Posts by Island Man

16

Thinking of writing a book about jw's, what should I put in it?

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

i've just finished reading alan miller's "fade from the truth", i enjoyed it and i love that it's freely available.

so i was thinking of writing a book of my own.

not an account of my life but more a simple step by step look at jw's and what they are really like?

Island Man

Here's an idea for you:

Write a book about the common excuses and rationalizations JWs use when confronted with TTATT - excuses like "wait on Jehovah", "human imperfection", "who else has the truth / where else to go", "that was in the past", "the light gets brighter", etc

The format could be that you tackle each excuse or rationalization, one at a time. You first mention the name of the excuse as a heading. Then you use sample dialog between a JW and a critic to demonstrate use of the excuse. Then you proceed to analyze and pick apart the excuse showing how and why it's fallacious and/or hypocritical. Then you give a suggested counter response(s) that utterly demolishes and exposes the excuse for the rubbish that it is.

Maybe you can call the book "Hiding Behind Paper Shields" with a sub-theme in smaller print that reads: "The lies they use to defend "The Truth". "Paper Shields" - a metaphorical reference to pitiful excuses and rationalizations used by JWs - would have a double-meaning. The shield is paper in the sense that it is very weak and affords no real protection. It is also paper in the sense that the excuses and rationalizations come to JWs on paper - fed to them in Watchtower literature.

The cover can have a picture of an insecure-looking JW holding up a literal paper shield against an attack. The shield would be painted with crayons to give the impression that they tried to make it look like a real strong shield made of metal, but the color is not convincing. lol.

The book would be an excellent resource for newly awakening ones and even the public that is aware of TTATT. You can think of it as being like the reasoning book for reasoning with JWs but specifically geared at exposing and overcoming their pitiful excuses and rationalizations. it would be an excellent resource for dealing with the rationalizations that elders use on judicial committees when confronted with TTATT by an awake JW.

32

Are Witnesses really "Bible Students"?

by stuckinarut2 in

we were always told that as witnesses we were "sincere bible students".... carefully examining the scriptures.. yes, we were indeed taught much about the content of the bible, it's history, prophecies etc..... but it was always from one perspective....that of the society.

when the society changed its interpretations, we had to do the same..... so were we really "bible students", or "society students"?.

just a thought.....

Island Man

No. Witnesses play bait and switch with adjectival form of the word bible. They bait the word bible but the actual practical meaning is switched with Watchtower.

Thus, "Bible study" is, in practice, a study of Watchtower literature. What they call "Bible teachings" is, in practice, the fallible interpretations - and sometimes speculations - found in Watchtower literature.

They don't actually use Watchtower literature as an aid in studying the bible. They use - or abuse - the bible as an aid in studying Watchtower literature. Watchtower literature is always the focus of their study, not the bible.

6

The Sound of Science - Evolution

by C0ntr013r in

i found this amazing song!

and since a big number of the people on this board are unbelievers i thought you might enjoy it ;).

imo it is pure gold!.

Island Man

The biggest obstacles to people accepting evolution as a fact are:

1. Ignorance. They don't know of the mountains of evidence that exists and proves it. They actually believe that it's "just a theory".

2. Misinformation. They've been misled by creationist propaganda that consists of fallacies, lies and outdated information.

3. Lack of understanding. They don't really understand evolution, although they think they do. The evolution that they find hard to believe truly is a myth because it's not really evolution but their false understanding of it created by their ignorance and by being misinformed.

It's always easy to tell when an evolution-doubter is ignorant, has been misinformed or lacks understanding. They ask rhetorical questions that someone who is truly knowledgeable of the subject of evolution would not only not ask, but would be ashamed to ask - unless as a joke.

33

Where and What. . . IS THE EVIDENCE for "Mental ILLNESS"? ? ?

by Terry in

jw
friends

i have no interest whatsoever in stirring up controversy.. in fact, i find clashes of opinion to be debilitatingly negative.. so, i'd simply like to request that we narrow this discussion to evidence.. please watch this video which is tantalizingly titled :.

"there's no such thing as mental illness".. consider this data and listen to the presentation of cause vs. effects and give me your analysis and any evidence for conclusions you may draw.

we all have anecdotal tendencies, but i should remind you, anecdotal testimony isn't evidence, only opinion.________________________________________.

Island Man

I think there is enough scientific evidence proving that the brain is the organ that is responsible for the mental faculties. Secondly, given that the brain is not an invincible organ but is subject to damage and dysfunction just like any other organ, it is only logical that a dysfunctional brain would result in mental dysfunction, or in other words, metal illness.

Anyone claiming that there is no such thing as mental illness must either be a Scientologist or they must be mentally ill them self - or both.

35

what do you think is the main reason why so many young ones are waking up?

by Crazyguy in

seems as though the number of baptisms even for the young ones is down from what people report here.

at my former hall the young ones are all in totally sheltered even while going to school.

expressing thier desires to pioneer etc.

