La Capra

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Posts by La Capra

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  16

  What are the Elders thinking? What are JW's thinking?

  by Fisherman in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  there was a time when most jw's solemly believed that the "end" was comming in their life time, that the preaching work was a life saving work and the most important work on earth and that the wts was god's organization, god's agency, the only channel of communication on earth.

  i think that most jws today somewhat still vagely believe that now but i wonder, what is going on in the minds and hearts of the jws today?

  what is everyone thinking?

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  La Capra

  When I left, on the dint of my own determination, in 1987, the generation teaching was still going strong, and the fervor was getting stronger-for all the obvious reasons.

  I didn't realize the generation teaching changed in the 90s until I started reading H20 in 1999 or 2000. However, my personal opinion is that even though the organiztion doesn't formally teach it, the imminence of the end is still deeply ingrained in the JW culture. Despite what they say at the door (like about denying they believe only JWs would survive armageddon), we know what a JW really knows they should believe. They sincerely believe they are the only ones to be saved, and that armageddon really will arrive soon (a "few" years), and that getting a college education will lock you out of the Kingdom of God.

  The cognitive dissonance is raising a ruckus as the rank and file broaden their horizons while being subconsciously pummelled into guilt, anxiety, inadequacy and insecurity. When I was being raised in it, it was simply strict, controlling, manipulative, and sometimes arbitrary and cruel. Now it has become a major mind-f--k for those who sincerely pursue all the activity, study and obedience that the organization requires of them. They know what the literature "officially" teaches, and they know the disparity between that and what they are "supposed to believe."

  It is sicker now than it was in the 70s and 80s. A whole different JW culture is emergent...too much to protect, not enough authority to support it.

  Shoshana
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  9

  Tell me about your relationship with Jehovah

  by Nosferatu in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'll tell you a bit of what me and jehovah's relationship was like.

  i talked to him, but he never responded.

  whenever something good happened to me, i believed that he had everything to do with it.

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  La Capra

  Without Jehovah, you can still breathe. Without Jehovah, you can still start a fire. Without oxygen, you're dead, and, not that you'd care, all your food is cold.

  Better to nurture that relationship with Oxygen, I'd say-if only for a hot meal.

  Shoshana
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  My Recent Transition

  by La Capra in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  no one noticed it but me.

  but it did not go uncelebrated and unaccounted for.

  when i was 19, i attended my last meeting while vacationing on a tropical island with my family.

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  La Capra

  No one noticed it but me. But it did not go uncelebrated and unaccounted for.

  When I was 19, I attended my last meeting while vacationing on a tropical island with my family. I knew it was going to be my last meeting for about a month, when I decided I was bagging the religion for an actual life. My mom is the JW, and although she didn't know my plans at that time, she found out as soon as we got back (oh, that explains why my daughter broke out the bikini on the beaches instead of that modest one-piece I picked out for her at the Mode O' Day...).

  That was 19 years ago. About two weeks ago was the day that marked my transition from more of my life as a Jehovah's Witness to more of my life not a Jehovah's Witness.

  And even thoug I totally did not plan it, I was on the same tropical island! I was on a vacation with my family (the same one). I didn't pick the location myself, an unaware uncle did. But at just the right moment, I did drop the bombshell on my mother (the JW) while enjoying a particularly rummy tropical view.

  "Mom, do you realize that exactly half my life ago, we were here together vacationing? I was 19 and now I'm 38, and here we are again, in the exact same place." I watched carefully for her expression to cloud. And it did, but only for a second. Then she was back to her compartmentalized droid self.

  Shoshana

  Of the "still knows how to twist the knife" class.
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  16

  Halloween Costume Ideas?

  by Dune in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i met some people thursday night that are going to a halloween party .this will be the first halloween that i'll actually be doing something, but i cant think of anything to go as.

  do you guys dress up and go to parties and such?

  any good ideas?

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  La Capra

  I always like something topical and scandalous. This year, the funny get-up will be with May-December gay couples: Foley and a Legislative Page. Too funny, and pretty easy to do.

