Posts by The Rebel

10

Leaving a small minority group.....

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

has a profound influence on our life.

on the one hand we have the background of our childhood, our upbringing, but when we leave and become apart of society, our witness traits and their set of beliefs are not tailored to fit in.

however as i slowly learnt to know longer judge from the perspective of my witness life, i also learnt i am simply an ordinary person.

The Rebel

Thanks for the replies.

Rainbow-troll ( Q) I envy you ....I am keen to understand how you have such solidarity with mainstream society?"

A) Well mainstream society has its quirks, but the simple answer is I am now free to choose my friends not based on what they believe but on who they are as people. I am also reading " Cathcher in the Rye" a book I wouldn't have read governed by " Witness" mindset.

Or for greater clarification an acquaintance of mine has a son, the son likes to wear women's clothes, and the father is a tough muscle matcho man. Yet he loves his son so much, that not only does he support his son's life choice, he dressed up in drag on the towns community day and participated in a show with his son. I also saw how very embarrassed the father was participating in the event...and I thought what a great dad that man is, what a son that father has, they are both very courageous people to do what they did, and I am proud to be apart of that "mainstream society"

28

Birthday Wishes Welcome!

by LifesNotOver in

jw
friends

many of you don't know me or won't remember me.

i left the jw's and my husband and my home last september - forging a new life in a new town.

i haven't posted here for many months, but have been reading most days.

The Rebel

71 years young...many congratulations and thanks for your inspiring post...👍👍

10

Goodbye friends

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

i'm not killing myself lol i just wanted to say a short goodbye.

i'm not leaving forever, i'm sure i'll pop in here and there but for the most part i haven't felt the need to check in here as often as i used to so i thought i'd say so long.

this journey we're all on (life) and trying to make sense of it all is a very personal one.

The Rebel

I love the O.P title " Goodbye friends" hopfully more sincere than an interested person in the Kingdom Hall being referred to as "our friend" when they comment at a meeting.

10

Leaving a small minority group.....

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

has a profound influence on our life.

on the one hand we have the background of our childhood, our upbringing, but when we leave and become apart of society, our witness traits and their set of beliefs are not tailored to fit in.

however as i slowly learnt to know longer judge from the perspective of my witness life, i also learnt i am simply an ordinary person.

The Rebel

has a profound influence on our life. On the one hand we have the background of our childhood, our upbringing, but when we leave and become apart of society, our Witness traits and their set of beliefs are not tailored to fit in. However as I slowly learnt to know longer judge from the perspective of my witness life, I also learnt I am simply an ordinary person. The greatest benefit of this is that now I can walk down the streets and i can feel apart of a wider community, apart of the very society I was taught to despise.

These walks are now something I value because i was unable to take these walks as part of a minority group. It was the " sheep" and " goat" mentality. However in my present life I sometimes think about the way I used to look at people obsessed with that " sheep" and " goat" mentality, and I have concluded I was bought up very disrespectful of ordinary people.

So why the runt, I am happy today, I live with my wonderful wife and child, I no longer live in the past. Well I just wanted to to post another great reason to leave the "Watchtower mentality" which is simply the healthy perspective it can give a person with their new outlook on life on humanity. The very humanity as Witnesses we are taught to despise.

210

Morality Without Deity

by cofty in

one of the most persistent arguments for belief in god centres on the necessity of an ultimate law-giver and epitome of goodness.. a softer version is seen in the genuine concern that a loss of faith will result in a corresponding loss of a moral compass - a more strident argument links the existence of good and evil with proof of the reality of god.

it is often asserted that without god, moral decisions degenerate to nothing more than personal preferences and the victory of "might is right".. i want to succinctly lay out my response as an atheist, and show that a supreme being is not required for objective morality.. it is helpful to distinguish between absolute morality, objective morality and subjective morality.

christian apologists frequently conflate the first two, and secular debaters often fail to point out the difference.. theists who disagree on everything else, are unanimous that god is perfectly good.

The Rebel

:-)

I look forward to your next O.P.

210

Morality Without Deity

by cofty in

one of the most persistent arguments for belief in god centres on the necessity of an ultimate law-giver and epitome of goodness.. a softer version is seen in the genuine concern that a loss of faith will result in a corresponding loss of a moral compass - a more strident argument links the existence of good and evil with proof of the reality of god.

it is often asserted that without god, moral decisions degenerate to nothing more than personal preferences and the victory of "might is right".. i want to succinctly lay out my response as an atheist, and show that a supreme being is not required for objective morality.. it is helpful to distinguish between absolute morality, objective morality and subjective morality.

christian apologists frequently conflate the first two, and secular debaters often fail to point out the difference.. theists who disagree on everything else, are unanimous that god is perfectly good.

