NewChapter

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Posts by NewChapter

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  30

  Athiest...

  by myohorengekyo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  god to me would be as refreshing as a cold beer on a summers day.. today iam an atheist.

  iam no longer a beliver in other peoples idea of god.

  yet iam thirsty to find a god.

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  NewChapter

  LOL Charlie Brown. Are you sure you just don't need to be saved???
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  30

  Athiest...

  by myohorengekyo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  god to me would be as refreshing as a cold beer on a summers day.. today iam an atheist.

  iam no longer a beliver in other peoples idea of god.

  yet iam thirsty to find a god.

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  NewChapter

  Myo---give us a hello thread and introduce yourself. Can you share some of your story?

  And WELCOME

  NC
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  30

  Athiest...

  by myohorengekyo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  god to me would be as refreshing as a cold beer on a summers day.. today iam an atheist.

  iam no longer a beliver in other peoples idea of god.

  yet iam thirsty to find a god.

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  NewChapter

  Athiests don't generally look for a god---they have decided there is no god. Agnostics aren't so sure.

  I don't think any of us can tell you where you will end up. I know where my critical thinking led me, but you? Hard to tell.

  Maybe you don't need to worry about defining yourself and just enjoy the journey.

  atheist - Definition [ey-thee-ist] (n .) Person who denies or disbelieves the existence of a supreme being or beings agnostic - Definition [ag-nos-tik] (n .) Person who believes that the existence of God is unknown and unknowable
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  55

  ..Which has Caused You the Most Grief in Your Life..The Outside World or Watchtower World?..

  by OUTLAW in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  according to the wbt$... the outside world is supposed to be a horrible place... .

  the outside world hasn't caused me nearly as much grief,as watchtower world... outside world (5% grief).....watchtower world..(95% grief)... .

  which has caused you the most grief in your life... the outside world or watchtower world?...

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  NewChapter

  I am so happy the guilt is gone. They forced us to constantly look at our negatives and work on them. We were always reminded how easily it would be to fall. We had to question every motive. No one told us to look at our strengths and make the most of them! And if one of our strengths did transfer to the ministry then it was worthless. Everyone had the same calling-to be ministers. Not everyone was cut out for that, but it was the only acceptable career. Then the guilt doubled because we were repeatedly told that we were the happiest people on earth and that fruitage of holy spirit was joy.

  Misplaced guilt is one of the most destructive emotions. They handed it out like skittles. I often reflect on how calm I am now. If you know me in RL, you know I'm not a calm person. But compared to how I used to be, I feel like I'm soaking in a hot tub sipping wine everday.

  I'm sooooo glad I left.
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  99

  Breaking News: Explosion in Oslo

  by leavingwt in

  1. social
  2. current

  just heard about this via twitter.. .

  http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/eksplosjon-i-oslo-sentrum-3544362.html.

  more photos: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article4180673.ece.

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  NewChapter

  Size, did you see that neckbeard got banned for that comment? such a relief.
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  4

  Fire fighting - Is it for Christians?

  by Slidin Fast in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

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  NewChapter

  Possibly that they are running around putting out metaphorical fires as they crop up? Changing and rearranging as quickly as possible before everyone walks away.

  NC
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  99

  Breaking News: Explosion in Oslo

  by leavingwt in

  1. social
  2. current

  just heard about this via twitter.. .

  http://www.tv2.no/nyheter/innenriks/eksplosjon-i-oslo-sentrum-3544362.html.

  more photos: http://www.aftenposten.no/nyheter/iriks/article4180673.ece.

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  NewChapter

  How are you Inquiry? I feel so grieved that such a great country as yours has been hit by such senseless violence. I hope this doesn't change the shape of your culture. I hope you can continue on a peaceful merciful course. When I hear that this guy may not get much prison it makes me so angry---but then I think how I love that your kind of country exists. I don't want that ruined for you.

  When these things happen in the US, we forfeit all the values we hold dear to take care of things. I feel so torn about it. I honestly don't know what to think at these times.

  So tell me again--how are you doing?

  NC
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  7

  how do you help a JW get out?

  by visitor 525 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a little background info.

  i have never been a jw always felt the "cult" was not something i wanted to get involved in.

  anyway i hired a young man about a year ago to do a little remodel on my house i found out later he was a jw.

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  NewChapter

  Sizemik, you have a pm
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  7

  how do you help a JW get out?

  by visitor 525 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a little background info.

  i have never been a jw always felt the "cult" was not something i wanted to get involved in.

  anyway i hired a young man about a year ago to do a little remodel on my house i found out later he was a jw.

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  NewChapter

  Visitor,

  The list he put you on is his return visit list. It doesn't mean you're close to converting, but it does mean that he believes you may be interested in further bible discussions. Sending literature won't be effective either. While he won't consider it "apostate" per se, JW's are not in the habit of accepting religious literature. Apostate literature would be something written by an ex JW that seeks to expose the WT. They will deal with that the same way they deal with a poisonous snake. Even though you've never been a JW, if you do try to share any apostate ideas with him, he will avoid that too. And he won't read your religious literature. We used to practice turning down such literature as tactfully as possible.

  He is trying to start a bible study with you. If he succeeds, then what Retro said. He is in Witness mode with you---he feels he is there to educate YOU and not the other way around. So even if you take him up on the bible study, his mind will not be open to changing.

  How do you get through? You probably don't. For myself I came to understand that the bible was very flawed, that the flood could not have happened as written, that evolution better explains our beginnings. I also have compared the WORDS of the god with the ACTIONS of that god and see a great contradiction. In the end I concluded that the perfect god as portrayed really had more human characteristics than godly characteristics.

  There are also some who retain religious beliefs and even some bible beliefs. I can't speak for them.

  In the end you would have to engage him in conversation--preaching to him won't work. You could possibly craft some questions that make him consider 607 bce and 1914 ce. If he ever does question, don't be surprised if he does not swap one religion for another. Once the critical thinking sets in, it's hard to predict where he will end up.

  NC
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  8

  COGNITIVE DISSONANCE

  by sizemik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for those who may have heard the term "cognitive dissonance" and are not really fully familiar with it .

  .. carol tavris, is a social psychologist and writer of the book "mistakes were made (but not by me)".

  here she is interviewed about cognitive dissonance theory and confirmation bias.

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  NewChapter

  LOL == I FINALLY got to see him live --- he kind of avoids the US. I think he thinks we are all fundies, but he's learning---and he did a wonderful job. He stood holding a glass of red wine and made excellent expressions. I don't credit Tim Minchin with turning me into an atheist, but he certainly opened my mind. My brother was sneaky. He knows I love irony, so he made me listen some relatively benign songs by the guy. That led to me listening to more---then I listened to some that hurt my conscience---then more and I kept telling myself it was just the irony I was enjoying, seeing things from another's perspective----then I quit lying to myself and realized he was my new idol. LOL

  NC