Podobear

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Posts by Podobear

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  29

  November 2010 Awake! about "new atheism"

  by processor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what's actually the difference between this .... .

  ... and this picture?.

  why is this marcher evil .... .

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  Podobear

  Come on.... quit the materialism... and look at the beauty for a change! Life came from a Designer and a Creator.. it takes greater faith to be an Atheist! I haven't got the balls!! I'm up for the Designer..... God, if you will

  Podo
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  29

  November 2010 Awake! about "new atheism"

  by processor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what's actually the difference between this .... .

  ... and this picture?.

  why is this marcher evil .... .

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  Podobear

  Thanks for the compliment Startingover! Glad someone else is still high on the beautiful things in life.. Podo
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  17

  dealing with a lack of spirituality

  by man in black in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how do you deal with the thought of god after leaving the wts ?.

  i left two years ago, and i have always had a certain amount or "need" for a spiritual side of my life.. growing up catholic was good, when my parents became jw's suddenly everything/religion that was not bound together with the.

  wt society and their teachings was completley wrong.. so now that i have left, i have a hard time trying to understand different religions.

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  Podobear

  Why do you have to "deal with it" man-in-black? Because you are "Spiritual", does not mean that you have to be relgious.

  I have just had two days away staying with friends by the side of the River Thames, just down river from the Reading Festival. I guess all the alterntive music and the partying took us back a few years, when we were young, idealistic and wanted to solve the worlds problem.

  The twelve year old son became the focus of attention and the conversation soon slipped into animated but frank discussion about Relgion and Spirituality. The couple had only been together for 3 months, and a lot emerged from the Conversation. The Latin lover was raised Catholic, converted to Full Gospel Protestantism and for the last 7 years had become a Messianic Jew and latterly joined a liberal Synagogue. The Father of the child had been raised by Hell raising preachers of the The Church of Ireland, was sickened by religious hypocricy and is now a confirmed "Atheist", not wanting his son to be indoctrinated with religion.

  The conversation cooled when I said I no longer believed in a God .. but I did believe in a Creator. I am an eternal romantic, and believe it takes greater faith to be an Atheist than to believe in Design and a Designer and Purpose.

  Why does faith in an Almighty Creator, need to be attached to a religious label?

  I am closer to my maker now than I have ever been.. because I am true to my inner self.

  Hope that is thought for meditation. All the best.

  Podo
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  29

  November 2010 Awake! about "new atheism"

  by processor in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  what's actually the difference between this .... .

  ... and this picture?.

  why is this marcher evil .... .

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  Podobear

  It takes greater faith to be a true Atheist.. my simple mind thinks there is too much beauty in this world for their not to be a Creator/Designer. My hat off to them, I say.

  Podo
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  194

  Bethel Rules

  by brotherdan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  this was brought up just in passing on another thread.

  but i wanted to see if there are any bethelites or ex bethelites that remember some of the crazy rules we had to follow when we were there..

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  Podobear

  From personal recollection:

  Private Bible Study groups after Monday night family WT study were heavily frowned upon.

  No social events at the Kingdom Hall.. but it was OK to hold the Annual Family Night there.. because the Corporation owned it, not the local congregation.

  Excessive (alcolhol) drinking was kept hush, hush if you were a member of the management.

  It was OK to hold a gun on site because the owner was a private detective (and happened to be the son of a multi millionaire).. but you were scoffed at if you wore clothing from the paupers bin.

  One humble and faithful sister happened to be the spurned wife of a (now reinstated) ex-district overseer, had to source clothing from that bin.. whilst her husband, lived in luxury with his new partner.. supplied the alcohol to the management.. forced the Bethel delivery truck many miles off route to your home because it was too tiresome to collect the congregation literature from some central Kingdom Hall, and was the author of questionable business practices, nationwide. This included low-paid employment of pioneers for a well known cosmetics company. Seems he learnt a lot about using unpaid/low paid labour from somewhere.

  Suffer the judgment of the Branch Committee to remove a moustache you had grown whilst on vacation, because you hadn't been born with it.

