Life is not worth living - ? Review of Frankl's book. (page 2)

nightwarrior

DAN THE MAN

I Would like to say that THEY DONT HAVE THE POWER TO TAKE ANYTHING AWAY.the spiritual paradise mentioned doesnot belong to j.w exclusivly ,the hope that you mention is on offer to everyone if you want it .

yes we all have to face that we are free now but what you do with your life depends upon what you deem to do with it.

you have more freedom now ,what are you going to do with it ??????get of your backsides and do something instead of just thinking ,as every negative thought is followed by a negative action even a response ,yes we awaiting the final call of death but in the meantime enjoy yourself and the reason why you have gone through so much is that you are still learning /and experiencing life eventualy given all your experiences you may be able to help others .

agape houghts

Kenneson

Dan the Man,

Not only did Frankl not allow his heart to turn black in spite of all he endured, but I am immediately reminded of two others who also experienced the Holocaust, with similar reactions. Anne Frank could say: "In spite of everything, I still believe that people are good at heart." And Corrie ten Boon said that God was there even in the darkest pit (the concentration camp) and that He is good.

JamesThomas

Appreciation for one beautiful sunset has more spiritual power and appreciation for life to me than all the thousands of meetings I went to and endless JW literature that I read.

The reason for this is simple....yet we miss it for most of our life.

Beauty (all meaning really) is in the eye of the beholder. It is an intimate inner experience. It is right here, right now.

For the Witnesses, meaning and beauty is put off, to some abstract future, place and time.

If there is a God, or what that word points to, it's life and meaning will be experienced and discovered within, as close as the awe of a sunset.

alt

JamesT

MegaDude

Dan,

I can relate to everything you're saying. You don't know how much.

The reason I believe the Watchtower screws people's heads up so much is they sell you this idea that God /God's organization loves you, but the organization treats you like utter shit. You get the prize if you endure what they say. If you feel bad, get tired, get disillusioned, you're told it's your fault. You don't have God's spirit, you're not listening to the organization, you're not following the rules. The Watchtower is like an abusive parent whose members keep trying to win its approval but never can. The confusion comes because it's poison wrapped in candy. It tastes good, but it will kill you, kill your spirituality, and suck your bones dry. Members can't discern where Jehovah ends and the Watchtower begins. It's one big attractive package at first, with a nasty ugly main core.

One good thing is to assume every religious/spiritual thing you've ever been taught is probably a lie. Start from scratch. Let it all go. If there is a God and if that God is love, it doesn't take a brain-child to figure out he wouldn't treat you like the cold, uncaring, fearful, ego-maniac Governing Body of Jehovah's Witnesses. You're better person than they ever could be.

MegaDude

Dan,

I wanted to add one more thing about Frankl. You said how was Frankl able to get to the place spiritually where he did. He got there because he took full responsibility for his emotions to the best of his ability. He chose to find meaning despite the circumstances. He didn't let his situation and all its accompanying misery nor his Nazi captors control his spirit.

Billygoat

(((((Megadude))))) How are you? I miss talking to you!

Your posts are awesome, my dear. Awesome.

The Watchtower is like an abusive parent whose members keep trying to win its approval but never can. The confusion comes because it's poison wrapped in candy. It tastes good, but it will kill you, kill your spirituality, and suck your bones dry. Members can't discern where Jehovah ends and the Watchtower begins. It's one big attractive package at first, with a nasty ugly main core.

Wow! Boy did this hit home with me. Thank you! And then this...

He chose to find meaning despite the circumstances. He didn't let his situation and all its accompanying misery nor his Nazi captors control his spirit.

Chose to find meaning? Very interesting. I'm still chewing on it. But very interesting. I like the idea of nobody controlling my spirit. And I've done just that for years. Still thinking about this...

Love ya,

Andi

DanTheMan

thanks all for your posts.

Kenneson, I picked up "The Hiding Place" (Corrie ten Boon's story) at a thrift store recently, I haven't read it, maybe it's time to get cracking.

Mega,

It's one big attractive package at first, with a nasty ugly main core

Couldn't have put it better if I tried. At first it's "Jehovah loves you" and "Paradise is just around the corner" but soon you realize what it's really all about - OBEY THE FAITHFUL SLAVE OR DIE!!!!

Of course, one of the most famous truisms from Frankl's book is that you can't choose your circumstances, only your attitude. I tell myself this again and again...

Billygoat,

You're a cutie. (I know, you've got a man).

MegaDude

Dan,

I think you have discovered another reason life is worth living.....cuties. LOL!

Megs

SixofNine

One good thing is to assume every religious/spiritual thing you've ever been taught is probably a lie. Start from scratch. Let it all go.

(emphasis megadudes sub-concious)

yep.

MegaDude

LOL@Six

"But then the ice storm started in Dallas bouncing ice and sleet on Six's shiny noggin. He became very sad and he knew God was punishing him for his disbelief."

Heh, heh.

Life is not worth living - ? Review of Frankl's book.

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