This is such a nice proper place for such a debate on such a big subject.
No disrespect to Robert Shapiro, professor emeritus of chemistry at New York University, but he is one person with one point of view that is different from many other point of views on his specific subject.
And as mentioned, evolution and abiogenesis are two different discussions.
Man is in his infancy of understanding the big questions and their answers. The vastness of outer and inner space are just being barely reached. There were so many scientists in the past who swore that it was impossible for so many things to exist or occur- and so many were wrong. But that's okay- we learn and move on.
I stick with something more basic- WE KNOW THE GOD OF THE BIBLE DOESN'T EXIST. So much of science has proven beyond the shadow of a doubt that the life on this planet is older than the Bible would make it, that it has evolved in a way contrary to the Bible, and that things like the great worldwide flood could not have occurred. Any other "God" has not made it clear that he/she/it does actually exist, so until he/she/it contacts us, we can assume they are not there (or don't want us spending all our time worshiping them).
OnTheWayOut
JoinedPosts by OnTheWayOut
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62
Evolution - A Conversation with Alex Williams
by cofty inalex - thank you for your offer to have a conversation about evolution.. i accept the scientific evidence that all life - including humans - evolved from a common ancestor through unguided evolution over millions of years.
this isn't even a controversial position in the scientific community.. the evidence rests on the data from many interconnected fields including paleontology, comparative anatomy, geology and especially genetics.
it is no exaggeration to say that the evidence for your own non-human ancestry is contained in every cell in your body.. it is my experience that jws are generally quite ignorant (not in a pejorative sense) of the scientific case.
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OnTheWayOut
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19
William sisters....what’s that all about?
by Theonlyoneleft inok... so the william sisters have in the past spoken openly about their faith by saying they are jehovah witnesses.
but do they attend regular meetings?
door to door ministry?
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OnTheWayOut
Jehovah's Witnesses.
It's a cult like Scientology, but for famous BLACK people. -
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Why doesn’t the Governing Body hold debates to asses the qualifications of a new GB member?
by I believe in overlapping inthe members have no idea what qualifies someone has to be a member of the governing body.
members know absolutely nothing about new members of the governing body who are appointed.
kenneth cook was the last appointed governing body member in 2018..
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OnTheWayOut
The GB is not going to tell you or anyone how they pick a new member.
jehober picks the gb members. Every jw knows that!
just saying!I gotta echo these thoughts.
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144
If You Criticize A Person of Color Are You A Racist?
by minimus inseriously, it’s getting to a point that you can’t make a negative comment about someone without being charged as a racist, homophobe or sexist!
if you criticize a female, you are obviously sexist.
if you criticize someone who happens to be gay, you must hate homosexuals.
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OnTheWayOut
14 pages, wow- this is a charged subject.
Okay, I just red Minimus' original post and haven't read the 14 pages. Let me say my piece and then when I can, I will compare notes.A man can criticize a woman without being accused of being sexist, or a straight man can criticize a gay man without being accused of hating homosexuals, etc. etc.
.....but you really have to have a fair reputation with the group or individuals involved before you do that. If that group is co-workers or family that knows you, you may well be established as a non-hater or even a supporter of that particular issue, but are critical of something that has nothing to do with that issue.
If you are having an argument on the internet or with strangers or in front of a news camera- FORGET IT!!!! You will be accused. -
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Shall I disassociate myself too? I’m the only one left now.
by Theonlyoneleft inplease bear with me as this might be a long one,.
the question above has been circulating my mind for a while and i’ve been wondering if there’s anyone that thought the same or done it.. we normally associate shunning and disassociation with jehovah’s witnesses that are normally baptised, but my situation is a reversed one.. i was a bible student that left a long time ago on my own free will, never shunned never ostracised by my jw’s siblings and their families.
the years have passed and situations have arisen that has made me uncomfortable of the knowledge of particular outcomes within my siblings and families.. i’ve been thinking to stay away from my family( living in a different country ), as i don’t want to be preached on or feel out of touch and segregated by their opinions of me and my family.
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OnTheWayOut
I agree with Slimboyfat above. No sense in actually burning the bridge. You can distance yourself from them as you want to, but you just never know what the future may bring. It may be that they have some dire circumstances where they want to turn to you. (Hey, you never know.)
