I was a theist. Then I was an agnostic. Then I was an atheist leaning agnostic. Then I was an atheist. I like atheism better. It is the only one of the 4 that makes any sense. However, as others have stated, if god presented herself along with the other super heroes somewhere, say Times Square, and did something really cooll, like end war and suffering, I would change my mind.
Posts by DJS
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89Poll--How Many Believe In God, Do Not Believe or Are Not Sure Of His Existence?
by minimus ini believe in god but i'm not sure of anything....what about you?.
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130
Atheists and JWs are on the same footing!
by exWTslave inatheists believe that god should stop the large-scale injustice on earth; if he does'nt, then he does not exist.
jws believe that god will intervene sometime in the last days!.
interestingly, both throw themselves on their own expectation of soemthing god should or will do, yet in fact something god does not have to do.
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DJS
exWTSlave,
Everything that has spewed off of your fingertips regarding atheists has been proven wrong many times on this forum. Either you can't read or you are braindead (LisaRose can I say braindead?). The happiest, most functional, most ethical, most educated and most intelligent states, countries and regions are more likely to be atheist or secular rather than relgious. We have presented empirical data regarding this on numerous occasions. Every few weeks it seems a theist spews such nonsense. I have ignored this OP - and you- until now.
One more time WT: The more religious a state, country or region is, the more likely it is be be dysfunctional, poorly educated, less intelligent and less happy than areas which are more secular and atheistic. I have tons of data supporting this. Wanna see it? Would it matter? Feeler/Beilevers, I mean Theists, tire me. Annoy me. Bore me. You were trapped by the Borg because of your tendency to Feel/Believe. You remain trapped.
There are 3 more rungs on the evolutionary ladder for homo sapiens that you need to climb, but you seem to be happy with the chimps (LisaRose can I say chimps?), who feel and believe. Just like you.
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106
If you thought Tony Moris the Third was extreme, wait till you hear this other GB member!
by Island Man inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzc2m8_mba&list=uus0vqkpnsxult0gsz6ahpta.
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DJS
Geesh,
The more we learn about this guy and the rest of the GB the more dysfunctional they appear. Thanks Oubilette. I wonder if Herd hates lesbians or just domineering women and 'levels' them with that accusation. Interesting. If you showed him some really hot, gorgeous girl on girl porn he would change his mind!!!
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106
If you thought Tony Moris the Third was extreme, wait till you hear this other GB member!
by Island Man inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzc2m8_mba&list=uus0vqkpnsxult0gsz6ahpta.
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DJS
That just may be the most moronic thing I've ever heard. Someone needs to get this to Jon Stewart and Steve Colbert.
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10
If there were no shunning ...
by bemused ina lot of members of this forum are still notionally active jws, in many cases because of worries about the loss of contact with family and friends if they were to leave.
i was never in so it's hard for me to judge, but it seems to me that if the watchtower org were to announce tomorrow that shunning is wrong and jws should keep contact with family and friends who leave then the effect would be devasting for congregation numbers.
if so then obviously such an announcement is highly unlikely, but is my view correct?
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DJS
Bemused,
I've wondered the same thing myself. As we've noticed, some would likely go back because of friends and family, even though they know it is pure BS. Some would leave and begin living their own lives. Some would stay and live their own lives (college, sex, etc.).
The Borg won't do anything that doesn't have a net positive effect for itself, as organizations are egoist. All 3 of these scenarios would appear to have a negative impact on the Dark Lords' ability to control the rank and file and maintain overall order.
As long as they are experiencing a net increase - even if it is based on 3rd world growth - that isn't likely to occur. Growth is a sign Jah is favoring them. They might place sheer numbers (growth) above control, but I doubt it. They have shown a century long tendency to desire control over everything. They will simply re-group, circle the wagons and tell everyone it is a 'cleansing' directed by Jah.
There is one thing I believe could bring about farily substantial changes in the Borg quickly: $$$. If the wealthy countries stopped sending them $ and they had to begin paying for the O&M day to day costs out of their own savings, they might address the shunning. My bet is they have already identified these scenarios and have a list of things they will roll out. It is likely that ending DFing is not on it, as that would provide them the least amount of control. And control is Optimus Prime to the Dark Lords.
Relaxing college, sports, entertainment, etc. and allowing more personal freedom of conscience is more likely their strategy, IMHO.
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US Official Predicts End Of World Power Status
by metatron inhttp://blogs.wsj.com/chinarealtime/2014/03/28/americans-must-adjust-to-a-world-dominated-by-china-feds-bullard-says/.
an alliance could emerge that suddenly upsets the balance of power , making anglo-america number 2. already, the brics nations seem to be moving towards a loose alliance on many issues.
either way, things are moving in china's direction.
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DJS
Bumping,
Did any of you see tonight's CBS 60 Minutes airing of China's Ghost Cities??? China has built several entire cities which stand completely empty. A housing bubble of historic proportions is waiting to pop, it seems. The individuals interviewed by Leslie Stahl indicate that it will be huge, enough to bring the Chinese economy to a halt and set it back for years.
The apartments and other buildings, based on the report, are too expensive for the peasants to buy. Why do they continue to build them? Middle class Chinese are buying them right and left, which has fueled the building frenzy, for investment. The Chinese can't invest out of the country and their stock market sucks, so they have been plowing their lives' savings into apartments and real estate. The government limited the number of apts. the individual could buy to one, in an attempt to slow it down, but the middle class has found ways around it. The buying middle class are certain the market will continue expanding; they are delusional according to the Chinese developers, who stand to lose everything because they can't pay back massive loans. The government encouraged the building because it buoyed their economy and provided jobs to 60,000,000 or so peasants. Where have we heard this before? It makes the housing bubble lead up to the burst and the '08 US recessioin, which occurred in large part because of the same issue - look like an ant in comparison.
