Actually Gumb-ee I'm sitting up with my dog who I recently had a part of his unmentionables shaved because he was so matted (he has long fur) Anyway I feel awful because he has razor burn so I keep putting benedryl on him and he licks it off. He tries to escape outdoors but comes back in to the a/c... and over and over. I'm thinking should I give him aspirin? Probably not... With my dogs I'm not a bitch. heh heh heh edited to add: I'm going to bed now (yawn)
Are you an Irritating Bastard?
by gumby 82 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
-
-
gumby
? Probably not... With my dogs I'm not a bitch. heh heh heh
I hate to tell you this sweetie.....but your dog told me you were in fact a bitch... ever since you started giving him benadryl. He said he sleeps so much he poops on himself. He said it......not me. Gumbenadryl
-
ozziepost
Yap, yap Yap, yap <-----Ozzie giving impression of one of them real irritating
terror terrior dogs -
gumby
Well look who's up........the ol' Ozmeister.
Ozzie.....I think you meant a Jack Russell Terrier dog. This dog came around shortly after Charles Taze Russell reached puberty and in fact looks a little like that miracle wheat sellin shyster bastard...............................
Gumboxerdogowner
-
ozziepost
Nah, i stick to my pussy....cat
-
MegaDude
When I first figured out the Watchtower was a sham it hit me so hard I could hardly believe it. It was like being kicked hard in the stomach. The rage that poured out of me was like one of those oil wells when it hits a gusher. I'm afraid I blew my top and then some, and every JW around me got drenched with my anger against the Society. So I defintely fall in the Mega Irritating Bastard category. LOL.In my defense I will say I was a true believer. I was raised as an extreme JW by a fanatical JW mother and there was little affection or happiness in my childhood. It was all about being a JW, service, studying, to the point of ad nauseaum, and always the terror of demons and the temptation of Satan around us, Jehovah's Day of Slaughter so close at hand, the coming terrible persecution we were about to face in the Great Tribulation. It was an emotional nightmare growing up that way. To find out the Truth was a lie, that all the sacrifice and suffering and fear was for nothing... well, I couldn't be sweetness and light about it, could I? I exploded in pure outrage. I needed to find a Governing Body and beat him over the head with a tire iron for starters. I guess that makes me a Violent Irritating Bastard. LOL.
I was most harsh on my JW wife. She was very intelligent but terrified of leaving the JWs. I loved her but I would constantly berate the Watchtower, start a debate with her at every chance I could. I did this with my JW sisters and brother. I kept reading and studying and finding out new outrageous information about some hypocracy or false teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses had sold me and I'd get on a rant about it. In time I drove every JW acquaintance, relative and my wife away.
Trying to forcefully make a JW to see the truth about their cult is a useless exercise in my experience. I've talked to a number of ex-JWs who have successfully left the Watchtower with their marriage and children and families intact. The consistent theme of their actions was they shared a little bit of their views at a time, asked the people who they were talking to about what they thought about it instead of telling them anything, put no pressure on their loved ones, and were patient. Very patient. They were careful not to make too big a deal about the Watchtower. If I knew then what I know now I would have done it differently. I would have kept going to the Kingdom Hall and maintained my relationships. I would have been subtle instead of going for the Academy Award of Irritating Bastards.
As years have passed my relationship with my JW brother has improved. We took a trip together earlier this year like we did before I DA'd. We had a great time together and it was like old times. I don't need to be an Irritating Bastard anymore. If he asks me about something about the JWs, I'll tell him. If not, there are better and more pleasant things to talk about. Everybody has their own speed and pace at which they can proceed out of the Watchtower.
Maybe my present viewpoint could be summed up by what St. Francis said:
"Preach the gospel every day. If necessary, use words."
-
Sunspot
When I first figured out the Watchtower was a sham it hit me so hard I could hardly believe it. It was like being kicked hard in the stomach.
Yup! I've said the same thing myself. It's a real physical pain that hurts on every level of your being.....the realization of all those "promises and lies" just made up by a conniving publishing company. UGH.
hugs,
Annie
-
Big Tex
where ya been?
Roving about the earth and wandering about it in.
Hey Tex! How's yer back?
Thanks for asking Odrade. It's much better, back to normal in fact. My MRI showed no damage and between the stretching exercises and some muscle relaxants it finally got back to normal.
I kept reading and studying and finding out new outrageous information about some hypocracy or false teaching of Jehovah's Witnesses had sold me and I'd get on a rant about it. In time I drove every JW acquaintance, relative and my wife away
As did I. I think perhaps that's why I've always felt a great deal of empathy about your story. I do agree with you that you cannot change a Witness' mind. I too ranted and raved at my JW wife to no avail. I'd win every argument, every discussion but it didn't matter. She didn't leave until she was ready.
hillary_step has said on several occasions that the process of exiting this sect is neither easy nor pretty. It takes actually going through the experience to appreciate the honest truth in that statement.
Chris -
Rod P
Well Gumby, I have seen some of your "Irritating Bastard" tendencies come out on quite a number of threads this past several months, especially your own. But then, after awhile, it began to sink in, that your bark is bigger than your bite. You just like bein' bad, you ol' grouch! Every time I read one of your rants or put-downs, I can just see you grinnin' from ear to ear. Gotcha!
You need to get one of those Clint Eastwood Magnum 45's, and every time you get the goat of another Poster (you can tell by how they react to you), put another notch on your 45.
