Posts by jacobm

32

Have any ex-jws considered joining the Bible Students?

by Rainbow_Troll in

their fundamental beliefs are much like jehovah's witnesses sans the paranoia, authoritarianism, stifling rules, and end-times enthusiasm.

you don't even have to become a bible student to be saved, you could be an idol worshipping heathen and still get resurrected in the milenium.

if i still believed in the divine inspiration of the scriptures, i would be a bible student.

jacobm

I studied with a small ecclesia (group) for about a year. Very nice people who are very studious and take serious their personal relationship with God. Their general teachings make the most sense to me of any other Christian faith.

While their beliefs can vary depending on person to person, I believe most of them consider CT Russell to be the Faithful Slave, Laodicean Messenger, and Man with the Writers Inkhorn. Most also believe Christ had his parousia in 1874.

Like anything else, do your homework first. And, don't jump into anything. I would say stop attending JW meetings for a year, before getting involved in anything else.

101

Are Gods true worshippers on Earth today? If they are not JWs then who are they?

by Formerbrother in

is there gods true worshipers on earth today as jesus said there would be?

if they are not jws then who are they?.

who else comes close to being gods true followers today?.

jacobm

Hey Formerbrother!

I used to ask the same exact questions as you are asking. In my opinion, the whole "where else to go?" question actually results from a lack of understanding of christianity.

CT Russell's Divine Plan of the Ages is a really good read. I don't consider him anything more than a fallible man. Still, this book is a good segway for JWs to understand general Christianity.

41

That One Defining Moment That Changed Your Life.

by new boy in

it seems that many times in life there is a moment or an action that changes your whole world.

it could be just a look that someone gives you.. many times it can be something rather small.

something hardly noticeable by anyone but you.

jacobm

When, while birthing our second daughter, my wife's placenta was not coming out (at a midwife-birth center, down the street from the hospital). Midwife mentioned she could be bleeding and need a blood transfusion (after transfer to hospital) in 30 minutes.

I sat there, helpless, and watched my wife tell the Midwife & RN "do all you can here, because I'm a JW and will not take blood, so they wont be able to do anything else at the hospital".

In that moment, I had a hard time believing that God wanted me to lose my wife, 2 daughters to be motherless, and her to miss them growing up. In that moment, I knew something was "up" with what we were taught. It just felt all wrong, spiritually & physically.

Damn cult.

98

Steve Hassan. Can some one verify if this is true.

by joe134cd in

https://culteducation.com/group/1289-general-information/8227-disclaimer-regarding-steve-hassan.html.

jacobm

He's gotta make a living. He is supposed to be one of the most knowledgeable about cults. That $400 is the same amount an 'OK' lawyer would charge (per hour). Ya, it was funny how when his new book came out and interviewers would mention his old one, he would make sure we all new that was the old one. Buy the new one! LOLZ

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

@cofty

thanks. will do.

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

@cofty

Yes, I understood what you mean't. We are either having a communication problem, or you are not being forthcoming. I'll ask again: How can the strongest, most agile, best adapted snake reproduce with the female if there are hundreds of other snakes all in a ridiculously complex wrestling match? There are too many variables.

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

@island man:

Thanks. So, natural selection is actually not working for the snakes?

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

@cofty:

I correct my statement. It is up to hundreds of male snakes trying to compete to reproduce with the female.

However, my question is still unanswered. How is the force of 'natural selection', being that the most dominant/fittest/etc. male gets to reproduce with the desired female, at work in this case?

There are too many variables at work to ensure the fittest male gets to reproduce with the female snake.

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

@cofty:

Because, with 2 males, it is quite apparent who will win the fight...the fittest. However, throw 10,000 male snakes in the competition, and I don't see how this is a true test of the "fittest'.

Could you imagine 10,000 human males going after a ovulating female, and then saying the winner was the 'fittest'. Ridiculous! There would be far too many variables to make that kind of judgement.

So, in the case of the snakes, I am wondering how proper 'natural selection' is for weeding out anything but the 'fittest', when this particular case makes little sense.

87

Evolution Gap - Where's the Fur?

by shadow in

evolution paints human ancestors covered with fur.

fur has several benefits as stated by britannica "the pelts of fur-bearing animals are called true furs when they consist of two elements: a dense undercoat, called ground hair, and longer hairs, extending beyond that layer, called guard hair.

the principal function of ground hair is to maintain the animal’s body temperature; that of guard hair is to protect the underlying fur and skin and to shed rain or snow.".

jacobm

I hate to get a bit off topic, but this is one of the reasons I have a hard time accepting speciation driven by 'natural selection'

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2578792/Shes-popular-girl-Watch-writhing-ball-male-SNAKES-desperately-try-mate-single-female-creepy-Canada-rite-spring.html

This female snake sheds and the scent attracts around 10,000 male snakes. How in the hell is the 'fittest' going to get a fair chance at reproducing with her. His chances are based upon mostly blind chance.