Hey, great idea! I'm relatively new here, also, and have often wondered. I also echo your sentiments about being glad this board is here. I hope it remains with EVERYONE participating. I was really glad to find it. How many others are out there searching...wondering if they're all alone?
Anyway here goes....
Bridgette (real name witheld as some family is still in, and my name is VERY UNIQUE)
I live in Golden Colorado/work in Denver.
31 y.o. female.
Grew up in "truth" but out for almost 3 glorious, fulfilling years now.
Mother of one 8 y.o. daughter, my sunshine.
I'm a textbook pisces newly married to an Aquarius (interesting)
Hobbies/interests: I hike, paint, sketch, write short fiction, and bad poetry. oh, and I like astrology, could ya tell?
B
Bridgette
JoinedPosts by Bridgette
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27
Where are we from.....
by BobsGirl ini know that this has been done before, but i am new to the board and i would like to get an idea of where everyone is located.
as an aside .... plesantries or animosities, moderators or no, i am grateful to have this board.
bobsgirl
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Bridgette
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51
satanism, witchcraft and devil worship. . . . . .
by DCs Ghost incontrary to popular belief and what society and the media will portray satanism, devil worship and witchcraft are 3 very independent systems of belief, .
sure, to those who are afraid of looking into books dealing with the occult, for fear of being possessed or what have you, i write this as a vent because it makes me laugh when i hear people assume that the three are the same, they aren't, .
and the reality is that even though the three get bunched up as the same, many times it is the ignorance of the practitioners which keeps the ignorance alive.
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Bridgette
And Claudia,
I agree with you, that she's not acting in the capacity as a real mother. I am a mother also, and NOTHING could break that bond (it's a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, literal bond, that only grows with time). And that, to me, is one of the scariest things about the nature of the org, or any group that could have so much control that it could interfere with that bond? It's completely unnatural and literally dehumanizing. She must be dying or dead inside.
I don't think my mother could do it. I knew a mother (elder's wife) who's teenage son got Df'd and he simply wanted nothing to do with the organization anymore, and she COULD NOT SHUN HIM. She just couldn't. She finally left after a lot of heart break, because she said, even if I die, why would I want to live forever in "paradise" without my child? Interestingly, though, the further she drifted from the org, the closer she got to "god" on an individual level. She read her bible a lot more, seh prayed a lot more, and seemed to be at peace, where before, she'd always, always, ALWAYS been depressed and emotionally distraught over this or that when she'd been in the thick of it.
Things that make you go hmmmmmm.......
B. :) -
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satanism, witchcraft and devil worship. . . . . .
by DCs Ghost incontrary to popular belief and what society and the media will portray satanism, devil worship and witchcraft are 3 very independent systems of belief, .
sure, to those who are afraid of looking into books dealing with the occult, for fear of being possessed or what have you, i write this as a vent because it makes me laugh when i hear people assume that the three are the same, they aren't, .
and the reality is that even though the three get bunched up as the same, many times it is the ignorance of the practitioners which keeps the ignorance alive.
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Bridgette
S.S.,
Am I psychic? Well, actually, the lord spake unto me in a dream....kidding! I have my deeply intuitive moments, but actually, I gleaned this information as I read your comments in a previous post on this thread (something about using the name just to bug the fundys). OK, I hope everyone reading this has a sense of humor, because I truly do honor all paths, adn people.
About meditative practice; it waxes and wanes, as does everything. Actually, I've been going through a time where it feels like work. Like I don't fall into the connection. My mind just will not still itself. But I know that this passes. Does that make sense?
Oh, and I totally believe what you're saying about John's Revelation being a manifestation from his own psyche of what some masters were attempting to channel to him. I'd never thought of it in that sense, but I do believe that the universe "speaks" in a language of energies. Have you ever read anything about the Kaballah (Jewish mysticism)? Very fascinating. It asserts that there's "messages" coming in all the time, and our minds are like receivers. But our belief systems can color and very much influence how we interpret them. So, if all you've been taught is apocolyptic scenarios with a godhead that is just waiting to destroy you adn others for any slight infraction, then.....how you're going to interpret the universe, is as a brutal place, when in fact, if you see the glass as half full, the universe is a very loving place. Filled with people who truly, at their core, want to love and accept one another. We create our own realities.
