Well now, my Mom told me that on 9/11, as people staggered over the Brooklyn Bridge, the "Headquarters" folks decided to start giving out cups of coffee. "And they didn't even charge!"
I mean, that's true service to your fellow human...
Posts by Jewel
-
8WTS Controls Who JWs Can Help
by TR inplease correct me if i'm wrong, anyone.. i've noticed, as well as many of you on this forum probably, that jws are more than willing to come here and stick up for their cult, but where is their compassion for those that are grieving?
where is your joy for those that have had a major triumph or 'blessing' in their life?.
are you jws so programmed by the wts that you can't show empathy or sympathy for a fellow human being?
-
-
-
32
So Are All Your Problems Brooklyn's Fault Then?
by Englishman inin another post, jan h said about this site:.
...there is a very angry crowd there, for obviously and understandable reasons, who will accept no dissent regarding their core dogma: that the wts is responsible for all ills and problems in life.
if what he says is correct, then i am very alarmed at this.
-
-
Jewel
I feel much like Simon. My life is in a very good place now, and I can't help but believe that I am the sum of my life to date so I guess I wouldn't want to change much of the past. The WTBTS does cause some ongoing family problems-part of my family is, other part isn't-my husband thinks this makes for particularly interesting family reunions!
I know alot about the Bible which is valuable in a variety of situations-for one thing it helps in being culturally literate.
I have an amazing amount of patience. Recently we went to a parents' night for my son's karate class. The teacher is very sincere, but went on a bit long (understatement!) and got to the point where he was repeating himself. Lots of squirming in the audience. Afterward my husband asked me how I could have been so INTERESTED in what the gentleman was saying after he'd said it three or four times already. I realized I must have slipped into "meeting mode" after 15+ years out! I apparently managed to look transfixed by the message when my mind was someplace else completely.
Persecution (gasp-I hate that word) in school was incredibly painful, but it taught me about being compassionate. I KNOW how it feels to be treated cruelly and to have people make judgements based on religious differences. This has made tolerance, and more important teaching tolerance to my kids, very important to me. The hardest part is teaching tolerance for those in the family that are still Witnesses...
They were VERY much against my marrying my husband-he was--GASP--WORLDLY!! Don't know if that added to my attraction to him, but if it influenced me to marry him anyway, I'm very grateful-it's one of the best decisions I've ever made!
Jewel
-
35
Do you beleive in God, the bible or religion?
by Leander ini'm pretty sure this question has probably been asked before but i'd like to put it out here and see what the responses are.
my doubts about the bible probably began maybe 6 or 7 years ago, they were very small ones however and i managed to supress them for quite a while.
however certain events in my life would make those events resurface.
-
-
Jewel
Do you believe in God, the Bible and religion?
1. Which god? I believe there is a life force in the universe. After years of a vengeful god, it's easier for me to think of this life force as female-still trying to come to terms with the idea of a benevolent masculine force, but balance seems to me requires it.
2. Obviously it exists. It contains a certain amount of poetry and wisdom. I do not believe the Bible is the word of god or divine.
3. Organized religion scares the heck out of me. I've never known an organized anything that humans couldn't corrupt.
-
76
Objectivity and This Site
by Eutapro ini must say that as a neutral scientific observer of this site--it seems that things are kind of one-sided here.
i thought this was a board with both devout jws and ex-jws on it.
on further reflection it appears that this medium of communication should probably be called ex-jw.com.
-
-
Jewel
So would classical conditioning be like when I see certain kinds of bookbags or briefcases I STILL start to feel car sick??? (I was ALWAYS sent out to the rurals...)
Jewel
-
76
Objectivity and This Site
by Eutapro ini must say that as a neutral scientific observer of this site--it seems that things are kind of one-sided here.
i thought this was a board with both devout jws and ex-jws on it.
on further reflection it appears that this medium of communication should probably be called ex-jw.com.
-
-
Jewel
Suppose this counts as a "Return Visit"?
Jewel <Grinning Evilly>
-
27
To my friends, some reflections...........
by JPandelo ini have had a week to reflect on my life and was thinking about what i have seen, what i am going through, and where i am going.
i know many of you here experience unbelievable pain, suffering, anger, depression, and disbelief.
i have lived with these myself.
-
-
Jewel
"A happy life is the best revenge"
I don't remember where I read that, but I think of it often in regards to this issue. When I left the Witnesses, I remember going through stages, sort of like grief-anger, feelings of loss, etc. In the end, the happy life and family that my husband and I have built speaks for itself.
