i have always classified myself as someone who was fairly well read, with a pretty decent vocabulary.
but having been raised in the orwellian "loaded language" of "truthspeak", i found over the past 18 or so months that there is a whole vocabulary out there that i was never exposed to, thanks in part to the wts exquisite information control techniques.
here's a sample of some of the words i had never even heard of before my "awakening":.
Unconditional love. "Love" that is not based on works, but on deep respect for the individual. Love that is based on a desire to help another person without expecting anything in return.
This I am learning from so-called "wordly" people. O, and I should say I am learning unconditional love from "mentally diseased" apostates. LOL
Reopened Mind
i was having coffee at a starbucks located in a supermarket chain in one of the towns i work in my business .
while sitting there doing paperwork , what looked like 3 elders on their field service break sat at a table no more than 4 feet from me .
after eavesdropping it was obvious they were elders as they were talking about the c.o.
Flipper,
I wish I could have been a fly on the wall at that Starbucks. Staying in control of the conversation and remaining calm while at the same time making reasonable points on the harm shunning can do will probably go a long way in helping anyone who has an ounce of reasoning power left to begin to wake up. EXCELLENT JOB!!! That is the real point---helping someone to escape the clutches of the WT borg.
Thanks for the link to the Huffington Post article. I have saved a copy for future reference.
Reopened Mind
i do not consider myself religious in any way.
i do believe in "god" and i think i am a spiritual person to some degree.. what about you?.
I do not consider myself religious, but I do believe in the HUMAN SPIRIT, ie., I think that it is HUMANS that accomplish whatever gets done. When I give thanks it is to the person who does something for me, not a mythical supernatural being. In that sense, then, I consider myself spiritual.
Reopened Mind
factfinder,
The hardest part of being owned by a pet is when they die. We grieve for them just as much as any human member of our family. I've had many dogs and cats through the years and I've mourned every one that died.
I second what talesin said that our pets teach us unconditional love.
Reopened Mind
today is my first birthday since i left the jw's.
also, the 19th will mark the one year anniversary of when i left.
.
Mr. Freeze,
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU. You have two birthdays to celebrate in November. And many more.
Reopened Mind
this kingdom hall was built in the 1960's and they still meet there.
.
.
WontLeave, that is a great analogy.
Reopened Mind
as i have posted, my daughter ali has been in the cardiac intensive care unit since thursday.
her bp, heartrate and blood sugar went sky high, due to horrible coughing spells from a chest cold that left her gasping for air.. she has congestive heart failure, and has been treated for almost a year now.
she has improved over that year, but this was a real setback.. ali called me today with amazing news.
This brought tears to my eyes. You and Ali and Dr. J are amazing. I am so happy for your good news!!!
All my best.
Reopened Mind
something really nice happened to my sister today.
she was sitting outside the airport where she works, waiting for her ride home.
a man sat down next to her and pulled out a cigarette.
What a touching story serenitynow. Thanks for sharing. Good kind people will be generous and stingy disgruntled people will walk all over others with their self righteous attitudes. It matters not whether they are JWs or not although the WT does seem to magnify the negative characteristics. I have seen what sinis describes among the witnesses, including scam artists who "fleeced the flock" as well as genuinely kind people who have helped when we needed it most. I have also experienced the kindness of strangers.
I am truly happy for your sister. May she overcome her smoking. Perhaps that will help her find another better job should she become laid off. Or perhaps she will not lose her job after all. In any case I wish the best to you and your sister.
Reopened Mind
i am looking for information from several groups of people.. people who are no longer jws but have a spouse who is still in.
never-been jwswas a jw (baptized or not) but left after marrying and spouse remained indfed, daed or faded and still have a spouse who is inchildren (now grown) who were raised with one parent a jw and the other never beenchildren (now grown) where one parent left the jws and one stayed in.if there are categories i have missed let me know.
i need this to be pretty inclusive and focused on couples where one person is a jw and the other is not.. i will be asking questions re:.
Lady Lee,
Will you have a niche for someone like me who began studying with Witnesses as a teenager? My mother was very opposed. My father although he didn't like me studying ran some interference for me with my mother. The time period was in the late sixties when the "Armageddon is coming in 1975 hype" was at its peak. Just saying, the teen years are so vulnerable. I was baptised, married a JW, and raised two boys in the cult.
Reopened Mind
i'm a sucker for dollar stores, discount stores and bargain outlets.
give me a tjx/ marshall's store over bloomingdales anyday!.
Outlet Malls and Antique Malls. I have a good laugh when I find things in the antique mall I have been using at home! I also like craft shows and festivals.
Reopened Mind
