Posts by DJS

18

A coming out story to my mother.

by JennyBoo in

so i actually came out to my mother a few days ago.

told her how i really felt about being a jw (jehovah's witness) and how i wasn't straight.

i wasn't surprised by the disapproving response i got because really, i wasn't expecting any more.

DJS

JennyBoo,

Welcome. Live your life to the full and let no one judge you. I hope you stick around and participate in our lovely forum.

10

Do the Chinese think they will soon take over the World? This is an official response

by fulltimestudent in

lot's of people believe that china will soon be a super-power.

while its true that roughly 400 million chinese have attained a living standard approximating the usa, there is still another 700 million who have not.. every year, some 100 million chinese take overseas holidays.

and, many millions of chinese live overseas, either as students or as representatives of chinese companies.. but of the 700 million who have not achieved something like western prosperity, some 90 million still live in poverty, leaving 610 million struggling between poverty and a low level of prosperity.. until they can live more comfortably, the chinese government must focus on building a more prosperous nation.. .

DJS

Thanks Bobcat,

We have pointed out all of Forbes' list with the exception of No. 1 in previous OPs about this topic. I don't recall anyone bringing that one up. As I've pointed out, the obsession with China seems to come from those who want to bring attention to themselves in a 'you heard it hear first' manner or who simply want someone to read their article. Military leaders have a vested interest in painting China with ominous overtones. Duh.

And then there are the religious who are keenly looking for the next King of the North. Economics is a very complicated topic; when your are considering global macroeconomic policy, application it becomes even more complicated. And when you consider socio-economic issues along with all of this it becomes mind numbingly complicated. That's why they give Nobel Prizes to economists who develop theories and models that work.

The Forbes article left out a lot of the details and some of the other major issues that we have briefly discussed in previous OPs about this, but it doesn't seem to stop the confirmationally biased amongst us from continuing to post nonsense. Well, it does seem to have slowed it down a bit. Thanks again.

36

Do You Think President Obama Is Muslim?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i really think that he is.

not that it's a bad thing...

DJS

Don't know, don't care. However, I do not think he is a Muslim for one second. The right wing nut cases spin everything in his past to make him appear sinister, just as the left wing nut cases try to make right wing pols appear sinister, which is one of the reasons I am apolitical. Paul Kengor tells me Obama is a Communist because his mentor, Frank Marshall. who was selected by his white grandfather to mentor young Barack for the purest of motives, had Communistic leanings.

Donald Trump tells me that the birther rumors are true, even though the overwhelming evidence says different.

And other right wing nut jobs tell me he is a Muslim because of his father.

If you read Obama's history, he is a child of the planet, having lived around the disadvantaged at a young age and the advantaged later in life. I'm with Cappytan, he is likely an atheist, but that is death to a politician.

25

My Mission is over!

by abiather in

when i understood, jws are wrong in some vital areas [eg.

woman being viewed secondary, refusal to greet those differing with them ....], but right in other vital areas [such as their teaching that human rule is doomed, and will be replaced by gods rule], i began a diligent search for the right organization.

my search ended with brahmakumaris.

DJS

Abiathar,

Your reason for being on this site, though predictable, disgusts me. Your arrogance and narcissism will likely eventually lead to your finding fault with the BKs, at which time you will find yet another, even more special, more exclusive group to hang with for a while. One that you just know has the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

After a few more iterations mathematically speaking there will be about 7 or 8 of you guys on the planet, the only ones with special knowledge, the only ones favored by god and the only ones with the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

19

End of the world—How and When—explained scientifically!

by abiather in

end of the worldhow and whenexplained scientifically!.

problem with humans is that they dont learn from mistakes.

their greed has already spoiled air and water, and brought global warming which would ultimately sink most of the inhabited earth!.

DJS

Excuse me, I don't mean to intrude on yet another one of Abiather's nonsensical OPs. But am I reading this correctly? Did Abiather just refer to himself in third person (illeism)?

"Forget about Abiather. Think of the issue he raises!"

52

The beginning of the end for shunning?

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the borg seem to prepare for changes by missing explanations out for a while then presenting a "new understanding" which doesn't contradict the most recent discussion.check out the most recent references to gog - no identification as satan.. in today's wt study, paragraph 15 concerning benefitting from the prodigal son stated "if we meet a person who has strayed from the congregation, will we offer loving and practical help to assist him to return?

" there is no footnote or other qualifier saying not to go to disfellowshipped ones (who are definitely the ones being talked about) which is still the official policy.

i know this isn't an ending to shunning, but it may signal the start of the preparation for a change.

DJS

We see these 'kinder and gentler Dark Lords" OPs every couple of months. It is fun to play what if. This is what i know. Feel free to de-construct:

The Dark Lords love the following in order of most to least important:

Control - It is common for those in control, whether it is the Dark Lords, politicians, Clergy, CEOs, the Head Coach or the local Boyscout leader, to do pretty much anything in order to hold on to or strengthen their control. Human nature I suppose, so the Dark Lords aren't much different than others in this regard. But they love control more than they love air. It is their drug of choice, first and last IMHO, and their ultimate "Precious."

