Sometimes, especially in tragedy, their humanity comes out. Johnny kept his humanity most of his life, until he was backed into a corner (no thanks to you).
I really like you, Terry. Thanks for sharing this with us. It's been real.
FayeDunaway
JoinedPosts by FayeDunaway
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13
Last Night I was surrounded by Jehovah's Witnesses . . .
by Terry inlast night was the "body viewing" at the funeral home for the jw whose friendship and influence resulted in my getting baptised in 1963. we weren't just friends.
we had a david & jonathan bromance :) no seriously, we loved each other dearly.. it's only in the last 2 years he shunned me.
before that, he would sneak behind the curtain of stealth, so to speak, and we'd sit for hours each and every week chatting, reminiscing and sometimes arguing about the truth about the "truth.".
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A Sincere Question Regarding Macroevolution
by jacobm ini have a sincere question related to macroevolution:.
microevolution happens on a small scale (within a single population), while macroevolution happens on a scale that transcends the boundaries of a single species.
despite their differences, evolution at both of these levels relies on the same, established mechanisms of evolutionary change:.
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FayeDunaway
When I was a witness I was surprised witnesses never conceded to microevolution, because obviously witnesses can believe in it, but they would never say that in their literature. Maybe it was to avoid problems, maybe it was ignorance.
I think the platypus might be a living example of macroevolution.
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32
I can't take it anymore!
by BlackWolf inmy dad was recently made an elder about maybe 6 months ago, and now he is never around he's always at work or doing some kind of jw crap.
now he conducts the watchtower study and is even doing the special talk tommorow.
he's become an even more strict controlling jerk than he was before, and i'm never allowed to go out and do anything non jw related because he doesn't have the time.
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FayeDunaway
Hon, if you leave slowly, they may never have to 'deal' with you. Your relationship with your parents will probably never be the same as when you were with them, but if you do it right they may not shun you. It will be hard on your father for sure, since he is an elder and his kids are supposed to be 'exemplary' and it may put him in an uncomfortable position later. But if you are out of the house, and leave slowly, they may not shun you and if you are out of the house he may not suffer too many consequences. It will be a long process, if you don't want to lose them. Others have been more upfront and ripped the bandaid off, for complete independence, with mixed results.
P.s. I'm glad your dad listened to you on cutting back! That's a good sign.
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16
Why do so many people believe in psychic powers?
by The Rebel inas an ex-witness i have enjoyed becoming open to other people's views and understanding.
therefore this o.p is on the subject of psychic powers.
my own exsperience i can't explain rationally, but as a child many times i had dreams that came true in detail, yet many may explain it away as deja vu.
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FayeDunaway
I'm not the least bit psychic but I have had a supernatural experience involving a dead relative, and have heard a good and reputable friend tell me her experience involving her murdered mother. I am a Christian and don't know exactly how it fits into my own theology, but I do believe some worried spirits stay here until they find peace to move on. -
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Twilight and other banned media
by purrpurr inthanks to online media of movies and books i've recently been watching the twilight series.
issues of quality aside i enjoyed it enough.
i mostly wanted to see what the fuss was about and have the fun of seeing a movie that was banned from the platform when it came out.
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FayeDunaway
Reading Harry Potter was the first unwitnessy thing I ever did. I read them to my kids and would recommend anyone else do the same. I realized it's not a celebration of evil, it's good vs. evil in a creative way.
Purrpurr I was really, really into the twilight books and didn't consider them naughty. The books are still kind of juvenile but way better than the movies. And I was team Edward and don't see where you are coming from.
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Apathy carts in NoCal
by kaik ini spent couple wonderful days in napa valley and sonoma with visits to san francisco.
what hits me was the number of apathy carts in the city.
they were at powell station, embarcadero, fisherman wharf, etc.
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FayeDunaway
Well remember it's April, which is push yourself to pioneer month. What better way to count your time than sitting around drinking coco. -
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Banned from the second school!
by purrpurr ini've been told by a jw friend that when her hall recently had a refurb that big changes were made to the second school.. one, a large sign has been placed on the door telling people not to use it and to sit in the main hall itself.. two,that all the chairs which used to face the large windows looking into the main hall are now side on to the window facing the wall instead.. this is because "so many people were sitting out in there!
people were finding all manner of exhuses to sit-in there and the brothers want us to all be together in the main hall!
" she said.. of course i didn't tell her what i really thought of this but seriously?
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FayeDunaway
Because they want those with small children to torment their kids in the main auditorium trying to keep them unnaturally quiet for 2 hours straight, and if they aren't, they want to enjoy the opportunity to sneer at them. -
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I can't take it anymore!
by BlackWolf inmy dad was recently made an elder about maybe 6 months ago, and now he is never around he's always at work or doing some kind of jw crap.
now he conducts the watchtower study and is even doing the special talk tommorow.
he's become an even more strict controlling jerk than he was before, and i'm never allowed to go out and do anything non jw related because he doesn't have the time.
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FayeDunaway
My father was a fun loving guy before he was an elder. Then he started walking around like he was carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders and he was never home. The best times we had were when we went on vacation and he didn't have to think about it for a few days.
I feel for you. I was a free spirit with an elder father too, and a mother who wanted to appear perfect all the time. It's a lot of unrealistic pressure. Someday you can escape. It's hard knowing how exactly to do it, and when, but it will happen. I think I've told you before, but get a part time job and save all your money. All of it. Use it later for college and living expenses because unless you have a rich sweet worldly grandmother you will need to do it yourself.
Edited to add: i love Pete's advice too, I think expressing this to your father may make your life a little easier for the present and may wake your father up a bit from his elder haze.
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The JW FUNERAL experience
by Terry inmy best buddy is gone.
i attended his funeral this morning.. on thursday evening, i went to the body "viewing" and it was "family only.
" i am part of the family (through marriage) so, i was there.. i was welcomed with joy and enthusiasm like a long lost (prodigal) sheep.
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FayeDunaway
Terry that is the best you have ever written.
It is exactly, EXACTLY, like that. That's what it was like being a witness.
I'm glad you were welcomed as part of the family. Those two experiences should have been reversed, so that you could have the authentic one for the last part instead of being left with the lingering taste of plastic.
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You Can Be Happy As A JW If...
by JW_Rogue inyou are delusional.
meaning that you believe everything that the wt says 100% without questioning it all.
you believe there is no other source of truth or valid view points.
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FayeDunaway
You can be happy as a JW if....
you like to imagine you are better than everyone else, and get your jollies out of that special self-righteousness that comes with being told the whole world is evil except THIS organization that you happen to belong to. Aren't you lucky! I mean, fortunate!