by outoftheorg 69 Replies latest jw experiences
W. Once,
Nah, just the pitter patter of the Patterson's here.
But I doooo love Peanuts, especially Planters! Actually it was a teacher way back in high school days that read us that story, but that was about 46 years ago. Jeez I feel old all of a sudden!
Rod P.
Each of us comes here with a unique experience, a different story to tell.. We pass on these experiences and discuss them- get things off our chest with people who know how we feel. This in majority of cases makes us feel better. Kinda theraputic.
There are lots of people on here who have been really nice to me, and i feel an obligation to be there in the same way for others.
As crumpet said-
i'm not entirely here for me anymore
While i still get a lot from this board everyday, i wanna be able to help people a bit too. I know how weird and confused i felt when i first came here, I just hope i can be of help to people. Even if topics are repeated, they are never exactly the same. We might at some point have someone more senior in the org leave and join- and give us even more insight into the JW's- where we all came from (well most)- I wouldnt want to miss that.
I know i havent been here long compared to lots of people, but i never intend to leave.
Paul
I have been here for a few months now ...since February and in that time I believe I have taken such a lot and benefited substantially from the experiences and advice of others; I am still around because I havent finished with the healing process and I feel I want to help other people too...its kind of altruistic but I get a benefit too if you get my meaning.
As long as there are people out there that have been where I have been...I anticipate being around here to help them.
DB74
I figure that if my being here was all about me I'd have moved on after about my first year or so, especially when the board goes through it's occasional cycles of negativity. I certainly have a very full work and social life, so it's not really like I need it.
Little Toe you aren't fooling anybody - we all know you sit in front of you little laptop in your remote hut on the even more remote scottish isle waiting for new posts to respond to and rubbing your hands with glee when someone starts one about the existence of angels!
xx
Little Toe you aren't fooling anybody - we all know you sit in front of you little laptop in your remote hut on the even more remote scottish isle waiting for new posts to respond to and rubbing your hands with glee when someone starts one about the existence of angels!
Crumps you cant forget that he waits for the opportunity to wheel out the Jello pit too....his life wouldnt be worth living if he couldnt do that...hehe.
DB74
If you'd like my honest response to that, it bores me silly.
I generally enjoy challenging people's thinking, and given that there aren't that many of us who present the "believer's" perspective, I'm happy enough to step into the breach. What I find disturbing is the number who quickly jump from one camp to another, evidently getting caught up in some seemingly emotive arguments, with little real personal research.
For example, I believe in the theory of evolution, and have no difficulty with the manner in which it describes the proliferation of life upon our planet. I was enthralled by the sciences (including Biology) as a schoolchild, and it always arrests my attention when I hear something new.
I can't help but offer a wry grin when I see someone come to the board saying that they believe in a creator, read a few well written posts detracting some story or other from the bible, come quickly to the assumption that it's all a load of b*ll*x, and hence God must be imaginary, too, and hence evolution must be correct because it's the "only" viable alternative.
Ermmmm - sorry. Excuse me if I challenge the black and white steps that led to that position.
That having been said, there are plenty of folks here who have REALLY researched their beliefs and have scrutinised their assumptions, foregoing the usual mental laziness that characterises the general populace and especially the WTS indoctrinated mindset.
We pride ourselves, on this site, for freeing ourselves from the mental shackles that captivated us. Often times there's just an exchange of irons, which I love to help shatter. At the same time I'm aways on guard for people's fragility of mind, because I've been there and know how paradigm shifts can unsettle us. I'm not always successful in getting that balance right, between being gentle and being firm, but I do try.
Without a contrary opinion, there is no debate or discussion, and we become a bunch of yayy-sayers. I attempt to present a framework which few would present, and many reject. It makes it tough going, sometimes, especially given that some topics I've discussed to the point of brain-melting boredom, time and time and time again. But it probably helps that I personally don't give flying fig if my argument becomes the more compelling, or not, for if it causes someone to think about life in a fresh way then I am satisfied. I suspect that was the essense of Jesus teaching, too, don't you?
A few thoughts from the Toe
DB74:
The jello pit makes life worth living
LT are you saying I bore you silly?
~throws jello at Crumpet~
Hmm - you aren't in a very good mood today are you? And now you are just humouring me...
