Posts by RebelliousSpirit

64

Hate filled creatures....

by a friend in need in

jw
friends

i should have started an new thread ... didn't realize so many would jump in on holly's post.

i may have used too strong of words in saying 'hate filled' by why do you all call someone who disagrees with you a 'troll'.

i disagree with lots of people without resorting to name calling.

RebelliousSpirit

Merrily we troll along, troll along, troll along ...

Holly did do a 180 rather quickly for someone seriously questioning - and one minute she felt the JWs might have the truth, while the next minute she was making fun of them. Not too long ago she was having a field day in the "101 Childish Things to do in a KH" thread ...

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84235/1384293/post.ashx#1384293

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84235/1384294/post.ashx#1384294

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84235/1384306/post.ashx#1384306

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84235/1384116/post.ashx#1384116

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84235/1384158/post.ashx#1384158

As well as the "101 Things the Householder should say at the Door" thread ...

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384317/post.ashx#1384317

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384318/post.ashx#1384318

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384337/post.ashx#1384337

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384386/post.ashx#1384386

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384578/post.ashx#1384578

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/84295/1384643/post.ashx#1384643

In the "Describe a JW in fewest words possible" thread she said

disassociated from life

On children being gay she said

you have to let your kids choose their own path and support them whatever they choose. well thats how i feel anway.

She also had fun in the "101 things to do at the Memorial" thread

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/85547/1410465/post.ashx#1410465

Just seems to me a walking contradiction. Perhaps just tremendously confused and needing to belong somewhere, I don't know. But I do wonder what the elders in her KH would think of her posts here ...

Oh yeah and AFIN ... you're the troll.

39

Are some people REALLY better off in high-control groups?

by seattleniceguy in

jw
friends

in holly's good-bye thread, quotes mentioned that he felt that some people were better off in high-control groups.

i've heard othes say similar things.. but i have a difficult time with this.

is it not true that high-control groups stiffle a person's emotional and intellectual development?

RebelliousSpirit

It seems that some people like having their major decisions made for them, and also like having a lot of their thinking done for them

I'd agree, as well as the comfort of rituals. No thought required, just go to the meetings, out in service, etc. and Jehovah/Allah/Stalin approves of you. If it's Tuesday, it must be TMS/Service meeting. Some I think like the comfort of performing the ritual by rote.
I think low self-esteem and lack of self-confidence comes into play in that some feel their decisions or thoughts must always be wrong, therefore it is better to rely on someone else.

I'd have to agree, on most levels anyhow. The majority of witnesses (not all, my in-laws and their friends are not like this) I have met here also prefer things black and white - they want the rules, they want to know exactly what they should and shouldn't do - to the point of saying they "wish there was no such thing as conscience matters" because that leaves them too much of a gray area. That's very telling, in my opinion.

162

Goodbye everyone

by holly in

jw
friends

its time to leave.

i have had all the answers i need to make a firm decision.

thank you so much everyone for your replies, for talking to me over the last few weeks and for some of the humour.. i believe the jws are right and that they have the truth.

RebelliousSpirit

Taylor: I?m Soooo glad this thread was started, because someone will read it, and the responses to it, and understand the intensely abusive mind-fcuk we all have been describing. How can Holly, after nearly 300 posts come to that conclusion above.

LT: I have to confess that the phrase "potential troll" went through my mind, seeing some of the responses, too. She definitely seemed "in too deep" to be accepting what they believe so easily.

Sounds about right. From the viewpoint of a study - all Holly's posts did was serve to show me many more reasons why I cannot join the Jehovah's Witnesses. If she was here to give a sly Witness, she did a really bad job. If she was really here weighing her options - I cannot comprehend how she made the decision she did. And her final post - that makes me want to run for the hills as a study - if I ever spew forth cr@p like that, so help me God I pray that at the very least Alan, Badger, jgnat, and AA are there to slap sense into me. Though I'm sure those of you who have been reading my posts know that it would be a cold day in hell before I ever believed that kind of BS enough to say such foolish things.

111

My wife is getting baptized on the 19th!

by Check_Your_Premises in

my wife is getting baptized on the 19th.. i wrote her a letter today.

basically i asked her why she isn't coming to me to find out my concerns.

i am the person who has the most invested in her.

RebelliousSpirit

144001,
Mixed marriages with JWs rarely work.
There are a few of us out there. And we are on this board. I still vote for not freaking out on her. Time enough for that later.