The Rebel

Cofty " Many who attach themselfs to scientific study do not have the freedom to think nor their own personality on views on right and wrong"- REBEL

I would find it regrettable if I should be held to account, with the above statement, without the reader reading my complete post and the context I made that statement. Otherwise I am in complete ageeance with Coftys post.

210

Morality Without Deity

by cofty in

one of the most persistent arguments for belief in god centres on the necessity of an ultimate law-giver and epitome of goodness.. a softer version is seen in the genuine concern that a loss of faith will result in a corresponding loss of a moral compass - a more strident argument links the existence of good and evil with proof of the reality of god.

it is often asserted that without god, moral decisions degenerate to nothing more than personal preferences and the victory of "might is right".. i want to succinctly lay out my response as an atheist, and show that a supreme being is not required for objective morality.. it is helpful to distinguish between absolute morality, objective morality and subjective morality.

christian apologists frequently conflate the first two, and secular debaters often fail to point out the difference.. theists who disagree on everything else, are unanimous that god is perfectly good.

The Rebel

Ruby456 " thanks for the discussion cofty"

and let's also thank John-Mann and others that contributed to a great thread. Because sometimes in life the things we don't think we can believe can be discussed.

210

Morality Without Deity

by cofty in

one of the most persistent arguments for belief in god centres on the necessity of an ultimate law-giver and epitome of goodness.. a softer version is seen in the genuine concern that a loss of faith will result in a corresponding loss of a moral compass - a more strident argument links the existence of good and evil with proof of the reality of god.

it is often asserted that without god, moral decisions degenerate to nothing more than personal preferences and the victory of "might is right".. i want to succinctly lay out my response as an atheist, and show that a supreme being is not required for objective morality.. it is helpful to distinguish between absolute morality, objective morality and subjective morality.

christian apologists frequently conflate the first two, and secular debaters often fail to point out the difference.. theists who disagree on everything else, are unanimous that god is perfectly good.

The Rebel

On my first contribution to this thread I commented " Many who attach themselfs to a religious organisation do not have the freedom to think nor their own personality on views on right and wrong?"

I refer back to that comment, because I don't want double standards. Therefore I must also ask the question is it possible " Many who attach themselfs to scientific study do not have the freedom to think nor their own personality on views on right and wrong?"

Anyway my conclusion having read the thread is that we are all skeletons, what ever we believe we die and become skeletons, the ants turn in to skeletons and so does the human. Until a person becomes a skeleton some learn to believe in God and believe in " Morality WITH diety". And in my opinion the only way they can do this is because they must " feel God" and believe. But a self professed athiest simply can't feel like that, they can't learn to believe based on emotion no matter how appealing the emotion in words that can't be supported by fact.

Anyway from an emotional perspective I believe for a former believer, not to believe requires strength of character, to fight religious fairy tales and demand facts. If there is a God the God I want to feel with the mysterious power over life and death ( the resurrection of skeletons) then the argument we are having on this thread would not exist. My verdict on the thread is that God is a skeleton and we are living in a world without his existence and diety.

As for the deeper questions raised on the thread, I am now rushed for time (translation not qualified to answer) but will compete in the debate if challenged.

20

Why do you get upset about family shunning you?

by mr_doubtful in

i understand people love their family but i also don't understand why you end up caring in the end.

i'm ready to leave and i 100% don't expecting my family to have any contact with me nor do i want them to contact me.

if they are going to chose a man made religion over me, that's their choice and i will sleep easy at night.

The Rebel

mr-doubtful :-

Q) " why do you get upset about family shunning you?

A) Because it hurts emotionally.

Most of us had their first puppy love, only too receive kind words like these " I love you, but there's this other person I fancy. I don't want to two time you, so I am breaking up with you" And these words hurt and break our heart. So i think it only humane a person will also get upset about family shunning them over a stupid religion.

26

Do you think I should get something for my wife for her birthday?

by schnell in

jw
friends

my wife is still nominally in, but only because it "makes me (her) happy".

there is nothing academic about her beliefs and when i try, she interprets me as negative.. but then she cusses like a sailor and watches certain movies with me.

her birthday is coming up and it's also right around valentine's day.

The Rebel

We were told we don't celebrate birthdays because it's a sign of pride. However I celebrate my or a loved ones birthday because it's been 365 days since the last one, and their is another year of life to look forward too. Why not tell your wife the gift is given, because you are celebrating not her birthday, but her life?