can someone provide me some insight or past experience with the pros and cons to disassociating oneself versus getting disfellowshipped?
besides the obvious of not having to deal with the lynch squad.
thanks for you comments.
My thoughts on this topic run much the same way as some here. Why let them have any say? Why play by their rules at all? I'm not df'd. I'm not da'd. And they don't have any more power over my life than I allow them.
I wouldn't attend a Judicial Meeting, and I wouldn't give them a letter.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
would one or two of you computer and web savvy individuals, please impart some advice for me, where and who with, to register a domaine name?
and of hosting companies, any reccomendations?
storefront required, ecommerce enabled, below 50 products, expandable, plus simple information page or two, plus links etc, contact details etc?.
Here are three places to go for Domain Registration and Hosting that I have found useful and economical.
www.discountdomainregistry.com
www.dollarhost.com
www.doteasy.com
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
hi to all x-jws in utah.
it's cold here in ogden, but warm wishes go out to you all from our family.
'let the games begin', i think that's what i told my husband as we walked into my jcm in 2000. we no longer carry the 'torch' for the organization.
to alamb and suscarra,
circe and I are definitely not newbies here, been around since H2O was the site to go... just not so regular here.
I'll check my mail in a few and get back to you all...
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
hi to all x-jws in utah.
it's cold here in ogden, but warm wishes go out to you all from our family.
'let the games begin', i think that's what i told my husband as we walked into my jcm in 2000. we no longer carry the 'torch' for the organization.
Suscarra,
Drop a line, my wife and I live in Layton and work in Ogden & Riverdale. Been up in the Ogden area now for a few months.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
the recent post on how we felt about apostates when we were dubs made me remember something, which i touched on in the post.
when i was 11 my entire damn family visited bethel in brooklyn.
there was a grey-haired older fellow that stayed outside the facility yelling at the top of his lungs.
"Mr. Coffee" was what he was called and I listened to him carry on out side my window for over a tear when I lived in the 124 Columbia Heights Bldg. His wife was a witness, he was d'fed and I also know the Bro. who backed into him.
At the time he was hit "Mr.Coffee" made sure that everyone knew that it wasn't the boy's fault, that it was just an accident and that he was quote on quote OK. Though if I remember correctly he did break something.
"Mr. Coffee" wasn't the only lunatic that we had out front in Brooklyn. We had "Billy Wilkenson" of the Wilkenson blade family (they made razor blades here in the states. Billy was a bum - street person and crazy as a loon, it seems he was a living breathing example of untreated Syphilis. He was a Columbia Heights fixture for years. From time to time his family would have him picked up and get him all cleaned up, hair cut and about a week later he'd be back sleeping on his card board over by the 107 building.
Then we had Jesus for a summer as well. Incredibly well built hispanic guy who beleived he was Jesus Christ. Walked around with his top off, blue jeans or shorts and carrying his large leather bible preaching the end of the world and that the Watchtower was part of the beast and was to be destroyed.
I'm sure that some of the other former Bethelites out here can remember these guys and add a few more to the list that I've forgotten about.
I also remember when Jim Penton and company made a show out front in protest and carried a coffin and signs. I remember thinking they were crazy too at the time. I had a chance to sit down with Jim a couple of years ago for lunch and talk about it. Talk about a change in perspective.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
i'm wondering if any of you suffered major guilt over getting yourself off while a dub.
or did you all manage to abstain until you left?
i know it was one of the main reasons i left.
Valis,
The former Bethelite came from MI. While I was a pioneer I worked with this congregation, that is up to the time I went to the house. This particular Young witness served at Bethel during the ninties. He was asked to leave after going to the bro's for help with his problems and not being able to get his problem under control. The feelings that he left Bethel with were ones of disgrace and failure. It was shortly after returning home that he killed himself. Much to his parents and sister's dispair.
I do beleive naming him on this forum or any other would not be of any real value or serve any higher purpose. Merely titalating... And my purpose was not to titalate but to highlight the level of despair this teaching that masturbation is a sin can cause in some individuals. I do beleive that there are some here who might recognize his name or at least his families name if they come from the SE Michigan area.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
i just got back from barnes and nobles... i finally got it!!
woohoo!!.
i may not see you guys for a while... i cant wait to read it.. .
I have to agree with sixofnine... be prepared... I definitely recomend both of Ray's books and Jim Pentons as well.
I've had the pleasure of meeting Jim and his book in some ways meant more to me than Rays at the time of reading it.
Having served at the headquarters, reading Ray's books was like having some cleaner being used to help bring everything into focus. Events and other things that I had heard hints and allusions about were flushed out. Conclusions that I had reached about the beliefs of Jehovahs Witnesses were confirmed.
Let me say enjoy... And to anyone who hasn't read them, please find the time to do so.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
i'm wondering if any of you suffered major guilt over getting yourself off while a dub.
or did you all manage to abstain until you left?
i know it was one of the main reasons i left.
I remember the level of guilt that I had regarding my masturbation as a teenager and at Bethel. In my mind it was my secret sin that I battled with. Now all I can say is who cares, I don't...
I do have to say that the level of guilt I laid on myself as a nice righteous young man was nothing compared to others and their feelings of guilt over doing it. The guilt I felt was significantly less than what was felt by some I knew. One young brother a few years ago who left Bethel over this particular problem as he perceived it ended up commiting suicide over the shame that he felt he brought on to himself and his family over the matter.
felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
i am missing windrider and decided to write this.. sometimes people wonder if a fairy tale can come true.
sometimes you give up one soulmate to only to find a better one later.. many years ago, i had met my soulmate.
a wonderful woman who wanted to spend the rest of her life with me.
Richard & Robin,
What a pleasure to hear that the story continues. I've been offline for the last three months and have wondered about the two of you on and off before that.
It seems that a few of us that met back on the old H2O spend far less time here on JW.com than we did back there.
Just had to say hello, and all the best to you for this new year.
David a.k.a... felix a
"Vision is the art of seeing things invisible"
Swift
the nbc show "scrubs" had a line about being "as.
annoying as a jehovah's witness.".
the damon wayans show on abc had a scene where he.
Damon has been an active/inactive witness for years. One former pro basketball player I know was in the same congregation as Damon and his wife in California. At the time my friend came out to NYC for a visit, Damon was active... The Wayans brothers grew-up over in the Chelsea neighborhood in Manhattan and while living in NYC I had friends who knew the parents and remember the family growing up in the same congo. On the otherhand we also see the man and his movies and know that much of his time must be spent on the edge and that it is most likely a matter of family and being raised in the religion that keeps him coming back...
Like a case of fleas there are somethings in life that are just hard to shake off and be free of.
felix a
