Posts by Skeptic

12

Witness Denial, or Acceptance of 'Truth'

by ashitaka in

jw
friends

i was talking to an elder's son, giving him the reasons for leaving the 'truth'......the un thing, molestation stuff, shunning, new light, nazi discrepencies, etc.

he agreed with me on almost all points.

we spoke for almost two hours, over a couple of beers.

Skeptic

I have been associated with many religious groups over the years, mainly the Catholics, Jehovah's Witnesses, and various evangelical born-again groups.

What you are seeing is a normal mindset with many religions. If a person is content with their religion, it will take a lot to move them from that contentment. Most will happily ignore problems with their religion. This is not necessarily wrong or unethical.

Plus, most religions teach their followers not to really think logically about their beliefs. Hence, the teachings on "taking things on faith", "holy mysteries", etc.

I replied that he could be considered guilty through association for the wrongs, lies, and such that the Witnesses are going along with. He said it really didn't bother him.

I disagree. Part of my taxes pay for the military. Does that mean I am partially responsible for killing people?

Your reasoning is similar to the JW reasoning that if you give only a dollar to a union or to buy a military surplus truck, you are contributing to union violence or the killing of people. That thinking is just too extreme.

And yes, I know that "every snowflake in an avalanche can say its not responsible", but there is a balance somewhere. Its not like your friend was part of a JC that is hiding a child molestor.

Richard

31

Jan Haugland is APOSTATE

by Cygnus in

jw
friends

so are kent steinhaug and norm hovland

Skeptic

Meanwhile, Jan is at home, having sex, while smoking cigarettes and a big phat doobie and bashing the JW's on JW.com. He is pure evil, through and through. His phone rings, it is a very worried Kent.

LOL! I would love to see an artist draw that scene...

Jan gyrating into his woman, keyboard on his lover's head, typing like a madman, puffing away on his smokes, ashes flying everywhere, phone cradled on one shoulder....

Richard

8

Sex helps avoid cellulite!

by ISP in

if you have that sculptured physique....i guess you already know..... .

sex helps women avoid cellulite, says report .

a new report claims that sex helps women avoid getting cellulite.. german magazine glamour claims sex strengthens body tissue and helps the skin to renew itself more quickly, becoming firmer and more elasticated.. the reason for this is that during sex the female body releases an extra dose of oestrogen.

Skeptic

I am always interested in new reasons why sex is good for you.

I am glad it helps prevent....WindRider has a perfect body, so nothing to cure....but prevention, eh?

"Oh, Robin, honey, I have a article to show you....I am doing this for your future good, honey, honest....prevention is so important, you know...we should have sex as often as we'd like, the article says....well, I know how often I would like....how about five times a day, to really ensure there never will be a problem?"

Ah, the sacrifices I must make for the well-being of my love...

Richard

9

be patient: lets hope the world does not end soon

by malian in

jw
friends

like many others, i have not been able to change the views of my dear love, who has been brain-washed by the wts...(sigh).... however, i am waiting for the prophecy of 1914 to fail; the world will live on, and our loved ones will at least have a seed of doubt planted in their mind.

to all: be patient!

i think that it will be a real eye-opener for many.

Skeptic

indireneed,

Thanks for the clarification. I am in complete agreement with you.

9

be patient: lets hope the world does not end soon

by malian in

jw
friends

like many others, i have not been able to change the views of my dear love, who has been brain-washed by the wts...(sigh).... however, i am waiting for the prophecy of 1914 to fail; the world will live on, and our loved ones will at least have a seed of doubt planted in their mind.

to all: be patient!

i think that it will be a real eye-opener for many.

Skeptic

The failure of a date won't do it.

The failure of dates works wonders. When one lines up Watchtower quotes about the end times, completely in context, many see that the Watchtower Society cannot be guided by God. It provides very solid proof of this. It will not "convert" all JWs, but if someone is wondering, it will open their eyes.

When I had doubts about God, etc. I read the Proclaimer's book. Rather than encourage me, the Proclaimer's book showed me why my father always thought that the JWs were lunatics. It helped destroy my faith in the JWs being the true religion.

Then during that time, the 1914 generation teaching changed. I had given up good retirement plans (because I would never collect and I did not want to "polish the brass on the Titanic") and instead of retiring a millionaire will now retire in poverty. At that point, all respect for the WTBS went out the window. Any organization that would play with people's lives like that is not worthy of my respect.

