Posts by logansrun

39

Happy about having been a JW?

by Brummie in

are you happy to have been a jw?

is there a constructive side in it all for you?

or do you wish you had never seen their culty smiles?.

Sure, there were happy moments. I was raised in the JWs and cannot truthfully say that it was completely backward. I still grew up loving Star Wars and eating pizza, but the bad, over-all, outweighs the good.

I must say that I appreciate a few things about my JW experience that are directly as a result of being a JW. For starters, I have almost no fear of public speaking -- at all. Even though I was spewing out twisted JW doctrine (I tried to make it sound logical and fun), I at least had the opportunity to speak in front of an audience two or three times a month. Plus, pioneering for seven years helped me develop my one-on-one speaking skills. I also learned a great deal about the Bible (however a parochial view that was) and organizational procedures in general. I'm also thankful for the friendships I had when I was in, even though they are lost now.

On the other hand, practically everything I just mentioned could be said about a number of other religious groups, like the Mormons. Also, there were plenty of things that I didn't get to do that I'm paying for now.

Once history takes it's course it's hard to try and imagine a re-write of it.

Bradley

48

Your favorite Watchtower oddities

by logansrun in

you know, there are some things phrased that are just so, so....watchtoweresque.

what are some things you see that remind you of some wt foibles?

one thing that always cracks me up is when an article or book (or post) uses too many exclamation points.

logansrun

You know, there are some things phrased that are just so, so....Watchtoweresque. What are some things you see that remind you of some WT foibles? One thing that always cracks me up is when an article or book (or post) uses too many exclamation points. I asked an acquaintence of mine who used to study what he thought of the magazines, and that was the first thing out of his mouth! Funny religion, eh?

Bradley

19

Bought 'True Believer" and 'Illusions'

by Satanus in

jw
friends

i bought 'the true believer' by eric hoffer, and 'illusions' by richard bach (started reading it).

among other things i did, i also bought a pound of starbucks coffee, and watched the sunset.

not a bad day.

logansrun

"True Believer" was excellent. Also, check out Michael Shermer's "How We Believe" for another good post-JW book.

Take care,

Bradley

14

For you ol' timers: How has the WT changed in your view?

by logansrun in

jw
friends

how have the publications changed over the years, in your opinion?

do you feel that they are more "politically correct" now than in the past?

what about writing style?

logansrun

Garybuss,

Succinctly put, and I think I know exactly what you mean.

B

42

JWs and the problem of Creation en toto

by logansrun in

jehovah's witnesses will often scoff with scornful disdain at young earth creationists for believing that the "days" in genesis are literal and that the entire universe is only about 6 to 10 thousand years old.

what about the ages of rocks measured in the millions?

light from stars millions of light years away?

logansrun

Hooberus,

And I am glad you were there when God had to "put" the Sun and moon in the sky, and "put" the rainbow in the air after the flood so it would remind him never to destroy the earth again. I'm glad you were there to confirm all that.

B

42

JWs and the problem of Creation en toto

by logansrun in

jehovah's witnesses will often scoff with scornful disdain at young earth creationists for believing that the "days" in genesis are literal and that the entire universe is only about 6 to 10 thousand years old.

what about the ages of rocks measured in the millions?

light from stars millions of light years away?

logansrun

Um, yes, Hooberus; it is.

38

When The Circuit Overseer Visited, Why Did You Do More Than Usual?

by minimus in

jw
friends

was it pressure, the desire to conform, was it because you thought that you could work in service with him???

were you trying to get appointed?

did you really think it was a "special week of activity"?

logansrun

I tried not to suck up to the CO too much. Sometimes people were so blatent about it, though. There were two pioneer couples in one hall I was at and they practically owned the CO's time whenever he came around. They were at all the weeks lunches no matter whose house it was at (how did they always get invited). Of course, this was the most cult-like congregation I was at...other's weren't as bad.

Bradley

42

JWs and the problem of Creation en toto

by logansrun in

jehovah's witnesses will often scoff with scornful disdain at young earth creationists for believing that the "days" in genesis are literal and that the entire universe is only about 6 to 10 thousand years old.

what about the ages of rocks measured in the millions?

light from stars millions of light years away?

logansrun

Vailis,

Haha...I try and appear smarter than I actually am sometimes by throwing around some Latin phrases I've managed to pick up. En toto means, essentially, in totality or complete (I knew you were joking about this, though).

Yes, Eve created out of a rib after God has to physically cut Adam open, remove the rib, and sew him back up. Why not just use your special God powers to transport (ala Star Trek) the rib from Adams chest so you don't have to go through the nasty business of actully slicing him open? Gee, why even make Eve out of a rib at all?

Maybe, just maybe, this is a story some Jew thought up after having a bad goat for breakfast.

Bradley

42

JWs and the problem of Creation en toto

by logansrun in

jehovah's witnesses will often scoff with scornful disdain at young earth creationists for believing that the "days" in genesis are literal and that the entire universe is only about 6 to 10 thousand years old.

what about the ages of rocks measured in the millions?

light from stars millions of light years away?

logansrun

Jehovah's Witnesses will often scoff with scornful disdain at young earth creationists for believing that the "days" in Genesis are literal and that the entire universe is only about 6 to 10 thousand years old. What about the ages of rocks measured in the millions? Light from stars millions of light years away? This is absolute proof for an old earth and universe. So the JWs say, and of course, I agree (but, I'm an evolutionist, hehe).

The young earth response is that God created the stars and earth with the appearance of age, so this scientific proof is no proof at all. Talk about a massive violation of Okham's Razor! Anyway, most astute JWs would say that this young earth view is seriously misguided and quite absurd. But, how different is the JW view of creation?

Jehovah's Witnesses believe that Adam was created out of clay by God and made into a fully-developed adult male. The same could basically be said with Eve and all the other myriad creations: they were all created fully formed with the appearance of age. Obviously, this would have included thoughts and language in the mind of Adam, for he was able to communicate with God without going through the natural development of human beings. Ditto for Eve. Strange, very strange.

So, how much more "scientific" is the JW interpretation of things as opposed to the young-earth model? They both believe that God created things fully formed with the appearance of age which wasn't actually there. Shame on the WT for thinking themselves better than the traditional creationist numskils.

Just a little thought,

Bradley

14

For you ol' timers: How has the WT changed in your view?

by logansrun in

jw
friends

how have the publications changed over the years, in your opinion?

do you feel that they are more "politically correct" now than in the past?

what about writing style?

logansrun

On the question about illustrations of destruction...does anyone notice if the WT is depicting less dramatic destruction of urban settings since 9-11 ?