B. -
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satanism, witchcraft and devil worship. . . . . .
by DCs Ghost incontrary to popular belief and what society and the media will portray satanism, devil worship and witchcraft are 3 very independent systems of belief, .
sure, to those who are afraid of looking into books dealing with the occult, for fear of being possessed or what have you, i write this as a vent because it makes me laugh when i hear people assume that the three are the same, they aren't, .
and the reality is that even though the three get bunched up as the same, many times it is the ignorance of the practitioners which keeps the ignorance alive.
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Bridgette
Saint Satan,
I figured your use of that name had something to do with bugging the easily bugged--shame on you! LOL!
I myself began mediting in early 2000, and I know what you mean about finding yourself. It's like a very very slow unfolding (well for me it's slow ;). I know very little about the Tao. I have a very good friend who's a zen buddhist, is it similar?
I had thought about suggesting a form of meditation to A Guest (or maybe a "be still and know that I am god") Perhaps a quieting of the soul would sooth her, as her voices and visions don't seem to be bringing her good news (the Christians rarely see anything but negative). But who are we to judge? I appreciated your comments to her on that thread. Very non judgemental and non threatening. Didn't feed into any god's prophet slash martyr syndrome. She reminds me of some things I've read about Joan of Arc or St. John of the Cross.
Interesting.
I enoy your posts.
Peace,
B. :)
DCG,
Good to know that you've kept your sanity even though, you've essentially lost your mother. I miss having my mother fully in my life, too. -
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How Easy Was It To Leave?
by ballistic inwhen i was df, i actually wanted to return which isn't suprising when you look at their brain washing: * http://www.escapefromwatchtower.com/mind.html.
i think it took me a couple of years to fully get over it and now the scripture "like a dog returning to it's vomit" comes to mind.. i gather some people here came to their senses while still in the org.
did anyone actually find it easy to leave?.
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Bridgette
Once I decided to leave, it was the easiest thing I ever did. It was the years of wondering and inwardly debating that were torturous. It was the only time in my life that I was truly depressed. Once I walked out of my last meeting, on the drive home it was like: "I'm FREE!! I'm FREE!!!". It was like I could BREATHE for the first time. I just walked away. I did not get DF'd. The only thing that has kept me from making anything official is my mom. As I've said before, she has no retirement, no health benefits, she's older, alone, etc. I couldn't bear it if she thought she couldn't call me, or had to shun me. She is not a "good witness" just a simple, faithful sister (a "widow" by WTBTS standards). Once my elder dad disfellowshipped himself, she was nothing in org eyes. So, hard? No, and yes. I just want my mom, FULLY in my life.
My two cents,
B :) -
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WTBTS pro Irish bias.
by josephus inliving in northern ireland is tough.
people are mean.
religious differences rule your life.. anyone reading the news will see how far we can go in our hatred for one another.. one thing that allways bothered me though.. if you read any yearly, or monthly report by the wtbts, you will find no mention of a real country.. northern ireland is a real place.
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Bridgette
Thank you for clarifying a few things for me, Josephus. Could Englishman please translate the German for me? And Josephus, could you elaborate on the differences between Northern Ireland and the rest of Ireland? I'm afraid, we Americans can be geographically challenged at times. Sometimes it's like living in a bubble--so I apologize for my ignorance. I always tell my husband that if he wants to hear what's really going on in the world, he should turn off the fluffy soundbytes we have for news programs and listen to the BBC, which I get in my car every morning on the way to work (quite shockingly, I find that the USA is not at the center of the universe!)
So anyway, which one is "Protestant?" Which is "Catholic?" What kind of challenges do you face? How is it a rough place to live? I would love to know more. We Americans have become so homogenized that we are virtually STARVED for our ancestry and geneological roots. Um, guess where my ancestors are from (hint, I have blue eyes, red hair and freckles)
More input!!!
Thanks,
B. :)
p.s. and to answer your original question: Consider the source. Although, this does surprise me a bit, because they are usually pretty savvy geographically. -
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Eulogy for My Father
by Farkel inon tuesday, august 4, 2001 at 3:42.a.m.
mst, duane floyd checketts, 77 died in his sleep due to complications from pneumonia.
he is survived by his wife bette and two children, douglas checketts, patty smith, and 8 grandchildren.. duane, who was fondly called duke by everyone who knew him was born in farmington, utah on march 8, 1924. his father floyd, was one of 10 children raised in a tiny house built by his own mormon father who immigrated in the early 1860's from birmingham, england.
