i'm a young man raised in the jws, been meaning to get the hell out of dodge for a few years now (basically ever since starting a history degree and learning why the jw conception of history, science, and indeed of reality is so utterly nonsensical, in addition to having discovered girls and fun).
i have no qualms about leaving the organization, i don't care what the elders or anyone else think about my decision - with the exception of my family.
i love my family deeply and i know that my decision will really hurt them, especially my mother (a full-time pioneer), and this is making me hesitate to do what i know needs to be done in addition to causing me a lot of worry and stress.
I am a big fan of fading....sometimes that is the best way out. I didn't fade as gracefully as I probably should have, but I did fade, and it made it much eaiser for me and my family.
Feed your mother a little info as time goes on, but be careful. Do your mom a favor, don't be a stranger, but if you are doing somethings that would get you Dfed...then do her a favor and don't bring it up.
Welcome to the board, btw.
hey there...i never got a chance to study or read about objectivism in college, or read any of ayn rand's books while in high school or college.. i finally started too, and was curious if there are others out there that have?
i joined a study group that meets once or twice a month to go over, basically an overview of the philosophy.
i guess i really have missed bookstudy hahaha.... anyone else?
That is one thing I noticed...Rand did seem a bit hypocritical herself. I don't think she and I would have tea together hahah.
Like I said...I am still very new to it, but it is interesting. You are right, no philosophy is perfect.
hey there...i never got a chance to study or read about objectivism in college, or read any of ayn rand's books while in high school or college.. i finally started too, and was curious if there are others out there that have?
i joined a study group that meets once or twice a month to go over, basically an overview of the philosophy.
i guess i really have missed bookstudy hahaha.... anyone else?
Hey there...I never got a chance to study or read about Objectivism in college, or read any of Ayn Rand's books while in high school or college.
I finally started too, and was curious if there are others out there that have? I joined a study group that meets once or twice a month to go over, basically an overview of the philosophy. I guess I really have missed bookstudy hahaha...
Anyone else? Thoughts, opinions?
well, its coming up on monday, my last chemo treatment!!
i cannot believe i have had 3 treatments already.
after the chemo, i will be treated with herceptin and taxol for 12 weeks, weekly infusions.
I was just thinking of you yesterday...wondering how you were doing.
Thanks for keeping us posted, and as always, I wish you the best outcome.
ive had a day off work today and have been reflecting on stuff like never before.. ive had the strong jw belief system from pretty much the word go.then in 1995 that all started to end with the change in generation.i couldnt believe what i was hearing!at the time i was an ms and reg pioneer and 100% in my beliefs.overtures were made to me about being an elder.. the doubts continued until about 3 years ago,i couldnt stands no more (in best popeye voice)and dropped out the religion with a bang!i had long relinquished the pioneering and the ms.. what came next?well for a year a completely hedonistic existance..boy,did i make up for lost time with the beer and the laydeez.i did it far away tho..still worried about the elders.then i became more blase..what right did those elders have over what i chose to do?
?i celebrated xmas..did birthdays,fell out spectacularly with parents,got a great gf,split up,got back together again..all in all a bit of a busy period!.
but now its hit me.. ive lost an entire belief system,one i adhered too before i saw the light.now im completely nihilistic,nearly 35 (half way thru 3 score years and 10)and am genuinely concerned about what the future holds!.
Pay no attention to Defd...he just hasn't been able to figure out what to do with his Saturday and Sunday mornings yet that doesn't involve and suit and coffee break. Makes him a little bitter.
What to do? Well...I tell you, I felt very odd and lost when I left. I had already rejected a lot of other religions based on what I believed as a witness, so I thought about those some more, and read. I personally came to reject the bible as some sort of God written rule book. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to offend anyone, just relating my experience.
If you are up to it, start your search, but my advice would be to don't rely soley on the bible to base belief systems. Use rational thinking as well. I don't know where you will end up, but I think you may be able to avoid many mistakes if you try to be rational. Reason is very important, I think.
By the way, you don't necessarily need a religion for a belief system or philosophy.
Good luck...you will find your way.
