Ha ha. Did ya notice Outlaw, true to ex jw form, that it isn't even Thanksgiving? It's Easter. I just noticed while I was out as it was brought to my attention..lol
lurk3r
JoinedPosts by lurk3r
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When you get your ass back here from Thanksgiving.
by lurk3r ini notice the board is running kind of "slow" today.
it must be cause you were out eating some turkey; turkey.
orrrr, you live in usa and have a life!.
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When you get your ass back here from Thanksgiving.
by lurk3r ini notice the board is running kind of "slow" today.
it must be cause you were out eating some turkey; turkey.
orrrr, you live in usa and have a life!.
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lurk3r
I notice the board is running kind of "slow" today. It must be cause you were out eating some turkey; Turkey. Orrrr, you live in USA and have a life!
With all the questions I have been asking, I just wanted to take my "daily thread" and implore you to accept my Thanks. I had a slow week, and was able to spend a lot of time here. I'm a newb and realize that just like "real life" it takes time to
form relationships, here on this board. For the ones I have engaged in conversation with, Thanks so very much for taking the time. Taking the time, and spending your thread counts; enabling me to get to know myself better, and getting to know
you. Leaving the JW mentality has been a long road for me. I hung on inside my head for many many years. I'm finally letting go, properly. I have felt so GOOD for a while now, and I KNOW it's because I have some RAM free'd up in this
head of mine, and it's nice being able to think more clearly about many things. In turn I can actually get out how I feel! In turn I can appreciate my life a little bit more. How liberating it is to ask and know that I don't have to accept anything I don't
feel right about. That i can actually FORM and opinion for myself of what I believe or what I choose not to. It really impresses in me howimportant it is to be concious in this unconcious world. I'm not there, but i sense it's coming.
This note isn't addressed to anyone, because you know who you are already. If you don't, I really hope we form a connection along the way if it both works for us.
much love,
lrkr
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No emotional highs/lows in jw lives
by rebel8 inif you've taken sociology 101 or read sociology books, you've seen discussions of the functions holidays serve.
without consulting my textbooks, here are a few of them.
honor important eventsreaffirm cultural, social, or familial tiesrestexperience joyin essence---enjoy life and have strong ties to the community and family!.
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lurk3r
Hmmm. Rebel, I hear what your saying. I have wondered many times, if my family was a "normal" family, would we have been closer? All the holidays that JW do not partake in, usually involve family, and in line with what you bring out, those
holidays often bond families. Often, not always.Christmas and Thanksgiving for example, birthdays too. Even beyond that, if your being a "proper christian family", you dedicate that much more time to bible study, prestudy etc, and really do limit the strength of a
proper bond between members of the family in one way or another. Perhaps I am being extreme, but for myself there is something to that line of thought, I just haven't reached a conclusion yet.
With regards your observation on emotional highs and lows. Once again, what your saying is very true, but isn't depression a "low?" Just reflecting on your post for mere minutes makes me come to a realization of myself, and perhaps others may
or may not relate. I ALWAYS had highs and lows. Mostly lows mind you, but some highs. The sick part about it is they were ALL within the box of the JW mentality. Highs - my first talk. My first door on FS. Actually being able to form words at a
young age and sing at the KH. Standing up for my beliefs, or having someone acknowledge my belief and UNDERSTAND where I was coming from with regards my "isolated" behavior from wordlings. The rush of walking down the aisle to go and
get baptized at the assembly. Feelings of euphoria as i stood shoulder to shoulder with 15,000 people in one place, united. Knowing i had the truth and was going to live FOREVER! I could go on and ON.
Outside of the "truth" and the comfort zone was a nightmare.
Having to stand in the hall at school during the Lords Prayer. Being made to feel like Jesus himself, the way I had to "stand up" for something, only I didn't have a clue about it.. Fuck me running, I even took my Book of Bible Stories to school and
"preached" to my grade 3 teacher. WTF?! This list, I don't know if Simon has enough server space to fit it all in even, but it would be looong. No wonder we feel "different" than the world. Even worse, that's the feeling your SUPPOSED to have as
Witness. Dammit, i'll say it. WITLESS! (praise be Wizard) . I remember an elder in my hall. I was 13 at the time. We were out on FS and there was a High School jock that I knew (I was such a loser) that answered the door. I nearly shit my
pants. Wellll, as kind hearted as this elder was, he was a real work of art let me tell ya. This...this upstanding Brother see's the opportunity to make me a fucking martyr. As good as his intentions were, and note, I'm not blaming him, cause he is
blind to the "truth". Anyways, I don't think he even cracked the magazines out. Elder anyone starts talking about the bible to this jock, like he gives a shit! Elder anyone then instructs me to open to a Scripture and READ IT, OUT LOUD ,right to
said jocks FACE! Shit on me! Gym was shit the following Monday as this jock comes up and says "Hey, lurk3r, read me passage 18"...in this really condescending, jockish tone. Of course, I wilted. The hall sure was the place to be
back then. Wow.
Sorry. Anyways, I think there ARE highs and lows, their just the wrong kind.
lurk3r
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I wish I was Stronger
by apocryphal22 inbut im not.
i have lost everything.. i am a third generation jw on both sides of my family.
all of my family is in full time service, pioneers, elders, cos, international construction, anointed and gb.
