You guys are cracking me up!!!
If the lightbulb goes out, is that apostasy? Or only if it takes the other lights out with it?
Georgiegirl
JoinedPosts by Georgiegirl
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24
Breakdown of Forum Members
by Georgiegirl inha!!!.
how many online forum members does it take to change a lightbulb and to post that the lightbulb has been changed?.
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently.
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24
Breakdown of Forum Members
by Georgiegirl inha!!!.
how many online forum members does it take to change a lightbulb and to post that the lightbulb has been changed?.
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently.
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Georgiegirl
HA!!!
How many online forum members does it take to change a lightbulb and to post that the lightbulb has been changed?
14 to share similar experiences of changing light bulbs and how the light bulb could have been changed differently.
7 to caution about the dangers of changing light bulbs.
27 to point out spelling/grammar errors in posts about changing light bulbs.
53 to flame the spell checkers.
41 to correct spelling/grammar flames.
6 to argue over whether it's "lightbulb" or "light bulb"...another 6 to condemn those 6 as anal-retentive
2 industry professionals to inform the group that the proper term is "lamp".
15 know-it-alls who claim *they* were in the industry, and that "light bulb" is perfectly correct.
156 to email the participant's ISPs complaining that they are in violation of their "acceptable use policy".
109 to post that this group is not about light bulbs and to please take this discussion to a lightbulb group
203 to demand that cross posting to hardware forum, off-topic forum, and lightbulb group about changing light bulbs be stopped.
111 to defend the posting to this group saying that we all use light bulbs and therefore the posts *are* relevant to this group.
306 to debate which method of changing light bulbs is superior, where to buy the best light bulbs, what brand of light bulbs work best for this technique, and what brands are faulty.
27 to post URL's where one can see examples of different light bulbs.
14 to post that the URL's were posted incorrectly and then post the corrected URL's.
3 to post about links they found from the URL's that are relevant to this group which makes light bulbs relevant to this group.
33 to link all posts to date, quote them in their entirety including all headers and signatures, and add "Me too".
12 to post to the group that they will no longer post because they cannot handle the light bulb controversy.
19 to quote the "Me too's" to say "Me three".
4 to suggest that posters request the light bulb FAQ.
44 to ask what is a "FAQ".
4 to say "didn't we go through this already a short time ago?"
143 to say "do a Google search on light bulbs before posting questions about light bulbs".
1 forum lurker to respond to the original post 6 months from now and start it all over again.... -
7
Contributions vs donations vs outright literature selling
by Georgiegirl ini know i have a tendency to be country-centric - that is, where i live the society handles "donations" for the literature in one way so i assume it's like that all over the world.. does anyone know which countries still charge for literature (we'll call it the "suggested donation" - whatever) and which don't (like the u.s. b/c of the tax implications).
i suspect that the poorest countries, especially those in latin america, are still expected to contribute both at the door and in the kingdom in order to receive any literature at all.. any current information?.
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Georgiegirl
Hmmm...then they are in bigger financial trouble than I thought.
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100
Polanski moral equivocation makes me sick...
by avishai inhttp://www.huffingtonpost.com/joan-z-shore/polanskis-arrest-shame-on_b_301134.html.
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/09/the_outrageous_arrest_of_roman.html.
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/aleqm5jsliygp7jjrlsryfva5vj_hzhlsgd9b0f3503.
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Georgiegirl
Totally agree with the fact that his crime is utterly disgusting.
Also totally agree with the questioning of why he is arrested NOW. In thirty years, there has never been another opportunity? Doubtful.
Not discounting the fact that what he did was wrong, and in view of the victim's own stated wishes, I would like to know if he has done it again. In other words, is he a pedophile in the true sense of the word or was he a guy who was enamored with his own power and on drugs who had sex with a minor one time?
Oh and the question is by no means a commentary - just curious. Has he continued to molest children or was that a one-time crime? Most pedophiles don't stop.
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Contributions vs donations vs outright literature selling
by Georgiegirl ini know i have a tendency to be country-centric - that is, where i live the society handles "donations" for the literature in one way so i assume it's like that all over the world.. does anyone know which countries still charge for literature (we'll call it the "suggested donation" - whatever) and which don't (like the u.s. b/c of the tax implications).
i suspect that the poorest countries, especially those in latin america, are still expected to contribute both at the door and in the kingdom in order to receive any literature at all.. any current information?.
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Georgiegirl
I know I have a tendency to be country-centric - that is, where I live the society handles "donations" for the literature in one way so I assume it's like that all over the world.
Does anyone know which countries still charge for literature (we'll call it the "suggested donation" - whatEVER) and which don't (like the U.S. b/c of the tax implications). I suspect that the poorest countries, especially those in Latin America, are still expected to contribute both at the door and in the Kingdom in order to receive any literature at all.
Any current information?
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Trying To Make JW's Seem "Normal", One Cult Member At a Time
by AllTimeJeff init hasn't been till the last couple of months that i have even given a passing thought to jw apologists.
as welcome as they are to post their opinions, i am struck by something that i recognize in myself and others as i reflect on my jw past.. basically, there comes a certain point, where if you are going to stay a jw and you are of a bit more "liberal" mindset, that you will try to change the focus a bit.. i recall this happened to me.
as a ms, i was very gung ho for most jw dogma and ways of dealing with people.
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Georgiegirl
I actually have alot of responses to this but am going to keep it to just one because, well, frankly, I'm procrastinating on writing a paper that is due and I have a major exam for which I have to study (sigh).
