Posts by Xander

21

What Are You All Doing Now?

by Tish in

jw
friends

i am at a crossroads in my life, and wanted your opinions:.

i have been d/f for 18 months, i have learnt enough to know jws are completely misguided, but my sis has also been d/a for questioning things, she has been doing the alpha course and is getting baptised at a baptist church next weekend, which i am very pleased for her to be doing if she feels it's right.

i am in a quandry as i am very sceptical about going to another religion, i know many i have spoken to say, it isn't joining a religion but just associating with other christians.

Xander

I suggest you RESEARCH all available resources on the Bible, God and any religion you ultimately decide on attending.

Yes, do. You'll be amazed at how little is even remotely accurate in it, and the plethora of contradictions.

In any case, who in their right mind would be willing to worship a god who has (according to the bible) shown no remorse at all in completely annhilating his followers for minor errors in worship, and done nothing at all in return for 'faithful worship' except allow them to grow old and die anyway.

Indeed, according to the bible, he has at times made bets with 'the devil', using his faithful worshippers as pawns, essentially torturing them just to prove a point.

15

Getting to know someone...a little better

by forgetmenot in

okay, i am incredibly shy but i just joined a club.

the guy that i have a huge crush on happens to be the president of this club.

meetings are only once a month and he's only the president for about three or four months more.

Xander

Well, I wasn't really going for 'harsh'. More 'abrasive', really....

Oh, wait, no, that's not what I meant at all....

No, I just think it's important to not drag your feet, second guessing every action.

(That said, you really need to find out if he is unattached first. Quickest way to do this? Ask someone who already knows him better!)

15

Getting to know someone...a little better

by forgetmenot in

okay, i am incredibly shy but i just joined a club.

the guy that i have a huge crush on happens to be the president of this club.

meetings are only once a month and he's only the president for about three or four months more.

Xander

Maybe you could get some pics from your hometown and email him and then get him on instant messanger, sometimes onlines an easier way if your shy.

I would ask him if he could give you some help on a homework assignment

These are TERRIBLE suggestions!!

And what up with the emailing pics of your hometown? creeeeeeepy

Are you reasonably cute? Is he unattached?

Then just tell him what you feel! Guys our age are hormone driven. (More so than normal for guys, which is saying a lot). We're really not that hard to get the attention of.

Now, if you fall more into the 'homely' catagory, there is still hope - you just have to work at it some. Find common interests, etc, and take it slower.

If you're downright ugly....well....don't hold your breath.

Uhhh...if you're not sure, you could always post a pic here for comment (for some ungodly reason, women always seems to underestimate their beauty...except for the real dogs who overestimate it quite a bit).

51

Superman's quote 'bout JW's

by orphanannie in

jw
friends

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=579&e=1&cid=638&u=/nm/20020917/en_nm/health_superman_dc

"there are religious groups -- the jehovah's witness, i believe -- who think it's a sin to have a blood transfusion.

well, what if the president for some reason decided to listen to them, instead of to the catholics, which is the group he really listens to in making his decisions about embryonic stem cell research?

Xander

1) Can newborn babies grow? (YES) reproduce? (NO) Can 8 year old children grow? (YES) reproduce? (NO) Surely you wouldn't say that newborns or 8 year olds were not alive? And, BTW -- Is the fetus actually "replicating" via cell division as it forms its various organs in response to its DNA?

Your point makes me realize I should not have broken up the above item into 2 items - I don't think that was the author's original intent, and I believe you found the reason.

Can the item in question grow AND reproduce?

To which the answer for an unborn fetus is NO - it cannot grow and reproduce as an organism seperate from the mother, whereas an 8 year old child CAN 'grow and reproduce'.

The fetus' development is programmed for its preservation to come from the mom which shelters it from harm

Not the criteria.

The criteria is: can the item in question act in such a way as would be described as 'self preservation' - and the key again is - ON ITS OWN. This is specifically different than 'respond to stimuli' but related. 'Respond to stimuli' is aimed at - will an organism react to something that potentially endangers it. 'Act in a way to ensure self-preservation' requires PROACTIVE behavior. Without any outside stimuli, will the organism behave in a way so as to prepare for its survival?

The answer, obviously, is still no.

51

Superman's quote 'bout JW's

by orphanannie in

jw
friends

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=579&e=1&cid=638&u=/nm/20020917/en_nm/health_superman_dc

"there are religious groups -- the jehovah's witness, i believe -- who think it's a sin to have a blood transfusion.

well, what if the president for some reason decided to listen to them, instead of to the catholics, which is the group he really listens to in making his decisions about embryonic stem cell research?

