Posts by OnTheWayOut

21

'Theocratic Careers' and the Covid Pandemic

by eyeslice in

the watchtower has always banged on about not pursuing worldly careers and that best career was 'theocratic service.

but now i am wondering what line they will take.

let's have look at the options;.

OnTheWayOut

I knew a C.O. who actually retired. He literally pocketed as much as he could of the green handshakes and he and his wife were able to make it on social security and all that money they saved. It wasn't even a secret that he lived so tight on just what C.O. expenses the congregations paid for and ate at the kindness of the congregation circuit members.

I also remember Bethelites who had been forced out of Bethel and returning to the job market. I would sit and talk with them and they would avoid talking "spiritual" and avoid many Watchtower discussions. If not for their former service, they would have been considered "weak."

Members will again and again be reminded that any sacrifice they made in "this system" will be remembered by Jehovah.

It won't work to keep former organization Bethelites, C.O.'s, missionaries from rumbling. But it will minimize their doing anything about it. They will want to keep the crumbs of the members' generosity and many of them will keep their dissatisfaction to themselves for the most part.

240

Derek Chauvin - The Right to a Fair Trial

by Simon in

anyone following the derek chauvin trial?.

if you are actually following it, not just listening to the media, you will likely realize that there is a huge gap between what is going on in court and what is being reported in the media.. if the trial was fair, i think he should be acquitted.

there is plenty of reasonable doubt about the cause of death (his dealer doesn't want to testify because he could be guilty of 3rd degree murder for selling him a fatal amount of fentanyl) and even doubt over whether the officer even had his knee on the guys neck or did anything counter to what they were meant to do as per policy.. but is it fair?

OnTheWayOut

MeanMrMustard8 hours ago

~~While the jury didn't fall for it, the defense did what they are supposed to do and raised possible doubts that people like Simon pinpointed in their minds and ignored all the real evidence.~~

The way this paragraph is constructed, I'm honestly not sure if he's saying Simon is ignoring all the real evidence or the jury is ignoring the real evidence.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Sure, whichever works for you.

240

Derek Chauvin - The Right to a Fair Trial

by Simon in

anyone following the derek chauvin trial?.

if you are actually following it, not just listening to the media, you will likely realize that there is a huge gap between what is going on in court and what is being reported in the media.. if the trial was fair, i think he should be acquitted.

there is plenty of reasonable doubt about the cause of death (his dealer doesn't want to testify because he could be guilty of 3rd degree murder for selling him a fatal amount of fentanyl) and even doubt over whether the officer even had his knee on the guys neck or did anything counter to what they were meant to do as per policy.. but is it fair?

OnTheWayOut

While the jury didn't fall for it, the defense did what they are supposed to do and raised possible doubts that people like Simon pinpointed in their minds and ignored all the real evidence.

I do not agree that a cop could be guilty of three very different counts he was charged with, but that was probably a message that ANYONE actually there at the time could tell that this was horribly wrong.

27

Who/ What In Your Opinion Was The Best?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the best president.

the best boxer?

the best over all athlete?

OnTheWayOut

Really, we are saying the same thing about why you like Reagan.

History was more than kind to Ronald Reagan. Today you hear about the Reagan who instituted a massive tax cut in 1981, not the Reagan whose trickle-down didn't work, so when his theories failed to materialize actual revenue, reversed course to sign the largest peacetime tax increase in history in 1982, and then raised taxes again in 1983 and 1984.

Republican candidates will talk about the Reagan who cut government regulation, leading you to believe he wanted smaller government, but not the same Reagan who increased the size of the federal government and the national debt.

Maybe the 2 biggest reasons that Reagan is remembered in History so well is that he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's when he left office and because he was so charming, giving raise to nostalgia similar to Democrats reminiscing about the smooth-talking style of Clinton and Obama. Certainly, both Bush presidents have none of that to offer, and Trump won't ever be remembered as fondly for his bragging of his own intelligence in such stupid ways.

Carter may not have gotten stuff done in office, but his dedication to helping people after leaving office will leave a bad taste in the mouth of anyone who tries to praise ANY other former president's post-presidential activities when comparing them.

So this thread is about the BEST. Jimmy Carter was the best FORMER PRESIDENT.

9

How long did people worship Zeus? Was it longer than Christianity's 2000 years?

by pistolpete in

how long did people worship zeus?

was it longer than christianity's 2000 years?.

most answers say this but they do vary..

