Posts by LittleToe

55

Nothing.

by Narkissos in

jw
friends

perhaps this paradoxical "topic" is one with which we here have dealt a little more, or a little more consciously, than the average population.. we used to have our heads full of beliefs (which we called "truth") in every direction: on theology, on cosmology, on paleontology, on past history, on so-called prophetic future, on heaven above, on earth, on she'ol beneath.

on many things -- current events, traditions, other peoples' beliefs and behaviours -- we had strong opinions which were directly or indirectly (the famous "conscience" matters) part of the same deal.

and of course our life was filled with activities and relationships, a community of "friends," people to "help" or "teach," etc.. then, gradually or suddenly, we came to suspect, often with a measure of terror, that all of this was not what we had thought and might sooner or later turn into... nothing.. this "nothing" is perhaps one of the most scary thoughts to people contemplating leaving the org one way or another.

LittleToe

37

If you have time to waste

by JH in

http://flightsimx.cyclops.amnesia.com.au/index.html .

i imagine this is what crumpet does all day at work .

.

LittleToe

That being exactly the point - She's in Texas and I'm in Scotland, while we wait for the Visas to come through. Meanwhile I have eight weeks to waste

37

If you have time to waste

by JH in

http://flightsimx.cyclops.amnesia.com.au/index.html .

i imagine this is what crumpet does all day at work .

.

LittleToe

It takes some getting the hang of, to avoid the ceiling fan, etc. The loop-the-loop method is fun, but doesn't get you distance. I tried near the ceiling and whisked it towards the floor for huge lift, granting me 111.267m

15

Why go to church?

by lv4fer in

jw
friends

why do people go to church.

what is the purpose?

you don't have to go to a certain place to worship god.

LittleToe

I go for a couple of reasons, including: I find that the different forum of communal worship is beneficial; and its nice to hear views other than your own. It stimulates your thoughts, regardless of whether you agree with them or not (and dissention is permitted).

On another note: I recommend trying it at least once for every exJW if for no other reason than it breaks down the mental barriers, that the WTS implanted, in their attempts to demonise everything. Once you can walk in, without qualms, you have accomplished something significant for yourself, IMHO.

49

Attention former elders and ms: I have a question.

by R.F. in

i'm currently a ministerial servant and pioneer in my congregation.

i want to begin my fade soon.

i'm going to get off the pioneer list first instead of quitting both positions at once, hopefully to ease potential gossip.

LittleToe

Whether you take the route of fading or formally DAing yourself, there will be a price to pay. With fading the price is that it takes so long (usually at least a couple of years) and you have to keep looking over your shoulder all the time, incurring the potential surprise visit from Elders and C.O.s at any time.

That having been said you should probably approach this in a manner that will build up a plausible story in the minds of people who brook no accusation of their cult.

Avoid the "Ministry" as much as possible and start consistently submitting reports that are below the required hours. Show a pattern here over 3-4 months at least, with falling figures. This will present a picture that you are finding it difficult to make your time. When you ask to be taken off there will be some argument as to how you mike stay on, but this can usually be overcome, especially if you seem down about it but unable to change your circumstances (such as having to work just to make ends meet, with no obvious signs of increased materialism).

Following on from this, a period of increasingly low mood leading to sporadic meeting attendance (needing to be played slowly and carefully, but quick enough that the pattern is obvious to a blind dingbat) should lead to your eventual removal as a MS. You should probably at no point express any doubts over WTS doctrine, if you want this to be a clean fade with few repercussions.

You will likely receive at least some attention, especially if your C.O. is even half diligent, but if you are consistent it should be seen as a pattern that most are familiar with and have little desire to expend the huge effort required to assist with. It will take at least a couple of years before you drop off the radar, and even then you will have to keep an eye on your shadow if you don't move far, far away.

Have you got the stamina for it? I certainly didn't have, and wanted a clean break, so I DAed. In some ways it can be even harder still for Elders, especially if active at the Circuit and District levels.

The price for DAing is usually instant shunning from everyone you loved, tempered with the opportunity to start a new life.

