Posts by Introspection

14

Reading Recommendations

by Kristen in

i'm a bookworm and would love to hear some of your recommendations.. besides the traditional coc, in search of christian freedom, etc.

books that help facilitate one's journey out, please feel free to share the titles you found helpful to your own growth after leaving the organization.. thanks a bunch!

Well Kristen there's a thread in the main forum where people gave their "top 10" list so you might want to look for that. Personally I would recommend the Tao Teh Ching, the translation I have is by a John C. H. Wu published by Shambhala, though there are other good versions I'm sure. Just don't get Stephen Mitchell's, and look to see if it's a literal rendering - Chinese is a completely different language. This thing is very short (you can easily read the whole thing in one sitting) but you can get a lot out of it if you stop and think about it a bit. It's not religious per se but a philosophical work, religious Taoism is quite different. If you check it out let me know what you think.

By the way, I'm glad you asked about something to help your growth after leaving the organization as opposed to helping you break free. No doubt most will have a bit of JW thinking pattern left, but I think one of the most effective things you can do is to stretch your mind in order to go beyond that pattern.

33

The difference between a JW and an IDIOT

by Focus in

jw
friends

.

Introspection

Well, first of all I think it's important to distinguish that these two groups are not mutually exclusive. In any case, it is a matter of thinking ability, the information itself is something else.

Now, having said that, I think the difference between a JW and a pure fool (if there is such a thing) is that the latter will not question what they believe. That to me is the hallmark of a pure fool, and it can be a JW or non-JW. We all remember the scripture that says there is more hope for the stupid one than one wise in his own eyes.

"To recognize our knowledge as ignorance, this is a noble insight. To regard our ignorance as knowledge, this is mental sickness." -Some old fellow

14

Reading Recommendations

by Kristen in

i'm a bookworm and would love to hear some of your recommendations.. besides the traditional coc, in search of christian freedom, etc.

books that help facilitate one's journey out, please feel free to share the titles you found helpful to your own growth after leaving the organization.. thanks a bunch!

Introspection

I think this really depends on the individual.. Everyone is different, even those who are just leaving the WTS. I personally like short stuff that makes you think a lot, but that may not be for everyone. Some lean toward science, for others an investigation of other religions (some are arguably more a school of philosophy than a religion) may be what's needed. Can you tell us a little bit about your taste in reading material Kristen?

15

I hate death!

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i just recieved an email about the death of one of my friends that i sail my r/c boat with.

that is the fifth one of my sailing friends that have died in the last 5 years.

in the last 4 years my wife's mother and father died, her brother-in-law, nephew, my aunt, my son's close friend, his wife's grandad, and it goes on and on.

Introspection

Ken, I'm sorry to hear of your loss. When I was in my teens my best friend died in a car accident, and I didn't have too many friends at the time. Even though I had the belief in the resurrection it still hurt. It's only natural to feel grief.

All I know is, when I die I hope those who know me will celebrate my life instead of mourning loss. You don't have to have any religious beliefs to see that our loved ones live on in our memories, our lives are enriched by the time we have spent with them, having known them. So that's how I look at it, that they can live on through us if we honor the good times we've had, what we've personally gained from them.

31

I want to know more about you. REALLY!

by jst2laws in

jw
friends

i so desire to know more about the people i am listening to, and occasionally talking to.

aol has profiles.

some other web sites have them.

Introspection

That's a pretty good idea, though not everyone has AOL. Yahoo has them too, and you can also use one of those instant messenger programs. It seems to me real time chat also gives you a better idea of what the person is like.

2

Loving-kindness meditation

by Introspection in

this is a version of metta (loving-kindness) meditation by phillip moffet, a teacher of insight meditation.

you're supposed to say it to yourself first (using the word i instead of you) then direct to loved ones, and eventually to difficult persons.

may you be safe from internal and external harm.. may you have a calm, clear mind and a peaceful, loving heart.. may you be physically strong, healthy and vital.. may you experience love, joy, wonder and wisdom.

Introspection

This is a version of metta (loving-kindness) meditation by Phillip Moffet, a teacher of insight meditation. You're supposed to say it to yourself first (using the word I instead of you) then direct to loved ones, and eventually to difficult persons.

May you be safe from internal and external harm.

May you have a calm, clear mind and a peaceful, loving heart.

May you be physically strong, healthy and vital.

May you experience love, joy, wonder and wisdom

In this life, just as it is.

5

The Old Faith VS Works Debate

by metatron in

jw
friends

this subject has been debated endlessly by witnesses confronting.

fundamentalists quote texts about salvation.

by faith and witnesses counter with james' statements about.

Introspection

Tastes great, less filling.

I think Larc pretty much summed it up, the works flows naturally. I think the problem comes in when people think in terms of earning salvation, earning the love of others whether they realize it or not. "Lord, lord, did we not put in many field service hours in your name, conduct bible studies in your name, and disfellowship many basically good hearted people in your name?" So I agree with you Metatron, in a way the faith of those born-again's is more genuine, because ultimately love has to be the motivation.

3

Sacrifice / Death

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

perhaps the whole root of our trouble, the human trouble, is that we will sacrifice all the beauty of our lives, will imprison ourselves in totems, taboos, crosses, blood sacrifices, steeples, mosques, races, armies, flags, nations, in order to deny the fact of death, which is the only fact we have.

Introspection

Jim, to me that is the definition of idolatry. It is a type of fixation you might say, your energy becomes stagnant in those patterns instead of flowing freely, instead of living life. For that matter, I don't think too much about death either, but I'm ready if it comes.

6

Was Our Faith Tested?

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

i have been having long conversations with my brother in-law who is the only one that will talk to me about the non-truth.. he claims that my attacks on the society in reference to there false prophecy is nothing more then a test on our faith and that the fact that jw's are the only ones that don't teach the immortality of the soul makes them the only true relegion.. how would any of you respond to the the test of our faith response?

Introspection

Doesn't the bible say by their fruits you will recognize them? It doesn't say by their faith or their teachings. Unfortunately, those who are still in the organization will probably have a hard time seeing that, but that's about as basic as you can get. My approach would always be back to the basics. What does the fact that so many get disfellowshipped or otherwise leave the organization tell you? If a person can't see the lack of love in the organization as a whole, then proving the other stuff to them isn't worth a whole lot as far as I'm concerned.

28

Amateur Counselors & Nice "Wicked&quot...

by patio34 in

two observations since leaving the jws:.

1. are the elders really 'teachers'?

in the public talk they have to follow the outline provided by the wt.

Introspection

Larc, I definitely hear what you're saying about the elders. Of course, often they lack education too, not to mention the very twisted mindsets of those in the organization, and the organization itself! One of the therapists I worked with was a witness at the time, and atleast she knew enough to speak up. If she hasn't left yet, atleast there's a force for good inside the congregation..