Posts by done4good

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

done4good

Cantleave - Sounds like you are waking up a second time, this is exactly the thought process I went through as I moved from believer to agnostic and then to atheist.

Ditto.

d4g

39

Are There Good People Out There?

by LaurenM in

even though i'm no longer mentally a jw (i still technically am) i do recognize that there are some benefits to being raised one.

for example, the first (and only so far) wordly guy i was involved with had to smoke weed every day and got drunk all the time and that was his idea of fun.

i couldn't help but feel bad for him.

This is going to sound a little bit blunt, and may introduce a certain level of discomfort. I assure you nothing but good direction is being offered, if you keep an open mind. This will require a good deal of supplemental information and experience, but is intended as a primer for what you need to know immediately after learning TTATT.

The JW version of "morality" is not morally superior to the world in general. Not at all. Period. It only appears that way for two reasons: 1. This is how it was always presented to you; and 2. Religions such as JW are very good at drawing comparison between their "morals" and the worst examples of moral failure in society. A well balanced, properly educated, conscientious person, (most of society to varying degrees), is not represented by the comparisons drawn by the WTS or any extreme religious group. As an extension of the second point, the WTS' policies prevent a person from becoming the very well educated, balanced and conscientious person they could become. This is a prime example of self-fulfilling prophesy, and precisely why many who are raised JW "go off the deep end", when they leave. The fact is they still "believe" they will fail, and as a result, they often do.

As to your point about "using mind altering substances" as the only means enjoy one's self, see points 1and 2 above. A person whose life revolves around such is probably not well educated and balanced. On the other hand, some of these substances, (such as marijuana and alcohol), can be used in moderation, when appropriate. This should be obvious, however to one raised in a very black and white environment like the JWs, it might not be, so I am pointing it out. Be careful not to let a bad choice of BF or GF on your part color your understanding of humanity in general. Give yourself time to experience life, educate yourself, and then assess what fits and what does not. This is the only way to lose the black and white thinking, and it does take some time.

d4g

31

"We don't run a spy network"

by OrphanCrow in

the wts has been keeping case files on child sex abuse for over 60 years that we know of.

*damn...my whole post disappeared.... .

the wts has been keeping case files on child sex abuse for over 60 years that we know of.

done4good

OrphanCrow-Pope Jackson said "We don't run a spy network" and..."We don't run a police state". Well...he can call it a tuna fish sandwich if he likes, but....it smells like a skunk just walked by.

Just a straw man argument used to distract and to deflect accountability away from themselves on the core issue. They have never dealt with abuse as a crime. That is the problem. Period. Most religious organizations are unaware of abuse among their members, not because of an unwillingness to report it to the authorities, but rather because there is no internal policing of members' behaviors outside of what takes place in the church directly. The WTS is different precisely because they do police behaviors, and as such are fully aware of abuse in their organization. They hide behind the law, when it does not require them to report. According to Jackson, they seem to have no problem with this. Yes, the law is flawed in many countries, (including the US), but one would think a religious organization that touts itself as having a superior moral compass would know better. WTS has no such compass, and are morally bankrupt. Jackson's own words are self-damning.

The really sad part about it, is they have no idea how morally bankrupt they appear to all onlookers in society.

d4g

37

Remember the two elderly sisters?

by John Aquila in

about a month ago i posted what had happened to two elderly sisters who were reprimanded by a couple of elders for crying because the jw broadcasting was going to be stopped at the kingdom hall and it was up to each publisher to learn how to use the internet.

if you recall the sisters got together with my mom and talked about it and it resulted in all of them declining to make meals for the pioneers.

here is the link.

done4good

That is great news.

78

I believe that the greater percentage of JWs-You Will Not Be Able to Help, no Matter What Facts You Show Them.

by John Aquila in

so i ran into this brother whom ive known for a while and the conversation led into me being invited to come back to the kingdom hall.

we talked for about an hour during which time i explained to him 607 being the wrong date and a lot of other stuff including the child abuse cases in australia.

but what i wanted to relate was the last few minutes of our conversation.

done4good

A person's religion is very much about a person's identity, if they do not necessarily need it for their hope. This is a key reason why those JWs that have more or less "normal" lives, (not the wackadoodle ones, or those with chronic problems), stay "in". Many of these type have careers, nice homes, children, possibly even a decent education. They stay in because they have a comfort zone, and part of their comfort zone is their JW identity. For these types, cognitive dissonance and rationalization rule the day. I was one before I left. They are usually apathetic however, and apathy is almost always the first step to breaking free.

You cannot force them, but don't give up on them.

d4g

61

Today's WT glancing at the opposite sex is flirting and therefore immortality

by purrpurr in

in today's wt study it makes the point that just glancing at the opposite sex is flirting and can lead to sex!.

so are jw's now to wear blinkers?.

also jw's are told to go and confess to the elders if they have any immoral thoughts?!!.

done4good

brandnew- But really.....women are beautiful.....especially when they are smart..really.....i totally digg the librarian , more than the cool cheerleader chick.....just sayin☺

No argument here...

61

Today's WT glancing at the opposite sex is flirting and therefore immortality

by purrpurr in

in today's wt study it makes the point that just glancing at the opposite sex is flirting and can lead to sex!.

so are jw's now to wear blinkers?.

also jw's are told to go and confess to the elders if they have any immoral thoughts?!!.

done4good

Stillin - All in all, it seems like there's something to take away from this WT. sure some mock-worthy stuff, but who can deny that morals are in the sewer these days?
ok, then. Go ahead and deny.

