my father in law passed away today.
he was not a witness, but as he got to be more and more house bound, he would attend sunday meetings with my husband or my brother in law.
tomorrow, a "brother" is buying the family dinner, im not welcome.
((littlebird)) - I'm sorry for your loss... I don't blame you one bit for being upset. This is such hurtful behavior on their part by highjacking a funeral in order to spread their propoganda, and their exclusionary tactics towards you is despicable.
Peace to you
RTA
had a good look into the doctrine, beliefs and practices of jws and to be honest, i don't really see anything wrong with it at all.. it's biblical and i've had such an eye opener the past year or so reading some of their books and magazines .
is there really any real reasons why i shouldn't want to get involved further?
:-).
"This is an anti-witness site you will only get hatred and bitterness from the majority on here against witnesses"
*sigh* I'm late to commenting on this thread, but I'll give it a go.
So, are you a reader of hearts then, Debator? Oh wait, you perhaps may tell us that you're not, but have "proof" of said behavior from some posts/posters here. To be sure (and considering everyone's individual experiences with the WTS), people may be angry or bitter or have what have you...but...why don't you seek to understand the "whys" instead of just merely labeling people? That may not be your intent (and I'm not trying to read your heart), but it sure feels that way. Think about it.
Human beings tend to be a little more nuanced than just having such broadly-painted emotions, IMHO. There's no if/then deal going on about those who are no longer involved with the WTS ("If John Q. Witness has left the society, why then...that means he HATES the JW's! And Jehovah! And Jesus! Yeah, that's it.") But by saying such, I don't want to "return the favor" and cast a blanket statement back re: the JWs (as if it's 'gospel' about those still in), because honestly I don't believe that necessarily to be the case, nor is that how I operate. My Dad is still a JW. If he's happy in his beliefs, that's his choice; I respect that and yet on the flip side, my choice is to respectfully agree to disagree. Wanna tell me I'm bitter and that I hate my own father? Try it - but I don't. I love him unconditionally. What I 'hate' is the WTS for their behaviors/actions of issuing unloving mandates that cause undue suffering of individuals and break-ups of family units.
At any rate - back to the thread: Anon4 - welcome. Keep investigating; keep asking questions. You've been given a lot of good, reasoned advise from many posters on this thread, from folks who truly care and want to help. Keep reading your Bible (and don't ever lose the love of learning new things from it), use critical thinking skills, use your powers of observation and discernment. I don't have the answers, but for me, the joy is in the search and knowing that I have the freedom and right to keep searching as I feel fit. I hope you find the community you are looking for...blessings and peace to you
RTA
Yay, how exciting -- your first Christmas tree! Very nice!
Not like my first tree, which consisted of taking an indoor fake ficus tree and putting on some miniature white lights on it as well as a few Dollar Store ornaments. It was a bit pathetic actually but it was all mine, and no one could take away my huge child-like grin in seeing it all lit up (I was 25 at the time). I do believe I jumped up and down and clapped my hands with glee, too.
Enjoy your Christmas!
RTA
.
i didn't notice any hardcore shunning of sherri.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxeevudaxgi.
I love me some Prince. He is one of my all-time favorite musicians. Eccentric, cooooool, a wicked-talented musical genius...truly one-of-a-kind!
I didn't notice any shunning here - nice affection to Sherri
Edited to add:
I don't know the background about this, was Sherri the black lady? and she was a former JW I assume ??
Yes, that's her...former JW, but I don't know any more details than that...
((((Syl))))
Sorry to hear all this. I wish you good health and peace of mind, heart and soul...
RTA
james bond composer john barry turned 77 the other day.. in honor of his birthday i decided to compose a tribute to his wonderfully evocative music for the early bond films.. this is an original composition that uses the style and thematic vamps which make the bond films so enjoyable.. a walk down bond street.
Bravo, Terry! I liked this piece very much - what a great tribute to John Barry and the music that makes up Bond. You totally captured the essence.
That's so cool that you taught yourself how to play. Me, too. I still noodle around on my old beater acoustic piano but also have an 88-key Korg Triton Workstation (it's nice to put on the head-set sometimes, so I don't disturb the neighbors in my apartment complex - I'm sure they greatly appreciate it.)
Gee, now I feel like sitting down & playing a tune or two. Thanks for the inspiration! I hope to hear more originals from you...
we all know they're here but we don't really know who they are.. they are people who sign up here and then never comment (or rarely ever do).. doesn't that make any of you regulars here at the very least a tiny bit suspicious?.
why would a person sign up to a forum like this and then never say a damn thing?
it seems to me that there is a primary reason why some folks sign up and then never comment on anything: to spy.
((V665)) Thank you, from my heart. Your response means a lot to me.
You're one of my favorites, too. I won't forget your very first welcome to me (and so many others that I've seen you reach out to as newbies - now THAT is "encouragement"). From your sly sense of humor to your wry observations, to your stalwart defense of what you view as right....I appreciate your posts and "your voice".
I look forward to reading more threads from you (and "Ruh roh, Raggie!" -- maybe one day I will post more/start a thread myself ). One may never know what is "said" out here that may help another soul in putting together the pieces of the puzzle. You have my well-wishes too as a Fellow Traveller on the Path...
