Posts by seattleniceguy

42

Cross vs. Stake: Does it REALLY friggin' matter?

by Funchback in

when did the wts become so infatuated with the cross vs. stake theory?

did they come up with this theory in order to say, "see?

we teach the truth!

seattleniceguy

Funchback, I laughed out loud when I read your title. Right on, brother. Right...friggin'...on.

SNG

7

Eastern WA

by Dawn in

anyone here from eastern washington?

seattleniceguy

I'm from Seattle...but I have friends from Eastern WA!

SNG

13

A spin-off to Does it ever get easier?

by Joysome in

my question is regards to family though.

does missing your mother ever get easier?

does not wanting to hurt her or even others in the congregation get easier?

I understand how you feel. My mom and sister have cut me off. Of course, I miss them, but I know that I've done everything possible to keep the doors open to a relationship. I've called and sent letters - really bent over backwards to let them know that whether or not to have a relationship is their choice. This is important for me, because it's easier to see the situation now for what it really is. They are trapped in a small glass house, while I walk around freely. They imprison themselves. The situation is tragic, but no one can rightly ask me to walk into their prison to relieve the situation. The only hope is for them to overcome the barriers that they now subscribe to.

It's rough having family turn their nose up at you. I wish you the strength to ride out this rocky time.

(((Joysome)))

SNG

47

Somebody talk to me

by Puternut in

jw
friends

i am having one of those really down days.

things aren't going right.

i can't concentrate on my work, and i don't feel well.

seattleniceguy

Puter,

One thing that really helped me was finding a way - any way - to get involved in my community. I spent a couple hours a day in a nearby coffee shop, just to try to establish a group of people whose face I knew and vice versa. Maybe try volunteering somewhere? How about looking up old acquiantences? I looked up a few people that I had always really liked but didn't associate with because I was a "good JW." Also, you'd be suprised how interested non-JWs are to hear about your experiences.

Honestly, I think more than anything, it was re-establishing some human contact that really helped me. You can make it! We're here for you!

SNG

30

JW Urban Legends 2

by ZeroKool29 in

wow!

thanks for all of your replies to my last topic!

since it was so popular i thought we could use another one.

seattleniceguy

These posts made me recall a very strange part of JW culture. They give the demons a lot of power. There are endless stories about walking smurf dolls, talking dogs, and so on. Strangely, the demons have power to do these things in the direct presence of the supposedly angelically guided Witnesses - even inside Kingdom Halls in some stories! The power only wears off when the scared-breathless JW thinks to produce some amulet - either a copy of the Watchtower, or the name Jehovah, or, in a pinch, a "Life on a Peaceful New Earth" tract. At this point, the demons lose their power instantaneously and magically.

These stories are so basically mythological in nature, it's amazing. You can almost see an ancient shaman telling the story around his campfire. The goats were going wild until he produced the sacred root, which magically calmed them all down again! The gods were sending a terrible drought until he called on the name of the benevalent spirit, who sent a rescuing rain. It's always about forces beyond human control, and objects or invocations saving the day.

Funny to see how widespread these JW myths are. They must appeal to some basic human need. Interesting stuff.

SNG

47

Somebody talk to me

by Puternut in

jw
friends

i am having one of those really down days.

things aren't going right.

i can't concentrate on my work, and i don't feel well.

seattleniceguy

Hey Puternut.

Hang in there. After the initial euphoria at learning the truth, I fell into a several-month-long depression as well. I found it almost impossible to work, and I had very little desire to do anything, even eat.

All I can say is that almost imperceptibly, those days became fewer and fewer. I feel like I'm almost entirely back to my old self, with the exception that my mind is now free! I feel for you. Hang in there, just take one day at a time. We're all pulling for you.

SNG

81

What's your status....relationship wise?

by Maverick in

one of the down sides of the web is not knowing the various posters status; married, involved, looking, and lost...suspect a lot of those here!

my status is complicated...mostly by me!

i have a couple of admirers that would like to lock me down but i keep dancing around the whole issue.

seattleniceguy

Single and not really looking. Life is good, I'm happy about my direction. I really want to find the right girl. Really really really. But it seems that doesn't happen when you're looking. So I'm trying to get into a mode of just being happy with everything. Seems that that's about when the girls always start dropping out of the sky.

SNG

69

This Forum.....What Benefit is Is thesedays?

by ScoobySnax in

jw
friends

firstly .......i don't mean for one minute the end of friendships that may have been cultivated here.....or the "help" that may have been extended to those who needed it.... there are some good people here.

but......... but...... how often can the same old topics be bounced about and re-cycled amongst the topic threads here, usually created by the same few, for an imaginary multitude that i just don't see.

ok you say many may look in here, and may not comment.

seattleniceguy

Scooby,

When I first came here, I didn't have an interest in anything but the WT-related threads. I was undergoing a period of revelations, and thinking out loud through a lot of different topics was very helpful to me. Now I post less on those threads - indeed, less in general - but I know they are useful.

There are so many people here in so many different places. I think it's great that a person can walk around a bit and stick her head into the doctrine circle, and then walk over to the movies

69

This Forum.....What Benefit is Is thesedays?

by ScoobySnax in

jw
friends

firstly .......i don't mean for one minute the end of friendships that may have been cultivated here.....or the "help" that may have been extended to those who needed it.... there are some good people here.

but......... but...... how often can the same old topics be bounced about and re-cycled amongst the topic threads here, usually created by the same few, for an imaginary multitude that i just don't see.

ok you say many may look in here, and may not comment.

seattleniceguy

Scooby,

When I first came here, I didn't have an interest in anything but the WT-related threads. I was undergoing a period of revelations, and thinking out loud through a lot of different topics was very helpful to me. Now I post less on those threads - indeed, less in general - but I know they are useful.

There are so many people here in so many different places. I think it's great that a person can walk around a bit and stick her head into the doctrine circle, and then walk over to the movies and entertainment circle, and so on. It's like a buffet. I'm never angry when a buffet contains many more foods than those that I'd like to eat.

I certainly found this forum helpful, and I really do see new faces here every week. I think we're helping in real ways.

SNG

33

Are you more intelligent since you left?

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

ever since leaving the jws, i believe i've become much more intelligent.

i now have to learn from my past mistakes rather than viewing my mistakes as a result of satan's influence.

i now know how to prevent myself from making the same mistakes rather than repeating them due to ignoring the facts.

seattleniceguy

What wonderful posts on this thread! Just wanted to respond to a few points....

I loved Gopher's description of meetings as mass hypnosis. I was struck by the memory of people standing for the last song. They really do seem to be snapping to.

I liked Gaia's analogy of potential and kinetic intelligence, and patio's mention of "discovering and reclaiming one's own strength." Herein lies the key, I believe. When once we lift the curtains from around us, we can see with a clarity we never before knew. Has anyone here seen Joe Versus the Volcano? Remember his fictitious disease? It was a "brain fog." Not even the clearest-sighted person can see through a dense fog. As Witnesses, we were all subjected to brain fog, stiffling our abilities to reason correctly and think critically. But once we got out of the fog, our minds were able to race with the curiosity and speed at which they were really meant to run!

Phantom Stranger:

My 7th grade English teacher told us that if someone hadn't changed any opinions in 20 years, they were dead - even if they were still walking around.

Wonderful quote - Here's to life!

SNG