philo

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Posts by philo

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  25

  Are 'we' Rubbing the dubs?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody considered the possibility that the internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?.

  i recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans.

  a doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment!

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  philo

  To All

  I suppose this thread was started partly as a continuation of my recent sighing about the old H2O with YK and co., but mostly it was sparked by Esmerelda's critical farewell.

  My questions have been given pretty solid answers. And though I have called into question the existence of this community, nobody has even hinted that I should desist such questioning. Thanks to everyone either for working through the questions themselves, or for delving into the reasons for asking: Cornerstone, Patio34, Prisca.

  However, I would not want every discussion to be so mature and productive. Arguments are fun, dramatic, and ad hominem attacks often draw people together unexpectedly by revealing our true selves. One of the most refreshing things we can offer to the Watchtower's walking wounded is something they cannot have in their infra world: a place to be heard - even if (or especially if) they disagree with us.

  Thanks again

  philo
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  25

  Are 'we' Rubbing the dubs?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody considered the possibility that the internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?.

  i recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans.

  a doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment!

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  philo

  Focus,

  The parallel, as you said, may not be exact, but it seems pretty close. The question still remains though, is life better for the majority, (blacks and coloureds) now that apartheid is gone. My guess, an ill-informed one, is that life IS better for them now. You have also presented a case where the sanction (or opposition) has already had its effect, and a dramatic one. Regrettably and obviously, this has not yet happened in Dubdom.

  :Additionally, the drubbing serves to keep many out of the clutches of the evil Borg. PREVENTION IS BETTER THAN CURE

  Good points as ever.

  philo
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  25

  Are 'we' Rubbing the dubs?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody considered the possibility that the internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?.

  i recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans.

  a doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment!

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  philo

  Java, thanks for your comments.

  I think the biggest crime former JWs can commit is keeping quiet about the Watchtower's dirty little secrets. That causes far more harm to Joe dub then reporting the crime.

  If our opposition can dismantle the whole, or at least much, of the WT society, your statement seems true. But I do not see information as a universal moral good. Rather, I see it neutrally, something created and used by people to influence others, a force.

  I suppose it comes down to individuals. Given that 'wartime' restrictions are bad (a point not universally proved): are we helping enough individuals to exit the borg to justify contributing to the armoury of their leadership, which points inward on the remaining dubs?

  For me it comes down to my valuation of individualism over socialism, for battle over aquiescence, to be heard than to stay silent. And so I prefer to continue.

  philo
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  25

  Are 'we' Rubbing the dubs?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody considered the possibility that the internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?.

  i recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans.

  a doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment!

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  philo

  Hi teejay,

  Rereading my post, I see it was not very clear. Let me expand a little for the sake of clarity.

  In times of war, populations, on both sides, are treated differently than in peace time. This is sometimes officially called martial law: the press is reigned in, propaganda may displace more balanced reporting, there may be curfews, food rationing, emphasis on martial education, and so on. The more desperate the war, the more intense these effects become.

  The WTBTS are at war (as Englishman says) with Narnia, or the world in general. Their population (the R+F) is consequently subjected to similar effects, and these effects are justified with: "there's a war on".

  So, by intensifying the war, offering overt opposition, as people like me do, are we contributing to the harmful effects upon the JW population. Are we providing the WT leadership with reasons (or excuses) to throw their authoritarian weight about, when without our opposition, they might not have those reasons (or excuses)?

  philo
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  19

  www.do-not-call.org

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on april 2nd i purchased the domain name www.do-not-call.org .

  a few weeks later i posted a comment on the thread http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=3941&site=3.

  it was titled 'can you stop the preaching work?'.

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  philo

  Please ignore last message. It seems my apostate credentials were sufficient; I have been accepted.

  :)

  philo
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  19

  www.do-not-call.org

  by nicolaou in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on april 2nd i purchased the domain name www.do-not-call.org .

  a few weeks later i posted a comment on the thread http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=3941&site=3.

  it was titled 'can you stop the preaching work?'.

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  philo

  I have applied for the workgroup, but before you added the rider. Now I can't reapply. Please advise.

  philo
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  9

  Jehovah Creates Apostates

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  according to the bible, jehovah himself "raised up" resisters.

  of the corrupt rulership of the elderly king, solomon.. --- you can read about it at 1kings 11:14,23-39.. the term apostasy comes from "to stand away from, rebellion",.

  so "resister" can easily act as a synonym for apostate, here.. also, jehovah created dis-unity among israel by deliberately.

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  philo

  Brilliant approach Met, I'll even look up that scripture. I'll also find out what the hell a gerontocrat is. Sounds old. LOL

  Thanks Metatron

  Philo
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  25

  Are 'we' Rubbing the dubs?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anybody considered the possibility that the internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?.

  i recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans.

  a doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  philo

  Has anybody considered the possibility that the Internet community may be making life worse for dubs, as a whole, rather than better?

  I recently had a medical scare, went through testing, and scans. A doctor even called round my house uninvited to give me a hospital appointment! How scary is that? Now I am over the scare (I know what I have and haven't got) I can see that I have been more selfish in recent weeks. I have been treating people in my life less considerately because of my personal worries.

  It’s a stretchy metaphor - it's late. But does the 'war', which we wage against the WTBTS, result in it treating its members worse? Do you think 'we' inadvertently contribute to the hardening of doctrinal lines, making life more restrictive for Joe dub.

  If you think there's something to be said for this, where would you point the finger: shunning policies, information controls, education?

  Philo (who likes skydiving and doesn't mind being shot down, either)
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  4

  New doctrines?

  by philo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for the watchtower society doctrine has been a millstone because as a publishing organisation survival depends on writing and this inevitably means changing doctrines*.

  otherwise there would have come a point where nobody would buy their books - end of story.

  of course they could just publish reader's digest type stuff, but before long people would find better sources of general interest, i.e., the reader's digest.

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  philo

  For the Watchtower Society doctrine has been a millstone because as a publishing organisation survival depends on writing and this inevitably means changing doctrines*. Otherwise there would have come a point where nobody would buy their books - end of story. Of course they could just publish Reader's Digest type stuff, but before long people would find better sources of general interest, i.e., the Reader's Digest. Since the WT CD ROM was published and the explosion of the Internet 'apostasy', like no time ever before in their history, that millstone has become especially heavy, because every tortured doctrinal twist can be easily traced, and even more easily posted on the Internet.

  But doctrines have also defined The Society giving identity and purpose to the people who are controlled by it. They have marked the line between 'the world' and Jehovah's Witnesses. So from the point of view of The Society, their doctrines have been more socially necessary than evil.

  If the above is true, I am wondering how they can hope to stop the membership slide in the western world, without bringing in significant doctrinal changes. Remember, publishing is their raison d'être. If the Good News is only good, it won't cut the muster: it has to be seen as NEWS.

  philo

  Philo's pondering post-amble: (To a religion doctrines are necessary evils. It's like making laws: they attempt to patch up problems that can't be fixed any better way. That's one side. The other is, they nail down the spirit of a religion.) Am I right?
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  11

  The much hated W Salter.

  by Norm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  1939, page 115.. .

  1939, page 116.. .

  1939, page 116.. .

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  philo

  I just wanted your work back on page 1. My congratulations again btw.

  philo