Posts by Xander

26

Anybody here ever go on chaperoned dates?

by unbeliever in

jw
friends

i use to get the biggest chuckle when the elders insisted that when going out on a date that someone older and mature had to go with you to make sure you don't fornicate.

how imposing!!

i have a friend (did the fade) that was stuck with her brother being the chaperone a couple of times when she was dating her then boyfriend.

Xander

I think it's required, isn't it?

At least, none of the elders in our hall would marry us unless we said we had studied it together.

(Now, THAT'S a funny one - you must study the family life book together first, with it's topics on submissiveness of the spouse, okay sexual practices and deviant ones, etc - but aren't allowed to be ALONE with your spouse. So, you essentially have to go over all the details of how a good JW marriage operates with your spouse with someone else watching! Talk about creepy....)

34

The USA and the 'Divine Mandate'

by Abaddon in

jw
friends

having had a bizzare (for a european) preoccupation with american history in the 19th c, i do find that current american foreign policy still has implict in it the religiously inspired rationale that enabled americans to seriously claim that the ethnic cleansing of the west, and the genocidal behaviours that this often entailed, was because god wanted them to do it.. from certain newspaper articles i've read it seems as if some of those in the white house believe that bush getting in despite not having the majority of the popular vote was a sign, and that 9/11 backed up their belief that bush was a man put in a certain place for a certain time and role.

that bible studies are a regular expected activity of white house staffers.. now, this makes me very nervous.

i prefer my religious fanatics to come from developing countries that may have weapons of mass destruction, rather than from the most powerful millitary country in the world with more weapons of mass destruction than the rest of the world put together.. obviously just because it was in a newspaper doesn't mean it's true (yesterday's guardian i think).. but what do you think?.

Xander

I dunno....

Republican George W Bush says you must believe in Jesus Christ to enter heaven. And he wants to be the President of Buddhists, Jews, Taoists, Agnostics, Atheists and all of those who are not in the Jesus jazzing agenda. Bush again: Christ is my favorite philosopher. This was so embarrassing that even grade school children blushed, referring to Jesus as a philosopher.

And having declared an official 'Jesus Day' back in Texas when he was governor....

I think his actions and words to date have shown quite well how much religious baggage Bush has brought with him to the White House.

Course, he hasn't gone so far as his father, who stated on August 27 1987 that:

I don't know that atheists should be considered as citizens, nor should they be considered patriots. This is one nation under God

But, still, you know....

83

Legalize ALL Drugs. Yes or No?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting to get a cross-sectional view of your opinions on whether all drugs (lsd, heroin, cocaine, etc.

be legalized so that they then became freely available to the general population, in the same way that alcohol and tobacco are .

spanner

Xander

Your tax dollars would be saved giving hardcore addicts their drugs until they experience their early mortality.

I confess, there is a certain logic to that.

Sell 'recreational' drugs just like ciggies are today.

Virtually give the hard stuff away, by prescription or something controlled.

Dealers + cartels go out of business. Crime drops off because people either have a habit they can afford and under control, or OD and solve the problem for us.

It doesn't seem like a bad suggestion.....

18

Bush's state of the nation speech

by Simon in

jw
friends

.

well, i thought it was good ... i'm running for cover now

Xander

You've seen this one, right?

(hey, I'm an emperor now! Notice me! Notice me! *jump* *jump* ~wave~ *jump* *hop*)

26

Anybody here ever go on chaperoned dates?

by unbeliever in

jw
friends

i use to get the biggest chuckle when the elders insisted that when going out on a date that someone older and mature had to go with you to make sure you don't fornicate.

how imposing!!

i have a friend (did the fade) that was stuck with her brother being the chaperone a couple of times when she was dating her then boyfriend.

Xander

Not just stupid dating restrictions, though. Those were bad enough, in our congo, it seemed you couldn't even "date" - even chaperoned. I think it was a YPA article, but the society 'suggested' if two young christians wanted to get to know each other, the appropriate way to do that would be to do group activities together. IE., going bowling with a large group, going to modest gatherings, etc.

The reason being, of course, in a GROUP setting, you wouldn't get the 'wrong desires' you might if just going on a date with a chaperone. (And we all know 'wrong desires' are JUST as bad as fornication!)

So that's how the wife and I dated. Never in a group of less than 4 (well, a FEW times, but....hehehe....)