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lurk3r
How in the hell did you know I sent her a PM Cameo?
lurk3r
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lurk3r
Nark - Y My education, and limited way of "thinking", puts me at a loss to properly "understand" contextual errors at present. With that, I pose a question. wtf? The 1 Corinthians quote you have going
on, I can see where your coming from. From reading your bio, I see you worked in the translating dept at the Borg and that was the "beginning of the end for ya". In your above post, you point to an error in the rendering of the NWT. Working
there, when you DID notice a discrepency, what was the procedure that would follow? Who ultimately made the final call and on what basis? Was partiality shown to those who were more "in subjection" to the ones making the final call? Surely
disputes would arise. Did it ever get heated? Since the 50's, when the NWT was introduced, there has had to be a "turnover rate" of translators. Are the new brothers brought into such area's of importance "coached" with regards behaviour and
"different 'conditioning' ?" Is it just the same carryover as the "Kingdom Hall 'conditioning' "? Did you personally talk with the GB about things, or were the considered to "sacred" for laymen? GOD IT FEELS GOOD TO ASK!!! Better yet, to ASK and
have someone who KNOWS things like this!
Narkissos - I can't thank you enough for this opportunity to glean more.
Pee.Ess. If you have talked about all this before, just point me to it.
lurk3r
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I wish I was Stronger
by apocryphal22 inbut im not.
i have lost everything.. i am a third generation jw on both sides of my family.
all of my family is in full time service, pioneers, elders, cos, international construction, anointed and gb.
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lurk3r
Apocrophyl.
My heart goes out to you and your current state.I too am part of a 3rd Generation jw upbringing, full of "spiritually stong" family, INCLUDING a member of the annointed!
I understand VERY well the page you are currently on in your book of life, yet to be written. Hold in there. How long did you view this website before you joined? You joined for a reason Apocrophyl, so please follow the course of your
heart out, and stay here for a little bit. I am the same age as you, and know EXACTLY what you mean when you say, "I'm too old to start over." Whether or not you realize it just yet, you ALREADY have! Your family; all of them, love you. Your
family; all of them, want whats best for you. What your family DOESN'T know, is what actually IS best for you. The ONLY person that knows that, is you Apoc. You have just started to gain your
independence for the first time in your life. It sounds like a tough situation your in, your WHOLE family seems to know exactly where they fit in, and your not sure. Weather the storm Apoc, the sun IS going to come up. Take heart, that I
once said those exact same words to myself, "I am too old to start over". So many people's stories here, are SO ecouraging...but you have to take a little bit of time for yourself first.
Can we chat Apocrophyl? If not here on the board, email or PM? When I first started viewing this board, the kind hearted people here were suggesing the many ways for me to get better. Go to school, get a new job etc...get out and ENJOY life!
All the advice given is VERY true, but I had to overcome some of my fears BEFORE I could even THINK about such things. Everyones situation is different, and as a result I think some thing are easier to do for some than others.
I can relate to your situation, and wish you all the best Apocrophyl. As much as you feel so very alone, your not as alone as you might think you are. Better days are ahead, one way or another. One day in the future, your going to be "looking back" on this very moment. WHATEVER you decide, you are going to be of an IMMENSE help to others.
lurk3r
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Souls Under the Altar
by cameo-d inhow long do you think it will be until there is a tipping point, when the majority of the population realizes the scam of religions?.
do you think there is a plan in place to try to stop this from happening?.
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lurk3r
With the many thoughts available to us on a given day, I think we are still "confined". While I am still understanding many things, I do believe freedom is an illusion of sorts. Take for example, the "American Dream". This "dream", is nothing more
than a goal. The masses pursue it, because this is what they are shown. The thing is, we only get what we are given. Beyond what we are given or shown, what more can we seek?
A good friend and open thinker went for a meal today. We had a great chat, and have discussed many things about the world and whats in it. She is not religious, and it is refreshing to speak to her about things and hear how she sees them. Lately
we have beentalking about "global oneness", and the pursuit in which the western world is giving this. Eckhart Tolle's book, The Power of Now is one book that has come up in conversation between us. I like it, but am suspicious of it's intentions.
She loves it, as it "wakes people up" and exposes religion for what it is by using your own mind and "thinking for yourself". I agree, but there has to be more to it. Call me paranoid, but nothing is what it seems, and this site is evidence of that.
We are on the brink of a "New World". It remains to be seen. One can only speculate on the future, and what it holds. Since it has been thousands of years since Jesus was here, I'm going with history in saying that it could be much longer than
one would prefer that he returns. In the meantime, were on our own in one way or another.
Technology is key I believe ,to the world we live in today. Nasa and the military are the ones who hold this key. Current technology that we make use of...is old. Stealth jets that crash have manafacturing dates on them, and unless these number
are intentionally manipulated, THEY are old. Some of these jets that crash, have dates on them that go back to the 80's. Technology increases exponentially, and i really think it impossible to even concieve what actually IS possible, considering
what we are SHOWN. Make sense at all?
