Posts by Open mind

I was beginning to smell a "1914 generation" rat in my early twenties, (mid-1980s). Realized I needed to find a real career. Took a few college courses (no degree) and found an occupation that has provided for me and mine fairly well.

My biggest regret is that I joined my JW family in shunning my gay DFed older brother for 20 years. Can never get those years back. Making up for lost time now.

Big Bro

om

38

Are You Ever Tempted To Talk To JWs When You See Them?

by minimus in

jw
friends

either in your neighborhood, in the ministry, on vacation?

?.

Open mind

Possible comment/question I might use if the right situation presented itself:

"I used to work with a JW and he always used to say that the preaching work you guys do is a 'life-saving' work. Could you explain exactly what that means for a regular guy like me who tries to be a good husband and father, lives by Bible principles and is an all-around good citizen, contributing member of society?"

Don't let them off the hook by saying "God is the judge of who will survive Armageddon." If the vast majority of Armageddon survivors will be JWs, then it's a life-saving work and your God's a jerk. If Jehovah is going to read people's hearts and let in a sizeable percentage of non-JWs, then the "life-saving" aspect (and also the urgency) of the preaching work goes right out the window.

Can't have it both ways.

om

53

WT Elders school: Avoid black and white thinking - now look at this zebra

by sir82 in

jw
friends

continuing on with my haphazard review of the recent one-day elders school..... in one of the introductory talks, the co was making the point that we can't view things merely from a black and white perspective.

many issues have "shades of gray" and we need to use discernment in such situations.. and i'm thinking "finally!

maybe he will continue on to make an actual, reasonable point!".

Open mind

*marking*

Thanks sir82!

om

23

So ARE Mormons a cult?

by Found Sheep in

had a short, cuz i cut it off, conversation about mormons today.

she claims to be one.

before i knew she was my big mouth called it a cult.

Open mind

This is an oversimplification, but a good rough guide, IMO.

Put religions on a scale of cultyness from 1-10.

1= Unitarian universalists who allow ANYONE, who believes (or doesn't believe) ANYTHING to join them, atheists included.

10 = Jim Jones' Peoples Temple with literal poison Kool-Aid and one guy saying he is God.

On this scale I'd say cultyness starts to kick in from 5 on up.

Mormons & 7th Day Adventists: 6

Jehovah's Witnesses: 7

Scientologists: 8.5

David Koresh and the Branch Davidians: 9

Just my $.02. My numbers are completely subjective of course.

om

102

Conti v Watchtower - Court Denies Watchtower Motion re: Substituting Bond - November 16 court documents in pdf

by jwleaks in

jw leaks has published the latest court documents, in pdf, relating to "candace conti v the watchtower bible and tract society of new york" as filed on november 16, 2012.. the watchtower society motion to substitute or reduce bond on appeal is denied.. www.jwleaks.org.

.

Open mind

Oh man, just think of all those "dedicated funds" that will now be going to waste defending the WT against Jehovah's enemies!

So sad.

om

36

Hello, I Am New Here

by arrakis1 in

jw
friends

was a jw for 40 years.

stopped attending 2010...resigned officially in 2011. still a little shell shocked but beginning to feel much better now.

awesome revelation....people in the world are not all that bad.

Open mind

Welcome to "The World' Arrakis1!

The Watchtower was correct in saying that outside the JWs the landscape is parched and devoid of life-giving "waters of truth".

Just make sure you've got a properly fitted "still suit" and you'll do fine.

om

49

S.F. Giants vs. Detroit Tigers in World Series ! Who Do You Pick to Win ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i'm flyin' high right about now !

my san francisco giants came back beat cincinnati 3 games to 2 after being down 2-0 and tonight they came back and beat st. louis 4 games to 3 after being down 3-1 !

and we had tornados in northern california in a powerful storm while this was going down tonight !

Open mind

Uh, jam, "Giants all the way, 4-1."

You've got 15 minutes to change that to:

Giants all the way, 4-0.

Clock's ticking.

om

49

S.F. Giants vs. Detroit Tigers in World Series ! Who Do You Pick to Win ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i'm flyin' high right about now !

my san francisco giants came back beat cincinnati 3 games to 2 after being down 2-0 and tonight they came back and beat st. louis 4 games to 3 after being down 3-1 !

and we had tornados in northern california in a powerful storm while this was going down tonight !

Open mind

Way to go Gigantes!!!

om