Posts by dandingus

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International Conventions - Have you attended any of them?

by Girlie in

jw
friends

during my time in jw, i always had a desire to attend the international conventions, but never had the opportunity to do so because it was always extended to the elite class 1st (pioneers, elders, etc.

) and peons second.

in my congregation, the same pioneer sisters always hogged the opportunity, leaving others to only hope in the day they can go.

dandingus

I went in 2003 to Santiago, Chile.

So for those who had the opportunity to attend, what was the experience like?

And for those in the US who attended, what aspects of the IC were different from a normal DC?

The trip was actually pretty enjoyable. It had more of a party atmosphere than any other convention. People wore "native" garb from all over as a way to extend a cultural exchange, and it seemed to me that people were generally more accepting of each other's differences. It was kind of nice in a group that tries so desperately to make everyone conform to see the closest they ever get to a celebration of diversity.

Did you find the international friends to be all loving and embracing?

They made a good show of it on the surface. The truth of the matter was however, that they were just as wrapped up in the bullshit as everyone in the U.S. In fact, I'd say the people there, while a little more laid back than the average US witness, were even more paranoid and superstitious. Hard to believe, I know.

Here's some pictures if anyone's interested:

Stadium

Another Stadium shot

City of Santiago

Guitar at Airport

Native Dress

53

As You've Gotten Older Have You Changed Your Thoughts On Marriage?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many witnesses got married at a young age (because they felt they had to).

you can't sin, right?.

some people get married and for years, are very happy.

dandingus

You're not kidding. I'm hooked!

63

Ambushed!!!!! Fam'ly Intervention!

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

last night, i went to my parents' house to wash clothes--or so i thought.

apparently, someone's been talking.

so...i get slammed for listening to people on the internet.

dandingus

Wow man. That's a lot. Thanks for sharing all of that. I couldn't stop reading. Your arguments were very well thought out and you spent a lot of time detailing it. I appreciate that.

The emotional trauma of it all has been pretty heavy. I'm feeling pretty unstable, like, keep-all-weapons-away-from-me unstable. I've got a lot to ponder.

I liked this line. A little dark, but I know exactly what you mean. Felt that way myself before for a while. Leaving isn't easy...

Please let me say: I'm so glad you don't hate your brother. I was that brother once (although not quite as bad I think). The worst part of reading your message for me was the nauseating feeling of having been on the other end of that once and being ashamed of myself for it.

Years ago when I was still a Witness my brother left home to move in with my father. Our parents were/are divorced and although mom and all of we children were in the organization dad wasn't. So when my brother left to go live with him he also did it in part to leave the "truth". Of course, being a good brother and not wanting to lose my little brother when the end of the world came, I confronted him about it. It went pretty much like your conversation went. I never deliberately shunned him, but I thought at the time he was being selfish and foolish and we didn't really speak for a long while.

Now that I have left as well we have patched things up. We even had a few drinks together in a bar and played darts and pool a few weeks ago. And that's a great thing for me too, since now I get to spend time with his son, my nephew, who is 2 years old and absolutely adorable. To think I would have kept myself from all that...

Who knows? Maybe one day your brother will ease up about this, or even leave himself. Stranger things have happened. Keep an open mind man, and chin up. Thanks again, very much for sharing this. Best wishes!!

53

As You've Gotten Older Have You Changed Your Thoughts On Marriage?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many witnesses got married at a young age (because they felt they had to).

you can't sin, right?.

some people get married and for years, are very happy.

dandingus

Sorry undercover, not following you. Reason enough for what?

53

As You've Gotten Older Have You Changed Your Thoughts On Marriage?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many witnesses got married at a young age (because they felt they had to).

you can't sin, right?.

some people get married and for years, are very happy.

dandingus

Well I had every intention of marrying her! But we were both only barely 20 for crying out loud, and it rubbed me the wrong way so badly at the way we were treated.

