i actually have several reasons why i don't resent my witness upbringing, but it sure came in handy today.. last year i posted about helping 50 kids run in the seattle kids marathon at my daughter's school.
the event was a blast and while it was a ton of work, seeing the joy on the kids' faces when they crossed the finish line made it all worth it.. this morning i spoke to the entire student body at my daughter's school at their monthly spirit assembly.
if i hadn't been raised a witness, giving talks from the time i was five, i never would have attempted such a thing.
Great! It's wonderful that you're active in your children's school activities.
Hmmmm -- public speaking? Public speaking is a requirement in most colleges, including community colleges. Just think, it would have only taken a semester instead of 20 years.
i go this idea from simons post on bob dylan's documentary.. my first choice would be..... joan baez.... she had the most beautiful voice, and with her excellent guitar picking, didn't need any backup music or singers.. next would be ...peter, paul and mary.
they could really harmonize magnificeintly.. what are your favorites?.
hubert.
In my opinon, Joni Mitchell is the reigning talent of 60s and 70s folk music. Not only did she create her own intricate open tunings for guitar, she had a terrific gift for introspective, soulful lyrics. She was able to combine melody with content.
Nick
ever read a poem that in a deep, profound way makes you think of the person you are hopelessly in love with?.
post a poem that makes you think of your loved one...wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend.....i'll start:.
[somewhere i have never travelled].
[Here's one of my favorites ... also by e.e. cummings. -- love, Nick]
i like my body when it is with your
body. It is so quite a new thing.
Muscles better and nerves more.
i like your body. i like what it does,
i like its hows. i like to feel the spine
of your body and its bones, and the trembling
-firm-smooth ness and which i will
again and again and again
kiss, i like kissing this and that of you,
i like, slowly stroking the, shocking fuzz
of your electric fur, and what-is-it comes
over parting flesh . . . . And eyes big love-crumbs,
and possibly i like the thrill
of under me you quite so new
the medical nurse at a convent, requests a meeting with the mother superior, the priest and the archbishop.. "and why have you requested this meeting, my child?
" asks the mother superior.. "reverend mother, there is a case of syphilis in the convent.".
"well, thank god for that - i'm sick to death of the chardonnay.".
Three nuns went to the Mother Superior with requests to leave their convent and order.
"Well," says the Mother Superior to the first nun, "why do you want to leave?"
"It's all so terrible. My widowed mother is dying and I have to care for my younger brothers and sisters," answered the first nun.
"Very well then, go with my blessing."
Then came the second nun. "And why have you chosen to leave?" asked the Mother Superior.
"I've been invited to work as a nurse in a plague ravaged African country," said the second nun.
"That sounds like a noble cause. Go with my blessing."
The third nun entered. The Mother Superior asked, "And why do you wish to leave?"
The third nun said, "You know, I've decided to become a prostitute."
The Mother Superior screamed and almost passed out. "Oh, sweet Jesus!" she exclaimed, holding on to the back of her chair. "This can't be happening! What did you say, sister?"
"I said I wanna become a prostitute!"
"A prostitute? Well, that's a relief!" said the Mother Superior, " .... I thought you said Protestant!"
It seems your WTS lobotomy was a success. So, I'll go really slowly. You might need crayons and paper to keep up:
First, I''m not wicked -- I'm really a moral, compassionate person who walks to the beat of a different drummer.
Second, I'm not Jewish.
Third, any divine being who claims to be a "god of love" isn't into genocide.
Love to you all, NickSay to them, ‘“As I am alive,” is the utterance of the Sovereign Lord Jehovah, “I take delight, not in the death of the wicked one, but in that someone wicked turns back from his way and actually keeps living. Turn back, turn back from YOUR bad ways, for why is it that YOU should die, O house of Israel?”’ Ezekiel 33:11
.
now we know where gw gets his "compassionate conservatism" from:.
hurricane katrina victims in houston, texas were "underprivileged anyway" and life in the astrodome sports arena is "working very well for them," former first lady barbara bush says....
Just goes to show, a bad bitch has bad puppies.
No truer words have been spoken.
Nick
i have been reading a lot here and there the past year about humanism, etc...and i am curious who else on this board that have left jwism has gone that route?.
it took me a few years, but this is where i am at now, and i have been looking into local groups in my area (dallas, tx) that meet together.
i will probably be going in september when the next meeting is.
