gsx1138

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Posts by gsx1138

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  14

  Fastest Growing Religion in Oz is.................

  by ISP in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  witchcraft wins converts .

  by jason frenkel .

  witchy women (l-r): holly marie coombs, alyssa milano and rose mcgowan from charmed.

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  gsx1138

  I've known for a while that witchcraft was the fastest growing religion in the U.S. I could just never find the news link where I read it. I wouldn't consider myself a full fledged witch as I'm still learning the ropes. However, just like any other religion on the planet there are those that would try and take advantage you. The best thing I like about Wicca is that it respects other religions and puts none above the other. There is also no trying to convert anyone. You want to know about Wicca you can ask but most Wiccans will force you into doing your own research that way you can decide on your own whether that path is right for you. I have to agree with the above though, this is both a blessing and a curse.

  gsx1138
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  10

  Are All Organized Religions Cults?

  by HomebutHiding in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  even though it has been years since i last stepped into a kingdom hall, it is only recently that i have accepted the idea that the jws are a cult.

  the word cult has such a horrible connotation, i mentally reserved it for the most overtly offensive groups.

  then, last evening, i went to mass with my husband.

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  gsx1138

  Glad I could help HbH. I'm not a christian but I do love the Catholic chants as well (they've been proven to have health benefits just like Yoga chants). Despite their bloody history Catholosism is most closely tied to Paganism so they're more acceptable to me. By the way I had the same JW thoughts 10 years after my DF as well. It is just something you have to get out of your head. There are a few perfectly happy atheists and deists on this board who have no use for religion at all. But I do know where your coming from.

  gsx1138
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  31

  Straw that broke the Camels Back

  by Perfection Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, whats the straw that broke the camels back in your life?

  what was the final last straw that made you say thats it- no more?

  i have so many-for 15 years i kept getting that last straw-and trying to ignore it- but i think the last straw was when my dad died- everyone kept (keeps) giving me the line of bs about never seeing him again unless i go to meetings.

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  gsx1138

  LOL, City Fan. It's amazing you kept a straight face you lucky bastard

  gsx1138
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  10

  Are All Organized Religions Cults?

  by HomebutHiding in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  even though it has been years since i last stepped into a kingdom hall, it is only recently that i have accepted the idea that the jws are a cult.

  the word cult has such a horrible connotation, i mentally reserved it for the most overtly offensive groups.

  then, last evening, i went to mass with my husband.

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  gsx1138

  Your husband is somewhat correct. I think it is good for you, however, to be skeptical of religion. If you choose to go to a church or whatever made by an organized religion you must always accept what they have to teach. All of the three main religions have the I'm right your wrong attitude thus they put themselves on a higher soapbox than everyone else much like the WTS. I really wish I had the link but I had found series of questions used by some law enforcement to determine if something is a cult and whether it is dangerous or not. Determination was based on a sliding scale from 1% to 100%. I used the WTS in the questionaire based on their doctrines and they scored a 90%. Most secular religions rate at 50%.

  My biggest scientific research has culminated into Julian's theory of religous church going and stuff....

  If it doesn't feel right to you then don't do it. Most of us long time JW have internal BS sensors mine looks like this...

  Your husband may not have this meter and is just going to church because of tradition and not to help his spirituality. Ok, now I'm just rambling but I hope that helped a little bit.

  gsx1138
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  31

  Straw that broke the Camels Back

  by Perfection Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, whats the straw that broke the camels back in your life?

  what was the final last straw that made you say thats it- no more?

  i have so many-for 15 years i kept getting that last straw-and trying to ignore it- but i think the last straw was when my dad died- everyone kept (keeps) giving me the line of bs about never seeing him again unless i go to meetings.

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  gsx1138

  Lots of little straws for me.

  There were things happening with me that the Elders couldn't explain. I would give hypothetical situations to them and their stock answer was always "demons, demons and demons" Apparently, if something in the realm of supernatural isn't ok'd with the WTS then it's demons. Needless to say I always thought anything unexplainable was evil.

