Well, thank you. :) I think he just likes indulging me. He knows it makes me giggle to see the name. ;)
CeriseRose
JoinedPosts by CeriseRose
-
21
I'm outing Mr. Pookiehead...
by CeriseRose inas my very own cuddlebear honey!
be nice to him!
(and yes, it's sick but that's just one of my nicknames for him...aren't people in love sickly sweet?
-
-
-
21
I'm outing Mr. Pookiehead...
by CeriseRose inas my very own cuddlebear honey!
be nice to him!
(and yes, it's sick but that's just one of my nicknames for him...aren't people in love sickly sweet?
-
-
CeriseRose
Well. It was actually my girlfriend that started calling him that...cuz she calls me Pookieface. I adopted it.
And he obviously hates it, since he chose to use it. ROFL
Besides, he's quite comfy in his own skin and not much phases him. Oh, and Carmel, he introduced me to TIllamook cheese and is my connection for my fix. *grin*
-
21
I'm outing Mr. Pookiehead...
by CeriseRose inas my very own cuddlebear honey!
be nice to him!
(and yes, it's sick but that's just one of my nicknames for him...aren't people in love sickly sweet?
-
-
CeriseRose
as my very own cuddlebear honey! Be nice to him! (And yes, it's sick but that's just one of my nicknames for him...aren't people in love sickly sweet? *giggles*)
He's been lurking as I've posted on various boards and occasionally comes out of hiding to put in his 2 cents. He's a non-JW (ieee, labelling, but I thought I'd give y'all frame of reference within the context of this board) and is the bestest thing that could have ever happened to me. (And he didn't even pay me to say that! hehe)
And we're off on holiday starting tomorrow to meet friends in Mississippi! So see y'all in a couple weeks!
-
70
Hi, I'm new to the site, and kind of don't understand...
by my-journey ini was just curious as to the aim of this website?
i thought it was a discussion board for those interested in/ for jehovah's witnesses, but it seems like you're all former jehovah's witnesses?
so is this site just to bash jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
CeriseRose
Thanks, I liked yours too. :) I can't believe how long my post is. I must really not feel like cleaning my house. hehe
Oh, and I'm counting my time. Who do I put the report in to?
-
70
Hi, I'm new to the site, and kind of don't understand...
by my-journey ini was just curious as to the aim of this website?
i thought it was a discussion board for those interested in/ for jehovah's witnesses, but it seems like you're all former jehovah's witnesses?
so is this site just to bash jehovah's witnesses?
-
-
CeriseRose
"Have you all gone back to the ailing Catholic/Protestant churches? Have you moved onto Islam, in spite of the negative press, etc? What do you all believe now?"
Gone BACK to churches? The way these questions are worded seem to make the assumption that the only reason someone would leave JWs is to worship elsewhere. Or came from a different form of worship. For myself, I was raised in NO religion, became a JW, and have now left the JWs for various reasons (none were doctrinal at the time of my leaving, however, I have since learned that all the questions I had when studying and were unsatisfactorily answered (and I foolishly ignored my doubts), are basically all the completely screwed up doctrine that the JWs promote without basis in scripture). From what I've read a lot of people here were raised as JWs from birth, and many of them were in positions of "taking the lead" in the organization, from longterm pioneers to elders to overseers, and many served at Bethel. As for what I or anyone else believes now, you really should check out other posts. Beliefs range from agnosticism/atheism, to other religions, to worship of God alone, sans religious affiliation. You'll also see that many question lots now.
"Who do you think knows the truth? Are you still searching, or do you think Jehovah is the truth, but because it didn't work out with you first time round, you've decided not to continue looking, cos you know you've found the truth, but it didn't work out convenient to you - I hope that's clear?"
My personal belief is, if there is a God and he/she wants us to know, he/she will do so without needing to oppress, segregate families and the other things that religions do in his/her name. I'm not searching because if God exists and loves me, then he/she knows the kind of crap that I've been through in the name of him/her and will show mercy and forgiveness to my waywardness. And if God doesn't exist, then it doesn't matter at all. As for "truth," the WTBTS does not have the market cornered on truth and they know it...that's why their "truth" keeps changing.
