Posts by Francois

14

Hate Your Enemies!!

by JWD in

jw
friends

i was standing by the copy machine at a convience store here in japan.

when a local elder who i`ve know for some years came up to me and.

threatened me (his breath had the distinct smell of a couple too many.

I know I must sound like a broken record sometimes, but people who join a cult, and the cult itself, fit into a well-known pattern. Some of the characteristics of a cult are: an infallible leader - often one who speaks for or with God or both - who offers an extravagant hope. It is isolationist. It is authoritative. And it foments an organized hatred toward any who oppose it, developing an "us against them" kind of mentality, and on and on. There are at least a dozen characteristics of a cult.

People who volunteer to join a cult are of a type certain as well. These always are people who feel they are living a ruined life, who have a need for a dramatic change in the circumstances of life in the near future, and who feel they can atone for their miserable, wasted, ruined life by being totally absorbed within a great movement (political, social, religious, etc.) that's bigger than their puny selves.

Thus, the organizational raft to which they attach the sinking ship of their miserable life must for its survival not only hate all who oppose it, but at the same time must justify that hatred and blame the hated ones for their condition. Thus, it was the Jews own fault that the Nazis confiscated their property, blamed them for Germany's sad condition at the end of WWI (the Jews had betrayed Germany from within), hated them with a fanatical, unreasoning hatred, and in the end stole their lives. This hatred of some "other" is one of the glues that hold the movement together. Upon showing certain Japanese visitors to the Reich what use he had made of the Jew, Hitler said that it was fortunate for Germany to have had the Jew in its midst, otherwise, Hitler said, "we would have had to invent him."

The black man in this country has in the past served the same purpose; as has the American Indian in a different time, and still does in some areas of the country today. No doubt the entire population of Taiwan serves this purpose in China, as does the population of Tibet. Democracies served this purpose in Russia. And whatever the organization, the social movement, the religious wave, the political party, you will find a group of virulently hated "others." Hate is a great glue. Humans do it so well, and enjoy it so much.

So it is with "Bablyon the Great" in general to the cult of JWs, and specifically, the "apostate". We serve as one of the "glues" that help hold the JWs together. Hating us is a common activity that all Jay-Dubs can join in together in a group activity and engage in fraternal back-slapping together about how they have scored some "point" or other against the hated "Apostates." It provides a settled feeling of comradery to get together for a nice group hate.

If you'd like to read all about cults and people who join them and why they exist and about their life-cycle and all that makes a cult, get yourself a copy of "The True Believer" by Eric Hoffer. I mention it frequently here, as you would expect, since we ARE dealing with a cult after all, and questions about WHY turn up here all the time.

So, that's one man's opinion about why JWs engage in so much hate of "apostates." And that's a great recommendation for an organization that claims as its spiritual authority and temporal leader Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, the advocate of Love.

Francois

13

"Apostate!"

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

one twit wrote:.

your apostate propaganda is the sorriest trash i've ever read in my entire life,.

let me guess, you were once stumbled by an imperfect person in the orginization right?

Francois

The twit to which you refer was no Christian, either, since it's well known that Christians always, always, always follow Mt. 7:1 and wouldn't dream of judging another.

I, on the other hand, don't claim to be a christian, so I can judge the twit all I want.

29

HEY! 2001 CONVENTION POINTS

by Amazing in

jw
friends

the following is a recent jw advertisement about their upcoming conventions.

it can be found on the jw-media.org site under recent news.

i will quote them in italics and then make my own observations.. jehovah's witnesses office of public information.

Francois

I haven't been to an assembly in something like 25 years, but I see the Borg's compassionate treatment of their robots is still as insightful as ever. Keynote address at 11:50. I remember by that time I was ready to eat the latest issue of the Watchtower and its companion magazine the Awake, for a contribution - to cover the cost of printing - of only.........oops, sorry, an old tape started playing there for a second. I must get that erased.

Anyway, lunch at one p.m. is a trifle late especially for young parents with children. And given the lines, it might just be lunch at two!