I second that, jgnat. Although it's not easy - a successful marriage to a JW is very possible - I think it depends solely upon the people involved and how they handle the situation. CYP is the best judge of his wife and their situation - and while he should keep a watchful eye, I don't think he needs to run for the hills just yet.

RS (Non-JW in a successful marriage to a JW - 8 years and still going strong)

97

In the last days there will be a witness to all the inhabited earth........

by holly in

jw
friends

and then the end will come.. something like that!!.

so, for those who believe the bible, who are these people and what scripture would back that?.

holly

RebelliousSpirit

You know what, AFIN? You're right. I'm sorry. I pretty much went off on you. That was inappropriate and uncalled for. (In my defense, I am a creature of habit and I accidentally found myself downing my 3rd cup of coffee because it was sitting here in the pot and I usually drain the pot. [turns out I made 2 pots today] My hands are literally shaking, I must be edgy.)
So anyway, sorry. Too harsh.

Have I told you lately how much I like you, Dave?

You never cease to amaze me.

29

"Music That Debases"

by xjw_b12 in

this was triggered by what bem said in angarhad's thread about the george benson cd.

does anyone remember that talk given at the district conventions in the mid 70's.

do you recall the next day, how we were all telling each other about how many lp's we destroyed?.

RebelliousSpirit

Well many JWs would have a problem with her IF she were a Christian. You know, worshipping a false god and all that. I remember an elder scolding me because I had an Amy Grant song playing

Oh for cryin out loud, you just can't win with these people can you??

RS you're probably giving your conductor grey hairs every day. Good for you!

She is looking a little under the weather these days, perhaps I'm wearing on her. lol!

That's ok .. I'm currently trying to figure out a way to "fire" her anyhow.

How the hell do you "fire" the PO's wife as your conductor without "bringing reproach" on your JW husband? Hmmm .... whata dilemma.

29

"Music That Debases"

by xjw_b12 in

this was triggered by what bem said in angarhad's thread about the george benson cd.

does anyone remember that talk given at the district conventions in the mid 70's.

do you recall the next day, how we were all telling each other about how many lp's we destroyed?.

RebelliousSpirit

Oh thanks RS, way to rain on my Christ complex.

Awww sorry Sixy. Can you ever forgive me??

29

"Music That Debases"

by xjw_b12 in

this was triggered by what bem said in angarhad's thread about the george benson cd.

does anyone remember that talk given at the district conventions in the mid 70's.

do you recall the next day, how we were all telling each other about how many lp's we destroyed?.

RebelliousSpirit

This reminds me. I am a huge Tori Amos fan. I recently asked my conductor if she listens to Tori and she responded, "Well, I used to. But we really should be listening to more upbuilding music".

My response to her was, "Well, unfortunately some of us haven't lived such a rosy life and can really relate to Tori's music. And while the subjects of her music are difficult ones, her music does upbuild me because it not only reminds me of where I came from, but it reminds me that I'm not alone and there are others who understand. Personally, I think Tori is a phenomenal artist - and I would laugh in the face of anyone who tried to stop me from listening to her".

I just got the infamous blank stare. Don't they get that normal people don't give a rat's @ss whether or not Tori Amos is a Christian? We love her music, we appreciate her talent. It goes back to something else that gets me fired up - those who blame music for the stupid things that kids do - since when are musicians babysitters? Raising children is the job of the parents, thankyouverymuch.

I'm still working on getting my hands on an old Tori t-shirt that isn't in production anymore. It's from the Little Earthquakes album. The front of the t-shirt says, "That doesn't make you Jesus". The back says, "So you can make me cum". It's from a line in the song "Precious Things" -- "So you can make me cum that doesn't make you Jesus" - one of my favorite lines of all time. I think my conductor would appreciate my wearing that t-shirt to a study, don't you?

RS (of the Who died and made you God? class)

Every finger in the room is pointing at me. I wanna spit in their faces, but I get afraid of what that could bring. -Tori

Disclaimer: Hoping this t-shirt isn't offensive to anyone - taking a risk for those who might appreciate it.

42

Forgiveness, How Far Do You Take It?

by prophecor in

jw
friends

has it ever happened to you, something so dispicable you would rather go to your grave, not having forgiven someone a wrong they had done you, hopeful that god would sort it out in the end?

mind you, i know things like child molestation, rape and murder are things for which it is difficult, if not impossible, to be forgiving of.

that being said, where does one draw the line on forgiveness?