"Do you think about Armageddon? Do you now believe that this earth wasn't desgned by [a] God, but was a random accident? Do you hate Jehovah's Witnesses (I expect you wouldn't HATE them, just not believe in what they say, if you have moved to Protestant/Catholic religions)?"
I can't believe anything the WTBTS teaches, and if there is such a thing as Armageddon, they are now bloodguilty for me as a result of their lies. I will hope that the god that runs Armageddon will take that bloodguilt into account, as well as the many many more who have been damaged and hurt MUCH more than I ever have been.
As for the creation of the earth and the people on it, unless it somehow starts affecting my day to day life, I'm not going to worry about it. I'm here, the earth's here and for my short lifespan, we're compatible.
Do I hate JWs? No. I don't like to hate anyone. That's a big reason I was miserable AS a JW. Love your neighbour as yourself, but judge them by their attitude and inability to buy into the program as designed by the WTBTS (oh, we say we aren't judging, but it always happened, and then we blamed our imperfection on it, and felt guilty that we couldn't be more magnanimous...week after week, month after month...). Love your brothers and your sisters, it's an identifying mark, but also put up with their judgement of you, their callousness, rudeness, lies, gossip, backstabbing and false friendship. (Read some of my posts to see how much love was shown to me as I went through losing both parents in death and more recently the shunning by my last blood relative. My baby sister would never have believed, much less actually said to me that "Satan had me" unless the WTBTS hadn't made up her mind for her...I didn't leave under any misdeed or shameful conduct, I simply wanted not to be treated like crap anymore.) I had such conflict trying to be true to my own internal judgement and intuitive way of treating people versus the WTBTS' interpretation of 'love' and 'compassion' and 'empathy.' There is very little that is Christlike in the organization's overall attitude, and I think that many sincere and honesthearted JWs do their best in spite of the horrible atmosphere and conditions they try to live in. I feel pity and empathy for those ones, because they are truly trying to do what they feel is right, and I've been there. It's my deepest wish that they are able to get out while they still have a measure of their lives to live.
"I really did think this site was aimed at Jehovahs Witnesses, but it's just a hate site, and you're all entitled to hate Jehovah's Witnesses - after all, most people do, even so called Christians - however, I do enjoy reading anything that challenges the faith, I want to know that I have come into the right religion."
Interesting that you judge every one of us based on your reading of how many posts? Did you even realize you did that? Probably not, because after all, that's how you've been trained. I was there once too. I'm sorry you're still there.
Yes, there are people who are bitter and hurt and angry, and that shows through, which are also signs of loss and grief, which is a common bond of the victims here. Are you noticing how I'm choosing my words? Loss, grief and victimization...that is the real legacy of the WTBTS. If only you could understand how violated most people feel upon being raped by the WTBTS. Yes, raped...much like the child held up as an example to be lauded for saying that a blood transfusion was tantamount to rape, it was such a violation (remember that Awake?), people here have been violated by an organization's unscriptural, unloving, uncaring, and oftentimes deadly misapplication of themselves as God's emissaries. It's not a prophetic/scriptural vindication of JWs being 'hated' as the WTBTS wants you to think, as someone else said the world on the whole doesn't 'think' about JWs beyond the publishing work. It's the lost time, hope, relationship with God, and interference in lives to a minute detail, that make people so hurt. It's the abuse that has been swept under the rug for years, the silent victims who, until they banded together, didn't have a voice or hope (the horrible press about JWs and child abuse only came to bear because no one was listening to the desperate cries WITHIN the organization...and it's shameful that the WTBTS tries to take these victims and re-victimize them by not acknowledging the organization's guilt in not stepping up and saying a word to authorities that could have helped and removed the offenders from the midst...or at the very least put in controls to warn the innocent of the danger...they did NOTHING).
Most of the people here acknowledge that the average JW is not to blame, nor are they even aware of how much damage those in positions of upper responsibility have done. Although even as I say it, hate and blame are relative and varying, and I'm speaking in generalizations, something I don't like to do overmuch. I also don't like to speak for others, especially when there are thousands of page hits here that show people speak for themselves quite well. ;) I've been coming here since about March, so those are just my overall impressions.
