Posts by AllTimeJeff

49

Avoiding the snare of masturbation

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

http://cultprevention.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-snare-of-masturbation-spoof.html.

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AllTimeJeff

I perceive masturbation as normal and healthy. Problems only occur when this natural activity is given a taint thanks to various religions. (certainly JW's aren't the only ones who believe masturbation unhealthy)

Homosexuality is also something that I consider normal. Sexual attraction is not regulated by physiological factors alone. My main concern here is personal automomy. If two consenting same sex adults wish to have a sexual relationship with each other, then they should be allowed without having the stigma of having it be considered a disorder in any context.

I couldn't disagree more with JW's, and the larger Christian community in general regarding homosexuality.

49

Avoiding the snare of masturbation

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

http://cultprevention.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-snare-of-masturbation-spoof.html.

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AllTimeJeff

thetrueone

I don't necessarily think you are a bigot. To say that gay sexual orientation is a disorder is a hurtful view. It hurts the larger gay and lesbian community. Just because it is different doesn't make it a disorder. The use of the word "physiological" disorder is to ignore the many kinds of sexual behavior that heterosexual couples engage in that could hardly be called "physiologically correct".

Those are your views, I just wanted to share mine. I personally would be careful about labelling any conduct a "disorder". There are many kinds of behavior that are mentally unstable, but being gay isn't one of them.

310

Mill Hill Disfellowshippings

by BorgHater in

jw
friends

a few months ago there was a thread about a couple of elders at the mill hill bethel being disfellowshipped because they disagreed with some wt doctrine (i can't recall exactly what it was) and that several other betheliteswere under 'investigation'.

i haven't heard anything since, does anyone know anything more about this?.

borghater xx.

AllTimeJeff

Hi there. I just read this and want to say I respect your conscientious stand. That isn't something the borg is used to me thinks.

Wishing you all the best in the future.

49

Avoiding the snare of masturbation

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

http://cultprevention.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-snare-of-masturbation-spoof.html.

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AllTimeJeff

thetrueone

I don't want to hijack rebel8's thread, but I can't let this go by. The gay and lesbian community has been battling the stigma that their sexual orientation is somehow a disorder of somekind forever it seems. This kind of ignorance has allowed various kinds of bigots to engage in hate crimes up to their death, to say nothing of bullying and hateful speech that no one should have to put up with.

I realize that it is your right to believe this. Many Christians do. So I can't say I am surprised. But you are wrong, and what you say is ignorant and prejudicial.

Lastly, I really don't want to hijack this thread, so I consider myself as having had my say. If you want to discuss it on another thread, that is fine with me. I am not calling you out for a debate unless you would like to discuss this further elsewhere. I realize that people like you are everywhere. I hope that you will stay open minded in the future, because what you currently believe regarding gays and lesbians is not true and hurtful.

49

Avoiding the snare of masturbation

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

http://cultprevention.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-snare-of-masturbation-spoof.html.

.

AllTimeJeff

thetrueone said

Once again people should not take advise from stupid men with the power of god in their hands.
They still think its masturbation that causes men to become homosexual, where it is actually a genetic disorder.
I guess you cant help being stupid and uninformed when you read and emulate the social mindset of a culture that lived thousands of years ago,

your bound to become complacently ignorant in one way or another.

Thetrueone, given my tendency to being overly literal, I don't want to mistake what you said here about homosexuality being a mental disorder. It seems like you are contrasting your view of homosexuality being a mental disorder to the JW view that it is caused by masturbation.

I would allow that you are being satrical here. I hope so...

...because if you really do believe that homosexuality is a mental disorder, I would find that extremely offensive. It simply isn't true.

49

Avoiding the snare of masturbation

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

http://cultprevention.blogspot.com/2010/01/avoiding-snare-of-masturbation-spoof.html.

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AllTimeJeff

Oh.... I get it!

I suffer from a literallness problem sometimes....

