Posts by CruithneLaLuna

10

my regret getting baptised/ your opinion from former jw's

by the mole in

***the mole**** i had a discussion with a friend about some things the org covered up.

starting with a calm subject about her and her husband being tricked with a fraudulent scheme for buying discount gas and that several witness were duped and lost alot a money.

i advised that the da's office found it difficult to prosecute because witness' believe not suing each other.

CruithneLaLuna

Yes, someone (who seemed fairly intelligent, overall) actually expressed that thought to me. When I was an active Witness, I NEVER thought the org was perfect - whereas I did believe it was led by Jehovah and Jesus, and that athough they allowed bad things to happen, they kept the org as a whole on course and cleaned up problem areas in time. I always saw it as a bunch of imperfect people - at every level - doing, for the most part and on the whole, the best they could. And it was only Jehovah's blessing that enabled it to work as well as it did. Whenever I had discussions with other Witnesses about this subject area, I would (needless to say) be careful how I phrased things, trying to keep the conversation encouraging and upbuilding. If the other person had a strong need to believe that the org was right no matter what, I wouldn't press my more pragmatic views. I'd simply say that that wasn't the way I understood things, I wasn't trying to change their viewpoint, and that what was important was faithfulness to Jehovah....

The interesting question is, given that I was so tolerant of individual and even organizational imperfection, flaws, and shortcomings, and stayed "faithful" as a JW for over 30 years, why did I eventually turn my back on it, walk away, and even end up on a spiritual path that is in many ways "at the opposite end of the spectrum" from the JWs. I looked back on what 30 years as a JW had done for me, and finally admitted that my attachment to the religion had basically "ruined my life." I.e. by faith I had caused myself a lot of needless suffering, and denied myself many harmless benefits and pleasures; also, my desire to contribute to society and humanity had been subverted into a worse-than-useless channel (helping the org expand its control). My search for happiness and fulfillment as a Jehovah's Witness had led me to deep-seated, unremitting frustration and anger (at just about everyone and everything), misery, depression, and a great many foolish, worthless, and self-destructive actions.

By going against counsel and getting a bachelor's degree, I was enabled to support a family and accumulate some assets; subsequently, by trying to follow the org's guideance very closely and be the best JW I could be (at the expense of more mundane considerations), I ended up losing all of my assets and being unable to support myself or my family in a 'reasonable or decent lifestyle.' It is fair to ask whether I followed counsel in a balanced way, and all I can offer in response is that in my experience the org gives lip service to balance and taking care of mundane matters, making sure that we can support ourselves and our families, even counseling us to provide for our own retirement and old age - and yet in practice, attempting to apply all of the counsel offered militates against all of that; in the final analysis, they want people to give as much as possibe to the org, and if that causes personal financial disaster, then all of the blame for that falls on the individual. "It happened because I did my best to do everything you told me to do" is not something they want to hear, and if one expresses that observation of FACT, one is automatically found to be in the wrong and cut off from any superficial and ultimately useless expressions sympathy that might otherwise be offered.

Yes, I had been spared the troubles that often befall people as a consequence of abusing alcohol, drugs, and sex, and obviously do not regret being free from cirrhosis of the liver, dementia, AIDS, etc. ... but we must admit that the majority of non-Witnesses don't fall victim to those things, and one does not have to embrace JW dogma in order to have and exercise common sense in taking care of ourself and avoiding foolish risks. As I put it at the time of my decision to leave the org, "Any counsel I have received from the WTS that was truly worthwhile, I could have gotten from any number of other sources, or figured out for myself."

I didn't intend to get into a long story about my own experiences.

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

10

my regret getting baptised/ your opinion from former jw's

by the mole in

***the mole**** i had a discussion with a friend about some things the org covered up.

starting with a calm subject about her and her husband being tricked with a fraudulent scheme for buying discount gas and that several witness were duped and lost alot a money.

i advised that the da's office found it difficult to prosecute because witness' believe not suing each other.

CruithneLaLuna

Hey Mole, are you one of my neighbros? (Misspelt on accident, left that way on deliberation). I am in the Sac area, moving toward the central city in about a week.

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

62

Trekkies will not inherit the kingdom of God....

by drwtsn32 in

jw
friends

this is hilarious!

i am so surprised that the society has counsel on learning the klingon language.

*** g95 12/8 p. 8 a look at todays science fiction ***.

CruithneLaLuna

So, that elder I knew who delighted in individuating himself by playfully uttering a word of Klingon now and then will have to swallow his irritation (and shame and guilt at being spiritually stoopid, so unbalanced, etc.) and humbly put his attention on other things. The Society wants to tell people what hobbies are appropriate, how JWs are permitted to individuate themselves, and how not. I am pretty strict with myself regarding how I spend my time, and personally (although I ike sci-fi and Star Trek) would consider learning Klingon a "waste of time," but would never ever suggest to someone else that it was an inappopriate thing for them to do, if they were interested in it ... unless they were obviously unhealthily obsessed, which is another issue entirely.