  I got verbally warned for hugging my regular pioneer girlfriend in front of everyone. Needless to say that was the first time I ever swore in the KH loud enough for everyone to hear.

  I was listening to a talk about how to convert Hindu's because they had respect for other peoples beliefs. This one really hit me hard, so hard in fact I had to leave the hall to get some air. This would be my epiphany point.

  Seeing everyone else doing all the things I wasn't supposed to do and they got away with it all the time.

  At the end of my DF meeting (I forgot to add this in my story) they asked me if I was going to have sex with my girlfriend again.

  I told them that, "If I didn't have to be here I'd probably be doing her right now."

  Not too much repentence on my part.

  You are my new hero Spider. Sometimes enough is enough. I'm glad to hear about your dad also.

  gsx1138
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  2

  Skeptics annotated bible

  by gravedancer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  .

  http://skepticsannotatedbible.com/

  check it out.... "...if so little of the bible is actually used, then why isn't the rest deleted".

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  gsx1138

  So what do you really think about the Bible Incense? Heh, even though I think the Bible is a load of crap as well I do think there are some good things to take from it. Of course most of the good stuff gets clouded over by Dogma. One thing that really irritates me in this country is the acceptance of the Bible as fact. I was watching MSNBC the other day and they were talking about some stuff in the Bible as if it was fact (like an auto manual or something). I notice this also with programs on discovery were they refer to Egyptian mythology but have programs on the Bible and never refer to it as Christian mythology.

  gsx1138
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  7

  Americans take a poll/Pledge of Allegiance

  by Wendy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hey all.

  i have been pretty busy this past week, and have not kept up with all the topics here.

  i wanted to see what americans or others feel about the new ruling on the pledge of allegiance being illegal in schools.

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  gsx1138

  Sorry Wendy but you missed it. Most everyone is sick of the subject now and the last few threads discussing the pledge turned into mini flame wars. We'll all have to agree to disagree.

  gsx1138
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  46

  Disco Sucks!

  by professor in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does anyone remember how the society joined the "disco sucks" movement of the late 70's?

  i remember reading in the mags about how disco was created by homos and that it has an "immoral beat" (whatever that means!

  ) it was also mentioned not to go see "saturday night fever" because someone gets a blowjob in the movie.. in our congregation, we had a special meeting about disco because people would request disco songs at our once-a-month jw skating party at the local skating rink.

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  gsx1138

  I was born in 1969 as well. I missed most of the disco thing but was born in time for the butt rock hair metal thing. This is one thing I'll have to agree with the WTS on, disco does indeed suck. Too bad to as my wife loves the stuff.

  gsx1138
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  6

  My First JW Wife

  by Undecided in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  yesterday was the aniversary of my first marriage.

  we were divorced 27 years ago, no children.

  it was a good marriage untill the last few months.

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  gsx1138

  Did she get reinstated? The thing I noticed about most JW marriages is that they aren't exactly happy affairs. Most everything done in the JW is on the surface. What ever was bothering her she obviously thought it was not her place to discuss it with you. With the whole submissive wife thing it only makes matters worse. Even if you had a great marriage I'm sure she felt psychological pressure to not discuss certain things with you despite how bad she may have wanted. According to my mother, divorce is almost commonplace now in the KH.

  gsx1138
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  109

  Does being called an 'apostate' upset you?

  by wholewheat in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do all of you ex-jehovah's witnesses get upset when you are called an apostate?

  you all call each other apostates, so why should you all get upset if i call you apostates?

  if you don't like being called 'apostate', what title would you prefer?

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  gsx1138

  I'll echo the rest of the sentiment. If an ex-JW calls me an apostate I can laugh at it and we both understand the absurdity of the term. When a JW says it I still laugh but I really feel sorry for them because they have no hold on reality.

  gsx1138