HE'S NOT THE MESSIAH, HE'S A VERY NAUGHTY BOY!!!
Monthy Python's Life of Brian
Abaddon
JoinedPosts by Abaddon
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57
What's your favorite line from a movie?
by Isis in...or least favorite?.
just for fun of course.. i just posted on the top 10 movies to take on a desert island and it had me wonder.. anyways....as to my favorite:.
"there is no spoon.
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44
Monomaniacal Ex-JWs?
by dunsscot inits been a while since i read stephen r. covey's _the 7 habits of highly effective people_ and i do not feel like looking up the section i am getting ready to mention.
but i think i recall covey talking about the unhealthy habit of becoming overly engrossed in one activity or pursuit.. it seems that there are individuals using this medium of communication whose life's aim is to "help" jws out of the "borg" or 'bring down the tower.
if it tricks your trigger, i guess there is nothing anyone can do to prevent you from "helping" jws out of the "borg.
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Abaddon
YOU are accusing US of being monomaniacs?
Okay; let's say five hours of meetings, five hours of pre and post meeting association, four hours of field service, say four hours travelling time, and six hours of study.
That's 1/7th of your time mono-boy.
Also, one of your supposed motivations for going in field service is to get people who are blindly pusuing a course of action that will destroy their lives to listen to the truth and have their lives saved.
Those here who do try to;
"help" JWs out of the "borg" or 'bring down the Tower.'
are trying to get people who are blindly pusuing a course of action that will destroy their lives to listen to the truth so they have their lives saved.
Does the motivation sound familiar? Are you a little slow on the uptake? You are criticising some of us for doing what you do.
You speak of "freedom of worship", yet you come from an environment where questioning the doctrine of the Society can lead to expulsion, even if a good case is being made of the facts at hand, or if the point being made is one where there is no Biblical council. This contrasts starkly to the climate of debate that endured in the first century, where doctrine was debated openly (Jerusalem), and careful personal research praised (Boreans).
You wouln't know freedom if it bit you on your fat complacent ass.
You speak of "a life governed by hedonic utility that is devoid of God". WHAT GOD? Come on, bring it on. There is no proof of god; if you know differently, please lighten my darkness oh great one. As you have backed down from debating about the existence of god before I doubt if you will, but would I just point out that the lack of definitive proof is in itself the largest proof that there is no personified creator concerned with humans, as logically if there were and our lives depended on our conduct, he would make the manner of conduct that was desired patently evident, if he is indeed desirous that none are destroyed. If god wants his intelligent curious creation to use their brain and they then find evidence lacking, if he wants to turn human belief into a GAME of hide-and-seek, you go worship the asshole. If Book-of-the-month club can reach me with personalised correspondence, I think god can, if he exisited.
Please try harder, your posts are geting more tedious.
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13
How many English/Brits on board? America OwnZ!!!!
by d0rkyd00d injust wondering, how could anybody not want to come to the u.s. yes, i'm well aware i'm opening a post for flaming, and flaming is what i need to here!
j/k, but seriously, u.s.a. is the best country in the world.
one word: colgate baby!.
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Abaddon
"Revelation had i of just now"
Who the fuck resurected Bob Marley??
Are you seriously suggesting that it's other peoples fault you phrased something in a silly way and got toasted for it (not that you really were toasted... cold indeed!!).
Pride in your country is fine. But it should be informed pride. Slagging off (dissing) other countries is fine if you have a basis for your opinion.
But a American raised person who's not been outside his homeland saying "Just wondering, how could anybody NOT want to come to the U.S." and "but seriously, U.S.A. is the best country in the world. One word: Colgate baby!" is silly; you're the one conforming to the stereotypes about Americans!!
When I was on teaching practise in Kansas, I had a student AND a teacher ask me what language was spoken in England.
ENG-land, ENG-lish.
It is good that your own opinion is developing beyond catch-phrases taken from films. As you say, in England, there are very few guns in private ownership, and even the police don't normally carry guns. This is reflected by the fact it's quite unusual to die from gunshot wounds in the UK compared to the USA, per head of population.
