Posts by cognisonance

20

Why the verb shun is missing from the JW lexicon

by cognisonance in

so my parents when i confronted them about how unhappy i am at them shunning me, responded by saying: "you keep using the word shunning, we're not shunning you.

"i am a bit confused how they can say that.

i'm an ex-jw and an atheist.

cognisonance

So my parents when I confronted them about how unhappy I am at them shunning me, responded by saying: "You keep using the word shunning, we're not shunning you."

I am a bit confused how they can say that. I'm an ex-JW and an atheist. They know this. They don't speak to me, unless I force it by showing up at their door every couple years. And even then sometimes they don't even talk to me. They don't respond to texts. They don't respond to emails. It dawned on me that there is single verb in the JW lexicon to describe what they are doing. The closest seems to be concepts: "not having association with" or perhaps "not mixing in company with" or "stay clear of" or "have nothing to do with" or simply "don't talk to."

But there is no single verb for some reason. My question is why? Why don't JWs or the governing body use the word shun? Seems like the exact word to describe to the T what is happening. For that matter there doesn't seem to be a single verb euphemism for shunning in the JW lexicon. WTF? Is it manufactured such that when objections come up like this members can believe what they say when they say, "we don't shun?"

18

North Korea Has Gone and Done it Again

by cofty in

nk has fired another icbm over japan.. the missile flew 2,300 miles at an altitude of 480 miles.

a korean spokesman has said about japan, “the four islands of the archipelago should be sunken into the sea by the nuclear bomb of juche.

japan is no longer needed to exist near us”.

cognisonance

Three words: Quid quo pro (and a link). I also wonder how a game theory approach to this situation would model on a computer, that might be a good way to gain insight into the politics of this all. I would bet if the US would agree to quid quo pro, things would not be so tense.

North Korea is no ideal place to live and no one likes the idea of a dictator. But as long as tit for tat is in the realm of aggression instead of cooperation... well what do you expect?

11

Education

by bola in

after waking up from the truth about the truth, i have decided to go to higher institution for further studies.

.

cognisonance

I work full time and go to school part time. So here is the best advice I can give you. Insist on getting 8 hours (or whatever amount you need to function well) every night. Try your best to avoid robbing from sleep to turn in an assignment (if you must you must, but avoid needless procrastination). You might even find you'll need more sleep than you are used to.

The second thing is that it may take you a while to adjust to being back in school if it's been a long time for you. I'd also recommend picking up "The End of Stress" by Don Joseph Goewey.

17

Once you've proved the truth to yourself you don't need to keep trying to disprove it...

by cognisonance in

i was told this during my judicial committee (some five years ago) when i brought up concerns i had with the "truth.

" in addition one of the elders (who was an engineer) said once you've accepted a proof of pythagorus' theorem you don't later start doubting that theorem.

i thought that argument was a weak analogy then.

cognisonance

Yes of course I agree with you both. I guess my point was lost. This Elder tried to appeal to what he saw as an example of absolute truth: proof in mathematics. The irony is that even mathematicians are reluctant to say something is totally true.

17

Once you've proved the truth to yourself you don't need to keep trying to disprove it...

by cognisonance in

i was told this during my judicial committee (some five years ago) when i brought up concerns i had with the "truth.

" in addition one of the elders (who was an engineer) said once you've accepted a proof of pythagorus' theorem you don't later start doubting that theorem.

i thought that argument was a weak analogy then.

cognisonance

I was told this during my judicial committee (some five years ago) when I brought up concerns I had with the "truth." In addition one of the elders (who was an engineer) said once you've accepted a proof of Pythagorus' theorem you don't later start doubting that theorem. I thought that argument was a weak analogy then. However, I now find this argument ironic after reading this:

https://profkeithdevlin.org/2014/11/24/what-is-a-proof-really

Namely:

How do we know that such and such “theorem” are true, if the proofs are almost certainly full of errors?

Well, we don’t. In mathematics, as in large parts of natural science, it is an unfair fight. We can “easily” show a purported proof is false by finding an error, but we can never know for sure that it is correct. (Even if you apply a formal proof checking technique, you can never know for sure there was not an error in that process.)

What happens in practice is that once several experts in the domain have examined the argument and declared themselves to be satisfied it is correct, then the rest of the mathematical community accepts that fact and moves on. The more people look at it, the more confident we get.

