Allow me to add my welcome. Also a 3rd. gen. Former elder, etc. been out 25 yrs. Never regretted leaving for one minute.
Posts by Gregor
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30New guy here.
by big red init is eye opening how much we were all blinded.
3rd generation witness.
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48
Are you happier out of the org?
by dobbie inhi everyone i was just wondering if those of you that have left the org for whatever reason, have found your'e much happier than when you were in it?probably a daft question but i tried to talk to a friend about how i was feeling about a few things and why i don't go to meetings and she said would i really be any happier out than in?it just got me thinking about why i joined in the first place, because i was lonely and down, although i still am several years later it seems!have you found life better on the outside?did you feel a sense of freedom or was it really hard to adjust?when i try to explain what i find hard in the religion they can always say something back that then makes me think i was wrong in the first place and it is the truth after all - aagh!
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Gregor
I felt the "lightness of being" almost immediately, in spite of a huge price to pay in family and friends. I like jgnats analogy of being confined in a stifling environment through mind manipulation. After being an elder for many years and setting on a lot of JC cases it was clear to me that there were more unhappy, troubled people inside the org. than outside as a percentage of population.
One thing though - I was a "jumper" not a "fader". I feel this makes a huge difference in experiencing that first breath of cool, sweet air.
I was thinking about the movie "The Village". A lot of elements remind me of the JW 'village'. Being kept in through fear and intimidation.
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51
My Meeting with the Elders...
by rassillon init is most likely still very far away but i wanted to share with you guys one of the things i am thinking about doing when/if i do meet.
i plan on getting my chl (concealed carry permit)
then i am going to get a shoulder holster.
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Gregor
I know you don't seriously expect that they will try to manhandle you. That being the case, I don't see the appropriateness of displaying any kind of weapon. If your really afraid of them then put a baseball bat under the chair, out of sight. Instead, why not concentrate on being ready with some good questions? Take charge of the discussion that way. Read them 1 Peter 3:15 first. Have some fun that way. Set up a hidden video or audeo recorder to satisfy that little bit of James Bond in you. You'll be able to enjoy it over and over. A big question I'm not sure I know the answer too, Are you wanting to avoid disfellowshipping or do you just want to get in a couple of licks before the inevitable? This should define your strategy.
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119
What's the oddest thing you have eaten?
by PopeOfEruke inhey i was on holiday last week and we went to a sea-side night market and there was a food stand called "roadkill restaurant".
the motto was "you kill it, we grill it".
charming place.. they had crocodile, buffalo, camel, and kangaroo and emu kebabs.
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Gregor
At a restaurant in Tokyo, raw puffer fish (fugu). Deadly poison if not prepared correctly. I was guest of some Japanese business men who were trying to find something I wouldn't eat. They finally gave up.
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Gregor
I think this was a line from a Mickey Spillane novel.
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9
religious contentious objectors
by drew sagan inone of the 'major' points jws will come back at you with is that they alone are the only religion that teaches people shouldn't go to war.
off the top of my head i know that many followers in the 'church of christ' movement have held to this view, does anybody have a list of religions that teach this to their members?
sometimes just opening people up out of the witness bubble by presenting evidence that is conrtary to what they believe to be true is very helpful.
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Gregor
The Army doesn't accept Shakers, they are very bad shots. And Quakers, well, that's pretty obvious.
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36
We are all lacking in Faith!
by The Truth inwhere do i begin?
well let's see i'm 24yrs old and since i was 5 i've been taught ''the truth'' i remember going to the hall when i was a little girl with my grandmother i attended did the bible study and i learned a lot and i'm greatfull even though i'am no longer in the religion i grew up like everyone else saw and learned a lot of other things of this world none which have made me belive anything i have found myself asking lately what is happening with this world?
why doesn't doesn't jehovah do something and stop the pain for everyone?
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Gregor
This posting stinks to high heaven and I believe Jeffro nailed the reasons.
Ditto from me. I also think The Truth might want to submit her post to The Guiness Book for the longest sentence ever written.
Let's start a pool to see how long before we hear from this person again. Here's a dollar on "never".
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10
Sick and Twisted Wishful Thinking
by Bstndance intoday i was one the phone with my mom and she was telling me that as she was driving back home she saw alot of smoke coming up near her house.
as she got closer she found out it was an old abandoned factory.
then she said, "i was hoping it was the church".
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Gregor
I am not joking when I tell you I recall witnesses who were absolutly happy about earthquakes that killed tens of thousands of poor people who had never harmed a soul.
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15
Mickey Spillane dies
by Earnest inthe tribune-democrat (http://www.tribune-democrat.com/feeds/apcontent/apstories/apstorysection/d8iu0m7ga.xml.txt/resources_apstoryview) reported that mickey spillane, the mystery writer died monday.
he was 88.. spillane's death was confirmed by brad stephens of goldfinch funeral home in his hometown of murrells inlet.
details about his death were not immediately available.. the writer, who became a jehovah's witness in 1951 and helped build the group's kingdom hall in murrells inlet, spent his time boating and fishing when he wasn't writing.
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Gregor
I remember reading some his steamy, violent novels because he was a "brother". I found them kind of like, not what I would have expected of a JW!!!
He was kind of the "Prince" of his time.
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38
Will there be a time when NO ONE will be able to become a JW anymore?
by JH in.
the witnesses always said that at some point in time, it will be too late to join, the doors will be closed.. do you believe that will happen, or is it just to scare the witnesses?
and what would trigger the watchtower to decide, it's too late?
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Gregor
"Fear of being outside the organization when Armageddon would come has always terrified me. Still does, even knowing that I do not want to survive with the Witnesses if that's the only way to do it... " Kazar I see comments like this every so often. It is unfortunate that so many have left the org. because, on an intellectual level, they know it is false, bogus, counterfeit, untrue, and is exploiting its adherents. At the same time they have been scarred so deeply by the WTS theme of destruction at Armageddon if you are not in the "ARK " of the WTS that they are still fearful that, somehow, in spite of being intelligent people, they have a lingering fear that they were wrong. It's a shame. I wish I could say something to assure you that Armageddon is a huge scam. It is no more going to happen than Tinkerbell sprinkling you with pixie dust so you can jump out your window and fly over the city. Try to think of Armageddon as the WTS version of eternal torment in a fiery hell.