Posts by StrongHaiku

30

Re: Music at Theocratic Events

by pixel in

this is a crappy letter from the watchtower.

i'm only posting it to show how micro-managers these fools are.

and at the end, they say: "we should avoid making specific rules about somewhat technical matters".

StrongHaiku

LOL! Great posts.

Jehovah's Witnesses...the most anal-retentive people in all of unexplored space. "Straining the gnat and gulping the camel" for over 100 years...

Sometimes I wonder if all of the GB members were toilet-trained at gunpoint.

60

Why don’t we have a better story?

by iconoclastic in

1. some say we are all gods, and god is omnipresent..

2. some say: god created his children who later challenged his sovereignty, who in turn asked his eldest son: go down to the world, do not resist the wicked, but be murdered by them, the value of which will be used to atone the sins of the world..

3. universe arose out of a big bang.

StrongHaiku

Iconoclastic,

StrongHaiku,

You say “a human can or cannot make a "human hand"' still says nothing about evolution or the argument for God.”

That is correct. Because the proposition "Humans can/cannot make a hand (today)" is a different proposition that "Only God can make a hand" or "Evolution is currently the best explanation for how a human hand emerged." Notice that there are 3 different "entities" being addressed. Each of these proposition must stand on their own merit and evidence.

Yes it speaks against evolution, as such sophistication will not come from lower forms (or species)

I respectfully disagree. And, the term "sophistication" is not well-defined and requires quantification. We make some very "sophisticated things" that exceed nature in a number of ways (e.g. airplanes vs birds). We have plenty of examples where we not only match, improve, but sometimes exceed nature.

I think maybe the fact that most of our improvements are based on inorganic matter and often use processes different than nature, that this may be keeping you from seeing the work in the organic areas. If that is the case, you would be surprised on what is being done with creating/printing organs from organic matter, improving on bacteria and virus to do our bidding, and on, and on...

[at a time super-intelligent humans now with all the computer advancement simply fail to even duplicate the dexterity of human hands]

Yes! You got it, "now". You are only looking at our current state and time. Imagine going back a few hundred years ago. Can you imagine what people then would think of what you would say about antibiotics, computers, airplanes, cellphones, etc.? The stuff in your head would either have made you look like a god or gotten you burned at the stake. And, if we can survive becoming an "evolutionary cul-de-sac" we may get to do more amazing things.

There was a time long ago only the "Gods" could fly, make electricity, cure people, etc. However, I get the feeling that it doesn't matter. If we built a human hand (organic or inorganic) I think it would be replaced with another "thing we can't yet make".

When information is lengthened as far as possible (as happened in the case of theory of evolution), you are lost in the ocean of information and you are forced to feel this may be true.

Not sure whether you are trying to make the "information and thermodynamics" argument or whether you are saying that you are overwhelmed with the "ocean of information". If it's the latter, I can understand that. The amount of information and evidence for evolution can sometimes be dense but there a some books that present the subject of evolution in an accessible manner.

When you shorten the information to its essence, as I did in my original post, you will see clearly, what is possible and what is not possible, and what is true and what is false.

No sure what you mean. Sorry.

75

What was your eye opening moment?

by WasOnceBlind in

if you had to pinpoint the time or experience that finally made you open your eyes, what would it be?.

i think for me it was the time i saw my dad shun his brother who he had not seen in decades just because he was a da'ed jw.

i thought to my self "no way jesus would do that.

StrongHaiku

Twitch, your story absolutely resonated with me. I think part of the reason I "woke up" is because I started living, associating, and loving some wonderful people the JWs would have categorized as "bird food". I would rather throw in my lot with many of the people I have had the privilege to know and love in the "world".

16

Preach, preach, preach....feel guilty...preach some more

by Tornintwo in

since starting to wake up, i can't help notice how so many talks emphasise preaching, increasing your hours, pioneering etc...with a hefty load of guilt on the side.. i always noticed the guilt, but now i'm noticing how talks that seem to start out on another issue always seem to come back to hours!

visit talk seemed to start out about persecution, trusting in jehovah etc...but the main thrust in the end was, 'do more hours, pioneer, don't get an education or pursue a career, don't get distracted, hooray for the pioneers!

if you dont do more hours you will be 'the sort that shrink back to destruction'.

StrongHaiku

millie210 - Field service also makes you feel euphoric when you are done.

Yep. Totally agree.

I would add one thing:

I am very much an introvert. And, I remember when I was doing FS that my anxiety level was so high from the minute I went to the first door that by the time the day was over I felt "good". I misinterpreted my ebbing feelings of anxiety at the end of the day as "happiness". It was actually, "relief". Kinda like holding on to a rubber ball tightly all day and you are finally able to let it go. It feels wonderful but only because you had held tension for hours.

89

Richard Dawkins talking about a Creator

by FusionTheism in

richard dawkins admitted that information inside of dna, and the origin of life on earth, might point to intelligent designers, perhaps extraterrestrials.

(see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boncjbrrdq8 )richard dawkins further admitted, in a debate with francis collins for time magazine, that science might point to a creator existing, but that this creator might not be anything like yahweh:.

time: "could the answer be god?

StrongHaiku

_Morpheus - Which is why people debating athiestisum as a religion sets up foolish questions. Its not a rleigion anymore than not stamp collecting is a hobby. (Credit nonstampcollector)

LOL! Yes. "Atheism is a religion" is like saying that abstinence is a sexual position...

17

Do or did the JW's believe dinosaurs were vegetarians?

by Crazyguy in

i thought at one time or maybe they still do believe that the dinosaurs were vegetarians?

StrongHaiku

"When the dinosaurs had fulfilled their purpose, God ended their life."

I remember being taught along these lines that the Dinosaurs were basically giant biological lawn mowers and their purpose was probably to keep the earth from being overrun by vegetation.

On a side note, I am puzzled by the idea that the JWs (and other religions) try to use bits of science to prove their faith/beliefs and then in turn use their faith/beliefs to try to discredit science. Seems like they saw off the tree limb they are sitting on...

9

How did you feel after..

by zeb in

jw
friends

..you had been away from the wt for a time.

i saw a quote tonight and it leapt off the page for me.. "now i know what it feels like to be part of a circle of friends, part of a group.

its a very different feeling than i have had before and it feels wonderful and right'.. spoken by a lady after being released of her heart "wall" that she had established for protection.. + comments please if you like.

StrongHaiku

The following helped me a lot when I left (still struggling with it but I keep trying):

"The bond that links your true family is not one of blood, but of respect and joy in each other's life.

Rarely do members of one family grow up under the same roof. " Richard Bach - Illusions

11

Unconvincing Evidence in September Watchtower

by bemused in

i was looking at the september 2015 issue of the watchtower, which, unlike the simplified and study editions, appears to be aimed at non-jws.

a couple of articles caught my eye that quote biblical sources which are somewhat less than convincing to a non-believer.. firstly 'what do jehovah's witnesses believe?

' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of god and beneficial'.

StrongHaiku

bemused- Firstly 'What do Jehovah's Witnesses Believe?' says that the core belief is that 'all scripture is inspired of God and beneficial'.

Great topic. You and others pointed out the problem with circular logic. But wait, hang on... There seems to be another problem which didn't dawn on me until years after I had left. The verse precedes the creation of the "Bible". So, which scriptures was it talking about? Isn't that a problem as well?

19