I agree. It is very much like being a recovering addict. Its painful to go through the withdrawal symptoms and flashbacks are also painful, but not as bad as being hooked and having no life.
hugs
Joel
joelbear
JoinedPosts by joelbear
-
4
We Are Lucky To Be Here!
by metatron ini know there are a lot of people who post or lurk here.
who suffer a lot of emotional pain.
the deaf and dumb.
-
-
-
4
Still preaching?
by Introspection init seems to me that many who have left the hive seem to want to do a sort of "anti-preaching", to proclaim the evils of the society, religion, whatever.
i agree that certain issues need to be made known to the public, but my question is about how we do it.
if we're preachy about it, how effective are we likely to be?
-
-
joelbear
I don't think it is preaching as much as it is sharing. So much bottled up for so long when released tends to come out in abundance.
I don't post here to try and influence other people to join me on some crusade, other than a crusade for us to be happier.
I share my thoughts and hope they help someone. I know others thoughts here help me.
hugs
Joel
-
11
3 ways to live forever
by jimmyjames in#1. become a baptized, dedicated member of the jehovah's witness organization.
use every opportunity available to convince other people to join.
attend local meetings and follow the organization's rules and reccomendations in your daily life.
-
-
joelbear
as a lifeist i wholeheartedly agree with number 3. i would only add that it is our responsibility to bring newness to the universe.
hugs
joel
-
11
Only 144.000 christians faithful since Jesus?!
by cecil inthe wording in the subject-line is taken from a bible research-thread, started by mds on feb 3, 2000 (see link below).
it dealt with the wts as the faithful and discreet slave.
the reason why i take this part of the original thread to the main-forum is, that it brought back to my mind some questions, that i have never been able to answer.
-
-
joelbear
no more than about 50,000 Witnesses ever partook at the memorial and that was in 1935. the number of partakers dropped a good deal the next year.
Joel
-
11
Only 144.000 christians faithful since Jesus?!
by cecil inthe wording in the subject-line is taken from a bible research-thread, started by mds on feb 3, 2000 (see link below).
it dealt with the wts as the faithful and discreet slave.
the reason why i take this part of the original thread to the main-forum is, that it brought back to my mind some questions, that i have never been able to answer.
-
-
joelbear
Since there were millions of Israelites and 3000 of them were baptized in ONE DAY according to the Bible, I think it rather unlikely that is has taken 2000 years to fill up the other 141000 slots. Remember once they get to heaven they are immortal and unable to be destroyed unlike the angels.
I remember one time at Bethel, one of the guys was reading a book about early Christian persecution that said millions of Christians were put to death in the arenas etc. We just kind of looked at each other and didn't go on with the thought.
hugs
Joel
-
6
Hmmmm
by openminded ini am reviewing my notes for a psych.
exam and am going over the syptoms of mental illness and schizophrenia in particular.
i am noticing something that may be well known to most of you educated folks.. symptom 1. delusions of grandour(god has me on his speed dial)(miracle wheat).
-
-
joelbear
I have often said I believe witnesses break down into 2 basic groups.
1. People who cannot face a real world where people compete for resources and bad things happen either through accident or because of the competition for resources. These people need to delude themselves. Jehovah's Witnesses mistake this need (referred to by them as desire) to be no part of the world for having a good heart, relying on god to make everything okay, etc. In reality it is simply turning your back on reality, holding your breath, crossing your fingers and hoping everything will get better some day. Unfortunately this simply doesn't work, leaving the desperate person more desperate and in time old and desperate.
2. Opportunists who take advantage of people in number 1.
I think all levels of witnesses including the governing body have both types. I have met Governing body members, Bethel overseers, Bethel elders, District Overseers, Circuit Overseers, Pioneers, Bethelites, Elders, etc that fit into each.
hugs
Joel
-
17
Witness to teenagers or not?
by kimberly inhttp://www.msmagazine.com .
this is what is being said about the witnesses on a feminist web site forum.
i personally think the first poster was possibly a bit harsh, but then at the same time, maybe the witness she mentions should have asked for the home owner before going into her presentation.. .
-
-
joelbear
Can we post the number in Patterson to call. I would like to give it to all my friends.
thanks
Joel
-
13
So Can DF'ing Be A Bonus?
by Englishman inim passionately opposed to the unscriptural practice of disfellowshipping.
i believe that it preys on mankinds worse fears of being left alone, an outcast, a pariah shunned by ones own tribe, a person so reprehensible that even ones very existence is left unacknowledged.
its certainly not the invention of a caring creator, and as for it being a loving act for the dfd one, please dont insult my intelligence.. that being said, i wonder whether or not disfellowshipping can actually be a refuge for the disillusioned witness?
-
-
joelbear
No, DFing is always bad.
The risk versus reward for disfellowshipping is so disproportionate as to make your hypothesis incorrect in my opinion.
The risk of psychological damage vs the possible reward of successfully achieving personal freedom is simply too great.
I enjoy my freedom, but at a heinously high cost. It has done untold damage to my psyche and to that of the others in my circle who have been disfellowshipped.
It is always a horrible horrible horrible thing. It is unfair in that men are allowed to judge which sinners are repentant and which are wicked. How foolhardy.
It grieves me greatly to think about it.
Joel
-
9
This one's for JanH...
by ianao inhey janh.
remember the chat earlier today?.
buddhism: the doctrine, attributed to buddha, that suffering is inseparable from existence but that inward extinction of the self and of worldly desire culminates in a state of spiritual enlightenment beyond both suffering and existence.. doctrine: a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
-
-
joelbear
I like pancakes with buddah
-
9
This one's for JanH...
by ianao inhey janh.
remember the chat earlier today?.
buddhism: the doctrine, attributed to buddha, that suffering is inseparable from existence but that inward extinction of the self and of worldly desire culminates in a state of spiritual enlightenment beyond both suffering and existence.. doctrine: a principle or body of principles presented for acceptance or belief, as by a religious, political, scientific, or philosophic group; dogma.
-
-
joelbear
I will give ianao G for use of emphasis and gestures
I will give Jan W for Timing (he could never read all that in 6 minutes.
hugs
Joel