Posts by OnTheWayOut

27

"If the Earth were just a little bit further from or closer to the Sun, we would all freeze or burn"

by Island Man in

i'm sure we've all heard this argument by theists employing the fine-tuning argument.

are you aware, however, of exactly how much this "little bit" really is?

theists would have us think that the slightest change in the distance would have drastic implications for survivability.

OnTheWayOut

There are many factors that would make a planet or moon able to support life, but the most basic factor is the body having liquid water available.

The habitable zone is the orbital region around a star in which a body can possess liquid water on its surface and possibly support life. Liquid water is essential to all life on earth, so the definition of a habitable zone is based on the idea that extraterrestrial life would share that same requirement.

Distance from the star primarily determines the habitable zone, but there are other factors in having liquid water. The reflectivity of the planet or moon, its green-house gases, internal heat of the mass, volcanic activity- these are factors that increase the probability that liquid water may be present on the surface. It's also possible that liquid water is present in some subsurface way to allow for some kind of simple life. It is accepted that Jupiter's moon, Europa has a liquid ocean below the surface. So Europa may be outside of the scientific habitable zone, but it still might support life.

Life on earth is special. Being in the habitable zone and having a large moon and all kinds of other factors have aided in the existence of "Life as we know it." But life-as-we-don't-know-it may very well have evolved here if the factors were different.

Many scientists accept that the habitable zone for our sun, based on an earth-type planet with green house gases can be from 0.9 to 1.5 times the actual distance of earth to the sun. [1.5] is quite a bit.

The changing conditions of the star effect the zone too. Venus may well have been very "habitable" when the sun was younger and Mars (and other outer bodies) may be very "habitable" a few billion years from now as the sun gets older.

17

I need help, I'm falling in love with a JW girl

by nebula-- in

so i met her at my last job that i worked & we started off as friends.

i didn't know her faith at the time & i honestly couldn't have cared less, seeing as i'm agnostic.

after about a year, i began developing emotions for her & sure enough, we ended up dating for a little while.

OnTheWayOut

Seriously, the only way you should be with this girl is if she figures out ON HER OWN that the religion is a dangerous mind control cult. She has to leave it one way or another.

If she doesn't wholeheartedly figure that out and leave, you will ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS have turmoil with her going back to the JW's.

The fish and someone to hit you with it- that was about the best suggestion. Good luck putting this in your rear view mirror.

44

The Atheist Delusion

by looter in

jw
friends

atheist delusion.

just want to know what the ex jw community thinks about this video and also offer my pov.

the video was actually an advertisement on here.

OnTheWayOut

They don’t want God to be true because they don’t want to submit themselves to any authority that would restrict their most cherished freedoms. Those who hold emotional objections to belief have usually been burned by believers and even Christians.

If your posted video uses that reasoning, there is no point in my viewing it. There are some in these categories, but that is like saying that fat people have glandular problems. Some do, but most need diet and exercise and shouldn't be misdiagnosed that way.

I will use my own example. I decided that Watchtoeer was a dangerous mind control cult, but figured that God still might be who the Bible said He was.

The thing is, I already learned how to stop using bias and to examine things properly. So, after learning about Watchtower, I continued to learn about Christianity, Judiasm, the Bible, past and present beliefs about gods and worship. I compared with science.

So let me lump believers like you into one category: It is very convenient for believers to just say non-believers are mad at God. That way, you can dismiss your cognitive dissonance about how they make valid points.

20

Hello Everyone

by Mozzie in

jw
friends

hoping this is the right section..... my story so far,,,.

hello everyone, i have been reading a lot on what most jws would say apostate websites, but i have been asking myself, how much of this s true and considering a lot of these are run by ex jw elders, bethalites and one who was with the gb at one stage, overseers and the like.

i was an unbaptized publisher many years ago but never got to the point of baptism as i fell into sin, that pretty much ended my attending meetings again.

