i don't know how the folks here feel about u.s. automakers (aka the 'big three').
nevertheless, right now there is a 'bailout' on the table for these folks who seem to have run what were potentially viable companies right into the toilet.
there is an article over at boing boing that i just had to share.
Michael Moore weighs in:
The problem is the cars they've been building. They've never listened to the consumers. They've just gone about it their own wrong way. I'll tell you, you know, I'm of mixed mind about this bailout, Larry, because I don't think these companies, with these management people, should be given a dime, because that's just going to be money going up in smoke or off to other countries.
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/11/20/lkl.michael.moore/index.html
Another big one for me was: Discovering that the WT organization had become my idol. While calling myself a Christian, I had no clue what Christianity was even about. I had a relationship with an organization, not Jesus Christ.
i found this on another website and thought that i would pass it along.. tryingtounderstand.
hi friends, .
i did not write this letter.
Thanks for sharing this. Very moving.
-LWT
i'm amazed at how many on this forum, believe the gb really believes their own lie, that they are god's "official channel".
are there many of you that believe as i do.
i believe somewhere deep down they know they are just fooling people.
Deputy,
Since most dedicated JWs refuse to give opinions, it's hard to answer your questions. Having said that, refusing to give your opinion may be your first clue.
Many of us here were dedicated JWs. We are giving our testimony. We were fooled, misled. We believed we were serving God. Why should we assume that the majority of current JWs are any different than we were?
When the R&F JW refuses to give his opinion, we assume he has stopped thinking for himself. I would submit that this is a conscious effort (though subtle) to deny the facts. He is still thinking, but refuses to tell you what his thoughts and opinions are, this requires more thought than simply revealing his own thoughts in the first place. This is usually caused by fear.
The cult member is taught that any thought that is out of harmony with official dogma is "Independent Thinking", and therefore sinful, rebelious. He clears his mind of those thoughts. He does not speak them, for fear he would stumble others, etc. As you say, this is from fear: a fear of displeasing God or even a fear of the Judicial Machinery, which he he unlikely to admit, as it would show spiritual "weakness".
This level of dishonesty is like, when a soldier, who can't justify his actions, says I was just following orders (passing the buck). With some experience, this isn't that hard to spot. Most of us can see when a witness feels uncomfortable answering questions.
Cult members start with a foregone conlusion: "I am serving the only true God. I am 100% certain that the instructions given to me by the Society are right. Moreover, even if they are wrong (gag) I must follow, because doing otherwise would be an act of disloyalty to God." It's this mindset that allowed me and allows current JWs to do all sorts of awful things, in my opinion. It's disgusting, and I'm relieved to be out of the cult.
Another level would be, the well documented "Theocratic War Strategy". Do you really have to think hard to see, that the WTBS has redefined lying? Where this has been done in courts, do you think the witness doesn't know this is lying? A lie is a lie. It doesn't matter who you are lying too or if the person is entitled to the truth or not.
Agreed. A lie is a lie.
The cult member, engaging in Theocratic Warfare believes he is doing God's will. JWs can be disfellowshipped for "lying", but they will be praised for Theocratic Warfare, as such warfare is just, righteous and necessary, etc.
One thing we agree on: It's a dangerous cult, and the lies and deceptions are wrong, no matter what is going through the minds of the participants. I have helped more than one person recognize the truth about WT and I'm hoping to assist more.
-LWT
i'm amazed at how many on this forum, believe the gb really believes their own lie, that they are god's "official channel".
are there many of you that believe as i do.
i believe somewhere deep down they know they are just fooling people.
OUTLAW,
Thanks for sharing that personal experience. It's amazing how WT can re-write history, and the rank and file start believing it, despite the fact that they know better.
Do you think your parents' actions are the result of the cult indoctrination/mind control? Do they really think they never preached the 1975 thing?
-LWT
"Men are success objects."
http://www.forbes.com/2006/02/11/savage-money-sex_cz_ds_money06_0214savage.html
brother jaracz taught one day of my mts class, the very last day.
when i was in bethel i met brother schroeder, brother sydlik, barr, barry.
i said hi to brother franz once as a kid.. the new ones?
Henschel, Barr, Swingle
i'm amazed at how many on this forum, believe the gb really believes their own lie, that they are god's "official channel".
are there many of you that believe as i do.
i believe somewhere deep down they know they are just fooling people.
I agree 100% with garybuss. We, formerly R & F members, as has been said before are treated like mushrooms i.e. kept in the dark and fed manure.
Whereas those at the top have a good reason to keep us in the dark. Maintaining their powerbase depends on it. If the average dub knew just a fraction of what goes on higher up most I’m sure would leave.
I don’t see Raymond Franz admitting that they all knew it was a fraud as this would clearly reflect on him and the time that he spent as an integral and leading part of this great deception.
I see no point in looking to him for clues.
Raymond Franz, for all his subsequent good work at attempting to make amends for his part in this great deception, it seems is still reluctant to bear his share of the responsibility and hence as far as I know has never apologised publicly for his gross error in perpetuating the Watchtower
SCAM, TRICK, LIE, and the BLASPHEMOUS INSULT that it is, as a previous poster once amply demonstrated.
I just want to go on record, to stick up for Ray Franz. His books changed (or maybe saved) my life. He slaved for the cult for 52 years, only to be kicked to the curb by them.
Please show me some evidence that he is "reluctant to bear his share of the responsibility".
After reading your comments, I can only guess that you've never read either of his books. If I'm wrong, I apologize.
-LWT
i'm amazed at how many on this forum, believe the gb really believes their own lie, that they are god's "official channel".
are there many of you that believe as i do.
i believe somewhere deep down they know they are just fooling people.
Deputy,
Is it just the GB that are knowingly liars? What level does it start at?
Did you know any local elders that knew it was a sham, but went along, enforcing the bull?
I want to understand exactly when you feel they "know" it's a sham, but go along with it, promote it, cover up falsehoods, etc. Do they get inducted into the GB, go to a meeting or two and then realize it's a cult, but just go along anyway?
-LWT
That 607 BCE is a lie, which pulls the carpet from under the entire JW theology.
