Posts by FreePeace

9

Fascinating site: Secular Spirituality

by Sunchild in

jw
friends

i ran across this site by accident last night.

if you're not too attached to the bible and are willing to keep an open mind, you might want to check it out: http://www.secularspirituality.org/index.html.

taken from the site's index page:.

FreePeace

Hey! I like your new picture Fred! Very fitting! (Damn! I forgot...I don't believe in Satan anymore! Well...maybe I could start again.)

FP

20

Why DO they stay?

by BugEye in

jw
friends

there is much discussion of the "dumbness" of those still in and the reason that they stay.. some of the reasons that i have seen are:.

they want everything in black and white.. they prefer to leave thinking to others.. they are scared to be shunned.. they are just ignorant souls who are on the "opium of the people".

they dont want others to think bad of them.. while i agree that there is no one single reason and that everyone is different, i feel that the real reason is a much deeper one.

I appreciate where you are coming from in your post above. I believe that a very profound dynamic is at work here--meaning in life. Viktor Frankl developed a psychotherapy called "Logotherapy," which can be summed up in his statement: "This striving to find a meaning in one's life is the primary motivational force in man." (From the book, "Man's Search for Meaning" by Viktor Frankl)

Humans are desperately searching to find meaning in their lives, and they will ultimately do anything to find it—including religion. Here is a portion of an article I'm writing dealing with existentialism. I think it answers why people will believe and do things that they otherwise would not.

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Are You Looking for the Meaning of Life in the Wrong Place?

Since the dawn of humanity, billions of souls have struggled and searched for answers to the meaning of life. Moreover, billions of times, the search for answers to the "Big Three" questions ("Why are we here? Where did we come from? Where are we going?) has stopped at the same brick wall: "I don't know."

For millennia, philosophers of varied cultures and beliefs have embraced the challenge of answering the riddle of life's meaning, and again, all have failed. And the reason is simple: there are no available answers.

Of course, human curiosity and determination are unstoppable and therefore, no stone has been left unturned in mankind's search. From the earliest of times, and continuing along until the present day, humans have devised and constructed self-acceptable answers to the meaning of life when concrete and supportable answers do not exist or are not available.

Religion and religious writings are a prime example of humanity's efforts to answer unanswerable questions. Widely held and popular religious beliefs range from going to heaven or hell when a person dies, to reincarnation, to a state of non-existence.

And while I completely respect and accept another individual's right to believe as he or she wishes, I find it difficult to accept the traditional religious answers to life's meaning because I always have to take it on faith—I don't know it firsthand for myself. The bottom-line and absolute reality of the matter is that we simply do not know why we are here, where we came from, and where we are going.

So, the search continues.

Futility and the Meaning of Life
————————————————————————————————
Religion has long been a means of answering difficult meaning-of-life questions. And, admittedly, answering difficult meaning-of-life questions in the absence of religious views and writings is impossible. This does not in itself confirm the validity of religious views concerning the meaning of life, it simply proves that a hypothesis or philosophy was constructed to address these questions. Again, no verifiable answers are available—either from inside or outside of religion.

When a person recognizes and accepts that no concrete answers are available, he or she might conclude that life is therefore futile. Futility is the same as hopelessness, and humans need hope. Without hope, it is difficult—if not impossible—to find any meaning in life.

This human need for hope is so strong, that humans will stop at nothing to fill that need. This includes devising new philosophies—religious or otherwise—to answer unanswerable questions. I contend that religion in general was developed to establish a digestible platform in which to answer impossible meaning-of-life questions. By so doing, futility is averted, hope is created—regardless of the true reality.

Long ago, and over a period of hundreds or thousands of years, religious views and writings took on a life of their own, until they were accepted as sacred truth by the population at large. This viewpoint continues at present.
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The full article will be published at http://www.empowerthespirit.com soon.

I always enjoy talking to you!

FreePeace

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

Visit my Websites:
TruthQuest: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

Empower the Spirit: www.EmpowerTheSpirit.com

37

My first time "storming" out!!

by lookingnow22 in

jw
friends

i "stormed" out of a meeting for the first time in my life tonight.

well, i really just walked really fast, but inside myself i was storming.

anybody catch some of the insolent comments made in the 6/01km?

