Posts by Half banana

22

Shift in beliefs?

by blankspace in

i was wondering whether anyone observed this point in the previous week's wt study, in paragraph 17: "jehovah’s spirit moves “the faithful steward” to keep giving his servants their food supply.".

i see this as a subtle move away from earlier claims to be channel for spiritual food.

the gb earlier said that they weren't inspired or infallible.

I strongly agree with you Tenacious, the org leaders deliberately associate all their activities with the work of God to the extent that in the mind of the gullible flock, these eight men are made to fuse an identify with their tribal God Jehovah. This is perhaps their most all embracing and powerful propaganda tool; to identify the GB with the Almighty. What the GB says is what Big J says and what they do is what Big J wants to be done.

The reality is far removed from this scenario, throughout their whole history they have never got anything right and they only do things which reflect the opportunities of the moment such as now pointing to post-communist Russia and declare, "It must be the end, look how we are being persecuted."

However this lifelong conditioning of JWs never leads to even one individual receiving any benefits except imaginary ones such as a promise of paradise. Promises, promises! It is a fantasy to give fools some hope in life . . . and I know 'cos once I was there.

In the mean time the shepherds at the top just keep on getting fatter whilst the sheep are fleeced.

22

Matthew 24:37-39 Proves That Jesus is Fictional

by APieceOfShitNamedTate in

i was doing some browsing today on http://watchtowerletters.com and discovered a very thought provoking point.

the fact is that the flood of noah's day does not stand up to scientific scrutiny or common sense.

this becomes all the more apparent when considering an ancient story like the epic of gilgamesh.

Half banana

IBIOverlapping, for an early sociologist and journalist's view of the evidence of the early centuries of the calendar, try JM Robertson, A brief history of Christianity.

22

Matthew 24:37-39 Proves That Jesus is Fictional

by APieceOfShitNamedTate in

i was doing some browsing today on http://watchtowerletters.com and discovered a very thought provoking point.

the fact is that the flood of noah's day does not stand up to scientific scrutiny or common sense.

this becomes all the more apparent when considering an ancient story like the epic of gilgamesh.

Half banana

OP there is only Watchtower logic about your premise that if the flood did not exist then Jesus' words are false.

It is a scientific given that the Biblical flood could not have happened but quoting myths as if they are realities is the religious norm.

What we are dealing with here are words attributed to Jesus written way after he was supposed to have lived.

In the first and second centuries there were lots of christ cults, god-men and saviours. It was in the interest of the leaders of a christ cult to include in their text, the endorsement of Noah's flood by its particular god-man hero.

Bear in mind that the earliest non-canonical christian writings do not give the name Jesus but call him Lord. The name "Jesus" certainly appears by the third quarter of the second century according to Melito of Sardis however his works like all manuscripts and especially "christian" ones, were subject to being edited by later tamperers and zealots such as Bishop Eusebius of Caesarea. Manuscripts can be altered at each re-writing, to add a name or attribute a belief to a character was easy peasy--just make sure you destroy the earlier copies.

We have the Roman Catholic church at Emperor Constantine's urging to thank for the unification of all Christian (and pagan) cults under the name of Jesus in the fourth century. By then the idea that Jesus existed was not in doubt in the minds of the faithful. The poor people had no choice but to believe in authority.

60

Fifty years ago today: One quote to demolish the Watchtower

by JeffT in

jw
friends

i did not have any connection to jw's when they published this, about two weeks before i graduated from high school.

i'm now on medicare and collecting social security.

so much for their ability to see into the future.

Half banana

This was Pollyanna propaganda from the 1969 JW leadership showing how truly stupid, ignorant, false, misleading and life-stealing they were and still are . . .

13

The "New Light" alibi author -- man of 1,000 wives and concubines

by FatFreek 2005 in

but, god would never allow that today.

he's gone through a learning curve.

does god even learn?.

Half banana

13

The "New Light" alibi author -- man of 1,000 wives and concubines

by FatFreek 2005 in

but, god would never allow that today.

he's gone through a learning curve.

does god even learn?.

Half banana

You make a couple of good points FF, God does not learn or by the attribution given to him as being perfect, he cannot learn.

Secondly how could you grant "godly wisdom" to a man who has many hundreds of concubines?

As a fifteen year long archaeological study of Palestine ending in 1993 found, there was no evidence for most of the events and people of the Bible. At the time of Solomon and David there were so few inhabitants in the Judean highlands that it would have been materially impossible to even make a city and temple, far less a monarchy to be reckoned with internationally. Thomas L Thomson, a leading expert in the textual and archaeological evidence for early Israelite history concludes that the first ten books of the Bible are fiction.

