cobweb

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Posts by cobweb

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  13

  Last installment of the Scientology series tonight on A & E

  by nonjwspouse in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  10 pm est on arts and entertainment channel.

  where leah began with the idea of just a few shows, i think she is now taking this on for "as long as it takes".

  she is in that mode of being outraged that what she believed in so long is such a lie she wants to shout it from the rooftops, and get people to notice.

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  cobweb

  Just watched a crappy cropped youtube upload of yesterday's final ask anything episode.

  It was a great way to round out the series. They had Steve Hassan on there. He got quite emotional as he'd had quite a lot of hostility from the COS and he set off Leah crying. I wondered if he'd mention JWs but he didn't.

  Steve did make the point though that one way to get someone to see thry're in a cult is to compare with other cults. Thats is why this show has power that goes beyond Scientology.

  Leah said there was only ever supposed to be 8 episodes but its left open as to whether she will do more. It didn't seem like she was ready to let it go.
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  8

  The Syrian Dan-El

  by schnell in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i started reading deceptions and myths of the bible by lloyd graham tonight, and graham mentions that the book of daniel, like the story of joseph, is ripped off from a syrian poem about another hero named daniel (or dan-el).. a cursory google search doesn't pull up anything.

  is this accurate?

  has this ancient poem survived?

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  cobweb

  Just had a quick look and there is a chapter in Stories from Ancient Canaan by Michael D. Coogan & Mark Smith called Aqhat where he gives a brief overview and then there is a translation of the Ugaritic text from the tablets. Danel is the one of the main characters. I would copy and paste as I have an epub copy but its fairly long. I wouldn't say its been ripped off, the stories are completely different but I expect the name was re-purposed. Scholars believe the writing of bible book of Daniel is 2nd century so the entire character of Daniel is probably an invention. I am no expert on these things though; my understanding is fairly limited.
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  161

  ARC Analysis Summary of Case Files

  by Richard Oliver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have been doing research on the arc as some people on here have suggested.

  i find it interesting on the case file analysis some of the findings.

  it looks like queensland and new south wales had the biggest problems with this.

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  cobweb

  You have a long thread on this issue already. Forgive me if i get this wrong because i haven't read those threads through, but my impression is that you are very passionate about the idea the JW organisation is only minimally responsible for child abuse and people are being unfair and opportunistic by making such a big thing about it & its not justified to sue them in the manner that is occuring. Is that the size of it?

  Where does your passion come from for making this kind of argument? If you are not an apologist i don't really understand what is your motivation for making this issue such a focus.
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  161

  ARC Analysis Summary of Case Files

  by Richard Oliver in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i have been doing research on the arc as some people on here have suggested.

  i find it interesting on the case file analysis some of the findings.

  it looks like queensland and new south wales had the biggest problems with this.

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  cobweb

  So you are only troubled by 9 of the offenders? Is that what you are saying?
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  I'm the same as Ruby, although its not Christendom. Secular humanism.
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  I think that there is a certain anount of speaking at cross purposes. What i get now from the OP when he refers to choosing belief is that it is belief in the abstract rather than anything absolute or specific.
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  Cassaruby

  As I think you fathomed, Jws do not see the bible as you do - they believe things very literally. Its not poetry to them. It was supposed to be literal truth. So after coming to realize that the literalism that the JW's teaches is not true, it often causing them to be very passionate about discovering the literal truth of reality, wherever this leads.
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  No it doesn't matter to me whether those things actually happened. Not that I disregard that they could of happened tho. I don't really know what exactly unfolded because I wasn't there. Metaphorically it all still works.

  Thanks, that is an illuminating comment and I think I understand where you are coming from now. You have a poetic soul and I think you enjoy the deep meaning of the stories, no matter the origin. You are interpreting the bible in a unique way. I have no problem with that. You would find beauty and meaning in other religious texts and mythology too I suppose.

  
  
  
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  I mean the emotion deep in my consciousness that creates a sense of awe in the universe that can only be expressed poetically.

  I recognise that feeling. That emotional sense of awe does not require belief in a God. Atheists feel it too when they look at the night sky or are in nature. The Universe is amazing for sure.
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  123

  Why do some Jehovah's Witnesses choose to be atheist or agnostic?

  by Cassaruby in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "traumatic as the initial transition may be, it can lead to the development of a truly personal relationship with these two greatest friends [the father and the son] .

  .. "whatever sense of 'belonging' that membership in some religious system may create, it can never compare with the power and beauty and strengthening benefit of the intimate personal relationship the scripture presents .

  from reading joseph campbell i've come to understand that there are functions to religion or mythology.

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  cobweb

  I define faith as an emotional belief in the mystery that is involved in experiencing life.

  
  

  On that basis, does it matter to you whether something in the bible actually happened or not? Does it matter if Jesus said the things he did or as Saename said, whether a particular book is a forgery or not? If it is so reliant on emotion then the emotion could just as easily come about whether these things happened or not. Just like a novel can make a strong emotional impact and resonate and seem very true to us.