FreePeace

par. 15 - ...Additionally, some brothers and sisters who may be a little older than 35 and who have specialized skills and training that could be used at Bethel are encouraged to apply. For example, these include dentists, doctors, certified public accountants, architects, engineers, registered nurses, automobile mechanics, or electronic technicians, to mention but a few. However, we do not encourage individuals to obtain specialized education or training with the thought that this will improve their chances of being called to Bethel. Those who have already received specialized training, perhaps before coming into the truth, may wish to write out a detailed resume and attach it to the Bethel application.

JESUS H. CHRIST!!! I wonder where the WTS will find people with a COLLEGE education? What pure, unadulterated, bullshit, hypocrisy!

I, like many others, have strong resentment toward the WTS for screwing me out of a college education at the time I should have gotten it.

You assholes in Brooklyn can kiss my Royal American, lilly-white, non-JW ASS!

Shame on you for all you've done.

FreePeace

59

What is your favorite nickname for the Society?

by slipnslidemaster in

jw
friends

i've heard the borg alot.

one of the recent posts had the matrix.

some the firm.. i think that i like the matrix, so far.. what's yours?.

FreePeace

"Experts in the Art of Mind-Raping." (There! I said without saying the "F" word. But I still like "Mind-Fucking" better. DAMN! I said the "F" word again! Damn!)

FP

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

22

Would like to make new friends all over again

by CathyM38 in

jw
friends

hi, i'm cathy.

am new to the site; some of you know me by now.

i have been dfd since 1997 and without many friends since then and felt quite lost as im sure many of you know the feeling.

FreePeace

Hi Cathy,

We chatted last night in the chatroom. My wife (Think41Self) was in there as well, (along with a bunch of other nuts!:) ).

I am glad you found this site. There are a lot of caring people here. I know many of them have helped me a lot over the past 2 years.

Please visit my website TruthQuest, at the link below, and also my other site, http://www.EmpowerTheSpirit.com if you get a chance.

On TruthQuest, there is an article you might find helpful called, "Who Am I? How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS."

Take care and see you in the chatroom!

FreePeace

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

51

I am stunned!!...CharitablePlanning

by sf in

jw
friends

i feel like i did when i first read ray's book crisis of conscience"; like i was punched deep in the gut and can't catch my breath.. i took someones suggestion here to call the: .

charitable planning office.

watchtower bible and tract society of pennsylvania.

FreePeace

Hey sKally,

I have seen the package, I even have it. And what is more, I have a certifcate to show that I completed the WTS's day long seminar on Charitable giving. It was 2 years ago last December in Orlando, Florida, and I was a stock broker at the time. It was about 1 month before I left the bORG.

I really don't remember a hell of a lot about it. I had the bORG mindset at the time as well. I know we talked a lot about Charitable Remainder Trusts and the like.

It is a bunch of BS. I was always uncomfortable with the manner that the WTS asked for money, estates, property etc., not only in the WT, but especially at this seminar.

FreePeace

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

82

Has anyone felt like leaving God altogether?

by lookingnow22 in

jw
friends

i know that the answer is yes, but it would help me to hear your sentiments on this.

.

after you decided that the wbts, and thus jw's were not god's chosen earthly organization did you feel like you wanted to leave and forget god altogether?.

FreePeace

I have left whatever God I was serving, I think His name was Jehovah, or something like that. Here are things they way I see it:

1. IF the Bible is true (which it's not), then this battle between Jehovah and Satan is just that--a battle between Jehovah and Satan. Humans were innocent pawns in the affairs of the supernatural. Humans were used, and because they were not supernatural, they had no control.

2. The idea of putting trees in a garden to temp humans is cruel and dysfunctional. It imputes wrong motives. A moral and loving God would not do this. (To hell with the JW God-needed-to-establish-his-headship bullshit).

3. To punish billions of human beings for the sins of one man is ludicrous. If your adult son murdered someone, would you also execute his children (your grandchildren) also? Of course not! We are individuals with individual rights and free will.

4. IF God is love, then where the hell is He when so many people are suffering so terribly? Where is he for the little girl or boy who is sexually assaulted or raped? Where the hell is he when a parent loses a child to some disease; or a child loses a parent? (I could go on, and damn it, I think I will!)

5. Where the hell is God when the tears of pain stream down one's cheeks, begging and imploring Him for some comfort and a way out of some terrible situation?

6. Where the hell is God when the little girl is raped in front of her mother in Sierra Leone, and then has her forearms chopped off?