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

21

I turn my back on it all

by CruithneLaLuna in

jw
friends

friends,.

in perusing the postings here in the "friends" section, i notice how many of us are still hashing over and rehashing the evils of the organization we were a part of, and how it hurt us, etc.

i got kinda down reading it.

CruithneLaLuna

As I did say, my post was motivated by negative feeings that assailed me due to a slight overdose of "this is what the nasty WTS did to poor l'il ole me" type messages. I have those thoughts and feelings too, and I can appreciate that many people are in very bad shape, emotionally, spiritually, and otherwise, upon making their debut here, and upon leaving the organization. I didn't really mean to sound unsympathetic, unempathetic. However, I do feel that the best course for anyone is to get past the stage of grief and associated emotions as quickly as possible. I read in a self-help book once that we are biologically obliged to spend two days grieving over any loss, and after that period of time our grief is self-inflicted. While I believe that, and have actually experienced its truth more than once (and within the past 10 days, as a matter of fact), I too indulge in a measure of self-inflicted grief - but I am getting out of the habit, as far and as fast as possible.

Dear Overbeer, I don't know where you got the impression that I was being judgmental; at least, that was not my intent. However, it's easy to give or arrive at slightly (or greatly) skewed misimpressions when attempting to use mere printed words to effect communication. If al those tads of JW-negative info are important, they need to be collected and published. Perhaps that is my calling, perhaps not; I wish it were someone's calling. I have two journalist friends (both working on books, one already published once) with whom I want to have lengthy discussions about putting something together. It is not my calling to do it alone, but perhaps with a professional writer firend or two.

Notice I said I intend to spend most of my time and energies here in pursuits other than detaied analysis of the JWs' evils. Will probably give some attention to that area also, just not so much as to bring myself down. Ultimately, it's the old "taking personal responsibility for what we feed into our minds," and it's a personal issue, a personal probem. No one else here is doing "wrong" or needs to be scolded; I need to be more sensitive to my own inner barometer that says, "Enough reading about that for a while. Let's balance our info intake with something more uplifting."

Oh, and I don't mind being called Cru. (Chant, "Crooth-neh! Criith-neh! Crooth-neh!") It's what I asked for by choosing the name.

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

21

I turn my back on it all

by CruithneLaLuna in

jw
friends

friends,.

in perusing the postings here in the "friends" section, i notice how many of us are still hashing over and rehashing the evils of the organization we were a part of, and how it hurt us, etc.

i got kinda down reading it.

CruithneLaLuna

Friends,

In perusing the postings here in the "Friends" section, I notice how many of us are still hashing over and rehashing the evils of the organization we were a part of, and how it hurt us, etc. I got kinda down reading it. While there is a place for this, and those who feel so inclined are welcome to indulge, my personal feeling is that what is best (at least for me) is to focus on my life NOW and what is ahead of me that I can plan for and work toward, to make my future much more enjoyable and productive than my past - because now I have the opportunity to exercise my prerogative to create my own life, without the WTS telling what to do and how to do it.

So...for the most part, I'll "see" you in the other forums.

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

60

Coming out of the closet/Blowing my cover/My story and I'm sticking to it!

by HadEnuf in

dear friends:.

what a pleasure it has been to browse this website over the past couple of years...first as a lurker and then as a member.

i now intend to "come out of the closet"...blow my cover and tell you my story (and i'm sticking to it!).

CruithneLaLuna

... at least, the "happy ending" part. Not that all of life is sweetness and light, certainly, but you sound strong and sure of yourself, and I feel certain that this is in stark contrast to many times in the past, when you were fully in the bOrg's control. I really want to print out your tale and send it to my kids. THey don't talk to me anyway; I doubt it will do any harm.

Regards,

Cruithne/Enhtiurc

41

I am going to try hanging out with you people

by CruithneLaLuna in

hello, new member here.. i registered a couple of years ago, but my initial experiences here were not of the warm/fuzzy variety, which must have been what i needed at the time; so, i left.

recenty, a friend gently suggested that i might want to give interacting here a second try.. so's i don't have to type it twice, i offer here a hyperlink to my member profile.. although one might reasonably be named "cruithne" - especially if one is irish or scottish - it is not my real name.

well, of course it is my real name, in that i choose to be known by it.

CruithneLaLuna

Sadly , I can't answer everyone directly, but will offer a couple of comments.

I did not encounter the JW classmate until 7th grade, when the public school system and I were foisted upon one another.

The name is pronounced "Crooth-neh." It is wonderful to have to explain that, as the names my parents gave me are very commonplace and too easy to pronounce.

