Posts by LearningToFly

34

I'm sick of "the truth"

by exwitless in

18 years ago

the more i think about the dubs claiming they 'have the truth', the more it irritates me.

there are countless other religions who claim they 'have the truth'.

first of all, "having" "the truth" implies that the truth was either given to them or discovered by them.

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Great post exwitless, my sentiments exactly

Really, there isn't a "truth" out there in my opinion. Who's to say what's true and what's a myth, faulty reasoning, or just plain ignorance?

If the Bible contains the "truth" (and again, I'm not sure about what truth it claims to have), it ought to be crystal clear.

It used to anger me all the statements made "I have the truth" or "this is the truth" from individuals of any faith.

Now I just smile, and find myself slightly amused by this comment. I acknowledge their inherent right to believe what they chose to believe, but also breath a sigh of relief that I am no longer imprisoned by such beliefs.

Free to think for myself, embracing a life of quality without the paralyzing constraints of organized religion.

LTF

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27

Declaring JW's a cult to co-workers

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

18 years ago

i am in a unique work situation which i won't describe because i am a fader.. let's just say that it's like vegas.

what happens (or is said) at work stays at work.. we are a fairly tight bunch.

some of my closest co-workers know my situation.

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Without batting an eye, I was able to answer, "I discovered that they were a mind-control
cult, and I managed to break free of their control."

OnTheWayOut thank you for sharing, and echoing the strength of so many here who come to a point of true freedom.

Until I joined this forum, although I believed they were a cult, I was not able to say it out loud. For the first time last week, during a random discussion on religion I defined this religion as a cult. This person did not know of my previous involvement as it's something I seldom share with anyone. Their response though was "and you escaped", "what a strong woman you are".

I felt strong and also finally free, what a wonderful feeling!

Thank you again for sharing

LTF

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29

Would You Build an Ark...

by AGuest in

jw
friends

18 years ago

if you heard [god] ask you to?

or would you.... 1. check to see if he told anyone else to build one, too.... 2. ask anyone else if they also heard him tell you.... 3. check with your family, friends... or religious leader... to see what you should do.... 4. worry that you're "gonna look crazy".... 5. worry that you are crazy.... 6. wait to see if it's going to rain.... 7. wait to see if it's going to flood.... 8. say "no".... 9. ignore the request... and say/do nothing.... i'm just askin'.

peace to you!.

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

#5

I would believe I had a serious mental illness and promptly visit a Psychiatrist specializing in Schizophrenia

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78

We are free to love

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

18 years ago

what i have noticed since pulling away from group thinking, mindsets, rules and superstitions, that i am open to a broader range of loving people.. i am not sure i can blame all this on the jw expericance.

as children we are taught from our tribe, (family and enviroment, church, school, extended family, neighborhood..........who to love and who not to love.

i used to believe as the witnesses taught, you have to "beat" the evil out of children.. have you ever watched a group of small children unattended?

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

I loved your post Purps

i am glad to be free to love openly and freely. I am glad I am not part of a group that restricts that freedom.

I will continue to make mistakes and continue to grow. I will continue to strip away the layers of teaching and conditioning to allow my heart to feel the massive amount of love stored there.

Growing up in an environment that taught judgement and hate, stifled the true heart felt human emotion of real love towards others and myself.

I too am cherishing this new and growing love for myself, my fellow man and life, the beautiful outcome of this freedom is tranquility!

LTF

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40

Would you live your life differently, if you new what happens after death?

by passive suicide in

jw
friends

18 years ago

so i had a thought today, that may spark some interesting conversation......

if you were able to die.....totally, and utterly dead.and see what there really is for your own eyes/soul after death......not what the bible says, not what your mom, dad, preacher, rabbi,faithful and discreet slave, conscience ...whatever says will happen....but what really happens......( who can say for sure they know by the way), and then somehow you were brought back,

would you live your life differently?

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Having already considered all the possible after death options, I live my life for today, loving, growing, learning, constantly trying to be the best I can be no matter what option lays before me.

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38

Can Atheists be ethical?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

18 years ago

i had to share this gem.how many fallacies do you find in it?.

can atheists be ethical?the answer to this question is a definite "yes.

" atheists are people who, whether they like it or not, have the law of god written on their hearts (rom.

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

I for one believe that whether you are atheist, agnostic, christian, ect.. ect.. our genetic makeup as human beings no matter what faith or belief system you live your life with we all have the same capability of knowing what is obviously evil and what is not. Whatever belief system you grow up with or chose to live by does not determine whether you are at your basic core good or bad or (unethical). We have seen throughout history, people of many faiths who believe in god whom have acted out evil upon their fellow man, what makes them more pure and ethical due to a christian belief system than others of different beliefs. Nothing! We are all born knowing this, regardless of what belief system we may be exposed to.. individuals growing up in the most evil environments do live productively after leaving.. living ethical lives, in which they as individuals inherently know is right...

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32

Although you may not practise any religion anymore do you......

by JH in

18 years ago

although you may not practise any religion anymore do you still defend what the bible says to your best, when someone of another faith says something you know is completely false...

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

I have never defended the bible, I do though believe it is part actual absolute recorded history, but also filled with assumed presumptions...

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49

How The Organization Hooks You With "Privileges"

by minimus in

jw
friends

18 years ago

right from the beginning, you are bombarded with others telling you what a "privilege" it is to "be used" in the organization.

especially if you're a male, it is easy to get hooked by the elder's lines.....for example, a male is given the "privilege" of "handling the microphones" if they put in enough time in the ministry and they aren't setting a bad example.

if you're "faithful in what is least", greater privileges await you.

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Women had no privileges I used to always wished that at least I would be allowed to handle the mic's.. but even something as that, much lower in the pecking order from an elders position, women or girls were still not permitted. I find that demoralizing to a females persona and worth...

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20

how many times were you disciplined???

by mentalclearness in

18 years ago

well i grew up in the organization..and i had several committee meetings..i was privately reproved at 17 (for pot) at 22 i was publicly reproved (for sex) and privately reproved again at 31 for sex again.... .

so who holds the record for the most discipline while still in the organization????

i know many cases (mostly friends) who were df'ed came back and then df'ed again...i even know someone who was df'ed three times......

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Lol Nvr! You like the bad boy game huh

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20

how many times were you disciplined???

by mentalclearness in

18 years ago

well i grew up in the organization..and i had several committee meetings..i was privately reproved at 17 (for pot) at 22 i was publicly reproved (for sex) and privately reproved again at 31 for sex again.... .

so who holds the record for the most discipline while still in the organization????

i know many cases (mostly friends) who were df'ed came back and then df'ed again...i even know someone who was df'ed three times......

18 years ago

LearningToFly 18 years ago

Only once.. which ended in an unfair disassociation. Went back was un-disassociated.. then after a time, walked away forever...

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