Major, major problems are in the balance. My comments from this original OP:
"Re Economics: The Invisible Hand will reach out and touch all nations, just as it did with the Japanese miracle 2 decades ago. The Chinese have a Field of Dreams goal, "If you build it they will come." (60 minutes stole my tag line). It is admirable, but sooner or later the Chinese economy will have to compete directly with the world. Absent serious government support, can it thrive? Do they really have a free market capitalisitic economy? Or is the government propping up currencies, spending on infrastructure and enabling 'capatilistic' endeavors to such a degree that, once it is required to compete mano a mano, it will suffer?? Those are 64 dollar questions. There are others."
There are no free lunches, and if you dance to the music, sooner or later you will have to pay to the piper.
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35
Advice about going to Meetings...................oh why didn't I listen...LOL!!!!!
by KateWild ini have been back to meetings for a month now.
prepared for them all except for when i went on holiday.. todays wt is about jehovah's organisation, it's clear loaded language and manipulation through fear.
i am not perturbed by it in the least.
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DJS
Kate,
No matter how much she loves you, the dark side of the Borg will ultimately pull her back in. All Borg love is conditional. The collective - the hive- is stronger than an individual within it. Leaving it is the only thing that breaks that chain.
Also, the experience you describe is minor compared to the heartache, pain, frustration and anger you will experience if you proceed with your original idea. They know you are a "'resistor' of the holy spirit." (gag time). Considering that you are (here it comes again) .. a resistor to the HS, they will meander your RI for-freaking-ever just to ensure you have been assimilated back into the hive. And likely to ensure they have fully subjugated you. From what I've seen of you on this site, that isn't likely impossible - unless you have Academy Award winning acting abilities.
Anyway, welcome back, girl.
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A peek in to future of transportation
by jgnat intrends include self-driving clean vehicles and temporary leasing rather than buying vehicles (the driverless vehicle arrives to pick you up, and you drop it off at your destination).
the result?
1/8 the traffic on existing roads!
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DJS
No doubt the future will see that and more. We already are seeing 'intelligent' cars which take control of the brakes when the vehicle is approaching an object, and sensors which alert when another vehicle is in a blind spot, for example. Google and others are testing drverless cars.
The FBI and other security agencies will have a say in how this technology unfolds, both from cyber take over and from programming a vehicle, for example, to drive into a restricted area, loaded with explosives. Secured areas which now are designed to neutralize the driver of a threatening vehicle will have to change the design basis threat to stop the vehicle itself. A major task, likely not feasible by people. Once such technologies are employed, expect LOTS of manual and automatic vehicle barriers. Lots.
With this technology there will likely be more rules and regulations before it is employed than is typical (most technologies emerge and the laws follow).
Plus, what do people like me do? I have a need for speed and like low, fast cars. Will I have to become extinct!!!
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48
Can anyone give me any advice on how to get rid of cockroaches?
by Jeannette ini have sprayed, i have bug bombed, i have sprayed some more.
i threw things out i thought that they might have a nest in.
i soaked some things in hot water all day.
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DJS
They will eat anything and like warm, moist environments. Kinda like teen-agers. Have you tried OCD? For cleanlinesss and orderliness? Seriously. It helps. I think. But it may cause other problems (i.e., your mate may leave you).
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Stagnant JW growth at international convention
by kneehighmiah inso at the international convention 235 were baptized.
the attendance was 34k.
that's resents less than 1% its about .6%.
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DJS
Scotsman and Magnum,
Interesting account and analysis. It is difficult for me to believe that the Borg will continue to fluorish based on the culture of the Millenials (under 33 or so) that I see in most western lands. In the US and much of Europe, that generation has shown tendencies to be less religious, political and family oriented (think Friends). They are also much more liberal (the vast majority favor same sex unions/marriage, for example). They are moving back into cities/urban areas at a high rate and many eschew cars and driving. They also are the first generation with the Internet in all its glory, readily available to them at their fingertips.
They are different than the generations before them, and it remains to be seen how this translates to the Borg. Up to this point - not so well it would seem. IMHO, the Borg could likely survive a 'lost' generation; however, if the generation coming after the Millenials acts and thinks as the Millenials - or are even more liberable, independent, etc. - the Borg would appear to be in major trouble. I do not believe the Borg could survive, in its present form, with two lost generations. Major changes would be required.
The other unknown is how fast the developing world can come into a 2nd or 1st world economy. If the 'have-not's and the poor and uneducated can quickly develop a better standard of living, access to education and healthcare, the Borg will suffer another blow, since that is where its growth is coming. An example: the "Arab Spring" was in large part initiated by the Millenial Internet cafe generation of young Muslims and Arabs. The revolution predicatably got 'hijacked' as they have stated, by their parents' generation. Why? Simple. Their parents' generation had the money, the influence and the weaponry. But that will change; time is on the Internet generation's side. The parallels between the Arab Spring, which has not fulfilled its promise but may likely in the future simply based on the numbers and the generation coming, and the Borg are similar.
IMHO, these are the two major trends which will determine whether the Borg evolves to where it is a kinder, gentler borganization. Time will tell.