AllTimeJeff

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Posts by AllTimeJeff

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  246

  Why Won't They Carbon Date This?

  by Perry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "for the first time in human history a dinosaur fossil is presenting us with the opportunity to see what a living dinosaur looked like.

  in 2001 a field research team unearthed the worlds most complete dinosaur fossil, a brachylophosaurus nicknamed leonardo.

  this incredible dinosaur has all of its skin covering its body, missing only a bit on the head and tail.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Shamus, I've been to Pottery Barn. It's a damn lie! And I talk to Geoffrey the Toy's R Us giraffe all the time. Praise Jesus!
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  246

  Why Won't They Carbon Date This?

  by Perry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "for the first time in human history a dinosaur fossil is presenting us with the opportunity to see what a living dinosaur looked like.

  in 2001 a field research team unearthed the worlds most complete dinosaur fossil, a brachylophosaurus nicknamed leonardo.

  this incredible dinosaur has all of its skin covering its body, missing only a bit on the head and tail.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Here's the thing. I watched Crocodile Hunter. Steve Irwin, remember him? He caught Croc's (not the shoes). He also died underwater at the hands of a dangerous fish.

  My money is on the dinosaurs.
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  26

  "We aren't qualified to think for ourselves...."

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reading a few posts here today, a statement that was said often at gilead came up in my head.

  "we aren't qualified to think for ourselves...".

  that statement comes on the oft quoted scripture "it doesn't not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Reading a few posts here today, a statement that was said often at Gilead came up in my head.

  "We aren't qualified to think for ourselves..."

  That statement comes on the oft quoted scripture "It doesn't not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step." Clearly, YHWH created us with this huge brain, with a capacity to learn and be curious, but alas! The only thing we are allowed to do is pick out our own food... (well....)

  I bring this up because there is a lot of people in this world who would have you believe you aren't qualified to ask. To question. To learn.

  That's why the bible was kept in Latin. You had to take their word for it for centuries, under pain of death. Once they stopped killing people for translating it into the common tounge, you could read it. Once that control mechanism was gone, what's next?

  JW's (and admittedly, most other religious leaders) claim that their leadership can only interpret the scriptures, because it is beyond you. In other words, you can't just read it and say "Hey, this contradicts other scriptures we use..." No. You need holy spirit. Special leadership. "God talks to me, not to you..." Trust me.

  Today, religions and politicians live on stupidity like parasites. To them, the issue isn't that you aren't qualified to think for yourselves, but rather, they are counting on the fact that you won't think.

  On JWN today, we are debating carbon dating dinosaur molecules, with the argument framed to discredit science. If we can eliminate that, what's left? Jesus of course!

  I am not suggesting that we turn into conspiracy theorists. Just use some common sense.

  I will single out fundamentalist religions, but seperate them from people of faith as an example.

  There is nothing wrong with a person finding personal/spiritual fulfillment with their belief in god. Believe, but be honest. (and hey, not only is it possible that your personal belief system is good enough for you, it is. Doesn't mean it's for everyone else. Ok Jesus freaks?)

  Don't sit there and bring up false dichotomies to divert attention from the weakness of your own belief system. You want to sit there and tell me Jesus wants to do business with me? Then why am I having a conversation with you instead?

  Does it really hurt when science proves a personal belief wrong? Fine. Believe all you want, just don't embarass yourself with self serving arguments that is nothing more then a diversion to keep everyone else's eye off you.

  Hey, let's pretend for a minute that dinosaur's have been secretely hiding in caves for 4000 years. (they were waiting for Jesus too) Ok. Does that prove anything about Jesus? Your religion? No.

  We live in a world where the argument isn't about a mutual finding of the facts, but for your point of view to win at all costs, facts be damned!

  You don't have to do that. Think for yourself. Be honest.

  I am not going to sit idly be in my life, or on this forum and let bullshitters get away with their bullshit. I have a life to live, so I will keep it in its place.

  So do you think everyone else should believe as you do? Don't worry. You'll get over it.
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  246

  Why Won't They Carbon Date This?

  by Perry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "for the first time in human history a dinosaur fossil is presenting us with the opportunity to see what a living dinosaur looked like.

  in 2001 a field research team unearthed the worlds most complete dinosaur fossil, a brachylophosaurus nicknamed leonardo.

  this incredible dinosaur has all of its skin covering its body, missing only a bit on the head and tail.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Oh wow, we really are trying to answer the "question" of how man killed the dinosaurs. Awesome!
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  246

  Why Won't They Carbon Date This?

  by Perry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  "for the first time in human history a dinosaur fossil is presenting us with the opportunity to see what a living dinosaur looked like.

  in 2001 a field research team unearthed the worlds most complete dinosaur fossil, a brachylophosaurus nicknamed leonardo.

  this incredible dinosaur has all of its skin covering its body, missing only a bit on the head and tail.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Can we carbon date Perry's bird?
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  24

  The Problem with the problem

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  jehovah's witnesses have an invisible problem which is as unseen as jesus.

  the problem with their problem is that it is unseen.. what do i mean by this?.

  no future.. the future jehovah's witnesses prepare for is not their future at all.. the jw future is armageddon (very soon!