  Being used as scapegoat in office politics.

  Watching young men being verbally humiliated by "hung-over" management, whilst the "gold-diggers" sniffed the butts of the rich and influential.. who could get away with just about anything they wanted.

  Finally realizing that the WTBTS is as elitist as any other corporation... and finding glass in your eye as the "rose-tinted" spectacles finally smashed.
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  19

  why do ex-jw's talk so much....

  by bittersweet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so my husband ( who is a baptised witness who no longer attends meetings and pretty much doesn't believe any more ) asked me last night why do so many ex-jw's feel the need to keep talking about the religion even when they have been out of it for years.

  i told him that in my case i still talk about it because i feel i lost so much of my life to them and i am still upset about it.

  also that many people have lost families and livlihoods, etc.

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  Podobear

  Good summary StAnn and interesting and (yes) funny anecdote NowAndThen...

  Anybody out there, witty enough to put comedy material together (please excuse the next very Brit. expression) to take the piss out of ourselves and the JW's. Surely, someone, has latched onto the idea that there must be enough material on this board alone to cook up JW/exJW comedy and black humour. Are you up for it NowAndThen?

  Sometimes, you know, the ability to laugh at oneself goes a long way to heal and cure emotional and even physical malaise. Is there anyway to "lighten up" our lives in this way?

  Did you hear about the good guy who died and went to heaven? Absolutely faultless, but never quite settled the issue of which church to "belong" to.. Peter, smiled as he walked him down a long etherial corridor, in his new angelic garments.. "Now" said Peter, "You can choose any of the mansions behind any one of these front doors, but I have to tell you, you will be here for a long, long time, so choose wisely.."

  He opens the first door. The guy begins to cough and choke.. thousands crammed into a super lounge, smellin' of incense and people repeating mantras in Latin.. "My goodness, who are these people" he says. Peter replies "Oh, these are the Catholics. You'll be anonymous, but be part of a Universal family.. and you will always smell sweet". "Don't think I could hack that for eternity" said the guy, "Can we try the next one?"

  The second door opens to reveal a see of multi coloured hats, beautiful west indian smiles and a strident preacher on a sun lit, pool side terrace. Lots of whispering and gossip going on. "That's a bit better" said the guy "but I'm not sure about the Hell fire preaching, and some of the comments are a bit back stabbing if taken the wrong way.. and those attendants covered in white sheets speaking in Southern drawl.. seem a bit sinister to me... I feel a bit uncomfortable.. who are they?" "Oh" said Peter "We had a bit of trouble sorting this lot out, basically good hearted but lots of bickering amongst themselves, lots of extreme views.. they are called Baptists.. of one sort or another" "Oh no" said the guy "Christian they may be, but I would be forever watching my back.. they make me nervous.. can we move on, please?"

  Peter's arm extended holding the man back as he opened the third door slowly. "Just brace yourself, my man, you are in for an experience here". The door opens on a large theatre and the sound of mega decibals of gospel music, people speaking in unintelligible tongues, folks rolling on the floor.. "My God!" the man said "I did try a spliff or two in high school, before Pops wrapped my knuckles and a bad trip taught me a lesson. It was fun on the first kick but it did my head in. Who are these people?" "Man" said Peter, "These are the Pentecostals and "Born Again" chasers. Tell me more about the spliff?" "Please shut the door before my ears burst" said the guy a little panick ensuing "Next door, please"

  "OK" said Peter, "I'll come back on the spliff thing.. just curious" "Now, I must ask you to be quiet as you enter this small room" said Peter holding his finger to his pursed lips.

  "Why's that then Peter?" said the man a little bemused.

  "These are the Jehovah's Witnesses" said Peter;

  "They think they are the only ones up here!"

  Podo
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  19

  why do ex-jw's talk so much....

  by bittersweet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so my husband ( who is a baptised witness who no longer attends meetings and pretty much doesn't believe any more ) asked me last night why do so many ex-jw's feel the need to keep talking about the religion even when they have been out of it for years.

  i told him that in my case i still talk about it because i feel i lost so much of my life to them and i am still upset about it.

  also that many people have lost families and livlihoods, etc.

