To trust in Jah, so he won't get mad
To hope and pray that I'm not bad
To have buzzards picking my bones clean
Come on now, that's just mean!
cognizant dissident
JoinedPosts by cognizant dissident
-
64
If this doesn't scream mind control, nothing will
by restrangled inthis poem was written by a 15 year old jw to encourage one of my younger relatives to get back to the kh.
to get to the meeting ahead of time.
to make our way to the counter to get in line .
-
-
-
41
Your going to the meetings whether you like it or not!
by Atlantis inyour going to the meetings whether you like it or not!
thousands of jehovah's witness children have heard those threatening words backed-up with spankings, whippings, or even severe beatings.
but what if they are too small to understand?
-
-
cognizant dissident
My brother and I hated meetings as children because about 50% of the time we ended up getting a spanking, first at the hall, but later when they told parents not to beat their kids at the hall, then we got it when we got home. To be fair, the other 50% of the time, we would get a treat after if we sat quiet. Still, treat or not, when the meeting was cancelled or parents weren't going for some reason, we cheered! My parents would say, "you're supposed to like going to the KH."
I never spanked my own son at the meeting or afterwards, despite much well-meaning advice to do so and criticism from my family. He actually loved to go to the Kingdom Hall. He was an only child and loved to go visit everyone. It was hard for him to sit though, so we usually got a treat afterwards. Which just goes to prove the beating method just instills hatred in kids for the meetings. Now, my son does not believe a word of it though, and he wanted to stop going when he was 13 and I let him. Now we are both out. When you don't beat fear into your children, an amazing thing happens to them. They become people who can think for themselves. Much to the society's chagrin. Let's face it, if they stopped verbally beating the flock, how many would they have left?
Cog
-
23
Responses to Our Letters
by LennyinBluemont inhi lenny!.
response to bill (26 august 2006).
thanks lenny.
-
-
cognizant dissident
Wow! Lenny, I knew when I first read your letter that it was very powerful and would invoke powerful responses in your friends. Even the ones who chose not to respond, must have been given much food for thought. The friends who did respond to you, well, their love for you does shine through, which is probably a testament to what great people you and your wife are. Your replies are so honest and without bitterness, I can see why some still want to remain your friend. I will file your letter in my favorites and I hope you don't mind if I borrow some of your great points, if I ever need to write such a letter (hopefully not).
I think you were bang on with what you said about being afraid of the "nothingness". I too have come to doubt not only the society but the authenticity of the Bible (actually no doubt even left there). I wonder if there is a supreme being and think it is unknowable in this life time. The fear of "nothing" is the greatest fear to overcome and can keep most people in a state of cognitive dissonance forever. Facing that fear is incredibly freeing though, as I am finding out. Not for the faint of heart.
Anyway, keep us posted with your updates. Fascinating reading.
Cog
-
22
Quotes to make you think
by Lady Lee indistrust all in who the impulse to punish is powerful - nietzsche.
he who angers you conquers you - elizabeth kenney.
integrity has no need for rules - albert camus.
-
-
cognizant dissident
My religion is simple. It is kindness.
Dalai Lama
-
16
A JW's view of JW's who refuse to shun
by Honesty inyou are committing the same sin that king saul committed or that miriam and aaron committed.
you are acting presumptuously and going against jehovah's arrangement.. .
you can't have it both ways.
-
-
cognizant dissident
You can't have it both ways. Either Jehovah has an earthly organization or he doesn't. Either this IS his earthly organization or it isn't. Yes it is made up of imperfect men, but those imperfect men have Jehovah's direction. If you don't believe that then you might as well disassciate yourselves and be done with it.
OK, this is just a wild guess, but I'm going to go with choice #2 here.
Cog
-
62
Life in the new system... Ask your questions here....
by JH inwill there be any industries, with people working midnight to eight?.
will money still exist?.
-
-
cognizant dissident
When the earth is full and there is no need for any more children, will our sex organs wither up, die and fall off, or will we still get to enjoy them for old times sake?
Cog
-
32
I'm afraid
by lola28 inwow, where to begin?
i guess i just need to let it all out.
my sister is in pain and i don't know what to do to fix it.