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  AllTimeJeff

  Nice post Terry. I can relate to this.

  I actually got to go to college for a bit until my Dad reneged on helping to pay for it. I then pioneered, which led to my ultimately going to Cameroon.

  For 12 years, my future was to be determined.

  I still have time to do something great with my life, thankfully. But I shudder to think of those I care about and what they will do when the GB cynically changes a teaching (again) that so many hung their hats on.

  JW's waste their lives. 'No, this isn't your time. THEY are having their reward in full. YOU will have a better future, even if you die.'

  Part of what woke me up was being at Gilead and seeing all the legal forms I had to sign. It was all my decision to go to be a missionary. The WTBTS just made it possible. At any time, the GB could change their mind and send me home. Or another country. I saw plenty of spiritual people with decades invested in the WTBTS cast off like so much dust.

  They were hurt, angry, and still had to pretend that it was all for Jehovah. Their future was now before them, special pioneers (or as I like to call many of these castaways, special charity cases)

  No skills, no savings, just memories. They get to watch their "mother organization" change the rules as they ruin more lives.

  It pays to not be naive.

  JW's have a real problem, it's over 100 years in the making. They are so willing and want to believe, instead of just cultivating the ability to accept the world as it is and do your best within it. Instead, they chase a mirage of the GB's making.
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  4

  Jehovah's Witnesses are Politically Correct

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  call this a really big deal as far as i am concerned.

  at the very least, a connect the dots moment.

  below is a link on political correctness.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Speaking about the unexamined life not worth living.....

  I'm gaining on it.

  I didn't get out of thisblog the business part of it, but the realization in me that at certain times, I have matched the description of the politically correct manipulative personality. Esp in my JW years.....

  I try not to be that way. It has been a 5 year process to learn to speak my mind. The very first time I did that was my dual 'Dear John' and resignation letter when I first left. Sort of a cannon blast saying where I was at.

  For me, I feel some people aren't worth being polite to. Civil, always. Polite? Go out of my way? I still have over half a life to live.... I don't have time.

  Still giving this one some thought....
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  25

  Survey - Are DF'ed ones allowed to be around for the prayers at the meetings where you live?

  by StandFirm in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  and please state the general area you live in, if you could.

  thank you..

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  AllTimeJeff

  Disfellowshipped people are allowed to stay for prayer at meetings if they so choose. Many don't stay, and many do. Additionally, I know rogue elders will put in their own opinion and state them to DF people.

  You can't account for the rogue elder.

  Having said that, it is the policy of the GB that disfellowshipped can stay for prayers or attend meetings so long as they cause no disturbance.
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  4

  Jehovah's Witnesses are Politically Correct

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  call this a really big deal as far as i am concerned.

  at the very least, a connect the dots moment.

  below is a link on political correctness.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Call this a really big deal as far as I am concerned. At the very least, a connect the dots moment. Below is a link on political correctness. (and in case you are interested, my biggest post JW challenge.

  The One Personality Trait You Shouldn't Trust

  The main point of this blog is that overly polite, overly politically correct people are not to be trusted, that there is always an agenda underneath, just waiting to blow up a relationship or business.

  Enter JW's. And me.

  All my life, I learned by imitating the elders and knocking on doors how I could relate to everybody. That's the one whole key to JW's, when you first meet one, they try to relate to you. That is the whole point behind the 'How to Overcome Conversation Stoppers' in the old Reasoning book. The one key technique is to overcome any genuine objection by diving right into it as if it were a pool.

  Christian? So are JW's. Muslim? Hey, you are monotheistic, just like us? Atheist? Can't blame you, we can show you everything wrong with all religions. (of course our's is the one true one...) Agnostic? Hey, we JW's are on that same road, sometimes we get confused about things like Gentile Times, 1914, the word generation. Sometimes, we can't find our own @$$ with two hands and a flashlight.

  That is why the GB, and most "company man" elders seem so.... vanilla. They smile with a far away look in their eye. Whether it be at a householder's door, or dealing with someone at the KH, an elder is always looking to relate, to put you at ease, in order so that they can influence whatever discussion or situation they are in.

  It's called Manipulation 101.

  Of course, we all know that, but I find in myself this horrific tendency to carry on with all the influence that the elders have taught me, to try and relate to anyone and everyone, at the expense of.....

  At the expense of me. Something I see in many other former JW's on this site and those I have met, esp when they first leave.

  Now don't get me wrong, I am me. But under stress, sometimes, I break down. I try to "feel" or understand what others might be thinking or feeling, esp about me. It doesn't happen to often these days, but it does happen.

  Instead of being authentic, I try and slice the baby in two. Instead of offering the uniqueness of me, I try instead to sell how I am just like everyone else.

  This blog has been an eye opener. Here I am, and most people, yeah, those damn worldly people, value differences. They actually like a more acerbic me, ready to give an opinion as opposed to meld with the collective.

  JW's are politically correct, not to avoid giving offense, but to manipulate.

  I wonder if like me, many who leave must deal with the after effects of this legacy. Always trying to relate to and manipulate others, instead of giving voice to the uniqueness that is each of us.
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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Shamus, it's ok. I do fit the phrase "Women want him, men want to be like him, monkeys pretend they are him."