Posts by Flat

I didn't say it. I don't wanna push arguments too much, and get myself in trouble. But yes, I'd like to have seen the look on his face as well. Haha xD

Thanks guys. Starr you sound like a trouble causer, too! I try not to laugh, though I couldn't help myself once during a discussion on paradise.

After that he shut up and we watched the football.

12

I'm getting more and more frustrated . . .

by Flat_Accent in

jw
friends

so last friday we had our regular visitor over.

one of the single brothers from my former hall.

we were decent friends when i was still attending meetings, but since my departure we don't have a lot in common.

So last friday we had our regular visitor over. One of the single brothers from my former hall. We were decent friends when I was still attending meetings, but since my departure we don't have a lot in common. Unfortunately, I'm outnumbered 3-1 at the dinner table, so I always assume the conversation will lean towards God/Armageddon/Last Days.

The other week he'd had a go at Obama's recent comments on Gay Marriage, how he thought Obama was 'crazy' and homosexuality was 'unnatural'. I had a hard time not speaking my mind about this, but I let it lie.

This time we were talking science, so I prepared myself for the asshattery that was about to commence.

There had been a show on that week about the transition of Venus. Instead of focusing on the event itself, or what we might learn about our solar system from it, he instead focused on how irritated he was with the presenters. I actually hadn't watched the show, but I could imagine them bringing up the subject of extraterrestrial life, or life outside our galaxy.

"What annoys me is how they talk about all this, like they already know everything, when really they know nothing." He said.

I could see where he was going immediately, and decided to play the fool and make him spell it out. I asked him what he meant by that.

"Well they mention things like the Big Bang, but it's just a guess, only a theory."

I quickly replied before he could change subject. "You know Gravity is 'only a theory', right?"

"Yeah right! Why don't you jump off the roof and then tell me whether Gravity is still a theory!", while my dad simply said "No it's not."

I went on to explain what scientific theory is, and why it doesn't just mean 'a hunch', and then strung off a list of theories I had remembered, none of which they take umbrage with (I didn't say the E word, but I'm sure they understood what the implications meant by this REAL definition of theory.)

There was no real retort to that, so instead he went along with his next point of contention;

"I couldn't believe it, they see all the stars up there, and the billions of galaxies, and they refuse to acknowledge, or even say 'there must be a creator.'"

Wait wait. Go back. What was that first complaint you had?

"What annoys me is how they talk about all this, like they already know everything, when really they know nothing."

So you want to have a go at the people who spend their lives studying and learning about life and the universe, and make evidence based theories, but you're totally fine claiming off the cuff that you know there was a creator? What's more, you know exactly which creator it was, what his plan is, and what his likes and dislikes are?

I need to get out of this house.

13

Amusing converstion with mother about evolution

by not bitter in

jw
friends

sorry if i waffle.

sunday my 5 year old daughter and i watched a few episodes back to back of walking with monsters its a documentary of life before dinosaurs.

our early beginnings.

Flat_Accent

Sounds like you got a good kid there.

I had a chuckle at your mum being annoyed with you for letting your daughter watch that show. Comeon, as IF she'd say the same thing about that crappy Sparlock DVD, or the Creation one. What's wrong with learning about life? Secondly, did she even look at the My Book of Bible Stories? She's worried your daughter is 'too young' to learn about evolution, howabout 'too young' to read stories about murder/genocide/death?

31

My email to my mother - sorry a bit long

by darthweef in

jw
friends

hello - i am new here .. just joined a couple of days ago, and have enjoyed the bit of lurking that i have done.

a breif history, i was raised as a jw, was active until i was 36, and was a regular pioneer for 7 years and a ministerial servant for 5 years, and was one when i left.

my reasons for leaving are not important at this point, but i have spent the last year or so researching the flood and more extensively the theory of evolution.. i have finally decided to broach the topic with my mother since after all this time, the last of my jw friends and my brother and sister have all decided that they should shun me now, and i want to make a last ditch effort to convey to my mother that i didn't leave the organization so i could do lines of coke off a cheap hooker, but because i actually believe that this is not the truth.. i'd love some feedback on the email and what you think the possibility of it actually breaking through the "permafrost" created by the society.

Flat_Accent

I left for the same reasons. Well done for looking outside the org and researching things for yourself. But I doubt your mum will take any of your points to heart. I know similar emails didn't work on mine.

90

What it takes to become an atheist.

by dontplaceliterature in

jw
friends

i was pondering this today during lunch, and to me it seems that it comes down to whether or not you can accept that you will one day be permanantly gone and anyone you have lost in death will never be alive again.

once a person becomes comfortable with these two ideas, there isn't really any incentive to believe.

maybe it's an over simplification, but it seems to me that this is the heart of the matter.

Flat_Accent

Definitely Bazinga, Jonesy.

27

What biblical support is there for the belief that a creative day is 7000 years long?

by JWB in

what biblical support is there for the belief that a creative day is 7000 years long?.

as most folks here are probably well aware, the wts teaches that humankind has lived for about 6,000 years and that there will be a 1,000 year reign of christ to restore humans to perfection.

they teach that the end of 'this old system' must be coming very soon since everything must fit into a 7000 year 'creative day'.

Flat_Accent

There are several reputable sources and well documented texts that envisage the concept of 7000 year long 'creative days'.

Firstly, I lied.

90

What it takes to become an atheist.

by dontplaceliterature in

jw
friends

i was pondering this today during lunch, and to me it seems that it comes down to whether or not you can accept that you will one day be permanantly gone and anyone you have lost in death will never be alive again.

once a person becomes comfortable with these two ideas, there isn't really any incentive to believe.

maybe it's an over simplification, but it seems to me that this is the heart of the matter.

Flat_Accent

I never really though about it like that. Though maybe that's because I haven't been greatly affected by death yet.

I saw the flaws and thought that there was no real place for god. After that I didn't see the point believing something just because I might want it to be true.

14

Should I attend a JW funeral?

by Flat_Accent in

i mean, i had respect for the guy, and it's obviously right to be there for the family and show support.

however, i can imagine what it will be like going back.

i was friendly with a lot of the older, tougher sisters, so i'm sure they'll get on my case.

Flat_Accent

Interesting comments everyone, I'll certainly give it some more thought.

14

Should I attend a JW funeral?

by Flat_Accent in

i mean, i had respect for the guy, and it's obviously right to be there for the family and show support.

however, i can imagine what it will be like going back.

i was friendly with a lot of the older, tougher sisters, so i'm sure they'll get on my case.

Flat_Accent

Well, I wouldn't say the person who died was close to me. Thinking about it, maybe even 'respect' is for all the wrong reasons (he was a long time missionary), I admire his diligence, but perhaps I'm just making excuses for him, and this is just my left-over JW mentality trying to guilt me into going.

I am not DF'd; I was never baptized, although my parents are both dubs and I went to meetings for 19 years. I've had some of the elders call me before and try to arrange meetups, one of which I attended.

I'm almost done with this part of my life, and going back now would throw me right back into it. That's my worry.

Flat_Accent

Posts by Flat_Accent