In the pew, or out, could be one and the same. possibly? Either way, the higher ups are still going to have the control, because they have the knowledge, because they can see.
your thoughts?
lrkr
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My thoughts on the memorial.....yea I did go
by Soledad init was dull.
i could have sworn that i heard the same talk 20 years ago.
witnesses look tired, bored, lifeless.
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lurk3r
hellooooo Soledad.
I don't know of you carry youself with as much grace as you write, but if you do, your extremely attractive. You summed up my experience of going last night, saving me a lot of typing. Thank you.
The sense of urgency is gone
From the looks on the member's faces, they are obviously in denial, or mentally re-writing JW history.
To echo Amazing's tune, that was spot on indeed.
I went to the Memorial last night too. I made MANY of the observations tht you yourself made. For the very first time in my life, I went to the memorial, to LISTEN. I figuratively shook my head in disbelief with the way it all went down. It was unsettling to see the lack of sincerity that so many unconciously displayed. The brother who took the wine glass from my hands, seemed like a really nice guy. I felt sorry for him when I passed the wine (i was sitting on the end) to him and he whispered "right on" and went to the next row. The sacredness was lost to him. I too made a point of looking up the 1 scripture mentioned, and inside myself I wanted to blurt out "Prove to me this is what it means!" ...When the bread went by, for the first time in my life I conciously thought " Could it really be true, that by NOT partaking and just " passing it on" Im actually REJECTING him?Ugh.
I came to many realizations about myself this night though, and for that I am extremely gratefull. The sisters did look nothing short of fantastic.In fact, fantastic is an understatement, they were downright beautiful. From infancy I grew up around those fine looking sisters, 3+ times a week, NO WONDER I was such a horndog. Growing up as a teenager, the younger girls in my hall, and i imagine EVERY hall, pushed the limits on revealing clothing...The Society always discouraged it, but it was never for the young ones and the lasting impressions it would leave on the 5 year olds... I JUST realized it last night, I wonder if it ever even crossed the mind of a GB member before.
My procrastinatory ways seemed to manifest themselves, in the same way as having to get ready for the meeting growing up. Just like every other meeting night, 6 oclock rolled around and I came to the realization that I had to get ready soon. Apathy overtook me like I was driving in the slow lane. 6:00, 6:15, 6:30...tick tock tick tock, "You have to get ready". The memory of my Moms voice cut through me like Gordon Ramseys chef knife, "Kids, time to get ready!". The same thoughts that had swirled around my head for DECADES, "I really don't want to do this" returned.
While I discount the WT, i have yet to fully discount JC, and THAT is the only reason i went. Respect given for the very first time in my life. Next year, perhaps i will demonsttrate more and take another step in the right direction.
The sense of urgency IS gone. Thanks so much for that. You put words to a feeling I have felt for a very very long time.
kind regards, lrkr
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Why is Jesus kept side stage ?
by iknowall558 injohn 5 :39 ' 40 "you study the scriptures, because you think that in them you will find eternal life.
and these very scriptures speak about me!
yet you are not willing to come to me in order to have life.
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lurk3r
sorry to rant on your thread Iknowall....no disrespect intended. Guess this could be considered hijacking. Truth be known I couldnt hold it anymore, and already used my Topic thread.
lrkr
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lurk3r
My original thoughts in posting this title, were to get opinions on whether the "spirit" talk was literal or not. Homerovah, I talked to an elder a long long time ago about this particular scripture, his interpretation was literal. Among the things he said was "there are spirits watching you...". For the record, he was a fine brother, and not an overbearing dictator. Through personal experience, his words have always stuck out in my mind...and I wondered if what he said was a JW thing or not. Where IS that dear Leo?
Amazing- thank you for bringing the Catholic view to my attention. It seems all religions like to claim scripture for themselves. I hope you can answer Blondie's question if ya get back here...
When i first read this scripture, years ago in the NWT, it was the "inspired expression" that raised an eyebrow. Looking in another bible to quench my curiousity left me even thirstier, as now that word was SPIRIT! whoa.
Sylvia, if I may, your reference,is the first time I ever seen it literally put to "everyone"...big difference in context. How did you come to refer to the bible you use?
Nark - I never knew there were no "chapter breaks" till your post. Thank you kindly. Thats really interesting too...who made the call on that one? Your post was very detailed and I could understand it still...thanks for articulating, and what your saying makes sense to me.
The NIV draws distinction in the "spirits" too. vs 2 gives a big "s". (holy spirit I presume) "This is how you can recognize the "Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowleges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God..." If we are going refer to the "spirit" as purely verbal expressions, then this doesn't make sense to me. There are too many people out there that acknowledge JC, that are "ungodly" and clearly cannot be from God. Does that make sense as a no brainer? At least with this translation?
Another reason that would think that these "spirits" mentioned in 1-4 are literal and not just "verbal expressions" , is because the wording in vs 4-6 is quite distinct from 1-3 and talks about "speaking" and "viewpoints" of the world. That sounds more like a verbal expression to me... I do not wish to lean on my own understanding though, anyone else care to elaborate or clarify further?
Thanks for this discussion peoples, it means a lot to me. Really.
lrkr