Posts by thinking

http://www.thevine.com.au/news/current-affairs/know-this-tv-binging,-immaterial-products,-scientology's-end,-italian-tears,-the-kickstarter-scam20120122.aspx.

are we living with the last generation of scientologists?

over the past decade, membership has dropped in the us by 20,000. in an article for lrb titled "religion, grrrr" rachel aviv reviews one of the only academic studies of scientology to date.

thinking_1

Are we living with the last generation of Scientologists?

I hope not, they're too entertaining!

But seriously I hope so. Any group that has caused that much damage needs to go down. Looks like that is very possible too.

I only wish the situation looked the same for JWs, but unfortunately I think if the org goes down it will be a much longer process.

The WTS just has their bases covered so well.

1) HQ in the US, which will let you shoot a dozen puppies every week if it's in the name of religion.

2) The maze of Corporations that make it seemingly impenatrable to a sudden financial demise due to law suits.

3) Their boring image to the outside world next to more extreme controlling groups (like $cientology for example)

If/when it does go out, I predict it will be with a whimper not a bang. More and more younger ones being more educated and exposed to the rest of the world, especially with the internet.

And look at the struggle for "brothers to take the lead". It's so obvious, especially with this and next weeks WT study. Either the growth just isn't there when it comes to "qualified" men, or those in, particularly born-in are just unwilling to take on the privilege burden.

What do you guys think? Agree/disagree with my 3 points, or see anything I missed?

285

Evolution disproved by 11 year old niece

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

mary: what's evolution?.

me: well it's kinda complicated.

they think plasma gave birth to monkeys which gave birth to humans.

thinking_1

" And then you wonder why some fight so hard against evolution? "

I think that is so true. But I also see how that causes some (not talking about present company) to clam up at a whiff of anything that would contradict what they've always thought happened "in the beginning" i.e. special creation of each species, or a young earth, or mankind being only six thousand years old.

I remember when I would thought stop myself if I were reading or watching something on tv that said something about evolution or some human remains estimated to be 12,000 yo. I would tell myself "They have that part wrong!" I would just dismiss it because my beliefs (JW since birth, educated by such gems as the "Creation" book and the very scientific Awake! articles) were so flimsy when the winds of actual, unbiased evidence breezed by. I would actually tell myself not to think about it, same as I would when I read the weak or non-answers in the publications. In order to be able to live my life the way it was I had to push it away. If that's not the epitome of cognitive dissonance, I don't know what is.

285

Evolution disproved by 11 year old niece

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

mary: what's evolution?.

me: well it's kinda complicated.

they think plasma gave birth to monkeys which gave birth to humans.

thinking_1

(Good Morning)

For the record, I haven't called or insinuated that you or your friends are stupid. Even though this thread has deteriorated a bit (please no one mention the second law of thermodynamics, lol) I think there is still some life in it. And by "life" I don't mean proving myself right or someone else wrong. Personally if I leave any conversation without learning something new or getting a different perspective (even if it's just understanding the other person(s) better) than I feel that I have failed to communicate/listen well.

So I would like to find out, from those who. . .distrust? evolution, or don't think it is a viable theory to explain the diversity of life as we know it, Why?

Which part(s) do you contend with?

Promise I won't preach or demean.

Tec?

N. Drew?

285

Evolution disproved by 11 year old niece

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

mary: what's evolution?.

me: well it's kinda complicated.

they think plasma gave birth to monkeys which gave birth to humans.

thinking_1

wait, so does what you just described not sound at all possible?

285

Evolution disproved by 11 year old niece

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

mary: what's evolution?.

me: well it's kinda complicated.

they think plasma gave birth to monkeys which gave birth to humans.

thinking_1

N. Drew. Not sure if what you are saying about chance is in response to me, but if it is. . .

I can see that it sounds weird to say that chance and randomness factor in and at the same time say it is a misconception that evolution is due to chance.

But sometimes the subtle differences do matter. When people say chance is a factor in evolution that is different than saying it is the only factor. And when it is a factor, it's not in the way you might think.

I and others who you hear try to point out something like people misusing the word "chance" when talking about evolution, probably do so, not to try to sound smart or some other reason. But it is because when those who oppose, or possibly don't understand evolution say something akin to "So I'm supposed to believe that all the complexity of life arose by chance?" it doesn't appear (at least to me) that they understand the role chance plays, or want to. Rather they know that stating things that way does make it sound unreasonable to believe that is what happened.

If it is out of lack of understanding about the subject, that is one thing. But it is dishonest to intentionally do that, wouldn't you agree?

For instance, doesn't it annoy you when people say that if you believe in God and have a personal relationship with Him, you're just blindly believing or delusional?

285

Evolution disproved by 11 year old niece

by StopTheTears in

jw
friends

mary: what's evolution?.

me: well it's kinda complicated.

they think plasma gave birth to monkeys which gave birth to humans.

thinking_1

Ok, I have been on here for about nine months now. Mostly lurking/reading, I've only posted a few times, so sorry for this re-introduction in the middle of someone's thread. (I'll get the the topic below, so skip to that if you want)

I don't post much because I feel like I can't express myself very well via this medium. But hey, there's always room for growing and improvement. I'll warn you, I will probably be doing all sorts of prequalifying and over-clarification, so please bear with me.

(Now to the present topic)

I know for me personally, when I learned how the processes of evolution really work, and listened to the other side (as in Not just the WTS pubs) I was really shocked to see how much I didn't know.

Then I saw how many terms or concepts people seem to intentionally misrepresent. I can't speak for them, but if you read anything written by actual experts and still say things like "all happened by chance" or "If we came from monkeys, why are there still monkeys?" Then I feel I can confidently say you are deliberately misrepresenting things because you have some kind of agenda.

In my studying so far, I have learned a lot about evolution. Every theory (another misused term) derived from evolution, or concept may not be right. But there are many major points that I just cannot deny are true. (not that I particularly want to, but I try to be skeptical so I don't get blind sided discussing things with others)

So my advice to N. Drew or others who for whatever reason think that evolution is some conspiracy that people have just bought into or blindly accepted despite perceived major flaws is, take the advice of some on this thread and do the research for yourself. And don't be afraid to hear an opinion that may currently be the complete opposite of your own. Sure, be skeptical, ask tough questions, but if you never hear an opposing view, on any subject, you will never correct the false assumptions and beliefs that we all collect throughout our lives.

22

anyone wanna skype?

by thinking_1 in

jw
friends

i haven't been able to actually talk to any "apostates" yet, haha.

.

i'm not much of a poster, mostly read alot, but would like to have a good conversation..

thinking_1

I haven't been able to actually talk to any "apostates" yet, haha.

I'm not much of a poster, mostly read alot, but would like to have a good conversation.

106

Is it possible for an apostate to get reindoctrinated?

by foolsparadise in

jw
friends

and if so why?.

thinking_1

Wow Agent Zero, your experience sounds remarkably like mine. Looked into it, went back to believing more than ever, then I realized the thing questions I had never got answered. I just convinced myself they didn't matter or I was being tested by Satan. Went a little deeper and that's when I started researching the psychological aspects of high control groups. Then I had my "moment". I understood why I felt like it was the truth, why things that should have been red flags didn't affect me, why I wasn't being objective. It was and still is quite a rollercoaster.

thinking_1

Posts by thinking_1