Posts by Athanasius

24

Where has your spiritual journey lead you?

by thraxer68 in

just curious, to those of you who have left the "truth", where has your spiritual journey lead you?

have you found another religion?

are you not really a religious person?

Athanasius

I have called spiritual journey "My Spiritual Aeneid," rather than a "Spiritual Odyssey." An Odyssey takes you on a journey, but returns you to the home that you had left. Whereas, an Aeneid involves not merely coming home, but coming home to a place you have never been in before, one that combines all that you valued in the old home with added promises of a future that is new.

I left the JWs in 1984 and for a few years didn't attend any church. However, in 1987 I was taking a New Testament Literature class at the local college. A classmate invited me to attend Episcopal services, which I did. I liked the services so I continued to attend. In 1991 I was baptised and confirmed in the Church. Like most churches, the Episcopal Church has problems, but at least the leadership admits to having problems and tries to do something about it. Moreover, the services are alway positive and one isn't sent on a guilt trip like at the Kingdom Hall.

However, I got married last year and my wife is Russian Orthodox. This has given me a new perspective of Eastern Christianity. So perhaps there are more miles to travel before my Spiritual Aeneid is complete.

22

Anyone been out for a long time, then for whatever reason went to a meeting or convention? What was it like to you now?

by Think About It in

jw
friends

i've been out 15 yrs and never attended again.

anyone been out a long time and for whatever reason went to a meeting or convention?

what was it like to you then?

Athanasius

Back in 1991, after I'd been out for seven years, my fiancee asked if I could take her to a JW convention to see what it was like. My fiancee was Jewish, but was taking a class on comparative religion and wanted more information on the JWs. So I took her to the Saturday morning program. It was so boring that I slept through the morning talks. My fiancee stayed awake, but after three hours of talks, she had had enough so we left when they dismissed the audience for lunch.

However, in October 2002 Robdar and I attended the Ministry School and Service Meeting at a local KH. This was more fun as we went undercover so to speak. The JWs thought we were just a couple interested in their religion, so we got the usual love-bombing. But the meetings hadn't changed a bit, just the usual religious sales pitch.

16

JW in Wal-Mart Parking Lot - I couldn't believe it

by RubaDub in

jw
friends

i'm on my way home from work and had to detour due to an accident on the highway.

i passed a wal-mart and instead of just sitting in the traffic, i pulled in to get some stuff i needed for the garden.. on my way out, i spot someone who appears to be selling something (rather common in parking lots here in south florida).

anyway, as i got closer, here was a brother sitting in a lawn chair under a tree on one of the little grassy areas where they plant the trees in the parking lot.. at his side, he had pulled a wal-mart shopping cart up on the grass.

Athanasius

A few years ago the JWs had set up a table in front of the local Walmart with Watchtower magazines and books on display. So I asked them if they had the Book of Mormon. They said no they didn't. What surprised me was they left it at that. I expected them to say they were JWs and not LDS.

Of course it is also possible that the JWs placed all their Books of Mormon.

138

What year Did you Stop Attending Meetings - How Long were you a JW ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i'm trying to compare some statistics and figures on this to share later in the thread to see if more long-time witnesses are exiting- or are newer witnesses exiting after a shorter period of time.

and - are more people exiting in the last 10 to 15 years than before.

so your answers would be helpful in looking into this .

Athanasius

Was born in but left the JWs in 1984 when I was 38.

40

Free signs for Memorial night protesters!

by koolaid-man in

jw
friends

isn't it time to speak up?

take the giant step!

on tuesday, march 30,2010, after sundown, is the biggest event in the jehovah's witness world.

Athanasius

Why not just attend the Memorial at your favourite Kingdom Hall and drink up all the wine.

16

Injuries at Assemblies, who covers the cost

by CaptainSchmideo in

jw
friends

well, i knew it would happen, and i wasn't surprised when it did.. a friend of mine, older brother with a heart condition, was assisting in shoveling snow at the circuit assembly this weekend (suit and tie, no less!

) and slipped on the ice and cracked a couple of his ribs.. what is the likelihood that the circuit or society will assist or cover his medical bills?

any takers on this?.

Athanasius

It may depend on who owns the facility where the CA is to be held. If the Watchtower owns it, he is out of luck. If the landlord is a "worldly" corporation, he could possibly sue them. However, most landlords, in a situation like this, require their tenants to carry Workers Compensation Insurance for their employees. It's written in the lease agreement. So it is possible that his work related injury is covered.

80

Tell me about your avatar(not the Gravatars)

by asilentone in

jw
friends

my avatar is a pic of a cool car, obviously.

.

Athanasius

That's me in 1976, a year after the Great Tribulation. Most of you are probably too young to remember the Battle of Armagedon in 1975.

9

Do Most Pedophiles Use Religion as Their Cover?

by cameo-d in

as children, we were always taught not to accept candy from strangers and not to ride with strangers.

however, it seems that the danger most always comes, not from a stranger, but from someone the child knows.. one day we headed to the school bus stop knowing we were 'almost' late.

we waited and waited.

Athanasius

I think pedophiles just like to get into postitions where they have acess to children. In our locality we have seen public school teachers, boy scout troop leaders, tennis coach, etc. prosecuted for child molestation. These people like to get a job where they have authority over children. For them it doesn't matter whether it is religious or secular, it's the power they wield over children.

12

Dedication of Kingdumb Hall?

by NikL in

jw
friends

so my wife who is an active sister got an "invite" to the dedication of the new hall in our town.. apparently it's a big deal 'cuz some big whig from krooklyn is coming to deliver a talk, yada yada yada.. my question, why spend the bucks to fly some old geezer out to the west coast for a building dedication?

is it not officially a kingdumb hall without his coming and having a big ceremony?.

just curious about your thoughts..

Athanasius

Don't gay Governing Body members travel with their domestic partners? Aren't they disguised as traveling companions or assistants so the rank and file won't catch on?

12

Dedication of Kingdumb Hall?

by NikL in

jw
friends

so my wife who is an active sister got an "invite" to the dedication of the new hall in our town.. apparently it's a big deal 'cuz some big whig from krooklyn is coming to deliver a talk, yada yada yada.. my question, why spend the bucks to fly some old geezer out to the west coast for a building dedication?

is it not officially a kingdumb hall without his coming and having a big ceremony?.

just curious about your thoughts..

Athanasius

Regarding the GB members giving talks at the KH dedications, it seems that in the past the local congregation had to pay for the GB member's travel expense. And, if he brought his wife or domestic partner along, the congregation paid for them too.