Hortensia:
My reaction to hearing those voices from my past was quite interesting.
I knew, before I was kicked out, that I was on a divergent path to the Jesus/Yahweh mob, and that expulsion would be the likely end of my (laugh) 'theocratic career.' I understood the consequences, but because of my family, I kind of avoided thinking too much about it. It therefore took me some time to adjust my thinking, but eventually, I think I came to a certain equanimity about my 35+ years of being a slave to Jesus (and, by extension to Yahweh).
At some point I came to a similar realisation to Mandela's conclusion:
I think I can look back at my wasted years as a Christian, and keep it in some sort of balance. I don't have to think of the JWs as some kind of demonic organisation. They are just another brand of Christian's, they are certainly outside the mainstream, but its arguable that all of the witness dogma has existed at some point in Christian history, at least for some sections of early Christianity. There was a time, (as an example) actually for near 200 years, when the see (church) of Rome, with its proto-pope, was surrounded by a sea of Arianism (anti-trinitarian), with most other churches and bishops in Italy ( except Rome) following that doctrine.
Even the hardline attitude of some elders, is simply a reflection of attitudes practised in the past, most famously, if you like, in the holy inquisition.
There's nothing new in the general witness belief system, in spite of the expressed opinions of some scavenging (presumably, American protestants) Christians.
I guess, that yesterday, hearing those voices was a reminder of how far I've come. Ted Bromwich was a nice guy - did not really know him well, but we could always exchange pleasantries when our paths crossed. Same with Dawson, as I remember, he learned Italian when they asked him to serve on the Italian circuit in Australia. His problem on that circuit, he once told me was Italian hospitality, his weight near doubled in the first 6 months. It wasn't until he learned Italian attitudes that he could stop Italian sisters serving him an extra helping.
But, Neville Bromwich - his voice brought back many memories of how this guy could put people down (me included). He must be the most sarcastic person I've ever known.