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i'm going to print this out for my own reference.. http://www.infidels.org/library/modern/donald_morgan/inconsistencies.html
Thank you Skully...I have been talking to my son about just this subject and was trying to put a list together but haven't had time.
I appreciate it.
And knothead...there are plenty of people that haven't turned their backs on god here. Lighten up. Get some coffee, take a seat, and read some more posts and you will see that. There is a huge mix of Christians and non Christians on this board.
i just got a major shock.
i can't believe the new levels of cruelty possible within families who are jws.. a friend on this board who i've known since i was a baby practically has managed to get me a picture of my little sister who i haven't seen for 8 years - the one who i've mentioned my dad said was working on the bethel quick build team.
the one who i've described my fears that she and my younger sister are staying single until armageddon.
I am so sorry to hear about this....people can just be thoughtless sometime.
I think the idea of sending your card is a good one. Maybe your sister will write back at least.
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as a jehovah's witness did you ever have a personal relationship with god?.
evanescence
I believed I did, yes. I prayed every night before I went to sleep as a child, and much more right before and after I got baptised. I had severl long prayers to Jehovah at night, especially during troubled times.
However, now I don't believe there was any relationship, because I am agnostic now. However, praying did help me in some ways. I think talking about your problems...even later when you find out there might not being anyone listening, can help.
I don't pray any more...but I find writing thoughts down and them tearing up the pages if it is too personal has the same effect praying used to for me.
these all really happened to me (the interviewer, in case any of you were wondering!)..
"what is the extra chair for, my invisible friend?
ha ha.".
Don't bring a kid to the interview and don't breastfeed during an interview.
Seriously, on one of the recruiting boards I read, there was one interview that was meeting with a candidate, who brought her kid with her. Apparantly the kid was 4 or 5 years old, and told his mommy he was hungry, so the lady just whipped out a boob and starting to nurse. The interviewer wasn't sure if she was being audited on the sly (her company often will get audited to make sure they are not violating employment laws) so she just continued with the interview. Needless to say the lady wasn't hired...
i've been wondering what people think about this.
as soon as i turned 18 and had an income (it was disability but income just the same) my parents began to charge me room and board.
is this common practice?
I charge my 18 year old sister room & board...and she is still in high school.
This goes towards covering the extra food, water, etc...since we let her move in here. It really doesn't cover all of it, and it isn't a whole lot. She gets survivor benes for one more year until she turns 19. By then she is to get a job and will continue to pay the same amount.
But YES she DOES have chores around the house, and she DOES babysit for free. Not a whole lot on either. In fact, my son complains about it quite a bit. We have 5 kids, but she gets her own room, so I think it is more than fair. It is working out pretty well. When she gets a car she can go on our insurance if she wants, but she will have to pay the difference. She knows she can continue this arrangement while in college if she chooses.
I paid my mom room & board...I have told my son when he gets to be 18 he will start paying room & board if he has a job...but his school work is first.
I see no problem with it. Just don't make the sum too much or too little. Too much and the kids feel oppressed. Too little and it becomes a joke, and it will easily be forgotten.
But do away with chores? I think that is a mistake...give them some more freedom yes...but my son is still going to have 2 dish nights a week and take out the trash.
Edited to add the following: Bisous: I certainly am not saying this arrangement works for everyone. I don't think this is a watchtower teaching...I have know MANY kids that had to fork over some room & board when they got older from all different walks of life. Also, circumstances change. When my parents let me move back home with my infant son, they didn't start charing my room and board until I had a part time job again. And it wasn't very much. I was still in college, and they were reasonable. And when I got a car, I was the main source of transportation for my mother. Regarding the comment one poster made that it was wrong to charge kids because they make next to nothing: this isn't always the case. If you have a ambitious 18 year old, they can sometimes make some good money. There are a LOT of opportunities out in the world. I am strongly encouraging my son and sister when they are ready to get a job to avoid certain lines of work if possible, because the pay and potention for advancement (even part time) is crappy. Their focus will always be school, but at this point in time, knowing what they are capable of, and the fact neither one has no real expensives, I have no problem charging room & board.
