HAL9000

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Posts by HAL9000

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  62

  RECENT REVISIONS TO THE KH DRESS CODE?

  by navytownroger in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i was told by my former book-study conductor recently that a new 'dress code' had been handed down by the wts, because people had been 'getting too casual' with their styles of clothing.

  one item he mentioed was a new rule for women prohibiting denim skirts.

  and, when a woman wore a denim jacket, she was also told this was not appropriate for the kh.

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  HAL9000

  I had missed that post with the brochure....what a hoot!!!!!

  Typical of this high control religion come bookseller.......

  h9k
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  36

  Hello Atheists......need advice

  by wings in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how do you deal with "no faith"?

  what do you put faith in?

  how was you transition from belief to non belief?

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  HAL9000

  How do you deal with "no faith"?

  It isn't something that I "deal" with - I accept that there are things that I do not know or cannot explain. I also recognise that there is much that we now know that could only be "explained" by mysticism and that this discovery process will continue

  What do you put faith in?

  Myself and what I know I can depend on - a select group of people who I can depend upon. I do not put faith in human mysticism

  How was you transition from belief to non belief?

  I was not a JW but belonged to the Anglican Church up until I was 18 (now in 50's) - it was a gradual disaffection with the entirely human basis/rationale of religion and the realisation that I had not benefitted from any of the practices / rituals / sacrifices that were "required". By my early 20's I had transitioned to a "belief free" state. Happily.

  Does it bother you that others have faith in God, and why?

  No. Others have a different path through life. As long as they accept that my path is different to theirs I am happy for them. Each to their own.

  h9k
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  61

  My Marriage just ended I feel so sick and stressed please help me. Serious.

  by Witness 007 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my wife and i split from the witnesses about 2 years now....and now she says we need a divorce asap!

  she doesn't want to work thru it.

  lately and for awhile she has been amazingly aggressive to me.....and pretty much everyone else she knows.

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  HAL9000

  Witness,

  I do hope that you are feeling a bit more together in the light of day - I see your post went up early this morning our time - the night can tend to bring everything home with crushing force at time like this.

  First, I have been with my wife for > 20 years now & have had some pretty rough times - we occupied separate parts of the house for a couple of years and went through the "I want a divorce now" scenario more times than I care to remember. In her case it was a "testing" to see if I cared for her as she believed that I did not care. I never at any time fell into that trap despite some pretty solid aggravation as I did care.....

  DO you want to stay with her? If so, think really carefully about leaving / finding somewhere to stay as it can escalate the whole mess by a few orders of magnitude.....been there done that.

  Are you upset & emotional? Try to think rationally about things & try not to let your strong feelings of impending loss & disaster guide you. Actions taken in these circumstances (like simply walking out) can be disasterous. I don't know your family circumstances (kids etc) but be very aware of AUstralian Law on this point as you can be taken to the cleaners and would strongly suggest that you talk to a solicitor (even on the quiet) so that you know the consequences of your actions. Believe me, I have seen a close relative cleaned out totally as a result of walking out.

  She is agressive? I take it that the back injury is serious. I went through a long period with my wife suffering a degenerative spinal condition that was ultimately fixed by some really serious surgery. In the year leading up to the surgery she changed (moody, angry, agressive) and became less tolerant of everything & everybody (this was unrelated to our earlier problems). SHe progressed from Paracetamol / codeine through a spectrum of prescription opiates that made her sick - she suffered from many side effects from the medication. Pain is a powerful enemy and the drugs used to control it can cause so many issues. Kurt Vonnegut wrote "Bad thoughts and bad chemicals are the yin & yang of madness" - never so true.

  You wrote "I FEEL TORN IN HALF. I hope I can make it thru this without dying" - I feel for you my friend, I have been there and had those feelings, but do try to think about what you do BEFORE you do it, and if you want to stay with her avoid doing anything preemptive. It will make things harder.

  Take care, and keep posting,

  h9k
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  66

  Your Favorite 1970's Music Groups/ Singers/ Songs ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in the 1970's i was a teenager.

  i wasn't that big into disco- although i enjoyed kc and the sunshine band as well as earth, wind, and fire.

  but my really big love in music was always rock n' roll, blues , stuff like that !

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  HAL9000

  Emerson, Lake & Palmer

  Genesis

  Pink Floyd

  Yes

  King Crimson

  Tangerine Dream (not recommended with headphones & pharmaceuticals....)

  h9k
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  8

  Oh the Irony - telephone witnessing

  by Princess Daisy Boo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so this afternoon, my folks came over to visit me - they dont visit often, but since i am at home this week recovering from my sinus op, they made the effort to visit.. we were chatting and drinking tea and the phone rang.

  i got up and answered it and i was greeted by a friendly sounding woman named heidi, who told me she was doing a "christian volunteer work" and was just calling to share a "short message with me".

  she talked about the lords prayer and how it's words are "thy kingdom come" and had i ever stopped to wonder what that kingdom was.