However, there have been times when this process was eventually found to have gone wrong. Arguments that have been accepted for some time are subsequently found to have a fatal flaw. That’s why mathematicians are reluctant to ever say something is totally correct.

29

How many do you figure are converted through the door to door ministry?

by HereIgo in

i regular pioneered for 2 years and never have actually converted anyone through the door to door work, in fact, i only knew a few individuals that joined this way.

most were born-in or at least had some type of family influence.

i had several bible studies but they all got cold feet when things got serious and potential baptism was discussed.

cognisonance

I wonder how many JWs don't care if they lead anyone into the organization because they are just trying to avoid bloodguilt when every non-Witness gets wiped out at Armageddon.

I recall, during the time I was waking up, being out in service with a special pioneer (he was laid off from bethel service). One Saturday a neighborhood was full of people mowing their yards and doing other things on a nice morning. Many cars were also in the drive way. Barely anyone answered the door and people in their yards turned us down before we could say much. He remarked, "None of these people are interested in hearing the truth. Why can't they see we are trying to save their lives. At least I'm doing my part. I'm sure they'll be sorry when Armageddon comes!"

I respond, "Well, think about what it's like being in their shoes. They see us coming to their door and choose not to answer likely because they see us as a nuisance like a competing energy company coming to your door trying to sell you a different electric or gas service. Or they view us like Mormons. It's no surprise they'd rather just not answer the door. Seems a bit harsh that they could die because of turning us down. How could they know a priori that we have 'the truth'?"

39

Assembly experiences that strech the truth

by karter in

jw
friends

elder and his wife build a flash house.. they go on the stage at an assembly and give an experiences of how they sold the flash house to simplify their life so they can go pioneering.. the real story.. elder and wife can't afford the flash house and have to sell it he never goes pioneering she does until they are declared bankrupt.. why were they bankrupt?.

the money leaft over from the flash house they invested in a yet to be build apartment and the developer goes bankrupt takeing their money.. just one of many.. karter..

cognisonance

needed $XX.XX to pay his ----- bill for the month. He only had the $ .XX and needed the $XX.00. He prayed and lo and behold ... in his hand and there was the exact $XX.00 to make up the difference!

I remember hearing similar experiences from the District Convention years ago. In fact, I also remember my Elder Dad (who to this day still shuns me thinking it's the moral thing to do) admitting he has a hard time with experiences like this using the same logic you did (why did god give him money but lets brothers and sisters live in abject poverty in Africa or lets brother X's wife die from cancer, especially when they are likely praying for better outcomes too!). So he views these kinds of things as specious but somehow still believes this is the truth. To him these are just imperfections of the most prefect, imperfect organization known on earth. So strong is his belief this is the truth that he maintains "integrity to Jehovah" and shuns me for leaving.

39

Assembly experiences that strech the truth

by karter in

jw
friends

elder and his wife build a flash house.. they go on the stage at an assembly and give an experiences of how they sold the flash house to simplify their life so they can go pioneering.. the real story.. elder and wife can't afford the flash house and have to sell it he never goes pioneering she does until they are declared bankrupt.. why were they bankrupt?.

the money leaft over from the flash house they invested in a yet to be build apartment and the developer goes bankrupt takeing their money.. just one of many.. karter..

cognisonance

I think the OP means "flashy house"

39

Assembly experiences that strech the truth

by karter in

jw
friends

elder and his wife build a flash house.. they go on the stage at an assembly and give an experiences of how they sold the flash house to simplify their life so they can go pioneering.. the real story.. elder and wife can't afford the flash house and have to sell it he never goes pioneering she does until they are declared bankrupt.. why were they bankrupt?.

the money leaft over from the flash house they invested in a yet to be build apartment and the developer goes bankrupt takeing their money.. just one of many.. karter..

cognisonance

I'd be surprised a JW couple would admit to building a "flash house" :

a house frequented by flash people, as thieves and whores; hence, a brothel.

39

JWs Among the Least Educated in the US

by jp1692 in

september 6th, 2017: a just released research survey shows once again that jehovah's witnesses are among the least educated people in the united states: .

america’s changing religious identity.

it is also interesting to note how jws rank in the categories of: income, insurance coverage and homeownership.

cognisonance

"Some College" could also mean associate Degree as "College Graduate" usually only means completing an undergraduate study (which a 2-year degree is not considered to be -- I would know as I'm trying to finish my undergraduate education after having earned an associate degree as a JW many years ago).