OnTheWayOut

The Greeks, many would argue, wrote of mythical gods and felt free to take liberties with the writing of their stories. It wasn't so much that they mixed history with lies, but they expected people who were able to read to know that the writings were philosophical allegory more so than literal truths.

Somehow, along the way, after much of the Jews stories were written down, people forgot such a way of thinking and everything was assumed to be literal.

I doubt there was much "worshipping" of the Greek gods. There were cults of worship that were literal, so that might have been a part of the later development of forgetting that it's just stories.

27

Who/ What In Your Opinion Was The Best?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the best president.

the best boxer?

the best over all athlete?

OnTheWayOut

Carter's biggest problem was that he thought that if he just told the people what needed to be done, Congress would do the right thing without any pork deals. Of course, that didn't work and Carter didn't get anything done.

I was primarily pointing out why you, Minimus, like Reagan.

27

Who/ What In Your Opinion Was The Best?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the best president.

the best boxer?

the best over all athlete?

OnTheWayOut

Min: For me the best President in my lifetime was probably Ronald Reagan.

Reagan- Iran-Contra Affair- Arms for Hostages scandal.
HUD rigging scandal.
Savings and Loan crisis created by tax loopholes and bank de-regulation
While climbing the political ladder, Reagan opposed every major piece of civil rights legislation adopted by Congress, and while president, he continued that legacy.
Just as "Make America Great Again" tried to make white people remember when they were the clear majority in America, Reagan played to nostalgia for the 1950's era before civil rights, feminism, environmental activism

Reagan was probably America's biggest downfall in modern times, reviving class warfare of rich vs. poor, management vs.labor.

50

Are You Confident With Covid Vaccines and What Officials Say Is The Right Thing To Do?

by minimus in

jw
friends

most of my friends have gotten the vaccines and are quite confident that it’s just what the doctor ordered.

i’m not confident with dr. fauci.

i don’t like the fact that the makers of the vaccines are not held responsible if someone taking the vac develops an illness or even death.

OnTheWayOut

THIS and THAT. LEFT and RIGHT.

It would seem, no matter the subject, that people are now more inclined to argue against differing opinions no matter what. If you think we should take the vaccine, you argue of the stupidity of those who don't. If you think we should not take the vaccine, you argue of the naivety of those who do.

C'mon people. Let people be independent thinkers. I have a high level of exposure at work and I am confident enough in my convictions of the evidence that a guy in his 50's should be okay taking the vaccine without long-term detrimental effects. If another guy in his 50's isn't in line with my thoughts, I hope it's because of his thinking for himself and not because they are so sure Bill Gates put a chip in the vaccine. And then I am fine with his decision.

Same with other groups or people in other circumstances. If they decide for themselves, people should be free to make their decisions.

Now, if you wanna argue the points- fine. But don't just chop down everybody who feels different.

240

Derek Chauvin - The Right to a Fair Trial

by Simon in

anyone following the derek chauvin trial?.

if you are actually following it, not just listening to the media, you will likely realize that there is a huge gap between what is going on in court and what is being reported in the media.. if the trial was fair, i think he should be acquitted.

there is plenty of reasonable doubt about the cause of death (his dealer doesn't want to testify because he could be guilty of 3rd degree murder for selling him a fatal amount of fentanyl) and even doubt over whether the officer even had his knee on the guys neck or did anything counter to what they were meant to do as per policy.. but is it fair?

OnTheWayOut

Yeah, I always drive at or slightly over the speed limit if there is a cop behind me late at night - nothing screams "stop me, I'm guilty!" more than driving overly cautiously and under-the-limit when there is no need.

That sounds like sarcasm. I hope it is sarcasm. I see nothing wrong with "driving overly cautiously and under-the-limit."

40

This one bible passage proves abortions are wrong and honoring Mary is right

by TTWSYF in

nwt luke chapt 1.

41 well, as elizabeth heard the greeting of mary, the infant in her womb leaped, and elizabeth was filled with holy spirit 42 and loudly cried out: “blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruitage of your womb!

43 so how is it that this privilege is mine, to have the mother of my lord come to me?

OnTheWayOut

I would rather be forced to base my life on quotes from Kurt Vonnegut or Tommy Chong than by the Bible.

The Bible somehow "proves" whatever someone wants it to prove.
Just suppose for a moment that the account of Mary and Elizabeth is fiction. Heck, suppose that Mary got knocked up and someone created a fantastical story about her virgin pregnancy.