Posts by Tashawaa

17

Interesting article on the state of humanity and charity....

by Xander in

jw
friends

from atot (again, i've been spending too much time there), in a debate about the relative merit of human life (or lack thereof), comes this interesting article quoted:the singer solution to world poverty.

the new york times magazine.

september 5, 1999. a contentious ethicist explains why your taste for foie gras is starving children.

Tashawaa

So perhaps the JW's aren't the "only" ones who don't carry the burden of the worlds poor.

? is this statement suppose to make it OK that the WTBTS feels NO RESPONSIBILITY to help the poor, feed the hungry, help the homeless, OR encourage their members to do so on a personal level as apart of the Christian ministry????

This is one of the reasons I think the Bible is still an extraordinary book.

Oh, its ?extraordinary? alright. Genocide seems to be God?s favorite way of ?curing? the earth of its problems.

It suggests that there is something "deep" and "intrinisic" about the worlds problems.

Uh, huh. Satan, that wiley old snake. I prefer ?Pandora?s Box? as a ?deep? and ?intrinsic? explanation for the world?s problems.

68

Is there proof of Evolution out there? help needed

by trumangirl in

i've faded, but i still would like to have faith in a creator/god.

but i am really not sure if my belief in god is the result of being brought up a jw and being stuck with a particular world-view.

the best thing i can do is challenge myself by reading some material that explains proof of the evolution, but i have not seen anything that does this yet, i've only seen explanations of the theory, not the proof.

Tashawaa

Sometimes I think back to the days, as a loyal dubbie, I BELIEVED everything in the "Creation" book. I remember having a "conversation" with a guy at the door once who knew evolution. I'm embarassed remembering how I backed up my "logic" with such reasoning as:

"Evolution teaches that we come from monkeys, so why do monkeys still exist?"

"Evolution is JUST a theory!"

"The chances of evolution happening are nearly impossible"

"Something cannot come from nothing"

UGH. The guy showed restraint (know I realize I came across as an uneducated zealot, who NEVER read anything independant of the WTBTS). I also had the arrogance to inform the householder that I too, studied evolution!

I look at those statements above and I just cringe now

17

Interesting article on the state of humanity and charity....

by Xander in

jw
friends

from atot (again, i've been spending too much time there), in a debate about the relative merit of human life (or lack thereof), comes this interesting article quoted:the singer solution to world poverty.

the new york times magazine.

september 5, 1999. a contentious ethicist explains why your taste for foie gras is starving children.

Tashawaa

He also focuses on starving children - feeding the hungry. What about other charities, Children's Hospitals, disease research (ALS, Cancer, Diabetes - too many to list).

He places ALL the responsibility on the person NOT giving money. What if, at the track where the child is playing, there is a few adults fighting, the child's father is too drunk to move the child out of the way, the extended family (aunts, uncles, etc) are too busy watching their own children... then, not all the responsibility is on the one person. It is a community, society, responsibility.

He is trying to raise awareness, that I give him credit for.

68

Is there proof of Evolution out there? help needed

by trumangirl in

i've faded, but i still would like to have faith in a creator/god.

but i am really not sure if my belief in god is the result of being brought up a jw and being stuck with a particular world-view.

the best thing i can do is challenge myself by reading some material that explains proof of the evolution, but i have not seen anything that does this yet, i've only seen explanations of the theory, not the proof.

Tashawaa

Actually, the information Hoob has proved over time, the links, his "arguments", have actually played a BIG part in me seriously learning about evolution.

14

my non-JW girlfriend emailed my JW mom today

by doogie in

jw
friends

last week, my girlfriend wrote an email that she intended to send to my mom.

my jw parents have never spoken to jessica in the 3 years that we?ve been together (my loooooong story was on the board last week?don?t worry, i refuse to write anymore details than i have to in this post?my fingers are still cramped up?).

anyway, the email was to be their first (and last, probably) communication.

Tashawaa

Jessica sounds like she's got a good head on her shoulders. If you had written ANYTHING else about how she chose to express herself and her feelings to her family - you would HAVE definately heard from me! But, you realize that Jessica has the right to communicate to your family her feelings. Good for her! and good for you for not trying to "control" the situation. Your parents need to hear this... and its obviously, not like Jessica is risking a great relationship with your family.

Best of luck.

