I just read this thread, Mary.
I am so sorry for the loss you and your family is experiencing.
May you find comfort and peace.
-Trebor
this is one post i had always hoped i would never have to do, but after a long and brave battle, my beloved brother in law has died.
i have done a couple of threads on this in the past, so many of you know the battles he was facing.
he had been diagnosed earlier this year with myelodysplastic syndrome and the mortality rate of this disease is quite high.
I just read this thread, Mary.
I am so sorry for the loss you and your family is experiencing.
May you find comfort and peace.
-Trebor
for the record, i don't believe in the god of the bible, and i find it hard to believe in the god of any religion on earth.
i am closest to atheist in my beliefs if you want a traditional title, but i prefer "rationalist.
" i will do god's will for me when he directly tells me what it is.
Practically, the same boat as John and Jeff. Good stuff.
-Trebor
i live in a country where this isn't typically a big event, and only in recent years have more started doing the whole 'trick or treat' thing.
however, i have been invited to a halloween party.
i've never participated in it before.. problem is this: i am still scared of my parents, they are a big part of my life, and know most of everything i do.
My wife and I celebrated Halloween - including dressing up - for the first time last year and it was great. We had a blast and even cheered up a department of those that were feeling ill. You want to observe and believe there's more attached to that day, then you can certainly do that with Halloween as well as many other things, including other holidays/observances and items.
We celebrated with our non-JW family as well as neighbors too. We greatly look forward in sharing this with our children (When we have them) including the great memories and fun times had together with friends and family.
This is another wonderful thing and exciting time paving the way for Thanksgiving and Christmas as well. It is truely a joy and blessing to be free of the cult ran by the Watchtower Society.
-Trebor
i pop into jwd/jwn almost everyday.
some posters name i recognise.
some posters i admire and cannot wait to read their comments.
MS for several years...Aux Pio. a few times. Mag Servant/Lit Servant/Attendent/Sound booth/Stage/Mics/Watchtower Reader. Conducted the Book Study on numerous occassions. Circuit Assembly Experience, and of course several public talks.
What a waste of time...All for a cult.
-Trebor
I have a fear of my parents and siblings as well as other relatives and (former) friends remaining as Jehovah's Witnesses. I fear them remaining trapped in the indoctrinated teaching that they are being loyal to God by being loyal to the Watchtower Society. I have a fear of them remaining in the cult mind-set that a few men in Brooklyn can dictate doctrine and change doctrine - making old light new, new light old and back again and they still believing that the organization is backed by God.
I fear the worst for some of my family and friends - Thanks to the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses ran by the Watchtower Society.
-Trebor
for me, i think it was time and the realization of the idiocy of the beliefs and man made doctrines.
i just couldn't ignore it any longer..
The Watchtower Society's publications including their contradictions and the ever changing interpretation of many things, as well as their own version (The New World Translation) of the Bible.
-Trebor
did you 'break the rules' full force?
did you go celebrate a birthday?
buy xmas decorations?
I put a mini-book together along with my wife and sent to our family trying to help them see the religion of Jehovah's Witnesses for what is really, an Organization controlled by the Watchtower Society with cult-like teachings and concepts.
It worked for my in-laws, by my mother and siblings were too indoctrinated and shunned us as instructed by the Watchtower Society. My father somewhat continued to talk to myself and my wife, but now it has been a while.
Both my wife and I continued to research different religions including the bible itself, and for the most part find ourselves to be "cultural Christians" and more agnostic than anything else. You could also classify us as humanist, perhaps even Unitarian in beliefs. I believe there is something greater out there, but not exactly sure what and have come to terms in not having answers to many questions that use to be answered by the Watchtower Society interpretation of things. At this point, we have eased up on the researched and moving on with our lives, realizing no one has the complete "truth".
We have celebrated all the holidays and birthdays and absolutely loved it. We're closer and happier people as a result and have made friends with those whose principals do not include shunning you and viewing you like 'the devil' just because you do not believe in an interpretation as dictated by a few men. We would probably be considered pretty conservative by most, and really have not done anything drastic...Happily married, loyal, and in love with each other still. It's coming close to 9 years now married, and we've known each other for much longer than that. We have been out of the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses for almost 1 1/2 years.
-Trebor
i still can't believe it.
she was here for the bbq, we had an awesome time, laughing, her telling stories from our childhoods.
i gave her a hug and told her i loved her before she left.
Bumble Bee,
I am so sorry for the loss of your sister. Many hugs and well thoughts to hopefully help bring you some comfort.
comments you will not hear at the 09-06-09 wt study (july 15, 2009, pages 3-7)(treasures jesus).
review comments will be in red or headed by comments.
wt material from today's wt will be in black.
Blondie,
Your 'WT Comments' posts are always a highlight for me, and I am absolutely glad you posted last week's - It was missed, dearly!.
Hope you're feeling better, and thank you *so much* for these posts.
-Trebor
we rarely go.
but, we went because hubby wanted to tell the elders we are switching halls.. at first, i thought to myself that i would go out back with her when she gets fussy.
but, my baby doesn't really get fussy a lot so i just took her out back and played with her as she laughed hysterically.
That was the attitude and counsel the entire time I was in...from the 60s through the late 90s...
Please allow me to add that same attitude and "counsel" was in place in the halls I attended (I left the Watchtower Society controlled organization in mid 2008).
The requirements and expectations placed on children and ther parents is both fustrating and unrealistic.
But this is the Watchtower Society were are talking about...No big surprise there.
-Trebor