Posts by Nika Bee

Quendi, since you asked if anyone is involved in mathematical research: I'm studying arithmetic geometry, more precisely p-adic Hodge theory and K-theory. Famous conjectures in this field are the crystalline conjecture or the semistable conjecture. We are for example constructing Chern classes - maps that link K-theory and different cohomology theories.

I am sorry this migth not make much sense to someone who is not working in this field, just a bunch of weird words...

101

Help with Mathematical Concepts, Not Arithmetic

by Band on the Run in

jw
friends

my math background is embarassing.

my public education was very sad.

although i received good grades in college track math courses, i never understood the underlying ideas or motivations.

Nika Bee

This was Andrew Wiles. Seeing a documentary about his proof and journey when I was in Secondary School was the initial reason why I wanted to study math.

8

"Waiting on Jehovah" the slum landlord

by Terry in

how many faithful true believer jw's are "waiting on jehovah" to straighten out their religion?.

i know of many.. most of these impatient people are pissed off and squirming.. they have usually been inside the kingdom hall for many, many years and have seen the many stumbles and changes.. and, frankly, they are sick and tired of being sick and tired.. .

"wait on jehovah" has been the only counsel offered to stave off outright rebellions.. .

Nika Bee

Thanks for this post. I always enjoy reading your thoughts.

I personally don't think an answer can be found to the question how many gods there are - is it zero, one or many? But for me this question is irrelevant. If there is any number of gods, or one god, I think they or he/she has nothing to do with any religion.

101

Help with Mathematical Concepts, Not Arithmetic

by Band on the Run in

jw
friends

my math background is embarassing.

my public education was very sad.

although i received good grades in college track math courses, i never understood the underlying ideas or motivations.

Nika Bee

Quendi - what is your field?

I love pure math, especially number theory, it's fascinating and beautiful

35

Was your fade easy or difficult? Let me know ur fade story

by dazed but not confused in

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when i started to fade it was pretty easy for me.

Nika Bee

For me it was more like e clean break, although that depends on the definition. I visited home last summer (my family lives in Germany, while I am a PhD student in the US). When I came back to the US, I just wanted to take a break of meetings just for a couple of weeks, because I couldn't stand it at that moment. It was easy: the congregation from here thought I was at home, and the home comgregation thought I was here.

Then I had a nasty bike accident. It is hard to explain, but this enabled me to acknoledge, what my subconsious must have known for a long time: that this is unhealthy and illogical and nothing I wanted to be part of. Maybe it was the fact that I felt alone and betrayed in a situation when I needed support. I hadn't turned in my field service hours for that month (which I usually did by email when I travelled). The brother emailed me and I told him I had an accident. He just replied, he didn't know that and I jsut should turn it in when I feel better. Nothing more. Noone ever asked how I was doing.

The following months I read a lot, mostly on the internet. I never went back, I never turned in a field slip.

The problem is, I don't know, what to tell my mother when she calls. Fortunately she italks so much on the phone, and hasn't yet asked too many questions. But they are bound to come up, I don't wnat to lie to her. Once I called my father, who never was a JW, it was our first really personal conversation. It was good to tell him about my decision.

7

Being alive

by Nika Bee in

hello, i am (almost) new here, and in the beginning i didn't really think that i would ever post something here.

but then.... yesterday i had a little experience, nothing important , people who haven't been in the organisation have probably a hard time to understand why it's even worth talking (writing) about.

but i though if there are people who can relate to it, they are here, and if not this post will just disappear in the internet and no harm was done.. i was walking my friends' dogs in the evening sun, not thinking about anything.

Nika Bee

Hello, I am (almost) new here, and in the beginning I didn't really think that I would ever post something here. But then...

Yesterday I had a little experience, nothing important , people who haven't been in the organisation have probably a hard time to understand why it's even worth talking (writing) about. But I though if there are people who can relate to it, they are here, and if not this post will just disappear in the internet and no harm was done.

I was walking my friends' dogs in the evening sun, not thinking about anything. All of a sudden, I don't know why, something struck me: I looked up thinking: I am here, I am alive, I am me! I don't have to feel guilty, because I can't live up to the rules of some human organisation. I am not unworthy, because I don't meet someones requirements. I have a right to be here as much as any other creature on this planet.

With all the happiness and sadness, the good and the bad things, it feels good to be alive!

66

A question specially for ladies ...

by Dudu in

did you change the way you dress after leaving the wt?.

Nika Bee

No skirts and dresses and uncomfortable shoes anymore!!!

And I have a tattoo now :-)

6

Stupid question from a non-native speaker

by Nika Bee in

jw
friends

hello i am relatively new here, and i apologise for my english in advance.. this is a very irrelevant and probably very stupid question: what does the word "borg" mean, or where does it come from?

i understand it's used for the organisation, but i don't get why.. also, where does "kool aid" come from?.

thanks and sorry again!.

Nika Bee

Hello I am relatively new here, and I apologise for my English in advance.

This is a very irrelevant and probably very stupid question: What does the word "borg" mean, or where does it come from? I understand it's used for the organisation, but I don't get why.

Also, where does "kool aid" come from?

Thanks and sorry again!

20

shaking hands

by man in black in

when i was a witness ( esp.

as a youth) it seemed that whenever i went to a meeting, or assembly.

i would send an incredible amount of time shaking hands.

Nika Bee

Where I'm from (Bavaria/Southern Germany) it is considered to be rude not to shake hands. Male or female, you are expected to shake hands with everyone in the congregation. It is also common "outside". Especially among people who perceive themselves to belong to one community, like from the same village, working for the same company, being in the same sports club/team, etc.

However, people don't hug as often as people in the US seem to do. Only at very special occasions, and only if you know someone very well. When I first came to the US, in the congregation where I was back then, people always wanted to hug (I'm a girl), even though they barely knew me. One sister told me, seeing that I was not comfortable with this: if I stayed here, I will have to get used to it.