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  Podobear

  Trust Sylv. to come up with dish of the day! ... bet she makes a good Jambalayz and Jerk Chicken too..

  I have never labelled myself as an ex-jw, but chattering and off loading here has been very therapeutic for me. I left like an express train hitting the terminus barrier at 120 mph.. it was a shock to everyone (including me). All my "spiritual" vital signs were good.. so nobody bothered with me.. and that was the problem.

  I have been away from the congregation now for about 26 years.. but with a father who is still an active elder (at 82), and a mother who is still fiercely opposed.. our internal family "Mein Kampf" continues unabated. Thank you to 90% of the posters here (my darling Sylv. included) for being tolerant of me.. giving me room to speak.. to off load, and doff my cap in recognition when I am wrong.

  My stepping aside from the JW congregation has not interfered with my basic needs as a "Spiritual" man. As far as I am concerned I stopped dead in my tracks with JW theology/doctrine in serious warp in the early '80's.

  The relgion has changed to such an extent that I consider them to be Apostate! They even changed the baptism vows to suit the legalistic ideals of the Printing and Publishing corporation. I never took that vow at baptism. They have invalidated themselves. Not me.

  So.. I still believe in a Grand Creator.. still accept my Lord Jesus as the means of my Salvation. I am not "god-slotted" in any ways.. and still believe that "God's Sheep" graize on many hills. I will let the Good Shepherd do the sorting thanks.. I will not shun ailing sheep. For all you retro-Atheists, disenfranchised from the religious mind set.. I salute you.. You have greater faith than me.

  This is a beautiful planet, and those who live in harmony with it are Beautiful People. Sorry, Sylv. you have star badge.. thanks for the PM's.

  Podo
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  36

  Pet Names for JWs

  by laverite in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i love reading the various pet names people have come up with for jws.

  some i have seen on this board include:.

  jws (obviously).

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  Podobear

  My opposed mother once came to visit me at "The Brothel", and someone once referred to me as one of those "Joe-Evil stumps" teaching the good book from "Guinesses to Revolutions"..

  :) Podo
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  17

  Do you measure ingredients when cooking?

  by compound complex in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  in julie & julia, ms. child's collaborator says it doesn't matter; julia says it does matter.

  i can see its being important when writing a book but how about when cooking up daily fare?.

  coco un rien de sel.

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  Podobear

  Yes I do measure things, but I am becoming more skilled in "guess.ti.mating" the quantity. I am diabetic, so it is good discipline for me. Also, I avoid white flour as it contains a substance called Alloxan which is a poison used to induce diabetes in lab. rats. So I measure out most of my ingredients for the sake of my health.

  Podo
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  40

  Shunned by the world, then by the JWs and then shunned by Theists, when does this end?

  by cyberjesus in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  when i was a jw i always hide my jw status to people of the world because i was taught that we were hated by satan and his world.

  and indeed in school i experienced being ostracized by my religious beliefs and everytime i had to take a stand not saluting the flag i was the object of ridicule.. then when i left the jw now i am shunned by my family by taking a firm posture on my beliefs or disbeliefs.

  now i am ostracized by my own jw family because i dont go along their set of doctrines.. now that i have abandoned any religious belief altogether feel how most people who dont believe in a god are ostracized from the majority of the populations.

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  Podobear

  I think it takes greater faith to be an Atheist, Cyberjesus. I no longer have a "religious" label but I do describe myself as a Spiritual man.

  Stand on top of Mount Teide (Canary Islands).. feel the sun beat down, see the islands and the coast of Africa - smell the waft of the pine trees surfing the gentle breezes.. drink in the beauty, that is life. I am an eternal romantic.

  You have greater faith indeed. Why should I shun you?

  K.I.S.S [keep it simple stupid]... dumbo of the United Kingdom here.. can't give up the God thing..

  All the best.

  Podo