Way Good congrats for your first post!
Jesus is the reason for the seaon!
(that's why its so cold, eh?)
Enjoy the "terrific" two's!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
cellomould
JoinedPosts by cellomould
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my life is" waygooder"
by Waygooder64 inmy wife and i had our first real xmas with our 2year old and she had a great time(the 2 year old).so happy to get out of that goddam goofy religion!!
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cellomould
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hello all--new to board; my story
by razorMind inhello everyone...hope all are having a great holiday season.. ***warning--kind of long***.
i am 31 and have been "out" for an undetermined # of years...probably starting as soon as i moved out of the house at age 23. i just "drifted away".. i was born into the jw faith.
my parents remain devout and "zealous" to this day.
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cellomould
Thanks for posting your story razorMind,
I too am skinny with an uncontrollable mane of frizzy hair.
Just a bit of humour there. :-)
Well, it's not that long, actually. I want to let it grow out; just a little mini-afro right now. It will be fun, as I have always had to wear my hair short for 'theocratic purposes'. And when I was younger I was always self-concious of my hair, which was neither 'black' nor 'white'. Time for me to get over that.
Honestly, though, I related to your post in so many more ways!
Right now I am 23 and have had the fortune of nearly completing my graduate studies. I made it most of the way through college 'unscathed' by 'wordly' philosophies.
But for various reasons, quite recently I have experienced sweeping changes in my outlook. That I will save for sharing in a later post, as I am a newbie here too.
I want to address one of your issues more fully:
My biggest issue, the one that keeps me awake at night with fury, is the whole JW view on higher education. I basically feel that my whole life has been wasted. There are so many things I could've done & been. I'll probably never realize my dream of going to art school(so sad; many members of my extended family have strong artistic talents) go to another country, etc. etc.
I know you must feel like so much has been wasted, but don't let that reasoning stop you. It's not very reasonable, anyhow. Do you have anything impeding you from travelling abroad, learning new languages, painting in new colors....?Probably only your regrets.
Please don't listen to them. I know you may even be jealous of me right now because I am 23, the same age as you when you drifted away, but almost finished with my studies.
But I have so many regrets too! I don't want to detract attention from what you said by enumerating, but believe me I do.
Don't live based upon fear of regretting something later. Just live!
(I know how hard that can be as I seldom take this advice. It is very difficult for me to adjust to my new paradigm. It happened so fast.)
By the way, it is not so expensive to travel right now. Maybe going abroad to art school (to kill two birds with one stone) is not possible for you, but dip your toes in the water.
You could even visit just one city if you have not much time or money. I would recommend Italy for starters. So many of the frescoes have been wonderfully restored recently.
Check out the Vatican!
I would really look forward to continuing this conversation, razorMind. I am sure you could point me in the right direction about a lot of things, too.
Thank you so much for your story!
cellomould
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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A New Guy from Chicago with a Story to Tell
by Reborn2002 infirst of all id like to say hello to everyone on this website, and to thank and acknowledge each and every one of you for your individuality, personal experience, and in some cases, commitment to truth.. having read some of the heartfelt topics and posts here have served to be a great encouragement to me, more than some could imagine.
my name is jason, and i am a recovering ex-jw.. i guess this would be an ideal time to tell my life story as an abbreviated version, so here goes.. i was "born into, or raised" in the organization.
my grandfather was an elder for 45 years, and served as one of the very first jw in the south chicagoland suburbs.
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cellomould
Hi Jason,
welcome from a fellow newbie here!
You can be assured (if you've stuck around these past few days) of continued support here from at least quite a few people.
There will be instances when you may not feel supported. But remember that these conversations also will serve to protect you.
Comf asked you a few questions about the details of your story. He did not have the benefit of adding a pleasant tone of voice. But if you would have had someone with whom to rehearse or prepare, you would have felt much better about the results of the elder's mtg.
I can see how the reasoning questions really could serve to protect you, especially if you are left with some of these issues to deal with.
A point I would like to make is that it really benefits your effort in conveying a story to tell only What Happened first. But tell everything you know that Happened first. Then be very clear about what did Not Happen. Include everything that did Not Happen that may be important, especially details like "I did not kiss her/touch her in this manner" etc... Don't wait until you have to adamantly deny it; calmly make it clear first.
I noticed, and I don't think anyone else pointed this out, that you never stated What Actually Happened in your original post. You denied that you had sex, but what contact was made? So many things could have happened, and imaginations can easily fill in the details, true or false.
It leaves to the listener's discretion to assume that you touched the young woman in some manner. If you did not touch her at all ever, you must say so. "I did not touch her... not in this manner, not in this manner...I did however, ..." Please don't leave things like this open. It's for your own benefit.
I speak, not to you in particular of course, Jason. But other posters will also benefit from your example. Hopefully, you have dealt with this in its entirety. It is certainly a ridiculous situation to deal with.
Be strong.
thanks for sharing! it must have been difficult.Cellomould
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Dwight Eisenhower raised a JW!!!
by cellomould incheck this link folks.
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html.
just one of the places where you can read a very interesting paper revealing the religious background of ike eisenhower.. i am sure many of you are quite familiar with this paper, but it has not been discussed on this site, at least in the last year.. since it is very long, look for some highlights:.
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cellomould
thanks j2bf for catching my mistake
i caught it in time, i hope
i wasn't baptized until the 90's so i forget details like that.
on a good note, it's a joy to be free for me too. been 10 months now!peace and goodwill to all men!
scratch that
peace on earth among men of goodwill!scratch that too
where there's a goodwill there's a way to twist it into an evil willpeace anyhow!
cellomould
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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Dwight Eisenhower raised a JW!!!
by cellomould incheck this link folks.
