Posts by noonehome

67

Do you detect an underlying sadness ?

by Phizzy in

jw
friends

whenever i talk to jw's, and even in some of the jw official videos, i detect a definite vibe of sadness coming off these people.. i am very sensitive to "atmospheres" and to peoples emotional state, you wouldn't think so, because more often than not i do not react to what i detect, i just let people get on with it.. but i do get this feeling that they are sad, probably because very, very, very deep down they realise that it is all false, maybe ?.

noonehome

I know what you mean, but it could simply be a matter of projecting our own state onto others. I'm quite young though, and I think allot of the witnesses I associate with believe this system of things - Satan's world - to be the cause of their stresses and any underlying sadness. They're "making the best possible use of their youth" now, and they feel good about that even if it sucks. But perhaps once witnesses no longer have that, reality starts eating away at the subconcious mind and the seeds of underlying sadness take root.

I've been meaning to conduct a bit of an experiment by asking my friends if they are truly happy. I think they'd say they are 'as happy as they can be in an imperfect world because they are doing God's will, but are looking forward to the time when wickedness will be destroyed and the real life can begin'...and all that jazz. Just a guess...but I wouldn't know how to bring it up without drawing attention to myself. It's a serious problem though, especially for an organization claiming to have the keys to real lasting happiness.

37

Excuse needed to get out of talk

by noonehome in

jw
friends

i work with the school overseer so he'll be with me all day before the meeting...so being 'sick' isn't an option.

this really isn't like me to weasel my way out of something....but i've been ridiculously depressed lately and honestly i just don't have it in me to do anything let alone put a talk together.

everytime i do one it takes allot out of me and let's just say the well is pretty dry.

noonehome

Miss.Fit

RE: Update

I was able to get off the hook with that talk #3 couple weeks ago. Thanks everyone for the suggestions...I ended up canceling by text message close to 4 days in advance. A willing M.S. gobbled up the opportunity. The S.O. brought it up while at work, as expected, but I was vague and hinted at the fact that I wasn't going to give a reason and to lay off, but that it was basically a case of 'bad timing'...which is true.

Unfortunately I have another part this week...there was a cancelation and I guess the S.O. felt like I 'owed' it to him to do it. Ugh. In addition I'll have to deliver a concluding prayer. You have no idea how difficult it is for me to get up there and deliver a prayer. I'm pretty sure the C.O.B.E. thinks I'm not pulling my weight as a brother. Give me a break...I'm going to college full-time. He holds that against me too. Hence the sudden onslaught of prayers and stuff the same month my sophomore year starts. I can't keep this fricken charade going but I don't have a choice.

37

Excuse needed to get out of talk

by noonehome in

jw
friends

i work with the school overseer so he'll be with me all day before the meeting...so being 'sick' isn't an option.

this really isn't like me to weasel my way out of something....but i've been ridiculously depressed lately and honestly i just don't have it in me to do anything let alone put a talk together.

everytime i do one it takes allot out of me and let's just say the well is pretty dry.

noonehome

I work with the school overseer so he'll be with me all day before the meeting...so being 'sick' isn't an option. This really isn't like me to weasel my way out of something....but I've been ridiculously depressed lately and honestly I just don't have it in me to do anything let alone put a talk together. Everytime I do one it takes allot out of me and let's just say the well is pretty dry. I feel guilty as hell and I'm dreading having to break the news to him...you don't understand this guy - it won't be easy.

I hate letting people down and turning down opportunities to better myself (by "better myself" I'm talking about public speaking...it's hard for me but I have the potential to be quite good at it the more I do it.) Any suggestions? I make good talks I guess, but I'm in pretty rough shape. I can barely keep myself together let alone having to stress about this. Not all that stimulating a topic, but thanks guys I appreciate it.

31

Did Anyone Apply To Go To Bethel, And Not Be Accepted?

by LoisLane looking for Superman in

the brother i loved, married someone else.

at the ripe old age of 20, i thought my life was over.

if i was catholic, i probably would have joined a nunnery.

noonehome

I actually applied a just few months ago, after a letter was read saying there was a great need and to apply even if you weren't pioneering. Single brothers my age were needed and great encouragement was given to apply, even temporarily. I applied for a temporary stint because I figured it would be good for me...or something. Not really sure. I kind of wanted to go because I thought it might brainwash me and all my doubts would be buried and I'd be 'cured' as a JW. Then I could just do what's expected of me, fall in line, get married like everyone else, and live my life in haze of ignorance and false happiness. Sort of screwed up reasoning I know but I was tired of my life and figured I could make it as a 'good JW' if I had no choice (i.e. Bethel life.) I wasn't accepted due my hours being too low. Still tired of my life.

2

you know that JW song that goes, 'Hey there all you thirsty ones...'?

by Unlearn in

when we were kids, and part bored/part excited that the meeting was finally over, we used to change the lyrics and sing, 'hey there all you hershey barrrs!'....

i got in real trouble one time for that.

my old man confiscated all of my shogun warriors and comic books (the ones he could find)....

noonehome

"Listen obey and undress..."

69

What would it take for YOU to come back?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><!

[endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:trackmoves> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:drawinggridverticalspacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> </w:compatibility> </w:worddocument> </xml><!

[endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:latentstyles> </xml><!

noonehome

Heaven

Being raised believing that you'll never die is a harmful fantasy. Facing my own mortality is one of the hardest things I've had to do in the past year and a bit, since realizing me and everyone I know is infact going to die one day... The Flaming Lips say it best:

http://youtu.be/5zYOKFjpm9s

69

What would it take for YOU to come back?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:officedocumentsettings> <o:allowpng /> </o:officedocumentsettings> </xml><!

[endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves>false</w:trackmoves> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing>18 pt</w:drawinggridhorizontalspacing> <w:drawinggridverticalspacing>18 pt</w:drawinggridverticalspacing> <w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery>0</w:displayhorizontaldrawinggridevery> <w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery>0</w:displayverticaldrawinggridevery> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:dontautofitconstrainedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> </w:compatibility> </w:worddocument> </xml><!

[endif][if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="276"> </w:latentstyles> </xml><!

noonehome

Just curious. As of this moment I haven’t left, but every once in a while my mind reverts back to the “what if it IS true” state. Would it take a miracle or some kind of divine sign for you to make the 180? Or let’s say disfellowshipping was axed and it became a “conscious matter” whether or not to shun (don’t hold your breath…) . Is there anything that would change your mind, making you become a witness again?

I had a buddy tell me once that he couldn’t understand why people would leave instead of playing it safe and staying, because he wouldn’t want to die. Pretty messed up but I think allot probably feel this trap, whether or not they’d admit it.

I don’t really want to get into Pascal’s wager or anything. But seriously, what, if anything, would it take?

55

Lot's of talk on the July Watchtower?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

so i've heard lots of talk from within about the 'new light' in this watchtower...i'm yet to look at it in any detail.

i'm kind of surprised actually...i first heard about it here before it was even available but close to the time it did come out people started bringing it up - even our co.. some say things like "have you heard about this?

" or "big changes," or "allot of things they said we believed, i didn't realize,"(lots of that) or "brain-overload" or " too much information, but i've never felt more pumped up" or "it's soo exciting to see jehovah's spirit lead his organization..." or "it requires time to sink in, but it's a good feeling!

noonehome

jwfacts: "A JW can remain in the doubting state for their entire life, or they can wake up at some point. It usually takes an emotional event of some sort to push them through the cognitive dissonance and start acting on their concerns."

Bingo. This has been my exact personal experience, although I'm not in any position to leave anytime soon, but you're completely right.

21

Those who went to University whilst being a JW

by MMXIV in

i've read a number of posts in the brief couple of years i've been on jwn of those that were brave enough to go to university whilst being a jw.. clearly this is a small fraction of those that wanted to go but couldn't or had the grades to go but accepted pioneering instead.. for those that did go to uni despite all the advice and pressure, why did you go?

what was the response when you broke the news?

how did it affect your relationships?

noonehome

I finish my first year of a 2-year college program this week. When people found out a year ago there was allot of questioning as to if it was part time, and how long it would be, aren't student loans expensive, and if there are even any jobs... etc. I definitely felt like it made people uncomfortable, but now that I'm halfway finished I think more people are realizing how not big a deal it is and how short a period it is.

I'm still regular at meetings and participate in my 'privileges' and try and maintain enough service hours to fly under the radar. I think allot of the elders are kind of disappointed in me, because they see allot of 'potential' being... well, wasted. Elders are getting older and there aren't many worthy young men these days to succeed them. Not having a father figure, it's kind of hard to not let it affect me.

55

Lot's of talk on the July Watchtower?

by noonehome in

jw
friends

so i've heard lots of talk from within about the 'new light' in this watchtower...i'm yet to look at it in any detail.

i'm kind of surprised actually...i first heard about it here before it was even available but close to the time it did come out people started bringing it up - even our co.. some say things like "have you heard about this?

" or "big changes," or "allot of things they said we believed, i didn't realize,"(lots of that) or "brain-overload" or " too much information, but i've never felt more pumped up" or "it's soo exciting to see jehovah's spirit lead his organization..." or "it requires time to sink in, but it's a good feeling!

noonehome

So I've heard lots of talk from within about the 'new light' in this watchtower...I'm yet to look at it in any detail. I'm kind of surprised actually...I first heard about it here before it was even available but close to the time it did come out people started bringing it up - even our CO.

Some say things like "have you heard about this?" or "big changes," or "allot of things they said we believed, I didn't realize,"(LOTS of that) or "brain-overload" or " too much information, but I've never felt more pumped up" or "it's SOO exciting to see Jehovah's spirit lead his organization..." or "It requires time to sink in, but it's a good feeling!" or "I have to study it more, because it's so different to what I thought we believed," etc.

People are just eating it right up. Slurping it up like a plate full of saucy spaghetti.

One of my MS friends seemed a little surprised/confused when I told him what it was about. One friend said "You know it's intense when there's a timeline," which was kind of funny the way he said it. Earlier he said something about how crazy some of the stuff we used to believe is when you "look back at old watchtowers," which piqued my attention but of course I couldn't say anything. He says things sometimes that convince me he's waking up and other times that there's no way. Another one of my buddies went staight to the website to download it on his iPad to see it for himself. He started quoting some of the things and the group fell silent at some of it.

I don't really know what to make of any of this. I guess just that it's interesting to see people think about things out only so far as is comfortable... and then abruptly stop to praise Jah and put their heads down for another slurp off the plate. Has this been other people's experience?