done4good

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Posts by done4good

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  88

  First law of thermodynamics vs God vs Big Bang

  by EndofMysteries in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  first law of thermodynamics, that energy cannot be created or destroyed but changed from one form to another.

  how does that fit in with god and the big bang to you?

  does it make one make more sense then the other to you?

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  done4good

  Scientific laws apply within known parameters. They are only absolute within those parameters, (in this case, the known universe). The first law of thermodynamics is just one such law. Since the big bang is considered to be the "beginning" of the known universe, it would be logically incorrect to assume this law would have governed the the big bang itself. In other words, the big bang is largely responsible for the creation of such laws. (Edit: This explanation is somewhat oversimplified, but this is the general idea).

  This is the very idea that gives birth to the "multiverse" concept, widely adopted by modern physicists. Other universes likely exist, and are not governed by the same laws that govern ours.

  d4g
  
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  23

  A sensible fix for the Jehovah's Witness "two witness rule" when dealing with child sex abuse

  by Watchtower-Free in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  jehovah's witnesses could retain their two witness rule for internal judicial.

  congregation matters .

  but in the case of a child abuse allegation they should .

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  done4good

  It will not work. The WT knows this and this is why the Conti case matters so much. They know the outcome will set a legal precedent that will force them to choose their finances over control of the flock. The decision will weaken the judicial process as the WT knows it.
  
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  109

  Are we going to see a mass awakening?

  by kairos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the internet is the archive for civilization.. watchtower cannot hide it's history.. are we seeing the beginning of a mass exodus out of her?.

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  done4good

  Most new ex-JWs tend to believe all of the R&F must see what they see...I know I did 9 years ago. The reality is, people really cannot see TTATT for what it is, since existentialism and cognitive dissonance prevent it.

  Having said that, if we consider both of those mental blockades and what they are, we can see how the recent changes in the organization just might lead a good many to leave, (albeit, over time).

  Existentialism deals with the fear of the unknown, or fear of things we cannot control, (like dying). With the WT continuing to water down its doctrine, most JWs simply don't "know" what they used to regarding many things that they used to have all of the answers for. The cost of staying to satisfy this innate need often can prove too costly, in the absence of something tangible doctrinally to believe in.

  Many of the changes brought about recently bring into question many of the assumed norms regarding the "dignity" of worship, (think of using the KH for concerts and dances), not that there is anything wrong with these things, (all normal churches do them), but JW was supposed to be different. Not any more. The tacit message that is sent is that we are just like everyone else.

  All of this adds to cognitive dissonance. In the mind of a JW, their religion is not supposed to be this way. A person can only handle so much cognitive dissonance before they tune out. JWs are now exposed to dissonance inducing material at every meeting. Something has to give.
  

  The changes being made in the organization are in uncharted territory, (outside experts making them or not). There is no example jw.org can point to that demonstrates they have a model for success. The changes that are being made are clearly being made out of desperation, (or else why make them). All of those changes are superficial, and nothing is being done to address the actual core issues.

  While I still firmly do not believe the organization is going anywhere soon, I do think it is in decline, and searching, (scrambling), for direction. The next several years are going to be very interesting.

  d4g
  
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  56

  PBS program

  by wannaexit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watching the pbs program as i write...........

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  done4good

  The platitudes from the elder who mentioned "spiritual protection" is the responsibility of the elders and not "physical protection", or some such BS, is just plain disgusting. I don't think I could have watched much more than that.

  Good piece, however. This issue needs a broader audience, and I think PBS did a good job.

  d4g
  
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  52

  The beginning of the end for shunning?

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

  " there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

  i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

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  done4good

  DF/DA/Former believer policy will not change. It is part of the superstructure that is needed for the organization to survive.

