Posts by oldlightnewshite

12

Russia get the World Cup? WTF?

by oldlightnewshite in

so russia get the 2018 soccer world cup, and qatar get the 2022 world cup.

it's a real shame that they gave it to such crap venues.

who's gonna want to go to russia?

oldlightnewshite

So Russia get the 2018 Soccer World Cup, and Qatar get the 2022 World Cup. It's a real shame that they gave it to such crap venues. Who's gonna want to go to Russia? And who on earth is gonna want to go to Qatar? Al Qaeda is gonna be doing some forward planning, that's a fact. Playing footy in 50 degree temperatures will be certainly interesting. I think the Russian mafia must've given a hefty donation to FIFA to get the venue. Bloody Sepp Blatter!

What's next after these? Afghanistan? North Korea? Iran?

They've knackered my favourite sport!

34

My journey to atheism

by Awakened at Gilead in

i've blogged about my path from missionary to atheist on freeminds - see the latest post here: http://www.freeminds.org/blogs/a-gilead-grad-s-guide-to-leaving-jws/from-missionary-to-atheist-how-is-that-possible-part-1.html.

i haven't shared this aspect of my journey in an organized fashion, so please let me know what you think.... .

cheers!.

oldlightnewshite

Self promotion??? WTF?

AAG, I quite enjoyed your videos on Youtube. It's interesting to see other people's journeys through their belief systems. I don't think it's self-aggrandizing, or seeking attention. These kinds of media help mixed up Dubs to put a face to the person who's writing. I was quite surprised to find that you woke up at Gilead. Hopefully, this will help convince people that are sitting on the fence, to make a positive choice.

Could we say Ray Franz was a self-promoter? I doubt it. He just wanted to help people

8

Born in / Came in

by Rocky528 in

are statistics available or does anyone have any idea what percentage of th 7,000,000 jw,s are "born in" versus "came in"?.

oldlightnewshite

Of all the congregations I know well... I would say as a general rule it's 50-50. The reason for this is cos some congs I know, the make-up is mainly all immigrants/ or foreign language. To be cynical, I think a lot use it to get free English lessons. Of the congs with just English people, I would say 70% are born-ins. I think there's a lot of newbies from the Catholic persuasion, embracing the JW religion as a backlash, then there's a lot of basically, uneducated people too.

I think it's really important for people to be able to get accurate info on JWs in their own language. Trouble is, there's still a lot of people older than 40 that have never surfed the net.

The future's bright.

56

Another newbie.

by TimeBandit in

jw
friends

just beginning to open my eyes...my aunt, flyinghighnow is helping me along.

glad to be in a place where people understand.

i guess i'll be seeing you all around.

oldlightnewshite

Hi Christopher,

Welcome. I hope your tag is in honour of the brilliant Monty Python film. One of my all-time faves.

This site is fascinating, you can search on any subject and it's pretty much been covered or debated. There's still plenty more to say, though. I look forward to hearing your story

X

35

Explaining Biblical Contradictions Away!

by AK - Jeff in

i can't - don't even try anymore.

just a few to chew:.

man then beast?

oldlightnewshite

Rydor, the thing about the time of Jesus' death really shocked me when I read Bart Ehrman's book. For me, this was the final nail in the coffin as far as supposed bible inerrancy. I don't know how the writing department manage to write on this subject without thinking 'WTF?' The doctrine about the lamb of god taking away the sin of the world nearly didn't make it as doctrine!

How can any christian really and honestly say that they're happy to live with an errant bible, and yet declare that Jehovah's creation is so ordered and precise as to make the DNA strand, with all its biological wonders. If Jehovah were real, he wouldn't have let his legacy to us be written and copied over the centuries in such a half-arsed, haphazard way. The intricate wonders of life truly ARE wonders. The bible was something that god scribbled out in 5 minutes whilst sat on the crapper.

202

"Are you In the Truth?"

by Nickolas in

i can't remember the last time i was asked that question because it has been many years.

nor do i remember my response to the questioner but it no doubt contributed to not being asked the question since.

are you in the truth?

oldlightnewshite

I think the truth as presented by the WT$ is on shaky ground. The facts you've brought up cannot be denied. The problem is that the WT$ accepts and tries to interpret the whole bible. Other religions will pass off certain parts as allegorical. I just don't see how you can cherry-pick parts of the bible that fit your own personal interpretation. To me, purely on a spiritual level, (even though I'm an atheist) the bible seems to kick into gear at the gospels. The tenets of love and consideration that Jesus preached make for a wholly more believable god than the old testament's bloodthirsty tyrant Jehovah. The problem is that Jesus alludes to early bible times as factual occurences.

For me it's simple. Why would god have misleading parts and/or untruths in his holy word? For an entity that created all the complexities of life, and yet be unable to make sure his words to us are at least accurate seems unfathomable. Why would god lie? Why would he dumb down the creation account by using terminology like 'god said let there be....' '...and it appeared, and it was good'. If god used evolution as a means to create life on earth, then why not just say that?

I've always had a problem with the plain facts about nature being red in tooth and claw. I could never resolve the idea that god made the animals originally as all herbivores. Lions can't digest cellulose...cows can. Lions are perfect killing machines...created by a loving god. It's simple really, yet for years I always pushed it to the back of my mind.

Sorry if I've annoyed anybody with a faith here, but Nickolas makes some good points. The contradictions are glaring. As he says, they are TRUTH.

20

Hidden Messages from the WT

by cameo-d in

1. who does this figure represent?.

jesus?

jehovah?

oldlightnewshite

Is it me, or was the artist inspired by watching a Bud Spencer movie...where he smacks some guy round the head with an open palm? It looks just like him. The headband kinda reminds me of the planet of the apes for some reason. The WT$ likes to show jesus as a tough badass, instead of a skinny hippy like in christian churches.

The art editor on the Watchtower must've been dropped on his head as a baby.

14

Christopher Hitchens / Tony Blair debate - November 27, 2010

by Nickolas in

this is the first of nine youtube videos covering last night's debate on religion in toronto.

well worth the time.. http://www.youtube.com/user/hitchensblairdebate#p/u/8/ipmpfu3mmpa.

also available in avi format for torrent download here: http://onebigtorrent.org/download.php?id=10240&export=1&d=1.

oldlightnewshite

Cheers Nickolas,

I wasn't even aware Hitch was doing anything lately. Blimey. I'm downloading the torrent. Cheers.

I've a feeling this is going to be a bit one-sided. Tony Blair is a proper tit.

46

Today's Watchtower study shows how desperate they are

by Mickey mouse in

it seems as though at least one article in every issue of the study watchtower is devoted to reinforcing the governing body's authority.

this from pargraph 10:.

10 christ provides loving oversight of his congregations on earth by means of appointed elders.

oldlightnewshite

I can't comment as to whether the incidence of reference to the GB has gone up, or down over the years in the WT. I was always too busy drooling, or counting the number of pimples on the back of brother Paininthearse's neck, to even take any notice.

Even so, that is a lot of times. Repetition for emphasis for all the zombies to take note.

13

How Many Demons Are There ?

by moomanchu in

my attempt at answering.. first how many angels are there?.

revelation 5:11; .

then i looked and heard the voice of many angels, .

oldlightnewshite

Most Dubs would be mortified to realise that on average they have 4 or 5 demons following them around all day. Making them miss that return visit by five minutes... making the car break down on the way to the district convention... etc...etc...pesky demons!