Conversations With an Ex-Jehovah's Witness
Virushead Posts For Ex-JWSNews And Links For Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses: Chemicals found buried in upstate NY…
By The Atheist Geek | December 30, 2011
SHAWANGUNK, N.Y. — State officials are investigating chemical pollution found buried at an upstate New York property owned by the Jehovah’s Witnesses organization.
Blood-free kidney transplant carried out between two Jehovah’s Witnesses
Surgeons have performed a blood-free kidney transplant between Debra and Jade Gouldbourne, two Jehovah’s Witnesses – despite the patients not being a donor match.
Brooklyn man leaps 15 stories to his death
A troubled man jumped to his death from a Brooklyn rooftop Wednesday in front of horrified bystanders below, police and witnesses said.
Note that another article about the suicide can be found here which is less informative, but has a healthy debate taking place among its readers.
On a related point, at least one source claims that suicide is 5 to 10 times higher among Jehovah’s Witnesses than the general population. This is interesting, but is the claim true? It isn’t hard to find articles that claim Witnesses have a higher instance of mental problems like suicide, yet many of them don’t seem to give a lot of detail about how they came about that information. They really should.
In the future, I hope more of the authors behind these claims will give real details about their findings. Otherwise, we can only wonder if they’re telling the truth. I may be a critic of the Society, but I don’t instantly believe every criticism I hear.
If the Apostles Had Been Like the Governing Body….
Whenever challenged on the false dates set by the Governing Body (representing the “faithful and discreet slave” class) such as 1914, 1918, 1925 and 1975, a Jehovah’s Witness will likely fall back on the official Watch Tower Society defence, and it will probably go something like this;
Belief Contamination | Psychology Today
Except that I don’t believe our negative reaction to finding out that people about whom we care believe differently from us is fueled by a desire to help them become happier. I think, in fact, our negative reaction is far more consistent with a response to a threat. Not a threat to our ability to believe as we do, but rather a threat to our very existence. At some level, coming into contact with contradictory beliefs seems almost to trigger our fight-or-flight response, as if the existence of contradictory beliefs might threaten, if not our lives, our personal way of life.
Perhaps because, in fact, this is often the case. We live in the midst of a sea of other people whose beliefs do impact our lives. It does matter what others around us believe. Which is perhaps why contradictory beliefs create such overreactions in people (far too often tragic overreactions).
Presentation to Exmormon Conference
I continue to find that ex-Mormons and ex-Witnesses have a lot in common. The link above will offer you a downloadable MP3 on a conference given to ex-Mormons that might be of interest to fellow exxers.
Topics: Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW News and Links | 6 Comments »
Update on “Truth Be Told” Documentary About Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses
By The Atheist Geek | December 28, 2011
I just received an update on the “Truth Be Told” documentary about ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses. I mentioned it here a little while back. Aside from all the other video snippets that you can see at the web site (I think any ex-Witness will find these interviews encouraging) the official trailer is now available online as well. You can view it on Vimeo or Youtube right now!
I hope everyone is psyched about this. Especially those who’s lives were deeply affected by their experiences as former Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s not every day you get to have your side of any story told, especially in a real documentary that many people will see. Please consider supporting the documentary by clicking on the “Support Now” button at the top of the website and spreading the word.
You can also share your story as an ex-Witness here.
I’m really looking forward to this one.
Topics: Announcements, Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW News and Links | 2 Comments »
Merry Christmas 2011 And A Few Freebies, Too
By The Atheist Geek | December 25, 2011
Even now, as an ex-Jehovah’s Witness, I really don’t celebrate Christmas. I probably would if my wife did, but she remains a Jehovah’s Witness herself. Also, I’m evil. Still, I can offer my fellow book geeks a couple of goodies.
First, we have 12 Days of Christmas Stories! from Mur Lafferty at Escapepod. If you like audiobooks (I listen to them while exercising, walking, washing the dishes, etc.) you might want to give these a try.
I’m also a fan of Ilona Andrews, especially her Kate Daniels novels. Turns out she is offering her latest novella about Kate FOR FREE. But only for a short while. You can download Magic Gifts for a limited time from her website. It comes in Kindle, epub, and PDF formats.