If that never happens, it's pretty much the same result as DA'ing yourself. But if it could happen, they won't turn to you unless that old bridge is still there. -
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If You Could Pick Just One Title Of A Song That Would Describe Your Life
by The Bethelite inwhat would it be?.
mine would be "rocket man" by elton john.
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OnTheWayOut
I left a life where I was a young 20's lover of rock n roll to become a JW. Granted, I needed to abandon my partying ways, but I didn't need to give up the music I loved and join a cult. So when I firmly left the JW''s, I went back to the music I gave up.Back In BlackBack in black
I hit the sack
I've been too long I'm glad to be back
Yes, I'm let loose
From the noose
That's kept me hanging about
I've been looking at the sky
'Cause it's gettin' me high
Forget the hearse 'cause I never die
I got nine lives
Cat's eyes
Abusin' every one of them and running wild'Cause I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back
Yes, I'm back
Well, I'm back, back
Well, I'm back in black
Yes, I'm back in blackBack in the back
Of a Cadillac
Number one with a bullet, I'm a power pack
Yes, I'm in a bang
With a gang
They've got to catch me if they want me to hang
'Cause I'm back on the track
And I'm beatin' the flack
Nobody's gonna get me on another rap
So look at me now
I'm just makin' my play
Don't try to push your luck, just get out of my way'Cause I'm back
Yes,… -
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Rejecting JW Message is More Important than Success to Keep Them Indoctrinated
by OnTheWayOut inthe recruiting work of jehovah's witnesses has never been very effective.
such low positive results for such great efforts.
but the members are paying the gas money and expending the hours, so watchtower is not really losing out.i want you to think about the rejection jw's receive, be it a negative response at the door or people ignoring them at the cart.
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OnTheWayOut
The recruiting work of Jehovah's Witnesses has never been very effective. Such low positive results for such great efforts. But the members are paying the gas money and expending the hours, so Watchtower is not really losing out.
I want you to think about the rejection JW's receive, be it a negative response at the door or people ignoring them at the cart. That rejection is way more important than the few people they convert. Rejection and indifference builds up their uncomfortable feeling to be around people outside of the organization. They start to regain their comfort when they gather at Starbucks or Tim Hortons with their "brothers and sisters" after a round of worldly rejections.
If the entire process of recruiting is done properly, they start off with encouraging support at the meeting for service, then the harsh world rejects them quickly and boldly, then they get back together with supportive people who care. They even see each other as returning heroes with tales of how closed-minded those worldly ones were.
Just another pain reward cycle in a mind-control technique common to religions like the JW's. It gets magnified if the JW is sure that Jehovah is pleased with the way they handled the rejection or "won" their little debate session (despite whatever reality there was in who made valid points). -
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As A Former JW Are You Patriotic At All?
by minimus injehovah’s witnesses were drilled with the idea that all governments are from satan and that we should have nothing to do with anything involving support of the government, voting, or political talk for one party or another.. now that you are out, is patriotism important to you?
is voting important to you?
are you supportive of your country?.
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OnTheWayOut
I am a world citizen, concerned about all people. So no, not really patriotic. Still, I want what is good for the United States- just not at the expense of people elsewhere.
But I will wear red, white, blue stuff and flag stuff. That's because I feel a sense of slapping Watchtower in the face when I do it .
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If you saw a governing body member being pummeled would you help them?
by Tenacious inbefore you answer; .
think about how they could care less how many families are broken up just to retain their power.
how they could care less if members are driven to suicide because of the deep programming and severe depression or strained family situations.. how they would rather let members die in order to retain their power and refuse to acknowledge their faulty bible reasoning regarding blood.. i could go on and on and on.
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OnTheWayOut
In all honesty, I hope I would help anyone in such a situation. I don't blame people for a different answer though.
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Any Dogs Returning to their Vomit Here?
by Solzhenitsyn ini was wondering if any long time jw's that are now pomo's here on the forum now act in a leadership role within another religious organization?.
i do and would enjoy a bit of conversation with this (i assume minority) "sub-culture" of ex-jw's.
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OnTheWayOut
So you act in a leadership role in another religious organization, but you admit (in your title anyway) that it is likened to the dog returning to their vomit.
What's up with that?