Went to Ben Lomond Path.You wouldn't know it...its off the Ski-ing Map.There was a mini series on Noahs ark done a couple of years ago....they used Ben Lomond as Mt ARArat.Its awesome mountain, really spectacular....very rugged and unfortunately the same can be said for their ski fields...there are ROCKS everywhere, though this year has seen the best fall since 1982, so its pretty good, no rocks to crash into at the moment...only now its as icy as Hell(??? does that make sense)the surface was so hard at times when you crash you may as well driven yourself into a rock.Ben lomomd has 7 tows and vertical drop of about 50 metres maybe????.Do you ski?...anyone else?.I'd love to go to some of the Ski fields in Canada and US....theres one called Whistler? near Vancouver?????? i think!!!.Saw it on TV once and looked brilliant....no rocks to be seen, just lost of pine trees to crash into!
Moment of Truth/ Cognitive Dissonance
by Zep 33 Replies latest jw friends
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circare
Waiting - I thought 'divorce' was a good illustration to use. There is no doubting the depth of hurt and subsequent anger in this situation. However there are divorces and there are nasty, messy divorces. What makes the difference between the two?
I wasn't meaning to advocate keeping quiet as a 'submissive sister'. I think that Simon has here, on this board, given us a place we can, as you said
speak politely, or even loudly disagree. We can even openly speculate, question, reason, wonder.
Likewise, I also think Andyman could be right about holding things in being
not the way to overcome the dissapointment and anger
I agree thatCovering things up, pretending they aren't happening, isn't going to help us
and the quote from the Awakecriticism based on Gods word should be carefully considered, for it can bring real benefits”. (Awake! Nov. 22, 1974, p.28)
All good points.However as Deacon said
Im really not into spreading a message of revenge and ridicule.
I felt Zep's questions were demeaning too and I don't want Zep to think we are here for the purpose of 'trashing' the WTS or a group of people from whom, in all honesty, we have received some benefits. The tendency is with the 'break up' of any relationship, because of the hurt and anger, to forget the good qualities the other party has and only focus on the bad. While the differences might be viewed as 'irreconcilable', (and I have no intentions of minimising the bad of the WTS and of certain individuals) sometimes it is good to step back a little and look a bit more objectively isn't it?
As you said waiting, in getting on with ones life the mood changes from week to week, and as you may have all noticed I was a 'mite tetchy' myself yesterday. Sorry.
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waiting
Hey circare,
Since "some" are proposing to give me the title of "PMS" on a permanent status - beside my name no less - I can relate to being touchy.
Some do go through a messy divorce - either their chosing or the offending mate. Very few are totally one-sided, as you've stated. However, the Society has never acted as an equal to us. They have stated that they are our only channel to God, they have God's spirit as Anointed, they set the rules for us to follow, they can keep our friends and familiy from ever speaking to us again, and they can ruin our reputations, with or without our agreement or presence at their stipulated meetings.
Having been on the "receiving end" of a messy divorce, I can honestly say I was not a happy camper for a long time - and I finally had the freedom to talk about the as*shole who did these dastardly deeds to me - and I did. Then I got over it - for the most part, and went on with my life.
I made the mistake of challenging a poster on h20 who was in the middle of his parents' divorce. His father had shown him the settlement proposed to his mother. I assumed he was an adult. I was wrong. He was a kid. I would have never come on so strong to a teenager. My anger about his mother being dumped after 36 yrs. of marriage and then the kid's going to take her before the elders for materialism so his dad can keep his money was just to darned inviting for me not to respond. Others did too, btw. Poor kid - later I had to resort to telling him jokes so he wouldn't think I was an old bitter hag. Which I'm not, btw.
But there is definitely a time of anger to be dealt with. Better to vent only in words than to take it out on our mates and children, pets, etc. with words or violence.
As you have said, along with myself, this can be done somewhat civily, as most - if not all - are that post on this forum.
waiting
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Grunt
I don't think of myself as an "apostate." Never have. I now think of this group that I once thought was the closest thing to right of all the religions I had discovered, as being foul and hypocritical, not apostate though as they never really had the truth. I do feel guilt over having been in it and in having caused my child to see it as truth and join it. I do feel anger at myself for not really researching them before joining, but as my parents and other people I trusted were in it, I lowered my guard I guess. I viewed looking up the scriptures and "studying" with them proving it, which is laughable. As for any jackass who was never part of it being critical of those who were, well I would have to say his presence on this board is at least as hard to understand as being duped by a sincere group of people who are in turn being duped by a group of lying hypocrites. Ah well, no use in stopping the car over one barking dog.
