i was reading a little bit of the greatest man who ever lived book today and when i began to read chapter 85 ( searching for the lost ), something was crystal clear.
i read this:.
" the pharisees and scribes treat common people like dirt under their feet.
Somebody : I take it the Greatest Man is Society Literature. I haven't stayed in touch but I sure appreciate reading some of the info here on the board. For example the KM on disfellowshipping was another eye opener.
Zev: So they are still locking up their worldly goods from the worldlings at the conventions I remember that many years ago.
when you get your subscription from Mad could I borrow a few of them?
rosalyn
(not, ray franz owes us an apology) .
(ok lets add this on)do those who are or were governing body members have a greater amount of responsability than witnesses in general?at what point do we stop being victims and become instigaters?
this may have been discussed before but i'm not sure.so sorry if it has.
Saw this the other day but didn't have time to read the beginning thread or comments. still haven't read all the comments but am so glad that the ones I have read feel the same way as I do.
Just the title of his first book "Crisis of Conscience"ays so much about his feelings on the subject. No one wants a book like "mommy dearest"Ray did an excellent job of exposing the big guys in Brooklyn while not coming across as bitter and angry. But I can believe the emotions sure would have been in turmoil and we should thank for taking the time and effort to tell us what he has.
rosalyn
i'm tired as hell today.
yesterday, i typed up a flyer saying how jehovah's witnesses' protect pedophiles, and how many who have spoken out trying to protect children from wt policy have been excommunicated from the church.
i didn't want to make it too long, but i ended by saying "how would you feel if on saturday morning, a knock comes to the door and your 6 year old runs to open it.
See all that training while in the org paid off Mary...Best to of luck to you
yes, it's number 13 in a series of weekend polls designed to brighten your day on a lazy sunday afternoon!
this weekend's poll topic invites us to do some market research!
the question is prompted by the recently published findings of the national church life survey (australia) conducted in 2001. all church attenders were asked their highest educational qualification.
The school system here in Canada is abit different but here goes
Primary school grade 1-8------------------------98%
Secondary 9-12 or 13------------- 45%
College (trade certificate)----------------------------------- 5%
University----------------------------------------------------------1%
The trend seems to be changing to allowing the younger generation get college degrees but seeing that in the town I am in now many of this age group are leaving, being disfellowshipped or committing suicide.
My son who knows a few Jws from school, has played music with them at coffee houses recorded a cd with one of them as well as a cd release party. This group IN LIMBO resemble RADIO HEAD alot. Anyways the lead singer( a jw ) has a brother who has announced he is gay and promptly was disfellowshipped.
And the most distressing news that I was privy to last night. Last week another one has committed suicide. 23 years ago this boy was at my wedding and I am truly heartbroken. His older sister was my flower girl introduced herself to me in the grocery store about 4 weeks ago. She left the organization quite awhile ago. I hope she contacts me. Another boy that I babysat when he was little took his own life several years ago. I wish they could have just hung on until the light got brighter.
There are many more unpleasant situations in this congregation that is driving their young out. The four I mentioned are but a few.
So I don't imagine their college numbers will be growing anytime soon.
rosalyn
Edited by - rosalyn on 30 July 2002 17:7:36
hello, board!.
i am grinning this morning, happy to have spent most of the past 18 hours in the company of some wonderful people from this board and their friends!
i was supposed to post a report last night, but somehow a pillow and a comforter seemed a better choice than the desk chair, so i'm posting this in a hurry on my way out to brunch!
outnfree.You were only about a half an hour late. I was at least 20 minutes late calling you the night before. Besides I was sitting inside on the bench inside enjoying the air conditioning while you were probably on another one of your high speed chases. When I wasn't reading my magazine I was snoozing with my head propped against the wall. Hope my snoring didn't bother any of those people waiting in the line up. Probably was drooling too.
I emailed you when I got home Sunday to say thanx. Hope it managed it's way to your computer.
From all the glowing comments here and in Hmmmmm's thread I you have done a wonderful job. You have put alot of effort into this weekend and I am so pleased that you went out on a limb to accomodate me. I hope we get to meet again in the not too distant future.
ROSALYN
Edited by - rosalyn on 30 July 2002 14:16:14
yes, it's number 13 in a series of weekend polls designed to brighten your day on a lazy sunday afternoon!
this weekend's poll topic invites us to do some market research!
the question is prompted by the recently published findings of the national church life survey (australia) conducted in 2001. all church attenders were asked their highest educational qualification.
I feel so honoured that my request is being looked into. I have confidence that your writing department won't keep me waiting forever. I will try not to miss it.
Have to give some thought to your latest poll but for right now I have to go finish picking raspberries. If I had a better education and a better paying job I could hire someone to go get those berries for me. No wait, I would probably still want to do it for myself....It's calming and the birds love to talk to me. And the three dogs at the farm I go to keep me company. But I would hire someone in a minute to dynamite those bathrooms of mine.
rosalyn
p.s. I really love the employment I have now. Just need full time and I would be laughing all the way to the bank and on my way there stop to employ someone to wash my windows. Do ya think any of the well trained janitorial JW pioneers would set foot in my house to do the domestic stuff? I could disguise my true apostate identity.
r.
it's quite simple really.
my personal mission is this:.
to demonstrate to leavers that it is perfectly possible for an ex-witness, df'd, da'd, whatever, to live a full and happy life away from the wtbts.. to enjoy the company of friends.
