I converted from JWs to UU/Buddhism a few years ago and have never been happier. No, I'm not a JW anymore, if I ever was. I kind of stunk at it when I was one, I was brought into it young and never did agree with some of the dogma or teachings, and was constantly trying to study so I could figure out if they made any sense at all.
Finally I gave up and decided the reason I couldn't figure them it is because they made no sense. In fact, most religious dogma makes no sense, it's based on the psychological needs of humans to invent mythologies for things they don't understand, like death, the reason we're here, and all the big questions.
You know why we're here? To live, that's why and hopefully by our presence leave the world a better place than a worse one. People make these things much harder than they need to be with something called "religion".
mindmelda
JoinedPosts by mindmelda
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236
Any actual Witnesses here?
by trthskr ini found this site hoping to read topics submitted by jw's so i could learn more, but it just seems to be everyone else here except them.
just about every topic and member is just bashing jw's and their teachings.
this site should be renamed "jwbashertrolls.net".
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mindmelda
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57
The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses
by AllTimeJeff inon internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.
esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .
lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.
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mindmelda
I agree giving up on spirituality because one isn't a JW anymore is definitely throwing out the baby with the bathwater. But, atheists often possess a version of spirituality. Mindfulness, which many of them practice, is defined by many scholars of philosophy and divinity form of spirituality, whether people know it or not. It's caring for oneself and for humanitarian interests. You don't have to believe in god to be spiritual, or at least not the kind of spirituality I feel is innate and useful.
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The Real Issues Facing former Jehovah's Witnesses
by AllTimeJeff inon internet forums such as these, it is to be expected that there will be people who want to save jw's.
esp from (thinking for) themselves.. however, the real dillema's facing an ex jw who leaves, whether on their own terms or being disfellowshipped are real and haven't changed.. .
lonliness, how to make friends, is a big issue.. fear, esp fear based on superstition, a fear of god and of the future that is not in any way based in proveable fact.. education, how to think and reason critically to avoid being taken advantage of is a big challenge.. love, sex, and how to navigate your way around all of that hot mess.. geez, yeah, forgot.
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mindmelda
Even though I gave up a lot to leave JWs...I have gained so much more. Freedom...I never knew what it was. It sure wasn't what they told me it was.
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Watchtower on women shopping for shoes
by Marvin Shilmer inwatchtower on women shopping for shoes.
most folks are unaware watchtower has published an essay on women shopping for shoes.
today my blog exposes this wretched piece of publishing!
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mindmelda
The most extreme form of blaming women for being the cause of men's sexual arousal is seen in cultures where a woman must cover everything except her eyes outside of the home for fear a man aside from her husband or immediate family see her and be aroused. Women are by tradition seductresses who are responsible for defiling men and bringing down all mankind by misleading men, a common theme to not only Judeo Christian religion, but in a few others...Pandora's box is a re-telling of the same tale.
Religions who insist women appear "modest" IE dowdy and sexually unappealing and who even criticize a woman who is naturally beautiful even without artifice as "vain" are simply telling us, as brought out, that we're uncontrolled subhumans who need men to regulate us.
The real source of this is male possessiveness, which is not only cultural, but perhaps somewhat instinctive so a man can make sure he's not raising some other man's child. (That's one theory, anyway.) But, religion institutionalizes it and justifies it, and makes females responsible for male sexual impulse and lack of control, even to the point of rape.
So, anything that smacks of that makes me tired. Men can keep it in their pants, not mistreat women, and be fair to women if it's insisted upon by the culture, education and by law, which is demonstrable when that's done.
One of the great things about not being a JW anymore is wearing what I like and not being worried about what anyone thinks but me and not judging others by their hair and clothes.
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could your son be gay???
by searchfothetruth inhow would you react if doctors come up with a test that could determine if your son would turn out to be gay when he grows up?
how would you react?
i personally, having two young sons myself, would not want to know.
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mindmelda
I know my 18 year old son isn't. Caught him on the internet the other day Googling "big Boobs". LOL But I have a nephew who is gay and totally shunned by my JW brother and my parents because of it. Damn shame, that.
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religion only to do with belief?
by Curtains inas jehovahs witnesses we were taught that the truth (belief) unifies every aspect of our lives and is of paramount importance.
are other like religions like this also?
do they emphasize belief to the same extent?.
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mindmelda
Depends on the person. Some join a religion for the socializing, some for being involved in charity and community. Some out of belief and some out of tradition, family expectation, social pressure...probably more I haven't thought of.
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Watchtower on women shopping for shoes
by Marvin Shilmer inwatchtower on women shopping for shoes.
most folks are unaware watchtower has published an essay on women shopping for shoes.
today my blog exposes this wretched piece of publishing!
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mindmelda
They always told you how to dress, down to your shoes and underwear. If they want to make some extra bucks, they should open a clothing line for women called "Dowdies".
I don't wear heels myself, but only because I have terrible arthritis in my feet and ankles now, plus fibromyalgia and ow. But another nit picky gulp down a camel strain down a gnat article. Good to know that they're still printing the same bullsh*t as ever. I haven't read those rags in years. So many better things to read.
Sexyiness is a form of feminine power, one they're scared silly of. God forbid a brother get a little aroused and have to deal with it if you show some cleavage or a bit of leg and wear some sexy shoes.
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Why Some Cannot "See" that the Bible is NOT the Word of God
by AGuest into the household of god, israel, and those who go with... may you all have peace.
some of you may have recently observed some discussions regarding what... or rather, who... the word of god is, truly.
in those and other threads, some participants weren't able to grasp the difference between discussion vs. contention... and defending their own faith... and love of god and christ... vs. ramming their [mis]assumptions as to the "vengeance of god"... down others' throats.
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mindmelda
Aside from "Too Long, Didn't Read" I have come to the conclusion with much thought and extensive study that many people of faith read and write with spiritual inspiration. To believe that God only speaks to one group of people is to ignore that many peoples of the past felt they were spoken to by God or the gods and acted accordingly.
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A simple way to tell God probably doesn't exist
by poor places inwhen's the last time you prayed to god?
did he respond?
i prayed to him for years and years and received no response.
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mindmelda
Strangely I do feel I get supernatural assistance on occasion now, but not when I was a JW. It's impossible to prove, but I have had many things happen to me that are positive with uncannily good timing.
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Is it ethical to make rich pay more taxes?
by Lore ini'm having trouble getting behind the idea of making rich people pay more taxes just because they have more.. aside from the obvious: "i'm not rich so lets tax them instead of me.
" the three reasons i hear most often are:.
1: they may have "earned" their wealth but they don't deserve it!.
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mindmelda
Individually, the rich in USA pay quite a bit, more than the middle class, but not as much as most Europeans who get many more social accomodations from their governments in the way of schools, healthcare, vacations, housing, etc. Large corporations, on the other hand, get more tax breaks than you can even imagine and hire hundreds of accountants to find them. Not something that even individually wealthy persons have access to. Economic classism is a problem in America, I think. It causes resentments and will continue to, and that's justified. Democracy demands a certain equality but wealth can buy you more justice and "pursuit of happiness" and so...who benefits more from living in a democracy that doesn't have a dollop of socialism added? The wealthiest, of course. In a purely capitalistic system, only a few can be wealthy, and most will be poor or lower middle class, and the middle class eventually becomes poorer as the rich get richer. Then it will truly become the burden of the wealthiest to hold up the system. If they think it's bad now, wait until there are too many too poor to contribute to the system. We call that "A third world country".