20

WTB&TS As Moral Compass

by Francois in

jw
friends

incredible tale of jaw-dropping, eye-popping dishonesty from the borg!.

my father, who continues to be in the borg, managed the construction of one of those 48-hour wonders several years ago.

just a few months later, someone had a "welcome to the neighborhood bonfire" um, using the new kh as the bonfire.. the new hall was, of course, insured and application was duly made for payment so that another soaring, magnificent testament to man's spiritual longing could be constructed.. well.

Francois

LDH,
I'm not offended by your questions, I'm offended by your implication that I may be making up the story about the JWs. We're on the same side, here, and where I come from it's not usual to poke your ally in the eye with a sharp stick. As for onus - I don't feel any even if it is your opinion that there is some. If you want to "prove" the allegation, have at it. This is a chat room, not a court room. I am reporting what I saw and was told at the time by a person who was directly involved in attempting to get an insurance payout for a KH destroyed in an arson-related fire. And frankly, I don't have any Adams Street phone number you can call where someone is going to respond to any questions about whether or not the WTB&TS is engaged in insurance-related activities concerning KHs they finance. The state of Georgia government information number is 404.656.5000 (or maybe 7000), the governor's office 1776. You have represented yourself as the expert - go get 'em.

20

Which is the best translation of the bible...

by TheApostleAK in

jw
friends

50 years ago respected textual critic ernest cadman colwell created an apparatus of 64 scriptures to determine which is the best new testament.

i created a chart using the same criteria...and the results will surprise you!!.

http://hector3000.future.easyspace.com/colwell.htm .

Francois

Hey JanH:

Good point, and logical to boot. How many JWs don't think they've got the best translation on the planet, even if it IS green?

I've found the best way to really get an insightful grasp on the laconic and abstruse Tao Te Ching is to read as many translations as possible. Perhaps the same would work with the bible.

Francois

20

WTB&TS As Moral Compass

by Francois in

jw
friends

incredible tale of jaw-dropping, eye-popping dishonesty from the borg!.

my father, who continues to be in the borg, managed the construction of one of those 48-hour wonders several years ago.

just a few months later, someone had a "welcome to the neighborhood bonfire" um, using the new kh as the bonfire.. the new hall was, of course, insured and application was duly made for payment so that another soaring, magnificent testament to man's spiritual longing could be constructed.. well.

Francois

LDH - you think I'm making this up out of whole cloth? You have doubts that the WTB&TS - which runs a used car agency, a real estate empire, a full-blown farm, a huge printing enterprise, a world-wide proganda agency using volunteer labor, and claims not only to be the only true interpreter of scripture, but actually talks directly to God - is incapable of being involved in using a front organization in a money-making insurance dodge of some sort? Doesn't what I describe sound like standard insurance loss control to you?

The situation I described happened in the state of Georgia in about 1983 or so, but you're wasting your time. I don't think the JWs directly own an insurance company or have a state license. The very reason it took awhile to discover the Borg was involved in the first place was because there was a front organization, a dummy corporation, financed by the Borg involved in this co-insurance, or re-insurance, scheme.

But, hey, if you want to attempt to investigate this little scam, knock yourself out. I do think you should get your evidence assembled before you imply that someone - who was an eyewitness to the events described - is exaggerating, or lying. Not too bright of you.

17

Jokes - Revived

by Francois in

jw
friends

here are just a few, just to see if it flies:.

messages to the ladies:.

sometimes we're not thinking about you.

Francois

What's the difference between a porcupine and a carload of JWs?

The porcupine has the pricks on the outside.

29

Things Only a Southerner Knows: 2nd try

by COMF in

jw
friends

i can't reply to the original thread, but maybe starting a new one will work.. knows what, "well i suwannee !!

it means "i'll swear," and the quote is incorrect.

it's actually, "i'll swannee," or "i'll swan.

Francois

I agree with XJWBill inference: anytime Hollywood wants to portray someone as naturally dumb, they give the character a southern accent. And the rest of the country seems to enjoy poking fun at southern accents. I'd a helluva lot rather heard the smooth, dipthong rich southern accent than have to listen to the fingernails across the blackboard accents of the Rust Belt.

But there is strangness across the land: In Minnesota, If I say I'm going to the store, someone is likely to say, "Can I go with?" No other shoe.

In Tennesse, if you say, "Would you like to go to the store," you're likely to hear, "I wouldn't care if I did," which means they WANT to go!! Of course, what you'd really say is, "I'm fixin' to go to the store."