In Holland, soft drugs are legal, or at least 'de-criminalised'. This is a major lesson for most Western countires to learn, as it does not lead to junkies all over the place and actually reduces drug problems.
In the supposed 'Land of the Free', not being allowed to put a dried bush into a pipe and set fire to it seems quite strange, as it doesn't harm anyone else.
Also, if you look at the way the American press treat celebrities (get that tongue RIGHT up there) and politicians, it makes the supposed advantage of not having an aristocracy completely disappear, as you just re-make it with a social upper-strata of you own.
In England, the press is, if anything, TOO nasty, but I don't think you're likely to hear an American comedian say "Bush is a *ucking moron", whereas that comment applied to Tony Blair or the Queen would be considered fair comment in England, even on TV. Yet more lack of freedom in the land of the free.
America has an amazing standard of living, if you have a job. If you are unemployed or on minimum wage, it's a really good idea NOT to get sick, as your public heath-care reeks.
Basically, what you have to realise is that just like in Kingdom Halls, where people are taught how wonderful god's kingdom, in America, people are taught how wonderful America is.
You are sold a concept that sometimes falls far short of its ideals in everyday practice, but these shortfalls are glossed over, just like the shortcomings of Watchtower teachings are glossed over.
Because of this, Americans can be intensely and unrealistically patriotic.
Of course, all countries fall victim to this to one extent or the other. Because of its size and importance America can 'get away' with it more, as it is possible just to look inwards, and not have any comparisons. In smaller countries, where you have to look outwards, comparisons are easier. It's not that Europeans are cleverer, it's that they are forced to compare themselves to other countries, and thus have a more realistic perspective of their countries good and bad points.
Personally I love the 'States, for all the points I don't like about it, it is a wonderful country, huge, beautiful, with mostly friendly out-going people, and a good system of representation for people in government. In the USA I think there is one elected official for every 2,000 people. In the UK this is something like one for every 7,000. You've every right to be proud of being three times more democratic, BUT, don't believe the hype. America has problems, and if you take the concept of 'citizenship' seriously, you should be aware of how certain social issues are handled in other countries so you can be a more informed voter when that time comes.
The fact that many American's are not informed voters is demonstrated by the fact people voted a strategically-shaved chimp into the Presidency recently!! This was met with disbelief by many many non-American's.
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do you jw's really have the truth ?
by skeptical 1 ini am interested in knowing why you jw's seem so sure you have the truth?
are you just brainwashed or do you really have the facts to back up your claims?
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Abaddon
What's with this 'you' business?
The JW's are a cult. There is no god. We are primates living on a main-sequence star in an unfashionable part of the galaxy. Life is simple. Good luck!
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49
30 and Out?
by Black Man in30 that seems to put jw's at a cross-roads?
i've known so many who have decided to abandon ship at either the age of 30 or either after 30 years of being baptized.
i fall into the former category.
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Abaddon
Let me see... '93... I was 28.
From the xJW's I've met IRL, accidentally, I would say there are two groups.
There are the 'never really weres', who left as a teenager (or, like Patti Smith, at the ripe old age of twelve) and were probably never baptised.
Some of these have just stuck it on a shelf and are still affected by it, even if they don't know. Others have de-programmed or un-affected by the experience.
If you don't bust out then, then tendancy is to be stuck in a rut until you have to say, "Ugh! if I had birthdays the big 30 would be coming up", and realise that you can't live life like that, either on gut feeling (and then, after a few years, find out what a load of shit it was), or re-examine whilst still in, before finding the faults and shifting out.
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A Tasty Lil Bit O' Gossip.
by Englishman inhere's a picture of the late sir john fieldhouse during his time as an admiral in the royal navy.
he later became first sea lord and was in charge of operations during the falklands war when england and argentina slugged it out in the south atlantic back in '82.
his wife shown here is lady fieldhouse - known to her friends as midge - who is a very active jehovahs witness residing in lee on solent, near portsmouth.
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Abaddon
I believe you are right Simon. There is a notional slice of Antartica that falls under British control, largely due to the Faljlands
It is doubtful if Britain would have let the Falklands go, even after many years of political manuvering, as the resident population are against it.