I wish you all a good night...........
we all know they're here but we don't really know who they are.. they are people who sign up here and then never comment (or rarely ever do).. doesn't that make any of you regulars here at the very least a tiny bit suspicious?.
why would a person sign up to a forum like this and then never say a damn thing?
it seems to me that there is a primary reason why some folks sign up and then never comment on anything: to spy.
This is a thought-provoking query. Thanks for opening the lines of discussion.
I was incredibly shy as a young girl and though I've become more extroverted in many ways as I grew up/after I was DF'd, I still revert to that more quiet, introverted personality at times. It was "safer" (for me) to be quiet. To hope no one noticed me, thus hopefully escaping any judgment or criticism (or eventual abandonment) from others in the Hall. Sooooooo, I guess that shyness manifests itself in my online personality as well by my lurking more than posting.
I read - a LOT - both in the "real world" and here as well. I don't always "comment" all that much in real life either. Gotta feel safe first. I've never been part of a big online forum like this before, so I'll admit to "finding my footing" in the crowd. Like others, sometimes I don't have much to add to an already well-rounded discussion topic. At other times, I feel a little intellectually intimidated on some of the more Biblical/Philisophical/Scientific threads (and those are my feelings I need to deal with, no one else makes me feel that way. I truly am not trying to project "my stuff" on others or say, "Hey! You people stop being so S-M-R-T!") So while I may lurk more often than not, due to a combination of factors, I continue to read, learn and "de-program", finding solace in the fact that there are others who have had their lives affected by the WTBTS. I'm not alone (thank goodness) and for that, I'm grateful to this community.
Also, I've expressed to some "worldlies" that for most of my JW life, I was told who to be, how to act, what I should and should not do (so much so that I intensely dislike the word "should") - that I appreciate being able to "Just Be Me". To not have to subsume myself in order to "be accepted", to have the freedom to be an individual, to express myself as much (or as little) as I like, to do so without guilt or fear of not meeting anyone else's rules or regulations...it's a relief.
Back to the subject at hand - I really do think V665 brings up a valid question.
There ARE betrayers out there. In my years leading up to finally registering, I've seen some folks come up on this board...take in information...and then throw it back in that person's face. Those who lie in wait, who watch (lurk), who take vital, precious information that has been shared by those in need and shared in a layer of trust....and then those very same people act like Judas and sell you down the river for a few bits of coin. I worry about that as a non-JW, too. In fact recently I realized how far I've come on my Journey....but also know I still have HUGE trust issues due to all the betrayals experiened within "the Truth".
But I recently asked myself the same question before this topic was posted, so talk about this being a "co-inky-dink" - why did I sign up here, if only to find myself NOT posting so much? Who am I? What am I doing here? I'll admit also that by sharing my story (scary to take such a big step, even after all this time!), starting to share my feeble thoughts and stepping further out of that old JW personality....it brought up some emotions that I thought I dealt with. I'm scared. I'm skittish. I'm.....hiding behind the wall-paper again. Not due to anyone here, but due to the baggage and nonsense I still carry around. But I'm working on it. By coming here, I had/have some needs that I obviously need to address. By registering, posting and seeing myself here amongst others who've had a similar story, it got me to look at myself and say, "What is it you are feeling now? Why are you feeling this way?" From there, I'm able to address my issues and further heal.
I can't say I would've been able to do that "deeper dive" into my Self if I hadn't come here and experienced being part of this community.
Sorry for the long post! See, I don't post much but sometimes when I do....yadda yadda yadda, huh? LOL Well, I hope my response didn't sound defensive or overly-sensitive. That's not my intent. And I'll admit to being a passionate person who's very in touch my emotions (sometimes to my detriment).
V665 has opened the door for me to express what I've been feeling recently about lurking/posting. I guess I needed to hash out how I want to be part of the community and while being extremely appreciative of this welcoming community, I found myself in the position of still needing to maintain who I am and feel safe while doing it. Again - none of you are putting this on me...I still have a lot to work on.
Thank you for posting this topic. You've given me much to think about.
i was doing some investigation on google maps for a trip i'm making to pittsburgh, pa next week.. come to find out the the place i'm going is only a few mile from the assembly hall i spent allot of time at as a kid.
looking at this pictures bring back allot of memories.
some good, some bad.. anybody else attend this assembly hall in coraopolis, pa?.
Wow, only me. It's a casino now? Tells you how long it's been since I've been back home to the WNY area for a visit...
It looks like a swanky place!
RTA
i was doing some investigation on google maps for a trip i'm making to pittsburgh, pa next week.. come to find out the the place i'm going is only a few mile from the assembly hall i spent allot of time at as a kid.
looking at this pictures bring back allot of memories.
some good, some bad.. anybody else attend this assembly hall in coraopolis, pa?.
Our family went to the Rochester, NY Assembly Hall - but before it was built, many of the conventions/assemblies were held at The Niagara Falls International Convention Center.
I also remember attending district conventions at the Silver Dome in Pontiac, MI (in '78 or '79 (?) I can recall reading "My Book of Bible Stories" in one afternoon while there - I used to love that book as a kid), Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, PA and whatever the name of the centre/hall/arena is in Hamilton, Ontario (I think? - eeek, my memory is failing me! But I think it was there...!)
RTA
