Posts by DJS

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

DJS

Another example:

Consider Maslow's hierarchy and the Myers Briggs Personalty Type Indicator. There are 4 major personality types, and Guardians make up almost half of the total. Artisans and Idealists? Not so much. That is exactly what would be predicted when you consider the struggles to pass along DNA that have existed for 100,000 years. Those with the personality type to protect themselves and their offspring, and excel at safety/security/food (the bottom rungs of Maslow's hierarchy) would be the 'fittest' in the early parts of the homo-sapien journey (and get the girls).

Civilization likely had to be more firmly stablished before idealists and artisans, who sit at the top of Maslow's pyramid in the self-actualization categories, could flourish - and live long enough to pass along their DNA (and get the girls).

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

DJS

An example: The poison used to kill cockroaches worked effectively for a while. It was laced with sugar to make it more appealing to the cockroaches. The cockroaches who did not like sugar didn't eat it; the ones that liked sugar, the majority, did and died.

After a few generations, in cockroach land that's a short time period, the majority of cockroaches had the gene for an aversion to sugar and the poison didn't work because they wouldn't eat it.

It would be nice to think that the cockroaches talked with each other, sent out bulletins, talked with each other on their tiny cell phones, etc. to avoid the damned sugar, but the reality of it is the 'fittest' cockroaches, in this instance those with the fairly rare aversion to sugar, survived, and the others died.

I sometimes use the same expressions about adapting, but I don't mean it in the same context.

46

How did you get through mind numbing meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as an elder, i used to find a legitimate reason to wander.

DJS

Bull Sh** Bingo is awesome! I'm only pis**d that I didn't think of it!! And Rebel8, girl you rock. We can see why you picked your screen name.

One thing I noticed during my Borgian days: There is a huge difference between being bored, which I was for most of the years within the cult, and reaching the point where you know it is BS and that the FDS/GB are evil, dark hearted, control freaks. The meetings for me, once I reached this point, became surreal. Every control related comment, and there are always many at any cult meeting, felt like a knife in my brain.

46

How did you get through mind numbing meetings?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as an elder, i used to find a legitimate reason to wander.

DJS

My experience tracks closely to WasAnElder's. For years the meetings bored me. I jumped in with all fours when I began 'reaching out.' Once I became disillusioned with the Dark Lords and their draconian control the meetings were agony. Unless I had a part I started arriving just on time, leaving early or as soon as it was over, walking around or observing others - anything to pass the time. And with each passing month the Dark Lords made the meetings more canned and scripted. And boring. I understand it is even worse now.

Just shoot me.

35

Wow, the forum is very slow

by FlyingHighNow in

jw
friends

i know that logging in has been a problem for some.

i hardly post any more.

i figured there would be more activity than this.

DJS

Simon,

I like the changes but understand others' issues. I only have one, and you may have already addressed this. Is the number of views ticker still available? I miss that feature.

7

My life by the numbers..

by myway2007 in

i have enjoyed this site long enough, that i thought it was time to start giving back.

it's been a reflective few days as i tried to quantify the passage of time.

how time flies.... i turn 55 this year- and life is amazing!it was last year i reached out to one of my siblings via email to see if i could visit my mom beforeshe passes as she is over 90 now and the response i got was that it was too painful for herto see me until "i do the right thing"it was 5 years ago that i was able to finally become whole from all the anger and pain and normalize my life.it was 33 years ago that i was df'd.

DJS

Thank you for sharing your story. Another ex-Dub success story!! And welcome to the forum.

15

No Black or woman became Pope or WT President—reveals what?

by abiather in

sending a messenger nearly 2000 years in advance to preach the coming of gods kingdom, and leaving the message to be carried out by his followers who would practice just the opposite of his message [eg.

catholics cannot accept a pope if he is from a black community or if sex is female, just like jws could not tolerate a black/woman wt president, which is in sharp contrast to what jesus himself practicedhe showed no partiality with regard to sex or communityhe elevated a samaritan woman sharing with her great truth, even before he did it with his own male-disciplesjohn chapter 4].

claiming something as his own, and then allowing it to decay do not befit gods superlative style!.

DJS

Cofty,

Not as egregious as the entire sentence you quote. It hurts to read. I've read and re-read it and haven't a clue what Abiathar is trying to say. At least he used the word 'suggests,' which suggests he is learning from us rationals. There is hope yet.

50

My mother says I should just DA already.

by Julia Orwell in

cut the cord.

sever all ties.

start new.. and she's right.

DJS

Julia,

I'm very sorry to hear about your continuing anguish with this cult. Most of us understand exactly what you are going through. One thing I've learned over the years is never to make a difficult or important decision when I was in emotional turmoil, very angry, hurt, etc. DAiing may be the best for you; I'm just not sure it is the best right now. Only you will eventually know that. A calm, rational, un-hurt Julia can make a better decision.

Having said that, I agree with others than counseling is a must right now. You need to talk to someone about this hate filled dangerous cult and what it has done to you.

Good luck Julia

15

Truth behind the arrogance

by abiather in

in our personal lives we have experienced that it is the inner elements (thoughts, feelings, emotions ...) that ultimately influence a relationships rather the outer elements (what we say or do)!

these inner elements are more powerful and faster than the outer elements!.

when i was with jws, it is their stubbornness and arrogance that i felt more than the outer elements.

DJS

@Abiathar: "Truth by definition is that which remains forever, that which never changes, hence by its very nature is self-evident--is in no need to be endorsed by Faithful and Discreet Slave nor by anyone else (this is what I meant by external agency)"

WTF kind of dictionary are you using? From Merriam Webster online:

truth : the real facts about something : the things that are true; the quality or state of being true; a statement or idea that is true or accepted as true

a (1) : the state of being the case : fact (2) : the body of real things, events, and facts : actuality (3) often capitalized : a transcendent fundamental or spiritual reality

b : a judgment, proposition, or idea that is true or accepted as true <truths of thermodynamics>

c : the body of true statements and propositions

70

Be nice to theists - they are victims of their genes

by cofty in

identical twin studies show there is a strong inheritable component to religiosity.

thomas bouchard studied identical and fraternal twins raised apart and tested them on religious attitudes.. the correlation for the former turned out to be 62% compared to just 2% for the latter.

his colleague.

DJS

It's a strong correlation, not a pre-destination, cause and effect, as we have stated. Nurture continues to play a big part, including education and experience. You aren't locked in at conception.