Posts by IsaacJS2

14

THE ENEMIES OF REASON;RICHARD DAWKINS ON CHANNEL 4 TONIGHT

by badboy in

jw
friends

he will challenge pseudo-science in this programme tonight.

IsaacJS2

I was religious once, and I can be somewhat sympathetic to the idea that theists won't always enjoy being dressed down by people like Dawkins. But as others have said, Dawkins just doesn't seem all that fanatical to me. He is passionate, but that's not the same thing.

It's one thing when people don't agree. It's another thing when they never seem to be quite hearing you or understanding you no matter how hard you try. It's as if we're speaking a very different language that sounds the same but the words sometimes mean something entirely different. That can be especially frustrating when the cameras are on and your standing on a podium in front of several thousand people who totally hate your guts. I can't blame him when he gets frustrated and lets it show. People even react this way about his books. Yet many of those people haven't even read them.

Dawkins may be passionate, but he's hardly a fanatic in my opinion.

IsaacJ

6

I have another XJW advice article if anyone could use it

by IsaacJS2 in

jw
friends

http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw04whytheyactweird.shtml.

i tried to explain some of the bizarre behavior and conversations that exxers like us have to go through with wt friends and family.

a lot of us find it hard to stand up to the parents, the elders, and all that, especially because we tend to see them as innocently "doing what they think is right" or "meaning well.

IsaacJS2

The reason why JW's over react is simple, they are told to act in this way by the GB.

You're welcome to your point of view, but I believe the issue goes a lot deeper than that. JWs aren't the only ones who act bizarre toward any friends and family who leave their faith. Quite a few believers who adhere to more "mainstream" religions also treat people badly, so JWs aren't the only ones. It's not uncommon for atheists with fundamentalist families to be treated as many of us are treated, for instance. Some non-Witness parents even refuse to talk to their kids after they become atheists or Wiccans or whatever, just as JWs shun the black sheep in their families.

But I'm not even talking about DFing. I'm talking about the weird questions, assumptions, and attitude that actually pushes people away from their religion when they say they're trying to draw us back in. These are not things that have been scripted by the Society, and even non-Witness fundamentalists do them or a variation of them.

My article is meant to help XJWs get a grip on why they're being treated so bizarely by people they once thought were sane on an individual basis. Once they understand, they don't have to feel bad for standing up for themselves as many XJWs seem to do.

IsaacJ

6

Study articles I would love to comment on:

by OnTheWayOut in

i made this comment on stilla's thread, but i thought it could be it's own thread.. as the wts starts the "members only" study mags, it is possible that they will .

bring out newer topics that they didn't want the public mags to have.. joke or be serious (please joke more) but what study articles would you like to see?.

study articles i would love to comment on:.

IsaacJS2

Joke or be serious (please joke more) but what study articles would you like to see?

1. Where does our money really come from? (Hint: suckers just like you! Ka-ching!)

2. Elders: Crushing your will to live one stomp at a time.

3. Feel that? No worries. It's just the Governing Body tightening your leash.

4. Irrefutable proof! Jesus really has delegated his earthly authority to the Governing Body! (You open it and find that the pages are all blank)

5. Swimsuit Issue: Elder's wives in high heels edition!! Woot! (No comment on the condition of the pages inside, though)

6. This just in! We're full of crap. Sorry, our bad.

7. Armageddon has already occured! If you didn't notice, then you might be totally screwed.

8. Practical jokes you can play on Mormons! Tee hee!

9. Young People Ask: Turns out it only rains when Jesus is crying. (And it's probably because of something you did!)

10. Armageddon taking too long. (Maybe we're just full of it? I don't know...)

11. Shunning: how ignoring people like a 6 year old will get people to do whatever you want

12. Lochness Monster attacks WT Headquarters! Governing Body rescued by talking squirrels! Hurray!!

13. Swimsuit Issue: The 20 Hottest Apostates Known To Watchtower Kind!

14. Look, just do what we say. You know you're going to anyway. All right?

15. Satan caught working on the screenplay for Dukes Of Hazzard 2 movie! (Men still flock to theaters to see Jessica Simpson in shorty shorts!)

I could think up a hundred more. But I'm supposed to be taking it easy today on the old brain.

Sure...

IsaacJ

6

I have another XJW advice article if anyone could use it

by IsaacJS2 in

jw
friends

http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw04whytheyactweird.shtml.

i tried to explain some of the bizarre behavior and conversations that exxers like us have to go through with wt friends and family.

a lot of us find it hard to stand up to the parents, the elders, and all that, especially because we tend to see them as innocently "doing what they think is right" or "meaning well.

IsaacJS2

Thanks OpenMind! I worry about the length of them, which is always an issue with my Austin Cline articles. I hope the added "color" helps to make up for it a bit.

IsaacJ

6

I have another XJW advice article if anyone could use it

by IsaacJS2 in

jw
friends

http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw04whytheyactweird.shtml.

i tried to explain some of the bizarre behavior and conversations that exxers like us have to go through with wt friends and family.

a lot of us find it hard to stand up to the parents, the elders, and all that, especially because we tend to see them as innocently "doing what they think is right" or "meaning well.

