Posts by GLTirebiter

54

Nelson Mandela - comments of what his life meant to you

by MMXIV in

nelson mandela has passed on.

he was a symbol of hope and peace to many.

has his life and achievements meant anything personal to members of jwn?.

GLTirebiter

This I hadn't heard before: Mandela had a JW connection (link to Freeminds). Mandela's wife was a Witness.

They went on to have four children together one of which died after nine months. Somewhere in the early 1950’s Evelyn converted to becoming a Jehovah’s Witness. This conversion spelled the end of their marriage. Why? Jehovah’s Witnesses teach that the end of the world is coming and all that are not Jehovah’s Witnesses will be destroyed by God. This is a core teaching they have preached for 150 years. In interviews Mrs. Mandela stated:

“Ms. Mandela, a member of the Jehovah’s Witness denomination, separated from Mr. Mandela in 1955 after what her husband described in his autobiography, 'Long Walk to Freedom,' as an irreconcilable conflict between politics and religion."

In another,

"There was a strong lobby within the African National Congress circles for Mr. Mandela to remarry her, but Sister Evelyn stood her ground that she did not consider remarriage and above all her former husband is not a worshiper of Jehovah like herself."

90

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult? (NO APOSTATES PLEASE)

by Brother Mike in

jw
friends

my question is, why do so many think the watchtower bible tract society is a cult?

.

GLTirebiter

An apostate is one who leaves the JW religion

That is true for any religion, not just the Watchtower Society. The Watchtower's door-to-door work is intended to convince householders to become apostates from whatever other religion they hold.

and purposely tries to go out of there way to stop others from learning the truth.

That has nothing to do with the meaning of "apostate." That is the opinion of the Watchtower Society; it is an unjustified hyperbole used to impugn the character of those who leave their organization.

Why do so many think JW Religion is a Cult?

I prefer to say "high control group." The word "cult" has negative connotations that polarize the discussion and bring meaningful communication to a standstill (this thread is an example of that effect.) Those who have endured bitter experiences with the Watchtower's effect on their family, their friends and their own life often refer to the organization using strong and disparaging language; that is human nature. Frankly, "cult" is a rather benign word to describe the root growing the bitter fruit so many former Witnesses have endured.

85

I'm Returing To Become A Jehovah's Witness Again

by Space Madness in

jw
friends

a little background, i faded in 2007 and have been out ever since.

i started studying at 18 and have no jw realitives.

i'm returing because my life is heading in the wrong direction.

GLTirebiter

Although I no longer believe in the Bible, the atmosphere and positive association will help me become the person I use to be. My life is all negative now and I need something positive to balance it out.

There are alternatives. If you don't believe what the Watchtower teaches, you're not likely to find long term happiness there. It's stressful to always be showing a false front. Look for a group where you can be true to your real self, and you will do better in the years to come. Being a hypocrite is no way to go through life.

Don't discount all religions based on your Watchtower experience (or what they say about other faiths). Few use the incredibly strict literal interetation of scripture they insist on, and nobody else uses their pecuilar version of the Bible. Look around and see if there is something that does resonate with you, that you really can accept as being an authentic path for right living. It is not yet time to surrender!

189

Dawkins-The Greatest Show on Earth

by KateWild in

as many may be aware.

i don't like the man.

but i have chosen to review the first chapter of his book.. chapter 1... only a theory?.

GLTirebiter

what were the experiments to find Higg's Boson an attempt to falsify?

The standard model predicts that Higg's boson will have certain characteristics, including (among other things) that it should be found in collisions within a specific energy range. If the experiments had not produced results consistent with Higg's particles in that energy range, it would have falsified some predictions of the Standard Model. If attempts to independently reproduce that (lack of) result turned out the same way, the next job for the theoreticians would be to explain the absence of Higg's particles in those experiments (perhaps leading to a correction of the Standard Model, perhaps to a new model). It would be a setback in a way, but also opens the door to new insights. Discovering that "Everything You Know Is Wrong" often is the first step to a better understanding. Constantly challenging your own beliefs is what makes science work as well as it does, despite the human ego.

189

Dawkins-The Greatest Show on Earth

by KateWild in

as many may be aware.

i don't like the man.

but i have chosen to review the first chapter of his book.. chapter 1... only a theory?.

GLTirebiter

That is exactly how scientific discoveries are made, we have a theory, do an experiment. Some prove our theory some do not.

The word "Prove" is where this statement deviates away from Science. Experiments are not performed to "prove" a theory, they are deliberate attempts to falsify that theory. Theories that survive the gauntlet and make useful statements about natural phenomena are accepted and continue to be used--only while they remain unfalsified and continue to make useful statements. When experiments falsify the theory, when it fails to make accurate statements about natural phenomena, then it must change: be corrected, expanded, restricted in scope, sometimes abandoned.

