For at least 6 years I lived in a territory that was assigned to a different congregation than the one I attended (which is probably true for at least 25% of JW's who live in my area). The congregation whose territory I lived in didn't know me from Adam. The only thing I got in all those years was a "Peaceful New World" tract in the mail with the lamest letter I've ever seen written. And I was home on Saturday mornings most of the time, you know, "discouragement" and all.
DanTheMan
JoinedPosts by DanTheMan
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28
Young 'Hovahs Out in Field Service.....
by TR inthey just seem to not exist.
in my daily travels, in fact i rarely see any 'hovahs out in service, let alone young ones.
she is a teller at my bank, and a hottie, too!
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dating an exjw
by garfield ini have been dating an exjw for a while now ( he is a poster here, zanex) just lookin for any advice anyone might have.
i am a non-jw and the only thing that i know about jws are what he has told me and it is not a pretty picture.
he mentioned this board to me a while back so i thought i would check it out.
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DanTheMan
Welcome to the board!
It probably is difficult for someone like you who has never had the experience of being actively associated with JW's to grasp what a nightmarish experience it is to be part of this group, only to become disillusioned with it and leave. There are a number of books that have been written by former Witnesses, Crisis of Conscience by Ray Franz is the best, imho. Definitely recommended reading if you are serious about learning about JW's and the Watchtower.
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Nicole Kidman will discuss Scientology
by DanTheMan innicole kidman will discuss scientology.
nicole kidman will talk about scientology in her interview with leslie stahl slated for this coming sunday on cbs "60 minutes," says liz smith.. .
the former wife of tom cruise will supposedly reveal some of her feelings about the controversial church, which has been called a "cult.
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DanTheMan
Nicole Kidman will discuss Scientology
Nicole Kidman will talk about Scientology in her interview with Leslie Stahl slated for this coming Sunday on CBS "60 Minutes," says Liz Smith.
The former wife of Tom Cruise will supposedly reveal some of her feelings about the controversial church, which has been called a "cult."
If Kidman brings out negative aspects of the church, it will a first. Typically, people who have left Scientology appear afraid to speak out, especially celebrities. The organization has a reputation for being quite punative when it comes to ex-Scientologists who say things they don't like.
Kidman has a history of making remarks in interviews that seemed to distance her from Scientology. There has been speculation that Scientology may have contributed to the disintegration of her marriage and subsequent divorce. And also, that Kidman had concerns about its influence upon her children.
Curise remains a devout Scientologist and one of its most ardent public advocates.
[Posted by Rick Ross at 8:41 AM] [Link] http://www.cultnews.com/ -
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Did Being JW make YOU a Social Misfit or HERMIT?
by Smoldering Wick inas i sat quietly in my apartment...staring at the computer screen, i got this overwhelming feeling of being totally alone.
don't get me wrong, i feel comfortable alone.
but, how did i end up this way?
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DanTheMan
Ok, so I was born into a big organization of people and never really had to learn how to make friends. Your friends were provided for you. You didn't have to put much effort into keeping these friends as they were always there. They had to be nice to you or else they would look like bad witnesses.
I'm not a born and bred JW but I relate to what you're saying. Before I became JW I was a total misfit, and the instant friendships at the KH were a big part of what contributed to my bad decision.
Not one single person who I was friends with while I was in has attempted to make any contact with me since I left. Some friends. I'm dead to them.
I'm learning some social skills, but it still is hard. My weekends are not action-packed by any stretch!
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Question for Everyone
by Wild_Thing in.
are there any other chronic lurkers out there?
just wondering ...
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DanTheMan
Welcome to the board Wild_Thing.
I jumped right into the fray when I found this site, but everybody's different.
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Suicidal fear of rejection.
by seven006 inthe fear of rejection has once again controlled my life and my actions in an unintentional act of self destruction brought on by how i was raised to view life.
i have come to the conclusion that i will probably be battling this psychological whirlpool of self sabotage for the rest of my life and i do not think i have the ability to completely eliminate it.
talking about it here is a start.
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DanTheMan
Dave,
I don't have any trite advice to give you. I relate to what you're going through. I too have been utterly unsuccessful with the opposite sex in my life, and I know how it wears on you. Like you, I expect rejection and failure. I have contemplated suicide also. I feel the pain every time I see a happy couple together. For so many people it seems to come so easy, and yet for people like you and I love is an ever-elusive mystery.
As far as comparing your situation to that of a starving third world person, don't shame yourself like that. A full belly is not happiness, and living in the U.S. presents plenty of problems, challenges, and burdens. Loneliness being a big one. I don't think that people living in the third world know the loneliness and existential void that many of us living in the more affluent nations experience.
Life is difficult.
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DanTheMan
This really is fascinating behavior, as it seems to fall outside the realm of instinct. They're just having fun!
Edited by - dantheman on 2 December 2002 21:52:4
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What's your favorite Xmas carol?
by Scully in.
my two favorites are a toss up between john lennon's "so this is christmas" and the "little drummer boy" - the one where bing crosby and david bowie are singing together.. love, scully
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DanTheMan
I'm not a crying kind of guy, but "drummer boy" does it to me every time. I don't even like to hear it, it's embarrassing!
Dan, big-sissy class
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light therapy/SAD
by DanTheMan inokay, you all know i live in columbus ohio.
well let me tell you this place sucks weatherwise, especially in the winter months.
between november and april i'd say 95% of the time the skies are gray (grey?
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DanTheMan
Okay, you all know I live in Columbus Ohio. Well let me tell you this place SUCKS weatherwise, especially in the winter months. Between November and April I'd say 95% of the time the skies are gray (grey?) and overcast.
Today was typical, not a trace of sunshine in the sky. I have found over the years that my mood is so affected by the weather. On days like today I become very melancholy, it's like nothing can cheer me up. I'd take 20 degrees (farenheit) with sunshine over 60 degrees with overcast skies anytime.
My question (especially to my fellow midwesterners) is, do you have any experience with light therapy? Did it help? Any product recommendations? Thanks!
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Was I a coward?
by DanTheMan inright before i disassociated myself last march, i sent an email to quite a number of jw's that contained only a link to an "apostate" website that had been instrumental in my seeing the the truth about the wt.. well, nobody responded to it except for one person, a guy who i hadn't had any contact with my last year in.
he started out with "yikes, do you know i'm disfellowshipped?
" he then went on for several paragraphs defending the org, how loving the brothers were when they disfellowshipped him .
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DanTheMan
Thanks for your comments. I don't feel so cowardly now. The thing made me leave the WT was the manipulation and feeling so controlled by it all. He looks at the authoritarianism and rules as being "bible-based" and that his mind isn't controlled by anyone. Barf. I just don't want to get into all that with someone. The WT is so ridiculous to me now that I can barely respect anyone who is still holding onto it.
The chances are between slim and nil that I would ever run into him since I live in a very large city. As a matter of fact, since I've left I've only seen about 2 'hovahs that I used to know, one of whom I work with. Regardless, he still is part of a composite "Watchtower defender" that lives in my head and causes me quite a bit of anxiety at times.
Gary, the link I sent them was to www.escapefromwatchtower.com. This was before I discovered freeminds, or I'd have sent them that one.