68

Is there proof of Evolution out there? help needed

by trumangirl in

i've faded, but i still would like to have faith in a creator/god.

but i am really not sure if my belief in god is the result of being brought up a jw and being stuck with a particular world-view.

the best thing i can do is challenge myself by reading some material that explains proof of the evolution, but i have not seen anything that does this yet, i've only seen explanations of the theory, not the proof.

Tashawaa

what about the improbability of the first living cell developing, surviving and reproducing, and the complex systems for life evolving by chance mutations?

For me, coming out of the JW mindset, evolution was foreign... and did not make sense. It has taken years for me to learn the basics of the theory. I can remember from the "Creation" book, the stats used to "support" the improbability of evolution. But "odds" don't play a part in "what is". For example:

What are the odds of you being born? Well the average "sperm count" is 20 million. Every month a woman ovalates. It takes one specific sperm to one month's egg to create the individual that is "you". If your mom got pregnant a month before or after - or if it was a different 1 in 20 million sperm, "you" would not be here. This is just the odds between your parents. What are the odds that they would meet? Or their parents? or the Grandparents... Greatgrandparents... etc FOR GENERATIONS. Had two different people, or the "timing" of pregancy was off - "you" would not be here. The "odds" of you being here are beyond comprehension. BUT, just because the odds of you being born are near to impossible, doesn't mean it didn't happen. We are all here. We are all living proof that just because there was a huge improbability that you shouldn't have been born, doesn't mean it can't happen.

13

Letter to JW-Inlaws

by catlady in

jw
friends

i have drafted the following letter to send to my partner?s inlaws & family (with his approval).

this has been an ongoing situation & i am most concerned that his kids are going to hear these lies & this will destroy the pleasant relationship that i have with them.

i'm also getting sick of not defending myself & having to put up with all this endless crap!

Tashawaa

Should these defemations continue, I shan't have other choice but to protect them."

Country girl - I know what you're getting at, but this still is threatening "something"... how will she protect it?

I say go ahead with the solicitor. Even if you have to go the step further, and go to a solicitor - have the solicitor write a letter first, it can have a BIG impact.

I had a problem being stalked, and saw a lawyer. He said before I spent over $500 on a restraining order, he'd charge me $50 and send a letter. It worked.

19

Finally!!! Run in with JWs...

by Tashawaa in

i've lived here for about 1 1/2 years and haven't seen a single jw.

i read all the posts where there have been run-ins, people called on, elders talked to, etc.

and couldn't hardly wait for my turn.

Tashawaa

Thanks guys for the support

I guess I was surprised by my own reaction, so I wanted to share.

Insomiac - I know what you mean. I mean they were "right" to be out, but some of the confrontations just made me "stronger" in my line of thinking. One call that stands out in my head was a conversation I had with an athiest. He was kind, thoughtful... he listened. He asked questions that made me THINK. It didn't turn me right-there-and-then, but it did play a part in opening that closed littl' mind of mine

19

Finally!!! Run in with JWs...

by Tashawaa in

i've lived here for about 1 1/2 years and haven't seen a single jw.

i read all the posts where there have been run-ins, people called on, elders talked to, etc.

and couldn't hardly wait for my turn.

Tashawaa

always saying that I'm not interested, and brushing them off when they ask why.

You know, that could have made a difference in my response. She seemed much more interested in giving me a Watchtower than in speaking with me. She never asked me a "thought provoking question" or followed up my "no thank you" with a "Have you ever read our literature?". Hmmmm, maybe she should memorize a few Conversation Stoppers in the Reasoning book. Hell, I know I did when I was a dubbie

19

Finally!!! Run in with JWs...

by Tashawaa in

i've lived here for about 1 1/2 years and haven't seen a single jw.

i read all the posts where there have been run-ins, people called on, elders talked to, etc.

and couldn't hardly wait for my turn.

Tashawaa

Hope you had a nice lunch!

I had a great lunch!!! She's a great friend I've made since my move. After a year, I'm FINALLY building a social network. She just had a baby (single mom), and she's a professional I met through a work function. We had a couple of drinks, a few appetizers (ribs, hummus & pita, chicken rolls) and talked up a storm

I felt NO need to give him ANY explanation.

I think my feeling came from a deep satisfaction and enjoyment of being "worldly" ...