"When I talk to my Baptist Church friends, I get more confident, as I point them to stuff they didn't know, or don't observe (e.g. it says a tree (for cross) in their bible 3 times, Christmas, Sun God etc). If Jehovah's Witnesses weren't the true religion, I don't think there would be one (or who is? Anyone think differently?), as I don't see others that outwardly appear peaceful, truthful and ready to serve God down to the letter, for want of a better expression. I am new to the faith though, and like to look at other religions, as they always seem to confirm that I have just joined the right one."
Most people don't know what the JWs know, that's true. That doesn't make it the truth, or even Bible-based. I suggest to you to learn more about your own religion's history, source of doctrine, from perspectives OUTSIDE of the WTBTS publications. Wait, that's not allowed, it could stumble your faith (or show you the real truth...hmmm...). Okay then have a look at some of the posts (there are some recent) about the differences that are made between first printing of a WT or Awake magazine and the bound volume or CD version. Why is there a difference in what is being published? Why are the early books and publications not present on those CDs...I mean it's important to know that what is taught is relatively consistent, especially if it's from God, right? 606 or 607 BCE? 1874, 1879, 1914, 1925, Jehovah living on a relatively nearby star, pyramid worship, corporate power struggles, the 'scholarly' Fred Franz and how much of the doctrine shifted as a result of his ideas, not God's, the reason for the understanding of 'generation' changing in 1995...even if 1/100th of what I learned upon leaving JWs is true, boy does the WTBTS have a LOT to answer for...and I have a feeling that a lot more than 1/100th of it is true.
"Isn't the URL a bit misleading? Shouldn't it be called "EX-JW's" or something, so that people are forewarned that you people are former JWs, anti-JWs even? Shouldn't there be some kind of notice on the homepage that whoever is looking to learn about the religion has come to the wrong site?"
Well, not everyone here is out of the organization. Some stay in, hiding their true feelings, to keep their families. Think about that. Faced with possibly losing their flesh and blood relatives, they prefer to live a life they know isn't Bible-based to keep contact with their family. To me, who has lost enough family, this is the highest form of betrayal. The god of the WT wants people to suffer in a way that has nothing to do with Christianity or love. The ones at the top, in power, are simply afraid that their empire will crumble if too many people talk to those who are freed of their particular brand of enslavement. The numbers are already dwindling, they are losing their youth like a hemorrage from an artery (someone here used that illustration and it is just SO apt...and I can't remember who but I credit that source...).
As for the URL being misleading, according to the WTBTS most here are apostates or at the very least carrying on in the debauched ways of the most depraved 'worldly' activities...so doesn't it make sense that we're just out to suck in gullible JWs and interested ones and taint them? Wow...it's good to see that by so many people treating your post with polite responses just how accurate that picture painted by the WTBTS is...as I sit here doing the same things I did before I left the JWs (reading, playing with my cats, cleaning my house, going out for coffee and movies), I know that I'm evil. Really. (Okay I'm giving in to a bit of sarcasm here...please don't misunderstand, it's just sometimes very frustrating to hear JWs who come here relay the same old same old...when the reality is so different.)
I think the URL was misleading to you because for some reason you thought you'd find a non-WTBTS created site that would bring the truth into perspective. The WTBTS told their membership years ago to stay off the internet, and not to create sites that shared the 'truth,' only putting a link to the WTBTS. As a result, I would venture to say that the only sites you'll find are those like this one, or less 'reasonable' than this one (I saw some pretty hatemongering sites out there...there are some very very unhappy non-JWs out there...whether they be ex- or simply cannot stand JWs as a religious entity), or JWs who are sincere but don't listen to well to Mother (aka WTBTS). As an aside, because there is a great deal of 'truth' and true stories circulating on the web, and more people (JWs) are having their eyes opened because of it. Now what is the REAL reason the WTBTS wants the membership to stay off the internet?
"Also, what is that DONATE icon for? Who is it exactly that needs sponsoring, if you are all EX-Jehovahs Witnesses?"