IsaacJS2

http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/XJW04whytheyactweird.shtml

I tried to explain some of the bizarre behavior and conversations that exxers like us have to go through with WT friends and family. A lot of us find it hard to stand up to the parents, the Elders, and all that, especially because we tend to see them as innocently "doing what they think is right" or "meaning well." I contend that the motives of oppresive evangelists who won't back off are more selfish than we credit them for and that we don't have to put up with this.

I plan to follow this up with another article on how to handle these situations. But I do have this article at Austin Cline's site if you want to see it in the meantime. I think he posted it like a month ago. Note that both sites are run by atheists, so if you're religious and sensitive about it...well, you might not want to explore them as much.

http://atheism.about.com/od/jehovahswitnesses/a/Overreacting.htm

My A.C. articles aren't as "colorful" as the ones on my site tend to be. But it sort of squishes everything down into a shorter form. The stuff is there at both sites for anyone who could use it. Suggestions welcome. You can send me an email using the contact form on my about page or the contact link at the very bottom of my site.

IsaacJ

11

Article, might be useful if you're getting harassed?

by IsaacJS2 in

the article is at my site, here: http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw03whyyouleft.shtml.

it's a list of responses about a few common reasons why exxers leave the society.

it's meant for people who "lock up" when they get asked a big question by their local inquisition.

IsaacJS2

Thanks Awakened. Great news to hear someone finds any of it interesting or useful. I'll be writing more stuff like that soon.

Even it there's nothing else there that interests you (there's some other sections that I haven't find time for just yet) the XJW section is more about advice and help than it is about organizing protests or complaining about how the Society done us wrong. No offense to anyone else, but I think a lot of the atheist sites and the XJW sites out there can get a little depressing much of the time. That actually makes both groups look a little bad. I don't want to shy away from anything, but I'm trying hard to include useful, positive stuff. Especially if it's actually helpful.

Anyway, I'll be doing more stuff like the article I linked to here. These were just 4 of the most basic things. You'll notice that there's stuff in those that you can sorta mix and match if you want to, so if you ever need it, don't be afraid to do that. Even if you have to memorize the thing.

IsaacJ

11

Article, might be useful if you're getting harassed?

by IsaacJS2 in

the article is at my site, here: http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw03whyyouleft.shtml.

it's a list of responses about a few common reasons why exxers leave the society.

it's meant for people who "lock up" when they get asked a big question by their local inquisition.

IsaacJS2

It was thoroughly enjoyable and educational to peruse your site, Mr. IsaacJ. I have bookmarked it in my favourites.

Thanks, Eclipse! Ya made my day.

It's still taking shape, but I'm trying to make it a worthwhile place. Don't know of too many sites that have that particular combination of subjects/angles. I've been trying to get Austin to link to it from the articles I've been writing for him on JWs. Hopefully he'll get around to that.

Thanks again.

IsaacJ

11

Article, might be useful if you're getting harassed?

by IsaacJS2 in

the article is at my site, here: http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw03whyyouleft.shtml.

it's a list of responses about a few common reasons why exxers leave the society.

it's meant for people who "lock up" when they get asked a big question by their local inquisition.

IsaacJS2

Thanks for the complements. I've been trying to update it at least once every day. Took me a couple of weeks to learn enough to really build it, but I'd like to try building some others.

I was a little worried that a couple of the articles were too long. Guess I'll improve over time.

Any way...

IsaacJ

33

Atheists, Agnostics: Do you still pray?

by Eh in

jw
friends

for people who left, not only the organization, but also the canaanite/judaic/christian/islamic/bahai god, do you still pray?

before we left the group we (my wife and i) were questioning the bible and the existence of god.

being witnesses, we were uneducated and never heard of things like pascal's wager, but we (my wife especially) had come to a similar idea - even if the whole thing were ballocks, there was little harm in continuing.

IsaacJS2

No prayer for me, I'm afraid. I can talk to myself by name.

I should probably point out that I get a bit of a bad 'tude when people evangelize to me. Especially if they don't think I know they're evangelizing at the time. Ahem.

No offense, but I think you know where my suspicions lie on comments questions like that.

IsaacJ

11

Article, might be useful if you're getting harassed?

by IsaacJS2 in

the article is at my site, here: http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/xjw03whyyouleft.shtml.

it's a list of responses about a few common reasons why exxers leave the society.

it's meant for people who "lock up" when they get asked a big question by their local inquisition.

IsaacJS2

The article is at my site, here: http://www.atheistgeeknews.com/XJW03whyyouleft.shtml. It's a list of responses about a few common reasons why exxers leave the Society. It's meant for people who "lock up" when they get asked a big question by their local inquisition. I thought I would ask for improvements and let people know in case it's of any use to anyone here.

Oh, and if it sucks, please don't kill me too hard!

Bear in mind that this is predominantly an atheist/exJW site. If you're deeply religious, you may not like everything in some of the other depts.

Thanks.

IsaacJ