Money - As far back as you care to look, the Dark Lords equated enough $ with god's approval. I doubt that has changed any, and I doubt if it ever will. They seem to have taken on an almost Gollum-like affinity to their shiny Precious -es. They almost certainly rationalize/justify their affinity for Precious-es with the same reasoning that CT and the rest of the old school Dark Lords used. It is a sign the lord is with them. From what many of you describe - the greedy grab of the $ from the congregations' tills, etc. they may have even ramped up their obsession with Precious-es.

Growth- Like Paul (I think it was Paul I'm so bible rusty), they often look at the growth as evident of their bona fides, their credentials. Not that they actually give a fukk about any of the rank and file, but they do love numbers, and they use growth, any growth, to spur on the rank and file in zeal.

So can/will the Dark Lords evolve into being White Lords? I don't know; anything I suppose is possible, but the scenarios that would make this occur would almost all have to include something akin to Gollum chewing off his own leg and arm before giving up control and then and only then as a last resort. The Dark Lords clearly are making some things easier from what you all say - lower hours for pioneers, etc., but in the same manner they appear to be ramping up control in some areas that have the potential for some really dark and scary times ahead for the rank and file. There appears to be trouble in Mordor as seen from a distance.

Having said all of that, I cannot see any scenario that would include abolishing DFing. That is the ultimate control, and without it the mean, nasty, vile apostates - us in other words - would/could have free access to run amok amongst the Hobbitses, creating turmoil and chaos in the Shire. And causing the Dark Lords to lose control, the one thing that is truly their Precious.

110

Four Blood Moons might be significant

by CharlieSmith1975 in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqzhnx7xma.

the bible does say that the "day of jehovah" (armageddon) would be associated with the sun becoming dark followed by the moon turning to blood.

but the moon turning to blood is specific to a total lunar eclipse.

DJS

LoveUniHateExams,

Ditto. I'm surprised Simon let it stay.

15

REASON demands belief in God

by abiather in

it has been the history of mankind that they proceed from the crude to the subtle in all spheres of life: they seek the subtle amidst the crude, and in the subtle, they seek the subtlest.

when hunger is extinguished, humans looked for art.

ancient humans appreciated the harmony of music; they also liked to dance in joy.

DJS

Abiathar,

The years after my post-Borg experience, when I was trying to figure things out both on a personal and existential level, and after reading and studying all of the major philosophies in the world, I came to one conclusion. The most powerful forces in the universe are personal accountability and personal responsibility.

Nothing is more powerful. And because of that discovery (practiced successfully BTW by some of the great leaders of our day including the head coach of the NE Patriots), leaving behind theism and any belief in god was so much easier.

I control my destiny and fate. Even if problems arise or barriers get in the way, the only thing that eventually matters is what I choose to do with the problems and how I choose to solve them - with my own energy, resources and intelligence. Rarely if ever can any of us control others or our environment, but we can control our preparation and response, rather than tepidly, flaccidly and passively waiting on some imaginary being to solve our problems. That mindset, a religious mindset, keeps the human species from evolving and advancing, and it is counter-intuitive and runs completely opposite of your drivel.

I can likely thank the Dark Lords in part for helping me to that conclusion, and I will never ever again allow anyone or any institution to control me or take away that power, including imaginary deities.

Those are the best lessons any father or leader can pass along. Religion and a belief in deities are the opiate of the masses, ensuring we will remain barely above our sub-human primate cousins, happily partaking of its mind numbing drug inducing effects, until the damaging cycle is broken.

What you preach and espouse is nothing but a trap to keep us at the lower rungs of the evolutionary ladder. As I've pointed out before, Believing or Faith is the second lowest rung of the five rungs, barely ahead of Feeling and way, way behind Thinking, Knowing and Proving (the Evidence based). You and those like you would keep us trapped at the bottom of the evolutionary ladder forever.

110

Four Blood Moons might be significant

by CharlieSmith1975 in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqzhnx7xma.

the bible does say that the "day of jehovah" (armageddon) would be associated with the sun becoming dark followed by the moon turning to blood.

but the moon turning to blood is specific to a total lunar eclipse.

DJS

I'm with FadingAway,

Go in peace Charlie, and live your life to the full. Don't look back and be proud of who you are. Except for the religious nutcase stuff. Otherwise, let no one judge you my friend.

110

Four Blood Moons might be significant

by CharlieSmith1975 in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kuqzhnx7xma.

the bible does say that the "day of jehovah" (armageddon) would be associated with the sun becoming dark followed by the moon turning to blood.

but the moon turning to blood is specific to a total lunar eclipse.

DJS

Thanks WMF!