That’s all I got for now.
Merry Christmas!
Topics: Announcements, Geek Entertainment, Personal | No Comments »
News and Links: Christopher Hitchens Has Died
By The Atheist Geek | December 18, 2011
I knew that Christopher Hitchens had been ill for some time, but was surprised when I learned of his death on the morning news just a few days ago. Without realizing it, I somehow thought he could beat anything, including the Terminator, Godzilla, and cancer. If only it were so. Christopher Hitchens will be missed by many, especially those atheists who saw him in action during debates, interviews, or read his book “God is Not Great.”
If only everyone felt that way.
The very fact that his death has caused a stir among believers as well as nonbelievers says something about the Hitch. Maybe he’s just a love him or hate him kinda guy? Many fundamentalist believers have shared their reactions online, including this brilliant thread at JWD entitled “Notorious Asshole Christopher Hitchens Thrown Into Eternal Flame of Gehenna.”
The first time I heard of Christopher Hitchens was today when his named was mentioned multiple times in the comment section of a YouTube video. After reading a brief summary of his life, it became clear that this guy was a complete douche-bag. A very arrogant sarcastic bigoted f**k who looked down on everyone who didn’t share his beliefs. It’s always nice to see someone who deserves to die actually die, rather than the usual innocent victim. Hopefully the grim reaper can rid us of two more a**holes by coming for Bill Maher and Richard Dawkins next.
Yes, very witty. I knew nothing of the poster before that day, but trust me, Philadelphia Ponos made an impression. In fact, he (?) originally created two threads with the same name as the one above because one thread just wasn’t enough to express the joy P.P. felt about the death of a man he claims not to have even heard of a day before. I remember a similarly brilliant comment that was posted here when I announced the death of Raymond Franz by someone calling them self Opheliagrneyes.
So he died, huh? Well…..
….he ain’t coming back
See what I mean? I can practically here Opheliagrneyes chuckling to himself at the death of a man who stood up for his principles and suffered for them. Good times, eh? I can see that the New System of Things will be filled with good people if they’re anything like Opheliagrneyes. Glad I won’t be there to see it.
I think both comments are amazing tributes to the kinds of people and ideas both men sought to oppose. Not only because they reveal the true character of the people who hated them, but because they give the rest of us the chance to show our mettle.1 There are at least 4 pages of reactions to P.P’s. comment about Hitchens on JWD as you read this. Some of them would have made the Hitch proud.
So, in honor of the Hitch’s memory, here are some links of interest. Some will make you laugh. Some will piss you off. What could be a more appropriate tribute to a man like Christopher Hitchens than that?
VIDEO: UK Channel 4 Tribute | Daily Hitchens
Hitchens fought dogma’s delusion
Is Christopher Hitchens about to convert? « » Print The Daily Caller
Note the date on this last one. It came out shortly before he died.
New Statesman – Preview: Richard Dawkins interviews Christopher Hitchens
25 Ridiculous Reactions To #GodIsNotGreat
The 20 Best Christopher Hitchens Quotes | Unreasonable Faith
Christopher Hitchens quotes: the writer’s most memorable bons mots | Books | guardian.co.uk
Christopher Hitchens – Godless Quotes
Christopher Hitchens’ Greatest Hits
VIDEO: Christopher Hitchens – The Best of the Hitchslap – YouTube
- My original response to Opheliagrneyes ended with: “…neither are you.” ↩
Topics: Atheist Commentary, Atheist News and Links, Secular Atheist | 1 Comment »
News And Links For Atheists: Deepak Chopra and Bill O’Reilly Believers vs. Non-Believers Discussion
By The Atheist Geek | November 12, 2011
VIDEO: Deepak Chopra and Bill O’Reilly: Believers vs. Non-Believers Discussion
AUDIO: Humanist Network News #35: Andy Rooney on Atheism
VIDEO: Morality 3: Of objectivity and oughtness
Another video by Qualia Soup!
VIDEO: The Tribute “To Hitch”
The link to this is pretty much mandatory. Christopher Hitchens, one of the Four Horsemen of Atheism now suffering from cancer, gets a tribute.
‘You just don’t understand my religion’ is not good enough
Too often, faith is mysterious only selectively. When questions get tough, a god can disappear in a puff of ineffability.
