patio34

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Posts by patio34

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  16

  Does fear control the JW's?

  by beroea in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  does fear control the jws?.

  i notice amount several jw that a deep kind of fear are a long time partner in the jw person.

  this combine with a at long times experience of ignoring facts is why many stays even they see a lot of changes from the borg and sometimes even bad things .

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  patio34

  FlabbyCabby,

  Ditto for the comments for your mum: I just left after 28 years 3 months ago. It's scary, but liberating and invigorating. There's plenty to do!

  And welcome to the board!

  Pat
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  19

  What's So Special About These One's?

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  im intrigued by the jws teachings re the 144,000 and i would much appreciate some input.. i mean, is their any real scriptural back-up to say that a set number of people will go from earth to heaven, or is this just a witness interpretation thing?.

  also, how does this remnant become aware that they have a calling?

  does the wtbts tend not to persecute these ones, if they hold views that would be deemed as apostate in others?.

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  patio34

  Englishman,

  If you don't mind my asking, what is your background in relation to the JWs? Just curious.

  Pat
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  15

  ignorance is bliss

  by teejay in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i saw kevin yesterday.. we met almost twenty years ago.

  he's not overly blessed with a .

  he had a life free from the pain of ever knowing that had been played for a .

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  patio34

  Teejay,

  Thanks for your personal replies to everyone.

  You seem like such a thoughtful and kind person. I hope you find peace and happiness.

  Btw, please accept my apology for the reference to small, immature' minds--I was thinking of myself for 28 years!

  It's just that I had to squelch so many thoughts and desire for more information that it seems I kept myself 'small' and confined to the info the WTBS provided.

  Pat
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  15

  ignorance is bliss

  by teejay in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i saw kevin yesterday.. we met almost twenty years ago.

  he's not overly blessed with a .

  he had a life free from the pain of ever knowing that had been played for a .

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  patio34

  Teejay,

  I was one of the ones who would have appeared to others as 'so happy.' It is because of having inherited a naturally cheerful disposition. I was very unhappy and lonely most of the time, but no one knew. So, it's not really a fair assessment to judge on that basis, imo.

  And, I don't really believe that happiness is the criteria on how to live your life. I know of many JWs, as with the population in general, who are on antidepressant meds.

  Happiness is a lifetime work for each of us. What you see publicly doesn't reflect private lives.

  Your friend, Kevin, has given up a great deal, whether it bothers him or not. How can not having an opportunity to marry not bother someone? How can feeling like a lower class citizen not affect one's happiness, whether they show it or not?

  Believing in what I consider a fairy-tale-type belief can lead to happiness only in a very small, immature mind that is willing to shut out virtually everything else but the fairy tale.

  If one is not happy outside the WTBS, that still doesn't make the WTBS the "Truth." Some people aren't happy being out of prison, I suppose; but the problem is with the person and does not reflect on the correctness of the prison.

  "All religions die of one disease and that is being found out." F.N. Morley

  Take care,

  Pat
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  82

  Has anyone felt like leaving God altogether?

  by lookingnow22 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know that the answer is yes, but it would help me to hear your sentiments on this.

  .

  after you decided that the wbts, and thus jw's were not god's chosen earthly organization did you feel like you wanted to leave and forget god altogether?.

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  patio34

  I agree with AlanF that the question is worded wrong. How can you 'leave' the tooth fairy?

  In my 28 yrs as a JW i always squelched my disbelief in a God because I really wanted to 'do the right thing.' I wondered at how could some of the JWs really believe so easily. I read and re-read the books on evolution and creation regularly trying to squelch my 'unbelief.'

  Finally, it all came together for me and I decided that my disbelief was correct and left, not God, but the WTBS. To me, God was never there.

  FreePeace, I certainly understand the anger in your post. How COULD there be a God with all the egregious things that go on? Humans could not stand to watch it and do nothing to help, how could a 'better' being?

  Kes, your posts are like reading the Watchtower. No thank you.

  There are many other posts pointing out all the inconsistencies and cruelties in the Bible which give the lie to its being divinely inspired.

  Pat
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  3

  Diets and Evolution

  by patio34 in

  1. social
  2. physical

  since i've been reading up on that formerly forbidden subject of evolution, it occurs to me that my ideas on diet have been wrong.

  too.. here's my idea: all early human societies were of the hunter-gatherer type.

  now this probably means they ate a lot of meat.

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  patio34

  Hi Scorpion,

  Oh no--I didn't think being a vegetarian caused cancer, I meant DESPITE being a vegetarian!

  I had the cancer 2 years ago and have been thru the treatment. My chances are very good at not getting it again--about 75%. Probably almost as good as if I'd never had it!

  It seems to be pretty established that eating lots of veggies, etc. is good for you. Just some get cancer. I didn't smoke, drink alcohol, and exercised regularly. As one of my workmates commented "If Pat can get it, anyone can."

  I have been overweight on and off and that's a risk factor. Now, I'd like to lose the extra weight in the interest of good health.

  You seem fortunate to not have to watch much and stay within a healthy range. Are you a male? Men have a much easier time, I've observed. Another fellow at work just gave up beer, added fiber to his diet and lost 25 lbs. Poof!

  Pat
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  13

  The Firm and The WTS

  by bj in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i would like to share with you the following comparison that is based from the book the firm by john grisham:.

  the main character is mitchell mcdeere, a young advocate who was recruited by a small, but well-respected law firm.

  they promised him a colourful future if he abide with their codes.

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  patio34

  Thanks Gopher!

  Pat
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  4

  $$$$$$$$$

  by New Eyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  (b j kotwall; investigator magazine no.

  73 2000 july pp.

  the watchtower society (wts) has often criticized other churches for passing collection plates during meetings.

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  patio34

  Thanks for that thoughtful post, NewEyes. And, welcome to the board! Your posts have been informative and enlightening. Will be looking forward to lots more!

  Pat
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  48

  Fornication......*blushing*

  by d0rkyd00d in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as many may know, i'm still a teenager.

  i'm not willing to reveal my age, which is one less than 17 or one more than 15. but i just wanted to get your guys' opinion on sex before marriage.

  a lot of people here have kinda lost their "watchtower" and biblical standards as i have gathered.

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  patio34

  Dood,

  I'm a 54 year old grandma and won't say what I think about extra-marital sex (note the difference between that and pre-marital sex).

  However, having left the WTBS 3 months ago, I'm trying to figure out who I really am as you mentioned you are. Without some authority telling me every decision I should make, it's a challenge to 'reinvent' myself.

  That's what we all have to do after deciding the Bible or the WTS does not have authority over our lives.

  A good question is 'is this who I really want to be?' For instance, you might want to ask yourself 'do i really want to take a chance on bringing a new life into the world?' 'Do I want to be a responsible person with values?'

  It's up to you to decide what your values are and how you want to live your life. Just do it responsibly, safely, without hurting anyone else.

  Also, consider what is in your best, long-term interest. What's in your partner's best interest?

  Peace,

  Pat
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  35

  Society on Documenting Personal Views

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  question: does the watchtower society want individual witnesses expressing personal viewpoints about vital religious issues to persons whose intent is to record and document the findings?

  the following letter written under the new letterhead from the societys service department documents the answer to this question.

  christian congregation of jehovahs witnesses.

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  patio34

  JanH,
  Thanks for the clarification. It's true the JWs individually wouldn't be speaking for the WTBS, just individual surveys.

  Pat