Posts by exjdub

23

Are they idiots??

by nonamegiven in

on my years as a jw i have always had doubts.

i have dismissed these as me being overly critical or some such nonsense.

now i'm on my way out the door, well i"m out the door i'm just working on shutting it right now.

exjdub

If they don't have these doubts, are they just stupid?

I think that is why there is so much anger and denial when one finally does leave. When you get out of the mind control, get your brain back, and start your self examination...you feel like an idiot. You know you were duped and you wonder how it happened. I wasted 30 years (roughly...I am starting to forget, which is a good thing) in the Borg and still wonder how it happened. I was 5 years old when my Mom decided to study again, so I got a healthy dose of brainwashing for many years. Thankfully, I reflect on those years and pull the things out that were valuable to me and discard the rest.

I think that is why I am floored when I read of so many on the JWD board who still go to church and believe in the Christian belief system. I don't mean any disrespect, but I traded my brain out once, it ain't gonna happen again I can guarantee you. I will never trade out my reasoning ability for "faith" again. That doesn't mean that I have not looked into other schools of thought and other belief systems. I am still curious about how the rest of the world thinks and believes, which motivated me to read about Buddhism, Taoism, etc., but I will never suspend my critical thinking and reasoning ability to anyone ever again. And one has to suspend an awful lot of reasoning ability to belive that a man was swallowed by a fish and thrown up on the beach 3 days later...and survived!! Or that all mankind was plunged into pain and suffering because the first human couple ate of the forbidden fruit. Sorry...can't do it.

exjdub

24

Impossible situation! Can it ever work?

by smily in

jw
friends

well, things have moved on...my jw man has been agonizing over whether he should be seeing me or not?!

if i was a jw it would all be different?!

is that not like saying if i was not "black,american,german,white ect" surely this is racism of some kind?

exjdub

If he is dating me and risking all perhaps he has doubt? of course we are doomed anyway...but at least I can live knowing I tried......

Actually, smiley, he is not risking anything if you look at his actions objectively. I believe you said he has been reinstated, so he is back in the fold. Also, you mentioned that you were under a lot of pressure...that is...until you agreed to look at the publications, then the pressure lifted. So, ask yourself, what is he risking? He is most certainly getting pressure from both his family and the congregation about dating a "Worldly Person" and what he did was put pressure on you to change, rather than tell his family and the congregation to mind their business. So all he has done is convinced you to compromise your position concerning the JW's, thereby getting the pressure off of HIS back. He sacraficed you to relieve his pressure. What has he risked? As long as he can report back that you are looking into things, and better yet, "studying", he has not risked a thing. Everyone will sit back and rejoice that you are interested in the "Truth". If you look into the JW's and decide that it is not for you, you quite likely will see a different side to your boyfriend.

Now, if your JW man told everyone to mind their business because he loves you as you are and he does not expect you to change your beliefs, he is then risking something. If he ever stated that to his family and to the congregation he would then be under a lot of pressure to break up with you.

I agree with the comments that if you are interested in looking into things because you want to look into them for yourself, then you should. However that is not what you have said. I completely understand that you want to try and save the relationship by looking into the JW's...just please understand that your relationship, and you, would be better off taking a stand now, rather than looking into things and then rejecting the JW beliefs. Once you reject it will be a whole new ballgame. I wish you the best as you go through this difficult time. These things are never easy.

exjdub

26

Highly Recommend Chef Marc's High Heat Turkey Recipe

by JamesThomas in

jw
friends

found here: http://www.chefmarc.com/index.

there are videos; and also go down to "other features" for written instructions.. i have followed his instructions the past two years for all the many turkeys baked, and they always come out crispy on the outside and superbly moist on the inside.. i also recommend doing a salt brine soak the night before baking: http://www.buzzle.com/editorials/10-9-2001-5239.asp.

you'll love.

exjdub

JamesThomas,

Thanks for the recommendation. I think I might give it a try, but I was curious about the brining process. I have brined chicken before, using a recipe from Steve Raichlin, and it was amazing. What do you use for a brine? If you have a link to a good brining process, or could post your brining recipe, I would appreciate it very much.

One more thing...we just bought a convection oven this week. I have never cooked with a convection oven, but I know that convection ovens cook faster. Will Chef Marc's method still work OK? Thanks.

exjdub

37

In love with a witnesss....

by city girl in

jw
friends

hello, i'm new here...but i've been reading the forum for some time, but this is the first time i've posted.

i am stuck.

i am a non witness and have been seriously dating a witness for about a year now.

exjdub

But he's real tight with his family and feels its me or them.... He just has this totally separate life (he lives a couple hours away) and that is intriguing to me

city girl,

I find, after having read many threads very similar to yours, that the JW's who have strong family ties are the hardest cases. There is tremendous pressure that comes from the family and it really is, as you pointed out, you or them. And he will choose them...eventually. Let's even say for a moment that you are very serious and decide to get married. As soon as you run into any problems, disagreements, etc., he will talk with his family and they will be quite ready to throw you under the bus and accept him back with open arms. Marriage and committed relationships cannot withstand the constant pressure and negativity that is brought to bear on these situations.

Finally, any time that somebody "has this totally separate life" from someone they supposedly love begs the question....why?? The very nature of love and relationships is sharing your life. If the one you care about has a totally seperate life where does that place you in the stream of the relationship? It is not first, I can assure you. As painful as it is, think long and hard before inviting such pain into your life.

