Oh yes! It never ceases to amaze me how people can look down their nose at me right to my face and think I actually don't notice! I'm just the opposite when it comes to networking/x-mas parties and such ... I unintentionally avoid the big wigs and just mingle with whomever is close by. I'm too shy to suck up - I'd probably embarass the hell-out-of-myself if I even tried .
sweet tee
JoinedPosts by sweet tee
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11
I would be your friend, but your not important enough.
by free2beme ini love these type of people, because they are so easy to see through.
you know the type, they meet you and they're all nice and all, but because your not important enough they don't really want to be your friend.
in fact, they probably got introduced to you by someone who is important and to make that person happy they give you five minutes of conversation or maybe listen to a thought or two, and then they are off to the next person and your nothing.
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80
what do you think about.................................
by defd inbeards!
in my congregation it is frowned apon.
a male can have one but he wouldnt get any privilidges and would probably be labeled the black sheep.
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sweet tee
It would go much better for their image if their constituents were:
- Educated
- Well-balanced
- Truly compassionate
It does the entire organization very much harm to constantly focus on outer appearance rather than on developing a healthy, well-balanced flock.
I like the thought behind this daystar ... that is what makes me feel good about myself and my relationship to God and those around me. Through education I learned the skill of critical thinking and am able to make decisions for myself much more easily than when I was a dub, trained to follow the rules of men that 'because they said so' made things so. Now, I question everything and am able to make decisions that do not violate my own conscience or values.
Critical thinking is good skill to acquire defd. It puts the responsibility for your decisions where they truly belong, which is with you and no one else. If you allow others to make decisions for you it puts you in the perilous position of reaping the consequences of other peoples erroneous advice and mandates. Bottom line, the person who will pay for your decisions is yourself - you should not abdicate responsibility for how you live your life to people you do not know, and who do not know YOU!
sweet tee
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80
what do you think about.................................
by defd inbeards!
in my congregation it is frowned apon.
a male can have one but he wouldnt get any privilidges and would probably be labeled the black sheep.
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sweet tee
The prohibition of beards was always one of the things that made me question the GB's reasoning and authority over the congregation. Why should grown men let other men tell them specifically how to groom themselves unless it is connected with a job or position of some sort. That felt cultish because the reasons given weren't scriptural, just speculative and controlling.
sweet tee
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21
Looking forward to Armageddon?
by Gill inmy eldest daughter (21) said something that stopped me in my tracks yesterday.
we were busy wrapping christmas presents (yes, we've started early this year) for her younger siblings.
then she started laughing and said: 'isn't it nice to have christmas, birthdays, easter, bonfire night, halloween etc to look forward to instead of only looking forward to armageddon!'.
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sweet tee
I know there reasons as you say, concerning myths and history, for me its a matter of faith and belief. I believe Jesus existed and warned about the End and that the Bible still exists today for that reason.
I hear people speak of their beliefs all the time but they cannot prove that what they believe is true ... which is fine ... faith is fine and OK with me. What I take exception to is people who try to convince me to believe as they do 'cause pastor so-and-so is really strong in the Word and such ... NO, NO, can't do that again. The last time I accepted someones words as truth it cost me 12+ years of my precious time and a whole lot of wasted talent in the meantime ... I won't go there again. Oh yes, and I have my doubts about the Bible's inspiration although some of it is useful as a guide to how to treat people, being a responsible adult and good citizen. I learn more about God by how I live my life and observing the world around me, the people and things in it.
I believe in God for my own reasons ... mainly because I feel an influence in my life and it's something that is a part of me and I can't let it go. Why should I? It's mine and it's personal and whatever it is, it is for me! It keeps me grounded and grateful and committed to being the best person I can be and doing my part to make the world a better place. And most importantly to this thread:
IT IS NOT BASED ON FEAR OF ARMAGEDDON, HELLFIRE, ETERNAL DEATH AND CONDEMNATION OR ANYTHING ELSE!!!!!
SWEET FREEDOM!
sweet tee
(PS. why should anyone look forward to mass destruction when earthquakes and hurricanes and their carnage break our hearts even now ... would mass casualties at an Armageddon be any different for people with compassion?)
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30
Its has been................
by defd inslow here lately.
i like the old days when there was alot of activity.
i didnt like all the nastyness but i didnt mind all the going back and forth.
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sweet tee
And ... I am not worried about an Armageddon at all ... if one is coming there is nothing at all I can do to stop it. On the other hand, if God is NOT going to save the earth through destruction and restoration then we'd better be about the business of preserving our OWN home planet.
sweet tee
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30
Its has been................
by defd inslow here lately.
i like the old days when there was alot of activity.
i didnt like all the nastyness but i didnt mind all the going back and forth.
