Posts by BlackSwan of Memphis

97

Secret Santa 2007 (forum gift exchange !!)

by Angharad in

jw
friends

well christimas will soon be here !!.

for those that are new we have done this for the last few years, what it involves is that those who want to join in will post to this thread and then pm me their name and address.

i will then collate the names and addresses and assign everyone a person to buy a gift for.

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

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BlackSwan of Memphis

As to why their is hostility toward catholics, it happens anywhere you go, and has since the reformation, you get used to it after a while :)

Hm, I imagine you do.

I may never join another religion again. I think at best they are stepping stones to a full personal relationship with God like Enoch had and Noah and Moses, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob and Jesus had.
You dont need a church to have that. You dont need a building or a body of elders or a book bag or time slip, or a rosary or incense or prayer rug. All that is required is a mind and heart filled with deep respect for the creator's will which is clearly discerned by observing his beautiful creation.

I tend to think that many here feel the same way. Those who still believe in something, be it the God of the Bible or Dana, one doesn't need a church to feel close to God.

Several years ago I also went to RCIA. I found the process very enlightening,the Catholic traditions and culture are very nice and I often pray the rosary. But I stopped short of getting baptized. What for? I reasoned. This is strictly between me and God, I don't have to show the church anything. Today I still on occasion attend mass and look for Catholic charities to volunteer my time and donate goods. The church is not at all perfect, far from it, but I find the atmosphere welcoming and comforting, and that alone puts to rest the initial fear I had of going into a building where allegedly demons would attack me!

The traditions are beautiful to me as well.

If you read this, out of curiosity, why do you look for Catholic charities? I'm just curious.

The society detests Catholicism most of all because they are trying to replace it.

Bluesapphire, this statement right here blew me away. Because you know, that makes perfect sense.

You're welcome, BSOM :-) And yes, I will keep you posted. Pax, Ruth

Ok, I know I should probably just google this...but what is Pax? And Thanks Ruth :-) (btw thank you for being such a wonderful person to me)

In my church, this year there are 27 adults in RCIA that will be baptized, thats pretty good, back when I took my RCIA there were only 6 of us.

Andre, HA! So much for Christendom's waters drying up eh?

Quite honestly, I enjoy their form of worship. I just can't deal with never feeling like I'm good enough, like I should be constantly striving for sainthood to be good enough for God. Just thinking about it makes me feel sick to the very core of my being.

GGG, I have heard this from other Catholics. I think they like their faith, in terms of the beauty of the traditions and the worship, but I often get a sense of they feel so inadequate and like they're never going to be good enough for heaven. Mouthy, I have not known what to say in response to you. I think that Edmond has made some interesting, valid points. I guess I would only add that I can't dispute anything you have said in this thread and I won't at all try to minimize it. You have, like others here, given me a lot to think about. One thing being, like others who look at exjw's and think they're bitter twats who just want to stir up trouble etc etc.....they have never walked in the shoes of an exjw. And many of us have never walked in the shoes of an ex Catholic. It's easy for me to tell you to Stop It. But I haven't lived the lives of people who have lived and walked the Catholic faith. And I'm sorry for getting on you and others that I simply don't know and understand.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

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BlackSwan of Memphis

These experiences that people have shared are awesome because they are showing the various faces of Catholicism, at it's best and worst. We have all had to take a different route and path. And for some it has been the Catholic Church. They have found peace and serenity and a closeness with God. I don't want others to judge me for my path and I really don't have the right to judge them. Nor do I have the right to judge those who I don't understand. I'm Not saying that I think it's ok to belittle the beliefs and traditions of the Catholics, only that this has helped me recognize that I need to step back and remind myself that more often than not, I don't know the whole picture when something gets said. you would think by now I would have that figured out a bit better.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

It seems to me that being raised as a JW, there were levels of evil within Babylon the Grape.
Heathen religions are bad, but at least they don't use the Bible.
Christendom is especially stinky in Jehober's eyes cuz they claim to represent him.
And, for some reason, it seems like Chuck Russell and Drunkaford seemed to especially have it in for the Catholics.
That's just my 3rd gen, raised-in, perspective. To a JW, Catholics are the worst of worst when it comes to religion. (Well, unless you wanna talk 'postates. They're sub-human. )
So maybe some of that carries over. Just my $.02.

You know that is the truth. If I told my family I was a pagan they'd likely not be happy. If I told them I was a Catholic I think they'd have a friggin meltdown!!!

Hehehehe, boy some funny thoughts just went through my head.

Sorry if I offended.

Ya know, not being a Catholic, I don't think you owe me an apology.

"Religion ruins everything"

Changeling, some days I think like that, other days I see where it has done some very good things. There is good and bad in many things, imho. Religion included.

I have often wondered the same thing.
I am enrolled in RCIA (Rite of Christian Initiation) and plan to be baptized next Easter. My husband, a lapsed cradle Catholic converted to JW now inactive for over ten years, says I've lost my mind.
Thanks to my new-found faith, I have finally begun to heal from a lifetime of JW nonsense.
Everyone does not find the same path or make the same journey. But we should all remember that we don't assist our healing when we do or say things that hurt others. And for someone who endured all the putdowns of a JW life, to find Christ and then discover that your XJW colleagues want to attack your Christianity is very disheartening.

Yep. This is what I'm talking about. It's like your religion, your beliefs are not as good as theirs.

Thank you for starting this thread.
Ruth

Thank You, for sharing this Ruth, I appreciate it. Keep me posted on your RCIA btw. Ok?

Actually this excerpt says "medieval" but this custom went on much longer than that. I saw a movie depicting this just a few years ago. The year depicted was within the past 200 years.