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Bridgette
Dear Doug,
Just want to add my condolences. Thank you for sharing this piece of your father with us. So many of us will be where you are at now. The dreaded phone call (if I even get one), the reaffirmation of coldness towards your loved ones, because they're not the congregation elite, or have outlived their usefulness. My heart goes out to you. I am going to call my mother today.
Duane Floyd Checketts, I honor you this day. May your journey reunite you with your loved ones. Thank you for the legacy you leave in your son.
Love and Peace,
Bridgette -
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Question for you RE: Holidays
by peacepipe ingathering that there seems to be a mix of active jw's, inactive jw's, ex-jw's, atheists etc.
here, i am wandering on your thoughts on the holidays with more focus on the more religious based holidays like christmas & easter.. i'd like to know if you celebrate them like the mainstream of society or if you still have your reservations about them based on what you learned as part of the wt.
i myself have been very turned off by the holidays in recent years - not because of the wt though- but for my own personal reasons.
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Bridgette
I think that Peacepipe is simply trying to sort it all out. What I feel she is striving for is BALANCE. She would not even be here, discussing with us if she did not wish to gain some balance by taking in information from the other side, and not just taking in everything she hears from the Tower as "god's truth".
So, assuming she has taken in all sides of the argument, I support her decision to not celebrate the holidays, because it is hers. It does not condemn me.
Silver Leaf, have you checked out the site: exjwpagans.org
very good site.
Love and blessings,
B. :) -
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Question for you RE: Holidays
by peacepipe ingathering that there seems to be a mix of active jw's, inactive jw's, ex-jw's, atheists etc.
here, i am wandering on your thoughts on the holidays with more focus on the more religious based holidays like christmas & easter.. i'd like to know if you celebrate them like the mainstream of society or if you still have your reservations about them based on what you learned as part of the wt.
i myself have been very turned off by the holidays in recent years - not because of the wt though- but for my own personal reasons.
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Bridgette
Well spoken Silver Leaf, my fellow pagan! I must echo your sentiments exactly. There is nothing wrong with Pagan celebrations. However, if one is uncomfortable with them, then I wouldn't participate in them.
However, if one is going to try to expunge every ounce of paganism from their life, then, they may want to take into account that it is EVERYWHERE. The ancients saw sacredness in everything. Does one recycle? One of the tell tell signs of a pagan, as they have deep reverence for the earth. I wish more people were pagans, sometimes :( Oh no!! Please don't any fundamentalists ban recycling! Wouldn't god want us to care for HIS creation?
Does one wear a wedding ring? An ancient celtic symbol with heavy religius connotations. The circle denoting eternal love--as in two immortal souls. Also, the circle was often used to represent the woman's reproductive tract. Some 7th day adventists (precursors to JWs) won't even wear them. I could go on. Don't even get me started on candles!
But my point is, recycling, candles, wedding rings, are ALL what they mean to you. Just because they trickled down to us from the ancients, doesn't mean they are "bad".
So, do I celebrate the holidays? With style, DEEP reverence, and delight. I celebrate them muggle style with my husband and daughter, and sacredly between the universe (god/dess) and myself on my own. AND just to make clear: PAGAN HOLIDAYS DO NOT INVOLVE SACRIFICES, OR DEVIL WORSHIP. Pagans do not recognize this entity nor do they believe in pure evil. Satan is a purely Judeo Christian creation (with a predecessor in an ancient persian religion called Zoroastrianism, but that's beside the point).
Do what you will, HARM NONE.
Love and Blessings,
B :) -
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Rookie on the Field
by peacepipe ini've been reading this forum page for about a year.
at first i thought it was a meeting place for practicing jw's but after reading many posts found that most people here have been hurt or don't see things eye to eye with the wt org.
i am not a jw but i have been associating with them for about 3 yrs.
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Bridgette
Peacepipe,
Maybe your sick of everybody's two or three cents here and there. But I just want to reiterate to you that this is a place where you can speak your mind, so please, whatever you decide, just keep typing to us. You are in for some pretty big, albeit subtle, changes if you get baptized. You may find the need to talk freely, get angry, express sadness will be very strong. IF you get baptized you will be strongly cautioned against the internet, but it's your lifeline right now.
Love,
B :)BE the change you want to see in the world.