AllTimeJeff

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Posts by AllTimeJeff

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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Yeah yeah. Go suck on a bannana.
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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Shamus, you da bomb!
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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  AGuest, and others (who are not named Shamus, my psychotic monkey half who is off his meds)

  I think that all of this is in the eye of the beholder. I doubt seriously that anyone comes here to GO towards god, but I respect your opinion if that is the case.

  My point was that in the face of preaching, you should really just let nature take it's course and be a resource. Sure, if you still believe in god, make your case. But surely we all realize just how personal that can be, and how upsetting the subject is....

  Beyond that, I will have to re-read my first post, but I don't have a problem with theists or theism, just tactics. It's one thing to offer a point of view, it's quite another thing to insist on it. I think the theists who spoke up on this thread speak volumes about what a potentially healthy and helpful discussion on the subject could look like.

  Also, I do believe in a higher power, my own theoretical god. She and I talk to each other regularly, and she told me that Jesus doesn't talk to cyber trolls or Billy Graham. She also is a Steelers fan, and hates monkeys. ;)
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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  @ still thinking

  I didn't say that theists weren't welcome, it's just that former JW's, esp those first leaving, need their space. Also, I think that saying you have a theistic world view (i.e. "I believe in and love god and here is what my god has done for me") is very approrpriate.

  However, that would be different from proselytizing. (i.e. "I believe in god and you should too, because I am right, and my god is the only way to worship, and you are likely to receive eternal condemnation if you don't believe like I do...")

  Of course there are people who need a variety of help while recovering. But just like someone recently divorced, people usually don't marry the next person they date, or at least they shouldn't, and should just chill out and get to know themselves a bit. Same thing with religion.

  People often find that after they do chill out, they personally don't need or want religion anymore, or find something unique that works for them.
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  126

  A simple way to tell God probably doesn't exist

  by poor places in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when's the last time you prayed to god?

  did he respond?

  i prayed to him for years and years and received no response.

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  AllTimeJeff

  As an aside, Sam Whiskey is as charming as ever. I am sure god is wondering why more people don't believe in him, since he has Sam to enlighten the way.... Maybe if god did his own talking for himself instead of having to rely on anonymous people on the internet (and non anyomous bedrocks of logic like Glen Beck) then more people would believe, but I digress.....

  Really folks, I don't argue for god's existence, esp in the traditions of the West.

  I actually believe in higher powers existing, in the same way that theories exist. It is just a theory of mine, which is why I don't argue for my beliefs. Actually "belief" is a strong word.

  Spirituality is more relevant today anyway.

  I think it's clear that the West, and fundies in general, need to rethink their no show of a god that they continue to insist is "right there in front of our face, if only we used our eyes of faith and believed, and tapped our heels three times together".

  It won't happen. God as he is thought most certainly doesn't exist.

  But since people of faith often refuse to produce any evidence other then their own faith, this is a topic that will continue to distract. Move on. God will show up if he wants, and if she does, she won't be mad at you. My parent's didn't get mad at me when they were late, they apologized. If God exists and is worthy of "worship", the first thing she will do is apologize for being late, exlain what the hell happened, then make some dinner. Probably for the good folks in Africa and other famine stricken parts of the earth. They need god's attention a little more then those of us in the West.
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  57

  The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.

  esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .

  lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.

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  AllTimeJeff

  On internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save JW's. esp from (thinking for) themselves.

  However, the real dillema's facing an ex JW who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.

  Lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.

  Fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.

  Education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.

  Love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.

  Geez, yeah, forgot. Gotta make some money some how.

  Many can't afford a therapist at first (although seeing one is highly remommended), so forums like this are very helpful, not for the professional help that it's members can't offer, but rather, for the validation about the experience of being and leaving JW's.

  No one on this forum can heal or save you. But we can offer you a cyber pat on the back that says "Yeah, we've been there, it gets better...."

  This forum offers a glimpse of the real world, because in reality, JW's were never as unified as they brag, they just suppress uniquness and personality so that everyone appears to have a slightly yellow tinged gray appearance. This forum will challenge you to think for yourself, and test your own opinions, no matter how much you haven't thought them out. Be prepared, if you are honest, you might change your mind.

  This forum isn't about helping the mentally ill, or those looking for god, because this forum is mostly about JW's, and when you think about it, being a former JW is about leaving a god, not heading to a new one. So for you theists out there, show some respect and remember that, ok?

  When I see trolls and fundies come through here, it really is like shooting fish in a barrel. Big deal. Hey folks, a lot of people are like godrulz in the world. That never changed, and it won't for a long long time.

  This forum is at it's best when we can support each other. (it's hard for me to comment on many new ones and their issues, but I read them. Maybe one day, I will be ok enough to offer some words). Or it can help people to think. (my specialty)

  It isn't about beating up religious scarecrows who are intent on living in their own head while trying to expand that world to you. So don't forget what good we all can do by keeping trolls and fundies in their place and not taking them too seriously.
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  96

  Jesus was just a man?

  by Joey Jo-Jo in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  according to this video, jesus was just a man, but were can i find these books that speak of this.

  .

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m23vv6moyf0&feature=related.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Jesus was a man. The

  P
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  of he being raised from the dead to a deity is

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  70

  Could you eat breakfast after watching this at Bethel?

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a partial video of the morning breakfast table in brooklyn bethel in the late 80s, with lyman swingle hosting... the governing body member who at first tried to shelter ray franz from disfellowshipping, but then within a year or two his spirit was broken and he was a bitter man.. randy (i was there and it was death-dealing, like the death eaters from harry potter!).

  address of windows media file if you don't see anything:.

  http://www.randytv.com/swinglebreakfast.wmv.

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  AllTimeJeff

  Marking for tomorrow. Morning worship sucks. I got to do one days text comments, and of course found out I was on my way to Cameroon, all while being filmed from the dining room of Patterson.

  I have no problem in saying that the dining room of Patterson sucks as far as I am concerned. Glad to have moved on.
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  20

  Seeing JWs in public...

  by undercover in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was reading terry's experience of running into dubs at the car wash and his feelings aftewards.

  thought i'd share my experience on a new thread instead of interrupting his.. i saw some dubs yesterday myself.

  better stated - i thought i saw some dubs.. sunday mornings for me since leaving the jw faith consist of going to either a starbucks or a locally owned coffee shop and enjoying my coffee, danish and newspaper in a nice leather chair with ottoman.

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  AllTimeJeff

  I always feel like I am a fly on the wall when I identify JW's in my radar...

  First of all, JW's are DD, not Starbucks.

  I know what goes on. Think about the stated mission of the JW's (preaching is THE life saving work) vs the uncommunicated message of the all to infamous JW coffee break. (holy crap this is soul killing drudgery, lets get some coffee)

  I feel sorry all the time whenever I see a JW. Even more when I see a group. You can see the confusion reign, the conflicted emotions....

  They are a bit of an endangered species though, don't you think? ;)
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  44

  What was something that you loved but were denied as a JW?

  by Chemical Emotions in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i could go on and on about all the things i loved, but i'll keep it brief and just mention one, rather trivial thing: music.

  i love grunge and punk, and occasionally heavy metal, and can't listen to a lot of it as a witness..

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  AllTimeJeff

  Sex