My mission is to have a "CARE BEAR" attitude. On this side of the pond, Englishman, Care Bears is a childrens' cartoon who have a loving attitude towards each other. Mind you Shrieky comes into play sometimes and I think that is necessary sometimes.
So enough with the cartoon comparisons.
One of my goals is to be less judgemental and attempting to look at all facets of a situation before shooting my mouth off. There are so many gray areas in this world but what an abundance of colour in that gray. It feels good not view everything in black and white anymore. I want to like someone because of my own values and if I chose to dislike someone it will be on my terms, not because it's been dictated by someone in Brooklyn.
And I love the feeling of loving and caring for my grown children even if they do something I consider "wrong". You have to let them grow and make their own mistakes.Stand beside them as they make bad calls. Pat their backs, give them a hug even when they have goofed up.And sometimes a "cuff up side the head" doesn't do them any harm either. But to disown them? No I don't think so.
And while I have your attention Englishman..... I do plan on actually buying a Harvey Andrews CD in the not too distant future.. I don't make a habit of copying things but I was desperate for something of his to listen to. So your mission here is to advise me which one you think is the best. I have 25 Years on the Road (pirated copy)and don't tell me that should be the one I should purchase to clear my conscience. My conscience is clear. Waiting to read your post. I so enjoyed your barbecue pictures.
Rosalyn
well, i damn near put my foot in it this evening.
a friend of mine who is well aware of my continuing friendship with a jw (now allegedly ex-jw) told me i should meet an ex-jw that he knows.
i felt pretty excited about meeting an ex-jw face to face as i've longed for a chance to speak honestly with someone who knows the organization well and my friend isn't ready to really discuss the issues yet.
Some people are more easily influenced than others. A few can be in the org for their whole lives and make a fairly clean break when leaving or being disfellowshipped. Others are simply so overwhelmed by the whole "experience" in a few short months or years that they never recover from having been involved with the jws. It's because we all have different personalities.
I was told that leaving the witnesses is like re-decorating your house. You usually do it one room at a time and sometimes it takes years before you move into another room to start work. If you try to attempt a complete makeover in one shot burn out will likely occur. Same with the org. One doctrine at a time needs to be examined and maybe touched up abit and can be re-used in another room. And then there are times to say "screw doctrine" Why not just enjoy the other freedoms that are allowed now that we are "in the world." For myself: I can vote, I can read Mary Stewart's Merlin trilogy inspite of the magic,I can give blood, I can go a folk concert in a church,truly enjoy the friendships of real people. And there's more.
Patience with ourselves and others is probably the key here. I have some non witness relatives who where somewhat involved way back when. When my aunt uses the phrase "The Truth" I cringe and I have tactfully remind her that it is not "The Truth". Tactful hasn't always been in may nature and she remembers this. She says I am a nicer person now that I am out which I take to be huge boost. And coming from this aunt it is quite the compliment and I'll take compliments whenever I can get them....Let see what org policy doesn't allow for one's head to become full blown...oooops I can't remember. Feels so good to have memory lapses sometimes doesn't it?
Rosalyn
if any of you pray.please do for me.after the aug kingdom ministry allowing the active jw to help an aged sick parent .
my jw daughter is coming from montreal on the 29th of july....... i was in hospital for pain management-thanks watchtower !!
for allowing a bit of humanity to creep in.
Good morning Grace:
I haven't been on the board much over the last few days but I am so glad I checked this morning. And I hope this posting will make up for not seeing you in live chat last week. I am still getting the hang of this.You are more computer literate than I am by a long shot.
I want everyone on this board to know that Grace has devoted many years to helping ex JWs. She has taken a lot of flack from the organiztion and as much as I hate to admit it it she hasn't always been treated kindly by those she has most definitely taken into her spiritual and physical care. She puts on quite the spread when you say you are just coming for coffee.
I found Grace when I was going through a second low after being disfellowshipped. While my "worldly" friends have been absolutely amazing and supportive I finally realized that after 12 years of being out I needed some "good association" with ex JWs. Grace was the first one to take me in.And there is a humorous story behind this but I will not go into it here.
Grace: You said you wanted to kiss A....before you die. And I know you have said you are tired and you are ready to go home to be with Jesus but I tell you there are just too many people that need you here in the flesh Grace. I hope you really do allow yourself to put your feet up, tend to your body and read those novels you were telling me about. I have a box of Catherine Cookson novels that are like new and you do resemble her so much. Call me if you want me to drop them off. Please take care of yourself. You are cherished.
Rosalyn (B)
http://abcnews.go.com/sections/us/dailynews/fatsuit020725.html.
does anybody have any common sense anymore and accept responsibility for themselves?
who will be left to blame for our ills?
YUP RONALD is out ta getcha one way or t'other. I'd go get myself a mcmuffin right now but the sodding place isn't open this early in the morn.
On a more serious note. Why don't these people with their law suits spend some of their dollars on someone who could use a good meal. Maybe they could go to the schools in the morning and handout egg mcmuffins and juice for breakfast to the wees ones who didn't get anything in their tummies before setting out from home.
Now on a heavier note think I'll waddle down to my local ricky mcdickeys and wait for the doors to open and if I waddle back maybe some of that breakfast bagel might disappear into thin air.
Do ya think I could sue for someone for a slow metabolism?
Rosalyn