Island Man

I believe its the tablets. By making available Watchtower apps for download, the org has given many young ones the ammunition they need to pressure their parents to get them tablets. The orgs push in IT has resulted in more JWs having tablets than otherwise would have. More tablets = more internet access = more access to the ugly truth about Watchtower posted online = more young ones waking up.

76

Socialism

by Perry in

socialists think that money will solve all man's problems.

everything is obsessively related to money in the socialist ideology.. they have an almost supernatural ability to blame others with more money.

god calls this greed and envy.

Island Man

Socialism and Capitalism both have their pros and cons. I think the best system is a mixture of the two.

18

Todays WT about young people not following the bad example of their parents

by konceptual99 in

so the wt today had some paragraphs that told young people they could make their own stand for da troof.... 2 since we live in a fierce, loveless world, it is no surprise that many children have to grow up without the benefit of loving, protective parents.

(2 tim.

3:1-5) many christians today come from painful family backgrounds, but they have built close friendships with jehovah.

Island Man

Two things I found rather odd about this week's study:

1. Paragraph 6 suggests that Ruth came to know about Jehovah from her late husband or from Naomi.The article also seems to give the impression that Ruth was a lover of Jehovah and a spiritual person. So all of this raises a rather puzzling question regarding Naomi's actions in light of JWs view of the need to put spiritual interests ahead of material interests:

Why on earth would Naomi, supposedly a lover of Jehovah and a spiritual person, urge Ruth to return to her people and the worship of false gods, just for the sake of having her material needs met? Naomi does not seem to be a very spiritual woman as JWs consider spirituality. Naomi is the kind of JW that would encourage her daughter to go to university or take that full-time job that clashes with meeting times, to meet her physical needs. Naomi was clearly putting Ruth's material needs ahead of spirituality.

2. What's with the sexual innuendos in paragraph 15?!

Is Mary's faith not remarkable? A slave girl was at her master's disposal. Mary thus entrusted her care and choices to her Master, Jehovah. She wanted to serve him in whatever way he saw fit. Where did her faith come from? Faith is not inborn. It is the product of a person's effort and God's blessing. (Gal. 5:22; Eph. 2:8) Is there effort that Mary put forth effort to strengthen her faith? There is. Consider how she listened and how she spoke.

Either this was a joke by an awake JW in the writing department ... or maybe Watchtower is trying to sexually excite the pedophiles in the congregations. I mean, just look at the picture of Mary on page 16. Look how young she looks ...

76

Socialism

by Perry in

socialists think that money will solve all man's problems.

everything is obsessively related to money in the socialist ideology.. they have an almost supernatural ability to blame others with more money.

god calls this greed and envy.

Island Man

I think you make a massive error by conflating Socialism with Autocracy. They are not the same. Look people: A christian railing against socialism. I guess Perry never read Acts 2:44,45 and Acts 4:32,34. Perry, you're railing against your own religion without even knowing it. LOL.

18

Kingdom Hall Attenders: Consider Stopping the Use of Loaded Language

by OnTheWayOut in

it's been a long time since i attended, but i understand that many of you still go to the kingdom hall for your various reasons.. a huge thing that helped me in my mentally breaking from their beliefs was to stop using their terms that put you, virtually automatically, into their thought mode.. using terms like "the truth," jw's feel special about themselves and this helps them separate themselves from "the world.

" by incorporating loaded language, jw's learn not to think, but merely to memorize words and phrases instead of analyzing a situation.. the reasons someone misses meetings is because they are "spiritually weak.

" they might be involved in "worldly thinking.".

Island Man

Elder: "Bro. OnTheWayOut, we called you here in the back room to discuss something that has come to our attention. A number of the friends - including ourselves - have noticed a recent trend in your speech. You seem to shy away from using theocratic terms, preferring instead speak in a somewhat plain - some even say tactless - manner. The scriptures talk about the power of the tongue and using it wisely. As Jehovah's people we have the privilege of speaking the "pure language". Which other organization on the face of the earth today has that great privilege? Why refuse to use the theocratic terms that Jehovah has so lovingly provided for us through the faithful and discreet slave? When you comment at a Watchtower study and refer to the preaching work as "door-to-door canvassing" how do you think that sounds to interested ones attending our meeting for the first time? What kind of impression are they going to get about our work?"

2

The important questions JWs should be asking themselves about this week's Immitate Their Faith study

by Island Man in

why did jonah think that he could run away from jehovah?

did he think that jehovah was a local god whose power and influence would not extend as far as tarshish?

and why would jehovah choose as his prophet a man like jonah who evidently did not appreciate that jehovah can find you know matter where you go?.

Island Man

Why did Jonah think that he could run away from Jehovah? Did he think that Jehovah was a local god whose power and influence would not extend as far as Tarshish? And why would Jehovah choose as his prophet a man like Jonah who evidently did not appreciate that Jehovah can find you know matter where you go?

How can Jehovah be a just and righteous god if he would bring a storm and endanger the lives of innocent mariners just to discipline his wayward prophet Jonah?