Posts by sizemik

even though i believe i have gotten better and made some progress (it has been roughly a year since i stopped attending meetings, doing anything jw-wise), i still have a lot of negative self-talk which is hard to overcome, especially during off days like today.. i find the hardest things for me is low self-esteem and social interactions/anxiety.

i'm sure some of you can sympathsize, and though i am not fully blaming my issues soley to my jw upbring (born-in) i know it compounded those issues.. .

sizemik

Yes indeed. I went from pretty normal into full blown anxiety in a split second . . . had no idea what was happening.

It precipitated a long journey of recovery . . . the works.

One very positive aspect was hooking up with a psychologist for six months. We had many very in-depth discussions on brain chemistry, how imbalanced chemistry typically manifested itself and relaxation techniques. I believe, looking back, it was the knowledge he imparted that empowered me to recover. This guy new his stuff . . . used hand drawn graphic illustrations, graphs etc. Also reference books, to answer every question I had . . . and plenty I hadn't even thought of.

During that time we actually became very good friends . . . he embraced me on my last visit. It couldn't have been a better or more valuable experience for me. But I guess it may depend on who you get . . . you might have to try more than one before you connect with one who fills your need.

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JWs at my Door

by laverite in

jw
friends

doorbell rang.

saw through the peephole that it was jws.

opened the door and said "hi" in a friendly manner.

sizemik

do what feels comfortable

Ah . . . I think in that premise there lies no malice . . . and no negative aftertaste . . . for either party.

24

To The Mean Ones of JWN

by snowbird in

jw
friends

kiss my chitlins!

.

syl.

sizemik

I see nothing wrong with a good impassioned debate . . . even a heated one . . . provided it doesn't descend into provocation and insults.

It would appear that a small number come here with the sole purpose of inciting conflict . . . aggresively or passively . . . it doesn't matter . . . and they know who they are. A common characteristic seems to be following certain others around the board and expressing a contrary view on everything they have to say . . .

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Lord of the Flies

by d in

jw
friends

has anybody here read lord of the flies.the book is by william golding and he takes during a world war and it involves 12 boys lost on an island.anybody i like the book because it describes very well human nature at it's worst.

that deep down we are savage humans bent on killing and destruction.

the book also made me think that children are not as innocent as we make them out to be.people can do evil to one another if law and order did not exist..

sizemik

Yeah I've read it . . . at school and again later on.

Interesting also is the amorphous religious element and ritualisation that emerges.

I saw a reasonably good cinematic production of the story also . . . although Idon't know where you might find that these days

76

After Exiting the Witnesses - Are you O.K. Not Knowing about the Future ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

it seems that religion has always been considered the opium of the people.

or at least many tend to gravitate towards religion to have or solidify some sort of future with a supreme being overlooking them hoping to have a reward either in heaven or in the jehovah's witnesses case - living forever in a " paradise earth ".

it seems that people can't just live day to day and let each day come to them with whatever happens.

sizemik

B_Deserter . . . love that illustration . . . very appropriate.

Still not totally happy about the $80 though . . . I could've done with it.

23

How the Watchtower MELTDOWN fits in the stream of time

by Terry in

jw
friends

from puritan times there was an urge to expand the kingdom of god on earth by creating as many communities of christians as possible.. this was to be done by setting a "pure" example of utopian harmony.

a "shining city on a hill" with a beacon of light for all nations to see.. perfectionism and personality development was key.. .

it was to be christianity by example!.

sizemik

Great summary Terry . . .

The gradual metamorphasis described resembles the life-cycle of Organisations that if constrained within a shorter time would undoubtedly expire as many Organisations find to be true.

What concerns me a little with JW Org is that they've managed to stretch things out over enough time that the coming full circle and resorting to methods of the past may find new life and regeneration with such a new audience . . . adequately detached from it's past.

I'm not sure you see where I'm coming from . . . but perhaps the information age will still prove to be thier one and only undoing.

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