i have read many posts on here and on other websites from people who were brought up or became immersed in a particular religion or belief system, who later ,often because of bad experiences with their religion, went to the opposite extreme of not believing in god at all.
this often puzzles me because i wonder if people who reject a belief in god because of the hypocrisies they experienced in their former belief really are rejecting god or just a man-made organization which claims to be god's spokesman and has shown to be anything but.. i was raised in a presbyterian church which is about as traditional and conservative as you can get and my image of god was molded by that belief.
i saw the services and people there as dead basically.
You don't need no church house
And you don't need no Temple
You don't need no rosary beads or them books to read
To see that you have fallen
If you open up your heart
You will know what I mean
We've been kept down so long
Someone's thinking that we're all green
George Harrison
Me? Don't need a church, or Hall or any of that hoodydoo. I'll take a forest of redwoods and celebrate the fact that I'm gonna be part of them when I'm dust. For now? Just be a good guy, how can you fail?
W.Once
i wouldn't.
i don't care too much for spike lee but i like some of his movies.....i just think mel needs some help.
If we were to judge art on the morals of the artist we might as well give up our senses.
No excuses, just reality.
I like Sinatra's singing and he was a mafioso.
W.Once
i think as the prices of gas, health care, housing and other things continue to rise, the jw without a great education will struggle to put much in the contribution box.
it got me to thinking, how much did my family put in the contribution box at the kingdom hall.
this is what i estimate for the final 5 years i went 1994-1999.... $10.00 per week for about 5 years.
I pioneered for 9 years and was busy as an MS, elder and all that other crap. I went through three cars and countless repairs. I NEVER CONTRIBUTED A DIME BEYOND THAT UPKEEP. I figured Jehovah didn't need my money, he had my devotion. Any money was going to have to come from fatcat JW's with time on thier hands.
W.Once (of the I aint donatin class)
at age 23 i became a witness after being raised in it from infancy.
that made me a 4th genreation witness.
the first hall i went to was the airport congregation in houston.
Saki,
there's the problem. I never dedicated my self to an organization. I was baptized in 1974 and they didn't ask me if I dedicated my life in harmony with God's spirit directed organization. My take is that there are fleshly minded and greedy persons in any HUMAN organization. This poor soul has encountered them more often than many. I know of oppressive elders who's wifes left them for other men. They were just as bad for the congregation as these two-faced adulterers. They didn't treat the flock with kindness and made it difficult for people to attend the Hall let alone pray there.
I didn't fit in because I exposed the unkindness that abounded and didn't act like an Corporate (Oragnization) man. I treated people as people. That's why they were shocked when I removed myself from being an elder. I didn't want to be part of that good ol' boy's club anymore. They were a fraud and people didn't realize how duplicitous they really were.
W.Once
at age 23 i became a witness after being raised in it from infancy.
that made me a 4th genreation witness.
the first hall i went to was the airport congregation in houston.
Perry,
As I read your post it became obvious that you are the problem. Wherever you go the elders commit fornication and adultry. Do you have them over to watch "R" rated movies you bad boy you?
Just kidding.
It's hard trying to be perfect all the time. Oh how the mighty have fallen.
W.Once
i know about 2000 jws in sydney, and have 50 that are tax clients, so barely a week goes by without bumping into someone i know.
it seems that few of them realise that i am disfellowshipped because they talk freely to me.
last week i accidently sat next to an elder on the train and we engaged in small talk for over 30 minutes.. should i admit to these people that i am not a jw?.
I'd say to the individual, "Hey, I heard you were disfellowshipped, are you?" When they say "Oh my God no!" you can say "Thank goodness. It would be really hard to cut off a good friend like you." Then I'd drop the subject.
W.Once
well folks, got another elders visit this past weekend.
what true fun.
it lasted quite a long time and went absolutely nowhere.
*Tape clicks on*
"Your mission, should you choose to accept it involves posing as a faithful Jdub long enough to get the inlaws out of the enemy headquarters. You will be required to don the costume of the enemy and use thier language. Remember to use the words "resplendent" and "upbuilding" often.
This mission holds much danger for you. If you are found out we will disavow any knowledge of you. Good luck Mr. Sagan.
This tape will self destruct in 10 seconds.
*Tape clicks off"
W.Once
someone asked columnist phillip milano of the jacksonville, florida times union this very question.
you will find remarks of several individuals and the reasons they offer, ranging from deterrence to vandalism, to saving on air conditioning bills, etc.
even j.r. brown gives his two-cents worth and replies to critic paul blizzard.. http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/080106/enm_4104779.shtml
I had a person accuse us of having no windows because we didn't want anyone to see that we were'nt allowed to sit down! Her pastor told her that.
The same person answered the question, "where do we go when we die?" with, "I go to heaven but you go to the kingdom hall when you die."
Fair enough.
W.Once
i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.
even a bit nervous... .
i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.
Saki2fifty,
What really matters is what you think. When I read your post it seems you have held back from baptism for some reason. Perhaps it is because you do not believe all of the aspects of the Truth? Most that I know who attend but do not commit, want to be a part of the social structure that you find comfortable for yourself and your family. I can see that, we need structure in our lives. Certainly a family does.
The fact that you posted here and have been reading this site shows you wonder what's going on out here in the non JW world. Why would anyone leave so safe a place with so safe a feeling? I'm sure your father's words about Silentlambs has made you aware of the sharks that troll the Kingdom Hall waters. It may not be as safe for your family as you think.
You sound like a caring and attentive parent so its a hurdle you can surmount. If you are truly happy there, why set a half-assed example for your kids? I never understood that. If this is the "Truth" and thier everlasting life is involved, why wouldn't you become more than a bystander?
I'd think through why you haven't taken the plunge. I would assume you want the feeling without submitting yourself to the organization.
I wish you a healthy, happy family and clear thinking on all these issues. You sound like a very sincere person.
and welcome.
W.Once
.
according to the website http://perezhilton.com these are three photos of mel gibson at a party shortly before being arrested for drunk driving.. take note whatacoincidence: not even mel gibson drinks coffee liqueur.
.
Amazing how a little liquid can make someone so unattractive. I understand that drunkeness is unflattering, so be it, but dont fricken drive drunk. No matter how famous he is, his car was a weapon in his drunken hands. He was lucky he didn't kill someones kids or someones parents or both. Throw the Damn book at him, he's got the millions and give some money to victims of drunk drivers! (whether they are jewish or not.)
W.Once