People from New Orleans don't have a southern accent? All that pepper must be effecting your ears.

20

WTB&TS As Moral Compass

by Francois in

jw
friends

incredible tale of jaw-dropping, eye-popping dishonesty from the borg!.

my father, who continues to be in the borg, managed the construction of one of those 48-hour wonders several years ago.

just a few months later, someone had a "welcome to the neighborhood bonfire" um, using the new kh as the bonfire.. the new hall was, of course, insured and application was duly made for payment so that another soaring, magnificent testament to man's spiritual longing could be constructed.. well.

Francois

Incredible Tale of Jaw-Dropping, Eye-Popping Dishonesty from the Borg!

My father, who continues to be in the Borg, managed the construction of one of those 48-Hour Wonders several years ago. Just a few months later, someone had a "Welcome to the Neighborhood Bonfire" um, using the new KH as the bonfire.

The new hall was, of course, insured and application was duly made for payment so that another soaring, magnificent testament to man's spiritual longing could be constructed.

Well. The insurance company - recommended by Borg Central - filed notification that they intended to pay only for the construction material lost in the fire; you know, the lumber, the carpets, the seats, roofing materials, nails, plumbing...you get the picture.

This was based on the fact that the labor that went into the KH was free. The insurance payment in that case would not have been adequate to reconstruct. And naturally, that's just not the way insurance works. But the insurance company held firm.

"Our hands are tied," the insurance rep said, "Our co-insurer won't hear of paying the fair market value of your structure because your labor was free."

Even when it was explained that the congregation couldn't face another 48 hour building project, and intended to use standard construction methods, the co-insurer wouldn't budge.

Now my father, who is nothing if not bull-dogish in his approach to damn-near everything, started digging - determined to get to the "bottom" of this outrageous situation.

He got to the bottom alright, where I'm sure you've all arrived ahead of me. Right. The co-insurer was the Watchtower Bible & Tract Society. And they never did budge from their position that the labor that went into the construction of the KH was free, therefore they were under no obligation to pay. And didn't.

Is any other evidence needed to illustrate how much the Borg values the ordinary, garden variety, over-worked average publisher and all who worked their butts into the ground to get a KH constructed? And how much the Borg values ethics, moral, and plain old honesty when the chips are down?

troubled [in need of answers]

by zev in

jw
friends

today, i had a long, long talk with my employer.

this person is some one who can seperate work and personal things, so after feeling like i needed to talk to someone, and soon, before i crack up, i went to her and dropped the bomb.

she is not a witness, and because i cannot talk to a witness about what i have learned, for fear of the df'ing thingy, i feel safe in talking to her.

Francois

Man, what a situation.

We all really know when we failed a test, when the light turned red before we cleared the intersection, when we fudged the truth, when a relationship is over. And you've said yours is over already; you're probably right. Most marriages have been over for about two years before they reach the courtroom so they say.

Also, you have described your wife as having a closed mind; she didn't want to hear the result of your research you said. And you already know that a mind is like an umbrella, it only works when it's open.

Seems the handwriting is on the wall, and now it's a question of how much damage you will sustain getting out. That's largely up to you and depends on what you attempt to hang on to and how long you'll hang on.

The instant you want something, anything, from someone else, you make of yourself a slave of that person. And the degree of the slavery is directly related to the degree, the emotional intensity and involvement, of your dedication to getting what you want from that person.

If it sounds like I've been there, you're right. I'm a two-time looser. The first marriage produced two children and I wanted to stay with them with a ferocious intensity. Naturally. And I put myself through hell trying to "make" it work; to stay in the marriage. And in the end, I didn't stay and covered myself with many, many injuries of all types in the attempt to stay.

In the second, there was nothing I wanted from her. Nothing. Including even the time of day. I packed my stuff (and if I didn't need it before Tuesday at lunch, I figgered I didn't need it at all.) and walked out without so much as a goodbye. It was six years before I laid eyes on her again.

Those little stories represent the extremes of slip/slidin' away. And it's up to you where on the scale you'll fall. And that's a function of whether you make your decisions with the mind that discovered the truth about the Borg, or not.

My two cents.

Francois