Alpaca

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Posts by Alpaca

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  3

  The Journey

  by purplesofa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this poem is about what we face when we know it is time for a change and for us to go on a journey.. there will be inner and outer voices that want to restrain us from that kind of change,.

  but once we know that the change must happen and the journey must be undertaken,.

  we find our own voice and place in the world.. .

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  Alpaca

  Thanks, Purps.

  The mental dance of the poet and reader always fascinates me. The same words can paint so many different tableaus - among different readers and even the same reader at different times in their lives.

  Definitely a good one for Dubs.
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  22

  I have heard that the WTS is changing their watchtower logo

  by jambon1 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has there been a letter read at the meetings?.

  .

  maybe this has been discussed?.

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  Alpaca

  A rearview mirror would be perfect.
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  13

  i am going to a meeting next week!!!!!

  by oompa in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  not now...................sorry................but i wlll explain later.

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  Alpaca

  Why???
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  15

  HOW LONG BEFORE JWS STOP GROWING?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  any ideas?.

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  Alpaca

  I think you have to define "growing"....

  There are a number of different ways to evaluate "growth."

  As far as I recall, in most countries, their numbers are stagnant as a percent of the total population. Also, last year there was a report that Dubs have the lowest retention rate of any religion in the United States. That means that for every congregation of active Dubs there is probably half a congregation of ex-Dubs (or some other astonishingly big number).

  Also, as another current thread is discussing, the quality of the Dub recruits is in the dumper. Years ago (50s, 60s, 70s), in spite of the flawed theology, the religion did attract (i.e., not born-in) some very intelligent people. Now, they are having a hard time retaining even the born-ins if they have half a brain.

  The only thing the BORG has is the mantra of the "The End is Near....blah, blah, blah....the new system will soon replace this system...blah, blah, blah...."

  How long are Dubs going to swallow the company line? Forever? Maybe, but I don't think so. They are already suffering significant erosion of quality and numbers. Plus the internet exposes them at every turn. For the old-timers, I think when 2014 rolls around, they are going to realize that the GB are just a bunch of self-deluded, megalomaniacs who are really just pathetic little men.
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  23

  Doesn't this quote ring a bell?

  by WingCommander in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "when our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means.

  when our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger.

  when we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.

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  Alpaca

  Did the "paste" key get stuck?

  With regard to the quote being discussed, all I can say is "WOW!!!" As weird as the BORG is getting it would not surprise me if some sort or a Jonestown scenario developed. It is difficult to say just how, but they have really become a lot more strange in the last 10 years.
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  12

  Why is OPEC still holding us hostage?

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. social
  2. current

  http://www.usgs.gov/newsroom/article.asp?id=1911.

  other than the protests of the tree huggers, i can see no reason [outside of current political thinking] for us not to get this resource working to both 'stimulate' our own economy and to short-sheet the arab greed that holds us ransom.. i am no geo-scientist, but this seem unbelievable.. jeff.

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  Alpaca

  AK Jeff,

  This morning (either on the Today Show or MSNBC) T. Boone Pickens was interviewed on this very subject.

  If you get a chance to watch it you should. He discusses the current circumstances of U.S. energy sources and options.
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  129

  Why I am an atheist

  by Awakened at Gilead in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  someone (a born-again exjw) on youtube asked me why i was an atheist... i crafted a brief response... it follows:.

  1. religious reason: there is no proof for god outside of the bible.

  once i dropped my belief in the bible, the judeo-christian concept of god fell apart like a house of cards.

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  Alpaca

  Hi Lance,

  I went through a similar epiphany of thought. Actually, I got so intrigued with the story of the earth and life on it that when I went back to school did my undergraduate degree in geology. Then went on to the masters... just graduated with a geology M.S. in Decemeber.

  One of the recurring lessons of geology and paleontology is that no species is special. Humans have a tendency to think we are special, but we are not. Species appear and disappear in the geologic record. Some persist for a long time, while others are a "flash-in-the-pan." Some species develop, evolve, radiate and exploit all of the genetic potential they have. Others find their niches and there they remain for hundreds of millions of years.

  I have my doubts about the long term prospects for humans, but that doesn't diminish my fascination with the "ultimate story" that the study of geology offers.

  You are definitely on the right track by embracing the truth of what science has revealed to us.

  All the best and ROCK ON!

  Alex
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  40

  My Resignation Letter

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i never did post this here.

  i am posting it now for posterity's sake.

  its been a few years, but, its good food for thought.

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  Alpaca

  AT Jeff,

  Thanks so much for sharing your letter.Great expose of the lies and presumptuous pomp that is the hallmark of the BORG and the GB.

  Just a thought...but it seems like there was a transitional period, just prior to and after the publication of the "Aid to Bible Understanding," with respect to the kind of research you did on the 607 BCE date.

  During the years leading up to the publication of the "Aid" Book the BORG encouraged deep study of the scriptures...especially as it related to doctrinal issues. For quite a few years we only had a mini "Aid" book with articles A - E. I remember spending many hours with the Diaglott and the Kingdom Interlinear to fully grasp the nuances of grammar surrounding John 1:1 that related to the Trinity. I was taking Latin in high school (early 70s) at the time, so the grammar analyses that the BORG offered for John 1:1 and other scriptures intrigued me.

  But after "Insight on the Scriptures" and the "Proclaimers" books, it seemed as though the BORG tried to squelch any research other than the prepackaged answers they provided. In retrospect, it's clear they realized they had painted themselves into a corner and that anyone with half a brain would quickly find the discrepancies and flawed logic if they spent just a little time "researching."

  I doubt that very many active Dubs even have the skill to research and critically analyze anything. They are expected to just blindly swallow everything and anything that the BORG tells them is historical fact. Funny thing is that this is exactly the criticism the BORG used to level at the Catholic Church...it was sufficient for the clergy to explain things to an unquestioning congregation.

  Today the BORG is a mere shadow of it's former pseudoscholarship (that unfortunately dazzled enough people into thinking it was real scholarship).

  Your observations are always appreciated.

  Thanks,

  Alex
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  11

  Death is all I see lately

  by Decided in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my daughter's farther in law died this week.

  also my neighboor, and a woman i had worked with for years.

  it really makes me sad to see so many people i know dying.

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  Alpaca

  Hey Ken,

  I think it is safe to say that many of the people, who participate in the discussions on this board, have probably experienced similar states of mind at one time or another. Rarely, are circumstances really as bad as they seem at the time you are experiencing them. The benefit of hindsight has proven this time and again for many who have thought things couldn't get worse.

  The key is to get some help from a mental professional. It will make all of the difference in the world. No matter how difficult it may seem, pick up the phone and start making some calls to find help. Many, many people who have been in circumstances similar to yours can attest to the value of counseling. There is no more shame in getting professional help for mental distress than there is in getting help for a physical injury.

  All the best,

  Alex
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  42

  I've got pneumonia

  by sacolton in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after a week-long battle of what i thought was a bad case of upper respiratory infection, i decided to get checked out by my doctor.

  after a chest x-ray, it's confirmed that i have pneumonia.

  i feel horrible.

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  Alpaca

  Hey Sacs,

  Hope you start feeling better soon. It may take awhile before you're feeling 100%

  All the best man,

  Alex