RebelliousSpirit

Yeah, me too. A kind and loving bitch that will not tolerate abuse by or to others, either! I've been known to stand in front of a man in the process of trying to hit is wife or girlfriend telling him "if you got the balls to hit her, you gotta go thru me first you SOB". Never once got hit.

Exactly, Brenda. Recently, when my JW sister-in-law's abusive jerk of a husband told me that if I didn't stay out of "his business" he would make me pay, I responded with - "Go for it @sshole. Your wife and her well being are most certainly my business, and I will not stay out of it. Unfortunately for you, there is nothing you can do to me that a man hasn't already done to me before. You think women are meant to cower before you. Well you don't know this woman. I cower before no one". And then I went Rock on him and told him to "Just Bring It". LOL!

Odd ... he had nothing to say after that.

RS (of the That which doesn't kill us makes us stronger class)

42

Forgiveness, How Far Do You Take It?

by prophecor in

jw
friends

has it ever happened to you, something so dispicable you would rather go to your grave, not having forgiven someone a wrong they had done you, hopeful that god would sort it out in the end?

mind you, i know things like child molestation, rape and murder are things for which it is difficult, if not impossible, to be forgiving of.

that being said, where does one draw the line on forgiveness?

RebelliousSpirit

Forgiveness is not for the one being forgiven. It is for the one doing the forgiving. No matter what the act was. Even murder. Now, I'm not saying it is easy. No way in heck is it easy. But it is necessary to move on with life.

I agree Brenda, and it seems as if we've had similar experiences. I have also run into my ex on occasion since I left him nearly 10 years ago - he has apologized more than once for the things he put me through, and I have told him that I forgave him a long time ago - not for his sake, but for my own. I'm sure you know just what I mean.

Someodd years ago I also had the opportunity to confront my rapist. When I first met my husband, I was still an emotional disaster, and very, very bitter. I wanted so badly to get past all of that so that I could be happy and live a "normal" life. My little brother was attending AA meetings while he was living with me - and one night he ran into my rapist there - who promptly fled when he saw my brother. When my brother told me of the experience, I realized then and there what had to happen for me to move on. I had to confront him. One night I prayed to God, "God, I feel that I need to confront C****** in order to move on with my life. I am so angry and bitter ... and I don't see any other way. If it is your will, God ... please give me what I need to do this so that I can finally LIVE again".

The next night there was a knock on my front door - I opened it - and I kid you not - there stood my rapist (one reason I continue to have faith, and one reason why I think JWs are full of sh!t that God only answers their prayers). He didn't know where I lived, we hadn't seen each other in years and I was not listed in the phone book - but there he was at my front door. You see, I was living in my father's condo at the time, and my rapist had unbeknownst to me partied with my father in the past (another sad story) - so he was looking for my dad that night (who was living out of state by that time) - and found me instead. When I answered the door, he turned ghost white - and this once overbearing, overpowering, violent, nasty man I had known stuttered, stumbled, and tripped over himself when I walked out onto the porch to confront him. He apologized for showing up at my door and turned around to leave. I grabbed him by the arm (years of abuse turned me into one tough bitch, in case I forgot to mention that) and said, "You're not going anywhere, I have some things to say and you're damn well going to listen".

And under the indirect supervision of a few of my male friends, as well as my brother - I spent the next 5 hours confronting the man who had raped me and ruined my life. He cried. A lot. I didn't. Over and over again he told me how sorry he was for what he had done, he said he knew he couldn't do anything to make things right, but would try if I just named it. I told him that the only thing he could do was raise his son to NEVER be the kind of sonofabitch he was. After I had said everything I had to say, and then some ... I forgave him. I closed that chapter of my life (put a period, as they say), and I sent him on his way to walk home in subzero temperatures in a snow storm. He asked me for a ride home (he asked me for a ride home!!!!) ... I told him that I couldn't do that - that I had closed the chapter of my life that included him - that he no longer existed to me. He nodded a little and said, "I guess I deserve what I get at this point". I replied, "You haven't even gotten a fraction of what you deserve for what you did to me - be thankful, and go home C****** - go home".

It was a huge turning point in my life. I am thankful for the opportunities I had to forgive, and to close those chapters in my life once and for all.