Posts by DJS

if you watched the questioning of terrence o'brien by angus stewart at day 7 part 3 on youtube--thanks so much for uploading these videos--you'll see that mr. stewart puts quite clearly to brother o'brien that the jw 0rganization is a "captive organization".. he makes this reference regarding the practice of da/df'ing and shunning, which he mentions is the one thing that makes ex-jw's the most angry.

because insisting on shunning ex-members causes psychological trauma and separates people from their family, friends and their community of support; therefore, they are held captive by the organization if they don't want to lose those most dear to them.. i believe angus stewart is to be commended for seeing clearly what the wt/jw religion is truly like in practice, and it isn't pretty.. the term "captive organization" is usually used in finance to mean a business front, a legal veil that shields the parent company from liability and having to make big insurance payouts.

for example if the australian branch gets sued and loses, the "wt australia" corporation will pay the amount awarded by the judge to the complainant.

DJS

I'm sure Mr. Stewart knew this before the email I sent him last week, so I won't take credit for it as lots of ex-Dubs have likely sent him the same thing (below):

"Mr. Stewart,

I am humbled that you took the time to respond. I am certain you already know more about the JWs than most JWs, but just in case you don't I thought the following would be helpful in understanding how this religion works to control its members.

Since its inception early in the 20th Century, the governing members of the JWs have strongly discouraged higher education. This continues today. They reinforce the message routinely in meetings, conventions and in their literature. Members who do go to college are often viewed as weak and 'privileges' are restricted. As a result, JWs are typically the least educated - and rank last in household income - of all religions. Educated people are much more difficult to control and to keep quiet when things don't appear correct, as you know.

In addition, their shunning policy is used as a weapon to control members and discourage dissent. This is probably the most damaging aspect of this religion. Silence is golden to the governing members, so it shouldn't be so surprising they would allow/enable child abuse to occur for so many decades; I am very happy that you are helping to give a voice to those harmed by these men.

Nearly 2/3 of JWs born into the religion leave it. That number would most certainly be much higher if the hateful shunning policy was ended.

These are just a sample of the hateful policies implemented with an iron fist for so many years by these men. Thank you for giving a forum to some of those this religion has harmed.

Good luck sir."

579

Won't get fooled again ...Moon Landing.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

so i was fooled by the witnesses.

what can i learn from that?

not to accept things at face value but to seek out opinion and different view points.. hence my question " do you believe man landed on the moon?.

DJS

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

When astronomers from around the world want a precise measurement, they bounce lasers off of 1 of 3 retroreflectors left on the moon by Apollos 11, 14 and 15. They're exactly where NASA says they should be. Mythbusters demonstrates this before your very eyes.

This type of data should shut the brain dead theorists up, but it won't. And sir82, spot on.

82

Quality Thinking - Warning: Long Post Ahead

by Viviane in

recently, several threads have had some debate about logic, evidence, critical thinking and skepticism.

i wanted to write a post discussing those things, hopefully to clarify what those things are, why they are important and how to use those tools.

first, logic, at its core, is simply a method for how to reason validly, how to draw conclusions based on a premise.

DJS

I'm with Marvin,

As I've noted, I work each day to be more rational and a better empiricist. My DNA is in the way. I try to make my passion about doing the right thing and achieving the right goals and objectives rather than 'being' right. As long as I keep this in front of me, it is much easier to be an empiricist.

I struggle but each year gets easier. Spock, that pointy eared hob-goblin, could teach us all a thing or ten.

I try to reserve my emotions and passion for my children, friends, and beautiful things (art, places, girl parts - you know important stuff).

46

Instructions To Elders Re: Pursuing Higher Education

by baldeagle in

jw
friends

underlining is mine.. march 6, 2012 letter.

pursue divine education:some of our brothers are pursuing higher education, feeling that they can acquire a measure of financial security.

as you are aware, the educational system varies from country to country.

DJS

I want to throw up; projectile. These old men are sick and deserve all the bad things awaiting them.

579

Won't get fooled again ...Moon Landing.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

so i was fooled by the witnesses.

what can i learn from that?

not to accept things at face value but to seek out opinion and different view points.. hence my question " do you believe man landed on the moon?.

DJS

Prologos: There you are. We have been expecting you. There is no need to hide; there is a veritable feeding frenzy of theorists right now. Come on in, the water's fine. Theorists only bite rationals and empiricists, so you're safe: "Perhaps they retired on the hush money NASA had to pay after the successful fake?"

82

Quality Thinking - Warning: Long Post Ahead

by Viviane in

recently, several threads have had some debate about logic, evidence, critical thinking and skepticism.

i wanted to write a post discussing those things, hopefully to clarify what those things are, why they are important and how to use those tools.

first, logic, at its core, is simply a method for how to reason validly, how to draw conclusions based on a premise.

DJS

Thanks Viv,

Excellent information. Our ex-Dub friends won't get to this point until they first make up their minds they want to be empiricists and then work on not becoming entrenched in their thoughts and beliefs based on their feelings, beliefs and biases.

That, IMHO, is where higher education helps. It is difficult to get a Master's degree, and impossible to get a doctorate, without understanding and practicing the science of research. I had to do a Master's research project (a thesis essentially) in addition to all all day comp sequestered in a room where I had to regurgitate 2 1/2 years of information.

If you have a good review team (and most if not all of these people have PhD after their name) they will ruthlessly evaluate your question/hypothesis, review of the history of the subject to ensure you conducted a 360 degree evaluation of empirical studies - so that you avoid confirmation bias, the data tools you develop to ensure accuracy of the questions you ask and the responses you get, and every finding you present to them based on your conclusions/results/etc. As it should be.

The typical Dub and ex-Dub hasn't a clue what is involved in getting a Master's degree or a PhD. If they did, methinks they would be far less likely to be dumbasses about shit they no nothing about and have far more respect for those who do.

579

Won't get fooled again ...Moon Landing.

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

so i was fooled by the witnesses.

what can i learn from that?

not to accept things at face value but to seek out opinion and different view points.. hence my question " do you believe man landed on the moon?.

DJS

"bringing up topics on this debating board requires an advanced knowledge of the subject.....special qualification....I must read the rules."

A childish an immature statement by a feeler/perceiver, and not even effective as a wise-ass comment. Bringing up topics is vastly different than making definitive statements about topics for which the poster has no real knowledge and no experience. That's arrogance and narcissism. Respect debating protocols; know something about the topic or exercise self control and avoid the keyboard.

And Mark, feigning being rational while being a hard-core conspiracy theorist isn't lost on any of us. As Viv would say, own it. Your rationale is typically employed by theorists. Make a mistake, say something in error or in the heat of the moment - all the while trying to do the very best thing - and a theorist somewhere at some point in time will use it. You and those like you are predictable.