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html.
just one of the places where you can read a very interesting paper revealing the religious background of ike eisenhower.. i am sure many of you are quite familiar with this paper, but it has not been discussed on this site, at least in the last year.. since it is very long, look for some highlights:.
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cellomould
Check this link folks
http://www.premier1.net/~raines/papers.html
Just one of the places where you can read a very interesting paper revealing the religious background of Ike Eisenhower.
I am sure many of you are quite familiar with this paper, but it has not been discussed on this site, at least in the last year.
Since it is very long, look for some highlights:
1. Ike's mother died 'faithful to Jehovah'; see Watchtower refs
2. Ike sworn in reading name 'Jehovah' from bible
3. Egyptian pyramids used in early attempts to reveal prophecy
Comments, please?!
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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Baptismal Questions - why the change?
by teejay ini was baptized on march 17, 1974. on that day, i answered "yes" to both of the following questions.... 1 have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before jehovah god as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation precedes from him, the father, through his son jesus christ?.
2 on the basis of this faith in god and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to god to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through jesus christ and through the bible under the enlightening power of the holy spirit?
-- may 1, 1973 watchtower, pg 280.
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cellomould
Perhaps the answer lies here:
Many people who were never baptized claim to be Jehovah's Witnesses. This can be bad or good depending upon what next comes out of their mouths.
The questions may be simply defining the person's status.
Or, as you imply, it may be more subtle....
Cellomould
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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cellomould
ho ho ho!
Merry Christmas
(although it's only 6:24 pm Dec 24 here in Ca)
cello
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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Marry Christmas Jan-evolution goes down in flames
by clash_city_rockers indarwin on trial is the title of a book on evolution that has ruffled the feathers of the secular scientific community.
though a christian, author philip johnson critiques evolutionary theory from a secular standpoint as he examines the philosophical games many scientists play to protect their evolutionary ideology.
johnson, a law professor at the university of california at berkeley, attacks head-on the often-heard statement that evolution is both a fact and a theory, an evolutionary dogma that has been a major source of confusion for a long time.
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cellomould
It's time to pick on the Creationist-Christian-Moralist rather than on Mommy or others who disagree with that standpoint.
Well, okay I'll not pick on anyone personally, but rather pick your brains with difficult questions (mostly rhetorical of course):
1. Why is Evolution 'immoral'?
I have read lots of arguments that try to tear down evolution morally. Very few there are that do not resort to emotionally charged moral pleas. As in "that couldn't be the way things came about because it's just not right!" Well, is it not moral, or not correct?
I would never be so ignorant as to argue for the morality of evolution, natural selection, etc... that would be incredibly pointless. But if the phrase 'it happened for no reason in an amoral universe' makes you ill, don't hate people who can accept it.
2. Why is Christianity, or as was stated by Clash, "The Christian World View...the only world view can provide the intelectual [sic](logical and epistomological--how we know what we know) answers to give a reason why there is an absolute standard for ethics and morals"?
Have you really investigated other paradigms if you believe this statement? Upon what do you base this callous assertion? Upon what you feel? (e.g. that 'Muslims are just not right'?) Could you possibly point out some of the particular strengths/weaknesses of specific 'worldviews'?
And does it matter? What is even so scary about living without a 'worldview'? It is more like an affliction than a cure to be trapped in a state of perpetual 'righteousness'.
3. Which are more numerous, murderous atheist fanatics or murderous zealous fanatics? The answer is quite obvious. (Of course the typical reply would include shots at a few groups of agitators, such as Islamic terrorists, who are non-Christian, and therefore just as 'wrong' as atheists.)
I have never heard of anyone killing or commiting other crimes because it was 'neither the right nor the wrong thing to do.'
Ideology is hateful.
Lack of ideology, however, at least provides the basis for acceptance and tolerance, if not peace and tranquility.
Merry Christmas,
cello
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." Edmund Burke
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Why JWs are The Happiest People on Earth™
by Scully inwhy jehovah's witnesses are the "happiest people on earth".
thus spake homer simpson:.
"those germans!!
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cellomould
very interesting post there Scully!
It's funny that people fail to see these outlandish claims for what they are.
I for one was always loath to make such comments. For example, I never used the phrase "The Truth" but only "the truth", where contextually appropriate. Never to describe my religion or way of life.
If you are happy, say you are happy. If you are not, say you are not. It's the biggest burden in the world to have to be happy all the time so that your ideology holds water.
You know how words lose meaning when you repeat them over and over? So too with phrases like "the happiest people on earth" and "The Truth". They cannot become more true upon repetition.
cello
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End of Year 2001 - Conclusions Drawn
by Celtic inif there is one thing that i think that i have learn't this year, it is that people really do not give a shit about you, unless there is something in it for them to gain.
family?
they don't give a shit, they say they do, but when it comes to any real communication about feelings, you just get told to shut up, go away, not needed, useless, liar, your just making it up etc etc.. my old faith, jehovahs witnesses, do they care?
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cellomould
My biggest obstacle with people in my life, Celtic, is that they are impatient. They have little tolerance for others' mistakes.
On the other hand, I am a very caring and patient person. So it feels like people care not for me.
Of course that is not true. They do.
But they often fail to see how simple it is to be accepting and open for other people. So it is a lonely world for people with patience and compassion.
My advice would be to be as patient with others as you can. Be aware of what your needs and wants are and be honest about them. Forget about what you expect to receive, and simply ask.
Sometimes we make it harder by not asking for things we know we need. Don't hesitate. Despite all our fears, we can only get one of two responses: yes or no.
Accomodate people where you can help them, but be honest about what you can and cannot do. No matter how much people care about one another, there is never any obligation.
And of course, courtesy will always benefit you and others.
Merry Christmas to all
Cello