There is of course nothing wrong with reading fiction--- a problem arises only if you believe it to be true.

Solomon, whose description is a burlesque of a middle Eastern potentate, was -- like most Biblical figures -- a fictional character.

110

Jehovah’s Witness who posted criticisms on Reddit can remain anonymous, judge rules

by Tameria2001 in

https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/jehovah-s-witness-who-posted-criticisms-on-13855357.php.

i had this article pop up about the darksilver case.

it says a federal magistrate in san francisco has now ruled that darksilver can remain anonymous but then it says except for identification to lawyers for the religion’s watchtower publication.

Half banana

If only the WT lawyers are to learn the identity of Darkspilver and he gets disfellowshipped-- will the JW lawyers then be in some form of legal contempt?

Is not the court aware of the complicity of the JW lawyers and their employers; the fact that the lawyers are one and the same as the JW org?

The JW hierarchy is demonstrating its true nature as a religious cult by its compulsion to stamp on any possible heresy. Only cults cannot tolerate criticism and want to punish their critics.

If our friend's cover is blown there are around another million who continue to keep up the exposure of this harmful cult.

We are all with you Darkspilver!

19

May 2019 Broadcast

by BourneIdentity in

i know i already created a post about this a week or so ago, but i have a little more to add to it.

i was watching it again and taking some notes this time.

the speaker lists these reasons for people having anxieties:.

Half banana

At the root of the problem with anxiety and being a JW is the pressure which comes from holding mentally disturbing beliefs. A fundamental of the JW mindset is the false idea that God will destroy all 8 billion people who do not put in a field service report. A child brought up with this perverted view could easily end up unbalanced. To implacably hold on to beliefs for which there is no evidence or is contrary to evidence, is called a psychosis. To share psychotic beliefs is a reinforcement of them and an apparent validation of them.

Notice how the GB's solution to anxieties does not get to the root cause but instead keeps them going forward under the control of traditional JW remedies; living a day at a time, prayer and study and lastly unburdening with another fully committed true believer. The anxious JW remains dependent on the org as before with only the conviction that they are doing their bit as best they can. They are trapped and without any real help, the root causes are still in place.

I have to say that my permanent anxiety lifted from my shoulders on leaving the cult but it has to be considered that it is not always the case. For some there is a destabilising of an individual which is accompanied by more apprehensions in having to face the real world on their own and without the old social supports. Some turn to another religious faith and others go crazy-- but most I think feel greatly relieved and go on to enjoy life.

The basic position though is that the JW belief system is mentally unhealthy and life sapping.

6

When the pedophile is welcomed back while fornicators aren't

by Aleph in

i remember growing up in the truth in the 70s, then the 80s, i was quite young, full of hope, dreams and beliefs that it was a wonderful organization of jehovah's witnesses....soon we would discover the world is not sun shines and rainbows in the jws...for my brother, david, it was more or less the same, he was full of zeal pioneering.then one day, the truth exploded, the teacher much older than my bro, was unmasked, the circus began...elders came rushing in, things went swiftly, only one way, the abuser used the bible to justify sexual intercourse with my brother while he was only 14...and things lasted for many months....my brother left the truth, but the pedophile though disfellowshipped was welcomed back in less than 2 months !all the scandal was hidden, no one came back to bring any help to my brother, they simply ignore him like he was the one responsible of all, no comfort, no care, this is like this.i don't know why i m still in... somehow, i think i have enough, not because i have heard too much, but because i have seen with my own eyes, all the things that they do inside, the manipulation, the pressure... bible is pure, but this... this has nothing to do with the teaching of jesus.

they pretend they are pure and white, but really, they are just men, doing bad like anywhere else.

the worst part, they don't take care of the ones suffering, and they only makes things worse with their stupid policies..

Half banana

I read a recent report demonstrating that religious people are no more moral than non-religious people. Therefore why make exceptions for JWs? They are just as gullible, vain and faulty as the rest of mankind --not to mention their delusional leadership.

It is a question worth pondering as to why paedophiles might be favoured over fornicators. I hazard a guess that it has to do with specific values derived from the actual experience of certain members within the governing body.

27

I Ended my Bible Study

by Maria Nieves in

i ended my bible study today.

several months ago, i began to feel that the truth was not the truth.

as the months progressed, my feelings intensified.

Half banana

Maria N, I want to say very well done! As others have pointed out you have saved yourself much heartache by dropping out out of JW indoctrination before committing to baptism.

First of all enjoy the fact that you have made a good decision which is you determining your path in life. My take on religious belief is that it deprives an individual of her or his personal expression and personal achievement.

Instead of studying ancient sacred literature, do learn how to be yourself and take pride in your own accomplishments.