Richard

83

no blood cards this year!

by DIM in

jw
friends

last night at meeting they told us to just use our blood cards from last year.

in the past they've always told us how important it was to get it signed every year so that people could see our current views as jw's.....doesn't this new arangement negate everything they've ever said in regards to this?

absolutely nuts!.

Skeptic

Jourles,

He also made mention of a particular scripture about not just following what the WT says, but doing our own research on these matters. That threw me for a big loop as he seemed to be following his outline to the letter up until reading that scripture. In the back of my mind, I wondered if he actually knows this policy is screwed up too?

No, this is the "out" for the WTBS to say that each individual made up their own mind and were not forced. After all, the WTBS encouraged all to do their own research and make up their own mind. Of course, we know that when you "make up your own mind", your personal conclusion had better match the WTBS'!

Using last years cards does the same thing. They can claim they no longer force people to sign the cards...and a card you signed last year is still legally binding.

Years ago, when I was leaving the JWs, an elder came to my home. We had missed the meeting where the blood cards were given out. BTW, this is the elder whom I felt did not want me DFed. He gave my wife a blood card, then handed me cards for myself and my sons. He said as the head of the house, I decide the blood issue for the kids.

I thought it was a test. Refuse the cards, and a JC is formed. I took the cards and graciously thanked him. He was happy, so I passed the test. After he left, I tore the cards up, and told my wife that the kids get blood. I told her to sign her card if she wanted but that I do not know if I would respect it in an emergency. I did not want her to die. I told her that I honestly did not know what I would do either way.

Richard

3

DEATH OF LAZYASS

by gilwarrior in

jw
friends

today my mother informed me that the husband of the woman who she first studied with died yesterday.

to be honest his death didn't effect me one way or another since i hadn't seen in years and i was never that close to him.

i don't remember his name, but what i remember most about him was that years ago, when i was a kid, several of the young people in our congregation nicknamed him "lazybutt.

Skeptic

I don't know the fellow, but based on your words, are you not being unfair to him? Who did he hurt? Who did he harm? Who did he mistreat? Or are you upset at the elders for not forcing him to do more?

So he was a "weak" Dub? Is that a crime? He may have officially been in good standing, but he wasn't in good standing as far as the opinions of the cong if he was known as lazybutt.

Many Dubs do "nothing about the truth". It is not uncommon for brothers to attend meetings and do nothing else. Sometimes the elders get on their case and sometimes they don't.

Maybe you are upset that the elders did nothing. But if you are critical of him, why does he deserve your scorn? If he did not bother anybody, why get upset about him?

If all he did was just attend meetings and do nothing else, why speak ill of the dead?

Richard

46

How could we all get along better together???

by Celtic in

jw
friends

without being slagged off for opinions expressed, without being ridiculed often, without constant smart ass one liners and put downs, how could we given the opportunity get along better together?

not utopia, not this, not that, just a simple question in need of simple upbuilding replies that enable this place more to reflect the care for others it supposedly sets out to achieve.. any comments?.

here we go (rolling his eyes) .... peace.

Skeptic

Tatiana,

Wow! You are an inspiration to me. You are right, this place should be for healing, comforting one another.

Richard

17

hypocrite jehovah witness

by BERNARD in

jw
friends

my wife has a meeting tonite and did not go.

i came home and ask her about her meeting.

her excuse "i had to take the kids to doctor for there check up".i mean she should schedule the kids appointments on non meetings night but she don't.her almighty mother meeting is on wednesday night, i asked her well she make it up tommorrow night at her mother meeting.

Skeptic

I may have been too harsh on Bernard. He emailed me privately and seems to have love for his wife. So he may have just been venting and using wit.

I still do not agree with Bernard's methods, but I am not the one to tell others what type of wit to use on this board.

Richard

11

Employment Anyone?

by Francois in

jw
friends

joel's post made me stop and think that we might give consideration to helping each other find jobs in this depressed economy.

there's still jobs open and people being hired.

finding them is the trick.

Skeptic

OK, I'll bite. I am a software developer that is an expert in several languages, primarily C++ and MFC. I am looking for work in British Columbia, Washington state, or any State that is within a reasonable drive to Seattle each weekend.

Richard