You want to know what the most ironic part was? We were the one, absolute model couple in the entire circuit. We were both pioneers and I was a MS, some-time bethelite, gave public talks, etc. We followed ALL the rules. To the point that other young people wouldn't even hang out with us because we were too straight laced. Other couples in our area were doing all *sorts* of things that the religion frowns upon, yet she and I were the ones who always got the most ridiculous council. We got yelled at for holding hands during a prayer too, years before it ever came out in the literature that the witnesses weren't supposed to do that. Which is the most asinine thing I've ever heard, but I digress. Guess my elders knew it was coming? But they said it wasn't because it was wrong to hold hands, just wrong if you're not married. Sorry, man. Still bothers me.

53

As You've Gotten Older Have You Changed Your Thoughts On Marriage?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many witnesses got married at a young age (because they felt they had to).

you can't sin, right?.

some people get married and for years, are very happy.

dandingus

But the whole JW mindset basically sets you up to fail at marriage. First you can't date normally so by the time you're 18 to 20 you're not thinking lifetime of marriage or children or retirement or sickness...you just wanna get laid.

I gave up counting years ago how many times I've seen marraiges that I knew only happened for that reason.

Personally, I was raised in the organization and I would say that it has affected my thoughts on marraige. I'm almost 30 and I've never been married. I'm in a relationship presently, and have had a couple during my 20s but I've never thought that I was ready to get married.

I had a girlfriend years ago who is still a Witness even though I'm not. She's really the only one I ever considered marrying. But at the time we were going out there was so much PRESSURE on us to get married from everyone we knew, that they wouldn't let us just be us. I felt like I was dating her parents, her elders, my elders and about half our circuit. We dated for over a year which was all but unheard of in our area. Everyone else just rushed right into it, but I was trying so hard to take my time and get it right for both of us. I honestly had elders making ultimatums to me that I had to announce an engagement or break up with her within a certain time frame or they would delete me as a Ministerial Servant. I kid you not. It sucked so bad.

So yeah, I never got married, but when I do make that choice, I do want it to be permanent.

Once again, great question Min!!

75

I've got a crush on a TV Preacher! Pastor Melissa Scott

by Terry in

added to .

quicklist6:46pastor melissa scott teaching on women speaking in the church part 1 - husbands wives ...pastor melissa scott teaching on women speaking in the church part 1 - husbands wives ...pastor melissa scott teaches from the los angeles university cathedral.

this is one of five brief excerpts posted here drawn from her full, one ...7 months ago4,440 viewsinthebrokenplacespastor melissa scott teaching on women speaking in the church part 1 - husbands wives .... 6:46 august 05, 2009education.

dandingus

I've always thought she was pretty cool. I'm a raging insomniac, so I'm always up at 2 or 3 in the morning (can't remember which time she comes on in my area). I usually like watching her and do from time to time. And yes, she's attractive as well.

Everyone keeps having this debate over commercialism, but of course it's commercialized. She's on TV for a reason. But to me, that's not the point. Even if what she is saying may be wrong at times (and I'm not saying it is, just leaving room for human error and imperfection), it's nice to see someone who does bother to know or try to figure out what "that word" means in the bible. So many churches get hung up on doctrinal issues relating to the translation of a single word that it does matter what the original language said. I don't claim to be a Greek, Hebrew, or Aramaic scholar so I'm not sure if everything she is saying is accurate. But it's nice to see the way she picks things apart and tries to understand them.

And as for her past, pretty sure those pictures were faked. But even if they're real, Jesus was calling harlots and sinners to him during his whole ministry. If she abandoned that practice in favor of a life of faith, who are any of us to accuse or dredge that back up? "Let the one of YOU that is sinless be the first to throw a stone..." (John 8:7) Now if she's still doing porn while appearing on TV to preach, that's a different story entirely!

5

I Partook at The Memorial Last Year Even Though I Am Disfellowshipped

by Clint Bussey in

jw
friends

check out my video about partaking last year even though i was disfellowshipped and why i did it.

here is the link:.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9u1a6bffba.

dandingus

Maybe it will awaken the collective unconcious of the Witnesses.

I doubt it man. They'll just cry "Apostate!" and ignore it, I would think. They probably didn't even report you as a partaker if they knew you and knew you were disfellowshipped. I get your point, and it's great how you have the courage to look them in the eye and call them out on something you feel is wrong, but I wouldn't make any bets about your actions imacting the organization as a whole. Still, nice video!

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