patio34

Joined

• started 234 topics
• posted 4,042 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by patio34

• 
  10

  What is the purpose of this board?

  by abcde in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just found this board.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi ABC,

  Glad to meet you! You asked what is the purpose of this board. I can't speak for the owner of the site, but I'll tell you what I've found.

  This is a place where Jehovah's Witnesses can be completely frank and honest about their feelings, doubts, opinions, etc., without censorship or reprisals as might happen at the Kingdom Hall.

  That's why you may find some negativity. For instance, if I have a doubt about the WT teaching on evolution (which I have), I could NEVER express that in a group from the Kingdom Hall or out in service or privately to friends.

  But here, we can have freedom to air our deepest feelings about all these kinds of things.

  I hope you find this useful.

  Warmly,
  Pat
• 
  16

  Looking for some friends

  by nishayd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i am looking for some people to talk to.

  i have no friends and i do know why.

  people are very judgmental about the way i look.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi Vernisha,

  My name is Pat and I'm glad you introduced yourself to us.

  This is a wonderful place for stimulating conversations and making new friends.

  Speaking from experience, I know there are many ways of making friends besides joining such a group as Jehovah's Witnesses. Why I would encourage you to be very careful is because once you are one, it's very difficult if you ever change your mind and/or think differently from what they teach.

  What you might do is a search on the net and look at some of the sites such as 'freeminds,' 'silentlambs,' the 'watchtower observer,' etc.

  After all, you should know a lot about any organization/religion you would join--more than just one side.

  I hope you stick around and gain a lot from the interesting discussions we have.

  Warmly,
  Pat
• 
  9

  Child Sacrifices

  by XAPITI in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  where do i begin?

  i have a problem here.

  because of the teachings i had from a very young age, i refused to take a shot with blood in it.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  XAPITI,

  I'm so sorry for your children! I agree with your comparison of the WT and idol-worshippers.

  Welcome to our board and I hope you find it rewarding.

  I've been here since I quit going to meetings in March of this year. It's helped a lot.

  Do you still go to meetings? Or, when did you leave?

  Warmly,
  Pat
• 
  24

  Quips and Quotes

  by Frenchy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "...it does not take deliberate lies to develop mistaken beliefs.

  at times, we just misread things.

  how many people have met untimely deaths doing something they believed was right?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  It's easier to put on slippers than carpet the world.

  From "Stuart Saves his Family"
• 
  9

  12/8/01 Awake! help for Arthritics

  by RationalWitness in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on page 10 of the december 8, 2001 awake!, the article "hope for arthritis sufferers" feigns to offer encouragement to those afflicted with chronic arthritis.

  note how the article describes some of the sad consequences of this condition:such limitations can cause frustration and negative felings about oneself.

  gaku, aged 27, is one of jehovah's witnesses and says: "not being able to share fully in the evangelizing work or fulfill congregation assignments makes me feel that as a person i have no value whatsoever.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Rational Witness,

  Thanks for the excellent critique of the article. As Seeker said, the blame is on the sufferer. The elders can't help unless you let them--how? by going to the meetings! How circular! You aren't well enough to get to the *#&&! meetings.

  Thirdson,

  So true, so true. I had some friends of mine comment when I was a JW that "nobody reads every article in the magazines!" But I did...then.

  Pat
• 
  14

  some fall photos

  by crittersitter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  wanted to share some fall pix...a few days ago i took these...now the leaves are gone..... .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi CritterSitter,

  NOW I get your name! I love your photos. Is that beautiful child in the pic your daughter?

  What an interesting job you have!

  Thanks for sharing!

  Pat
• 
  29

  How the JWs helped me

  by larc in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  all of us have had negative experiences as a result of leaving the witnesses, some much worse than others.

  many here, have expressed a bitterness and an anger over loosing so many "wasted" years.

  while these are natural feelings, i think there are several positives we can dwell on as well.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi Larc,

  Thanks for this positive thread. It's interesting.

  Here are a few benefits that I received from being a JW (although, as has been pointed out, it could have been more in another venue):

  1. I got a good sense of history from the Bible reading and many WT and Awake articles on history.

  2. The brain gets smarter from use and all the memory work and arguing skills used a lot of brain power.

  3. I became more skilled at studying.

  And, as others have noted, public speaking, sales skills.

  Take care!
  Pat
• 
  16

  Another Flawed, Misleading Awake 12/8/01

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  "watching the world" in the dec.8,01' awake carries.

  a scare story about pornography.

  it refers to the.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi Metatron,

  Thanks for your informative posts! What struck me is that, no matter what the subject is, the WTBS puts the worst possible spin on it. This is because they have to prove how terrible everything is.

  Nary do you see a positive article about something the 'world' is doing. Well, except the UN--but now we all know why they did that.

  They write only about the negative and put it in the worst light possible. E.g., how many articles do you see on the holidays informing readers of the closeness of families, warmth of traditions, etc.? Only any negative aspects they can exaggerate to a frenzy.

  Such shallow writing, it's too bad I didn't see it sooner. Although often I did, but did nothing about it.

  Thanks (getting off my soap box now :)

  Pat
• 
  1

  To Waiting: Stuart Saves His Family

  by patio34 in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  hi sis,.

  just watched the above movie and am still sniffing :-( :-).

  very moving .

  1. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi Sis,

  Just watched the above movie and am still sniffing :-( :-)

  Very moving . . . and in many ways. It's about children of alcoholics, families of alcoholics, helping one another, etc. Gives a lot of food for thought!

  My favorite saying in it was "It's easier to put on slippers than carpet the whole world."

  Thanks for the recommendation!

  "Diary of Bridgette Jones" wasn't in, so I'll get to watch that later.

  Love,
  Pat
• 
  9

  Bridgette Jones' Diary - review

  by waiting in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  i luuuuuvvvvved it!.

  rented it the other night, wasn't feeling good, drank some wine - and laughed, and laughed, and laughed, and laughed.. lord, that poor girl lived through some of the same things common to all - particularily women, however.. i had no idea how good it was or i would have seen it sooner!.

  waiting

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  patio34

  Hi ya Waiting!

  Thanks for the recommendation--I was going to treat myself to a movie and a steak this afternoon (I'm just about finished shampooing the carpet -- whew!).

  I used Simon's feature of checking which new threads were up by you and which posts you've commented on. Cool, huh?

  Hi Larc! Nice to read your posts. Please tell ZaZu hi for me too!

  Pat