NewYork44M

Joined

• started 73 topics
• posted 4,924 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by NewYork44M

• 
  13

  Talk Prayer

  by under_believer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  someone posted something in another thread about how prayer is often used to summarize the content of the meeting.

  this is absolutely true and is something that always has really bothered me about witness meetings.

  jws often use the opening or closing prayer to "teach" the congregation.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  I had an uncle who gave the longest prayers I have ever heard. Somewhere in the middle of the prayer he would start referring to god in the third person. He was clearly speaking to the congregation - not to god.
• 
  13

  Ayn Rand quote that had an impact on my life

  by NewYork44M in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the most signficant influences that helped me get free from the organization is the novels of ayn rand.

  i had a very long fade and at some point during my "fade" i discoverved any rand.

  i have read "the fountainhead" and "atlas shrugged" numerous times.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  I do not agree totally with her philosophy but I love her angle on some things.

  Those are also my sentiments about Ayn. She had many great ideas. Because they were so contrary to what I was taught my whole life the "shock" value of some of the ideas were as important as the actual idea.
• 
  13

  Ayn Rand quote that had an impact on my life

  by NewYork44M in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the most signficant influences that helped me get free from the organization is the novels of ayn rand.

  i had a very long fade and at some point during my "fade" i discoverved any rand.

  i have read "the fountainhead" and "atlas shrugged" numerous times.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  Run for your life from any man who tells you that money is evil. That sentence is the leper's bell of an approaching looter.

  **The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren't enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible for men to live without breaking laws.

  
  

  
  I also have these on my top ten list as favorites.

  The purpose of morality is to teach you, not to suffer and die, but to enjoy yourself and live.

  I don't recall this one. But, I will put it on my list. Good catch.
• 
  13

  Ayn Rand quote that had an impact on my life

  by NewYork44M in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  one of the most signficant influences that helped me get free from the organization is the novels of ayn rand.

  i had a very long fade and at some point during my "fade" i discoverved any rand.

  i have read "the fountainhead" and "atlas shrugged" numerous times.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  One of the most signficant influences that helped me get free from the organization is the novels of Ayn Rand. I had a very long fade and at some point during my "fade" I discoverved Any Rand. I have read "The Fountainhead" and "Atlas Shrugged" numerous times. While I don't consider myself a part of the "cult" of Ayn Rand, I must admit that her writings helped me formulate my ultimate transformation and who I am today.

  One quote that I keep going back to. Even ten years after I first read it is as follows:

  "Man's motive power is his moral code. Ask yourself where ther code is leading you and what it offers you as your final goal. A viler evil than to murder a man is to sell him suicide as an act of virtue. By their own statement, it is they who need you and have nothing to offer you in return."

  When I first read this quote I was overwhelmed with how this relates to the blood issue. An issue that I believed and was willing to sacrifice my life for.

  Does anyone have any quotes from Ayn Rand, or others, that you keep referring back to as a source of strength or a transition point in your struggle to get out of the organization?
• 
  105

  SELF-SACRIFICE: the tool of the MYSTICS

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a brief treatise on mysticism.

  mysticism begins with a code of "morality" just beyond the reach of humanity.

  guilt ensues; man cannot achieve this lofty standard of behavior.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  Greed - I'd define that somewhat differently in that it knows few bounds, putting "self" above the needs of the "group", to the detriment of the group. Hence it's pretty much looked down upon by every civilisation.

  Since my escape from the mind -controlling group of witnesses I stay as far away from groups as possible. If I even hear the word "group" I get a little nervous.
• 
  105

  SELF-SACRIFICE: the tool of the MYSTICS

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a brief treatise on mysticism.

  mysticism begins with a code of "morality" just beyond the reach of humanity.

  guilt ensues; man cannot achieve this lofty standard of behavior.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  By the way you jumped in to defend the term, I'd say you still have a need to explain yourself

  Didn't mean to appear to jump in. Just started reading the thread and wanted to add a few thoughts. I don't usually jump into AR threads, but this seemed especially interesting.

  If you like greed, that makes me happy. I am greedy and very happy. Thank you very much.
• 
  105

  SELF-SACRIFICE: the tool of the MYSTICS

  by Terry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a brief treatise on mysticism.

  mysticism begins with a code of "morality" just beyond the reach of humanity.

  guilt ensues; man cannot achieve this lofty standard of behavior.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  Isn't that what the Ayn Rand philosophy is all about? Greed?

  What is wrong with greed?

  One thing that I gained from Ayn Rand's philosophy is the negative power of guilt. I grew up a witness full of guilt. I was never able to measure up. When I worked harder, I would feel even more guilt.

  Several years ago I made a personal commitment that I would not feel guilty about anything. I took responsibility for my life. If I did something I did it with the full knowledge that I was going to take responsibility for my actions. I was not going to feel guilty for doing or not doing anything. My life course now is described by some as very selfish and greedy. But I have been more productive and ultimately done the most good with my present course of life than I ever did as a guilt-ful witness.
• 
  63

  Some apostates are more equal than others...

  by slimboyfat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ever noticed that the most cleverest apostates are the ones that were "brought up in the truth"?

  i mean people like little toe, leolaia and narkissos who provide the most intelligent dicsussions on the forum - they never chose the witnesses, but were dragged up in it.

  do you think maybe they can't help but look down on the rest of us who were stupid enough to actually choose to become witnesses?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  they never chose the Witnesses, but were dragged up in it

  Most people, including myself, ultimately choose to be a witness.

  I have never noticed elitism associated with being raised in the "truth." I am not sure what purpose there is to propose that some feel they are more equal.
• 
  63

  What are apostate lies?

  by vitty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the hotting up of the wt articles about not listening to apostate lies.

  i was wondering, when you where in the borg did you ever wonder what these "lies" were.. its a strange thing but i never did.

  i never even knew what they said about us and i didnt care.. in other walks of life, if you hear that someone has been lied about, you usually want to know what it is (well i do cos im nosey) but in all my 20 years i didnt wonder about what the apostates were saying.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  When the society or an elder talks about specific "lies" of apostates they use a strawman technique.

  The strawman technique works like this:

  1) apostates lie about jehoba's people

  2) I heard one apostate say that witnesses eat their children

  3) We know that it is silly to say that we eat our children

  4) Therefore you can't believe anything an apostate says because they all lie.

  (if I recall these was a very similar line of reasoning in a Wt several years ago. Does anyone recall this example?)
• 
  45

  Might go visit the New York crew

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have a five day weekend coming up between june 30th and july 4th.. i'm thinking about heading up to see new york city, so would some of you new yorkers like to have a mini-fest and show me the sights?.

  i'll need someone to refer me to a hotel that is in a good location for seeing the sights, but will not cost much more than about $100 a night.

  either that or someone could put me up in a spare room.. let me know your thoughts!!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  NewYork44M

  I will be in lower Manhattan and Brooklyn Heights the whole weekend. I know the good chinese restaurants in chinatown and the good italian in little ltaly. There are some really neat things in lower manhattan if you want to do a walking tour. I am available Sat eve. I don't do the bar thing.