Posts by DJS

176

JW refuses to provide wedding stationery to Gay couple

by KateWild in

i was outraged at this and had to post it.. http://jehovahswitnessreport.com/blog/jw-refuses-to-provide-wedding-stationery-to-gay-couple.

i think she is a hypocrite and i bet she sells her invites to fornicators, or does she ask them if they are having sex before marrige, before she takes their money?.

i was never like this when i was a jw, it's even more disturbing that she is going to ask her elders what to do.

DJS

From the 1950s:

“Almighty God created the races white, black, yellow, malay and red, and he placed them on separate continents. And but for the interference with his arrangement there would be no cause for such marriages. The fact that he separated the races shows that he did not intend for the races to mix.”

– Judge Leon M. Bazile, January 6, 1959

From 2014:

"The U.S. Supreme Court rejected an appeal Monday from a studio that refused to photograph a lesbian couple's commitment ceremony, letting stand a New Mexico high court ruling that helped spur a national debate over gay rights and religious freedom.

The justices left in place a unanimous state Supreme Court ruling last year that said Elane Photography violated New Mexico's Human Rights Act by refusing to photograph the same-sex ceremony "in the same way as if it had refused to photograph a wedding between people of different races."

We had a similar discussion a few months ago on this topic. I posted a summary of a business' rights and desires and those of the US and similar democracies. Look it up. Those of you thinking that these types of discriminatory practices have any place or those conducting such practices any rights in constituional democracies such as the US and Brtain don't understand how these things work. And that includes the parrotheads on Fox News.

22

What's the difference between exJWs who FLOURISH and those that don't?

by Fernando in

jw
friends

quite a few here on jwn seem to have grown and developed in leaps and bounds, sometimes beyond their wildest dreams.. others seem to still be struggling.. what do you think makes it possible to flourish?.

the degree to which our mind has been liberated from watchtower thinking?.

if so, this seems to happen in many different ways, so what is the secret?.

DJS

Fernando, I like this OP. I'm interested to see where it goes. I don't know if there are any secrets, and like most complicated issues there are likely a variety of reasons and causes. But as it is with most things there are likely a few things which show up routinely in the more successful, the happiest, etc.

So I will prime the pump. Many studies suggest there is a strong correlation between the happiest - and most functional economically and socially- countries in the world and the least religious countries in the world. The same correlation exists between the happiest and most functional and the least religious states. Many studies suggest there is a strong correlation between IQ and religion; the 'smartest' countries in the world tend to be the least religious.

So whether the measuring stick is happiness or success, maximizing one's brain power and energy towards achievable, realistic life goals seems to be a primary component. It isn't my goal to turn your OP into yet another us against them, theist/atheist OP, but the data seems clear, especially in the developed world.

As for me, I'm one of those on this site who has to pinch themselves from time to time to remind myself of all the things I have experienced and accomplished since exiting the Borg. None of those things would have occurred if I had kept my brain and energy wrapped up in a religious belief system. You can google the tenets for success. A focused mindset with vision and creativity and positive energy are near the top of all of the lists. When we were in the Borg, our focus and energy were on a fairy tale paradise. IMHO too many are still meandering around attempting to replace the fairy tale with yet another.

144

Escaping Indoctrination - Faith Isn't a Virtue.

by cofty in

the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".

persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.

"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.

DJS

Well stated DisArmed,

I have that kind of faith in my friends and children. I would give my life for my best friend, without hesitation, and I think he knows that. But faith in something imaginary, make believe, irrational, that has done nothing but trap me for most of my youth??? Never again.

144

Escaping Indoctrination - Faith Isn't a Virtue.

by cofty in

the unknown writer of the gospel of john put the following words in jesus' mouth, "blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.".

persuading countless generations that it is a virtue to believe incredible things on insufficient evidence, is one of religion's cleverest tricks.. the more incredible the claim; the more flimsy the evidence; the stronger the belief; the greater the virtue.. this is the exact opposite of how we operate in every other aspect of our lives.. rational people must demand objective evidence for everything they are asked to believe.

"extraordinary claims demand extraordinary evidence".. leaving the dogmatic claims of the watchtower is only a first step.