It's been covered elsewhere, but I did want to say that it's because of the selflessness of a person who created and pays for this board, and the many people that give of themselves to help others come out of a difficult situation, friendless and hopeless, that many many many people who have been victims of WTBTS abuse have found a real hope...and friendships to help through the difficulties inflicted by leaving this cult. No life isn't perfect, but at least we're free to live it now. Well for the most part. And there's someone to listen when the pain is so intense and there's no one left from our former lives who cares enough to do so.
"Thanks in advance for your replies. I'm going through a lot of anti-JW stuff online. It's quite funny. Some just blatantly hate JWs, others say its doctrines are false, but then also say: Islam could be truer than Christianity, because there is no trinity as God couldn't pray to himself. In effect, they prove JW doctrines whilst questioning them. I thank you once again for not getting offended at my post."
I really liked the example of circular argument given in another response. I think it makes more sense than anything I could add.
I would like to ask you a question or two though...what is lacking in your faith or understanding that you feel you need to confirm outside your own organization (something that is frowned upon if not completely forbidden) the value of its teachings? You've mentioned validating your beliefs by holding them up to others' and finding everything else lacking (Baptist friends and internet perspectives). Could it be that your underlying questions or doubts are not being answered to your spiritual satisfaction within the organization to which you belong? I urge you to think about that as you take a look around here...oh, and just for your own safety's sake, don't post your real name or personal info...the WTBTS is very interested in this site and actually has brothers (in good standing) monitoring it (kind of a double standard there if you ask me, but you didn't...hehe). If you're happy as a JW and want to continue, divulging your personal info could hinder that.
Personally, that kind of brings thoughts of Orwell's 1984 and Big Brother to mind...you may not feel the same.
I've spent over an hour responding to this. I did this because I think you're sincere...and I hope that you take the time to think about what I said and questioned of you.
Sincerely, Cerise -
45
How Does It Feel Knowing That You Were Once A Member Of A Cult???
by minimus indoes it bother you?
the more i think about it---the angrier i get.
-
-
CeriseRose
I really like Steve's point. Going through my parents' illnesses was hell, but I learned a lot about myself and have grown a lot for having gone through it.
When I first left and started reading about JWs on the internet, I recall being completely shocked at it being called a cult. I know it had been accused of being so, but when I was in it, I didn't see it. I remember looking at the site and feeling the blinders being ripped off.
I read a bit more...and went through feeling stupid and weak and all sorts of duped. Then I read one more thing on one site (and don't ask me where it was...so no source and I'll be paraphrasing). They said that cults attract people who are vulnerable, but that doesn't mean the person is unintelligent. In fact, cult victims are usually highly intelligent, and creative...it's just they get hooked in at a time when they have a need that the cult fulfills.
To me that brought me a good deal of comfort. I can accept being vulnerable and tricked more than I can accept being so stupid to not see something so obvious. When I add to it the fact that these people (in cults, JWs, etc.) are trained specifically to prey upon people's weaknesses, I end up not feeling so bad.
At least I got out. I feel bad for those who are still blind to it.
-
20
HEY CANADA! It's Federal Election Time,,, woo hoo! Whaddya think?
by talesin inan announcement is expected from the martin government any day now.. if alexa is running, i'll be signing up to work on her campaign.
news pundits were predicting a late-june election.
that's only 5 weeks away!.
-
-
CeriseRose
I have to say, that it was the one thing about being a JW I liked...the supposed apoliticalness of it.
I know it's my duty to vote and to have a voice in our government but to be honest, I have trouble believing anything any of the politicians say they're going to do. Sometimes I wish that the same thing that applies in US politics applied here...that leaders only got 8 years in office max. After two terms, they're out. I think we tend to stagnate because of the same leadership. But that's just my 2 cents.
So I don't know what I'm going to do about this election. I always liked Martin, but maybe that's because I disliked Chretien so much. At the very least, Martin has been trying to mend fences here in the West...Chretien didn't seem to care what was going on out here...
