"...very often the person who is deceived or deluded tends to hold on to his belief in spite of strong evidence proving otherwise.
perhaps he gets so emotionally attached to his belief that he simply shuts his eyes and closes his ears to any evidence that might challenge it.".
an extra week of everlasting life goes to the first person who can guess the source of this quote.. .
Well, I guess Mary gets to spend an extra week petting lions with the Cultists!
And, I guess I'm about a month behind on food at the "proper time" according to the link from wannabefree.
My wife and I hadn't been to a meeting for a few weeks and today we went and got a bunch of the latest WT paper goods to help fill our recycling bin.
I think this quote could possibly prove very handy to help show an on-the-fence JW that even The Watchtower says it's good to look at all the evidence.
om
"...very often the person who is deceived or deluded tends to hold on to his belief in spite of strong evidence proving otherwise.
perhaps he gets so emotionally attached to his belief that he simply shuts his eyes and closes his ears to any evidence that might challenge it.".
an extra week of everlasting life goes to the first person who can guess the source of this quote.. .
"...very often the person who is deceived or deluded tends to hold on to his belief in spite of strong evidence proving otherwise. Perhaps he gets so emotionally attached to his belief that he simply shuts his eyes and closes his ears to any evidence that might challenge it."
An extra week of everlasting life goes to the first person who can guess the source of this quote.
om
just got done reading b_deserter's partial life story and it sent me drifting down memory lane.
this is a long, rambly story, so if you're not in the mood, i'd recommend clicking on another thread.. did you happen to grow up in "god's country?
" you know, a rural or semi-rural part of the country that is far superior morally to the "sin den" i moved to, california?
Thanks BP!
Glad you liked it.
om
what did jesus mean "i am?".
one must marvel at the lack of fear, and respect, false religious teacher's display, today, as they twist and warp jehovah god's marvelous word of truth to support their obvious, warped versions of the truth of god's word.
trying to convince others that jesus was god jehovah in the flesh; while jehovah himself contradicted that belief, as did his own son.
What did Jesus mean?
Same as Popeye.
om
speech?.
does not mean never expressing oneself.. it means speaking with graciousness,.
using gracious speech within the family.
That first paragraph was unbelievable.
Thanks as always for your insightful commentary Blondie.
om
i am so proud of myself.
i did not take a vacation day to attend the garbage fest.
i am happily (as happy as you can be at work) here discussing to my co-workers why i no longer believe in god.
Make sure to stay home and practice "self-love" on Saturday & Sunday too. Just consider it "Alternative Service".
Congratulations on your escape!
om
once two brothers convinced me to pop up at a wedding, just to gratulate them.
i bumbed into the 2 brother just by coincidence on the street.
i was wearing a leather biker jacket and tracksuit pants.
The short version:
JW City Boy in a torn up police cruiser spends about 5 minutes destroying a property owner's mud/gravel driveway. Finally makes it into the front yard. Gets cussed out by the old man and told to get off his property and never come back.
Car won't start.
We end up pushing it out of the front yard and back down the hill.
The long version is here along with quite a few other funny/embarrassing Field Service stories.
om
or, to your knowledge, did anyone ever make any inquiries of your local elders as to your "spiritual health" and suitability for courtship?.
how'd that work out for you?.
om.
Great stories everyone. Thanks for sharing.
I think the Indian BOE getting bribed with alcohol takes the cake for weirdness.
om
i found it amazing being raised in the witnesses to see exactly who got appointed sometimes as an elder.
it seemed that the criteria in my opinion had more to do with getting 10 hours a month in field service, answering at meetings, carrying microphones as a ministerial servant, or handling the magazine or literature counter !
in doing these " functions " and attending meetings on a regular basis - a man was thought to be considered " spiritually strong " and qualify to be an elder and serve on judicial committees judging people's personal problems.
Not much to add except this bit on nepotism and campaigning for your particular "golden boy".
If Daddy Elder wants Junior to get appointed as MS or Elder, Daddy better have a strong, persuasive personality. If he does, and Junior doesn't have any obvious red flags, Junior can get railroaded through in spite of being a jerk on several fronts.
I saw the opposite happen once when Daddy Elder was humble, not a mover and shaker and despised nepotism. Daddy, and a few other elders, wanted to avoid any appearance of favoritism and, in this case, Junior received more scrutiny than usual. It took Junior about a year longer than normal, IMHO, to finally get the Elder Hat.
But absolutely, no Holy Spirit flying around in the back room.
om
dear editor:.
the letter below is somewhat longer than most you run in your newspaper, i know.
i hope you will run it however, as painting the picture of cults and their insidious control is not something that can be done in a few words.
Very well done Jeff. I just hope the length doesn't stop it from getting printed.
It's great that you didn't specifically name the JWs and there were only a couple of buzz words that might set off JW radar that I noticed: "meetings" and "apostate". I think many JWs might actually read the whole thing before they realize you are talking about their religion.
om