Tula, this was an interesting read. Do you have a link? And I'm sure this is me being an airhead, but are you referring to the custom of the ring, or the other regarding the convents accepting women from wealthy backgrounds? (sorry!)

I'm a Catholic re-vert. Left the Church in 1958 at the age of 14 to become a Jehovah's Witness. I was easily confused, which created in me a state of doubt that was really never resolved until I returned to the Church in Jan. 1966. It was like a heavy weight was removed from me. The yoke was broken. I was promptly disfellowshipped for apostasy. I have never gone back to the Kingdom Hall and have not regretted by journey back into Catholicism. If I had spent as much time studying it as I did Watchtower literature, I probably would have never left it in the first place. JWs had better answers then, but now I can hold my own.

Kenneson, thanks for posting. I have often thought this when talking with people. There is not a lot of studying happening. It is really interesting. Often I talk to people who go to church, but couldn't tell you anything about the bible. I'm not saying that's bad, only that I can see how so many people end up in religions like the JW"s.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Hmmm

Ya know everyone has a path to take right?

And your mum still doesn't talk to him? Sad, very very sad.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Greendawn, I think you're right. Religion is not just religion, it is culture and traditions. I know for me, the Church's traditions are beautiful. Some find it so distasteful, to me, though. The Mass was one of the most beautiful things I had ever attended. I remember how the priest read from the Psalms and the scriptures that were read and homily being about love. It was so foreign. Yes they read the bible at the Kingdom Hall. I know that. But it was different at the Church.

Mind you, I have yet to experience another Christian church.

<<shrugs>>

Religion just doesn't work for me.

Kudra,

Anyway,
Yes, I was talking with a catholic friend the other day and she had a lot of insight into the protestant movement and how the celibate preist thing came about, and the corruption in the catholic church at the time, the "hatred" of mary-worship etc. etc.

I have learned a lot from my Catholic friends about religion. That is really not meant to take away from Protestants, it's just I've had more opportunity to talk to Catholics on a personal level than Protestants.

Seems like the protestants (and dubs) still harbor a lot of resentment about the practices of the catholic church. Is this something that the church does NOW that angers the protestants or is it a hold-over from reformation times??

I think that's what I'm trying to figure out. Why all the anger or just general hostility over something like the way Catholics petition Mary? That's their thing.

All religion sucks!
It's time to cast off the Oppressor.

Nvr, you make me smile ya know that?

My only imput in this discussion is that my ex-wife was a Catholic, and converted to JW. She was the most screwed up biotch that I ever knew.

Sorry for mooning you, I'll go edit it after this post.

Hey I've mooned my fair share of people, so I probably deserved this one huh?

I don't know why Catholics get such a bad rap here. I can only guess from personal experience. My mom was as strict a Roman Catholic as she is a zealous JW. After my brother was DF'd and became a Roman Catholic it started a chain of events within my family that resulted in my mom taking the hard JW line on shunning. Now she shuns all but one of her children but my brother is the only Catholic.
Maybe it's a residual effect from once being JW that brings out some of the mockery in people. Just a guess.

Isn't that interesting? I'm curious as to how he went from JW to Catholic. And yeah, you have a point. I wish it didn't though. We have so many exwitnesses who are Catholic who come round these parts, and you know, all of them have been so unbelievably kind to me. They've never judged me and have been the ones to help me see the other side of various social issues.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Emo, I honestly hope I didn't offend you with anything I might have said...I love you babe!!!

Mouthy, .

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

BFD

It was NOT Mouthy alone.

It is the general treatment of Catholics. And No not everyone does it. But I cannot tell you how many times a Catholic will post their experiences or whatever and dang, some of the things I read I think why does someone have to say something So stinking snotty about their traditions?

Many of us are exjws right? Some choose Catholicism, some choose another form of Christianity or even atheism.

The JWs have a set of beliefs which will cost people their lives, I'm thinking of Mary's dad right now for instance.

Catholics have some beliefs I personally cannot reconcile. But as far as my research has shown they don't result in a person dying.

Why do people have to get so sarcastic with Catholics? "Pope worshippers" "Mary worshippers" etc. etc etc etc etc

It gets on my nerves because Catholic Ex Jw's should feel just as open to post their beliefs here as well as everyone else.

Something that just about knocked me out of here for good was the way that believers in Something often get put down or made to feel like their worshipping Jesus as God is the equivilent as worshipping Santa Claus.

I know I have to get used to that this is a discussion board. And if people want to discuss something we're going to get different responses.

However, why can't we respect the belief's of believers, be they Catholic OR Protestant without getting rude or otherwise disrespectful?

I know it's hard. I have friends with beliefs that make me want to roll my eyes, but I really try. And yes, if I screw that up, I expect to be called on it. I have been.

But that's what we do with each other right?

Mouthy, I am sorry if you thought that this was directed at YOU. It was not.

It was the culmination of watching several posters over several months being downright rude to my Catholic friends.

I am honestly sorry if you felt otherwise.

41

Catholics

by BlackSwan of Memphis in

jw
friends

so can someone please enlighten me why when people come out with their catholicism others find it necessary to remind them of their pope worshipping, mary praying traditions (sic)?.

.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Mouthy go back and read my response on that thread.

This is not directed at you.

This is directed at a general population of people who tend to get so upset about the Catholic Church.

108

Hello everyone, first post.

by Frjprice in

jw
friends

hello, i just wanted to introduce myself to everyone here - as i will be posting here.. i grew up a jw and pioneered, was a ministerial servant, ect, i was in the organization for 17 years.

i left and naturally my family did as they were told and cut off all communication with me.

this left a horrible taste in my mouth for not just jw's, but any religion for that matter.

BlackSwan of Memphis

Mouthy I don't know what the freaking hell I ever did to you but if you have a problem with me personally take it to me pm and do not air it on the board.