Anyway, when I was a good little blind and obedient JW, happily and newly married in da 'troof, I turned Mormon. This was a direct result of doing field service, and my wife also introducing me to the very fellow that was the most influential in convincing me on Mormonism, and who also baptized me into Mormonism. (I'm sure my (ex-)wife rues the day she ever introduced me to him.)
Mine was an intellectual problem, which then became a faith problem, which then resulted in Apostasy and Disfellowshipping.
I always find it amusing that when you exchange one religion for another, the "One" you leave is condemning you to eternal death, while the "Other One" is giving you God's eternal blessings for seeing the "Truth". Must be kinda confusing for poor ol' God up there, looking down on us humans, one condemning in His Name, while the other Blessing in His Name.
Now upon experiencing DF and the Shunning that followed, I had mixed feelings. I was angry over the Shunning policy, which I considered to be anti-Biblical and anti-Christian. At the same time, I was the one that had created this mess by leaving the JW religion, and joining the Mormons, thereby causing the marriage to be torn in two, right down the middle. It would have been better if I had just faded away into inactivity, than to do what I did in my crusading and Godly conversion mentality. But no, I had to jump from the frying pan into the fire. There was nothing luke warm about me. I was doin' all this for God and Truth! What could possibly be wrong or bad about that....? (Plenty!!!!!)
So anyway, partly because of Self-Blame, I took the position of sympathy and empathy and understanding towards my wife and her family. If I was just patient and kind and tolerant, etc. then by example they might see the light. The other reason was that now that I was Mormon, and of course, I had the Truth, and the JW's didn't, then I needed to set the example as the True Christian. And so I respected my wife's position of no talking about anything spiritual in accordance with their rules. I drove her and out kids to their JW meetings, and let them have home Bible studies, and all that. I was a model citizen in this department, at least for a time.
Then I discovered things that were going on behind my back. Such as, my wife going to the grade one teacher of our oldest daughter, and telling the school system to keep our daughter out of any school functions that are against her religion (flag saluting, singing national anthem, Christmas, Halloween and Easter,etc.). No asking, no discussing, no sharing. Just sneaking around about it, and putting things in place in a devious manner in the name of Jehovah and da "troof". I was livid, and disgusted, and had enough. No more Mr. Nice Guy! Look where "being nice" had got me. So I got really pro-active, and went to the school authorities and set things in motion to reverse everything my wife had schemed and manipulated without my knowledge. This was not a marriage; this was spiritual warfare, and it was time to do battle. It also resulted in our separation, and eventual divorce.
Later we got divorced, she remarried and so did I. So there I was a happy Mormon, who married a nice Mormon girl, and later, a couple more kids. Then I discovered a whole pile of crap about Mormonism, and once again a spiritual crisis in the making, which likewise ended up in leaving the religion, and subsequently divorce. This last go around was about 25 years ago, and I have never joined another church or religion since. The kids are all grown up and living their own lives.
Anyway, I am happy to be out of "Organized Religion" of any kind, and am happy and content to be free, pursuing spiritual matters on my own terms without a bunch of straight-jacket rules and regulations, doctrines and dogmas, and do not have to worry about lies and cover-ups, secrecies and hidden agendas that religions often become involved with as self-preservation tactics. I just don't trust them! The other thing is, when it comes to money, these religions are very good at getting you to part with your hard-earned income. They can be pretty blatant and obvious at times, but also can be quite devious and secretive on financial matters, making you wonder "What has this got to do with God and Spirituality?"
Now I am not one to try to convert someone to my own brand of belief or spirituality, even though I am willing to share my respective points of view on different topics. (That's what this forum is about, isn't it.)
But at the same time, I notice on other threads around here, that there are a number of 'postate activities going on that are aimed at the JW's, and which have their own kind of missionary zeal. And, in this regard, I cannot help but share in that enthusiasm.
For example, one has to do with writing little messages on post cards and sending them to certain JW "friends" or acquaintances. Little things, like raising a question here and there about some of the dubious or inconsistent things the GB is involved with at the top (eg. UN, changing doctrines, weird beliefs long forgotten, etc.) This is about planting little seeds in the minds of JW's that could cause them to pause and to question just what it is that they are following. This could motivate them to start questioning and searching for answers, etc. I think that is a good thing.
This is not about converting them to another belief system. It is, rather, getting them to question things, getting out of their "comfortable pews" and to start thinking a little for themselves, instead of just blindly following a system of religion. That is a whole different ball game than trying to convert them to another system. They are still left the freedom to decide for themselves what it is that they do believe, or what they may ultimately want to replace the failing JW belief system with.
There are two main reasons why I think it is good for us 'postates to participate in "chipping away at the JW armour". The first is that the GB at the top has a most destructive policy on blood transfusions. Thousands of people, including innocent children, have died, or been allowed to die, over this unscriptural and bogus doctrine. It, IMHO, should not be allowed to remain unchallenged, or it will just go on and on and on, with more people continuing to die needlessly. The second is this terrible practice of Shunning that is wreaking untold harm and damage on so many individuals and families and marriages. It is a Crime, in my books, and needs to be challenged at every turn. The R& F JW's need a good shaking, and the GB needs a good shake-up, exposing them for what they are. Enough is quite enough already!
So maybe this peace-loving guy is a late bloomer, by turning into another one of those "irritating bastards" LOL
Rod P.
-
whyamihere
I didn't have to leave the JW's to be a Irritating Bastard!
Brooke