Posts by OnTheWayOut

42

Something a CO once said.

by cappytan in

"there are only three reasons you should miss a meeting.

fever, fracture or funeral.

everything else is a sorry excuse.

You could have a contagious disease without a fever. Your loved one could be in the hospital- or is the fever or fracture of someone else a valid reason? 3 F's makes a great soundbite, but really, a person should be reasonable and accept other excuses to miss a meeting:

work
The only free time for some important event or scheduled meeting with someone else
Kids need to study/rest for a big test that will effect their grade and future
vacation
It was just too nice out to sit in a Kingdom Hall
The release of the next Star Wars movie (or whatever movie you fancy)
Just tired

23

A Subtle Factor That Keeps Witnesses Silenced

by freemindfade in

had an interesting thought this morning.

when a witness is 'in' they think everyone else is following and trying there best all in unity.

i believe the reality is there are a lot of us 'in' who know different.

OnTheWayOut

So it's a widespread case similar to "The Emperor's New Clothes."

26

Reports of lower memorial attendance

by thedepressedsoul in

i have heard a lot of reports from kingdom halls in the area that there was less than last year, for both time slots.. we had the first time slot and we were down 50+/- compared to last year.

last year we had the lobby full of people standing and this year we had empty seats and no one standing.

we ran out of parking last year and this year we made it.. like i said i am hearing quite a few reports of this from halls in our area.however, somehow the number seem to inch up every year.

OnTheWayOut

Last year, they had some huge invitation drive. I haven't heard that this year's drive was anything as big. The memorial was on Good Friday and the curious probably had plenty to do and did not bother. The American College Basketball playoffs were reaching their most exciting part of the finals and that would have kept many away. Plus, many DF'ed/DA'ed are seeing that it just doesn't pay to go.

19

Thoughts on "Going Clear," the Scientology Documentary

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

i managed to find a copy of "going clear" on the internet.

i won't post a link because most are loaded with pop-ups and you have to be careful about accidental downloads.

mine was no exception, but i managed to keep the computer clean.

OnTheWayOut

Simon, there was an episode of Star Trek; The Next Generation that said that all the different races of the galaxy were actually consisting of parts of the DNA of a super-chain of DNA of one race. It helped us understand why they all are "humanoids" and could mate to produce offspring.

Being a science fiction fan, Scientology could very well be along similar lines and actually make more sense. You are right. Mainstream religion is just as wacko to me. I suppose I fell for forgetting that in my comments.

In the past, it may have been nearly impossible to fail with religion once it is self-sustaining, but I don't think that will continue to be the case as the information age moves forward. Scientology may be going away within our lifetimes (or it may struggle on- no predictions from me). But the people at the top will probably get away with the money. I suppose that's a side-theme of mine. My greatest wish after the toppling of the Watchtower and locking up the leaders is to just let them run away with the money and leave the people behind to escape back to "the world."

19

Thoughts on "Going Clear," the Scientology Documentary

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

i managed to find a copy of "going clear" on the internet.

i won't post a link because most are loaded with pop-ups and you have to be careful about accidental downloads.

mine was no exception, but i managed to keep the computer clean.

OnTheWayOut

Talesin, from myself and Flipper and others it seems if we want to find it, we can. Thanks to you for suggestions to any who haven't found it yet. So it appears that "Fear of Scientology's litigiousness" almost prevented this damaging documentary from ever seeing the light of day. I am glad someone was persistent.

Flipper, I hadn't thought of it, but yeah- we could really use celebrity former JW's to come out in force. Any would-be documentary makers reading this, please take note of what it might take to get your project off the ground.

87

Why people don't believe in God

by pressman in

do you want to know why i think people don't believe in god?

well i believe people don't want to believe in god because they are scared.

they know that if they finally do gorge the confidence to believe in him, he might discipline them for their skepticism.

OnTheWayOut

I didn't search through the pages. Maybe this wasn't already posted:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4BXMD-gn40

87

Why people don't believe in God

by pressman in

do you want to know why i think people don't believe in god?

well i believe people don't want to believe in god because they are scared.

they know that if they finally do gorge the confidence to believe in him, he might discipline them for their skepticism.