This distinction between "prove" and "falsify" is no minor detail. Scientific rigor, scientific progress is firmly rooted in the humility to say "I must continue to test the theories I accept, because they could be just as flawed as the ones that came before them." The hubris of believing any theory is The Answer, that it is The Truth, is the death of honest science. That is how investigators become blind slaves of their preconceptions. That is when theories wander down blind alleys of increasing absurdity, trying to preserve the "Truth" of a favored (erroneous) concept: for example, planetary motion in epicycles, or the static eternal universe.

The phrase "settled science" is an oxymoron: genuine science is, by definition, always subject to revision. When a theory becomes sacrosanct, it is no longer scientific.

65

Disfellowshipped but still forced to pay maintenance or alimony

by Markw1509 in

can i ask for your opinion?

i have been disfellowshipped and divorced for a few years.

my ex-wife and my daughter have cut off all contact from me.

GLTirebiter

Speaking in general terms, you cannot stop paying just because she is interfering with your parenting time (i.e. "two wrongs don't make a right"). You will need the court to enforce the custody and visitation order, and that means you should consult a lawyer. If the divorce decree was issued in the state where you live, enforce it through the local courts and make her come 300 miles to defend herself--use the home field advantage if you have it. Recognize that this will not be an easy task: the enforcement of financial support has a strong enforcement agency behind it, but there is little (if any) help for non-custodial parents whose children are being alienated from them.

I recommend the National Parents' Organization web site for anybody dealing with such issues.

62

Sadly, fading is bad for my marriage

by stillin in

while headship has always been a problem in my marriage, partly because i'm more of a team player and my wife has man issues, now that i'm clearly fading my wife feels that i have nothing of worth to say.. i resist the idea of divorce but this is not much of a marriage.

since she doesn't/ can't hold down a job alimony would be ridiculously expensive.

cheaper to keep her, as they say.. i get zero cooperation or even discussion for any adjustments i feel might be in order for us as we grow older: obabmacare?

GLTirebiter

Dude she's a spoiled brat. Tell her to grow up and knock the spending off. And drag her a$$ to a counselor.

Cancel every joint credit card.

And tell her to get a PAYING JOB, so she can contribute to the family's finances and help pay off those credit cards!

Notify any account that is in her name only that YOU will not be responsible for it (and that she has no income).

That may not work, it depends on state laws (community property, etc). Check with a lawyer before you do it.

13

Is Jesus dying really more important than his resurrection?

by Band on the Run in

i was reading about khs on wikipedia and i noticed a link for the memorial of jesus' death.

why would any christian religion celebrate his death and not his resurrection.

a man dying is fairly common.

GLTirebiter

Who is the greatest Witness of Jehovah?

Based on Matthew 26:31-45, I'd suggest Mother Theresa of Calcutta. "In truth I tell you, in so far as you did this to one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it to me... In truth I tell you, in so far as you neglected to do this to one of the least of these, you neglected to do it to me."

Let me know when the Watchtower goes to an impoverished country and opens a food dispensary, or a hospital, or an orphanage, or a school, or digs a town well, "for the least of these." Taking care of your own is not enough, we are called to care for strangers, even enemies--as told in the parable of the good Smaritan (Luke 10:29-37). "Which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbor to the man who fell into the bandits' hands?" "The one who showed pity on him." "Go, and do the same yourself."

58

Anyone Celebrating Halloween this Year???

by cognac in

jw
friends

i started yesterday.

took the kids (they were both princesses) and my nephew to 3 different events.

got tons of candy and the kids had a blast.. .

GLTirebiter

@KWJoe: "Hey! My eyes are up he...ah... oh, never mind!"

58

Anyone Celebrating Halloween this Year???

by cognac in

jw
friends

i started yesterday.

took the kids (they were both princesses) and my nephew to 3 different events.

got tons of candy and the kids had a blast.. .

GLTirebiter

It wasn't always about horror movies and witches. For a less commercialized interpretation, see Dia de los Muuertos (Day of the Dead).

Assured that the dead would be insulted by mourning or sadness, Dia de los Muertos celebrates the lives of the deceased with food, drink, parties, and activities the dead enjoyed in life. Dia de los Muertos recognizes death as a natural part of the human experience, a continuum with birth, childhood, and growing up to become a contributing member of the community. On Dia de los Muertos, the dead are also a part of the community, awakened from their eternal sleep to share celebrations with their loved ones. (from National Geographic)