IFIN
that was false freedom because I was living outside of Jehovah's arrangement
Could you expand on this.
steve
Am I wrong to feel this way
by stillajwexelder 59 Replies latest jw friends
-
stevenyc
-
cyber-sista
It seemed like everyone put their kingdom hall hats on when they attended the meetings. Conversation was ususally polite, but mostly dull and robotic, as there were only a few safe subjects to be discussed such as: sister so in so suffering with her bunions (a sure sign that the end is near) or the weather, which was either too hot or too cold, but most definitely not normal and always a sign that the end is near. For some reason in my experience witnesses in field service together were a little less than polite, as I believe it was stressful for most of us--Yes, and I am sure it was another sign that the end is near.
The witness mindset is generally steered towards the negative. It is like a trap that leaves no room for growth or creative inspiration.
As one poster put it:
It's refreshing to have people being REAL...and truthful about themselves.
I think that freedom of thought and expression has much to do with intellectual growth. Being around people who are in this mode is also stimulating to the growth of those around them.
cybs
-
a friend in need
GBL .. thanks for the hug!
Steve .. I could expand on that thought but I 'm quite sure know exactly what I mean.
cybs .. You make some good points. My foot has become a fixture in my mouth! Next step is to become mute.
-
stevenyc
IFIN
Steve .. I could expand on that thought but I 'm quite sure know exactly what I mean.
No, I have assumptions, I'm not here to judge, but I would like to know from you what you mean by your statement. From the horses mouth, so to speak. There are many people here who maybe going through a similar situation, and I think it would be good to clarify what you mean by your own personnal definition of ' outside of Jehovah's arrangement'.
steve
-
a friend in need
Steve .. I doubt very much that there are other people here going through a similar situation I am. That would make any further comments on this subject redundant.
-
stevenyc
IFIN
Steve .. I doubt very much that there are other people here going through a similar situation I am. That would make any further comments on this subject redundant.
You maybe suprised. Try it. There are hundreds of lurkers.
steve
-
EvilForce
AFIN...
I experienced the taste of freedom you speak of. It was not wonderful but will never be forgotten. I was out for many years so have seen and experienced both sides of this coin.
I don't want to put words in your mouth.... but.... you seem to think that freedom was simply not going to meetings. We do joke on this board alot about not going to 5 worthless meetings a week. But this is not the REAL freedom we attained. We are free from feeling crappy about ourselves for not living up to every little rule (biblical or otherwise) that the BOE chose to enforce. I speak for many here that we have spent (and continue to spend) countless hours and days searching ourselves for "the truth". This process is neither easy nor fun. But to truly understand yourself and your needs you must spend time figuring this out. The Dub's simply say...wait on Jehoba, or it'll be better in the new system. This is a cop out.
Our purpose of not going to meetings was not to lay on the couch and watch TV instead. Now we choose when / how we worship our God without any outside pressure. -
a friend in need
EvilForce .. to have such profound thoughts on the subject of religious beliefs, you sure picked a strange name for yourself :)
-
JAVA
Seeing how this thread has developed reminds me how many folks are still attending meetings, some MS and elders that post here. I'm also sure there are a large number of lurkers that can identify with many of the expressions posted that JWs can't share with each other. This is an on-line place to go until it gets too scary, they leave, pray and ask for forgiveness until the next urge of honest conversation strikes again.
Maybe that's where you are AFIN, I don't know, but it could be. As I'm sure you know, there are folks on this forum from nearly every background with a wide range of experience in and out of the Society. There is more collective help within this community than any forum of this kind. I was a pioneer and elder for many years, and filled in for the circuit overseer from time to time, and gave talks at circuit and dis. assemblies. Many of us work in the health field, engineering, farming, law -- you name it, and you'll find it here.
If you need some help or just want to let it all hang out--this is the place to be. -
EvilForce
The Dub's pounded into me how evil everything was in the "world". It is easy to fear what you do not understand. Until you realize that words only hold whatever meaning we assign to them and have no real power in themselves you will not be free. So many of the things that I was brought up to "know" were considered "evil". I embraced that title...and realized if you want to call me evil so be it. I know I am not, for even Buddha punished evil :)