  The same goes for FS, (i.e. busy work), the anti-higher education position, (i.e. do not allow critical thinking), and end times. Remove any of these and the others quickly fall under their own weight. The organization would no longer be JW.
  

  d4g
  
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  143

  Prank call to Governing Body member Anthony Morris III gets through

  by Watchtower-Free in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  alert..............alert.....breaking news .......... john cedars of jwsurvey has pranked called governing body member anthony morris iii at bethel .

  over 2 minutes of pranking .

  as i type he is editing the recording into a video .

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  done4good

  Sorry, but this tactic is immature and foolish. It does little more than to feed a JW's persecution complex, and in the end just adds weight to their argument that apostates are nothing more than rabid haters. Absolutely counterproductive.
  

  This is what happens when an egomaniac gets lost in his own arrogance.

  d4g
  
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  18

  All this new JW.org stuff is hurting my brain

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i just watched the singing cart video.

  i literally cannot describe how i felt watching that.. growing up as a jw was serious business.

  we had to take the preaching work seriously, watch our conduct, give a good witness by our actions, and be on our best behaviour to ensure we made it through the great tribulation.. when i was a child, i had dreams of being a cartoonist.

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  done4good

  This is all lipstick on a pig...

  Nothing of any substance has changed, if anything, despite all of this happy-happy, joy-joy stuff, the organization is even more totalitarian and controlling than ever before. Once the euphoria and novelty wear off, not only will the youth be leaving, but a good many older ones as well, since nothing of any substance will be left, (not that there ever was much, but at least at one time the illusion of such existed...)

  d4g
  
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  11

  "Laughter trumps fear every time" - another method to chip away at WT's authority?

  by sir82 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  saw this article on slate.. it got me thinking - the wts are certainly providing lots of ammunition for spoofing.

  talks about tight pants, singing trolleys, rubber faced buffoonery from lett...... what if we start encouraging jws to laugh at their leadership, instead of kowtowing in reverential awe?.

  from the article:.

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  done4good

  I think this will happen all on its own with tv.jw.org.
  
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  20

  A quick summary of topics and issues wrong with jws

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  you know how our minds often get all "fuzzy" and confused when we are put on the spot and asked to come up with points?

  we often tend to lose focus and go off on tangents?.

  im trying to compile a basic list of bullet points for the most obvious and clear problems / doctrines / history of witnesses that can blow the org out of the water.. it is more for the purpose of getting my own thoughts clear rather than using it to talk to witnesses (as that doesn't really work).

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  done4good

  Sorry Magnum, but experience has taught me to respectfully disagree with you on this. All of these points are academic in nature, if not used to present a line of argumentation to a JW. I fully understand where the OP was going with it, but without purpose of discussion, none of them have any meaning outside of JW land. There are better and more convincing lines of argumentation we can use for our own edification if we need to "prove" to ourselves that JW is somehow not the "truth".

  You can start by reading any science or history book...

  d4g
  
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  20

  A quick summary of topics and issues wrong with jws

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  you know how our minds often get all "fuzzy" and confused when we are put on the spot and asked to come up with points?

  we often tend to lose focus and go off on tangents?.

  im trying to compile a basic list of bullet points for the most obvious and clear problems / doctrines / history of witnesses that can blow the org out of the water.. it is more for the purpose of getting my own thoughts clear rather than using it to talk to witnesses (as that doesn't really work).

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  done4good

  In a D/A letter I wrote several years ago, I used bullet points such as you mentioned in the post script.

  I would not use that approach today, knowing what I know now. None of those things made me leave. They served as supporting evidence to myself for leaving. Real world human factors led to my decision to leave, and this is why 99% of JWs that leave, do.

  A two class system, (us vs. them); misapplied or bad logic on every level; dishonesty; lack of love; a lack of integrity; etc., are the things that wake someone up eventually, when a certain personal threshold of tolerance for such things is exceeded. This cannot be forced, although these things can be highlighted in certain situations.

  The best thing to do is discuss these types of concerns on forums like this one, and let folks come here on their own volition. This is the real difference maker in the information age in which we live today.

  d4g