What a terrible waste of talent! But it just goes to show how music can make a non sequitur like "the world is going to hell, therefore God will save us" sound compelling.
Rainbow_Troll
JoinedPosts by Rainbow_Troll
-
-
-
-
18
The new personality
by longgone ini've been thinking about the changes we make within ourselves after leaving the wts cult.
i'm not referring to how we spend our time now that we actually have some, but who we have become, or working to be?.
the gb carries on and on about "stripping off the old personality and putting on the new one.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
I was discussing this very subject with my pen pal just the other day. She wasn't brought up in a religious home, but like me she was raised to be a goody-goody. I guess I'll just post what I wrote her:
I was the same way as a child until, I think, about twelve. Being good seemed to be all I was good at - or at any rate it is all I ever got any recognition for. I was seriously good. It wasn't just that I refrained from stealing or doing drugs or swearing (that is just not being bad), but I would actively devote most of my time to doing good works like studying the Bible, going to Church three times a week and devoting seven hours a week to evangelizing. But one day I realized that, though my mom and all these others admired me, I didn't like myself. When I looked at myself I saw a pompous, sanctimonious puritan who secretly both envied and resented all the people around him. They might have been immoral, but at least they seemed to like themselves.
So I stopped reading the Bible. I experimented with drugs, masturbated, dabbled in the occult, and sought out the very worst company I could find: drug addicts, thieves, bums, strippers, whores, homosexuals and even pedophiles. I took great relish in reading Charles Darwin, along with all the other books on the forbidden list. Instead of adjusting my moral compass to suit my new direction, I simply accepted that what I was doing was evil by most people's definition of that word. I liked doing it - the more bizarre and reprobate the act, the more pleasure I seemed to take in it until I found myself loving evil for itself and only itself. But even more seductive than the pleasure, was that for the first time in my life I liked the person I was becoming. I still despised the mask I had to wear in order to please others, but it was only a mask now; it wasn't really me.
I know it must sound childish to you, but I still see myself as an evil man with no desire to reform himself or be redeemed. To me, 'evil' is just a four letter word for freedom; being evil means you're allowed to do whatever you choose without having to justify yourself or apologize. There might be consequences, but you never regret anything any more than a scientist would regret a failed experiment. With evil, there are no limits. Good people aren't supposed to hate (though they do anyways), but evil people are allowed to love. Good people strive for a state of moral perfection, but there is no corresponding destination for those who are evil because there is always some deeper abyss to plumb; some further prejudice to violate.
You might think it strange that someone who's been a vegan and a vegetarian should consider himself evil, but I personally don't see animal welfare as a moral issue, but a matter of empathy. Morality is simply an abstract code of conduct a person adopts and attempts to impose on others, wheres empathy is the capacity to feel what others are feeling. To illustrate my point: when I was twelve years old one of my friends got caught with a joint of marijuana. His parents reported him to the elders, who announced his wrongdoing before the congregation on Sunday so everyone would know to shun him. Jehovah's Witnesses use shunning as a form of punishment. Anyone who is caught breaking the rules must sit at the back of the Kingdom Hall (church) and is not allowed to speak to anyone, nor can they be spoken to; and this condition persists for weeks, sometimes even months, until the elders decide to let them back in. Well, I spoke to him. I even visited him the same day his wrongdoing was announced. But I didn't do this because I believed it was the morally right thing to do; I did it because I cared more about my friend than I did about being a good person. I loved him and I didn't give a Canadian penny for their prick-in-the-ass God!
I suppose I could adopt a moral code that suited my tastes. I've studied Plato, Aristotle, Epictetus, Confucius, John Stuart Mill, Ayn Rand, Friedrich Nietzsche, Immanuel Kant - every moral philosopher of note - but aside from Confucius (who, in the end, cared more about kindness than doing the right thing) and Nietzsche (who was a sort of anti-moralist) I have found not one of their arguments compelling. I escaped morality once, why would I want to shackle myself with a new pair of cuffs, even if they do fit better? I'm afraid that I would revert to being an pompous ass; a fanatic with a new creed, but still a fanatic. No, I will remain immoral. There is so much I haven't done yet. I don't want to leave this earth until I've tasted every sin, committed every crime, violated every taboo and experienced all there is to experience
-
31
what is the craziest book the dubbers ever published?
by dogon inso i was wondering what book is the nuttiest they ever printed?
i know there are several in contention for first place but which is your vote for no 1?
also if you don't mind post a bit of what is in the book you pick to show why you picked it.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
David-Jay: They might as well have made up the whole thing from scratch because it is such a far cry from what's really there in the original-language texts.
Amen! I regret not being able to understand Hebrew myself, but I did once read a version of the Torah that purported to be a literal translation into English. Not only was the book actually readable (a far cry from most English translations I have read) but I was shocked to read that at one point Abraham actually curses God in His presence! Apparently Christians censored that part out if their 'translations'.
-
27
I want to know what celebrations JWs don't consider pagan?
by Chook ini could only think of weddings and wedding anniversaries .
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
I don't think they could regard Thanksgiving as pagan since it was inaugurated by Christians, but it's still against the rules. Really, the whole "it's pagan objection" is just an excuse to isolate JWs from non-JW family members.
-
26
Saudi Man Sentenced To Death For Atheism
by Bangalore insaudi man sentenced to death for atheism.. http://www.newsweek.com/saudi-man-sentenced-death-after-declaring-himself-atheist-online-video-591473.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-man-sentenced-death-atheism-ahmad-al-shamri-hafar-al-batin-appeal-denied-a7703161.html.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
Hothabenaro: Islam and acting civilized are incompatible. To a real Muslim, rape is allowed and even murder. It is what happens when u worship a pedo.
