kind of got into it with my jw wife last night for the first time in a long time.. i try to not engage in conversations about doctrinal matters unless she asks me which she did.. anyway, i wont go into details but of course i am "not going to change her mind" and "why is it that you can't see when very smart people can?
" yada yada yada.
you probably can imagine.. it makes me so depressed.
Greetings, NikL:
I'm sorry about what you're going through, having been through the same, although I'm no longer married.
I hope you get many replies and will feel a sense of solidarity with us, as a result. Despite many tries of returning to "THE TRUTH" (because I couldn't bear to leave my friends and family), I am out totally. The only contact I have with them now is on Facebook, where I mind my theocratic p's and q's.
Best Wishes . . .
check out the latest watchtower:.
"your defense?
be determined to stick to jehovah’s organization and loyally support the leadership he provides—no matter what imperfections may surface.
Isn't a real man the guy who says, "I'm sorry. I'll make it right"?
of the 50% of congregants who regularly participate, many of them give gushing answers about how appreciative they are, how wonderful jw.org is and so on, which makes me think nobody in my congregation is awake.
but maybe it's possible for someone who comes across as super spiritual to be awake?
i can't see how, though, as surely it's emotionally draining to fake it like that?
I've mentioned these things before, but they seem apropos once again:
In one congregation, although I was never once given an official explanation, I was not called on by certain elders. This happened even when mine was the only hand up. In an oblique reference that I know was aimed at me, the WT conductor said, during the study, that someone may give good comments but actually be an apostate.
Later, in a different congregation, I was asked specifically by the WT conductor to raise my hand so that he could see it. My hair was very long and I had a full beard (still do). I would go into full JW-talk-and-walk mode, quoting relevant Scripture and publication references, as well as relating field experiences.
I didn't feel the hypocrite; it was deeply ingrained as part and parcel of my life since early childhood. I hadda keep the gush factor under control, however. I'm an ardent Mediterranean and bounce off walls and innocent bystanders.
hi, everyone.. i haven't posted here much in quite a while, but having just been laid low by injury, i'll likely be a frequent visitor for some time to come!.
two weeks ago, i was involved in a workplace accident that left me with my lower l.h.
leg fractured in three places (the tibia and fibular both broken clean through, plus another crack in the "neck" of the fibular for good measure!
Wishing you well, or better, Bungi Bill:
Yes, crazy how so many of us got this far w/o breaking a bone!
My neighbor -- half our age -- was chain setting in a wood. The first day he was on the job, a massive felled tree higher up began rolling down towards him. He tried jumping over it . . .
Anyway, he lived, recovered, and is back to work -- in an oil field.
Definitely, youth and bravado on his side.
Take care!
"sorry, what's disgusting?
", i replied.
"that thing we've just called on", the sister said in response.
It's possible that delightful woman is acquainted with closeted gays, JW or non-JW.
They'd be wise to keep their own counsel before the likes of her. If closeted JW gays, they and she might be very good friends. Why, however, they would want her company is beyond me. Of course, she would keep a safe distance from the contagion of all who don't love the true god and keep his righteous ways.
Hypothetical situation, maybe?
Edited to add: I'd curb my impulse to kick her to the kerb.
if there's one thing we can look back on and laugh and tell our kids it's the fact that knocking on strangers doors at inopportune times results in some funny or embarrassing experiences.
i'd be interested in hearing some of yours.
here's some of mine to get the ball rolling:.
Out in door-to-door, with a pretty sister my age, late teens. The usual plethora of not-at-homes. Typical morning, in "the work."
Two dogs show up and start following us, and we can't ditch them. When some householder finally opens the door, the dogs -- so it happens, male AND female -- begin copulating. The sister began laughing uncontrollably and ran off.
That's all I remember, four of "us" at the door, and then "we" became three . . .
teleology: the assignment of purpose to everything.. "native dualism and native teleology predispose us, given the right conditions, to religion, .
.
-- the god delusion, by richard dawkins, page 210.
Magnum:
Often, in day-to-day conversation, we use expressions that may, or may not, carry over into formal writing. Informally, one says "this thing is different than that thing." Across the ponds, folk say "different to." In formal usage, it's "different from." Re: "enamored," it's always "enamored of," not with.
As to the preposition following "opinion," one can use "about," "on," "concerning," "of." However, in reference to beliefs or ideas, one might use "on": What is your opinion on my former cult?"
With reference to feelings, attitudes, behavior, etc., use "of": My opinion of his conduct at school is pretty low.
Last: I really have no opinion about financial matters beyond my own overdrawn bank account."
It's all about usage: what once was frowned upon has, in many cases, become standard. Take what you want and leave the rest . . .
teleology: the assignment of purpose to everything.. "native dualism and native teleology predispose us, given the right conditions, to religion, .
.
-- the god delusion, by richard dawkins, page 210.
Thanks, Magnum and Syl:
Will look into that link, Magnum.
I am reading Dawkins and am adjusting to a totally different view . . . of EVERYTHING!
apart, of course, from the obvious example of believing the evidence-free assertion of the governing body to be god's representatives on earth.
not to side-step that issue, but i wonder if it might be interesting to relate that huge mistake to other things i've been wrong about and how they compare and contrast with the big one.
a couple of examples of things i was wrong about:.
Greetings, SBF:
My awakening to reality is hardly on the cerebral level of the items you enumerate, but here goes:
1) The Truth, and its putative basis, THE HOLY SCRIPTURES. Thomas Paine's The Age of Reason; Being an Investigation of True and Fabulous Theology did it for me.
2) People: I was wrong about people, seeing only the good about my nimbus-topped friends and family. I learned that they, like me, have feet of clay. As a result of my seeing all people as they truly are -- imperfect humans -- I am a realist now, in most matters great and small. I am so much older and somewhat wiser. My dad was a male Pollyanna, and the apple, truly, falls near the tree.
in this morning's paper, i read that many local health pros -- about 150 -- are losing their jobs.
the huge medical establishments (sponsoring hospitals) expected to turn a profit but are, instead, losing money.
within a couple months, our labs, doctors' offices, etc., will close.
Thanks, LV101:
Golly, I guess it's a widespread problem. I've heard of doctors not taking on new patients, but this!
Nice hearing from you!
