Posts by Anders Andersen

17

Type / Antitype article discredits many JW teachings

by Sanchy in

i was going over the type / antitype articles that were released in last year's watchtower articles and i've just realized how ironic it is those very articles can serve to demolish some of the most fundamental jw teachings.. take for instance the "questions from readers" section of the march 15, 2015 magazine.

after mentioning some "far-fetched" interpretations that others have applied to bible events, they go on to say:.

if such interpretations seem far-fetched, you can understand the dilemma.

Anders Andersen

How about the question about a "faithful and discreet slave" in a parable?
As opposed to a statement about a future reality...

Far-fetched much?

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

Anders Andersen

Some new content on JW.org says:

We raise our children “in the discipline and admonition of Jehovah,” just as the Bible commands. (Ephesians 6:4) However, as they grow, they must make a personal decision to learn, accept, and apply what the Bible teaches before they can qualify for baptism. (Romans 12:2) Ultimately, each person must make his own choice concerning worship.—Romans 14:12; Galatians 6:5.

Somebody please explain this to BlackWolf's parents, and all the other JW parents who pressure their kids into this cult.

It sounds so reasonable when coming from the PR dept...but reality is quite different.

27

Hi everyone!

by cognac in

jw
friends

was just listening to a song that made me think of the jws so thought i'd say hi and see how everyone is.

i'm doing ok. kids are fine.

i'm good, making tons of friends, very successful in my career, bla bla bla.

Anders Andersen

Just listened to the song...wow it's awesome!

I like the anger that comes through the otherwise calm and smooth melody. Somewhat like me on the inside...calm and smooth most of the time....but angry when thinking about some cult related issues.

"Fools", said I, "you do not know!"

27

Hi everyone!

by cognac in

jw
friends

was just listening to a song that made me think of the jws so thought i'd say hi and see how everyone is.

i'm doing ok. kids are fine.

i'm good, making tons of friends, very successful in my career, bla bla bla.

Anders Andersen

Hi Cognac,

Happy to hear you're ok :-D

Hug from the dark side :-p

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

Anders Andersen

Talesin, great advice! It takes the angle out of the current pain, and shows hope for the near future!

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

Anders Andersen

Wow, it sucks to be in that position :-( It breaks my heart a bit...

However, big kudos to you for talking to your mom and standing up for yourself! Well done! Learning to make your own decisions, and learning to say no are most important when growing up. You took some steps there!

I know you probably just need a hearing ear on here, but hey, I am guy so I only try to offer solutions ;-)

Is there a nice older and wiser sister you're a bit close with, whom you can tell the 'I feel pressured' part of the story?

And I'm wondering where the whole dedication to Jehovah in prayer is in this story. Do your parents think you've already dedicated your life to Jehovah? If not, you can try to reason with them:

"Baptism comes after dedication. It's a very personal decision. Right now I feel pressured into hurrying to make the most important decision of my life because convention is in 6 weeks and grandma is coming. I don't feel that's fair. I want my dedication to Jehovah to be something special, and right now it feels like its just another appointment on your schedule to keep. I don't want it to be like that. I will get baptised, but when I am ready."

160

Beliefs About What Caused the Universe

by Perry in

the universe can be observed to be expanding.. an expanding universe must have had a beginning.

whatever begins to exist had a cause.

therefore the universe had a cause.

Anders Andersen

Pulling a cosmic rabbit out of a non-existing hat is pure magic.

Whoever can do this has a regular show in Vegas for eternity :-D

160

Beliefs About What Caused the Universe

by Perry in

the universe can be observed to be expanding.. an expanding universe must have had a beginning.

whatever begins to exist had a cause.

therefore the universe had a cause.

Anders Andersen

Then you are left with only magic - a God beginning from nothing, or with no beginning at all.
And if true, Why don't we see cereal boxes appearing from nothing? Or maybe vanilla ice cream? Since, God or anything else without beginning has never been observed, why would you adopt this as something logical?
Believing in God is ultimately belief in nothing more than make-believe.

160

Beliefs About What Caused the Universe

by Perry in

the universe can be observed to be expanding.. an expanding universe must have had a beginning.

whatever begins to exist had a cause.

therefore the universe had a cause.

Anders Andersen

Perry, even for those who follow you in your logic that the universe must be caused by some Cause, or Agent even....there is no reason to go from there to Bible God. Or Wodan. Or Zeus. Or any of the other mythical Gods that are imagined to be this Agent that caused the universe in some way.

I could write a book claiming that I am that Agent. And then refuse to prove it like your God does. Would anyone believe me? Why? Why not?

Do you believe the claim that Joseph Smith received a Holy Text from an angel? Why, or why not?

Is there any difference between his claims and the Bronze Age tribal guys' claims? Why, or why not?

14

Outstanding new book out today for you atheists, agnostics, humanists, naturalists and free thinkers

by Cornbread in

i just got back from the bookstore and i can't wait to sink into it based on all the reviews and press it has been getting.

it's called the big picture - on the origin of life, meaning, and the universe itself by sean carroll.. “weaving the threads of astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and philosophy into a seamless narrative tapestry, sean carroll enthralls us with what we’ve figured out in the universe and humbles us with what we don’t yet understand.

yet in the end, it’s the meaning of it all that feeds your soul of curiosity.” —neil degrasse tyson, host of cosmos: a spacetime odyssey*publishers weekly #1 most anticipated science book of spring 2016*"already internationally acclaimed for his elegant, lucid writing on the most challenging notions in modern physics, sean carroll is emerging as one of the greatest humanist thinkers of his generation as he brings his extraordinary intellect to bear not only on higgs bosons and extra dimensions but now also on our deepest personal questions.

Anders Andersen

Thanks, added to my reading list