OnTheWayOut

...but just a note i am not looking to read books for self pity i have been reading a lot of books to help me see what the WT hasn't shown me in their articles.

Really, seriously- Read CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE by Raymond Franz.

Otherwise, stay with and care for your family while you work this out. Until you work it out, it would be unwise to do the wrong thing. If there is this loving "Jehovah" that they describe, He would understand that you want to do the right thing by your children and their mother. He wouldn't smite you for that.

57

Got my JC cancelled... (at least for now)

by Sanchy in

jw
friends

so my wife and i have been in the process of fading for a few months now as per my original post here.

about a week ago, i was browsing some ex-jw facebook groups when i saw a post that linked to the crisis of conscience book.

i said "f@(k it" and hit share on it.. a few hours later, i get a long text letter from my mom (who was a fb friend of mine) telling me the typical "good luck finding friends in the world" and how we have "nothing in common anymore"; basically, it was a 'farewell' text.

OnTheWayOut

Now, something I did hear the brothers mention is that a JC does not necessarily mean expulsion, kinda hinting to me that an option would be to publicly reprove me.

You know already- you have to kiss their asses. You have to say "I was wrong to post that book, as I said, and upon further reflection, I was wrong to talk about leaving the organization. It is Jehovah's organization , it has the truth."

That's the only way you get out with reproof. You already know that. It doesn't matter that your thoughts are not a violation of the rules.

21

Jehovah's Witnesses Propaganda & Hypocrisy Video

by Brokeback Watchtower in

i didn't make this video it just showed up in my utube web page, god i love utube.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iyv5lg1uh0o.

OnTheWayOut

Excellent example of hypocrisy.

57

Got my JC cancelled... (at least for now)

by Sanchy in

jw
friends

so my wife and i have been in the process of fading for a few months now as per my original post here.

about a week ago, i was browsing some ex-jw facebook groups when i saw a post that linked to the crisis of conscience book.

i said "f@(k it" and hit share on it.. a few hours later, i get a long text letter from my mom (who was a fb friend of mine) telling me the typical "good luck finding friends in the world" and how we have "nothing in common anymore"; basically, it was a 'farewell' text.

OnTheWayOut

When you said "F*ck it!" and posted CoC link, you knew there would be trouble.

I see a game going on here. Play with fire and you get burned.

It's too late to lie and say "It wasn't me." Just kiss their asses and say "I was intrigued by discovering that book. Now I know it's wrong. I pulled the link. (Do so right now if not already done.) Should I give you a rim job while kissing your asses?" Then know that you pulled the wool over their eyes enough to continue your fade.

Get a fake name for a facebook account for your non-JW life or don't have a facebook non-JW life.

22

Jehovah's Witnesses: the Brotherhood of Delusion

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

i am a curious person.

i am challenged by the unknown.

i can be driven, out of sheer frustration, to penetrate a closed veil of conspiracy.

OnTheWayOut

I got lost when I was sidetracked by the word "titillation."

This is where my mind goes at that point:

12

The Edgar Chronicles (My encounters with a crow)

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

origins and prelude (edgar chronicles).

for the last several days, there has been some kind of black bird strutting about on the starbucks patio searching for crumbs.. .

i don't particularly get along with these birds.

OnTheWayOut

I have always gone through life apologizing when I was wrong.
Terry did not "ask" for money when he left his bike unlocked. He accepted money from others when he left his bike unlocked.

I am sorry I misspoke.

6

Continuum of an Exit

by zarco in

jw
friends

a few random thoughts about my continuum.

did your exit follow this process?

doubts – this is tough phase because the mind begins and then continues to prove to itself through logic and facts that the “truth ain’t the truth”.

OnTheWayOut

Just as the stages of grief are not exactly what everyone goes through, neither are there exact stages of JW exit. I never went through your resistance phase or mini-rebellion stage. My rebellion stage as a fader was well after fading.

I would love to be an ex-ex-JW, but have my mother and wife still in the religion. I have many reasons to stay connected to the ex-JW community.