What is virtually certain is that the Thatcher government ignored warning signs from the Intelligence Services so they could use the 'Falklands Confilct' (war was not declared, but tell that to the corpses).
There was one military first; either a corvette or small submarine of the Argentinian Navy was crippled by a group of Royal Marines with a Carl-Gustav 88mm recoiless anti-tank gun. It was during the invasion of South Georgia (I think) and the Marines knew perfectly well they were going to surrender to the superior numbers, but decide to see what would happen if they fired it at a boat...
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Your View on Chimps, Dogs...and Souls
by philo inan awake article from the late 60s got me thinking about this subject seriously for the first time - yup i know, the awake!
it was about two tribes of chimp on haiti (iirc).
does any one else remember this article, or have it to hand?
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Abaddon
Cultures?
Well, chimps have a sense of humour.
A troupe of chimps were being observed. The alpha male sprained his wrist falling out of a tree.
For a few days afterwards, he walked with that arm curled up to his chest, using his other three limbs.
Younger male chimps started mimicing, but only while he was facing away. He'd be leading the troup, and they'd be copying his limp, he'd turn around, they'd walk normally.
This went on for months AFTER he stopped limping.
Chimps are smart enough to, as we say in England, take the piss.
To answer you, yeah, higher primtes have cultures and they differ according to geographical region. The same things are done different ways. Some are far more into tool use than others. Some like Britney, others prefer Radiohead.
But they all love the Monkies...
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No Christmas
by tattoogrl333 injesus was not born on december 25??????
what is the reasoning behind this belief?
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Abaddon
"... It's all almost too weird taking in so much stuff and still feeling no connection to God just a headache from so much info."
I agree with Pubsinger. That sentence is spooky. What you have to realise is that what you are being told about actually won't give you any connection with god. It's a cult. Check out this URL;
The Jehovah's Witnesses are a cult. They are very subtle and clever, but they are a cult, as they conform to reckognised descriptions of a cult. I have taken the below list from the above website. Go through it and see what ones you can tick for JW's. Let us know which ones you've identified, and I'm sure we can point out a few you've missed.
I. Behavior Control
1. Regulation of individual’s physical reality
a. Where, how and with whom the member lives and associates with
b. What clothes, colors, hairstyles the person wears
c. What food the person eats, drinks, adopts, and rejects
d. How much sleep the person is able to have
e. Financial dependence
f. Little or no time spent on leisure, entertainment, vacations2. Major time commitment required for indoctrination sessions and group rituals
3. Need to ask permission for major decisions
4. Need to report thoughts, feelings and activities to superiors
5. Rewards and punishments (behavior modification techniques- positive and negative).
5. Individualism discouraged; group think prevails
6. Rigid rules and regulations
7. Need for obedience and dependency
II. Information Control
1. Use of deception
a. Deliberately holding back information
b. Distorting information to make it acceptable
c. Outright lying2. Access to non-cult sources of information minimized or discouraged
a. Books, articles, newspapers, magazines, TV, radio
b. Critical information
c. Former members
d. Keep members so busy they don’t have time to think3. Compartmentalization of information; Outsider vs. Insider doctrines
a. Information is not freely accessible
b. Information varies at different levels and missions within pyramid
c. Leadership decides who "needs to know" what4. Spying on other members is encouraged
a. Pairing up with "buddy" system to monitor and control
b. Reporting deviant thoughts, feelings, and actions to leadership5. Extensive use of cult generated information and propaganda
a. Newsletters, magazines, journals, audio tapes, videotapes, etc.
b. Misquotations, statements taken out of context from non-cult sources6. Unethical use of confession
a. Information about "sins" used to abolish identity boundaries
b. Past "sins" used to manipulate and control; no forgiveness or absolutionIII. Thought Control
1. Need to internalize the group’s doctrine as "Truth"
a. Map = Reality
b. Black and White thinking
c. Good vs. evil
d. Us vs. them (inside vs. outside)2. Adopt "loaded" language (characterized by "thought-terminating clichés"). Words are the tools we use to think with. These "special" words constrict rather than expand understanding. They function to reduce complexities of experience into trite, platitudinous "buzz words".
