Posts by AllTimeJeff

I got it. It wasn't foggy to me at all. It's just that, if you agree that the end is coming and that these earthquakes "show" how close the "end" is, regardless of religious persuasion, you are gong to get your ass handed to you if you try to make that argument.....

70

Is Richard Dawkins an ostentatious acrimonious supercilious pusillanimous calumnious censorious vituperative querulous embittered obsessive and bombastic bully?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

richard dawkins closes down his free-thinking/free-thought site (www.richarddawkins.net) for 30 days to reconfigure it 'because too many morons were contributing drivel' (he doesn't put it quite like that!

) he is then surprised because those self-same contributors call him everything under the sun (i won't repeat the names flung at him on our ultra -refined boards).

he now wants the site more or less 'peer-reviewed' (by analogy with papers to learned/scientific journals having to be vetted by vips).

AllTimeJeff

I tried to read one of his books and really disliked the tone of his writing.

I know. At the same time, I dslike the tone of fundamental Christians who insist that gays are going to be destroyed by god, that all non (fundie) believers will be destroyed by god. That I am going to be destroyed by god....

Dawkins in essence suggests that if you really believe that, you are stupid. That if you believe the earth was made in 6 days, you are stupid. That it disagrees with science, and ignores the history of all world religions... etc etc etc

I can't help but sympathize with that viewpoint.

70

Is Richard Dawkins an ostentatious acrimonious supercilious pusillanimous calumnious censorious vituperative querulous embittered obsessive and bombastic bully?

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

richard dawkins closes down his free-thinking/free-thought site (www.richarddawkins.net) for 30 days to reconfigure it 'because too many morons were contributing drivel' (he doesn't put it quite like that!

) he is then surprised because those self-same contributors call him everything under the sun (i won't repeat the names flung at him on our ultra -refined boards).

he now wants the site more or less 'peer-reviewed' (by analogy with papers to learned/scientific journals having to be vetted by vips).

AllTimeJeff

This is a funny parody of Dawkins schtick.

Dawkins of course is most justified in his views, which I imagine ticks off a fair share of theists.

27

Understanding JW Recruiting Concepts Can Help Others To Leave

by AllTimeJeff in

understanding jw recruiting concepts can help others to leave.

when i first left jehovah's witnesses (jw's), i was somewhat amused at the sheer amount of anti jw websites out there.

while websites like freeminds.org and jwfacts.com are great, (non hysterical sites that stress fact and presentation over emotional responses), there are at least 5 times as many other sites that act as if you should treat a jw at your door like you would a spreader of the ebola virus.. i don't disagree with the fact that jw's are somewhat dangerous and usually go for the low hanging fruit.

AllTimeJeff

"Real life stories" from apostates are seen as lies. For long timers I do think you have to attack the dogma.

I agree. However, long timers have long time indoctrination. I think a combination of both is best, but again, it ultimately is up to whether a person is of the mind to consider the information in the first place.

Not all JW's are fooled, and not all JW's are worth trying to "save" or otherwise talk to. They are who they are.

17

Should our posts keep visiting Jehovah's Witnesses from being upset?

by hamsterbait in

jw
friends

on another thread, i just said that i refuse to pander to the cult sensibilities of visiting jws by wording my posts in a way that will not offend them.. i am convinced that any dyed in the wool jw, will be offended by any of the "apostate" content of this board, no matter how witness friendly the words and phrases actually used.. even now, i can see a jw being offended by the word "cult".. they are also no doubt offended by the suggestion that they have "sensibilities" rather than true beliefs that should be respected.. they are offended that i disagree with them and see the need to start a thread like this.. if it scares away a reniaa, it will save us endless wasted hours dealing with hijacked and derailed threads.. and, actually if a jw is offended by my way of dealing with the damage, it is a pity they can't respect my own feelings.. i am not in the business of saving people from themselves.

those who leave the wt organisation do so because they are ready to and are sick of it.

hb.

AllTimeJeff

At best, internet boards like this are a resource. They aren't the first cause why a person leaves. The first cause is the permission a JW gives themselves to think for themself and determine to consider other viewpoints besides the GB.

Every JWN poster is an individual, and if you think about it, it is individuality that is most offensive to a trained and indoctrinated JW. The underlying message from the GB to those who leave is "You prideful son of Satan, how dare you leave US!"

So whether you try to be nice, or as straightforward to the point of rudeness, it won't matter, to an indoctrinated JW, the point is that you dare left in the first place and spoke your mind, whatever happens to be on your mind.

Real life ain't pretty, and people are people with their own opinions. This board reflects that. We overrate the board if we think some kind of united effort here will actually help JW's to wake up.

Remember, as a JW, you were trained and told how to respond, how to think. Until someone of their own volition allows for the possibility that they can consider the words of other former JW's it doesn't matter what is said. So if you think anger will attract a proportianate amount of JW's, I would disagree. I also think a fair amount of empathy is in order. We were once them, and for a while at least, we believed a lie. So are many who are still in.

14

Well, its Hockadeddon at the Olympics

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

i expect our canadian friends will be unavailable in about an hour for the next 3 hours.

if canada wins, i wouldn't expect them at all the rest of the day.. usa!

usa!.

AllTimeJeff

I expect our Canadian friends will be unavailable in about an hour for the next 3 hours. If Canada wins, I wouldn't expect them at all the rest of the day.

USA! USA!