i have only just recently found this site, in fact only recently gone online to do research of my own about jws.
before i left i had only gone on my gut instinct, not even realising i was not alone with my feelings.
the week i was appointed an elder some 11 years ago, i had had to write to a congregation many miles away from me about how unloving they were (more details below).. not long after i started to have concerns about jws, expecially as the message of 'following the bibles message' subtly changed to 'follow the fds', this did not sit well with me.
Welcome to JWN. So sorry for all you and your sister have endured. Like you and others here, I also thought I was alone in rejecting what the borg taught and did.That's what the WTS wants us to think. As you can see, there are many of us and we are here for mutual support. The orgaization is so heartless and has truly caused much pain. Glad you are out.
PHG
i remember as a jw kid listening to a special talk about life after death by lester dugan, a circuit overseer whose mother attended our kingdom hall.
i don't think he was our circuit servant (in fact i'm pretty sure he was not), but he would visit our hall about twice a year when he took time to see his elderly mom.. his talk was about life after death and achieving paradise through good works and staying active in the preaching work.
after nearly 60 years, i remember very little of the bulk of his talk, but i do remember a couple of questions that he answered afterwards:.
When one of the anointed (bro Diedz) died in our cong, another anointed bro (Numan, from Australia) gave the talk. He said the bro who had died was in a state much like purgatory. When I questioned him about it, he said he had misspoken, he said he meant to say that the bro had to be oriented into heaven, he could not just go directly into Heaven. I didn't think that was strange because he would be new to the place and might need to know a few things before he was allowed in. I agree with both Dawkins and you. I feel that when I die, I will just not be, much like before I was born. I don't look forward to that but what can I do about it? If I was fortunate enough to be brought back to life, I feel that the time I was not alive would be much like being asleep during surgery. I would awaken without realizing anytime had elapsed. Because I can not do anything about dying, I really don't worry about it. I do know I would not be happy in a Paradise controlled by the GB and the elders.I had not really thought about how life in Paradiase would be until someone described it on a post here. I could not abide that type of life.
PHG
so-called type a personalities are risk-takers...or so we are told.. i don't know about that.. i know that people aren't easily categorized into neat little folders of behavior.. .
i know that some of us are very very reluctant to try new things while others have a sense of adventure.. .
are you a person who tries new things?.
I went to a Leadership meeting in Pittsburg, PA all by myself. That may not seem like much, but I never travel alone. I am a wimp. When I saw my room, I was so glad I was alone, it was so nice. In fact, by the time I got off the plane, I had made four new acquaintances who were also going to the same meeting. I had a great time.When I left, I had made 12 new friends. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I had a lot of fun. Now I want to try NYC.
PHG
serial killer rose west becomes a jehovah's witness.. http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/jehovahs-witness-beliefs/rose-west-serial-killer-becomes-a-jehovahs-witness/.
bangalore.
.
I missed the fun also. This forum goes so fast.
PHG
thanks!.
.
love healthworker.
designs, that was funny.
Healthworker, I have often wondered what the purpose of any of us humans on earth is. My purpose is to enjoy what life I have and read all the good books I can.
Otherwise, life consists of work,eat, sleep, walk the dogs and drink wine. There are, of course, the social obligations. I wish I could just stay home but there are those people who always want you to go somewhere with them. It's great that you have such goals. I would like to visit Spain sometime but it's so far away and everytime I fly I end up getting sick. I am going to start wearing a mask when I get on a plane.
PHG
imagine boarding a bus with your family for a long anticipated vacation.
the destination is a place that is promised to be beautiful warm and sunny.
as you are boarding the bus you are given a ticket stub with several paragraph's of fine print.
That was great! I also thought I was in the Twilight Zone. Add a little more to it and you have a short story for publication.
PHG
so far here in nyc nothing but light rain and wind, i wish it would stay that way for the duration, but they say so far it's gonna hit hard.. .
Watching tv and looks bad. It's chilly and windy in SE GA, maybe effect from storm, don't know. All you in Sandy's path, take care. Nature does not care who you are. She's in control.
PHG
lately i've been thinking about fading from the cong but im not sure about what would be the top reason in my list.
without writing 2 page answers, question for anyone posting in repply to this or whoever reads this.
what would be your reason/reasons for fading?
I wish I had faded instead of just telling it like it is and getting df'd. I could have still had my family. Yet, I have progressed so much since leaving the borg, that maybe that would not have worked for me. There is so much to consider when making this fade/don't fade decision. Proceed with caution.
PHG
Welcome to all from Africa from SE USA. I work with several people from Africa. I was discussing rhymes that I learned in the first grade with my friend from Nigeria such as :one two buckle my shoe,three four shut the door, and one little two little three little Indians. I was so surprised that she had learned the same first grade rhymes in Africa that I had learned in Texas. She is young enough to be my daughter, so that surprised me even further. She is a Catholic. One of the reasons I love where I live, is that I meet so many people from other countries and I learn so much from them.
PHG
http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2012/10/a-supreme-court-clash-could-change-what-ownership-means/.
could bring down ebay, and the selling of used books on amazon, and reselling goods on other sites.
book publishers who sell their textbooks for astronomical prices in the u.s. but much cheaper in other countries are suing entrepreneurs who import the cheaper but identical books and sell them for less.. at issue is whether you own the stuff you buy.
Hortensia said:I hope I'm not boring you all with this, it's interesting to me.
Absolutly an important subject. The price of textbooks is outrageous and I believe, after we pay the purchase price for one, we should be able to do with our purchase as we want, with the exception of making other copies for sale. Students need all the breaks they can get in order to afford school. I also buy old books from independent book sellers, most in perfect condition, and would hate to lose that privilage.
PHG
