Posts by TheClarinetist

I used to be afraid of toilets and showers (from one of the Look Who's Talking Movies and pop culture references to Psycho, respectively). I would also relatively frequently have nightmares about demonism or Armeggedon, and would wake up afraid that something was hiding in the room, having to turn the lights on. I also would never look directly in the mirror immediately after awakening for fear that a demon version of myself would be there instead and would pop out and get me.

Actually, I still have some of the same fears (everything except the toilets and showers), and have had panic and anxiety attacks which at times were so severe that I almost lost contact with reality... I think I may start a new topic on that subject... ten hours from now. LoL.

24

How high have you been?

by wouldacouldashoulda in

jw
friends

i pop into jwd/jwn almost everyday.

some posters name i recognise.

some posters i admire and cannot wait to read their comments.

TheClarinetist

Unbaptised Publisher (hence why I haven't been disfellowshipped... hehe).

I do have family in high places, though. I once *briefly* met the president of the Watchtower Society. There was almost a feeling of worship towards the Society and Governing Body members that I never really caught on to till lately.

PS - Last post for the day...

124

The most inappropriate remarks from Jehovahs Witnesses

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

i have a few which still either anger me, make me sad or just make me grateful that i am no longer one of them.

1 - "well, everyone is going to die anyway, so if it at armageddon then ce la vie" 2 - "the disater today at the world trade centre is sad, but exciting" 3 - (an elder) "when armageddon happens, i want to be at a window, watching it all".

sick, sick, sick!

TheClarinetist

Does anyone know where you might still be able to find reports about that? Thats the first I ever heard about them not letting people in after the Twin Towers collapsed.

232

Is Atheism a Form of Blind Faith?

by passwordprotected in

jw
friends

if god is outside of nature and therefore cannot be proved or disproved by science, is atheism a form of blind faith?

after all, it cannot be defended on the basis of pure reason.. steven jay gould said;.

"science simply cannot by its legitimate methods adjudicate the issue of god's possible superintendence of nature.

TheClarinetist

@The Almighty Homer

Your links don't work on your post. What was your source? I want to read up on some of those arguments. Your comments on both these threads have been great, btw.

Oh, and I would say that Bill Gates practiced vile things (at least in the past)... After all, he brought the scourge of Windows upon us all!!!

232

Is Atheism a Form of Blind Faith?

by passwordprotected in

jw
friends

if god is outside of nature and therefore cannot be proved or disproved by science, is atheism a form of blind faith?

after all, it cannot be defended on the basis of pure reason.. steven jay gould said;.

"science simply cannot by its legitimate methods adjudicate the issue of god's possible superintendence of nature.

TheClarinetist

belief - any cognitive content held as true

These are my working definitions for belief. According to that definition, agnosticism, where you neither believe in God or believe that there is no God, is the only system of disbelief, if you will. Faith, IMO, and this particular definition I didn't find using Google "define:", faith is belief in something which can neither be proven or disproven. Therefore, "there is no God" would be both a faith and a belief. Of course, I've also been known to be full of myself, which I hear is pretty common for people around my age. :-P

Oh, and for the record, "blind faith" is a faith which refuses to take into account evidence to the contrary, and which is not based on reason. So while I would concede that the majority of christians have "blind faith", there are many who came about their faith honestly, so to speak.

14

Following your heart not right according to JWs?

by cognac in

jw
friends

i heard in a talk recently that following your heart was one of the worse advice a person can get.

is this because the bible says the heart is treacherous?.

anybody else hear that in jw land?.

TheClarinetist

"You may have heard the oft repeated advice, “Follow your heart.” But Proverbs 28:26 states: “He that is trusting in his own heart is stupid.” Why? Because “the heart is more treacherous than anything else and is desperate.” (Jeremiah 17:9; Numbers 15:39) To be treacherous is to be disloyal or false or to be a double-crosser. Would you trust a person who is known as a deceiver and a traitor? Our figurative heart can be devious. Thus, a relationship is not necessarily healthy just because it feels right." - Young People Ask "Why Am I Drawn to the Wrong People"

There are many more references to the heart being treachorous, but thats an example of their stance on "follow your heart". I think I've mainly seen it (as I said before) in YPA articles and articles specifically for the younger people.

14

Following your heart not right according to JWs?

by cognac in

jw
friends

i heard in a talk recently that following your heart was one of the worse advice a person can get.

is this because the bible says the heart is treacherous?.

anybody else hear that in jw land?.

TheClarinetist

I've never heard that about raising children around the JWs... but maybe I was not ready to pay attention to that advice when I left? I find it disturbing that they would suggest some of that stuff!!!

I seem to remember reading that advice on "following your heart" in the Young People Ask book on the topics of dating and marriage.