Posts by StrongHaiku

3

The Truth vs Theories

by freemindfade in

i had a thought today, would so many people sign the witness version of the billion year contract if instead of calling everything (even the religion) "the truth", they were more like science and called it "theories".

it's funny because "the truth" changes all the time, where as really the truth does not.

in science you say something is a theory it can change and become more accurate (new light), .

StrongHaiku

Definitely a good thread topic. I would offer this...

"A scientific theory is a well-substantiated explanation of some aspect of the natural world, based on a body of facts that have been repeatedly confirmed through observation and experiment. Such fact-supported theories are not "guesses" but reliable accounts of the real world."

I would not want to dignify what the WTBS provides by calling it a "theory" (in the same par as scientific theories). I think, what they often propose is a "guess" (or maybe a "hypothesis" at best). From my perspective, they have yet to provide the evidence to graduate their "guesses" into "theories". If anything, what they have provided often negates their own hypothesis. Just a thought...

53

Spirituality

by Jonathan Drake in

if you are a current practitioner of some religious faith i would appreciate it if you abstained from this thread entirely.

im curious if anyone has had what could be discribed as a spiritual experience.

i'm currently reading sam harris book waking up and it's very good so far.

StrongHaiku

Abraham Maslow originally described the concept of a "peak experience" as an "...overwhelming sense of pleasure, euphoria or joy, a deep sense of wonder or awe, feeling in harmony or at one with the universe, altered percepts of time and/or space, a deep feeling of love, greater awareness of beauty or appreciation, and a sense that it would be difficult or impossible to describe adequately in words."

Many years ago, when I was a JW serving the Organization, I would have described my moments of the above as "spirituality".

Now, all I need to do to feel the same way is look through a telescope at Jupiter, kiss my girlfriend, or watch "Superman: The Movie". I feel basically the same thing today but I no longer use the word "spiritual". Maybe simply "awesome" says it all without needing to add any supernatural baggage. My feelings didn't change, but I now attribute those feelings to how Nature works and how wonderfully (and flawed) my brain is wired.

31

Catch phrases used by the GB

by stuckinarut2 in

i read a comment on another thread that made me think of this topic.. how many catchphrases are used by the gb and organisation in an attempt to control or gain power or prevent questioning?

feel free to list as many as you can think of!.

i'll start:.

StrongHaiku

The word "Evidently..." followed by a statement that had no evidence to support it.

“You Keep Using That Word, I Do Not Think It Means What You Think It Means" The Princess Bride

70

If They Stopped Shunning Tomorrow?

by cofty in

imagine that the cult decided to stop shunning family members on the proviso that the dfd person was not actively trying to attack the cult.. (please don't debate whether or not this is likely - it's hypothetical).

how would you respond to your family?.

personally i think i would be less than cooperative.

StrongHaiku

I tend to change my mind on this from day to day on what I would do if my family was to stop shunning me. Some days I think I would be so happy that I would forget all of the past like some reversed "Prodigal Son" scenario were the joy of the moment melts away all of the anger and pain. Some days I think that I would be prudent and wise to put them through the same rigorous and protracted re-instantement procedure that the JW put the DF'ed members through to make sure they will not do it again.

Over the weekend, my uncle who is a JW, passed away. I only found out about it last night and not directly from my family. I am not invited to the funeral. And, my attempts to reach out to convey condolences and help have been rebuffed.

So, today, I am struggling on which way I would go if the rules changed.

44

August 2015 WT - Let's Review the BS Children

by InjusticeSystem in

found these gems in this edition:.

- keep in expectation!- prepare now for life in the new worldthe passing of time should not cause us to lose hope thatkingdom blessings will be realized.

there are solid reasonsto keep our scriptural expectations alive.

StrongHaiku

"How could we prepare for that change?"

How about asking all JWs to become vegetarians now. And, for extra points maybe stop using technology, driving cars, hunting animals (I knew a number of brothers who did), learn how to build houses (at the very least how to use a shovel), survival training, etc. I mean, if you really want to get ready for the New System there is a long list of practical things the JWs could do. No?

