Awesome!
Happy Birthday, Nugget!
leavingwt
JoinedPosts by leavingwt
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leavingwt
Hello, and welcome back.
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173
Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs
by breakfast of champions inarticle found here.. .
those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by georgetown university's center for applied research in the apostolate (cara).only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.
this "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.. there were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey.
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leavingwt
Ed Dunlap told me again and again that he thought one of the worst thing the Witnesses did was to spoil honest Christian belief for almost everyone who left the cult - he though they were so disgusted with the Witnesses that they became disgusted in turn with all religion. I think he was right -
(No disrespect to Ed or James Woods intended.)
It's safe to assume that some folks, after having lived through extreme spiritual abuse may have simply left all religion and never given it a second thought. On the other hand, many of the members here have given elaborate testimony of how this was not the case at all. Rejection of specific beliefs came after extensive contemplation.
Would you please elaborate on "honest Christian belief" and what value it has for the ex-JW community?
If Dunlap really did think that was the "worst" thing that WT did to folks, he was ignorant(?) of a variety of more serious consequences that can result from being involved with a destructive cult. The only vantage point from which it could be the "worst thing" is if he believed ex-JWs were going to burn in Hell or miss out on everlasting life, IMHO.
I find Mr. Dunlap's opinion to be very cynical. It assumes that people are too stupid or too damaged to evaluate the available evidence and then make an informed decision about how they would like to pursue happiness, with whatever time they have left.
What church or denomination would Mr. Dunlap have preferred for people to join? Or, did he promote a Long Ranger version of Christianity, that is so popular with those who've experienced spiritual abuse?
If going to church makes your life more enjoyable, by all means do it. I don't miss it one bit.
I'm reminded of a conversation in the film, 'Dazed and Confused', when some characters are discussing the value of going back to college. Substitute "church" for "school" in the dialogue below.
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- Wooderson: I've been thinkin' about gettin' back in school, though, man.
- Dawson: What, like, J.C. or something like that?
- Wooderson: Yeah, man, that's where all the girls are right? But I'd just as soon keep workin', though, keep a little change in my pocket. Better than listenin' to some dip$hit, doesn't know what the hell he's talkin' about, anyway!
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"A man is accepted into a church for what he believes and he is turned out for what he knows." -- Mark Twain
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39
Now That You're Out Of "The Truth" What Do You Do With All The Extra Time?
by minimus inlife is so short and being a witness is such a waste of valuable time.. now, i do not feel rushed or compelled to be at a meeting or out in field service.
much less stress!.
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leavingwt
As a member of a grasshoots movement, I played a small role in helping to change the outdated and tyrannical beer laws in the State of Mississippi.
As of July 1st, we are no longer the only State in the nation with a 5% limit on the alcohol content of beer.
Prior to this law taking effect, 87 of the top 100 beers were illegal in Mississippi. We can now purchase Trappist Ales, decent stouts, good IPAs, and other high-gravity beers. This is something that most people in other States and Western countries take for granted. We fought the teetotalers and we won.
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Video stores in Australia are closing down....anyone know why?
by Witness 007 intwo video stores in my town closed down, but at least i have my blockbuster video store!
$30 a month and i can get 2 movie at a time all month.
yesterday i returned my movies and found they had closed, and a downsized civic dvd store has taken over at $6 per new movie!!!.
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leavingwt
RedBox
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81
How Did You Become An Atheist?
by NewChapter insince there seem to be a number of threads in this spirit, i'd like to ask how others became atheists.
for myself, i learned some things that made me understand the bible wasn't true.
i looked deeper, and it became even more unlikely.
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leavingwt
In 1896, Ingersoll expressed my feelings.
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173
Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs
by breakfast of champions inarticle found here.. .
those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by georgetown university's center for applied research in the apostolate (cara).only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.
this "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.. there were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey.
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leavingwt
Perhaps I should bump this old thread of mine for newer folks. It received a number of interesting responses.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/190395/1/Ex-Atheists-What-Changed-Your-Mind
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173
Atheists: Lowest Retention Rate Next to JWs
by breakfast of champions inarticle found here.. .
those who grow up in an atheist household are least likely to maintain their beliefs about religion as adults, according to a study by georgetown university's center for applied research in the apostolate (cara).only about 30 percent of those who grow up in an atheist household remain atheists as adults.
this "retention rate" was the lowest among the 20 separate categories in the study.. there were 1,387 atheists (weighted) in the survey.
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leavingwt
Many atheists attend church and are members of churches, in my experience.
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21
Is it possible to attend a KH with a GB member in it?
by Greybeard inwhat kingdom halls do the governing body attend?
my guess is they go to private meetings.
it is very clear the rules that apply to all jw's do not apply to them.
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leavingwt
When I was at Brooklyn Bethel (1994-2000), multiple GB members attended meetings at the 107 Columbia Heights Kingdom Hall. I have personally attended meetings there, and I can confirm that they were in attendance. (Swingle, Barr)
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I've been enlightened.
by Emery inive been lurking for quite sometime and now feel the need to come and noob it up.
it's taken a lot to bring me to read anything critical of the wts.
i used to glance at these apostate sites and shutter in fear because of the obvious demonic venom that can be found :) i am still an active witness and have been in this struggle to stay both in and be removed mentally from this organization.
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leavingwt
Welcome!
