Posts by Half banana

11

Seduction, psychosis and radicalisation

by Half banana in

the jw delusion is a psychosis i.e.

the holding on to a belief irrespective of sound evidence to the contrary.

it has everything to do with the indulgent pleasure of embracing an all encompassing idea which promises to resolve every human frailty and inconvenience.

Half banana

Strong Haiku I am in complete agreement that education and critical thinking should be promoted and who doesn’t? But those still in are not exposed to the need for these two vital components of modern living. It is an enormous incongruity in my mind that the new buildings of the WTS at Patterson include an “Education Centre”---they have no idea what education means!

By chance my JW daughter was able to visit me at the weekend. She had not been for about four years although I have spoken with her many times. She has been affected adversely by the cult but struggles on in her own life quietly conforming to the paternalism of the GB who are her chosen substitute father.

I adore my daughter, she is twenty seven, beautiful and intelligent but aimless in life. We had a good time together but always with an emotional restraint operating. I dared to talk about the JW org and planted a logical seed. Immediately I was rebuked for bringing the subject up and was told that is the reason she does not normally visit since I was told that I always speak out against the org. The last time I did broach the matter, I remember clearly it was nine years ago!

Nevertheless like all JWs there is a constraint operating emotionally and logically which tends to render all of them (us once upon a time) distant and with a mental narrative running at odds with normal human life. I tried to work on it and talk of the deep motivations in life but the hypersensitisation kicks in and no progress is made. No awakening... only resistance and the taking of offence.

This might now result in permanent shunning of me to please the evil masters of the cult.

18

Well written, scathing article that summarises first 3 days of RC hearing.

by Pants of Righteousness in

there's been quite a number newspaper articles quoted over the past week, but i would recommend this as a good summary of the first three days of the royal commission hearing in australia - complete with some scathing commentary.. apologies if this has been posted elsewhere, but have not seen this posted previously.. https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/law-crime/2015/08/01/royal-commission-examines-jehovah-witnesses-cover/14383512002194.

just one thing that is not quite right is that the article refers to joe bello as a narrogin elder.

the assualts took place while the victim was part of the narrogin congregation.

Half banana

The writer of the report Martin McKenzie Murray should be made an honorary member of the ex JW community!

He certainly let rip against the cult...let's have more please, both here in the UK and in USA and Canada.

26

Was this the garden of Eden/Noah's flood?

by little_Socrates in

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208151609.htm.

jeffrey rose, an archaeologist and researcher with the university of birmingham in the u.k., says that the area in and around this "persian gulf oasis" may have been host to humans for over 100,000 years before it was swallowed up by the indian ocean around 8,000 years ago.

rose's hypothesis introduces a "new and substantial cast of characters" to the human history of the near east, and suggests that humans may have established permanent settlements in the region thousands of years before current migration models suppose.. .

Half banana

Whilst what you say Crazy guy is perfectly true this is not the direction to go if you are attempting to interpret a myth.

If one were familiar with Quaternary geology i.e. the prevailing geological period, or more specifically the Holocene epoch which covers the last twelve thousand years; it is simply a matter of normalcy that rivers flood. I have hands-on experience of describing flood events in a proto river Thames at 230,000 years before present. Any of these events could have caused deaths and folk with boats could survive an inundation. It could also create local legends of survival and renewal. However I suggest that the Biblical Flood is not one of these but does nevertheless describe the consequences of a literal global event. (It takes more than a quick post to explain convincingly!) Evidentially determined Earth- sciences do not allow for the possibility of a global flood within the last 2.6 million years of the Quaternary... and local flood events are legion.

As you say CalebinF there are a number of different types of myth which is an important distinction to make when discussing a folk tales, legends or traditional stories etc.

5

wt study "Power of Christ"

by prologos in

it is all about the bible story, alleged miracles of jesus.

not one miraculously replicated since, so:.

final comment by senior elder: "that we have these powerful miracle of the christ is a guarantee for it to happen in the new system.

Half banana

All "Sun" gods turn water into wine!

In the gospels, Jesus is claimed to have changed water into wine during the wedding at Cana as proof of his divinity.

Answer for yourself: Are you aware that this same story is found in other mythologies and is part of the solar mythos? Long before the Christian era, Dionysus/Bacchus was said to turn water into wine, as related by A.J. Mattill:

"This story is really the Christian counterpart to the pagan legends of Dionysus, the Greek god of wine, who at his annual festival in his temple of Elis filled three empty kettles with wine-no water needed! And on the fifth of January wine instead of water gushed from his temple at Andros. If we believe Jesus' miracle, why should we not believe Dionysus's?" (Tim Leedom, The Book Your Church Does Not Want You To Read, 1993, p. 125.

Barbara Walker relates from her excellent book:

The story of his miracle at Cana was directly modeled on a Dionysian rite of sacred marriage celebrated at Sidon; even the Gospels' wording was copied from the festival of the older god (Barbara Walker, The Women's Encyclopedia Of Myths And Secrets, 1983, p. 464).urn water into wine!