DJS

Cofty,

Ditto about exposing one's self to the very best arguments for and against personal beliefs. Anyone who has obtained a master's degree has likely completed a thesis or major research paper that requires something called a review of the literature. A PhD typically requires it. And by a review of the literature it isn't talking about Harry Potter or Wikipedia; it is a requirement that the student closely evaluate all of the academic 'evidence' that exists on the question or hyothesis they are trying to answer or address. This should include all of the data, not just that which supports the student's premise. I've referred to it previously as a 360 degree analysis of a subject.

That is the only way someone will truly learn a subject, and it certainly is the only way someone can learn it well enough to teach it to others at the college level (you may get away with it in high school or grade school). But it requires an open mind and a true desire to find the truth, or as much as possible, about a topic. Dubs and ex-Dubs, from what I can see from being on this site for about a year, don't seem to understand that. The same mind-set that trapped them in the Borg seems to follow them along in life. Or leads them rather. Snare and Oubilette, who I understand is a science teacher, know this well. It also takes humility, as you often find that cherished 'beliefs' fall by the wayside when the stark cold facts of a matter are revealed.

All of us should have been humbled by our Borg experience. What we thought with all of our minds and hearts turned out to be pure rubbish. It's a shame we don't see more humility and desire to truly learn something on this site.

32

The Rants of a Dumbass Elder Still Serving

by TTATTelder in

ok in the effort of full disclosure, i have had a couple of drinks and recently experienced a circuit assembly and a bad experience with a co.. i don't know where to effing begin.

first of all the circuit assembly was a joke.

half the assembly was about pioneering and selling your soul to be a no-pay salesman for the borg.

DJS

TTATT,

You describe what I was going through my last year or so in the Borg when I was sick of it, serving as an elder but did not realize it was a cult and was anything but the truth. I couldn't hide my disgust for it, and I don't see how you can either. My hat is off to you. Good luck keeping it all inside without exploding or harming your health.

78

I was "totally" stopped in my tracks by an "atheist" comment.

by booker-t in

i must admit i can at times be a little "egotistical" when it comes to knowledge and the bible.

i have studied the bible for so long and have always had a passion for the bible as a jw and as an ex-jw.

i guess that is all i have left when it comes to religion and as humans we do tend to stroke our egos.

DJS

Ag,

Gotcha. My bad for not following along more closely. All apologies.

15

Wine Appreciation

by FL_Panthers in

for the love wine.. .

what are you drinking at the moment?.

DJS

FP,

Again, nice OP. You are on a roll, dude. I'm having a wine/cheese party tonight to show off my house, art and hot girl. Any suggestions for wines?

78

I was "totally" stopped in my tracks by an "atheist" comment.

by booker-t in

i must admit i can at times be a little "egotistical" when it comes to knowledge and the bible.

i have studied the bible for so long and have always had a passion for the bible as a jw and as an ex-jw.

i guess that is all i have left when it comes to religion and as humans we do tend to stroke our egos.

DJS

Ag,

An average difference of 6 IQ points per individual is statistically significant, as the researchers pointed out.

78

I was "totally" stopped in my tracks by an "atheist" comment.

by booker-t in

i must admit i can at times be a little "egotistical" when it comes to knowledge and the bible.

i have studied the bible for so long and have always had a passion for the bible as a jw and as an ex-jw.

i guess that is all i have left when it comes to religion and as humans we do tend to stroke our egos.

DJS

Phiz,

Great question. Goggle it. There are a lot of good studies on intelligence. Once thought to be static, researchers now know that IQ is malleable and can change with age, better nutrition, improved education, etc. The answer to your question seems to be both.

78

I was "totally" stopped in my tracks by an "atheist" comment.

by booker-t in

i must admit i can at times be a little "egotistical" when it comes to knowledge and the bible.

i have studied the bible for so long and have always had a passion for the bible as a jw and as an ex-jw.

i guess that is all i have left when it comes to religion and as humans we do tend to stroke our egos.

DJS

To Booker T's credit, he did make it to step 3.5, as he has intense bible learnin'. But for cripes sake, didn't all of us have intense bible learnin' when we were in the Borg? To act like that means something upon our exit from the cult slays me. Booker T: Expand your intense bible learnin' knowledge of which you are so proud to include a complete 360 degree study and analysis of all things religious.

Then, after you have completed your studies, come back on here and tell me what type of frame you want for your official atheist certificate.