Posts by scratchme1010

There's this Psychologist named Elizabeth Esther who posted in her blog something very interesting about why people join. Here's her list of reasons (I agree with her take; this is from her blog):

1. We Have What You've Been Looking For: Do you crave meaningful relationships? Are you tired of superficial pursuits? Do you long for abundance, happiness and wealth?

2. Sense of Urgency: TODAY is the day of salvation! What if you die tomorrow? Will you have ANY regrets???? [SIDEBAR: when I was "witnessing" to people, I would get super frustrated when they replied, "Well, if I die tomorrow then I'll be glad I lived a good life." I was like: Nooooooo! BE ANXIOUS! BE VERY AFRAID! Otherwise this whole formula doesn't WORRRK!"]

3. Sense of Purpose: Did you know God has a Great Plan for your life? Do you really want to miss out on that? Join our cause. God is REALLY MOVING in our generation. Together, we can change the world. [SIDEBAR: this whole phrase about "God IS MOVING in our generation!!" really annoys me. Newsflash, guys. God has moved in EVERY generation. God didn't suddenly start MOVING once evangelicals figured out how to build mega-churches. Or win political elections. When I was growing up we were all: yeah, Christianity existed and everything. But it didn't really START until like the 1500's when Martin Luther nailed a letter to a church door. I mean, THAT'S when God REALLY started moving!"]

4. Sense of Superiority: we are the TRUE believers. We are the PURE ones. We are reclaiming what's been lost. We have uncovered hidden truths. You won't find this anywhere else. You might be a nobody in this world, but in OUR group you'll be special. [SIDEBAR: I often call this "The Special-Ness Syndrome." The more SPECIAL a church thinks it is, the faster I run away.]

5. INCENTIVES!!! Look at all these beautiful women following Jesus! Look at all these godly, spiritual men! You could have TRUE intimacy. No more broken hearts. You will find a wife who respects and serves you. You will find a husband who loves and provides for you. You will find a community of like-minded people who will help you and you will never be alone again!! [SIDEBAR: in cults--as in everywhere else--sex sells.]

405

Origin of Life

by cofty in

in recent years significant progress has been made in solving the question of how life originated on our planet.. how do you think theists will respond when it finally happens?

as a former christian i know my reaction would have been something like "well that just goes to show that it takes intelligent life to make life", but for two reasons that defense doesn't work.. firstly it would prove that life is not an ethereal force that originates with god.

there is no 'ghost in the machine', no elan vital.

scratchme1010

For what it's worth, not that I give a rat's behind about how life started, nor that such thing will ever make me believe one thing or another differently, theists still keep measuring atheism and atheists in the same way they think and view things. Time and time again, they still keep bundling every single atheist in the same place as if there's some kind of organization named atheism, with an atheist temple where they congregate to study atheism and worship something. Keep that in mind.

18

Joseph and his generation

by maninthemiddle in

so the wt used ex 1:6 to define a generation from the very beginning.

then in the this september broadcast the same person (splain) who spent 20 min with charts to explain a generation, makes a point that joseph and his brothers were very close in age?

(min 4:29).

scratchme1010

scratchme said why this piece of information in particular
Of the many type of discrepancies, this one was said by the same person. The generation was a big deal for me back when it first came out, (when was that 2010?), this subject is not new for me, but I take interest in how they keep trying to push it.
Prologs, since he didn't connect those dots, (generation was not the topic) I don't think that was the agenda this time, I think it was a moment of clarity, because it is accurate (according to the bible) that his brothers were close in age. It's that he doesn't realize what it means for something he was saying himself in front of the camera not even a year ago that make it interesting.

Thanks.

4

Religion's evil folly of stigmatizing doubt.

by Island Man in

punishing doubt - theramintrees (jws get mentioned in this one.).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdtzbvlg3ni.

scratchme1010

Thanks again. I enjoy these videos.

14

Family contact in terminal illness cases.

by Disassociated Lady 2 in

i had not seen my parents for over 15 years since the funeral of my brother and even then no one spoke to me as i was da.

my dad was diagnosed with terminal cancer in 2014 and i was then permitted contact with them.

i now know the reason that this is allowed.

scratchme1010

You are so pleased to be with your family again that you would do anything for them.

Not my family.

21

Science the bible and some telling scriptures

by Crazyguy in

if one reads about god creating the earth with any critical thinking you'll notice that he created vegetation and the trees before the sun.

another one that i just read about was the stories about the golden calves.

one story involves the making of a golden calf by aaron and the other is about the golden calves that were set up at bethel and i think dan.

scratchme1010

I think the entire bible is a complete waste, an entirely useless book, scientifically, spiritually and any other aspect-ly speaking.

7

An Un-Shun Day

by Heartsafire in

jw
friends

i was thinking about how many of us here are either being shunned or know someone who is being shunned.

although highly unlikely, it would be wonderful if this horrible practice was completely eliminated.. i know we have the wt victims memorial day in the summer, but does anyone know of any grassroots sort of movement to have a jw break the silence day on shunning?

we could encourage and promote for all jw's who have a df'd friend or family member to contact that person on that day--maybe even with the excuse that they need to check on them.. i know that it won't demolish the shunning policy, but at least a day like this could shed some light on the harmful practice to those outside the jw community as well as providing an unofficial designated day for jws to reach out to those they're shunning.

scratchme1010

I know we have the WT Victims Memorial Day in the summer, but does anyone know of any grassroots sort of movement to have a JW Break the Silence Day on shunning?

I guess that it could be a good idea for those who still give the Wt power that they don't really have. This seems based on the premise that the WT is the one with the last word about relationships with family, and that them and only them are the ones calling the shots about the matter.

I'm more incline of advocating for showing those JWs how much they are missing from their love ones and reminding them that they are responsible for breaking families. Advocating for them changing their policies is giving them power that they are not entitled to, and gives the message that they are the ones making all decisions about relationships.

With my JW family I have been a lot more effective showing them how much they are missing from me. They have to contact me and they cannot talk to me about any JW nonsense, and they are the ones who have to ask for permission to talk to me. That has been quite an eye opener for some of them and showed the idiots JW I grew up with that they do not have the upper hand.

3

My first memoir of a life as a born in.

by ctrwtf in

jw
friends

with no guarantees as to performance, i'm going to attempt to regularly address in memoir form some of the issues that i think about as a born in that has faded.

i will try to do so on a (semi) regular basis.

like proust and his madelienes, i've noticed that certain experiences trigger memories about the cult that just won't go away.

scratchme1010

Now, before you think this is some elitist crap, let me say that the DW and I are working stiffs that are doing without to help our kid make it through the zoo that is high school. Most of the parents that were there are in the same boat, trying to give their kids a leg up in this world, which leads to my point...

Thank you for sharing. I like the idea of posting your memoirs. I'm sure it will be of help to many of us.

The part that I quoted from you made me think about a tendency that I still have to justify things that I do and decisions I make. I believe that when I still feel like I have to defend something I do it's the JW upbringing talking. I'm sure few people or nobody at all will question you being an "elitist", or say anything if you in fact are one. No need to justify your child's good opportunities. I'm sure you're happy to provide it for him, and I'm sure your child deserves it.