The price for fading is the slim hope that your loved ones will still occasionally associate with you (at least they should have little excuse not to, regardless of how they decide to play the game), albeit view you as weak and lower-class.

Good luck

77

Does A School Yard Bully Attitude Take Over This Discussion Board?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

does a school yard bully attitude take over this discussion board?growing up, i can recall such times when a rival would want to pick a fight .

with me and when we met, he would bring along two of his friends and i .

sometimes, i would knock their block off and sometimes, it was the other.

LittleToe

Wanderer:
Your basic premise is wrong, so the label becomes meaningless, i.e.:

he would bring along two of his friends and I would be alone.

This place has no quiet private corner where you can get a hammering. Everything is posted in the open and folks rarely find themselves alone with their opinion, with such a variety of diverse viewpoints expressed.

You will touch individuals raw spots from time to time, as we all do. Your presentation hits one such trigger, in that it is so "Awake!-ish". You may recall that quite some time ago I suggested that you might want to give yourself a break from such formal thread-starting and just enjoy and interact with some of the many other threads. That doesn't appear to have been of interest to you, and so people will continue to have a picture of you as an "Awake!-ish" thread-starter.

You aren't being bullied, you're merely having your opinions challenged in a healthy way. Sometimes that's easier to to take than at other times, but its the way the cookie crumbles. I suspect that most times you enjoy it. The few times you get a bloodied nose you can put it down to experience, hopefully learn something from it, and move on with the next burning issue such as the tangible reality of gregor's waterworks performance schedule...

106

Witchcraft - Would you use it?

by Sirona in

jw
friends

would you ever use witchcraft?.

do you think witchcraft is dangerous?.

do you think witchcraft is just a set of delusions based on ancient superstition?.

LittleToe

Gary:

I knew if one post was going to get LT out of his new marriage bed, mine would have to be it given his hatred for generalisations and Christian bashers LOL.

You know me too well

Whilst there are some female ministers, are there many females further up the hierarchy?

In many denominations the Minister is as high as it gets. In the Church of Scotland the current "Assembly Moderator" is a woman, and that's as high as you can get with them, too.

Congratulations by the way...are you back on home soil yet - if not when are you due back?

Thanks pal. Yes, I'm back home and completely jetlagged, and trying to arrange travel for Gadget's wedding. Hope to see you guys there!

13

HOPE for the best and expect the WORST and you'll not be disappointed!

by Terry in

jw
friends

bad things do happen for a reason.

here is the reason.. for bad things not to happen only good things would always be happening.. then, "good" would lose relative distinction with less "good".

the less good would start to look bad in comparison.. suddenly, what use to seem only good would be bad by contrast.. is this crazy talk?.

LittleToe

"Hope for the best but expect the worst and you'll never be disappointed" was a motto my mother raised me with. Thusfar it has worked.

106

Witchcraft - Would you use it?

by Sirona in

jw
friends

would you ever use witchcraft?.

do you think witchcraft is dangerous?.

do you think witchcraft is just a set of delusions based on ancient superstition?.

LittleToe

Gary:
You write:

Christianity has allowed itself to be infected by a patriachal and almost misogynistic society where womens rights and roles as teachers have dwindled away... Its a sign of our prior indoctrination that we assume much about things we simply have little or no knowledge about...

A number of denominations have women Ministers, Elders and Deacons (e.g. Church of Scotland, Lutherans, etc.), so it would appear that things are coming full circle. The majority of church members continue to be female. That having been said, I would agree with your general premise that there has been quite a bit of historic (and often currently perpetuated) "backwardness" to many of the world's religions, including Christianity. LT, of the "demonishing generalisations, one at a time" class

9

WHY?????

by jut1981 in

jw
friends

i was bought up as a jehovahs witness in a divided home, my dad being baptized but not having gone to meetings etc for years.

my mum being driven on by the influence of my gran.

i was forced into baptism at 15!

LittleToe

Hi jut.

It sounds like you've been going through the mill, but help is at hand as many here have been in a similar boat.

What part of Notts are you from? I used to go to Eastwood cong, and Assembies as Hellaby and Trent Bridge.