this?

25

Scholar Touts Oldest Link to Jesus

by Double Edge in

jw
friends

.

wasn't sure if this was posted earlier... i found it interesting:.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20021021/ap_on_re_us/jesus_inscription_6

crownboy

Kenneson, but there was a Paul of Tarsus.

Personally, I'm not a "Jesus myther" so this may very well be related to the bible characters, though I'll wait this one out a little for further studies.

And as gsx1138 points out, this doesn't confirm that the dead guy's brother walked on water.

Edited by - crownboy on 21 October 2002 23:8:15

9

A conversation with my JW sister

by larc in

jw
friends

before i tell you about the conversation, i need to give you some background.

i am 62 and my jw sister is 58. i left the religion when i was 22. that was 40 years ago.

in 1981, she read the hard stance article about those who have left and did not talk to me in more than a cursory way for 15 years.

crownboy

I pointed out that life is better than ever in terms of human history, and the 14th Century was a better fullfillment of Matt. 24 than our time.

Excellent point larc, I've never quite thought about it with that twist . I'm also glad to see that you and your sister are still speaking, as you did express some concern that maybe she might stop after the August KM info.

JW's can only stay motivated if they believe that the world is about to end, which would have to mean that we are in the worst state of affairs than at any other time in history. However, I'm sure if you got a JW to honestly answer the question :"would you rather be living now, or at any time in the past?", they'd choose the present. They constantly ignore anything positive that happens today. They'll tell you how many people are starving right now, but won't tell you how much worse it was before. They'll tell you how many people died in WW2, but won't acknowledge how relatively peaceful the post WW2 era has been in the history of the world. This unhealthy outlook obviously cheats them of much joy in this life, and needlessly depresses their outlook on life.

21

Scriptures The Watchtower Misapplies

by minimus in

jw
friends

we all know that mt.

24:45 is misapplied regarding the faithful and discreet slave.

many are aware too, of the misapplication of the"house-to-house" or door-to-door ministry.

crownboy

minimus, ask her why she needed to pull out the references to help her along. Doesn't she think the bible can speak for itself without conjured up, presuppositionalist assumptions about the nature of the scriptures? Ask her if she read the bible by itself, could she would honestly come to the same conclusion. Ask her about the surronding scriptures, and how it is highly ridiculous to pull one scripture out of context to talk about a subject that otherwise does not follow from the passage.

I remember reacting the same way you did to that particular scripture, too. When I was reading the bible, in my head it automatically went into the "JW context", but the I realized how ridiculous that was given the nature of the passage. I guess the JW faithful either ignore or are unaware of this.

145

Analyzing evolution through Laws of Probability

by pomegranate in

jw
friends

any of you evolutionists ever crunch the numbers?

crownboy

pomegranate,

Perhaps you should read the book: Biology and Theory: RNA and the Origin of Life by Alan W. Schwartz (in addition to Morowitz's most recent book that I recommended ).

Basically, what Morowitz had speculated about the origin of life was incorrect. The DNA based genome that he wrote about at the time is way more complex a self replicator than scientist now know to be as the most "simple". Unfortunately, creationist continue to dishonestly expouse this falsehood and misquote the man (as are his works on the thermal equilibrium stuff). The book I recommended above ought to answer many questions you have on this topic .

BTW, interesting theological speculation you make there on the post after the one addressed to me. Can't fault you for a lack of imagination . Personally, I always went with the "God had his reasons" excuse.

56

Do you still call on God, by the name Jehovah?

by LyinEyes in

the other night i was upset and decided to pray to god.

i was outside looking at the stars and wondering if i was talking to myself or if he is really out there somewhere.. as i prayed i didnt know who to address, i have said jehovah, jesus, father, who ever is out there please hear me.

i don' t mean to be disrespectful in saying it that way , but just confused.. many of you know we havent been to a meeting in over a year .

crownboy

Beck_Melbourne said:

I don't pray anymore!
Faith = nil

Pretty much sums it up for me, too. The few times in which I have prayed in the past couple years involved me closing the Book Study with prayer. It's kind of difficult since it isn't second nature, anymore . Obviously, given the setting, I use the name "Jehovah", but I don't see why I wouldn't still use it if I still believed in prayer, etc. (even if not a JW).

145

Analyzing evolution through Laws of Probability

by pomegranate in

jw
friends

any of you evolutionists ever crunch the numbers?

crownboy

pomegranate, you don't seem to get the point.

Since Morowitz's calculations were meant for organisms in a world at thermal equilibrium, and the earth is not that type of world, his info on this subject is useless to the topic at hand (HINT: what you quoted is not the theorectically minimal "simple" system that can be had here in this system that is not at thermal equilibrium). I would suggest that you do some reading from real scientific sources (and not just out of context stuff cut and pasted from dishonest creationist ones), as I believe it would be of great educational value to you.

145

Analyzing evolution through Laws of Probability

by pomegranate in

jw
friends

any of you evolutionists ever crunch the numbers?

crownboy

pomegranate, I'm well aware of the fact that this article was cited earlier in the thread. But judging from your repetition of the same false info, I thought maybe you didn't get it, so I posted it again (I guess you simply ignored the arguments ).

Wow, now you're quoting evolutionist again? Dr. Morowitz was a witness on the side of science during the 1982 U.S. Supreme Court decision that shot down an Arkansas law that attempted to put YEC views in the classrooms (read about it at this YEC website: http://www.icr.org/pubs/imp/imp-105.htm ).

Also, if you'd have actually read Morowitz's works instead of copying & pasting from creationist books/ websites, you'd have known that he was talking about environments that operated at thermal equilibrium in those calculations. Since the earth is not, and has never been at thermal equilibrium, the stuff he writes about on that topic is irrelevant to our topic at hand. If you'd like to read about what Morowitz really thinks about the subject, perhaps you should read his book The Emergence of Everything: How the World Became Complex. He certainly does not agree with your views.

Just as extra info, Morowitz is a theistic evolutionist. So to paraphrase rem, he may believe God got it started, but it was evolution the rest of the way, baby .

29

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 10-20 WT Study

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 10-20-02 wt study.

"without an illustration he would not speak to them"matthew 13:34. introduction.

"can you recall an illustration you heard, perhaps in a public discourse, many years ago?

crownboy

BTW, what are you studying? Have you chosen a major yet?

Well, I plan on going to law school, so my major isn't important, but I've chosen English Literature since I'm a big reader and all.

I doubt my parents are the type to shun me completely, but I know there will be some change, but I'm prepared. For pretty much all my life most of my friends have been non-JW's, so no problems there.

BTW, why do you still go?