7. What excuse is there for God telling Moses to kill all the little Medianite boys, fathers, mothers, sisters, and any girl or woman who wasn't a virgin, only to become a sex slave to the Israelites? Why, the human Israelites had more compassion than did God, because at first, they wouldn't do it! (Read "Atrocities of the Bible" at TruthQuest)

8. There is no excuse for God to allow human suffering and death, simply because he can "undo" it and make it as if it never happened (even more JW bullshit). Such a God is morally reprehensible and owes any sentient being an explanation (just before He is executed for crimes against humanity).

To sum it all up, if there is a God, he can go fuck himself. I would love nothing more than to talk to Him face-to-face and hear His lame explanation as to why he has allowed all that he has.

As you can see, I have some definite issues with the God-concept. I am not necessarily an atheist, but damn close to it.

Humanity is much better off by ditching any reliance on a God-concept. It is much better to recognize once and for all that we are in it FOR ourselves, and BY ourselves. That suits me just fine. At least I can take responsibility for my own life; my own successes and failures; and not keep futilely looking to some God who is silent toward the outcries of humanity.

FreePeace

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

5

Lost Souls of the WTS

by FreePeace in

jw
friends

i spoke with my mom earlier today on the phone.

it seems that she is discouraged, and her df'd son (me) is the only one who will give her some comfort.. she has been trying to witness to those in nursing homes for many, many years, and runs into all kinds of roadblocks from my dad (an elder) and the congregation, to the nursing home officials.

she honestly and sincerely tries to help these older people.

FreePeace

I spoke with my mom earlier today on the phone. It seems that she is discouraged, and her DF'd son (me) is the only one who will give her some comfort.

She has been trying to witness to those in nursing homes for many, many years, and runs into all kinds of roadblocks from my dad (an elder) and the congregation, to the nursing home officials. She honestly and sincerely tries to help these older people. I can't blame her for feeling some compassion toward the elderly and incapacitated.

She says my dad yells at her and puts her down often. I know she is right. He also calls her a "damn alcoholic," and worse. The truth is, she is an alcoholic, and my dad is seriously codependent (but what JW isn't?). They fight like cats and dogs, but don't have the fortitude to make the tough decision to part ways, (like many of us have had to make.)

They are like lost souls, desperately trying to validate their own existence. After so many years, and so many promises, still nothing…no Armageddon; no Paradise Earth; no nothing. They have traded all their years and youthful vitality for empty promises…a handful of shit. Now, at close to 70 years old, they are emotionally and expectationally bankrupt. They are tired…just tired.

What makes it so tragic is the fact that they simply cannot see the real "Truth." The WTS stole their youth; stole their dignity; stole their hopes and dreams; stole their humanity; expropriated their ten-der affections for the world of humanity at large; in short, gave them a good and thorough mind-fucking (sorry about the language, just couldn't find a better way to express it.)

Some of that mind-rape carries over to those of us who have left; and we are all so desperately trying to get past it. Some of us do quite well, others of us struggle.

Wouldn't it be great if we could just get past our parents? Do you know what I mean Fark? I know at some point their misery will be over. This saddens me but also gives me a glimmer of hope. What a tragedy it is when our lives would be better without someone we are close to in them. At least we who left the WTS at a relatively young age can pursue a better life. But for those we care about who are still enslaved…oh well.

Eleanor Roosevelt said, "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." It is about time to finally go after those illusive dreams, and leave the past to its own.

Hope this is not too depressing. Just wanted to vent.

FreePeace

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

5

How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS

by FreePeace in

jw
friends

several months ago, i wrote an article designed to help those who have left the wts.

it came from my own experience.. some of you have already read it, and i have received some good feedback.. if you are newer to this board, you may not have seen it.

it might help.. the article is entitled, "who am i?

FreePeace

Hey Scally,

Feel Free!

FP

5

How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS

by FreePeace in

jw
friends

several months ago, i wrote an article designed to help those who have left the wts.

it came from my own experience.. some of you have already read it, and i have received some good feedback.. if you are newer to this board, you may not have seen it.

it might help.. the article is entitled, "who am i?

FreePeace

Several months ago, I wrote an article designed to help those who have left the WTS. It came from my own experience.

Some of you have already read it, and I have received some good feedback.

If you are newer to this board, you may not have seen it. It might help.

The article is entitled, "Who Am I? How to Reinvent Yourself After Leaving the WTS," and you can find it at:

http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html

"The World is my country, and to do good, my religion." --Thomas Paine

My webpage: http://www.geocities.com/freepeace2000/Truthquest/TruthQuestx.html