Posts by Xanthippe

5

Cults, Marketing and Scientology

by jwfacts in

there is a great episode of gruen planet discussing the movie the master, which is about scientology.

http://www.abc.net.au/tv/gruenplanet/pages/s3607843.htm.

gruen planet generally examines current advertisements, but this episode is mostly about scientology.

Xanthippe

Paul, here in the UK I keep getting an error message saying the content is only viewable within Australia.

11

New Dawkins series on More4 Good !

by Phizzy in

jw
friends

richard dawkins' new series, the first episode was aired last night on the u.k's more4 channel, is entitled "sex, death and the meaning of life".

he doesn't waste a moment on whether god exists or not, but is looking forward to a world without god, and tackles questions such as where will morality come from in this world, is sex somethng to feel guilty about etc etc.

one revealing interview was with steven pinker who shows that as the world becomes more godless it has become a more moral place, and a much safer place to live, things are getting better and better.. unlike the doom and gloom wt pinker has solid evidence to back up his claims.. i don't know if you can catch up with a more4 prog.

Xanthippe

I watched the second episode this week Phizzy. I like Richard Dawkins. I've read The God Delusion and The Selfish Gene.

This episode he was talking about Life After Death. He looked at various aspects of religious ceremonies to do with death.

Then he said something like ' I'm on a voyage to tell you what science says about death'. Which sparked my interest because I do agree with what Dawkins often says, that science is so amazing that we do not need anything supernatural to fill us with awe.

Then he had his genome mapped which was facinating. I eagerly awaited the results but I found it a little dissapointing. He said that the genome project will allow us eventually to say what a person is likely to die of and when they are likely to die.

His genome showed that he had the gene for runny earwax, the ability to smell asparagus in his urine after he'd eaten it and the possibility for the diseases Porphyria and lung cancer.

Then it cut to his family crypt and showed that he had an aristocratic great great great great grandmother. Okay????

I just seem to have missed the conclusion from the genome mapping.

What was the amazing thing that science has to tell us about death?

Was he saying that when all of us can afford to have our genome mapped we will be able to prevent genetic diseases and dramatically extend life?

Sorry but that episode just seemed to fizzle out! Maybe it's me?

It's on channel4.com by the way.

98

Latest "Shun Your Family" Statement - Jan 2013 Study WT

by LostGeneration in

solomon alluded to it yesterday in a thread, i found the online large print pdfs here, not sure where the regular version is yet.

here are the full paragraphs, grab your barf bags .

19 on the other hand, if you choose the path of resentment.

Xanthippe

After we DA'd ourselves, I phoned my mother and told her my husband and I were trying to start a family, something we had put on hold for years when we were pioneering. She said she would not have anything to do with any child of mine because it had no future. I asked did she mean it would die at Armageddon and she said yes. When my baby was born I did take her over to see my parents but my mother acted as if she was just putting up with our visit on sufferance and we were merely visiting my father (never a JW).

She kept her word and never showed any interest in my child and never phoned to inquire how she was doing.

The day came when my mother was in hospital and my father phoned to say she was dying and the family should go in. As we arrived at her bedside she asked to see her grandaughter for the first and last time.

My daughted was eight years old and had been left with her other grandparents because my mother was a virtual stranger to her. This was my mother's choice not mine. I thought, why ask for her now, Mum? It's too late, you're dying. It just seemed that in her last hours the programming was wearing off and she realised what mattered. Too late. If you are reading this and you are a JW shunning a family member don't leave it too late like my mother did. You will regret it.

115

My brother died tonight

by poppers in

jw
friends

just got word that my youngest brother died of pancreatic cancer.

he was diagnosed in early august.

this has been really tough for me and my family..

Xanthippe

I am so sad for you. Take one day at a time. I know it's a cliche but it works. Time to take care of yourself now

52

Do You Ever Doubt Your Efforts Are Futile?

by Elephant in

...hello folks.... ...i've read countless of posts, ideas, opinions, etc here and i'm interested in your response.... ...there is a whole gamut of feelings here from individuals that are simply annoyed with the wt organization, to those that come off as hellbent on putting the org out of comission.... ...others yet seem to have made it their mission in life to eradicate the concept of god himself.... ...to any of these, what is your motivation?

and do you ever doubt that these efforts are futile?

do you feel that you posses the power/ability/means to change the convictions/faiths of the masses?

Xanthippe

I looked on this site a couple of months ago because a JW friend who I haven't heard from for over twenty years suddenly got in touch and I wondered why.

She is still very much in and I couldn't understand why she was writing to me, an aposate from her piont of view.

I didn't know if something had changed in the JWs about the treatment of DA'd people or if a doctrinal change had prompted her.