41

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 1-17-10 WT Study (PLACE IN CONGREGATION)

by blondie in

jw
friends

(romans 12:4-8; 1 corinthians 12:12-28; ephesians 4:15, 16; colossians 2:19).

8:34,35.. comments.

4:15.. comments.

AllTimeJeff

Thanks Blondie

ATJeff's comments

Par 3. One way to find our place in the congregation and give evidence that we treasure it is to cooperate fully with "the faithful and discreet slave" and its representative Governing Body.

This is crap. There is no such thing as the faithful and discreet slave with Jehovah's Witnesses. Only their now capitalized since 1971 Governing Body. (formerly, the governing body.) This is actually a useful propaganda tool for the GB to keep the attention off them. It makes them appear humble, as they hide behind the nearly over 9000 who partake at the memorial each year.

In short, the faithful and discreet slave is an intellectually dishonest play by the GB. They are the only annointed ones who have any authority.

Par 3. We need to examine our response to the direction we receive from the slave class. Over the years, for example, we have received pointed direction on dress and grooming, entertainment, and improper use of the Internet. Do we carefully heed this good counsel so that we are spiritually protected? What about the admonition to establish a regular routine of family worship? Have we taken the advice to heart and set aside an evening for that purpose? If we are single, are we making time for personal study of the Scriptures? Jehovah will bless us individually and as families if we follow the guidance of the slave class.

Notice how they don't say how we need to follow the direction of the Governing Body, but instead the slave class. Disingenuous. The GB needs to have on their charter "Jehovah's Witnesses, run by the Governing Body, Doing Buisness As (DBA) the faithful and discreet slave "

Par 5. We need to guard against developing a spirit of independence. By word or action, may we never challenge the channel of communication that Jehovah is using today. (Num. 16: 1-3) On the contrary, we should cherish our privilege to cooperate with the slave class. And should we not strive to be obedient and submissive to those taking the lead in our local congregation?--Read Hebrews 13:7, 17.

Independent thought is evil and wrong. Blindly accepting everything that this "channel of communication" (The Governing Body DBA the faithful and discreet slave) says is the #1 requirement of being a JW, even more important then pioneering.

Par 15. At times, it may be difficult for an unmarried sister to find her place in the congregation. One sister who has experienced this stated: "A life of singleness can occasionally be a lonely one." When asked how she copes with the situation, she said: "Prayer and study help me to find my place again. I study about how Jehovah views me. Then I reach out to try to be helpful to others in the congregation. This helps me to get my mind off myself."

Wow. This is akin to the efforts the GB tried in the 70's to give out advice to married couples and teenagers. This is dismissive, and practical experience shows that unmarried sisters really do have a difficult time bonding to their KH family. It really isn't anyone in the congregations fault. The GB demands so much (just re-read this damn article again and remember that you have to work fulltime, go to school, etc, or pioneer....) how much time is left for the single sisters. Yet, single sisters are promised that the congregation will make time for them, time that the congregation doesn't have.

In conclusion, this is a particularly sickening WT article, with sparse scriptural references.

20

strange experience by a Br. from the GB at assembly

by inbetween in

was on summer, experience went like that:.

"a couple from russia, sold even their house in order to be able to attend an assembly in germany.....".

basically no more information given.

AllTimeJeff

Suffice to say that almost every experience that JW's use should be viewed as at best, altered, out of context, not telling the whole story, and very likely, wrong.

They could have chosen an experience about a missionary who went to Africa, was almost killed twice, then left their fruity little cult after he realized that the dogma was ridiculous, that they were hypocrites, that their own history damns them, that they are false prophets, etc. That would have been the truth about me. I doubt an experience that is that truthful will ever be in their propaganda magazine, the Watchtower.

I used to love the life stories in the WT. Now, I remember them as sad testaments of devotion to a cult that had as its intent the goal of using up every young and able bodied person they could find for their cult agenda.

