fortis et liber

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Posts by fortis et liber

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  7

  Elders visit today

  by truthseeker1969 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  two kindly old gentlemen came to visit to see if i would like to come to the meetings againa.. i explained to them kindly the full circumstances for me leaving and that i had found information that disturbed me a great deal about the background wheeling and dealing within the society and that it was enough to make me have greater doubts about the authenticity of teachings given.. i told them that the cosietys stance towards those who leave and the labelling of "mentally diseased" and "sick" are words that would never come out of jehovahs mouth as he is god of pure love.. the kindly listened while i told them that i indeed miss the congregation and i knew how it was hard for those who know me to ignore me but that was proof enough that such a stance of shunning hurts even those who had nothing to do with any event that resulted in disfelowshipping.. i forcefully told them that those who are labelled as 'apostates" are not out to do anything to the congregation, they are simply people who can no longer believe what is being taught and freely expres, in the majority of cases, scriptural grounds for their disagreement.

  many still hold fast to alot of techings as they want truth.. one of them smiled the whole way through the conversation, the other looked at me as if i was the devil!

  i told them i respect them for the stance they take in their life but it equates to the stance i take that i will not be told what i believe is wrong and therefor should be accorded the same respect i give to them.. "what is worse?

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  fortis et liber

  Well done, truthseeker.

  ~ Fortis
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  30

  A Shunning Story

  by leavingwt in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  this is a shunning story that was recently conveyed to me by email.

  i have changed the names/dates to protect the privacy of the individuals.

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  fortis et liber

  This is heartbreaking, what a horrid, cruel cult, severing families in this way. From my experience, the joy of finally 'living' outweighs the burden of living a lie however; the severity of pain from this moment although diminished with time, never really goes away.

  ~ Fortis
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  30

  I'm heading for the mountains

  by sizemik in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  with the barkers .

  and the coloured balloons .

  see you in a month .

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  fortis et liber

  You will be missed, for sure; here's hoping you have a wonderful, restful, rejuvenating time !

  ~ Fortis
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  8

  Can anyone identify this little creature?

  by mummatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  found this wee beastie on my garden wall this evening.

  i know it's a moth but what type?

  i've never seen anything like it before in my life.

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  fortis et liber

  unshackled, thank you !!
• 
  8

  Can anyone identify this little creature?

  by mummatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  found this wee beastie on my garden wall this evening.

  i know it's a moth but what type?

  i've never seen anything like it before in my life.

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  fortis et liber

  mummatron, I believe that is an Elephant Hawk Moth (Deilephila elpenor); moths certainly are not my specialty so I most definitely could be wrong. I was so curious from your photo -- I have never seen a moth so beautiful before -- I just had to find out, Deilephila elpenor is my best guess.

  http://www.flickr.com/photos/linjohnpics/5168947095/

  I'm sorry this is becoming ridiculous at this point, for the life of me, I cannot figure out how to embed a photo (or video for that matter); the hyperlink provided should direct you to a relative of the one moth you captured in your yard.

  ~ Fortis
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  1

  Anyone here from the Johnston and/or Mt. Pleasant RI congregations?

  by fortis et liber in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

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  [endif]i was, once upon a time, a member of both just wondering if anyone else on these boards might have been too.... .

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  fortis et liber

  I was, once upon a time, a member of both – just wondering if anyone else on these boards might have been too…

  ~ Fortis
• 
  6

  PINK ... wrote a song

  by talesin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  for all of us,, especially the 'born-in' ones ... lurvs ya.

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s4rax2pxiwa.

  and so did alanis ..... .

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  fortis et liber

  Tal, both of these songs have always hit me right in the gut for the very reason you posted -- pretty much sums up my life as born-in.

  Thanks for the virtual hug,

  ~ Fortis
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  17

  Can you teach morals without religion?

  by Dune in

  1. jw
  2. friends

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  [endif][if gte mso 10]> <mce:style><!

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  fortis et liber

  Absolutely, with out a doubt, you can teach morals without religion. Any thinking person can reason and, anyone willing and able can teach; a parent can most certainly instruct their children in 'life's lessons' and teach them about 'right' from 'wrong' without following some scripted dogma.

  ~ Fortis
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  14

  Does It Annoy You....

  by OnTheWayOut in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does it annoy you when you post a serious topic, perhaps a question that is part of your spiritual journey, and responders post goofy insider jokes and videos unrelated to your opening post?.

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  fortis et liber

  I have not had it happen to a post/thread I started but if it did yes, it would annoy me.

  ~ Fortis
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  10

  I'm sorry I knocked on your door

  by corpusdei in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  they say the road to hell is paved with good intentions.

  nowhere is that more evident, i think, than in the kingdom hall.

  like so many others that i knew, i thought the watchtower society had it right, that their answers were the correct ones.

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  fortis et liber

  corpusdei, you express yourself so eloquently, although difficult to write, I hope it was cathartic for you -- it was for me and, I thank you for that.

  ~ Fortis