I have NO PROBLEMS in the generative organs! I don't believe in that "namerology" site ... er, that is, I don't seriously entertain the possibility of its validity. What is said there applies to me at most ... 5%; of course, there is the possibility (YIKES) that my nature will change as a result of adopting the name. I am studying astrology, and don't even believe in that yet. (But I am entertaining the possibility that it has some value. I read a book by a Nobel Prize winner, who feels that it is more "scientific," and possibly more accurate, than psychology.)

Enhtiurc (signing backward to "undo" any possible unwanted namerological effects)

38

Roots

by Xena in

in speaking with some people the other day i realized i have no roots....no long term frienships....no family connections.

i went to a party and almost all of the people there knew each other from high school or college or family friends.

i felt so out of place.

CruithneLaLuna

Dear Xena,

It is what it is, and the only question is, "What now?" It's time to take control of our lives and create the remaining years to befit who we are and who we aspire to become. I have similar problems; no doubt many of us do. The fact that in some respects we may be considered "late bloomers" means nothing. Forget the "late" part, and BLOOM. Show the Universe the gorgeousness of yourself-as-flower. I.e., we must choose to live, rather than just let life happen to us.

Cruithne

41

I am going to try hanging out with you people

by CruithneLaLuna in

hello, new member here.. i registered a couple of years ago, but my initial experiences here were not of the warm/fuzzy variety, which must have been what i needed at the time; so, i left.

recenty, a friend gently suggested that i might want to give interacting here a second try.. so's i don't have to type it twice, i offer here a hyperlink to my member profile.. although one might reasonably be named "cruithne" - especially if one is irish or scottish - it is not my real name.

well, of course it is my real name, in that i choose to be known by it.

CruithneLaLuna

Thank you, people. I REALLY feel all warm&fuzzy now, with such a copious outpouring of warmth from such apparently diverse souls.

You know, I think the JW experience was probably good for us in some ways; at least, it may have honed some positive inclinations that we brought to it; and our being here evidences that we ultimately worked up and exercised the courage to discriminate between the positives and negatives about it - according to what I call the Operational Definition of Truth (TM).

Tink, is that picture really of you??? Damn, girl, I 'bout had a heaart attack.

Re: Druid types - I'm more inclined toward "progressive Druidism" than the opposite extreme. (Two people agree to start a religion; within a year, one is leading one sect, and the other a different one.) I am reading a book that, although not (to my knowledge) specifically Druid in origina, articulates some principles that are consonant with what I've been learning (or remembering?):

0. Believe nothing; entertain possiblities.

1. Imagination lays the tracks for the Reality Train to follow.

2. Better to create prophecy (active co-creation with the Divine) than to live prediction.

3. The invisible world would like to help, but spiritual etiquette requires that we ask.

4. The only way the gods know we're asking for help is through ritual.

5. If something is a problem, make it bigger.

6. We only possess the power of an insight when we give it expression.

7. Creativity comes from the wedding of paradox.

Most of that fairly reeks of the spirit of Druidry as I've been experiencing it and learning it.

Thanks again for the hearty welcome. I feel like giving you all a big giant group cyber-hug. ((((You all))))

Cruithne

PS ~ I am the tiny body that unites the energies of Mars and Venus, an innocuous part (in a way that is often hard to figure out, and to explain) of the grand system beside the Greater Powers, soft and organic rather than hard and metallic. I have the spirit which persists and is ever-renewed, from ancient times, of legendary peoples and their heroes. I Googled "Cruithne" too, and felt some degree of resonance with most of the entries.

41

I am going to try hanging out with you people

by CruithneLaLuna in

hello, new member here.. i registered a couple of years ago, but my initial experiences here were not of the warm/fuzzy variety, which must have been what i needed at the time; so, i left.

recenty, a friend gently suggested that i might want to give interacting here a second try.. so's i don't have to type it twice, i offer here a hyperlink to my member profile.. although one might reasonably be named "cruithne" - especially if one is irish or scottish - it is not my real name.

well, of course it is my real name, in that i choose to be known by it.

CruithneLaLuna

Hello, new member here.

I registered a couple of years ago, but my initial experiences here were not of the warm/fuzzy variety, which must have been what I needed at the time; so, I left. Recenty, a friend gently suggested that I might want to give interacting here a second try.

So's I don't have to type it twice, I offer here a hyperlink to my member profile.

Although one might reasonably be named "Cruithne" - especially if one is Irish or Scottish - it is not my real name. Well, of course it is my real name, in that I choose to be known by it. Let me try again: it is not my legal name. That's okay, I will answer to it, here and elsewhere. If you're the curious type, I suggest using a search engine to learn about the name (assuming it's unfamiliar to you, as it was to me until about a week ago).

Regards,

Cruithne