That almost reads so Borgian I don't know where to start, but I will try...I am only stating such because you have been on here long enough, and should probably know better by now. I apologize in advance if I am offending you somehow.

As has been pointed out, "morals" are relative. What is truly moral behavior is ultimately about avoiding what is most hurtful to all involved. As society has evolved over tens of thousands of years, some of this was coded into religious and/or secular rules and laws. By no means does that make any of it absolute. At best, people identify with their immediate culture and tend to live by a rough moral code that follows the general trajectory of what is considered acceptable in that culture. We are discussing social constructs, not divinely instituted imperatives.

As far as sex is concerned, as long as it is between two consenting adults, they and they alone, are the arbiters of determining if such behavior is "moral". Certainly an ancient holy book that condones slavery, violence, genocide, etc. should have no say. Sure people can be hurt by reckless behavior, and as such a moral decision should be made to avoid such behaviors. That said, only the parties involved can make that decision.

Religions that constantly bring up sex and how to avoid it, are the very source of sexual deviancy. Psychologists have pointed this out many times over the last 60 years, at least since the writing of the Kinsey Report. It is no coincidence that the Catholic church's clergy as well as many other religious types are often engaged in criminal behaviors such as pedophilia. This crime and other deviant hurtful behaviors are the product of sexual repression, and are the real problem.

In a more minor sense, attempts to control normal sexual behaviors have never worked out well for people. It stunts their emotional, social, and mental development. It hurts their marriage or other monogamous relationships. It actually causes people to view the opposite sex as objects. Sexually repressed people are the very ones that think they will "lose control" and do something stupid, because they probably will. Their holy books and constant control tactics of their religious leaders will not save them from themselves. It will only help ensure that they hurt themselves, and likely others through ignorant behaviors.

d4g

6

Cells! Awake

by ihunt in

it's been a while since i've posted, but i've been lurking more and more lately (men never made it to the moon :p).

i recently saw a copy of the august awake magazine entitle cells!

living libraries!

done4good

It is simply amazing that as a publishing house, the WTS never seems to learn to stop the partial quotations out of context, and printing non-cited material. If I remember correctly, Richard Dawkins succinctly called out the WTS quote by quote in The God Delusion for using his quotes out of context in the Creation publication from '80s.

A university student would get expelled for that level of intellectual dishonesty.

d4g

49

GEOFFREY JACKSON THE PERSONABLE FACE OF JW.ORG...BUT IT AIN'T OVER YET BUDDY

by steve2 in

since geoffrey jackson's appearance before the australian royal commission on friday there has for some been an expressed feeling of anticlimax.

it is as though he was given too much latitude to preach, to claim ignorance and to skirt questions.

more to the point, as much as i myself thought i would never have expected to say this, gj actually came across as likeable and - don't throttle me please!

done4good

Steve2 - Spot on post.

Despite their extreme delusion, the GB are not your "ditch digger by day, power tripping part-timer by night" elder. They did not get where they are in the corporation without a level of political savvy. This is the sole reason Jackson's presentation did not appear as undignified to the viewer.

Having said that, as I have been consistently stating from the beginning, this is not about a short-term windfall. The RC's work is a key example of societal change at large. The RC is an example that makes clear that "worldly" modern governments do a better job at protecting human rights than any "theocratic" system.

To the degree the organization makes changes from this or not will affect the organization's future. If they do make changes, this has a level of reprieve for victims or would-be victims moving forward, which is obviously a positive development. Unfortunately, this will likely be limited, simply because none of the changes will come from the need for the organization to make ground-up social reforms for the benefit of its members and society as a whole. Any change will be made in the name of the organization's own survival only. There will not be much more than bare minimum changes, however if these save one victim, they are worth it on a localized scale.

Longer term, this will hasten the organization's demise, along with other organizations that stubbornly refuse to accept social responsibility for the well being of members under their care. This RC was a most excellent example of social evolution, its work is not over and larger social change will take place because of it directly, as well as others that will undoubtedly take place in other developed countries. We should celebrate this. It is a big win.

d4g

7

Watchtower Idiot

by Vidiot in

dont wanna be a watchtower idiot.dont wanna be some door-knocking dipshit.can you imagine the things that they go through?public embarrassment trying to convert you.. but now the times, they seem to be changing,loyalty oaths and doctrine-rearranging,debit machines and refurbished kingdom halls...real estate and investment speculation,psas about deaf masturbation,barely recognize it at all!.

dont wanna check out the shiny new website,dont need to hear a homophobic soundbite,rhetoric that justitfies the shun gun,propaganda, or cheezy animation.. underneath theyre still shallow and shoddy, idolizing the governing body,convinced that theyre still better than the rest...forget the suicidal depression,or all the profits from bloodless medicine,just listen, obey, and be blessed!.

in the end, what goes around comes around,its all exposed as a pedophile playground,and when theyre busted for cover-ups and lying, i wouldnt wanna be them for anything.. coming down to the end of the page,all thanks to the information age, public humiliation, one and all....its gotta be the great tribulation,so head to warwick for permanent vacation,either way, the writings on the wall!.

done4good

Yes, too easy and one of my favorite all time albums. Nice work!

d4g