Warmest Regards,

exjdub

49

JW told me today that I was bashing his religion

by moshe in

jw
friends

i used skype to chat with a jw online today.

he told me that he wouldn't look at the www.silentlambs.org website, because i didn't have the right motive.-ha!

i was just bashing his religion, he said.

exjdub

Now why am I still here? I will leave when the Holy Spirit gives me leave. As a faithful lover of God and one he has given a warriors spirit too , I am often called to places I'd never go if given the choice. Its confirmed I was called here.
I will stay till given leave to go by God, or until some administrator puts me off , having made the choice for you all , not to hear the truth.
Personally the sooner the better, but that is up to how much you all complain to administration or when God gives me leave to go.
Hopefully soon, as while I am impressed with the loving heart some of you have and know they are looking for the truth ,
Most here are just gossips and love to spread untruths. Thats my opinion. Gods may be different to be sure.
But hey I am a human after all and entitled to my own opinion , last I knew.
Paula

Paula...this is the HOLY SPIRIT calling...your Troll mission is done, please leave JWD. I need you to go to more positive JW sites so that you can associate with fellow "Chrisitians".

C'mon folks...this poster is like a broken record. She flits from subject to subject saying the same exact thing. Meanwhile she can never stay on a topic long enough to explain her hypocrisy or lack of critical thinking when making inflammatory statements about Ex JW's. Funny thing is, she is busy bashing people ("Most here are just gossips and love to spread untruths") but always with a "I am a Christian and I love all of my fellow Christians" cover.

Begone oh Christian Troll!! I banish you in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Begone Demon from Troll Land! You have no power here.

exjdub

20

Dog Lovers? Sad day for me.

by unique1 in

we found out this weekend that my doggie of 10 years has a tumor in her mouth.

it got infected and swelled and that was the only way we knew anything was wrong.

i took her for a biopsy this morning and was told by the vet, that he thought sending the biopsy off was a waste of money.

exjdub

I am so sorry Unique1...those doggies sure get into your heart, don't they?

My wife just pulled out of the driveway with our dog to go to the Vet to discuss quality of life issues and whether or not we should put her down. All of the comments directed at your situation have been very helpful to me as I have seen the "light" leave our dog's eyes in the last couple of days and I feel it may be time to let her go. It has been difficult deciding what to do, but I think what all of you have said has been very helpful. It is going to be a rough decision, but one that we will arrive at as a family. Thank you.

exjdub

159

Logically consistent theories of ID exist.

by hooberus in

the following is one theory that comes from the id book the biotic messagehttp://www1.minn.net/~science/contents.htm by walter remine.

"an intelligent designer is necessary for the origin of life from non-life.

" the biotic message page.

exjdub

An intelligent designer would have to have a designer himself.

This was a very powerful statement by No Apologies, however it was glossed over with no comment. So the question still hangs: If "An intelligent designer is necessary for the origin of life from non-life" where did the intelligent designer come from? According to the theory that you quoted, the Intelligent Designer cannot come from non-life, so how did he/she/it come to exist?

If you say that the Intelligent Designer has always existed you have contradicted the theory you presented. If you say the ID was created from non-life, who is the ID's creator and where did he/she /it come from? Quite a big gaping hole...

exjdub

22

Marijuana & Schizophrenia

by ICBehindtheCurtain in

hi guys, i was researching this because of something that's going on with a family member, and i found it quite interesting since some other family members who we have tried counseling on the use of this substance told us that marijuana is not addictive, that it's an innocent plant and is not harmful yadayadayada, yeah right!

i intend to go over this with our kids and make sure they understand the documented dangers of this very popular drug.

i just wanted to share it with you all.

exjdub

The pro-mj movement is a lot more vocal than the healthcare community on this issue, so it gives society a very skewed idea. Public health officials should be ashamed of their silence.

Public health officials are silent because they are taking hoots off of the bong too...

13

Suggestions on how to dispose of . . .

by exwitless in

i have a "singing kingdom songs" cd.

it's a cd recorded at bethel of a few select jws singing some of the more popular kms .

by the way, it always bothered me that most of the songs are sung by men.

exjdub

Whatever way you choose to destroy it, be sure to wear a head covering to show the proper respect for what Jehovah has provided...LOL. You wouldn't want to show disrespect for the patriarchal singing arrangement.

exjdub

22

Marijuana & Schizophrenia

by ICBehindtheCurtain in

hi guys, i was researching this because of something that's going on with a family member, and i found it quite interesting since some other family members who we have tried counseling on the use of this substance told us that marijuana is not addictive, that it's an innocent plant and is not harmful yadayadayada, yeah right!

i intend to go over this with our kids and make sure they understand the documented dangers of this very popular drug.

i just wanted to share it with you all.

exjdub

I think Marijuana is like any other substance. Some people will have a sensitivity to it and should not use it, others use it all of the time without consequences. I can tell you that I run into people every day that smoke weed. If people knew how common it really is I think they would be surprised. I run into professional people who are in their 30's-40's who smoke all of the time, and they are not in the minority. I can tell you that if the study were true, the incidence of schizophrenia in the population would be staggering.

I always find it astounding that the doctors and drug companies have our population addicted to so many drugs that it is ridiculous and people are having all sorts of side effects from those drugs, yet nobody seems to be alarmed by it. Think I am overstating? Go ask your parents and grandparents what they are on for prescription meds. There are a ton of older people on high blood pressure meds, blood sugar meds, acid reflux meds, sleeping meds...just to name a few. Where is the outrage? Could it be because the big companies and the governments make huge money on the drug business? Pot is a solution for a lot of different ailments, but it is not taxable and the drug companies don't grow it, so it will never be legalized. Now ask yourself if you really think these things are not all connected...

exjdub (*who quietly steps off of the soapbox*)