Posts by The Rebel

40

Do you air on the side of caution?

by compound complex in

well, that would be an airer.

it's all in how we hear the spoken word.

when a little boy, one fellow thought "world peace" was "whirled peas.

The Rebel

As a child I invented the word " syritherous" This was a magical word and I used it on many occasions.

Headmaster " You are on the verge of a caning"

The Rebel :-" It was very " syritherous" of me and I am sorry"

Headmaster " Well don't let me see you in my office again"

........

An elder trying to help me be more humble, assigned me with helping with toilet duties.

The rebel:- " My doctor has said I have a " syritherous" phobia to disinfection materials"

.....

I think we should all have a word in our vocabulary that doesn't exist. It rarely enters some bodies mind to ask what " syritherous" means.

12

Are their " wishy, washy" congregations...

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

it may be an amazing thought for many but i am sure " wishy, washy" congregations exist.

i am referring to congregations where the elders are idle in enforcing the g.bs guidelines on control.. i mean let's face it the organisation is an authoritarian regime, that works only if the elders enforce complete obedience to watchtower policies.

sadly in the congregations i was associated with the elders excelled at enforcing loyalty and obedience.. however with age, people mellow, elders can become more compassionate, even assume the voice of reason?

The Rebel

It may be an amazing thought for many but I am sure " wishy, washy" congregations exist. I am referring to congregations where the elders are idle in enforcing the G.Bs guidelines on control.

i mean let's face it the organisation is an authoritarian regime, that works only if the elders enforce complete obedience to Watchtower policies. Sadly in the congregations I was associated with the elders excelled at enforcing loyalty and obedience.

However with age, people mellow, elders can become more compassionate, even assume the voice of reason? When this happens Watchtower " hatred" will become repressed in that congregation,

So in conclusion:-

A) Has anybody been associated with a congregation where elders haven't stood down, but have seen the error of their ways?

B) Are their congregations that believe in reason and discussion where members aren't controlled by emotional blackmail?

19

Being homosexual in a JW house hold

by Jean in

i could not find a topic about this if there is one ooops.

it is hard to speak with my mother or any other witnesses about this, their response is "its ok to be gay just don't ever 'act out.

acting out = being with someone even if its a healthy consensual legal relationship between two adults its still wrong.

The Rebel

Jean, It's sick and sad if " love" is not understood.

Jean you have started an " O.P" and a perception of a person I admire...it's only so sad that not only the J.Ws but society is still flawed and judgmental.....I was once part of that culture, I am ashamed.

115

Could a petition to make shunning illegal work?

by aboveusonlysky in

jw
friends

we're currently watching leah remini's series about scientology and the main thing she seems to focus on is the shunning policies of the scientology organization which let's face it are very similar to jw procedure.. i was wondering with all that's in the media recently about bullying could a petition be put together to get the goverment to consider making religiously mandated shunning illegal?

has such a thing been tried before?.

https://petition.parliament.uk/help says the following - .

The Rebel

This O.P was started only 24 hours ago and has 89 replies.

Why?

My guess is shunning is a touchy and sensitive subject, particularly if we come from " God's organisation" and have grown up to believe shunning is acceptable behavior.

Anyway I have posted 1489 times on this site, and never used the word " fuck," but if shunning permeates tenderness and fatherly impulses I as a father of a 12 year son will use that " f" word again

In conclusion does a father really need a law to prevent him shunning a son?

115

Could a petition to make shunning illegal work?

by aboveusonlysky in

jw
friends

we're currently watching leah remini's series about scientology and the main thing she seems to focus on is the shunning policies of the scientology organization which let's face it are very similar to jw procedure.. i was wondering with all that's in the media recently about bullying could a petition be put together to get the goverment to consider making religiously mandated shunning illegal?

has such a thing been tried before?.

https://petition.parliament.uk/help says the following - .

The Rebel

Nobody is forced to shun. It just takes courage and love" NOT" to shun. A petition to make " shunning" mandated is like a petition to make " courage" and " love" compulsory.

38

If we are further away from perfection, why are we more moral?

by stuckinarut2 in

as we know, witnesses teach that adam and eve were perfect and then committed the first act of sin and rebellion.. they in turn were cursed,and we all declined as their offspring.

humans supposedly lived shorter and shorter lives, and became more imperfect and sinful.. the further away in time humans go then, they should be getting worse.

so why is it then that as a society, humans have actually improved in so many ways?.

