Posts by Captain Obvious

37

MAYBE THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER READ

by Bloody Hotdogs! in

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[endif]i was just sent the article "creation declares the glory of god!

i think it might contain the stupidest paragraph i have ever read:.

Captain Obvious

SBF: wrong again. What is considered "truth" is different for different people. Not everyone is privy to all of the same facts and information, and not everyone observes said facts and information from the same or even a similar viewpoint. A truth that is "Truth" for everyone all the time would be an absolute truth, something I'm sure you would agree is impossible.

When someone criticizes another's beliefs or acceptance of facts, it is not as much because they disagree with their own beliefs, as much as pointing out the inconsistencies of of someone's supposed "truth".

I believe something to be true because at this point in my life, with the information that is available to me, this is the decision I have made on the matter. If in the future something changes, I will have to be willing to consider that as well or else become willfully ignorant. When I have become ignorant, my viewpoint and opinion on "truth" will no longer be of any value.

Right now SBF we are criticizing your views because we see flaws in them, not because they oppose our own. To criticize you because you don't agree with me would be to give myself way too much credit. If you point out reasonable flaws in my reasoning, I am forced to reconsider my view.

28

Fading fast children are starting to ask questions, need help.

by Crazyguy in

jw
friends

ok i have been fading fast, missed a lot of meetings over the past couple of months and the kids think its mostly do to my being busy with work.

this morning was probably the first sunday that i was home and could go but did not.

so my 8 year old asked me if i was going and why when i said no.

Captain Obvious

In any case, be honest with your kids. They don't deserve to be lied to. They also don't deserve to have their lives stolen by a cult.

41

The Bizarre Free Will

by John_Mann in

two years before i left jw world i came to a strange conclusion about the jw cosmology and the free will doctrine.. basically i came to conclusion that satan is right about the universal sovereign issue.

and i came with that just only using jws premises, no outside apostasy.

i just told to my sister what she thought about it, and she said to me: dont tell anyone about this!.

Captain Obvious

Whew! Thanks for clearing up that you don't actually believe what you said.

You might enjoy Free Will by Sam Harris. He makes some really interesting statements about the myth of free will.

20

had another conversation with my wife this morning

by Crazyguy in

she was getting already for service so i asked her "how do you do it?

" "how do you still go and do all this spiritual stuff now that you know that my research and letter to bethel shows that the jw religion denies us the messiah"?

she got all defensive and disagreed again with what i wrote to bethel and then i had to step in and tell her that its "its them that teaches that we don't have a mediator in christ and were not under the new covenant".

Captain Obvious

Crazyguy, you should know better than to challenge her directly. You only activate her cult personality and out her on her heels. Why put up a wall when you are trying to reach her? Of course it can be frustrating to be so patient. Remember all those creation debates we had a while back? Even when presented with irrefutable evidence, you were still unwilling to consider the fact that you were wrong. That is normal, that's how humans argue.

"When the other side fails to be affected by such good reasons, each side concludes that the other side must be closed minded or insincere.” - Jonathan Heidt.

Try casually asking her questions that will make her think and have more questions. Try to remember the way your brain would react when challenged on JW issues when you believed. You being wrong wouldn't make any difference to your believing that you were right.

Dont tell me you haven't read any of Steve Hassan's books yet......?

48

watchtower tones down apostate talk at august 3rd convention!

by nowwhat? in

no mention of them being mentally diseased or using "lies" to deceive god's people, just that they are out to attract followers for themselves!.

p.s.

i was cringing at the thought of sitting for 3 1/2 hours for the afternoon session but fortunately my one kid got sick!!

Captain Obvious

So far, despite my efforts nobody has started to follow me as their religious leader. It's a real bummer.

We had our DC last weekend, it was the full on full strength hate speech. Made me sick. What changed this week?

26

Losing my religion

by vikesgirl101 in

howdy!

i have been out of the jw's for about five years now.

it has been about four years since i've posted.

Captain Obvious

Try a science book or two! I recommend Why Evolution Is True by Jerry A. Coyne

You don't need a pastor or anyone else to tell you the truth

26

Losing my religion

by vikesgirl101 in

howdy!

i have been out of the jw's for about five years now.

it has been about four years since i've posted.

Captain Obvious

Try a science book or two! I recommend Why Evolution Is True by Jerry A. Coyne

You don't need a pastor or anyone else to tell you the truth

37

MAYBE THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER READ

by Bloody Hotdogs! in

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[endif]i was just sent the article "creation declares the glory of god!

i think it might contain the stupidest paragraph i have ever read:.

Captain Obvious

Why should respect be paid to religious "authorities"? By that do you mean the silly characters in the bible, or the pedophile loving modern day ones?

False comfort is just that... False.

Your assertion above that " Scientific beliefs must find a way to accommodate themselves with the secret knowledge of the heart" is the silliest thing I've read all day. Even worse than that WT quote above. WTF is "the secret knowledge of the heart"? Are you asserting that deep down we all know god is real but we make this shit up (along with the mountains of proven facts) so that we can do what we want? Are we making this up so we can ignore the bible's rules? You, sir, are the one making the supernatural claims, and inserting the supernatural into your observations. Nobody needs to disprove the supernatural.

39

AVOIDING A SHEPHERDING CALL: Suggestions pls

by grumblecakes in

jw
friends

yup got a voice mail bright and early this morning "grumblecakes, we would like to schedule a shepherding call".. how do i get outta this?.

.

thanks!!

Captain Obvious

How badly do you think you would do? How far along in your fade are you? Keep in mind turning down a shep call will put you on the radar. Stopping service then turning down 'loving encouragement' from the elders? Apostadar goes BEEP BEEP BEEP. Especially after the vile hate speech apostates talk at the DC.

My wife and I had one around November I think... I decided to go through with it. I explained that I'm doing fine, thanked the brothers for their concern and told them I'd start service again when I'm ready. Which is course is never.

Best thing I ever did. Never was asked again for a report slip or given a talk slip. It was actually a huge help to my fade. No more 'missed you on Saturday' or anything.

Just something to consider. After the boys read you the guilt/fear/obligation act, they're out of ideas if they don't smell apostate. You'll either fade from their minds as being taken care of, or you'll be a fish they don't want to fry.

Do you have a CO visit coming up? If so then you just have to make it through a couple more before he stops asking about you.

37

MAYBE THE DUMBEST THING I'VE EVER READ

by Bloody Hotdogs! in

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[endif]i was just sent the article "creation declares the glory of god!

i think it might contain the stupidest paragraph i have ever read:.

Captain Obvious

SBF.... Wow.... Materialism assumes materialism and therefore if circular and requires faith? Hmm. No.

Does assuming materialism mean assuming the non supernatural? Material can assume material, because material can be proven with evidence. No need for the assumption that god did it any more than we need to assume aliens did it. You, in that statement are the one inserting the supernatural. You wanna talk about circular?

If god leaves the story of Adam and Eve as a matter of faith rather than provide a flood of evidence... Why doesn't he at least provide a scrap of evidence that could at least try? Why make a person of faith ignore a mountain of evidence to the contrary in order to believe? How loving is that?

Cofty hit the nail on the head. Science makes god redundant. He was a fine explanation for the unexplainable for thousands of years, but we don't need sky daddy anymore. The bible is simply contradictory of fact. It is incompatible with what we can readily see and prove on earth. If god is so powerful, why not give us a better book? One that doesn't need to be excused away constantly.