For me the the independent thinking issue was the final straw. Without the ability to think for yourself the rest of the policys and restrictions were moot. If they would completely change the format of the Org. to one that strongly encouraged spiritual and related scientific research, critical thinking and free sharing of ideas and discussion it would very much interest me. I don't know of a religious organization anywhere like that. As far as the shunning policy it seems to me that rational adults have the capacity to recognize and avoid a truely evil person. A congregation wide policy of avoiding truely dangerous or evil people (child predators etc.) would probably be valid. This would necessarily be an organization that would require a nearly 180 degree reversal of format from the current one.
Jack C.
JoinedPosts by Jack C.
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Would you have left if b-days and blood were okay, and DF-ing was rare?
by respectful_observer in -
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But, isn't it a "Wicked System of Things?"
by PenelopePaige ini am not a jw but one thing that they really get me on is when they call the outside world a "wicked system of things" and say it is run by the devil.
i know the world can be great and people can be wonderful but on the flip side, the bad seems to be getting worse and morals seem to be flying out the window.
i don't know, what do you guys think?
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Jack C.
This observation is certainly no unique to Jehovah's Witnesses. Most fundamental sects incorporate this idea into their doctrine, alibet with somewhat different doctrines and rules to escape the wickedness. One bible verse that comes to mind along the lines of a wicked system of things and the last days is the one about lovers of money in the last days. The current financial crisis in the west is indicative of the selfishness and corruption of capitolism. Communism and fascism didn't work. Now capitolism is beginning to show it's soft underbelly. Western society is quickly returning to the peasant and ruling class oliarchy of the middle ages.
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Johnny and six screens question
by Jack C. inwhat is the concensus of the board as to credability of the six screens and jtb site?
i've read only one of the johnny reports and don't know enough about it to form an opinion.
waste of time or credable?.
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Jack C.
What is the concensus of the board as to credability of the six screens and JTB site? I've read only one of the Johnny reports and don't know enough about it to form an opinion. Waste of time or credable?
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Stop CONFUTING Physics with METAphysics Watchtower !
by Terry indescartes uttered the famous dictum: i think therefore i am.. thinking, however, is metaphysical and existing is physical.. now stop right there!.
let us define our words, shall we?.
physics deals with our sensory proofs of actual things (hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting).
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Jack C.
I realize (sic) this kind of discussion usually ends up as an endless mind f**K and accomplishes nothing. Reduced to it's inevitable conclusion the question of a universal concsienceness becomes the final point of contention. Either view requires a personal consideration of available facts and an individual truth aquired. Facts are always facts; truth is subjective, in the eye of the beholder.
later
Jack
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Stop CONFUTING Physics with METAphysics Watchtower !
by Terry indescartes uttered the famous dictum: i think therefore i am.. thinking, however, is metaphysical and existing is physical.. now stop right there!.
let us define our words, shall we?.
physics deals with our sensory proofs of actual things (hearing, seeing, smelling, touching, tasting).
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Jack C.
Metaphysical reality is not THE reality.
Hmm... JW religious arguments aside, please define/explain reality without metaphysics? What is the Real or primary reality? I posit that there is no reality in a purely physical world, ie reality does not exist without the metaphysical. While I can easily comprehend a purely metaphysical world in which you and I exist, it is impossible to comprehend a purely physical world including myself. If it is impossible to imagine, it's impossible to explain. Imagine you don't exist, then reply. Can you do so?
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Attention Governor Perry: Evolution is a fact - R. Dawkins
by unshackled inthe washington post published this richard dawkins response to perry's evolution is "just a theory" comment.
refers to him as an "uneducated ignoramus" and doesn't spare the republican party much either.... http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/on-faith/post/attention-governor-perry-evolution-is-a-fact/2011/08/23/giqauifuyj_blog.html.
q. texas governor and gop candidate rick perry, at a campaign event this week, told a boy that evolution is just a theory with gaps and that in texas they teach both creationism and evolution.
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Jack C.
The problem with Dawkins isn't his stand on evolution it's that his rediculous reductionist philosophy isn't really believed by anyone, himself included. His idea of first cause (ie god to us commoners) is the unseen, unknowable, unfathomable singularity that originates nowhere and ends up nowhere. His church is of the Pathagorean number cult who worship and offer holy sacrements to the almighty number as creator and manager of all that is known (look it up for yourself.) Dawkins reductionism has even sliced the number one into the singularity, the almighty nothing.
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Interracial Marriage
by Quendi inhere is a question i want to pose because i do not know the correct answer.
i have seen many interracial married couples among jehovah's witnesses--moreso than i have seen in other religions.
however, i have been told that once upon a time, interracial marriage was frowned upon by the wts hierarchy.
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Jack C.
Newchapter, that's precisly what I mean. "The book claims it's inspired?" The book is just a book! You certainly don't believe everything a book "says" do you? the book "says whatever the translator, preacher, priest or any dubius charactor want's it to say. I'm not trying to be a smart ass, it's just that there is SO much more to evaluate than one ancient book of dubius origin. The book is the bathwater, don't throw in the baby too. THAT God is not the one all tell all.
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Getting rid of the Book Study - a way to isolate the JW?
by skeeter1 inthe book study meeting was cancelled a while back.
the watch tower said that it was to provide for a family study night and high gas costs.
hmmm.. i thought about the cancellation of the book study meeting after listening to another pastor discus his mega-churchs dependence on small circle groups.
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Jack C.
Research the history of the Org? That I gota see! Not much chance of them interviewing me.
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Interracial Marriage
by Quendi inhere is a question i want to pose because i do not know the correct answer.
i have seen many interracial married couples among jehovah's witnesses--moreso than i have seen in other religions.
however, i have been told that once upon a time, interracial marriage was frowned upon by the wts hierarchy.
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Jack C.
"arrogant, egotistical, homocidal, genocidal personality... Hitler was a gentle, kind soul compared to "God.""
Mighty shallow thinking if all you go by is a man made book. Kinda like me going by your goofy picture on the left.
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Getting rid of the Book Study - a way to isolate the JW?
by skeeter1 inthe book study meeting was cancelled a while back.
the watch tower said that it was to provide for a family study night and high gas costs.
hmmm.. i thought about the cancellation of the book study meeting after listening to another pastor discus his mega-churchs dependence on small circle groups.
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Jack C.
When (date) did this transpire? Are the study nights now "free" or did something take it's place?