Of course, we have our provincial messes too...I'm still extremely unimpressed that Campbell was arrested on a DUI in Hawaii and never stepped down (he was more than vocal with other politicians when he was leader of the opposition...if someone put one toe over the line he called for their resignation). He's nothing more than a hypocrite who's run our healthcare, social services etc. to the ground.
Boy I thought I had really -no- opinion on politics. Wow. I surprised myself.
The one thing I did do this year is on my income tax I checked the box to add me to the voters list. At least I'll be able to vote when the time comes. -
24
How Long did it take you to re-build?
by Scooby injust wondering how long it took/ is taking many of you to rebuild your lives and say goodbye to phobias, etc.?.
for those who grew up in the borg and don't have a point of reference to go back to....what have you done to create a new life free from that anguish to your mind?
did a new religion help or therapy?
-
-
CeriseRose
Hey Scoobie,
I'm really newly out so I don't know much rebuilding I've done. I will share my philosophy on how I'm doing it though. :)
Like you, I wasn't raised in. I too am going back to my early 20's. I'm back in school, and am trying to start a home-based writing business. Both are dreams I had since back then and even though it's huge work to do it, they help me with the pain of the losses I've suffered.
My losses, however, aren't all JW related and for me that is my biggest focus. I'm looking into abandonment and loss recovery and some of the JW stuff spills into that (like the shunning and my blood related sister).
I agree with the posters who said they 'took a break' from religion. I feel that all my perspectives are skewed on that and while I go through waves of wanting to know more and have answers, on the whole I am trying to avoid anything deeper than a 'bird's-eye' view of it. I'm also looking at all sorts of information that was formerly 'taboo' with the intent that knowledge is power. I've read some interesting things on Goddess worship, Wicca, Astrology and various Christian publications/websites. I'm trying to lay a foundation of general beliefs the world over, just for my own information and curiosity. Whether I'll believe anything, or nothing is still to be seen and I'm learning to be patient with myself over that.
I don't know if I'll ever find answers, but at least I won't be ignorant while I'm answerless. At least I hope I won't be. hehe
My 2 cents.
-
9
Vancouver Island to UK Business Idea - Help Require / Info
by Celtic inhmmmmm another long shot question.. right.
does anyone know where i can get a quotation for a full shipping container from vancouver island to the nearest uk container port preferably cardiff in wales, or do you have any idea how much this might be and how long a full container might take to cover that distance?.
i understand that upon the shores of vancouver island you have millions of tons of driftwood coating your shorelines, many of these peices wonderfully sculptured by wind and salt water.
-
-
CeriseRose
Hey Mark...
I'm taking a stab in the dark, here but here's some links I found on google under the search "vancouver island container shipping." I know NOTHING about this stuff but these may start you off. (If you want to look more, try using www.google.ca for first hits).
(this one I think is specifically for their log homes but it's wood so might have some leads for you...)
http://www.100-mile-house-log-homes.com/shipping_overseas.html
(this is on a container crane out of nanaimo on the east coast of the Island...)
(there's some links on this site for different container company websites - Seaspan is one I recognize)
http://www.todaystrucking.com/displayarticle.cfm?ID=3092
You might want to check this first...it looks like a directory for ocean transport...and a subcategory for container sales and leasing.
http://www.business.com/directory/transportation_and_logistics/ocean_and_maritime_transport/
Hope it helps! :)
-
12
Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, Holiday Home Required
by Celtic ini am looking to purchase at the end of this year a holiday home in vancouver island, bc, canada.
nothing fancy, a mobile home or float boat / houseboat, no matter how small, or a cabin for minimal money i.e.
upto canadian $40,000.
-
-
CeriseRose
Yeah, if you are interested in that specific area, we can talk. The irony of all this is, the business deal that I mentioned falling flat in my thread on rage etc. was a Bed and Breakfast in that area. The money I lost was the down payment on the land, when my ex-friend and her husband bailed without warning (it would have helped to know she had declared bankruptcy once before, but didn't think it important to let her business partner in on that little tidbit...). Anyway, so I've done quite a bit of research into that area in particular and have some real estate agent contacts. I'm also there at least twice a year so I can give you the pertinent info on the tourist side of it etc.
Lemme know. :)