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  HAL9000

  My wife does this particular form of pestering - the irony of it is that she objects strongly (!) to unsolicited calls to our home phone and will not answer the phone if she does not recognise the number.

  I understand that they work through the local phone book, but they do keep records of who was called, who they should not call etc. While one can opt to be on a "do not call" register here, religious bodies are exempt.

  She got involved in this as her back gave out & could not walk any distance - and kept the phone witnessing up after her operation. It seems that it is "reserved" for those who can't get about so that the Brooklyn Book Company can get some field service out of them.

  h9k
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  29

  Anybody here a Jane Austen fan?

  by Bonnie_Clyde in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  never thought i would be, but now i've watched 3 versions of sense and sensibility, 2 versions of pride and prejudice, 2 of persuasion, and 2 of emma.

  also saw one of mansfield park, but i didn't like it that much.

  there's only one left that i haven't seen--northanger abbey.. .

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  HAL9000

  Jane Austen is an author that should never be given to a male under the age of 40 or so. I could not appreciate the humour (particularly the cutting wit) of her writings until I was somewhat older.

  P&P is outstanding, but Mansfield Park is often overlooked; the "success" of Fanny over the excesses of her cousins and the interactions of the characters are outstanding.

  The films (generally) do not come close to matching her prose.

  h9k
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  28

  Those With JW Spouses - How are you Coping ? Any experiences ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wanted to address the folks on board here who really have a challenge on their hands.

  and i feel it's good for us to acknowledge the great job many of them are accomplishing with the pressures they have on them living with a spouse in a mind control cult.

  i know it would be so easy sometimes for some in that position to say , " the hell with it !

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  HAL9000

  Living in interesting times......

  I am (like nameless) a never-JW ubm. My wife came into contact with the witnesses during a bad period in her life (unwell and off work for a year) about seven years ago.

  My first reaction was to raise the obvious issue of this cult with her, but there was always a "plausible" answer from the witnesses to counter the arguments and issues raised (failed prophecy, shunning, control practices etc). I went to the web and found my answers (although it took a long time for me to get to JWD) and realised that the rot had set in - I would risk losing her if I went in "boots and all". I am well informed (imho) about their practices - the love-bombing, the theocratic warfare (i.e. lies), isolation from "the world" etc so I know what to expect and to question the propaganda.

  I have been to some of the meetings as I wanted to "experience the experience" (and to provide support to my wife during a period of disability). I was not impressed by what I heard at the meetings and found the "memorial" to be a dry and uninspiring business. I was not taken in by the enlistment actions and as a consequence the witnesses maintain a cordial albeit distant relationship with me, as they are aware that their efforts would be better spent elsewhere.

  Please understand that I will defend my wife's right to do something stupid (agian imho) but I do try to plant the seeds of doubt where I can. She is a strong willed person and will one day fall foul of their dictates - and I will be there to help her through it. At least she has not got to the point of actually being baptised, although she does do phone witnessing.

  The downside is the isolation and the stupidities arising from the interpretations of the book of myth & legend: "Jehovah does not depict this in a good light" aand associated nonsenses that we all are to well aware of. I suppose the upside is that our nieces (we have no children ourselves) still get birthday and Christmas presents, although not on the day........and that I have convinced her father not to go head-on with her on her doubtful association with the JW's. There are not too many of our friends pre JW that stay in contact.

  A bit of a ramble, but I hope it conveys the challenge!

  h9k
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  11

  Frantic call from my son!

  by Sparkplug in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my son who is very (for lack of a better word) "square" was trying out his new drivers license by running errands for me today.

  i about had to die when i got a call from him from the printing shop.

  i had asked him to drop some photos off for me and wait to get them picked up.

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  HAL9000

  I laughed my arse off at this one......& I would have loved to see your son's face!!!!

  Thank you for brightening a very "off" day.

  h9k
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  20

  Well I guess I asked for it, Didn't I???

  by Princess Daisy Boo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  you may recall the thread i started on monday about wanting a change or an adventure... .

  well how's this for the laws of attraction.... my husband has just been told that his company is laying off 600 of it's 3000 employees in a massive restructure.. they are offering voluntary separation packages, early retirements, and then of course there will be forced retrenchments.

  we are thinking and hoping that he is safe for now, he is in middle management and well respected and liked.

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  HAL9000

  Princess,

  My commiserations - I've been retrenched 3 times in my working life & it always sucks - even if you're not part of the "separation".

  At the moment my workplace (Aust Government sector) is going through a redundancy program and there is sooooo much stress and negative feelings in the place that I am going to take a week's leave to get away from it.

  If you can, consider it as a door closing and another opening........

  h9k
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  22

  Motivational Posters (Just Fun)

  by Sparkplug in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was sent this the other day as an email, and although i usually don't even forward these, i had to sit right down and have a huge laugh.

  funny how kids think!

  now for those with mullets, i am so sorry, i feel your pain.

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  HAL9000

  I love them as I have a particular hatred of so-called motivational posters.

  Ever seen the demotivators from despair.com?? Worth a look!

  h9k