Posts by RebelliousSpirit

92

Trying to get to know people on the JWD

by cindykp in

jw
friends

i havent been here that long, and just trying to get to know a little more about the people im chatting with.

i know some dont want to share too much info, which i understand.

so.............im divorced, have 3 kids, lived in florida for 15 years, now back home in wi.

RebelliousSpirit

Hi Cindy

First name? My friends call me Ari (or LadyAri)

Married? Happily married for 6 years thus far, together for 8

Gay? Does "bi-curious" count?

Kids? Yep - 2 boys, ages 4 and 1

Other: Never been a JW, but married to a lifelong JW who was DA for 8 years, reinstated someodd months ago. I studied for about 10 months before realizing that it just isn't working for me. Still attend meetings w/hubby (as long as I'm there, I always have the upper hand), haven't officially quit my study yet but plan to do so as quietly as possible very soon. Hubby loves me just the way I am (non JW) - as a matter of fact, he prefers me this way, and I'm happy to oblige.

18

A Very Rebellious Birthday.

by Badger in

jw
friends

.

happy birthday to rebellious spirit!

.

RebelliousSpirit

::GRIN::

I feel all special and stuff .... thanks hon, you're the best!

66

Do some WT phrases make you squirm?

by jeanniebeanz in

jw
friends

for me it's "the doors of the ark are closing.

i can never forget as a child, being forced to see the graphic images in the publications showing families, mothers with little babies clinging to a rock and others drowning as the ark floats away.

fathers shaking their fists at god for destroying their families... it's like some of the little mind control still functioning in there somewhere causing a kneejerk reaction of uneasiness.... are there any others that bug you?.

RebelliousSpirit

"Food at the proper time"
I wasn't always hungry, ya know?

LOL! I have to say that this one gets under my skin as well. Out of all the "coined JW phrases" - "food at the proper time" makes me SO agitated every time I hear it.

Some others ...

"faithful and discreet slave" - this just sounds totally ridiculous to me

"I appreciate ... we appreciate ... don't you appreciate ... we should appreciate ..." - did you ever notice that JWs "appreciate" everything TO DEATH?

"brings out" - this scripture "brings out" this, that publication "brings out" that - ENOUGH WITH THE BRINGING OUT ALREADY!

"friends" - Is it me or does this ALWAYS seem to sound totally condescending and fake?? "And we all want to do the right thing, don't we friends?"

"worldly" and "of the world" and "no part of the world" - If you hate the world so much - GO AWAY!

"the real life" - as in "Afterall, we are not living the real life in this system" - what are we living ... a fake life?? This is life - suck it up!

Which brings me to "in this system of things" ... "in this old system" - This is just plain annoying to hear over and over and over and over.

UGH ... I could go on and on ...

38

Going to see Motley Crue where I used to go to District Convention

by Dustin in

jw
friends

funny story, i'm going to go and see the motley crue reunion tour in a month.

thing is it's at the aliant energy center in madison where we used to go for the conventions.

we are sitting in the same section where we always sat, because my dad was in charge of security.

RebelliousSpirit

They're coming here soon too! I really want to go!

Ahhh ... memories!

You know I'm a dreamer
But my heart's of gold
I had to run away high
So I wouldn't come home low
Just when things went right
It doesn't mean they were always wrong
Just take this song and you'll never feel
Left all alone

Take me to your heart
Feel me in your bones
Just one more night
And I'm comin' off this
Long & winding road

I'm on my way
Well I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
I'm on my way
Home sweet home
You know that I've seen
To many romantic dreams
Up in lights, fallin' off
The silver screen

My heart's like an open book
For the whole world to read
Sometimes nothing-keeps me together
At the seams

I'm on my way
Well I'm on my way
Home sweet home
Tonight tonight
I'm on my way
Just set me free
Home sweet home

Motley Crue - Home Sweet Home

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

While a successful marriage by a normal person to a Jehovah's Witness is indeed "possible," it's certainly not probable. I agree that CYP shouldn't "run to the hills just yet," but I do think he should run to an attorney's office immediately to plan and prepare for dealing with what is an extremely significant threat to his marriage, as well as to the psychological well being of his children, which his wife is selfishly overlooking. Burying his head in the sand and underestimating the threat he's facing does not seem wise, given the very real and extremely significant threat the Watchtower is presently posing to his marriage and family. Better prepared than sorry later.

Having worked for an attorney for 3 years, I appreciate your advanced planning methods. However, it's not something I've found necessary in my case. My husband has made his loyalty to his family over the organization very clear - and I don't doubt him even for a minute. But then again my husband was also DA'd for 8 years - so he knows both sides of the coin. He'd go there again if they cross the line with him, or with his wife and children.

I'm really hoping for the best for CYP. It is tough.

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

I really believe that a loving husband actually can stand up to the pressure and win out. You are going to have to do more in the romantic department as well. You are going to shower her with compliments, love, go for walks at night after dinner. Spend time alone together, get a babysitter and make sure you continue to solidify the BOND you two share as a couple.
Don't allow the WTS into your marriage and undermine the love you have for each other. Don't allow this to be the topic ALL the time so that you are dealing with a lot of conflinct and not having enough time to be husband and wife. Lots of kisses, lots of sex, lots of intimacy. Cement this relationship as being permanent.
If you allow them to start a rift between you two, they stand a chance. The more you are the model loving husband, the more she will love you and not allow them to come between you two.
I know I love my husband dearly, and would fight for our marriage.

JTP is right on. AND ... I had a field day at meeting last night sexually "harrassing" my husband the entire 2 hours. I don't think he knew whether to clamp his hand over my mouth, or rush me home mid-meeting to take advantage of me.

Turns out he loved it ... and he said he'd be happy to be on the receiving end of more at the next meeting.

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

I am willing to go to ALL the meetings until I "make up my mind

If you do this, watch out for the love bombing. They will do everything to make your see through rose coloured glasses that they are the only true religion. Don't let them suck you in.
You have a lot to think about. Your in our thoughts.

CJ is right - I can attest to that as I have gone to every meeting with my JW husband for the last 10+ months. It's easy to get sucked in by the attention you'll get - I almost did. So just be cautious and mindful ... you'll be fine.

On a sidenote ... We haven't been to a meeting in a month except bookstudy (too much going on lately), but finally went last night. Hubby wanted to do the "duck and dodge" after the meeting, so we managed to only get snagged by 2 people on our way out (1 elder, 1 not) - neither of which knew my husband was in the hospital last weekend even though the PO knew. So apparently no one asked, and they didn't announce it and ask for prayers - interesting eh?

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

AFIN: I just thought I'd hang around to see all your reactions to her departure.

Did someone say troll? Why yes, I believe so! There is no other reason for such a ridiculous statement as the one quoted above.

At any rate, I hope we didn't disappoint you AFIN - did you get a good "show"?

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.