Anyway, the problem I now have is how to get the ones I love "Out" when they are so indoctrinated and when what I say is viewed with suspicion. I think that most of us are credible, responsible people. I have always been honest and have always been a good father, son, brother, and friend to those still in. I think that the most good that can be done has been done just by my leaving. They know me and know that I wouldn't leave without good reason. Despite the propaganda, despite the constant pounding of the near hypnotic messages about the Organization, maybe our leaving has made an impact. I think it has. The good news is that their future in the Western nations seems sealed. The young (and many of the old!) are leaving in droves, the growth rate despite millions of hours of advertizing is negative or zero, the message is boring and they don't dare set another date to rev things up. I just wish they would go ahead and die quickly so the hostages could be freed.
Again, I enjoyed your posts, thank you.
OvertDisciple -
circare
Hey Zep you'd be more of a Boag's man wouldn't you?
My 'lesser half' has been to Ben Lomond a few times. Back in the years when there was only 1 tow. On one occasion when the slope had iced up and there were no skiers around he decided to go down on a sled. He said that the iced over rocks at the top edge of the drop gave a 'real good lift'. After having survived the fast and bumpy ride down and the drop, - his only real problem was how to dig himself out of the deep hole he was stuck in! Funny, now I come to think of it, he seems to spend a lot of his life in deep holes.
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circare
Well waiting I must admit that my first thought was that the noble title of PMS couldn't be granted to a more worthy and deserving friend, but then it occurred to me that the prefix (post - portending your demise)was pre-empting your expiry date! I had not realised that you were so ancient. Maybe I should finish with "You have my condolences."?
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Zep
So how long have all you guyz here been Apostates anyway, just curious?.I mean, it must be kind of cool to reflect and think...."Well, heck, i'm a damned freaking Apostate" or altleast a closet Apostate, of which most of you are, i think?, right?.Yeah, Such a cool label is "Apostate" huh!.
This part was supposed to be kind of sarcastic BTW.'Such a cool label is apostate huh'= what a load of bollocks, what a load of crap!.I mean, for label its such a joke, it shouldn't have any impact all...it so lame and atiquated.No one outside dubs would even know what it means...but...it does.....Labels negate thinking.Why is someone going to hell, its because they are an Apostate.Why is a religion bad, because its a cult etc etc.
I'm a dog BTW...a worldy dog.Dubs would probably call me that and think its an insult....but i like it.
I'm a damn dog.Probably off to hell from the things i've said here, off to the 2nd death...yippie! oh well, what can you do!
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joel
The whole thing is not funny! The fact is that it is reeeealy sad....to have spent so much valuable time and energy for the wrong cause
The only good thing is that we took in the knowldge that open our eyes... knowledge is power.
We can feel good about where we are at now!
Pax,
joel -
Pathofthorns
LOL @ Zep. You BASTARD!! lol
Anyways, I prefer snowboarding to skiing myself. There are a few ski hills around here, but nothing spectacular like Whistler. The winters have been mild the last couple of years, and I find most of the runs the same old ice/packed powder crap.
So you don't drink Fosters eh? So much for me believing everything that Crocadile Dundee says. And I suppose you guys don't drive around in Subaru Outbacks either .
All I know is that Fosters has the biggest "King Can" I've ever seen. LOL.
Path
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Zep
The fact is that it is reeeealy sad
I know Joel, i really do.I remember going to a few meetings and seeing an old lady who lives near me and she had obviously been converted and believed it all.Back then i thought Dubs where pretty spot on with their biblical views, you'd never get me speak against them.BUT...a few months ago i drove past her on a Tue or Thurs night...she was waiting to be picked up by some dubs to go off to one of her meetings.I had been reading heaps of Anti Christian and anti Dub stuff at the time.When i saw just standing there, she's well into her 70's BTW...i just realised how hopless it all was and shes hoping in a lie.That was kind of sad.She's at the end of her life hoping to taken off to paradise real soon and its isn't going to happen...atleast not the way dubs say!
Path, No fosters down here...its more Victorian Bitter for me.Maybe some home brew...we made some a couple of years, it turned out OK apart from the lumpy bits of yeast, but you scoop them out with your spoon!.
King cans huh!, is that what you call them...they call 'em Tubes down here.Australia is divided into 2 halves, North and South...like the U.S.I'm in the south, where we drink different beer and play different sport.In north they play Rugby League and south its Aussie Rules.And theres a different beer for each sport.
BTW, lots of beer drinking will be happening tommorow down here...its Grand final day for Aussie rules.Its like Super Bowl Sunday only happens on Saturday.