Cofty: It is entirely in keeping with the commands of the pedopile prophet
I don't admire Muhammad, but whether or not he was a pedophile seems irrelevant to the discussion. I've known good people who happened to be pedos through no fault of their own; being attracted to children doesn't automatically make someone an evil mass murderer.
What's wrong with Muhammad is that he succeeded where Charlie Manson failed by starting a murderous cult that somehow became a major world religion. That's what people should be focusing on, not his alleged sexual peccadillos.
-
26
Saudi Man Sentenced To Death For Atheism
by Bangalore insaudi man sentenced to death for atheism.. http://www.newsweek.com/saudi-man-sentenced-death-after-declaring-himself-atheist-online-video-591473.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/saudi-arabia-man-sentenced-death-atheism-ahmad-al-shamri-hafar-al-batin-appeal-denied-a7703161.html.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
Is his man is being executed for atheism specifically, or just apostasy? I mean, if he were Jewish and said he no longer believed in God, would the Saudi government execute him for that?
-
22
How do the GB micro-manage people's lives today?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow do the gb micro-manage people's lives today?one example is their micro management in dress and grooming.
eg their view of beards.
elders in most congs will take a brother to a corner and remind him why jws don't grow beards.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
Millie210: Then there is the birth control policy. No IUDs and no morning after pill. You are not supposed to use any contraception that could interfere with implantation. During this same time period, vasectomies were a no-no if you wanted to be a Pioneer or servant.
I stand corrected.
-
22
How do the GB micro-manage people's lives today?
by UnshackleTheChains inhow do the gb micro-manage people's lives today?one example is their micro management in dress and grooming.
eg their view of beards.
elders in most congs will take a brother to a corner and remind him why jws don't grow beards.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
How does the GB micromanage the lives of JWs?
Answer: Any way they can.
A better question might be: In what areas does the GB not micromanage their lives?
Despite the oft quoted phrase "matter of conscience" that you occasionally find in the Watchtower, there are precious few areas where those crochety old men don't intrude. Diet. The consumption of alcohol. The decision to use contraception. These are the only places I can recall where JWs are actually allowed to think through an ethical dilemma using their own brain; though I anticipate that the GB will eventually get around to shoring up these holes in their net of control (it's not like they have anything better to do). Even completely non-ethical issues, like dress and grooming, are decided for JWs in advance. Everything not forbidden is compulsory.
-
13
JW's And Yoga
by pale.emperor inthis was partly discussed in this thread: https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/4853755331739648/these-common-jw-beliefs?page=2#!#5701815683252224 but i wanted to delve into the topic of yoga even further.. it seems watchtower have no clue what yoga actually is, or what it can achieve.
i myself dont practice yoga, but i do meditate and see the benefits of that.. here is an artical from watchtower 2002 with my commentary:.
https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2002565#h=1.
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
So one religion, Hinduism, has taken the practice of yoga and used it. That doesnt make yoga exclusively a Hindu thing though does it? Just like JW's have taken the wedding ring, wedding cake and ear piercings and used them.
Yes it DOES. These are all pagan customs that I'm sure the GB wil get around to outlawing soon. Just because the GB has made some concessions over the years to worldly customs does not give JWs permission to practice demonic rituals like yoga!
I'll have to disagree with you there and say YES! Many people of no religion practice yoga and use it to control their diet, blood pressure and mental disposition.
Yeah, and they are using the power of the demons to do these things even if they don't know it.
I call bullshit on this one. It is true that the human body is amazing and capable of doing remarkable things such as withstanding heat and cold under the proper training. But as for transmitting thoughts and super hearing this has NEVER been proven under scientific conditions. If it had it would be a world wide groundbreaking discovery that science would use for the advancement of humanity. So far, no proof has ever come forward.
Demons don't want scientists to discover their existence, as this would convince them that Jehovah exists too. Demons only reveal themselves to those who already believe so they can either harass them or tempt them away from Jehovah.
Not so amazing. Lying on a bed of nails is pure physics. Anyone can do it. The weight of ones body evenly spread over the bed of nails in the correct way is no great feat. As for hot coals, hell, Tony Robbins does this at the end of every seminar with his students. Again, pure physics.
No, pure spiritism. Tony Robbins is demon possessed!
I've seen Penn and Teller do this trick too. Then they shown you how they did it. No major feat there either.
Top magicians like Penn & Teller get their powers from demons! Haven't you ever watched their HBO show 'Bullshit'? These are vulgar, demon-possessed men who seize every opportunity to mock Jehovah and his followers. They HATE God!
No it isnt. That's just the hindu take on it. Go speak to a Buddhist, a Jain, a Trantic or any other school of yoga. There are many!
Moksha, Nirvana and all the rest are just synonyms for demon possession. I can't believe how stupid and naive you are about this! Satan CREATED these religions. Open your eyes!
-
16
Oooh, caught a JW colleague telling porkies at work this week.
by nicolaou inthere's a jw 'sister' at work, lovely girl in her mid twenties.
anyway, on monday the union (cwu) called a one day strike in support of colleagues and all union members supported the action as far as i'm aware, except the sister.. she claimed it was 'against her religion' to strike.
bare in mind, she's a fee paying member of the union.. now, a few of my workmates know of my past and asked me if this was really true, that jehovah's witnesses aren't allowed to strike.. we'll, i like this girl and i didn't want to make her look silly but what was i supposed to say after i stopped laughing?
-
-
Rainbow_Troll
I'm not aware of any explicit prohibition on striking, but it's consistent with the WT's emphasis on not getting involved with the world and passively enduring hardship. If this girl went on strike she would become more than a JW, she would be a union member and would inevitably start to feel some comraderie with her worldly coworkers. For this reason, I think it is wise of her to abstain. Getting involved with wordly people for any purpose, even a temporary one such as a strike, is just asking to become demon kibble.