From the web:
The word "humanism" has a number of meanings, and because authors and speakers often don't clarify which meaning they intend, those trying to explain humanism can easily become a source of confusion. Fortunately, each meaning of the word constitutes a different type of humanism -- the different types being easily separated and defined by the use of appropriate adjectives. Here is a summary of the different varieties of humanism.
Literary Humanism is a devotion to the humanities or literary culture.
Renaissance Humanism is the spirit of learning that developed at the end of the middle ages with the revival of classical letters and a renewed confidence in the ability of human beings to determine for themselves truth and falsehood.
Cultural Humanism is the rational and empirical tradition that originated largely in ancient Greece and Rome, evolved throughout European history, and now constitutes a basic part of the Western approach to science, political theory, ethics, and law.
Philosphical Humanism is any outlook or way of life centered on human need and interest. Sub-categories of this type include Christian Humanism and Modern Humanism.
Christian Humanism is defined by Webster's Third New International Dictionary as "a philosophy advocating the self- fulfillment of man within the framework of Christian principles." This more human-oriented faith is largely a product of the Renaissance and is a part of what made up Renaissance humanism.
Modern Humanism, also called Naturalistic Humanism, Scientific Humanism, Ethical Humanism and Democratic Humanism is defined by one of its leading proponents, Corliss Lamont, as "a naturalistic philosophy that rejects all supernaturalism and relies primarily upon reason and science, democracy and human compassion." Modern Humanism has a dual origin, both secular and religious, and these constitute its sub-categories.
Secular Humanism is an outgrowth of 18th century enlightenment rationalism and 19th century freethought. Many secular groups, such as the Council for Democratic and Secular Humanism and the American Rationalist Federation, and many otherwise unaffiliated academic philosophers and scientists, advocate this philosophy.
Religious Humanism emerged out of Ethical Culture, Unitarianism, and Universalism. Today, many Unitarian- Universalist congregations and all Ethical Culture societies describe themselves as humanist in the modern sense.
Nick
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/media/the_film_knocking_about_the_christian_group_known_as_jehovah_s_witnesses_34092.html the film knocking about the christian group known as jehovah's witnesses
added: (tue aug 16 2005) .
a new film on pbs is in the making about jehovah's witnesses , heres what we know.
I just sent an e-mail to PBS asking about the documentary. I'll let you know when I get a reply.
My PBS e-mail:
Myself and several support groups for former Jehovah's Witness keep hearing about an upcoming PBS documentary titled "Knocking."
From the press releases it seems to be a puff piece about the religious cult and not at all objective or evenhanded. Attempts from many people from around the world who wish to share their negative experiences about this religious group seem to have fallen on deaf ears.
When does PBS plan on airing the piece? Is there anyway to have imput into this PBS documentary?
http://www.pressbox.co.uk/detailed/media/the_film_knocking_about_the_christian_group_known_as_jehovah_s_witnesses_34092.html the film knocking about the christian group known as jehovah's witnesses
added: (tue aug 16 2005) .
a new film on pbs is in the making about jehovah's witnesses , heres what we know.
It's obvious that the producer/director's agenda in going to be a puff-piece and not evenhanded. It seems the last thing he wants is ex-JWs changing the thesis of his documentary. The truth about the "truth" be damned.
Also, this guy sounds like a JW or a recent convert. He's definitely making a Valentine for the WTS.
Nick
there is compelling, published evidence (see link below) to suggest higher rates of mental illness among jws compared to other religious sects, and the general population.
what is your opinion, is this because people with "susceptibility" to mental illness are more likely to be attracted to the lifestyle and psychology of the wts, or after joining and being an active member for years, the jw psychology and lifestyle are simply enough to push any psychologically healthy individual into psychopathology?
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/mental.html
I have inherited my mental illness and alcoholism, it was compounded by the JWism and their not acknowledging either as illness , instead as either moral issues or demonism.
Brenda, I think you're right on. That's what I noticed about the WTS. They were always a decade too late in even realizing mental health issues like depression. I can remember an "Awake!" magazine that came out in the early '70s that basically said: If you're depressed it's because you're thinking too much about yourself -- it really is a form of selfishness.
Also, those who had emotional problems never received any helpful counsel from the elders who assumed that depression equalled guilt which equalled your having done something BAD which equalled discipline.
I can remember feeling so depressed when I was 20 -- really suicidal. I called the presiding overseer and he kept saying that I couldn't feel like I did if I hadn't done something wrong. He even said that if I confessed I'd feel so much better (read: disfellowshiped). But I hadn't done anything wrong. I was a straight arrow. Vestal virgin.
Nick
