atypical

Joined

• started 30 topics
• posted 794 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by atypical

• 
  50

  Masonic Infiltration of this board

  by stillajwexelder in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are freemasons infiltrating this board.

  i have positive proof.

  all be careful

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  Forget the masons, I hear the Elk's Lodge is the new underground power to be dealt with.
• 
  3

  To Thine Own Self Be True, Shakespeare vs the Watchtower

  by joelbear in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  watchtower philosophy is basically not to trust yourself, often quoting i think jeremiah, where it says something like humans don't even know how to walk straight.

  have to depend on jehovah which is not specific enough to be of any use.

  does this mean, the bible, the insights you gain during prayer or meditation or a specific interpretation of god's thoughts as offered by a group of human interpreters.. shakespeare says you have to trust your own insight, judgement, etc.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  Good post, Joelbear. I agree, the watchtower treats people as though they are too stupid to figure out what is right and wrong, even telling them who they are allowed to speak to. I used that point when arguing about disfellowshipping with my mother. I asked her why we have a system that eliminates any personal decision as to which people may be a good or bad influence for us. If someone is a thief, a user, potentially dangerous or otherwise harmful to be around, it doesn't take much of a brain to figure that out. But the watchtower system is that we have to sit back and let someone else announce from the platform that somebody is "bad".

  Therefore, we end up with rotten people in good standing at the hall, and good honest people who are disfellowshipped, and we are supposed to treat them according to their congregational standing, because we aren't supposed to think for ourselves in any way.
• 
  40

  NaPoLeOn DyNaMiTe.......who liked it?

  by freedomlover in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  .

  anybody else love this movie as much as i did??

  i think it says a lot about the type of person you are, or at least what kind of sense of humor you have, if you liked this movie or hated it.. so far, i've not met anyone who has been neutral on this movie - usually they either love it or hated it!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  I loved it; absolutely loved it. Love quoting it, all the time. My favorite part was the bike scene; it was like a replay of me and my friends growing up.
• 
  29

  Prepare to be SHOCKED.

  by nicolaou in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  recent posts have encouraged us all to be more tolerant of others beliefs whether those are religious, atheist or anything in the middle.

  fair enough.

  still, that doesn't mean i'm going to go easy on all you believers, yes even you jw lurkers who are reading this.. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  I came to this thread hoping to find someone promoting shock therapy. I have been looking for a viable alternative to vaccinations, since everybody knows that germs don't cause disease.

  Oh well, back to my pyramid-shaped grave.
• 
  32

  why i dont love god

  by saturdaymorningblues in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  first of all i find it very hard to pray...i dont like the way we have to talk into the air hoping he is listening.. i dont like the way he expects us to do his will no matter what.. i just dont like god..i hate his way of doing things and i dont like that he has permitted his creation to suffer whilst we are living.. ill never love jehovah

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  Big Dog - Awesome post! One of my favorite scenes of all time - I've liked it even more lately.

  "Marla lived her life as though she might die at any moment. The greatest tragedy, in her opinion, was that she didn't."

  Seriously though, I think prayers are nothing more than an affirmation. It's a way to organize thoughts, feel thankful, list what you appreciate, say you're sorry for what you feel guilty about. Overall, they seem healthy to me. Except when you pray because you fear that your eyes will be picked out by birds while the good people cheer and clap.

  The only humble advice I can offer is - don't misdirect your anger. You have been taught to put a name to the so called power in the sky who supposedly causes or allows problems for you. Maybe it would help you to research the history of whatever god you are mad at; it has a way of making that god painfully human.
• 
  30

  When elders disagree....

  by Lilycurly in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  here's the situation.... my da has been finally announced last thursday.

  now, the thing is, my father asked the elders if it was still okay for him to talk to me.. elder1 says :no, she is daed, is not living with her family anymore, you can't talk or associate with her in any way.

  (that elder has been shunning his daughter for a few years now.).

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  As far as I know, the official watchtower stance would be that your parents should not be talking to you. However, instead of asking permission, most families I have heard of in that situation just go ahead and visit, but try not to make it known.

  I agree with Undercover - having to ask permission to talk to your family? WTF?
• 
  22

  ...and all I was getting married for was sex. (What else?!)

  by mrsjones5 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i pulled that from another topic because it reminded me of something my mother said to me just before i married my husband.

  first let me say that my mother doesnt like my husband.

  her dislike for my husband has tempered over the years but it's still there.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  I think many, many jws marry just for sex. Especially if they are ones who really followed all the rules and didn't have sex at all while they were single. At some point, usually around 20, they get so desperate to fill that need that they marry quickly. I have even heard elders comment that the organization has a built in flaw when it comes to this subject. The more chaste a person has been, the more likely they are to marry for the wrong reason because their natural sex drive is not being fulfilled. The only other options for jws are to 1. have sex anyway and try not to get caught 2. Learn to get off on power, use the sex drive to fuel ambition for status in the hall and then brag about how you are using your singleness for Jehovah(have know a few men who followed this model).

  As far as women jws go, I have noticed that there is much pressure on them to be married by a certain age. It seems to me that a brother can be in his 30's and single and be viewed as quite a catch, but a single sister the same age gets treated like there is something wrong with her. I have noticed this in several congregations I have been in, and my wife has mentioned it too(she is an active jw).
• 
  44

  What Pushed You Out The Door Of The Watchtower?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for me, it was realizing that nearly every prophecy or commentary on a scriptural passage has changed.

  througout the years, it's been new light, old light and even blinking light.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  Seeing good people(my parents, who I love dearly) neglect their health and financial responsibilities to themselves in favor of carrying a heavier load of responsibilities in the congregation. That was what flipped a switch in my brain.
• 
  40

  Have you ever just wanted to pick up and leave?

  by destroyedbyhate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone ever wanted to do that?

  to just leave and tell no one where you are going.

  start over fresh in a new place where nobody judges you based on your past.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  James, I love your posts. Do you mind if I ask, how did you get to where you are philosophically? Do you recommend any certain reading, or did you manage to do it on your own? I appreciate the way you seem to be able to eliminate any superstition, but at the same time do not have a materialist / dog eat dog mentality.

  Sorry, not trying to hijack the thread, but I just had to ask.
• 
  56

  Do you still *want* to believe?

  by daniel-p in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if the answer is "yes," please explain why.

  .

  (i don't think this question needs explaining - i think you all know what i'm talking about.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  atypical

  At this point, I struggle with the question, Is ignorance bliss? Since I have only recently studied both sides and opened my mind, I have struggled with a wide range of feelings. knowledge is a terrible power. I am glad I have the facts, but it is very hard to have a lifetime of beliefs crumble in just a few weeks. So many built in fears and guilt trips. I wonder if I will ever be able to watch the news without getting that feeling of dread that Armageddon might be here. Also, always struggling with how much to say to my family and friends. Do I let them go on if they are happy? Or do I blow away everything they believe in and risk them not being able to recover? Even though I know logically that many things are not actually wrong (holidays, etc.), will I ever be able to just live a normal life without feeling guilty if I am wearing green and red during christmas, or just saying happy birthday?

  I am ashamed to say this, but I guess if I could believe and have a peaceful, happy life, I would choose that. The problem is, for me, I don't think that was ever possible. Believing meant believing that I was never good enough, and while I am not cursed with an inflated ego, I also struggled with the thought that I was a horrible sinner deserving of death.

  How's that for a convoluted, flip flop of an answer? I learned from the best.