Posts by hybridous

94

Karl Marx Genius Of The Modern World

by Brokeback Watchtower in

he was all for getting rid of religions and their delusions for the betterment of mankind.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mydmc1wio8.

hybridous

In his analysis of the movement of history, Marx predicted the breakdown of capitalism, and the establishment in time of a communist society in which class-based human conflict would be overcome. The means of production would be held in the common ownership and used for the common good. In the mention of "human liberation" one should not neglect that, in the level of production, solely the working class is the most oppressed. But either way in the prediction of the future, one shall first know of the past (i.e. the establishment of capitalism and the transitional part of feudalism).

Well, then the historical record finds Marx to be fantastically wrong. Communist societies, instead of eliminating class-based conflict, ensconced it, and perpetuated it. The upper class being those connected to the powers and levers of government, and the lower class being: everyone else.

What's with the reliance on these very bull-crappy imprecise terms like 'common-good'? This is subjective, and probably very intentionally so, since the only definition that matters is the one wielded by those in power.

24

UK Terrorists attacks

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

i don't know if anyone has talked about this yet, forgive me if they have.

but i am just so, so sad that yet more innocent lives have been so brutally taken.

we've now had three attacks in three months and there has been countless terror attacks stopped by the police.. my jw acquaintances see these attacks as proof the end is near.

hybridous

Well, there's hope that people entertain while sitting on their hands, taking no assertive positive action, and merely wishing for a magical turn of events...

And then, there's hope based on sensible theory, rational actions toward a desired objective, and periodic evaluation along the way, to see if the actions are bringing progress toward the goal.

I am about out of 'hope' in any fashion. We are this far in the hole, and cannot even glean a meaningful consensus that there is a real problem which ought to be addressed.

I do think that somewhere down the line, as the bodies pile up, we may approach such a consensus. but only after much more needless violence and death will nature's survival instincts guide our decisions.

41

Anyone read the latest Awake (on the supernatural)?

by LoveUniHateExams in

just read some of this latest awake on the org's webshite.. it begins by talking about the 'supernatural' - wizards, witches, vampires, etc.

- their popularity and why they might appeal to people.

then it goes on to state the wt belief that someone is 'behind it'.. now, i like a few horror/scary films - when i was a kid, i always actually liked being a bit scared by them, tbh.. the silence of the lambs, a nightmare on elm street (1984), the ring, the witch, the thing (1982) and a few others are all great, imo.. they are just genres and subgenres of film, that's all.

hybridous

Has anybody here seen this film? Would you recommend it?

Halloween (1978), IMO, really set the bar for much of what followed...

By all means, if you enjoy the genre, be sure to watch this one!

29

The Trump Connection

by Coded Logic in

i'm a little dumb struck to see that donald trump's first cross word against russia are in support of the jws.. http://fox-news24.com/trump-warns-russia-over-jehovahs-witnesses-ban-and-urges-members-to-seek-asylum-in-the-us/.

is this because trump genuinely values freedom of religion?

or is it because his son in law jared kushner has financial dealings with the jws?

hybridous

'Fake News' is becoming whatever anyone, anywhere, doesn't want to hear.

115

Could a petition to make shunning illegal work?

by aboveusonlysky in

jw
friends

we're currently watching leah remini's series about scientology and the main thing she seems to focus on is the shunning policies of the scientology organization which let's face it are very similar to jw procedure.. i was wondering with all that's in the media recently about bullying could a petition be put together to get the goverment to consider making religiously mandated shunning illegal?

has such a thing been tried before?.

https://petition.parliament.uk/help says the following - .

hybridous

This is a fascinating discussion.

I am trying to think of any activity, (or IN-activity) that a free person is legally entitled to engage in, but which otherwise may not be encouraged/endorsed for a group.

I am thinking that conspiracies to commit crimes are punishable offenses, but because then the crimes themselves are punishable offences.

I am having a hard time imagining how to justify punishing conspiracy to encourage/endorse perfectly legal choices.

The belief in WT is what gives shunning it's teeth. That's how the policy is carried out. Not some armed force that bodily compels adherence to the commands. That makes it more difficult to fathom, IMO, that our friends and family who might shun us are so thoroughly duped (or scared of being shunned themselves) that the internal calculus yields an answer that the continuance of the relationship isn't worth it.