In any case, the whole stupid restrictions on male->female interaction.

I remember a number of times when a brother would have a broken car or would be fixing one of our parents or something. Mom would actually make me be late to work until my bro would come home because she couldn't be 'alone' with a brother.

Try explaining THAT one to your boss.

(btw, w00t for my 'Emperor' post!)

19

Thank God That Hanging Has Been Abolished.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

just about 3 decades ago, this lady would have been executed by hanging by the neck until she was dead.. yes, i am glad that capital punishment is outlawed in europe, aren't you?.

englishman.. you are in: england news front pageworldukenglandn irelandscotlandwalespoliticsbusinessentertainmentscience/naturetechnologyhealtheducation-------------talking point-------------country profilesin depth-------------programmes-------------servicesdaily e-mail news ticker mobile/pdas ------------- text onlyfeedback help editions change to world wednesday, 29 january, 2003, 17:51 gmtsolicitor accused of killing sons freed.

sally clark and her husband stephen outside court.

Xander

Kill em all and let God sort em out!

Except if there IS no afterlife, by killing them now, you deprive them of their only life.

Honestly, I think if we didn't have religion, the crime rate in the world would be MUCH lower. Granted, serial killers and such would probably still exist as it's a 'sickness of the mind', as it were. But how many fewer homicides would their be if the attacker had been taught from youth that instead of going to 'somewhere nicer' when someone dies, that's it - it's over.

Yes, I'm sure that wouldn't stop ALL killers, but I think a surprisingly large number at least have that in the back of their minds. "I may be killing him for his car, but he's not REALLY dead. He's probably in a happier place, anyway". Sure, it's a justification, and it probably didn't influence his decision much. But, what if everyone from youth had been instead taught that life is a fragile thing, and once gone, it's gone.

I can't help but think that without religion, there would be at least SOME improvement here.

83

Legalize ALL Drugs. Yes or No?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting to get a cross-sectional view of your opinions on whether all drugs (lsd, heroin, cocaine, etc.

be legalized so that they then became freely available to the general population, in the same way that alcohol and tobacco are .

spanner

Xander

Spanner, you never answered in the other thread...

What is your position ON the legality of alcohol and tobacco as it is now?

21

his reaction will be..............................

by kls in

jw
friends

tonight is the night , i have direc tv and going to watch to fifth estate.my hubby will be here also.

i am realy realy nervous how he is going to react.

he could blow up and say it's all lie's, they are apostates and god warned he's people they would constantly be persecuted and lied about.or he won't even look at it saying they are apostates and i won't look at them they are the devil's voice.he always say's , you can't believe every thing you see on tv or reading the new's paper.i need you'r advice on how i should react with these situations.

Xander

Honestly, I don't see this scandal shaking anyone loose from the WT. Preventing possibly bible studies? Sure! Damaging their ability to go door to door in any neighborhood? Certainly hope so!

But, I think really, most die-hard JWs already 'know' such things go on. It's just one of those things you "don't talk about" or try to ignore. So, old brother lecherous is a little touchy-feely with all the little kids - that's just "his way", it's harmless. Blahblahblah.

Those not in profound denial will treat it all as lies.

No, I think if you really want to shake him free, the only think surefire to do it is doctrinal issues. Prove that the org itself does not speak for god, and suddenly all these other problems with the org become relevant.

44

Who still goes to meetings?

by christopherceo in

just a curious question to see what types of stories i get.

let's hear how you do it.

Xander

what kind of demons caused me to react so violently to being in a Kingdom Hall

GOODY PROCTOR!! I SAW GOODY PROCTOR WITH THE DEVIL!!!!

Oh, wait, n/m

(Hrm....actually.....they might go for that....)

Those of you who still do go... do you still get all dressed up

An even better question....those of you who do NOT go (*cough*me*cough*)....do you still wear your meeting clothes, you know, EVER?

(Me = no)

30

crelution or evelation

by showme in

creation or evolution?

first as a boy i believed in creation because i heard a preacher say it was true.

then i thought "well, maybe my teacher is right because of fossils and the recorded facts".

Xander

LOL @ Abaddon

You're posts are always interesting, it's nice to have you back, btw.

FWIW, I'm still trying to decide between your B, C, and D options. I think 'they are assholes' may cover a lot of ground....