Posts by DJS

46

City of Houston Demands Pastors Turn Over Gay-Bashing Sermons

by cultBgone in

has anyone else seen this, or did i just miss the posting?.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2014/10/14/city-houston-demands-pastors-turn-over-sermons/.

here's the opening paragraph:.

DJS

Ravens,

I don't much get involved in theist discussioins out of respect and boredom. However, Zoos is using (I think) hyperbolic metaphors to describe what you come across as, which is an entrenched, right wing, Xtian fudamentalist. If you don't wish to be linked with such, I suggest a new strategy - opening your mind and heart and leaving behind the judgementalism associated with the bible and Xtianinity. I did two decades ago and I love life, myself and the world a thousand times more.

That's the point I think this OP is making. Lots of Xtians are getting tired of fundamentalism and judgmentalism, just as so many on this forum have. Bohm and Designs are correct; your views are short for the world. You can go kicking and screaming into oblivion or you can realize that the bible in no manner is inspired or our guidebook for living.

You are entitled to your beliefs, but marriage is primarily a civil and secular union. Trying to pass laws, maintain laws, or even judge those seeking a civil, secular privilege just because of their gender or persuasion is something that many of us wish you would keep to yourself or share within the confines of your own domecile or church. Bringing it out into the open makes it a target, rightly so, of ridicule.

33

Are YOU a person who "collects" things? Let's chat a moment . . .

by Terry in

jw
friends

as a kid i only collected comic books until around 1962.. my collection was very important to me and i had emotional excitement at the release of a new comic--but--i made a date with 2 girls.

on the same day and didn't have any money!

(not thinking it through, you see :).

DJS

All apologies Prologos,

No, I do not collect. My rational self views collecting 'things' as control. I've tried but it just doesn't take.

33

Are YOU a person who "collects" things? Let's chat a moment . . .

by Terry in

jw
friends

as a kid i only collected comic books until around 1962.. my collection was very important to me and i had emotional excitement at the release of a new comic--but--i made a date with 2 girls.

on the same day and didn't have any money!

(not thinking it through, you see :).

DJS

Things I collect:

Friends (I have lots), Memories (Tons), and Ex-Girlfriends (I have lots). Otherwise, if I don't use it in 6 months I give it away. My rational brain can't seem to allow things/collections to control me.

24

Why I Refuse to Accept the term APOSTATE

by Black Man in

jw
friends

been going back in forth with my mom (who is a longtime pioneer and dyed-in-the-wool jw) about the term apostate.

she has labeled me one because of my fading and because i stopped attending meetings a few years ago.

i told her that i refuse to accept the term apostate because its a lazy way for the wts to not deal with dissenters and address why people are leaving this organization in droves.

DJS

PunkOfNice,

As usual, spot on. I quit using Dub-speak two decades ago. I refuse to use any of their loaded words, and I wish others exiting or exited could do the same. The Dub specific language is a big part of the control, as the wiki article suggests. I'm surprised so many ex-Dubs still use the loaded words. Removing them for use - and subsequently your consciousness - is a major step to moving past the draconian borganization and its control.

Thanks for your contributions to this forum.

36

It's my 25th yr anniversary of freedom

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

approximately 25 yrs ago today, i left the borg forever.. .

thank you jwn/jwd for helping me heal by listening to me.

there are not many greater gifts than freedom..

DJS

Rebel8,

You are one of my faves. 20 plus years for me. Isn't freedom from the draconian Borg wonderful? You rock young lady. High five!

73

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime (NYTimes)

by NewYork44M in

DJS

Apognophos,

Thank you for your intelligent commentary on this and other topics. This OP should have ended pages ago. Pedophilia is a disorder - not a crime. That is a factual statement. Yawn.

73

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime (NYTimes)

by NewYork44M in

DJS

Flip,

Of course it is aberrant. We all have stated that. Acting on it is illegal and damaging to children and society. We all know that and agree. That isn't the point the article is making or the point many of us are making. The condition is who they are. Read the posts on this OP or the article. Pedophiles are sexually attracted to pre-pubescent children in the same manner that I'm attracted to fully formed females. More and more research indicates this is who they are; they didn't choose it.

From Wiki: Pedophilia or paedophilia is a psychiatric disorder in which an adult or older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive sexual attraction to prepubescent children, generally age 11 years or younger.

Their attraction is NOT a crime. Some studies suggest that half or more of true pedophiles - those who are sexually attracted to children - never act on it. Read the earilier posts on this; there are some very good ones. The reason they place convicted pedophiles on registries, which btw you can google in any US community to see the names, faces and addresses of convicted pedophiles, is that the best research indicates that they may re-offend because the sexual attraction is what and who they are. All we are saying is that the condition and the act are two very different things. The former deserves understanding, treatment, intervention, etc., while the latter deserves the full wrath of society.

73

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime (NYTimes)

by NewYork44M in

DJS

DogGone,

Thank you as well for your rational contribution to this topic. I'm at a loss to understand the dumbasses among us who lack the self control to avoid the keyboard when all they have to offer is red-neck, reactionary, emotional hysteria. I see nothing wrong with the article. I would guess that everyone on this site abhors sexual child abuse and none of us have any tolerance for the behavior and believe that society's strongest condemnation and punishment for the act is justified.

It is also likely that those of us who are parents would kill - or feel like kiliing - anyone who touched our child in such manner. Let's all concur and move on to trying to understand this issue. Those who contribute nothing more than emotional, irrational hysteria would do better to exercise self control and learn. Or do some very good research about the topic before posting. That seems to be too much work for some; they would rather vent, showing their stupidity for the world to see.

Flip, pedophilia is NOT a crime. Acting on it is. WTF is wrong with you and those like you? Is heterosexuality a crime? Is being left handed a crime?

Another very good study found that convicted pedophiles are 3 times more likely to be left handed than average, and researchers suggest there may be a neurological link. None of us on this site, to my knowledge, are experts on this topic, but all of us can seek to understand it better. And we owe it to one another, the topic, the lurkers and just damn good debating to keep quiet or provide something of value. I would suggest that those who provide nothing but reactionary emotional nonsense are, by Myers-Briggs, feelers/perceivers, more likely to be theist than non-theist, and less likely to have advanced education.

Otherwise, Gregor and those like him are correct that the sexual abuse of a child is horrific and usually has long lasting consequences. There is no tolerance for such in society, nor should there be. That is not what the discussion is about.

73

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime (NYTimes)

by NewYork44M in

DJS

Are you including homosexuality in this list? There is nothing harmful in this behavior. Gays and lesbians harm no one - except people like you and your make believe god. It can be done???? WTF? What planet have you arrived from? Really? It can be done???? I mean, Really?

Preach someplace else, please. Really, it can be done.

73

Pedophilia: A Disorder, Not a Crime (NYTimes)

by NewYork44M in

DJS

GC,

Homosexuality doesn't belong in this list. Your inclusion of it suggests a loaded attempt to prove a point. A very bad one. What consenting adults do with their private parts is none of your - or anyone elses' business. If you can't add anything better than this, exercise some of that self control you are preaching and avoid the keyboard.

Kleptomania is an "inability to resist the urge to steal items." Murderous 'behavior?" WTF??? Are you comparing that to someone born with a sexual desire? Is your heterosexuality a learned behavior? Did someone teach you or enculturate you to be hetero? Or were you born with the tendency and the desires?

Pehophilia is a sexual attraction - nothing more - to prepubescent children according to the experts. Acting on it is the wrong. Being born with the desire isn't. Nymphomania is considered compulsive sexual behavior. It's only a problem if it interferes with life.