by Cassiline 23 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Thanks again Intro,
This was may favorite passage. You are a very kind soul.
Whoever you are, no matter how lonely,
the world offers itself to your imagination
C
When the pain of being where we are, becomes greater than our fear of letting go...we will risk and heal and grow.
Nice post intro...so fitting.
Always,
Cowboy
"You've got to stand for something,
or you'll fall for anything"
Aaron Tippin
Hi Cass,
if I remember correctly, Steve Hassan might have also mentioned "authentic" identity (and also 'cult" identity) in one of his books. I've read them both so I don't remember where I read that exactly.
I can say that I've really seen the "authentic" personality in action with my jw friend. I've also seen the dramatic difference as the "cult" personality kicks in. In my friends case, the authentic personality is kind and warm. He's reasonable and open-minded. He has a range of emotions as his authentic personality that doesn't seem stunted or forced.
His cult personality is remarkably different. Physically- his eyes lack focus and seem glazed or hypnotized. He's stand-offish and cold. He's judgmental, but it never comes off as he really quite believes what he's saying.
What i'm thinking, Cass, is that maybe this isn't about "original" but more so about "authentic" personality. My friend was raised in the organization from age four/five so his "original" personality wouldn't be easy to remember!
Hi Cass,
Not having been raised in the JWs, I am not the best to speak for this. I think the page at:
http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/whoami.htm
has some pretty good lessons though. I also believe in reinvention of the self from time to time, as typified in Rudyard Kipling's IF:
if
If you can keep your head when all about you
are losing theirs and blaming it on you;
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you,
But make allowance for their doubting too:
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or, being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise;
If you can dream and not make dreams your master;
If you can think and not make thoughts your aim,
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same:
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools;
If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings,
And never breathe a word about your loss:
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: Hold on!
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with Kings nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much:
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And which is more, you'll be a Man, my son!
Rudyard Kipling