  Shoshana
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  41

  Disfellowshipping for Gluttony?

  by Smoky in

  1. social
  2. family

  is that possible?..have there been any cases like this?.

  my family have been on my case about me hanging around with people (non-jw family) that like to drink alot.

  they went as far as to call me "a drunk"...now i do admit that i have been gotten drunk before on occasion, but i am not a drunk or an alcoholic.. so, i told my mother (obese) that if i were "a drunk" for getting drunk from time to time (not every day), then can she be considered "a glutton", for eating to much, obese, having health problems, all because of the way she eats?

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  La Capra

  No matter how on point the remark was, I don't think one would see past the insult of being called fat to understand she's being a hypocrite. Of the hell hath no fury like a woman called fat class (even if she is as big as a VW bus). Shoshana
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  21

  Literature not for Disf'ed people says Elder.........

  by Balsam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i had an interesting encounter today, actually my son and i both.

  well my good intentioned ex-husband and father of my son thought he would have the local congregation elders call on us and try to get us back to meetings.

  well i had been getting literature from this local elder's wife without her knowing i was ever a jw.

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  La Capra

  Visit the laundromats. There are usually some magazines there. Also, figure out where the "favored pioneers" get to "street witness." They may be set up at a table at one of the local malls. With a little planning you could have a little contact with lots of different JWs, rather than a lot of contact with just one. Malls that allow them to set up a table may tell you what their schedule is.

  Shoshana
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  43

  How do you deal with telemarketers?

  by Outaservice in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  La Capra

  I just don't answer the phone. Some have started leaving automated messages, which I also ignore. What drives me nuts is that my neighborhood seems to get lots of door to door sales people who have started to target the dinner hour. I walk up the peep hole to make sure it isn't a neighbor, and when they hear me they have actually started to talk, even if I don't open the door, and don't say anything. Last night it was the pest control company that comes around every other day, and tonight it was someone selling windows.

  I have got to call the pest control company and ask them if they have anything that eradicates door to door salespeople...(I asked one that question once-he wasn't amused....)

  Shoshana
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  15

  Should there be an emancipation campaign for women elders?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what do you think?

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  La Capra

  Can you imagine what would happen if the JW women, in solidarity, went on a strike for equal rights (er "privileges")...No more service, no more comments, no more bible studies, no more writing their husbands' talks. If the women at Bethels stopped cleaning and doing laundry,...stopped providing marital due...

  Hoo boy. In Lysistrada, they stopped a war (and were funny about it too..)

  I might show up to watch that.

  Shoshana
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  15

  Should there be an emancipation campaign for women elders?

  by badboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  what do you think?

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  La Capra

  Can you imagine what would happen if the JW women, in solidarity, went on a strike for equal rights (er "privileges")...No more service, no more comments, no more bible studies, no more writing their husbands' talks. If the women at Bethels stopped cleaning and doing laundry,...stopped providing marital due...

  Hoo boy. In Lysistrada, they stopped a war (and were funny about it too..)

  I might show up to watch that.

  Shoshana
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  18

  My Cake is Doughy in the Middle

  by Gary1914 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am trying to help my wife out by baking a pound cake.

  i volunteered after going over the recipe.

  actually it seemed simple enough and i thought it would be a snap to do.. i was wrong.. the problem is it looks fine in the oven.

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  La Capra

  Make sure the pan is exactly the right size. Glass pans can be put in a slightly cooler oven.

  BUT TRY THIS

  Make sure the oven if 100% preheated before you put that poundcake in.

  Use an oven thermometer to make sure the oven really is as hot as you think it is.

  Do the toothpick or knife test. Slip one into the highest part of the cake-it should come out clean, or with a couple of really tiny fully cooked crumbs. It should not look like you just stuck it in a bowl of pancake batter.

  Shoshana (who treats baking like her high school chemistry labs-follow all directions exactly, leaves nothing to random chance...)

  P.S. pound cakes are hard to get right, because of the density of all the ingredients. But the ones at Whole Foods are quite perfect.