In Broken Images
He is quick, thinking in clear images;
I am slow, thinking in broken images.He becomes dull, trusting to his clear images;
I become sharp, mistrusting my broken images,Trusting his images, he assumes their relevance;
Mistrusting my images, I question their relevance.Assuming their relevance, he assumes the fact,
Questioning their relevance, I question the fact.When the fact fails him, he questions his senses;
When the fact fails me, I approve my senses.He continues quick and dull in his clear images;
I continue slow and sharp in my broken images.He in a new confusion of his understanding;
I in a new understanding of my confusion.Robert Graves
A Poem for Jehovah's Witnesses and Apostates
by slimboyfat 37 Replies latest jw friends
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slimboyfat
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fleaman uk
Wasnt he one of the Great War Poets?
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slimboyfat
No
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Dragonlady76
I like it
Dragonlady76
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AlmostAtheist
That's pretty awesome, and nicely sums up the decision to be captive to a "belief" or allow yourself the freedom to change your beliefs as you gain understanding.
Very nice, thanks for sharing this.
Dave
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slimboyfat
I am glad you like it.
As a Witness you are taught to discard your senses and trust in the "images". Learning to do the opposite is not easy.
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talesin
Nice work, slim.
I liked the questioner, who is humble and open to learning. Good thoughts for me to reflect on.
talesin
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AlmostAtheist
I say this alot and I hate to repeat it yet again, but this poem reminds me of a saying I first heard on this board:
"I would rather have questions I can't answer, than answers I can't question."
Dave
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slimboyfat
But don't you worry that apostates rely on such images just as Jehovah's Witnesses?
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talesin
But don't you worry that apostates rely on such images just as Jehovah's Witnesses?
Yes, I agree.
I don't think it's limited to JWs and ex-JWs, though. I think that people tend to do this generally.
It's easier to latch onto a belief system. It takes work to be constantly seeking and questioning.
Unfortunately, in this 'information age', one can deceive oneself till the cows come home. Just turn on the TV, or the PC, and hear/read whatever fits your personal viewpoint. Read/listen to the sources that fit your preconceived notions of how things are, and you will be reassured that you are right.
Sad, but true.
t