the real reason why young people get baptized .... to make their parents happy and proud.
to be able to get married (which is some cases, is to get away from parents).
... okay, okay, i know it depends on how young we are talking.
I was baptized just after I turned 16.....my cousins were baptized young so I thought I'd follow the trend, besides I thought I was "ready" for it :D
Only 3 guys were baptized that day, and the first guy (related through marriage) left a year or so later....then I joined the great exodus!!
Oddly enough, my cousins were Dis'd early this year....Pride before a huge fall!! (it's a loooong story).
for me, school was extremely stressful as a jw kid.
the worst part had to be my morning dose of humiliation being forced to walk out of the room as the national anthem came on the loudspeakers (first god save the queen, then, oh canada).
the other kids found this completely bizarre, and several of my "patriotic" minded teachers really resented me for doing this (despite the obvious fact i had no choice in the matter but was being forced into this by my parents).. how could anybody force this public humiliation on a small child or teen-ager, already having to deal with the normal stresses of growing up and worrying about their public image with their peers???
I remember at primary school and intermediate school that "God Defend New Zealand" was played at the beginning of important assemblies, and also for ANZAC Day.....we always entered the school hall after the anthem had finished, and feeling proud because I was a soldier of Jehovah it was never a problem to me!!
Occasionaly I did feel embarrassed though, especially as I got older...I got on well with the "cool" girls at school, and had the hots for a few of them so being different in that way was hard, oh the struggles of being young
But now, well it's all changed-I'm a very proud Kiwi, always stand tall and place my hand on my heart for the anthem....not because we're better than anyone else, but because I'm proud of my heritage.
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i know this is a gloomy topic but have any of you picked a song that you would liked played at your funeral.. i want james blunts new song "goodbye my lover" i heard it for the first time yesterday and cried never had that happend before.
es
Hmmm, I'm going to go with 'Die, die, my Darling' - Metallica.
woke up saturday morning, after a nice night of drinking with buddies.
had to get ready for my bookstudy---yeccch.. drag my ass to the arrangement, bo (bookstudy overseer) asks if i can read today.
bahhhhh.
Ahhhhhhhhhh.............Saturday morning, waking up with my beautiful girlfriend next to me after having gone out for a great dinner and drinks the night before.........still being in bed while the sun is pouring through the window; makes up for all those 7am rises to go door-knocking!!!!!!!!!
elders were famous for making up stupid rules with no bible base at all as an ego trip i guess, what were some of yours?
i am not talking about the stupid rules that we all had to follow, just the congregation specific silly ones.. 1. having to button your jacket while on stage (this was later changed due to all the elders having a beer gut).
2. suits only or no privledges.
Haha, this is a great topic!!!! Jeez, some of the shit they used to start!!
We had to wear jackets when running the mic's, though half an hour up the road THEY didn't :( I ued to get the 'sideways' look from the old boys club, because I'd have my hair spiked, or a ring on my thumb, or a cultural bone carving around my neck.....and I was one of the 'good' young brothers in the congregation :P It got to the point where I'd simply where things or style myself a certain way just to get the reaction from the 'more mature' shephards, god knows they needed some excitement in their lives; or something to clamp down on :D
i feel that headship is one of the most damaging doctrines taught in the wtbts as well as other fundy religions.
it is promoted as a way to have happier, healthier marriages and families.
in theory, maybe so.
I have always had a intense dilike for the "headship" arrangement; I felt that it was a load of shit when I was a JW, and I still do. I remember looking at the lives of the women in the congregation and thinking just how dominated they must feel because of that policy.
I was fortunate in that my mother and my sisters weren't JW's so I had the chance to see how things really should be.....In spite of that though, I can recall numerous occasions that I tried to defend/explain the "headship" policy but still couldn't bring myelf to believe or agree with it....ah, the things we do when we allow ourselves to be lead by blind loyalty!!
Shit!!!!!!!!!! That threw me back.......and my flatmates, nearly lost my face after one of the boys got to close to the screen!!
glad to see you posting here and hope to see more from you.
Thanks guys!!!! I was welcomed here without being asked what my "spiritual goals are" or if my father is an Elder!! :P
I hope you are all doing well tonight/today :-)
i have lived at my current address for approximately five years and i have not had any visits from the witnesses.
i don't really want any but here's the deal: i left "the truth" about fifteen years ago.
i wasn't disfellowshipped or anything and (since i moved to another state) it was a relatively clean break.
I thought that this was funny...in an ironic way really: a few months ago while on my way home from work, I was walking through the corridors of a major train station and guess what I saw?? A loyal old sister sitting next to a magazine stand (at peak hour) ready to share the lovely, life enhancing food from the FDS......just a few yards down from her at the entrance was a sign stating that busking, selling, advertising and loitering where prohibited at this station..........."respect the authorities, unless it conflicts with your loyalty to God" I guess!! :P
yesterday was my birthday.
sometimes i wish i was still a jw cuz then i wouldn't have disappointing birthdays!
then again, i can probably deal with the disappointment better cuz i have nothing to compare it with.
Aw, come on old boy-enjoy the fact that you can celebrate something about yourself and not feel as if you're commiting idolatry !! :)
