scotoma

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Posts by scotoma

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  18

  Why am I so special?

  by Wayward Son in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if we are to accept that intelligence plays no part in wether or not we become duped into a cult, then the same rule must apply to those who wake up and make an exit.. so why am i so special?

  i had basically the same experiences as my family and i am the only one out.

  i don't claim to be some towering intelect, but even if i were it shouldn't matter.

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  scotoma

  Inherited temperament. Same reason why some kids born to alcoholic parents become alcoholics while another child in the same environment avoids that pitfall.

  If you are high on the psychological trait called "openness to experience" (google it) you will eventually question everything. If you are low on that trait you probably will be afraid of the discomfort of change. This quality is mildly correlated with intelligence. In fact if you are too intelligent you may dig a deep intellectual hole of "belief" and become a fanatic.

  This is why it's silly to condemn people for their choices. Contrary to religous teaching our choices really aren't "free". Our inheirted disposition trumps most environmental effects.

  That's why its so important to "know thyself".
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  22

  Did you miss out on a career opportunity when you were a JW?

  by moshe in

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  2. friends

  opportunities seemed to be advertised everywhere when i was a young man, it was hard to decide on one.

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  scotoma

  I was ready to audition for a major symphony at 18 but stopped because concerts always conflicted with meeting nights. Would have probably made it through the audition because my teacher was 1st chair in that section of the orchestra. The audition was just a formality.

  But I did get to conduct the orchestra at my circuit assemblies. (back when we had live music)

  Got tired of draft dodging pioneering and janitorial work at age 21 in 1966. Decided to go to assembly in Toronto and start attending University in the fall. They released the book "Life Everlasting in the Freedom of Son's of God" That was the publication that started the 1975 fiasco. I decided at that assembly to NOT go to college. After all, I could do janitorial work for the 9 years that remained to this system.

  I have now been doing janitorial work for 47 years.

  The really depressing thing is I had very liberal witness parents who were very active in the congregation. They repeatedly told me to go to college and were willing to pay whatever I needed. Instead I chose to pioneer and they refused to help me financially with "serving Jehovah".

  Kinda my fault.
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  36

  Creepy Hand In the Revelation Book

  by Zordino in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are many weird and creepy images in the revelation book but there is one that i could never figure out.

  why the creepy monster like hand?

  is it subliminal or just an error?

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  scotoma

  Comment I made about beards on annointed at the book study:

  Even though the annointed are pictured as men with beards you have to remember that at least half of them had their human experience as women.
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  6

  More Self Therapy

  by Indian Larry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dont push me under.

  there is nothing wrong with that.. i am concerned about my standing with god.. i am concerned about how i will answer on judgement day.. i try to be a good father.. i try to be a good son.. i try to be a good husband.. is that crazy?.

  yes, i have doubts.. the bible tells us to verify the truth.. we are encouraged to test things we are told.

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  scotoma

  You seem to be asserting that the Bible is the Truth. How can you be sure?
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  9

  Was Jehovah Completely Nuts? (New Dinosaur Book)

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ok, there is a really, really good book out on dinosaurs.

  you might be able to get it from your local library.. http://www.amazon.com/princeton-field-guide-dinosaurs-guides/dp/069113720x.

  my heavens!

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  scotoma

  When the WORD was a typical 8 year old he loved dinasaurs.

  And when he got a hundred million years older he played with ken and barbie.
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  23

  "Something from Nothing" (Discussion with Richard Dawkins and Lawrence Krauss)

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  taped live on feb 4, 2012.

  (2 hours).

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gh9uvnrarf8.

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  scotoma

  Nothing is impossible!
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  12

  Sloppy Scholarship and 3rd Rate Love (3/1 WT)

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this watchtower is supposed to help people identify true christianity, relative to their cult standards (march 1, 2012).

  of course, they use the name 'jehovah' as a club to fend off other claimants - why does it not surprize me that they self reference this silliness by quoting the new world translation and its wrongful insertion of 'jehovah' in romans 10: 13?

  no logic here..... and for proof that christians used the name, they offer an unreferenced quote from jewish sources in regard to burning christian books.

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  scotoma

  It is typical of small communities to have more agape than larger organizations. We evolved in groups that consisted of less than 150 people.

  2 Great Grandparents With 10 Children (Grand Parents) Each with 10 children in process of producing 10 children each (5 Children each because they haven't finished reproductive years). Plus or minus 20 or so deaths.

  When the Roman Empire ate up the tribal structures Christianity was really a social welfare system. It attracted the poor and afflicted and provided a social safety net similar to the old clan.

  "The form of worship that is clean and undefiled from the standpoint of God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their tribulation and keep oneself without spot from the world." James 1:27

  Every small group whether religious or fraternal is going to show concern for its members.
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  1

  Why We Need Serious Welfare Reform

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  why we need serious welfare reform.

  http://thecollegeconservative.com/2011/12/13/my-time-at-walmart-why-we-need-serious-welfare-reform/.

  bangalore.

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  scotoma

  The victims of the economic system didn't design the economic system. They evolved to hunt,gather and share. We evolved in a world where you only owned the clothes covering your privates.

  If you are born in an advanced economy there is no where you can use ordinary skills to subsist.

  Welfare is the price you pay to have an advanced economy where everything is owned by other people.

  Quit complaining and enjoy whatever YOU have been allowed to own.

  The whole thing will evetually collapse.
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  17

  Cellar Door

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the little girl was speaking slowly to the psychologist (who was taking notes rapidly) and choosing her words haltingly.. it was obvious to the policemen nearby that she was upset, shaken and trying to cope with her distress.. "my uncle took me to live with him when my parents died in the plane crash.

  he bought my clothes, cooked my meals and made sure i had games to play, tv to watch and any dolls or toys i asked for.".

  she stopped momentarily...as if to sift her thoughts around.

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  scotoma

  Terry,

  Your treatment was good. Just wondering about the story source. The internet is proof that there is nothing new under the sun.
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  17

  Cellar Door

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the little girl was speaking slowly to the psychologist (who was taking notes rapidly) and choosing her words haltingly.. it was obvious to the policemen nearby that she was upset, shaken and trying to cope with her distress.. "my uncle took me to live with him when my parents died in the plane crash.

  he bought my clothes, cooked my meals and made sure i had games to play, tv to watch and any dolls or toys i asked for.".

  she stopped momentarily...as if to sift her thoughts around.

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  scotoma

  Terry: Were you aware of the Emo Phillip comedy routine with a similar plot? Or is this something that has been given treatment by numerous writers.