I still don't know why she's writing to me but obviously I am replying and I am sure time will tell.

It may be the overlapping generations doctrine. As a born-in like me she will be well aware of how that has changed.

She lived throught the 1975 debacle as I did.

Or maybe it's the Candace Conti court case and the pedophile haven that JW land has become.

It could be the change of view on IVF. She was another one that I knew who couldn't have children and couldn't go down the IVF route because it was considered murder when some of the embryos are discarded. Now I hear IVF is a matter of conscience! Too late for her though. She must still grieve for the babies she couldn't have.

So that's why I came on here originally but I have been touched by people's sad stories of leaving and losing loved one to that cult, as did I.

Also I laugh at the funny things people say about that religion and I rejoice that people are leaving in their droves to find a good life out here in the real world.

I left in the dark ages before the internet.

Everything is on the internet now.

The Borg can run but they can't hide.

4

Finding Neverland

by Xanthippe in

i went to see finding neverland last night in leicester, uk.. it had it's world premier there last week and it was a good opportunity to see something that will go to london and then the us, but see it first in central england i thought.. loved it.

excellent choreography.

beautiful scene changes.

Xanthippe

It's some years since I went to a London theatre, Phizzy.

I usually go to the Theatre Royal at Nottingham.

This is the first time I've ben to the Curve zd and I really like it there.

We have done lots of outdoor theatre this last few years too.

They are called the Chapterhouse Theatre Company and they tour the country performing at country houses and other beautiful locations.

Have you come across them?

They are very good. This year they did two Shakespeare plays, Pride and Prejudice and The Importance of being Ernest.

Needed out brollies this summer!

Enjoy yourselves in Neverland.

4

Finding Neverland

by Xanthippe in

i went to see finding neverland last night in leicester, uk.. it had it's world premier there last week and it was a good opportunity to see something that will go to london and then the us, but see it first in central england i thought.. loved it.

excellent choreography.

beautiful scene changes.

Xanthippe

I went to see Finding Neverland last night in Leicester, UK.

It had it's world premier there last week and it was a good opportunity to see something that will go to London and then the US, but see it first in central England I thought.

Loved it. Excellent choreography. Beautiful scene changes. Some very fine singing voices including the children.

Also a real live St Bernard dog playing J M Barrie's dog Porthos.

Obviously it is the story of how Barry wrote Peter Pan but also his relationship with the children who were his inspiration for the lost boys in that story and also their mother.

Funny, sad and visually spectacular.

Beautifully done and a great evenings' entertainment I think.

It goes to London's West End after next week I think and then Broadway.

See it if you can.

Does anyone else like the theatre?

233

THE GOOD NEWS WILL BE POSTED LATER TODAY!!!!!

by EndofMysteries in

a video will be posted later today where all the mysteries of god, the disgusting thing causing desolation, all the contradictions in the bible, why god in the old testament seemed so cruel, why was satan created if god is good, how is god love?

all of the prophecies jesus had foretold which were hidden and lost yet being fullfilled the entire time.

this is the good news that will then spread worldwide, and then the end will come.

Xanthippe

EoM please take Chariklo's advice and get some rest.

We worry about you. Waiting another day wont hurt.

But you could wear yourself out to the point where you cant sleep and then you will end up in hospital.

Do listen to the people who care about you on this board.

The rest just dont understand.

Take care

Xanthippe

233

THE GOOD NEWS WILL BE POSTED LATER TODAY!!!!!

by EndofMysteries in

a video will be posted later today where all the mysteries of god, the disgusting thing causing desolation, all the contradictions in the bible, why god in the old testament seemed so cruel, why was satan created if god is good, how is god love?

all of the prophecies jesus had foretold which were hidden and lost yet being fullfilled the entire time.

this is the good news that will then spread worldwide, and then the end will come.

Xanthippe

Finkelstein said:

Simon and moderators should watch this guy.

Is EOM acting as a double agent, posing to be something when in reality he has another underling agenda ?

How do you spell paranoia?

239

A big shift in the world is about to happen......

by EndofMysteries in

i don't want to deceive anyone and i have to clarify a few things so i'm sorry this is going to be a lot more vague then you want.

infact if you do not already realize or also feel something is about to happen as in the title, then move along, it will be a month or 2 before i update this.

it's not my intention to annoy anybody, i am too uncomfortable to post any details because it's too new and i need to verify things, and i am also feeling responsible to give a subtle warning, that it might be something somebody needs to see.

Xanthippe

Still, yes I'm really worried about EoM too. I am just hoping this doesn't become an abusafest. He needs kind comments and suggestions to help him get better - like yours.

Xan