Assembly experiences are even worse. Who the hell knows where they come from. At least in the WT, you can go back to it in writing, because they are sooo specific these days. *rolling eyes*

A typical WT experience would be as follows

19 year old Sarah (name has been changed) received a scholarship offer to a prestigious university. (Probably Long Island Community College, but I digress) Sarah (not her real name) was also being pursued by a young man whom she had known at high school for years. How would she deal with these dark and sinister temptations of Satan?
Sarah (not her real gender) reports: "At first, the idea of making money, having a college education, not living in a single wide trailer in the middle of nowhere, and not being alone or married to a JW @$$hole was very appealing. But then I realized that by trying to take care of myself, I would not be putting the interests of Jehovah The Governing Body first in my life. After a long talk with my parents and 2 elders, I made a correct decision."
Sarah (a hemophrodite, fictional character we made up) rejected the scholarship and told the boy that she couldn't date out of her faith. Several years later, though leading a simple life and living alone in a single wide trailer in the middle of nowhere, knows that she has spiritual riches in heaven. (even as we, the GB, have material riches now)

Sometimes, I really hate what the GB does to people. Manipulative lot aren't they?

26

WT study article Jan 17 2010

by Mickey mouse in

"treasure your place in the congregation.".

dozy did this exercise previously but i thought paragraph 5 was worth looking at agan.. let's change the perspective to the first person:.

"the spirit that now operates in the sons of disobedience" is so widespread that it is like the air we breathe.

AllTimeJeff

Great comments.

The WT has a nasty habit of inviting critical scrutiny of everything except their own BS. But there is a further reason. They change, cover up, and lie about past and present teachings, as well as the inevitable future changes that are coming. (like everyone in the ex JW community saw had to happen with their former "generation" teaching)

I do believe that makes them hypocrites.

87

DOES THE BIBLE really really EXIST?

by Terry in

the bible did not exist in jesus' day nor in the lifespan of his apostles.. people didn't walk around with one (bible) tucked under their arm.. christians didn't carry one (bible) door to door for preaching and teaching.. the closest thing to the bible was the septuigint greek translation of hebrew scriptures which not one person in a 10,000 had ever seen!.

creation of the septuagint (wikipedia article).

...in the third century bce[6].

AllTimeJeff

Btw, for XJ4EVR specifically, and ridiculers in general, remember an old lesson from our former cultish religion:

Apostates were bad evil people to be avoided. Not because what they said or asserted was correct, but because if it wasn't in the WT, then it was wrong. It could then be ridiculed, simply for not being in the WT.

So I hope you will excuse me if I point out that while XJW4EVR is correct in his assertion that Wiki doesn't pass scholarly muster for college papers, that shouldn't in any way cause the information contained therin to be rejected. This isn't college. and XJW4EVR has the ability to specifically address any point of disagreement or contention. Instead, he tries to demonize the whole argument by starting a sideshow argument on the merits of a Wiki quote.

Thats weak.

All quotes in that Wiki quote were referenced, attributed, and easily researched. Having read Ehrman and Metzger, I know that this is what they said. Also, frankly, the history of how the bible got to us is easily found, and one cannot help but see the naked politics behind the assembling of the now accepted bible cannon. Thats history.

Now I understand if you are a Christian how that information and the assertions Terry made might make you feel uncomfortable. So be it. Why would it make you feel uncomfortable though? Because the assertions are lies and are wrong, or is it because it causes one to cast a different light on their faith and the source of it?

In any case, XJW4EVR, we know that colleges don't want Cliffs notes, and using other people's research in their papers. So what does that have to do with Terry's treatment? This isn't college, its a commentary, a truthful one, about how the bible got to us.

So back to the my original point here: Don't use the JW method of ridiculing what you disagree with. Address it head on. Even one point Terry theoretically got wrong will weaken his arguement, right? So XJW4EVR, find that point, and lets go at it.

I expect better of former JW then to use JW debating methods.