OnTheWayOut

Alright. Enough is enough.

I wrote the book of love.

I am Colonel Mustard and I killed Mr. Boddy in the Billiard Room with a revolver.

I let the dogs out.

I really am my brother's keeper.

I am Batman.

While I was not Jack the Ripper, I knew him.

I figured out how thousands of men could build the pyramids in the middle of the desert.

I faked everyone out on Loch Ness Monster and Big Foot. That was me.

I erected Stonehenge.

I am D.B. Cooper. I got away with the money.

I actually was Luke's (and Laia's) father.

.....and of course, I am God.

You just have to believe me. Otherwise, you are chickenshit. Why? Because I said so.

87

Why people don't believe in God

by pressman in

do you want to know why i think people don't believe in god?

well i believe people don't want to believe in god because they are scared.

they know that if they finally do gorge the confidence to believe in him, he might discipline them for their skepticism.

OnTheWayOut

I don't even want to read past the opening post to reply. I want to give a fresh answer.

I truly wanted to believe in God because he gave meaning to my life. Many here used to believe and didn't leave because they were sinners afraid of Him. That's a bunch of malarkey.

But you convinced me to abandon atheism with a simple couple of sentences: Now I would like to invite everyone on this forum to wake up and open your eyes to see that God is true and real. For he is God the Lord. The creator and ruler of all. As the scrolls say: "But as ye God is trueth, our wordeth toward you was not yea and nay."

Of course, I don't mean it. Nice try. A call to wake me up and a scripture won't do it. Will a call to make you read some science books and a Richard Dawkins quote wake you up to atheism? NO? Too bad.

Your generalization is quite insulting and wrong. My disbelief has nothing to do with a rough childhood or a fear to admit there is something greater than me. God simply has to demonstrate clearly that He is there. He has to do this for me, not in some way that YOU say happened already.

I am sure you are afraid to admit God might not be there. You are afraid all your prayers and time spent on serving/worshipping/praying/etc. was just wasted and you might as well have been doing something else.

And are children born in Hindu, Muslim, Jewish, Buddhist families just as "selfish" as atheists if they don't suddenly accept YOUR LORD as THEIR LORD?

I will tell you one thing about the God you are so sure is there. Go to a childrens hospital and find some 4 to 8 year old little girl with a terrible ailment caused by birth defects or some terrible disease. If the God you worship were there, He would prevent that ailment/disease in that innocent little girl. But He doesn't, because He cannot, because He's not there.

19

Thoughts on "Going Clear," the Scientology Documentary

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

i managed to find a copy of "going clear" on the internet.

i won't post a link because most are loaded with pop-ups and you have to be careful about accidental downloads.

mine was no exception, but i managed to keep the computer clean.

OnTheWayOut

Finklestein from page 1, we know all about people who "got overwhelmed in power, control and financial greed." Thanks again.

talesin, thanks for trying but your link doesn't work in the USA. Glad ya saw it.

fedup, I wholeheartedly agree. I tend to think that JW stuff is really really whacky. But the stuff that a JW doesn't know about the inner workings are whacko also- the two/thirds majority to decide what God thinks about something, retroactive rules on disfellowshipping to nail Ray Franz. How about when they taught that Jehovah lived in some particular region of the known universe? .....or virtually anything from their REVELATION GRAND CLIMAX book about events in the 20th century fulfilling some strange prophecy from Revelation that was concerning Jehovah's Witnesses?

talesin, I suppose they didn't touch Isaac Hayes because he is dead and there's just a bunch of hearsay.

daringhart13, those parallels are definite.

19

Article: Five JWs Deported from Bali for Conducting Door-to-Door Religious Ministry

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.balidiscovery.com/messages/message.asp?id=11719.

dismantling the watchtower .

five jehovah witnesses deported from bali for conducting door-to-door religious ministry .

OnTheWayOut

It's already been said how JW's should wonder where the Holy Spirit and/or angels were for this.

It's already been said that they are lucky deportation was all they got. They were violating a law and I bet they knew it. I think there are different visas for tourists and for preachers. Bali probably doesn't issue the preacher visa.