Captain Obvious

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Posts by Captain Obvious

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  33

  Cosmos--any creationists watching? And what does EVEryONE think of it?

  by Jon Preston in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just finished the episode about the extinctions and the tree of life and how life evolved.

  my wife asked me "what, do u believe in evolution now?

  because im watching a science show?

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  Captain Obvious

  I'd like to hear some JWs reactions to the show. They haven't been bombarded with anti-evolution nonsense for a while
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  17

  took a break, I'm back. how has everyone been?

  by unstopableravens in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i had to take time away, missed everyone.

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  Captain Obvious

  Unstop, you said the family is all good. If you don't mind, I'm curious how things really have been since you were DFed? How did the dynamic change exactly? If you don't want to give details I understand.

  Welcome back of course
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  132

  the bible and its prophecies

  by Crazyguy in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i have been doing a lot of research on the bible and its roots so to speak and its becoming clearer that the jews like other races took gods and stories from others and made them their own.

  its also become clear that many of the books were written later then stated, like daniel probably written about a hundred years before christ and some of it maybe even after.

  but what i don't get is the prophecies.

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  Captain Obvious

  Congratulations CrazyGuy! Your mind is opening...

  Have you read anything by Bart Ehrman? If not I recommend Jesus interrupted and Misquoting Jesus. I'm sure there are similar ones by others, but these are very good.
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  13

  Where Is All The Money Going from Sales of WTB&TS `s Real Estate Properties.

  by smiddy in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  what governmental requirements are their for full disclosure of the proceeds from sales of property made by a not for profit organization such as the wtb&ts.. how does the wtb&ts explain their charitable status when they do not provide any charitable benefits to anyone , when all their members , jehovahs witnesses are not employed by them , they are just volunteers.. does american law allow religous institutions to hide monetary transactions or is their full transparency regarding their use of their money.. how can a multi million $ publishing company , engaged in a multi million $ real estate organisation be considered as a not for profit organisation .. is their anything like an auditor general in the usa that needs to investigate these things ?.

  just asking.. smiddy.

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  Captain Obvious

  Investment earnings made by a non profit org need to be re-invested in the org to remain non-taxable. They will likely be pouring millions into the new cult compound, but I really don't see how they will be able to put the full $800+ Million they've made already in property sales in Brooklyn so far Into just that one project. Perhaps they will build more in other countries?

  This brings up an interesting problem for them though. They all of a sudden have a pant load of liquid cash, which must be spent or re-invested. I suspect they still don't have enough cash flow to sustain operations long term. They are steadily shrinking in developed countries.
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  224

  Atheists, here is a 'balls' question ---even for all---

  by prologos in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  it is very difficult to knock a ball into a hole (like golf), throw it into a receiver's hands (american football) intercept it and knock it over the fence (american cricket).

  or to put a sattelite at the right time at the right speed in the right direction in the right place to have it orbit another body, so :.

  what ingenious natural & process is it, than can get 9+ zillions bodies to get into the right orbit simultaniously or sequentially and have them remain there for billions of years?

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  Captain Obvious

  You have a goal in mind when you swing a bat or a golf club. Natural history has no goal or desired end product. What happened happened, what is here is what is here.

  If you swung a golf club (gravity) at a golf ball (mass) with no particular direction, object or hole to hit at... Would it land in the bushes with onlookers amazed at how it ended up where it did, almost as if it were meant to be?

  Galaxies are made up of giant balls of dust that eventually grouped into planets, stars, moons. Their orbits and speeds determined by any number of factors.. None of them being the wishes of a supernatural being.

  If it has been set in place by a supernatural being, he's not very good at what he/she/it does.
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  2

  Wifey is getting into audiobooks...

  by Captain Obvious in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i'm a huge audible fan.

  i'm always plowing through an audiobook about history, religion, science or money.

  imo, no one could ever read/listen to my library and continue to be religious or ignorant of natural history.

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  Captain Obvious

  So I'm a huge Audible fan. I'm always plowing through an audiobook about history, religion, science or money. IMO, no one could ever read/listen to my library and continue to be religious or ignorant of natural history.

  Anyway, my lovely JW wife decided she might try listening to some books on her long bus ride to and from work. Being the thoughtful husband I am, I downloaded the Audible app on her phone and showed her how to use it... On my account. My recommendation for her first listen?

  The Magic of Reality.

  She didn't start for a few weeks, but the other night while we were getting into bed she mentions that she had started the book. She said its "interesting..." In an apprehensive way. I think she's interested in all this "true" stuff but is nervous to find out that she and everyone she knows have been wrong her whole life! Exciting times.

  Anyway, thought I'd share another small successful step. I've said it before and I'll say it again. I WILL help her get out. I'm willing to play the long game, as long as it takes. She's too amazing to just give up on just because of her beliefs.
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  20

  Watch as JWs are 'educated' by their 'bible student' about evolution, abiogenesis, Watchtower quote mining, etc. LOL.

  by Island Man in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mblywsowuvi&list=uuzmjy8ccss1_0sswprk4yia&feature=c4-overview.

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  Captain Obvious

  Pete7... Was your bachelors in biology like... An honorary thing? No biologist would have said what you just did. None.
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  20

  Anyone interested in free Bart Ehrman's "Miquoting Jesus" & "Gods Problem" audio books? Great books.

  by whereami in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  Captain Obvious

  With all of the scholarship and work that has gone into Ehrman's books, not to mention the enlightenment they offer to so many people.. I'd rather pay for them thanks.
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  48

  Do you pray over your meals? If so why? If not, when did you stop and why?

  by BU2B in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  to answer my question, no i do not pray over meals anymore exept for when i am with other jws i do a 15 second head bow for appearances sake.

  i just came to the realization god had nothing to do with whether i ate or not.

  many believers are starving right now whilst many non-believers are eating like kings.. also why should god give me food while he lets little children in dprk concentration camps starve to death.

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  Captain Obvious

  Last i prayed over a meal was many months ago with my wife... Right before I told her that was the last prayer I would every give. It started. A really nice conversation actually! It's all in how you come across.

  I gave gave up prayer when I realized I was just praying to myself.
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  72

  On a Scale of 1 to 10---How Devoted Were You To Being One of Jehovah's Witnesses?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as i grew up in the religion, i was a 10. i wanted to be made a "servant" because that was instilled in me from infancy.

  i diligently studied ever piece of watchtower literature and defended my religion intensely.. when i got into my 30's, i started to see little cracks in the watchtower's surface but decided to "wait on jehovah".

  then i started to research a little more critically and realized i couldn't defend the prophecies, the treatment of people and the hypocrisy that was becoming more obvious, that especially an elder can see.. it was a gradual thing---from a 10 to a zero!.

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  Captain Obvious

  Mostly 3. Never more than a 4. Once I discovered the vagina, .005. I thought most of it was true, but hoped it wasn't. I always ALWAYS resented being raised as a JW, but followed along because it was all I knew. You could say I was destined to become an apostate.