Too much obsessing just means that they're STILL in control of your life. Spend some time thinking about what YOUR principles are-what is your definition of honor and values and try to build a life that reflects that. Look for joy in the little things and let the rest go...
-
12
Brainwash Your Children From Infancy
by DakotaRed infrom the new theocratic ministry school book, page 16, we read:.
training children to listen.
christian parents can help their children--even infants--to become.
-
-
Jewel
Animal crackers in the library??? GASP! You wild thing, you!
I left before I had my babies, but when my Mom would invite me to the Hall, I could picture the nightmare of trying to get my active and inquisitive toddlers/babies to sit still for TWO hours. No thanks-I always passed.
When I was "in", people could give their little ones quiet stuff to play with. Now you're supposed to give a one year old a WT magazine??!!? Another reason to be thankful I'm out...
Jewel
-
13
Bible und Subterfuge
by HildaBingen insubterfuge is not alway lying as we show yesterday.
sometime subterfuge more like cunnning or adroitness.
the bible give example of subterfuge that not lying.
-
-
Jewel
Hey folks, trying to argue logically (or angrily for that matter) is pointless...
Though quoting scripture still makes me feel slightly queasy-though I haven't been to meeting in 15 years-try this one:
Matthew 7:6-Do not give what is holy to dogs, neither throw your pearls before swine, that they meay never trample them under their feet and turn around and rip you open.
Translation-Don't bother, they're making fun of you. Didn't you learn when you were a JW kid in school that answering taunts only encourages the taunters?
Cyber translation-Don't feed Trolls.
-
20
Where Did All the Fun Times Go?
by Amazing inwhere did all the fun times go?
i was looking at the june 1, 1985 watchtower, pg.
29-31 with its legalistic baptism vows, where one recognizes their association with gods spirit-directed organization, when i was struck by the context of the article.. essentially it gives a last minute warning about proper decorum with swim-wear used for baptism a serious and solemn occasion.
-
-
Jewel
My brother (as in the male child of my mother and father <<G>>) says that the motivation of the GB is "sucking every ounce of joy out of life".
I think they have other kinds of fun (juggling prophecies, watching the light get brighter) but joy-sucking must rate up there...
-
25
BEFORE YOU LEFT......
by In_between_days inanother question.. this one is for all those that began doubting the organisation when they were an obedient jw.. although i am sure you rarely shared it with anyone, what was the one problem you had with a certain jw only doctrine?.
what i mean is, what little gremlins lurked at the back of your mind?
what were the doubts that you kept hidden and what made you finally act on them?.
-
-
Jewel
1. The fossil record-as my daughter says when Grandma (who is still "faithful") talks about the 7000 year old earth, "They've got the rocks!!!"
2. The attempt to control what I read/saw/learned about. I was a VERY good Witness girl except where it came to reading. I got in a bit of trouble from time to time about reading science fiction. I remember an elder telling me that I shouldn't have _I, Robot_ in my room because it didn't reflect the future that WE knew was coming. I even remember a talk in the Service Meeting once about how we should not watch Star Trek or go to see Star Wars...not because of immoral content or violence but because...why-I can't even remember!
I remember arguing with my Mom that "Truth" should stand up to evaluation. I still believe that.3. When I went to college (1977-78), I was "marked". I had a very dear friend, we'd been like sisters, who stopped talking to me all together. Then I made some wonderful new friends at college (which is probably what they were afraid of) who seemed to accept me pretty much unconditionally. Coming from the Witness tradition, this was new to me. I kept thinking of the scripture, "By this you will know them, that they love one another." I thought that if love was the real criteria, the Witnesses weren't it.
I said at the time that they'd change their tune here when they realized that they got better contributions from publishers who made more money. It makes me chuckle now when my Mom talks about different Witness kids who are in college.
4. Power corrupts, absolute power corrupts absolutely. I got tired of being harrangued from the podium about how we should NOT question the elders since they were directly anointed and influenced by the Holy Spirit. When some slip-up became public, we'd get talks about how the elders where human and could make mistakes. Seemed like it was not real logical for them to try to have it both ways.
5. Like I posted on another thread, the last straw was when I saw a show about these horrible orphanages in the former Soviet Union. Children were living in misery with no loving care, little food, no hygiene or medical care. I remember thinking that if a human had the power to change the lives of these innocents and refused to do so I would consider him/her to be a monster. Yet I was supposed to accept that it was OK for an almighty and all powerful god to let these babies suffer so he could win a cosmic bet with Satan.
Jewel