Tina,
You said, "They actually told me'these things will be fixed in the new system'. They took that as license to abuse food and their health."
I remember many sentiments such as this. It always struck me as very hypocritical how they would dog on smoking, drinking, etc, because those endangered your health, when the medical community was saying that being overweight and sedentary is almost as bad for your health. I do remember one article about gluttoney, and that it could be a disfellowshipping offense. But how are you going to enforce something like that (I'm sure they'd try to find some way, if they thought they could). There are valid medical conditions, but for the most part, it's the sedentary lifestyle they propogate that's so bad for the R&F. No sports as children. I was not even allowed to play outside when the worldly neighbors' kids were outside, so I learned to play quietly inside by myself and read a lot. Thank god, I happened to have fairly good genes and my grandmother's metabolism, so I never went passed a size 8. Even so, one of the first things I did upon my exit was join a gym and was down to a healthy 2 (I'm short and small boned) in no time. I have never been so healthy as I am now, since leaving the org: that's mentally, spiritually AND physically!! love my exercise and meditation!!
Love,
B.
p.s. then I remember on the other hand, a lot of bulemic and anorexic sisters. I think both ends of the spectrum--overeating, and undereating that you saw in the org reflected a deep seated lack of self esteem--love for themselves. When, if they had just been encouraged to view themselves and their bodies in a healthy way, more of that could've been avoided.
Bridgette
JoinedPosts by Bridgette
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34
Overweight JWs -- on the increase?
by Seeker inyes, i know, the title is a pun.
it was deliberate.. i can recall in the 1970s seeing very few overweight jws.
in fact, i used to think (in my arrogant jw manner) that this was a sign of how jws were better at self-control than worldly people.
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Bridgette
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76
CNN mentions Jehovah's Witnesses Today
by ARoarer ini have been watching the news on cnn and happened to notice the news flashing across the bottom mentioning the state of ohio banning door to door work and jehovah's witnesses!
has anyone seen this?
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Bridgette
JT, you do make a good point when you say: "I'M SURE THE legal desk in brooklyn rejoiced when they saw the JW were the only group mentioned on the form-"
I'm sure this fed their psychotic paranoia to no end. But I still stand by my right to have people at my door ID'd. I do agree with the earlier poster about NOT enforcing Identification when preaching in a public place (I like the idea of airports--you can't step out of the little white square to preach or propagate). You cannot accost people. It's not a person's right to "preach" that I am interested in hindering--if that's how they practice their religion, I could care less. But my right to privacy, and my right to be unmolested (no pun intended) in my own residence, I will protect, and assert that it outweighs anyone's right to preach in my own residence.
Pax,
B.
Paranoia: A psychotic disorder marked by delusions of persecution or of grandeur, often strenuously rationalized.
hmmmmmm.....sound familiar? -
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CNN mentions Jehovah's Witnesses Today
by ARoarer ini have been watching the news on cnn and happened to notice the news flashing across the bottom mentioning the state of ohio banning door to door work and jehovah's witnesses!
has anyone seen this?
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Bridgette
Seeker,
You said: "I suspect you and I think very much alike in this area." I've had that feeling from some of your posts as well.
Pax,
B. -
76
CNN mentions Jehovah's Witnesses Today
by ARoarer ini have been watching the news on cnn and happened to notice the news flashing across the bottom mentioning the state of ohio banning door to door work and jehovah's witnesses!
has anyone seen this?
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Bridgette
Seeker,
Your arguments are very valid. Your voice and others like it are very much needed at times such as this. I agree with the need to be cautious and watch closely what laws are eing passed. We live in dangerous times, indeed. Not only the physical threat we are facing, but the tendency of frightened people to needlessly give up their rights in exchange for a feeling of security. And teh ability for a despotic government to take advantage of crisis situations. However, this bears repeating: with more and more and MORE people attempting to peaceably share this planet, the lines between individual rights and community rights thin and get entangled at times. I cannot yell "Fire!" in a movie theatre. By the letter of a free society, this is a blatant violation of my freedom of speech. But it is for a greater, common good, that we cannot yell fire in a theatre. The fact that I have to wear an ID badge with my name, title and credentials facing the public (it's in our company by-laws) is technically invasive to my individuality and privacy (people know my name--sometimes that makes me uncomfortable), but I can guarantee you that you want to know what and who I am if I come at you with a size E needle as you lay in a hospital bed. Your right to safe healthcare, it has been decided, outweighs my need for anonyity. And don't even get me started on healthcare, which is very much socialized, and does in no way reflect our capitalistic ideals--because we decided that a human being's right to healthcare rfar outweighed the right of an individual to make a fortune healing the sick. I happen to think this is a good thing. *sigh* We live under and have adopted the philosophy of "Majority rules". If I want to make you wear an ID badge when you're canvassing my neighborhood with an agenda, and more citizens than not, agree with me, then, in theory, we should be able to prevail and have you wear an ID badge. America is very much a work in progress. I think balance is the key.