Re: "Continue to say that you are allowed to openly question JW beliefs in the congregation. Continue to insist that you are loving, while apostates are not encouraging or loving."
This is so true, and it really amazes me that they don't see it. It truly is "straining out the gnat but gulping down the camel" - is the F&D ever going to say:
1. You are not allowed to be on the internet. 2. You may not ever question anything we say or you will be disfellowshipped.
Of course not!!! It would be incredibly stupid and there is no way they can ever twist scripture enough to support that. It would be blatent enough for even MOST of their followers to have a huge dissonant moment.
Instead, "direction" is done through guilt and inference. "A TRUE Christian would never WANT to associate with those who have LEFT GOD. One who truly loves Jehovah and his organization would avoid being on internet forums and associating with those who tear down the teachings of our loving Creator." So an apologist says "See? They LOVE us! They don't ever say we CAN'T. This is LOVING DIRECTION to PROTECT US".
And the sad thing is that while we were "in" we couldn't see it either. A fabulous example of this is the thread OTWO started a couple of pages back about mind-controlling statements in the WT. Look at the statements in black and white...and then read the responses. Kinda scary.
Sigh. Ugh. Off to do homework. Hmmm...maybe the prohibition against college when I was a kid wasn't such a bad thing!!! ;) I'M KIDDING.
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26
Watchtower Quotes on Mind-control
by OnTheWayOut inmany are not sure or deny that wts is a dangerous mind-control cult.
here is some food for thought on the "dangerous mind-control" part of that.
(cut and pasted from http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=122936768817 jehovah's disfellowshipped witnesses/facebook).
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Georgiegirl
WOW. (falls out of chair) And with that last comment by AE, this just became a great example for my university presentation on cultic thinking and the inability to see things clearly. Thank you!!!
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35
"They are only human"
by Georgiegirl in(sorry for untitled post before - my pc must have the demunz).
am i the only one who gets incredible irritated by the excuse "they are only human"?
geez, i had no idea.
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Georgiegirl
Well...except for ME of course. I am a goddess. ;)
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Jehovah Witnesses are NOT a bad Cult but man made type spiritual guide
by Butterflyleia85 inwhen i was a jehovah's witness i remember these debates being mentioned about the raps of innocent children that elders commented, the blacks and whites segregation, the crosses and christmas tree in the bethal, etc.
jehovah's witnesses have always been harassed for these things.
with the changing world and knowledge of the scriptures they work hard to try to work towards accurateness.
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Georgiegirl
I think the feelings you have are perfectly normal and very understandable. The Bible has been a very positive influence in the lives of many. And - it's easy to see that there are many who have followed its teachings have become happier, more productive people.
Does that evidence mean that you should just accept the Bible as inspired by God? And by extension, does the fact that the GB produces literature that advocates those teachings mean they are inspired by God?
One of the things that I personally found incredibly helpful in answering those questions was EDUCATION. Not education by the GB in how to become a JW and in their interpretation of the scriptures - I mean an UNBIASED with nothing to gain by it - education. Does your local community college have an Introduction to World Religions class? If so, you might want to consider going. You will learn some facts like: Christianity is the newbie on the world scene. Most of the major tenets of Christianity were already in place thousands of years before the Bible was written. Verse by verse, the major teachings of christianity correspond to the teachings of Buddha and Mohammad.
So tell me...if you read the teachings of Buddha and how he was "inspired" and see that his teachings are very similar to the teachings attributed to Jesus, would you assume that the Pali Canon was inspired of God? What if you had been born in India? What do you think you would believe and have faith in?
One of the common (what I believe to be) mistakes that Christians make is acting as if the world and religion started 2000 years ago, and assuming their way of thinking is the only way to salvation.
I believe you can and will find peace - but only IF you educate yourself - objectively. You are not objective right now - in other words, you have a set of beliefs and you are trying to find something that they fit into - kind of like having a puzzle piece and you are trying to find the right place for it. So...what if...for a little while - you take a step back and see the whole picture? And by "whole picture" I'm not referring to "apostate" stuff or anti-JW information (though there is plenty of it out there). Educate yourself about religion in general. Educate yourself about the religious beliefs of the BILLIONS AND BILLIONS - the majority in fact - of humans who are non-christian. An Intro to World Religion class might be a non-offensive, non-scary place to start.
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35
"They are only human"
by Georgiegirl in(sorry for untitled post before - my pc must have the demunz).
am i the only one who gets incredible irritated by the excuse "they are only human"?
geez, i had no idea.
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Georgiegirl
(sorry for untitled post before - my PC must have the demunz)
Am I the only one who gets incredible irritated by the excuse "they are only human"? I mean - REALLY? Geez, I had NO idea. It never occurred to me the GB was actually HUMAN. Cause now that I know THAT, it certainly explains and excuses everything!!! I'm just so relieved to have that cleared up for me!!!!
Let's see...
Adolf Hitler? Only human!!! So it's ok!
Jim Jones? YES! Only human! Totally excusable that he thought he was annointed from God!
David Berg! (Children of God) I mean - what's sanctioned rape of children when clearly YOU ARE ONLY HUMAN just trying to serve God the best way you know how???
It amazes me that the phrase "they are only human" has become soooo indoctrinated into the hearts and minds of JWs that it can be used as the final answer whenever there IS no good, right, or real answer. How they handled pedophiles? Well..really...the light just keeps getting brighter and after all...WE'RE ONLY HUMAN. Failed predictions and interpretations of prophecy for over a hundred years? Pffft! Seriously, people - you are all upset about THAT? Come on!!! We are ...wait for it....
YES! ONLY HUMAN!!!
(sigh)