5

wt study "Power of Christ"

by prologos in

it is all about the bible story, alleged miracles of jesus.

not one miraculously replicated since, so:.

final comment by senior elder: "that we have these powerful miracle of the christ is a guarantee for it to happen in the new system.

Half banana

Imagine: eight million people mostly adults, still believing in magic fairy tales!

...and the whole religion is based on it. The belief in the supernatural and miracles ought to be dead by now but the minds of those foolishly trusting JWs are distracted by the paradise promise and the fact that other apparently sensible cult members still believe it.

26

Was this the garden of Eden/Noah's flood?

by little_Socrates in

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/12/101208151609.htm.

jeffrey rose, an archaeologist and researcher with the university of birmingham in the u.k., says that the area in and around this "persian gulf oasis" may have been host to humans for over 100,000 years before it was swallowed up by the indian ocean around 8,000 years ago.

rose's hypothesis introduces a "new and substantial cast of characters" to the human history of the near east, and suggests that humans may have established permanent settlements in the region thousands of years before current migration models suppose.. .

Half banana

The myth of Noah’s Flood is not a Jewish matter, it is pretty well universal. The Biblical tale of the flood is uninspired because it is borrowed from much earlier Middle Eastern literature including the oldest known narrative writings in Sumeria in southern Mesopotamia.

It is a mistake to think that it is based on a reality and go searching for scientific corroboration, as Caleb points out; this is without point. (Of course this does not stop the crack-pots from trying). The Genesis flood is so hopelessly flawed as a literal account as to immediately dismiss its truthfulness. One small family could not save the world’s fauna in a floating chest and then have all the animals subsequently journey back to their place of origin after the water dried up. These are just the first two of a hundred arguments defying a literal interpretation. As for the Garden of Eden, come on! This reads like a myth and waddles like a myth and quacks like a myth.

It is also a mistake to think that myths are true in essence or existed as a kernel of truth but were elaborated for the sake of the literary effect. This is not how myth functions. It is this gross assumption which gets writers to make fatuous and startling headline claims like the ones in the title of this thread; proof of The Flood or finding the Garden of Eden. No! Myth is usually a universal tale, part of a coherent broader pattern of stories, which explains the unexplainable or reconciles the irreconcilable. It makes only for a story not a fact of history or science.

19

Human rights issue

by possum in

jw
friends

hi, i am possum and have been posting for a short time just thought i would introduce myself with much trepidation.

i am a third generation ex witness.

grandparents originally lured into cult in 1920 after the death of a precious child.

Half banana

Possum thank you so much for giving us your story. Sorry you had to go through so much unhappiness but it sounds like you are made of stronger stuff than the pathetic and deluded JWs you mention albeit of your own kin. How desperate it is to become a JW in the first place and give over your common sense and mind to an unknown bunch of seven religious loonies who you have never known nor will know? We have all been battered by the stupidity of the WT cult but I’m glad to hear that you have enrolled for higher education, I’m certain that it will iron out a lot of the cultic bumps and dents you have suffered. Wishing all the best to you and Mr Possum for the future.

"Rage, rage against the dying of the light" Dylan Thomas

51

More Inspiring Young Awakenings

by freemindfade in

i just found these vidoes on youtube, maybe you have seen them already, but i thought i would share.

these canadian kids for me are courageous and inspiring.

more excellent public examples of non vitrial apostate awakening.

Half banana

Seconded Clarity, they are too intelligent to remain JWs and good for them that they are still young and have a free non-Jdub life ahead of them.

It comes over strongly that the GB have one criterion that they are the fds...if you don't believe this; you can't be in their secret club.

8

SCIENCE!! World is getting better! New Ebola Vaccine proven to be 100% effective

by ILoveTTATT2 in

jw
friends

amazing world we live in... this makes the "last days" doctrine look bad...https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn27990-ebola-vaccine-success-race-is-now-on-to-protect-those-at-risk/

Half banana

You beat me to posting about this IL TATT!

When thinking of the scourges there are lurking in the natural world why is it that creationists only look at "all things bright and beautiful"? What was the loving heavenly Father doing the day he created Ebola for his human creation? Did he say I'll give 'em something to think about, something which causes bleeding from every orifice and soon leads to death?

Fortunately humans are more compassionate and have worked hard to discover the antidote.

21

Jehovah's Witnesses "Handling Child Abuse Matters" flowchart

by jwleaks in

jw leaks courtesy of the australian royal commission.

.

Half banana

It is significant that their algorithm considers only a defensive mechanism to take all secular opportunities available to hide from publicity and protect themselves and their name i.e. by using the “ecclesiastical privilege.” Of course the evidence must be considered first but the welfare of the abused child is not even considered neither is the protection from further offending and harm. This is more evidence of the total self interest of the JW cult leaders and their complete lack of concern for any genuine practical care for the flock.

They do not take human needs seriously.