Pax,
B.
p.s. While we're at it--down with TELEMARKETERS!!! I'd even take JW's over them (if I absolutely HAD to make the choice) -
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Here's my story (I'm new here)....
by crownboy ini am a 4th generation witness (on both sides of the family) and indeed my entire family (save for the few who "fall away" in every family) are jehovah's witnesses.
my dad is an elder, my mom a regular pioneer and my two elder sisters the same.
my younger sister is 17 and still unbaptized, so therefore she is sort of a "black sheep" in our family and "spiritually weak" for not having already "taken the dip in the pool" (however, due to her overall open-minded nature, i am perhaps closest to her).
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Bridgette
Crownboy,
Yep, it was a questioning nature and a thorough reading of the bible that did it for me, also. Maybe it would be easier if we could check our brains at the door, but those pesky things just won't be stifled!
Your journey has begun. Much love and well wishes to you. I hope you continue to post here.
Pax,
Bridgette -
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Persuasion: Did we forget what we learned as JWs?
by larc inas jws we learned a lot about persuasion and how to get people to accept our ideas.
we had role plays on over coming objections.
we were taught how to anticipate typical questions and respond to them.
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Bridgette
I agree with Saint Satan (I think). That is, if what he's saying is: while we agree with the use of civility and cohesive argument, not all of us here have an agenda to recruit current JW's to the ExJW community. Some are here to heal, and some who are in this process, their words are angry and full of stuffed down emotion, which comes out after years as very vitriolic. They are healing. It's not pretty.
I personally have no agenda here. I like to listen and talk to others who've shared a similar life experience. I guess the closest thing to an agenda that I have is to force and keep the WTBTS honest with it's adherants, the governments under which they "work", and the public they seek to recruit. I could care less if someone wants to remain or become a witness or not, but if they talk to me, they're going to be fully informed about what they're in or getting themselves into.
I could definitely get on board with more civility, but don't care to join a recruiting campaign of JW's. Although, it's karmically appealing, I'll let the natural laws of Karma balance out all the ill effects that the WTBTS has wrought.
Pax,
B. -
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Moral question
by uncle_onion inyou decide:.
i have a moral question for you.
imaginary situation, but i think.
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Bridgette
Ooooh, I love the way you think, Budda Belly!
Seriously, I'd rescue him. I'd LOVE to see him brought to trial. I want to see NOT just HIM brought to justice, but his ideals judged and squelched in the world wide eye. I'd love for people to just open up dialogue about religous fanatacism, and begin to eradicate it once and for all. I think a trial (world tribunal, NOT U.S. justice system--we're too soft) of a religous nutball would be a good start.
Pax,
B. -
76
CNN mentions Jehovah's Witnesses Today
by ARoarer ini have been watching the news on cnn and happened to notice the news flashing across the bottom mentioning the state of ohio banning door to door work and jehovah's witnesses!
has anyone seen this?
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Bridgette
Seeker,
I can see why your little red flags are coming up. I am a great proponent of individual rights and freedoms. However, as our population grows exponentially, we're going to have to make some difficult choices between the rights of the individual and the community. If I have to choose, I choose my right to privacy over the rights of a religious/corporation, or any who have a political or economic agenda. I want to have the right to work in my yard unmolested by those who have an agenda. You wanna stop and say hi, that's fine with me--but don't approach me with an agenda--religious or otherwise.
I do not think it's out of line, either to have them register and ID themselves. I'm sorry if a few individuals have to go out of their way to accommodate this, but I wish to know who's at my door and what they're selling. And to answer the question posed by the attorney for the JW's to the court--YES! they are peddlers. They have all the earmarks of a Multi-level-marketing system with a religious overtone. It is very much about the selling and distributing of their literature, and constantly feeding itself with new recruits. Now, back to the ID--we ALL KNOW that JW's are highly discouraged from identifying themselves as Jehovah's Witnesses, when they peddle door to door. They are purposefully covert in their door to door operations in order to specifically bolster their recruiting system.
ID cards are no big deal. I have to wear one where I work. Beleive me, you want to know who people are and what credentials they have, where I work. Do we feel as though some human right has been violated? Probably by the textbook Libertarian, yes. But I've got no problem with wearing my little ID badge. It's just common sense.
Love,
B. -
46
Family About to Disown Me
by Moridin inwell i finally got the guts to tell my mother that i had enlisted in the army.
she didn't say a whole lot to me, but she did tell my sister she was calling the elders and that when i was df'd she would have nothing to do with me.
i can't say that it suprises me too much, but i was hoping for more of an adult reaction.
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Bridgette
Moridin,
How about a mother's love? Usually far too strong and instinctual to be snubbed out by religious/corporate rhetoric.
Love and best wishes to you and all your lovely family,
B. -
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Jehovah Cancels New System Because of UN Stuff
by ISP inreuters.... in a surprise development today, jehovah, the god of the christian fundamentalist sect 'jehovah's witnesses' made a statement about the recent controversy regarding the watchtower bible and tract society(wts) and its ngo status.
the 'wts' has now dissassociated itself from its previous ngo connection but had held such a position for the past 9 years or so.
'i've had enough' said the diety, 'i just don't know what i am supposed to do with these people.
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Bridgette
ISP--that was soooo funny!! I woke hubby up with my laughing out loud.
"Thumbs up!" says Bridgette
"I laughed, I cried"....
p.s. what is Reuters for those of us on the other side of the pond?