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sweet tee
I worry about making it.
One of the best things about being an ex-witness is NOT Worrying about Armageddon. I don't "worry" about my relationship with God at all ... it just is - and whatever he has planned for me will be, so long as I am doing what I am supposed to do; ie opportunities will be presented to me and if I am prepared I will succeed in getting them and moving my life forward in harmony (I hate saying "in harmony" ) with my talents, motivations and his purpose for me personally. I am not afraid or worried about what will happen when I die ... it is in his hands, not mine.
SWEET FREEDOM!
sweet tee
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21
Looking forward to Armageddon?
by Gill inmy eldest daughter (21) said something that stopped me in my tracks yesterday.
we were busy wrapping christmas presents (yes, we've started early this year) for her younger siblings.
then she started laughing and said: 'isn't it nice to have christmas, birthdays, easter, bonfire night, halloween etc to look forward to instead of only looking forward to armageddon!'.
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sweet tee
I wouldn't want to be on the receiving end of Jesus fury.
Once one comes to realize that Jesus Christ' grace is sufficient for us then the fear of him dissipates leaving only love and compassion behind. It is this irrational fear of dying at Armageddon that keeps people bound to the borg.
I am looking forward to tomorrow, to growing older and seeing how my kids turn out, to having grandchildren and great grands, perhaps even great, great grands .... those are things to look forward to IMHO.
sweet tee
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17
My Story
by zagor inmy story .
do you find that your thinking capacity has stalled after becoming a jw?.
probably a stupid question but let me elaborate.. .
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sweet tee
Good thing was that all that time something was screaming inside of me to continue to read, to research, to study wider than what WTBS required. (Though I would be “encouraged”, regularly, to stop doing it)
Like you Zagor, I was an avid reader before my indoctrination also. When I first came into da troof, I would research everything. I loved the aid book and really enjoyed reading the litterature. It's funny you should bring this up today, I was just thinking yesterday how good it used to feel doing all that reading - did someone slip me something too ?
I wanted to read studies in the scriptures and the finished mystery but was discouraged by the elders from doing so. Now I know why! I was excited when the reprints of the bound volumes started coming out but again I was discouraged from going back too far due to 'noo light', they didn't want me to get
the real truthconfused.Eventually I lost my interest in doing deep research and over time the litterature became dull and boring and I didn't enjoy studying anymore I just endured it. Once I started reading secular books again and exposed myself to 'worldly' people at work I realized that the world was a lot bigger than the borganization and not nearly as frightening or corrupt as the gutless boobies had led me to believe. Couple of flip-flop-flips and bam! I was gone.
sweet tee
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54
A Challange to Def'd.....
by AK - Jeff ini, and many other well meaning posters here, have asked you dozens of questions.
you have dodged them all for the most part and spent your replies on personal attacks, or just plain refusal to address the questions posed.
your favorite retort is typically ad hominen attacks or a red-herring thown in for good measure.
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sweet tee
I found the explanation to be empty and scary.
I bet you also found a lot of heads nodding too ... that's what's really scary .... that we used to be head nodders too (or did they applaud? ).sweet tee edited for clairty :-)
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How many mistresses can a JW elder have?
by Gill insince finding out more about the wtbts over the last year, it has come as no surprise to me anymore that the deceptive actions of the mother (wtbts) are seen in some of her children.
the need for double thinking, self deluding beliefs and sneaky, twisted belief and thought patterns that i have noticed over the years in so many jws suddenly makes sense and is no longer scandalising or suprising.. so when i was told of the behaviour of a 'fine, upstanding, pillar of the community, brother' i simply shrugged.
however, the results of his behaviour are not something to simply shrug your shoulders over.. it turned out for the last thirty years of his being married he has conducted affairs with another two 'sisters' in the congregation.
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sweet tee
I'm not an apologist, I'm just stating that if after seeing all the wrong things going on with the WTS and you still did as they told you than its your own fault, no one elses. Maybe mind control works more on those with weak minds.
I apologize if I misunderstood your position. But you also have to understand that not everyone in the borg. knows what is going on. Men seem to be much more privy to what is happening in the lives of the R&F than are women ... and they condone and cover up for their cronies in a way I never would have imagined while I was inside. However, when I began to see the hypocrisy myself (and believe me, it was not where near as deplorable as what I've read on this forum) that is when I high-tailed my behind out of there and took my life back. Unfortunately, millions are still being deceived to believe that these people are 'light bea rers' sweet tee