The Rebel

Well diognessister:- you raise a great point about literature. Speaking for myself I wish my 12 year old son would enjoy reading books..in the last month i have read " Robinson Crusoe, Capture on the Rye, Animal Farm etc " And for me personally I have learnt so much about the humun condition from reading these books.

My son has replied to my encouraging him to read books " Books are boring". And whilst he is so wrong, I am sure he will have a highly successful life in the modern world. My only dissapointment is that I think what my son is learning on the computer misses the humun condition I learn from reading books.

But then again the humun condition shouldn't be found in books, it should be found with how we interact with people. And the way my son has developed with modern technology is far from sub-humun. He is kind, loving, knows his identity and we love each other.

38

If we are further away from perfection, why are we more moral?

by stuckinarut2 in

as we know, witnesses teach that adam and eve were perfect and then committed the first act of sin and rebellion.. they in turn were cursed,and we all declined as their offspring.

humans supposedly lived shorter and shorter lives, and became more imperfect and sinful.. the further away in time humans go then, they should be getting worse.

so why is it then that as a society, humans have actually improved in so many ways?.

The Rebel

The O.P concludes :- So why have we improved as a society even though we are now " so far from perfection?"

Well maybe we have improved as a society? But I believe:-

Humun bevavour is as cruel and evil as it has always been, and by the day millions starve and immorality is rampant. In fact the only pleasure I get from life is my ability to surround myself with meek, kind and compassionate, people. These people are wise enough to avoid the trap of thinking a more comfortable life equates to a more moral life.

However the irony is the average J.W gives up a more moral and comfortable life, to attach themselves to an organisation that is immoral and corrupt to the core.

conclusion:- I think we all agree in our life's we have met kind compassionate people? But i would suggest if these people are really kind and compassionate they don't need an agenda, or religion to be kind and compassionate...these local heroes are few, but worth seeking.

4

A purposeful life can conflict with "truth"

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

that life needs a purpose, in my opinion is why many remain witnesses.. yet it occurs to me, if only witnesses could simplify their life, they would regain their sight, look at themselves and see the " miraculous " organisation and the unforseeable future is not as important as enjoying the spring day of today.

this is why i have simplified my life.

my purpose in life today is simply to play a little football with my son, and appreciate the spring day.. but of this i am sure, today will be a good day, better than the " purposeful" days i spent in the " miraculous " organisation, living on the a hope of an unforseeable future..

The Rebel

That life needs a purpose, in my opinion is why many remain witnesses.

Yet it occurs to me, if only Witnesses could simplify their life, they would regain their sight, look at themselves and see the " miraculous " organisation and the unforseeable future is not as important as enjoying the spring day of today. This is why I have simplified my life. My purpose in life today is simply to play a little football with my son, and appreciate the spring day.

But of this I am sure, today will be a good day, better than the " purposeful" days I spent in the " miraculous " organisation, living on the a hope of an unforseeable future.

147

Scientism - Nothing But a Childish Insult?

by cofty in

it is not uncommon for theists to accuse rational people on this forum of "scientism".. in my opinion it is nothing but a cheap shot from those who know they lack evidence for their beliefs.

if something like "scientism" actually does exist then i have never encountered it.. here is part of an exchange from another thread - i have brought it here as it was off-topic.... scientism = claim of scientific method being universal and the only valid method of knowledge.

followers of scientism always demand scientific evidence to anything.

The Rebel

Well I don't claim any superior knowledge, I also harbor no illusions this thread will make neither Cofty nor John Mann shed their clothing....but the O.P is:-

" Scientism- Nothing But a Childish Insult?

Personally I think if anybody reads this thread, and it's 82 replies, well quite frankly I think your time would have been better spent going to the memorial. Or is that a " Childish insult"

Like all people that have an opinion, i hope we can continue to live in a world where we are not executed for our opinion...however John _Mann, If I moderated on this board I would not be so tolerant.

98

Evolution Deniers - An Endangered Species

by cofty in

evolution explains how everything descended from a common ancestor over millions of years.

creationists only seem to want to talk about what came before that common ancestor.

just for the sake of discussion let's pretend that the following is true.

The Rebel

Independent thinking John. It's even more valuable than posts from the " NCBl or Gallop" itself -)