Atheism, Depression, & Meaning: Do Atheists Lead Meaningless Lives?
Myth: Life for atheists must be depressing and meaningless.
This week the citizens of Mississippi will vote whether to legally assign the status of “personhood” to any human egg that has been penetrated by a sperm. I, for one, think that being a person is a serious gift. And I hope that if Mississippi awards personhood to fertilized eggs, they will take this seriously.
Richard Dawkins’s refusal to debate is cynical and anti-intellectualist
Here’s what Dawkins says about it, too.
Utah’s Huge Roadside Crosses Must Come Down
Carl S. recently shared with me a letter his wife received from the American Center for Law and Justice, a far right evangelical organization founded by Pat Robertson. The letter is a request for donations for the Committee to Protect the Ground Zero Cross.
They want the addressee to enclose a check or money order and sign a document which reads:
George Carlin Still Causing Trouble for the Catholic Church
I’m sure George would be smiling down from Heaven right now…if there was such a thing.
South Park Creators Investigated By the Church of Scientology?
Rathbun says this first posting is just one “of a trove” of documents related to the investigation. The document he revealed Sunday suggests that Scientology was examining public records on those people, looking for a vulnerability.
“Phone records. Bank records. Personal letters that expose some kind of vulnerability. They’ll read stuff into the kind of alcohol you’re drinking and how much. Prescriptions. They’ll figure out your diet. They can find out a lot about you through your trash,” he told the Voice.
Pat Robertson says Oklahoma earthquake a sign of the End Times
Religion and Obesity; Report Associates Religious Activity With Weight Gain
A new atheist site I discovered thanks to the power of G+. Here’s a little more about the creator of the site.
Finally, you may call me Reverend Atheist Geek. I have been ordained as a member of the Spiritual Humanist clergy and the First Church of Atheism. Why? Because it’s fun, that’s why! Hey, don’t you want to tell people they have to call you Reverend? Damn right you do. Thanks to Emily from Facebook for encouraging me and others to do it.
Uh, if you want to try this as well, note that it’s free for both sites. But if you want the I.D. and everything, well…the Spiritual Humanist clergy thing is cheaper. Don’t know what those guys at the First Church of Atheism are thinking! Get with the competition, man.
P.S. And someone needs to tell the guys behind the Nasa Image of the Day plugin that it’s italicizing all the text on my web site. Grrr… Plugin disabled until further notice.
Topics: Atheist News and Links, Secular Atheist | No Comments »
A Reaction To “‘Mentally Diseased’ and Politcal Correctness.”
By The Atheist Geek | November 6, 2011
The web site that published “‘Mentally Diseased’” and Political Correctness” is called Sheep and Goats. It appears to be written by one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. It’s meant to defend the Watchtower Society against critics who dislike the organization’s recent use of the term “mentally diseased” when describing those it deems to be apostates. Here are my reactions…and rebuttals…to the article. I will incorporate points I already made in my last article while I’m at it.
Topics: Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW Commentary | 3 Comments »
Are Ex-Jehovah’s Witnesses Just “Mentally Diseased?”
By The Atheist Geek | October 28, 2011
The Watchtower magazine turned a lot of heads when it wrote that apostates of Jehovah’s Witnesses are “mentally diseased.” We ex-Witnesses have sure taken notice. So have authorities in the U.K. This brings up a few issues.
First, was the Society saying that all ex-Witnesses are mentally diseased? Second, is this a new level of exxer-bashing for the Society, or just a new turn of phrase? And finally, is this really worth the charge of hate speech or are people just blowing the whole thing out of proportion? I’m sure many Jehovah’s Witnesses feel that this is the case.
But not all of them, I gotta say. On a personal note, my wife–who considers herself one of Jehovah’s Witnesses–thought it was going too far. Thank you, wife. See, my fellow ex-Witnesses? Not all Jehovah’s Witnesses are extreme in their views or just mindless slaves to the organization. (I think it’s always good for exxers to be reminded of this once in a while.) Anyway, back on track…
Read the rest of this entry »
Topics: Ex-Jehovah's Witnesses, XJW Commentary | 9 Comments »
« Previous Entries