24

When can I let my guard down?

by hybridous in

quick background:.

born-in, but never baptized.

remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs.

hybridous

Hi there, TD, et al...

Yes, I would say that the kids' exposure to JW nuttery is negligible, thus far, due in part to my steadfast protection of them. A level of protection that has rendered me...somewhat weary over the years.

Thus, my interest in knowing when the kids are sufficiently armed against JW ideology. I'd like to, at least *feel* that they are secure and intellectually well-armed enough to rebuff any attempts to proselytize them. Yes, this a question that is ultimately self-serving in nature. If it should bear out that that I cannot assure myself of such protections, then of course I would continue to insulate them from such influences for as long as it be necessary and I am able.

No prior indoctrination. And I am committed to keeping it that way.

26

Dear supporters of Russia's JW Ban:

by Jehalapeno in

this is the kind of government you are supporting.. over 100 gay men have been sent to concentration camps for homosexuals in chechnya and three people have been killed.. stop supporting fascism.. if you support the russia jw ban, what other thoughts and beliefs are you ok with policing?.

if you support the jw russia ban, have you read george orwell's 1984?

don't you realize you are advocating for literal fascism when you support the banning of a belief system?

hybridous

Freedom of religion stops at the point it treads on freedom from religion. And, everybody has that fundamental right too - to be free from religion. How do you satisfy both?

While this is true, I am not seeing how it is relevant to the discussion. The Russian JWs aren't trying to use the state to coerce members of the public to be JWs, unless you mean the children. of JWs that are coerced into baptism (and the fallout that follows).

I wonder if these issues could be addressed by simply prohibiting any minors from entering into a religious 'contract'. Since the JW Org is keen on childhood baptism in order to assert control, that alone could sap their major source of growth.

How much suffering could be averted if everyone had to wait until 18 to commit?

24

When can I let my guard down?

by hybridous in

quick background:.

born-in, but never baptized.

remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs.

hybridous

Quick background:

Born-in, but never baptized. Remainder of family still (by all appearances) loyal dubs. They have largely stopped trying to get me into a Kingdom Hall, and have (by all appearances) accepted my decision to leave the cult life.

These days, I have a family of my own. I have been trying to keep a relationship with the JW family, but am VERY wary of any possible JW influence on the kids (10 years old and younger), and have been very rigidly resistant regarding any attempts to give them any religious 'education'.

I recall folks saying that once a young mind is taught critical thinking, that person is mostly insulated against, not just JW nuttery, but all sorts of flawed (damaging?) ideologies.

My question is about timing. This level of scrutiny I am applying to the JW family regarding the kids is exhausting, and I am looking forward to the day that I can stop worrying about the JW influence because the kids will, at that point, have enough sense of their own to balk at the JW nonsense.

What age do you think that kids can stand on their own against this stuff? Thanks.

63

We Pass the Bread and the Wine Just like in the Bible! But, why is forbidden to eat?

by lusitano o tuga in

see what bridget azaz did!.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzbe5yo7uq4.

hybridous

I always thought that the intent was to underline the notion that the rank-and-file witnesses were NOT in the New Covenant; merely hoping to benefit by proxy.

26

My Anointed Grandma’s Wavering Faith?

by My Name is of No Consequence in

some quick background information: my dad (her firstborn son) died unexpectedly this past october.

his death has really hit our family hard.

personally, i have not totally come to terms with this.

hybridous

Sorry to hear of your loss. Grief is worse, IMO, when we have no time to prepare for it.

My dad also died rather 'suddenly', and while I am glad he did not spend much time suffering, it was difficult to come to terms with.

When it comes to the old folks, I have more-or-less written them off.

It seems to me that old folks have on some level realized what's truly important and because of their limited time left, are willing to cut through all the nonsense.

I have seen this at work, but equally, this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sunk_cost#Loss_aversion_and_the_sunk_cost_fallacy

I am working toward abandoning any expectations of JW family, young and old. I perceive there is a kindness to letting someone's delusions persist toward the end of their life, especially when they have built an entire life around them.

I would merely let grandma set the pace of things, and follow along. Any decisions she makes are hers alone. Enjoy her company while she's there for you. If things get 'real', it might be a time for poignant questions...