3. Only "good" and "proper" thoughts are encouraged.
4. Thought-stopping techniques (to shut down "reality testing" by stopping "negative" thoughts and allowing only "good" thoughts); rejection of rational analysis, critical thinking, constructive criticism.
a. Denial, rationalization, justification, wishful thinking
b. Chanting
c. Meditating
d. Praying
e. Speaking in "tongues"
f. Singing or humming5. No critical questions about leader, doctrine, or policy seen as legitimate
6. No alternative belief systems viewed as legitimate, good, or useful
IV. Emotional Control
1. Manipulate and narrow the range of a person’s feelings.
2. Make the person feel like if there are ever any problems it is always their fault, never the leader’s or the group’s.
3. Excessive use of guilt
a. Identity guilt
1. Who you are (not living up to your potential)
2. Your family
3. Your past
4. Your affiliations
5. Your thoughts, feelings, actionsb. Social guilt
c. Historical guilt4. Excessive use of fear
a. Fear of thinking independently
b. Fear of the "outside" world
c. Fear of enemies
d. Fear of losing one’s "salvation"
e. Fear of leaving the group or being shunned by group
f. Fear of disapproval5. Extremes of emotional highs and lows.
6. Ritual and often public confession of "sins".
7. Phobia indoctrination : programming of irrational fears of ever leaving the group or even questioning the leader’s authority. The person under mind control cannot visualize a positive, fulfilled future without being in the group.
a. No happiness or fulfillment "outside"of the group
b. Terrible consequences will take place if you leave: "hell"; "demon possession"; "incurable diseases"; "accidents"; "suicide"; "insanity"; "10,000 reincarnations"; etc.
c. Shunning of leave takers. Fear of being rejected by friends, peers, and family.
d. Never a legitimate reason to leave. From the group’s perspective, people who leave are: "weak"; "undisciplined"; "unspiritual"; "worldly"; "brainwashed by family, counselors"; seduced by money, sex, rock and roll.If you really want to see what they are like, mention you're researching JW's on the Internet... they will act like you are doing something very bad and dangerous. If you mention people are trying to disuade you from getting involved, they will make out that Satan is testing you.
Please, save your life. Save yourself the grief this damned cult has given most of us here. Choose life. Choose NOT being a JW. SOrry if I sound over-the-top, but they are dangerous.
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Should Christians Fear Evidentialism?
by dunsscot inarguments from natural theology are at times needed when christians defend the faith against atheological attacks.
yet, for the christian, such apologetic maneuvers are not required in and of themselves, for christians know that they are not in a relationship with a force or an abstract superlative entity devised by human adroitness.
no, christians heed the sensus divinitatis and the confirmatory evidence that god provides to those who love him.
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Ugly Clothes is it a rule???
by tattoogrl333 inok last post before me and my pillow get together.
so what is the dress code of jw.
i notice a lot of long skirts, and dresses.
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Abaddon
Basically, for some bizzare reason, the Borg have fixated upon white-middle class American clothing and grooming of the 1950's as a standard to be adhered to.
I always was in trouble for my hair. Always too long for a Bro., especially a Mini(sterial Servant). I also had a very repetitive arguement with the Elder who took the school. In the Guidebook it says brothers should wear a suit jacket. I took this to mean, a suit jacket, with suitable but not matching trousers. Bro Watling took this to mean a matching jacket and trousers.
Beware Tattogirl, they'll suck the personality straight out of your eyes, spit it out, and stamp on it.
There are un-written guidelines, varying slightly from congregation to congregation, district to district, country to country, over wht is a 'proper skirt' and what is an 'improper skirt', over how many holes you can have in your ears, over every little thing.
If there god's people, then god shops at Walmart and lives in a trailer with his sis, er, wife and their thirteen children Aircon, Wilbur, Wilbur, Jodean, Bud, Marlboroa, Buick, Oprah, Jerry, Porch, Buda, Bo and Rachinel.