Little Toe! I remember a debate you and I had when I first came on here. Many years later, my views have changed somewhat. I wish you well and hope you are doing great!
AllTimeJeff
JoinedPosts by AllTimeJeff
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255
Going out with a bang
by LittleToe inafter much deliberation, i decided to go "out" at the end of a public talk.
it didn't go down too well, but at least i was able to give some of my reasons for leaving.. i've put some of the details on my homepage.
i'll update it more when i get the time and the strength.
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183
What are your favourite movie lines/quotes????
by karter in''well there's one thing you got ta ask yourself punk....you felling lucky...well do ya punk".....clint eastwood dirty harry.. "it's life jim but not as we know it" capt kirk star treck..
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AllTimeJeff
"I'm your huckleberry." Tombstone
Anything from Godfather
"Leave the gun. Take the cannolis."
"Keep your friends close, and your enemies closer."
"Everytime I think I'm out, they keep pulling me back in." (special JW/Godfather edition comment)
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86
More "Elders" Doubt They Are Appointed By The "Holy Spirit"!
by Bubblegum Apotheosis inthe study edition of the watchtower says the elders are appointed by jehovah's holy spirit.
it's confounding the society does not realize that more and more elders, do not accept this claim.
i have racked my brain, wondering how many brothers and sisters actually believe this, fall hook and sinker.
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AllTimeJeff
Poopsie, there is the world that JW's see, of which eggnog is representative, and then there is reality, which is where everyone else lives.
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Why am I so special?
by Wayward Son inif we are to accept that intelligence plays no part in wether or not we become duped into a cult, then the same rule must apply to those who wake up and make an exit.. so why am i so special?
i had basically the same experiences as my family and i am the only one out.
i don't claim to be some towering intelect, but even if i were it shouldn't matter.
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AllTimeJeff
We are designed to survive first and foremost. Many JW's who don't believe stay in as a survival strategy.
If you can convince yourself that you will be ok, those who want to leave will. If you don't believe that, you won't.
As far as "seeing" the real truth about da troof, life has taught me that we are all different. Some of it is personality and a willingness to believe or not believe. A willingness to make up your own mind about the evidence, or having your mind made up for you.
The real key is simple; whether forced out or leaving of your own accord, there is a subset of people who don't take everyone's word for it, who is not afraid to consider the evidence for themselves, that are most likely to leave.
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More "Elders" Doubt They Are Appointed By The "Holy Spirit"!
by Bubblegum Apotheosis inthe study edition of the watchtower says the elders are appointed by jehovah's holy spirit.
it's confounding the society does not realize that more and more elders, do not accept this claim.
i have racked my brain, wondering how many brothers and sisters actually believe this, fall hook and sinker.
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AllTimeJeff
Uh yeah eggnog. That is accurate. That is what JW's teach.
Doesn't make it correct of course. But at least we know you can read.
Does anyone realize how much elders talk about the stuff they do in secret at the time of their appointment? Watching 'naughty' TV? Drinking too much? And do most elders confess this at the time? Hell no. They worked too hard to get into the club, and most know what happens to a flock member who has been black listed by the local body.
This cult can claim whatever they want about being appointed by holy spirit, and you can quote bible scriptures and Watchtower articles all day long. What has always been lacking with this group from the time of CT Russell till now is simple evidence. Fullfilled prophecy? Nope. A real spiritual paradise of brotherhood? Only if you are a brother in good standing.
Well, as always, I will point out that if a group of 7 million is going to stand out as different in the world population of over 7 billion, is it too much to ask that you be right, stay right (ie, stop changing your teachings every 20 years) and benefit the people in your flock in practical ways, instead of selling them on the idea that they are happy, but really, you aren't going to be happy till the future?
That's some carrot. The idea that elders are there thanks to the mysterious holy spirit is another pillar of control for this cult, not for spiritual protection. The first thing that elders protect isn't the flock. It's always the Governing Body first, and then the flock if its convenient.
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Which came first for you? Watchtower illegitimacy, or a compelling alternative?
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AllTimeJeff
LIFE is a compelling alternative to JW's.
Definitely the legitimacy was what I questioned. I lived through the dogma and its effect in my life.
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Latest Watchtower page 30... They have some nerve to put this!
by TimothyT inone thing that i have always noticed even when i was a jw is that the jw org has lots and lots and lots of rules for allsorts of stupid petty rules which make no difference.
when you read the bible you see how they are clearly in the wrong here and are acting like the pharisees themselves, who imposed so much pressure on others to conform to the law.
am i missing something here!?!?
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AllTimeJeff
Hey eggnog, do you have your time in for the month yet?
The Governing Body most resembles the Pharisees that Jesus condemned. Rules that change, oral rules that can be given by higher ups, numerous nuances to prophecies and credences.
I am guessing you haven't spent any time at Bethel, so i will cut you a break. You wouldn't be the first person to read fiction and not get it.
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Is it biblically ok to have sex with your daughter or niece?
by Diest ini was hit by this topic after doing reaserch in the old testament.
there are eleven different sexual relationships that are directly condemed in the old testament.
strikingly your daugher and your niece are not listed.
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AllTimeJeff
Is it ok to question using the bible as a guide to living in the 21st century thanks to stories like this?
I read the Old Testament for the first time when I was 10. The last time, when I was studying at Gilead. Let me tell you, in 2005, stories like this are gross, no matter which bible you use or what tradition you come from.
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Christian Atheists, why did you throw the baby out with the bath water?
by Elsewhere in"i contend that we are both atheists.
i just believe in one fewer god than you do.
when you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why i dismiss yours.
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AllTimeJeff
I acknowledge that many believers in god are powerfully affected if they believe that they have had an experience or communication with "god".
Sadly, such experiences cannot be verified, though the behavior of the believer may be altered.
What can be verified are existential items such as love and purpose.
What I think many theists do possess that they don't use is what you say Caliber: What a person can validatefor themselves.
What they lack is the ability to draw the line between what they have proved to themselves and what they can prove to others.
If a person chooses to believe, and allows that to affect them in many positive ways, they only need to stop there and allow others to find their own way.
Unfortunately, it seems like many theists get a bad "Joan of Arc" syndrome, where they fight for "god" on her behalf. If you are going to fight for god, can we at least get a memo?
As a former JW who went way way way up the company ladder, I can tell you that there are few things that will get a person so heady, so intoxicated, as to believe that what they do in life is from the one true god. It causes a person to not consider anything else, and to make unhealthy decisions. In short, it is a dangerous way to live life.
Now, if a JW (for example) were allowed to decide to worship Jehovah, and even keep private beliefs about what will happen to non-believers, that is their right.
Where it get's dangerous is the activities promoted, not the beliefs.
Can one believe and not act on their world? Of course, and this is where it gets frustrating for theists, because the world as it is is VERY different from the "map" they have been given. (such as the bible or other sources of religious dogma)
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Christian Atheists, why did you throw the baby out with the bath water?
by Elsewhere in"i contend that we are both atheists.
i just believe in one fewer god than you do.
when you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why i dismiss yours.
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AllTimeJeff
Isn't this thread a way to make a point to Christians that their view of religion and spirituality isn't the only one out there?