Xander

It DOES NOT IN ANY WAY meet the 'scientific' definition of life. Let me share with you the criteria:

1. Shows evidence of growth and replication;
2. Shows evidence of purposeful energy transfer;
3. Responds to stimuli;
4. Acts in such a way as to ensure self-preservation;
5. Is significantly different from the surrounding environment. (from MIT - different sources change the last item some)

Remember, if a type of something (remember, we are talking about an entire group here, not just one example) fails in any one of these elements, it means it is not scientifically considered 'alive'.

SO, with that in mind:

1) Can unborn fetuses grow? (YES) reproduce? (NO) Oops - already it doesn't meet the scientific definition of life. Well, let's keep going..

2) Do they ingest resources for their own use? (YES)

3) Respond to stimuli? (SOMETIMES - only later on in the cycle of development)

4) Acts in a way to ensure self-preservation? (NO)

5) Significantly different from surrounding environment? (This is your 'DNA' test - so I'll give you a YES here)

So, of the 5 'yesses' needed to identify them as a SEPERATE LIVING ORGANISM....an unborn fetus gets 2.

51

Superman's quote 'bout JW's

by orphanannie in

jw
friends

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=579&e=1&cid=638&u=/nm/20020917/en_nm/health_superman_dc

"there are religious groups -- the jehovah's witness, i believe -- who think it's a sin to have a blood transfusion.

well, what if the president for some reason decided to listen to them, instead of to the catholics, which is the group he really listens to in making his decisions about embryonic stem cell research?

Xander

I thought we had already established (in several other threads) that having an identifiable DNA strand alone is not sufficient proof of human life.

51

Superman's quote 'bout JW's

by orphanannie in

jw
friends

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&ncid=579&e=1&cid=638&u=/nm/20020917/en_nm/health_superman_dc

"there are religious groups -- the jehovah's witness, i believe -- who think it's a sin to have a blood transfusion.

well, what if the president for some reason decided to listen to them, instead of to the catholics, which is the group he really listens to in making his decisions about embryonic stem cell research?

Xander

That's a fascinating opinion, Yeru, but one you know you can't back up with anything as troubling as, say, facts.

12

?to attack or let go?

by happysunshine in

jw
friends

do you think it is better to just live and let live with family that are witnesses, or will not confronting them with their beliefs come back to haunt you?

-wondering

Xander

I don't want them preaching to me, so I don't preach to them.

You know, if it actually worked that way, it might be worth letting go.

Unfortunately, they are brainwashed to NEVER let it go. They will ALWAYS complain about your lack of faith, how close the end is, try pushing literature down your throat, etc, until the day they die or leave the org.

Case in point!

Since JW Hubby has been diagnosed wih terminal cancer....his Mom and sister and him all gang up on me and tell me I really need to go back to the hall for his sake...He sides with them.

Lovely!

Termincal cancer and the brainwashing is still so ingrained, he thinks of his religion first over his wife.

------------

See, THAT's what makes me hate them. THAT's why I won't give up.

Until they are 'out' - no matter HOW much you love them. No matter HOW much you care or HOW dire their situation is....you are nothing but bird food to them until you start going back to meetings.

That's disgusting.

(Edit to add opinion bit: I fear that if you are 'okay' with this, you are in denial about what they really think of you.)

Edited by - Xander on 19 September 2002 10:42:56

95

Tell us about your Profile Pic

by Beck_Melbourne in

jw
friends

just wondering about some of the profile pics...i think its nice to know a bit about the person you want us see, or the person you don't want us to see.

so what were you thinking when the pic was taken, how long ago, and where were you?

mine was taken last month, just after my 36th birthday.

Xander

Hmmmm....I guess USB cam profile pics don't generally have much of a story behind them....

Well, that's me there....

72

CREATIONISM----F.Y.I

by nakedmvistar in

in the midst of the debates -- or wars -- concerning the issues of creation and evolution, there is a tendency to over-generalize.

both sides often refer to the opposing side with the broad term of either "evolutionist" or "creationist.

" and yet there exists within both sides a great deal of variety and even controversy.

Xander

A single deity in control with an absolute and perfect agenda is central to my faith.

Yes, but why?

How have you come to conclude their is a single deity in control with an 'absolute and perfect agenda'? What criteria have you used to determine this is true enough for you to base your entire understanding of life around?