I found the article to be a very cynical and transparent for getting the R&F to work harder and sacrifice more by making a game of make believe out of it. Sad...

27

Why do people "come back"?

by kairos in

jw
friends

i know of several examples of ones that "left the truth" for up to 20 years, only to suffer through the reinstatement process and feel like they are finally back on track.. how does this happen?.

i personally know of one example where a father of three, leaves jws, abandons wife and family, lives as a gay man then comes back 20 years later as a partaking member of the anointed..

StrongHaiku

My brother went back after being out ~15 years. Our younger sister died suddenly about 5 years ago. I believe this was one of the key catalysts. But I think the main reason he was susceptible to being pulled back is that, in those 15 years he was out, he did not take time to replace what he had believed with a more secular, critical, and scientific view of the world. In addition, during that time, he never did any research to question the "Organization" and what he had believed.

In short, in those 15 years he had not replaced a vacuum that had remained when he left the JWs. And, when my sister passed away, he went back to the only thing he knew.

17

Creative writing query..

by DATA-DOG in

jw
friends

i am working on a writing project.

just give me your opinion on this subject.

if you worked for your respective government and you were tasked with doomsday preparations, what would you decide to save for future generations?

StrongHaiku

One of my favorite quotes from the great physicist and teacher Richard Feynman:

"If, in some cataclysm, all of scientific knowledge were to be destroyed, and only one sentence passed on to the next generation of creatures, what statement would contain the most information in the fewest words? I believe it is the atomic hypothesis (or the atomic fact, or whatever you wish to call it) that all things are made of atoms — little particles that move around in perpetual motion, attracting each other when they are a little distance apart, but repelling upon being squeezed into one another. In that one sentence, you will see, there is an enormous amount of information about the world, if just a little imagination and thinking are applied."

102

A couple questions for atheists on Suffering

by little_Socrates in

who told you that the world should be free from suffering?.

do you find any value in suffering?.

do you think it is possible to experience all the beauty and goodness and pleasure the world offers without also experiencing the bad?

StrongHaiku

Who told you that the world should be free from suffering?

Jehovah's Witnesses taught me that. They taught me that all suffering started with the original sin and someday we would all be free from it. They taught me that human imperfection, Satan, our lack of a direct relationship to God, etc. were to blame.

Now, I know better. As an atheist, I now know that there is suffering comes from a variety of sources; from an impersonal nature (e.g. earthquakes, hurricanes, diseases), bad people (e.g. selfishness, greed), bad circumstances (e.g. car accidents), bad decisions, etc.

As an atheist, I hold to the idea that if we really want to make the world "free from suffering" it will be up to the human species to do so. This would take a lot of work and a lot of time and a lot of resources. We make progress and sometimes we take three steps forward and two steps back. And, ultimately some problems may not be solvable. Regardless, I have no illusion that addressing suffering will be taken care of by anyone but us.

9

Watchtower switching to selling children's toys that have corporation approval

by Brokeback Watchtower in

hey put a good video out about the evil toys on the market and the possibility of making jehovah very very sad by having these things in your house and demons start to party on your sofa.

then wait a couple of weeks and offer a entire line of acceptable toys and charge the hypnotized families a stiff price/suggested contribution.

could make a few million and help pay off some of these child molestation lawsuits.. i can just see tony morris singing 'rubber ducky' and offering the latest marketing scam of a toy that don't make jehovah so sad.

StrongHaiku

I would not put it past the GB to find new and creative ways to milk the cash cow...

27

Spock is dead

by hoser in

jw
friends

leonard nimoy is no longer with us

StrongHaiku

He was such a big part of making me feel ok when I was growing up, coming to a new country, and leaving the JWs. His character of Spock was such a fine calibration during difficult times. And, he made logic and science a wonderful thing to aspire to. And, his character resonated with me as the outcast trying to understand the people and world around him. I think he will live in many of us for years to come. What a fine legacy.

When I heard about it this morning, I wrote this Haiku in his honor:

"Star Trek gave me hope

Mankind would someday grow up

And reach for the stars"

Live long and prosper, fellow travelers...