-
-
cognizant dissident
Lola:
I have trained as a nurse. Your sister should be immediately taken to the ER to rule out the possiblility of a stroke or a heart attack. Yes, it is rare in young people but it does happen. I know personally of two cases where it happened to young people in their 20's. With your sisters heart history this would be of even more concern. I can't believe your doctor told you to wait! He is not a good doctor. Given your sister's history, he should have sent you to the ER immediately with those symptoms. If a stroke is ruled out, a neurological exam can be scheduled. (They would probably do this in the ER anyway, before releasing her). The important thing is the sooner she is treated the more the damage can be mitigated. Time is of the essence. Even if her symptoms have gone away this can be a symptom of a greater attack being iminent. Again, this can be prevented with immediate treatment. Let us know what happens.
Cog
-
10
Not DF'd or shunned?
by girasole inhas anyone else found that they were not treated as expected when they .
" i was threatened and guilted and the whole gamut but i was .
never disfellowshipped or counseled or even so much as visited by the .
-
-
cognizant dissident
Well, my husband is an MS and I haven't attended a meeting in almost 9 months or put in a service report. One time the elder's said they were going to drop by to encourage me on a Saturday morning. My husband told them I had a late night and he wasn't sure I would be up (true). He told them it would probably be better to phone me and make an appointment. They never bothered. I also missed the memorial, and the DC and only got one e-mail from my closest friend asking if I was sick. Otherwise, not a word from anyone. Also, when the circuit overseer visited I thought for sure my husband would be removed because his wife and son are inactive. Not a word was said. I have always been very active for 20 years before this and then less so for the last two years due to a serious illness. While relieved at not being hassled, I am actually a little insulted that after so many years I didn't even merit one encouraging phone call to inquire about my time!
Cog
-
34
"Are the rules that hard to follow?"
by rebel8 inoften i hear jws claim that people leave the borg because they cannot follow the rules, implying that anyone who leaves lacks character, self control, and/or moral values.. often i hear jwd posters--me included--say the myriad of rules in the borg is one of (not the only) reason they would not follow the org.
virgochick said it well in the "how do you feel about the name j----?
" thread:.
-
-
cognizant dissident
The rules aren't that hard to follow but the faulty doctrine behind them is hard to swallow.
Hey, that rhymes.
Cog
-
18
I just attended my first Buddhist class... in an old KINGDOM HALL!
by Kudra init was weird seeing all the typical dub stuff in another setting... .
literature cabinets full of buddhist pamphlets!
no windows!
-
-
cognizant dissident
Hi everyone
I started seeing a counsellor 8 months ago who holds a meditation/discussion group in his home once a week. He is an atheist and a psychologist. He teaches and counsels from a "buddhist psychology" perspective. I asked him how he could reconcile his atheism with the traditional buddhist beliefs in reincarnation? His answer was that there are many in the psychology/counselling/helping professions who understand the value of many of the buddhist philosophies in helping one to find inner awareness and calm. One can meditate and find some peace in the buddhist philosophies without having to accept all the traditional beliefs. It is a very non-dogmatic belief system which focuses on finding enlightment and acceptance from within. He has also spent much time on retreats, some very long journeys to india and asia in the 60's.
And yes Sparky, it does work to calm and quiet the mind. My stress levels were through the roof 8 months ago when I decided that I would no longer go to meetings or be a witness. I was so upset with my 40 yr belief system crumbling I was almost irrational with the fear of what would be left of my life when the dust settled. Would my marriage survive? Would I be shunned again? Would my only child side against me and with the witnesses? I am so much calmer today. I know it is because of the meditation and the counselling that I'm finding a measure of peace and acceptance of the reality of my life and the decisions I've made and the way my family is. I know I will be OK no matter what family chaos is swirling around me.
Because there are so many different styles of meditation and different buddhist traditions, I would recommend that you do a little research and try to determine which is right for you. For myself, I was very fortunate to have stumbled accidentally on to a style that suits me fine. Some groups are much more formal and ritualistic and that would be a turn off for me because of my history with formal, organized religion, I'm still very wary. The group I attend is very informal, just a small relaxed group meditating and discussing how certain buddhist teachings can lead one to healing the human spirit on a personal level and how we can each take what we have learned personally and use it in our relationships with family and community. Its sort of a humanistic approach to making the world a better place within our sphere of influence whatever that may be, great or small, one loving or compassionate act at a time. There is absolutely no pressure to believe or not believe anything. So refreshing and freeing after being a witness. It's a very non-judgemental atmosphere and we have lots of laughs at ourselves and human nature in general as well.
Cog