i have just finished reading a great book entitled "believing bullshit" by stephen law, published by prometheus books of n.y. www.prometheusbooks.com.
in it the author outlines how we come to believe total claptrap most often because of the dubious methods used by the promoters of these ideas.. he does not set out to debunk the ideas themselves as the main purpose of the book, though in passing he has to do so with some .like alien abductions, christian science and homeopathy etc.
his main purpose is to expose the methods used to get people to believe,,and how even if the idea being put forward may be good, or a truth, to use such methods is not justified, and leads one open to being sucked in to an intellectual black hole if you are duped by them.. if this book is read by an active, believing jw they will not smell any rats, but by the end of it, if they are honest with themselves they will see the methods used by the wt as totally dishonest and reminiscent of snake-oil salesmen.. it may just free their minds enough.. i cannot praise it too highly, it is a valuable read for anybody, and shows why even college educated, intelligent people can be fooled by bs..
Thanks for your comments, I do believe this is a book that you could get an active JW to read without them knowing what you are about, handing them Hassan's "Combatting Cult Mind Control" is a bit obvious, this one isn't.
It should be required reading for all.
But especially for those whose whole belief system is bullshit.
a elder and a ms.. ms: good morning sir we like to invite you too a very special talk,.
me: i use too walk with you people, i was a elder.
served in the missionary work and served where the need is.
Well done Jam,
It is good that you got across the point that it is the teachings you know to be wrong.
I like to use that expression,emphasising the "I know the teachings are wrong ", rather than the weaker "I disagree with the teachings", they then can either run away, as my last conversation ended "You'll never destroy my faith......" as she ran off down the road, or they can question you further, and find out the truth.
i have just finished reading a great book entitled "believing bullshit" by stephen law, published by prometheus books of n.y. www.prometheusbooks.com.
in it the author outlines how we come to believe total claptrap most often because of the dubious methods used by the promoters of these ideas.. he does not set out to debunk the ideas themselves as the main purpose of the book, though in passing he has to do so with some .like alien abductions, christian science and homeopathy etc.
his main purpose is to expose the methods used to get people to believe,,and how even if the idea being put forward may be good, or a truth, to use such methods is not justified, and leads one open to being sucked in to an intellectual black hole if you are duped by them.. if this book is read by an active, believing jw they will not smell any rats, but by the end of it, if they are honest with themselves they will see the methods used by the wt as totally dishonest and reminiscent of snake-oil salesmen.. it may just free their minds enough.. i cannot praise it too highly, it is a valuable read for anybody, and shows why even college educated, intelligent people can be fooled by bs..
I have just finished reading a great book entitled "Believing Bullshit" by Stephen Law, published by Prometheus Books of N.Y
In it the author outlines how we come to believe total claptrap most often because of the dubious methods used by the promoters of these ideas.
He does not set out to debunk the ideas themselves as the main purpose of the book, though in passing he has to do so with some .like Alien abductions, Christian Science and Homeopathy etc. his main purpose is to expose the methods used to get people to believe,,and how even if the idea being put forward may be good, or a truth, to use such methods is not justified, and leads one open to being sucked in to an intellectual black hole if you are duped by them.
If this book is read by an active, believing JW they will not smell any rats, but by the end of it, if they are honest with themselves they will see the methods used by the WT as totally dishonest and reminiscent of snake-oil salesmen.
It may just free their minds enough.
I cannot praise it too highly, it is a valuable read for anybody, and shows why even college educated, intelligent people can be fooled by BS.
only one is a guy...a mini serve .
one is a reg pioneer.... all are actually pretty key to my biz....three have been there over 20 years (ya...i am a great boss!!!).
how much pressure are they going to get to quit working for me???.
Hope it goes well for you Oomp. It is a very grey area in reality, but it depends on the individual employee as to how they interpret things.
In my old Congo. a guy who employed a lot of bros. and sis. was DF'd, nearly all of them walked off the job. A "worldly" friend of his saved his arse by finding all the necessary replacements, otherwise he would have gone bankrupt.
The problem is that no JW walking away from a job in those circumstances is going to be criticised by the cult, probably more likey praised, even if their attiitude is in fact morally wrong.
Good luck old friend, I am sure it will be O.K, and I hope not too stressful, you don't deserve it.
http://mybrainwobbles.com/2011/06/16/how-i-see-myself-part-iv/.
All the best Bottle ! The future is an exciting place, full of opportunity and fun ! Grab it !
i dont understand all the fuss about 607 b.c.e.
there is exactly the same amount and type of reliable and factual historical evidence that jerusalem fell to the babylonians in 607 b.c.e.
as there is to support the theory that a man named jesus christ lived at the beginning of the first century c.e.. a few million jehovahs witnesses believe the former but they are joined by tens of millions more who believe the latter.. just a thought.. link.
I agree Link, that there is no factual evidence for the "Historical Jesus", as there is no evidence for 607BCE as the date for the D of J.
Perlease, believers in either or both, do not rehash on this thread "proofs" that have been done to death !!!!!
The reason we like to have a pop at the 607 thing is that readers of this site who may believe in it can then see the problem with it, and once 607 is gone, so is the 1919 "choosing by Jesus" of the FDS.
Therefore the GB of the WT/JW's has no authority, and are simply self-appointed cult leaders.
Thus is the mind freed to examine any and all beliefs in a rational way, true freedom indeed !
my wife and my close friend life is too short is recovering from a hernia operation performed yesterday.
she is doing fine, just a bit sore .
she worked really hard in bethel and had a hernia before from lifting too much in her job back there.
Get well soon LITS !
I have a hernia that I am avoiding having surgery on, unless it becomes a necessity, but it is a bit of an interesting phenomenon, because of it, like Adam, I have no belly button !!
Loveyer LITS, hope the pain soon goes.
without specifics being mentioned as to what it is......(to avoid tipping off certain lurkers).. how many people know about the upcoming summer long campaign?
please use this thread to confirm receipt of your campaign invitation.
take care.
Thanks Sizemik !!!
Sounds great to me ! it almost makes me want to attend to see it at work !
I will pass on the info. , but only to ones that I am 110% sure of.
without specifics being mentioned as to what it is......(to avoid tipping off certain lurkers).. how many people know about the upcoming summer long campaign?
please use this thread to confirm receipt of your campaign invitation.
take care.
I am faded ( as well as jaded) but could someone P.M me the details please ?
I have contact with a trusted friend who would be up for this by the sound of it.
when you step down is it announced at the hall?
ive never seen anyone step down when i went to the hall.
im wondering if they announced when i left..
I was told they did mine nicely, they said I was no longer serving, but thanked me for my years of hard work.
I wasn't there to hear it, by accident, not design.
