it's a weird feeling.
all of my instant messenger buddies are all my old witness friends.
none of them have blocked me or deleted me from their contact lists since i da'd myself.
Hey Tetra. For a while all my buddies didn't block me either.. until I started putting really cryptic messages in my online name. I did movies for a while (The Truman Show, The Shawshank Redemption, The Matrix, Logan's Run) then moved on to little quotes about friendship that are guilt inducing. Finally I typed "607 B.C.?".. that got me blocked by virtually everyone.
Happy mind gaming!
GBL
some of you may know, but i have been on a serious journey through watchtower "theology", and by association, have gone back all through the history of christianity.
i know many on this list have gone thru the same thing.
i have checked out probably 100 archeological, religious, and history books from the library.
Hi ithinkisee, man can I relate to that post. I quit going to meetings for tons of different reasons, but I disassociated and speak out openly about the WTBTS because of this flip flop on organ transplants that killed people, the retarded blood policy and the shunning. I totally hear ya.
GBL
righteousness
throughout history, people have tried to live up to gods righteous standards, so as to gain his approval.
the bible holds up many shining examples of persons who pleased god.
Awesome Runningman.. love these posts.
GBL
as most of you are aware, our friend, brenda, aka outnfree, has been diagnosed with breast cancer and is undergoing chemo.
i asked her if she would mind if we did a weekly prayer vigil and she said that she would appreciate it.
she thinks that thursdays would be good since that is when she goes to the doctor to receive the chemo.
Brenda, my thoughts are with you. I love reading your posts, hope to hear you are well soon.
GBL
small summary of my spiritual state/development:.
post atheist to me means i don't even find the question if there is a god important enough to lable myself as someone who doesn't believe in it, it means i actually find the whole question irrelevant, discussing it is irrelevant (trying to prove god doesn't exist is just futile), i just don't believe it, and leaving it behind me.... as for how the world works, i'm a determinist and i like to lable myself that though i don't really believe in lableing either.
determinism is great for understanding things/world/nature/people but a pain as a practicle filosophy to make decisions by, kind of paralysing... in daily life i believe in balance in all things, giving and receiving, working and resting, socialising and taking time for myself, and other things besides that.
I don't really dwell too much on it. I try to be grateful for the life I'm living, the chance I have to learn and keep growing as a person. To me it's all kind of a label and doesn't really mean anything. I can't help the way I am and what I think.. I have no choice but to not believe in God. For me its the only logical conclusion to come to.
I read a Watchtower last night to a Christian friend of mine to show him the subtle brainwashing they use. It was so sureal to read that stuff now. To me it seems no less wacky than any Scientologist or any other type of cult material. I can't change the way I think.. I'm an atheist now and thats just how it is.
thank you for letting me post this un-sent letter to my father.
i am writing this to voice my opinion; this is not open for discussion.
i find if upsetting that you feel its appropriate to invite my husband into your home and demean the religion he was brought up in, not only have you done that in your home but youve also done it in his home.
Hi puppet, welcome to the board. It always makes me laugh when I think of how much the Watchtower relentlessly bashes other religions and at the same time will call any criticism of their own organization "apostacy".
It's just plain silliness and hard to believe adults are still involved with it.
GBL
the theory of relativity .
i really shouldnt be so hard on the bible.
they buried him in the city of david, but not in the tombs of the kings.
Runningman, your ability to destroy cherished spiritual documents is very impressive. Keep up the great work!
GBL
if a dub needed your help as in a medical emergency or in getting employment/job contract or in getting your support in a dispute with someone on a non religious issue or in some other way such as in a car break down would you help them?
For sure.
GBL
i just had a "sister" leave our house... she was getting her hair done, by my wife.... she is married to a demoted-elder and is very r&f... her poor hubby has been on the receiving end of so much abuse from the borg... and they "don't understand it".. i've been sowing seeds of "new light" with her from jwd and even though their sitch just keeps getting worse and worse and her hubby just keeps getting more and more depressed... she actuall laid on me today the old " but where else can we go?
only the wts has the truth".. i thought i was going to puke.... she even laid out the old " don't forsake the gathering of yourselves"...proof we need to be at the meetings.
even though she admits that that is where the source of all the abuse eminates.
My friend was telling me about a conversation he had with his cousin that ran pretty much the same way. The freaking guy even said "I know there are a lot of things that aren't true about the truth. I don't care about facts and figures.. it's just what I believe." That sort of comment can only make sense to a cultist.
GBL
its two years since i last attended a meeting or thought of myself as a jw.
despite the prophesys of doom and gloom for those who leave the org i have gained lots and lost nothing.. i have much more time to spend with my husband which has led to our relationship improving fantastically.. i have a better relationship with my children who stopped going to meetings when they were teenagers.. i have become much closer to my family (i've just returned from yorkshire from my great nephews 1st birthday party.
my confidence has grown dramatically as i no longer view myself as worthless.. the guilt of not doing enough has gone.. i now have real friends.. the list goes on, but i really would like to hear what you've gained or hope to gain by leaving the borg.
Freedom to learn. Freedom to call up someone I find interesting regardless of their beliefs and hang out. That incredibly empowering knowledge that all of us people are in this game of life together. I can't imagine living any other way now.
GBL
