Intellectually, I say probably not. But, if I were in a foxhole I just might start praying like crazy!!
BTW, I notice lately I feel like the kid in Annie Hall that told the shrink "the universe is expanding". What's the use??
Sabine
JoinedPosts by Sabine
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69
Who Here Believes in God?
by The_Bad_Seed inpersonally, i do not believe god ever has or ever will exist.
i have my reasons -- i guess i could be considered an agnostic, rather than an athiest.
i was curious to see what the larger part of the former borg community believed, now looking from the outside in, rather than the opposite.
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Rejection
by dsgal ini faithfully attended all the meetings at the local kingdom hall...someone was studying with me...i went out in field service.but i never got invited to any of their social events.this hurt me so bad i stopped going to meetings.just curious,anyone else ever experience shunning?
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Sabine
Welcome dsgal!
This topic was a big bone of contention for my hubby and I when we first got married. He came from a "big shot" family because his dad was a missionary and had a brilliant career in the borg. I on the other hand, came from a single parent (mom) family, we had different last names (oh my she's a divorcee!!) and were hispanic in an all white congregation.
My hubby thought everyone was treated the same in the hall, always invited to someone's home after Sunday meetings, always included in gatherings, etc. He finally realized if your dad isn't the PO, or even an elder, and you are a single woman (not into butt kissing) you are going to be very lonely in the borg.
When we moved away from his family to a new area where no one knew his legendary family name...surprize we were just a new family in a hall full of cliques. No one wanted to get know us and after the meetings on Sunday we just went home alone to glow in the warmth of knowing we would someday live in paradise. Urgh!
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HOW MANY DRINKERS----OUT THERE???
by minimus inone thing over the years that i have noticed about jehovah's witnesses is that they love to drink, especially bethelites....have you too noticed this?
and why do you think this might be the case?
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Sabine
What's a run IV? When we turned 21 Bacardi 151 was the drink of choice. Now I'm a martini fan.
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Eyes Open
by WildTurkey inas i look back at my life as a dub, now that i have my eyes open, sometimes i really feel like a fool, because some of the things we believed are just dumb, shows the power of fear and mind control.
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Sabine
I can totally relate Wild Turkey. I have told my "story" to many people I've met since leaving the borg. Half way through telling them all the crap I believed, I feel so stupid. After trying to explain the 1914 doctrine to a new friend, she told me she could never join a religion that you needed a calculator to understand.
Not only that, involvement in that crazy cult cost me my daughter's life...that makes me feel way beyond stupid.
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HOW MANY DRINKERS----OUT THERE???
by minimus inone thing over the years that i have noticed about jehovah's witnesses is that they love to drink, especially bethelites....have you too noticed this?
and why do you think this might be the case?
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Sabine
Before we left, Makena had to give a special needs talk on underage drinking. Apparently some of the parents were providing booze for the young ones in their homes. Kids as young as 15 would get together at these families home. The problem is that, one, it's illegal to provide booze to other people's underage kids, and what happens when they have to drive home?? Too stupid to be believed!!
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Has this place changed you?
by OUTLAW inwhen i first came here i was happy to find a place where i could laugh, get pissed off or just speak my mind on a subject.the people i have met here are some of the most,kind,careing,informative,helpfull souls.
i couldn`t have asked for a better group to be involved with.i do not always agree with my board mates.even with the ones who piss me off,there is still a comradeship(yk comes to mind,lol).finding this board has taught me one important thing.we are not alone,we have each other...outlaw
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Sabine
It has been great to find a community of people that have been through the same struggles in recovering from the JW cult experience.
I also agree with yours chelibs (sorry if I messed up your name), I wouldn't have known about the UN scandal, Silentlambs and Dateline, etc.
And I have met in person with several board members, who were all so genuinely kind and compassionate.
Oh, and I also appreciate the huge variety of personalities. Another board I frequented was taken over by a guru type that initiated most of the threads and had a rather condecending attitude, IMHO. That's one thing I really appreciate about Simon, he has made this board a place for recovery and hasn't felt the need to make it about himself...thanks Simon!
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What is your definition of........
by SpiceItUp in......beauty?.
i know the whole sentiment of beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
even rod sterling had his say on the matter (boy i loved that episode).. what is beautiful in your opinion?
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Sabine
To me, someone totally comfortable in their own skin, is beautiful (I realize some folks can fake this, too bad I can't). Why else would I find John Malkovich and Billy Bob Thornton so damn attractive?
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Do you love people more now that you're out?
by writerpen ini was thinking about this the other day.
since i've left the borg, i find myself loving other humans more.
like all the little children being abducted, the miners trapped in the mine last week, the victims of car accidents that i pass on the road, a woman crying in the car next to me while waiting for the green light, the homeless that i see every weekend at a local soup kitchen where i volunteer, etc.
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Sabine
Very good thread, I have been thinking about this for some time. I have to agree with you writerpen, I do feel much more compassionate towards people as a whole. When I watch the news and see the terrible tragedies, my heart beaks like it never did before.
But, on the other hand, I don't allow myself to get close to individuals very often. I know on an intellectual level all the many people that have disappointed me (that's putting it lightly!!) were all JWs, but emotionally, I just can't open myself up completely like I used to with "god's people". I am left in a void where I don't trust people's motives.
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Anti-Aging News!
by metatron inscientific american has been very conservative about reporting progress.
on the anti-aging front.. that may change, however, with the new august issue discussing.
the testing of new chemicals which mimic caloric deprivation.. as the article explains, the best bet for extending the life of.
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Sabine
I have totally changed my eating habits the last year and went from a size 8 pant to a size 2. Mostly, I eat protein, especially at breakfast, and veggies and fish for dinner. Usually a yogurt for lunch. I used to eat carbs like crazy. I ate 2-3 bagels a day, bananas, rice, pasta, mostly a veggie diet. But, I was always hungry. I believe for me, a diet concentrating on foods with a low glycemic index works best at maintaining my weight low, I'm never hungry and I have much more energy.
I also read that article, and thought about how so many restaurants super size their meals. Every time I go to Costco and see what people have in their carts...and in the big size too, no wonder there is an obesity problem in the US!
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WERE YOU CONSIDERED A GOOD EXAMPLE?
by minimus inhave you ever had to deal with the thought that you really weren't that good of an example?
perhaps, the congregation was encouraged to pioneer or reach out for bethel service or go to seldom worked territory, etc.
and when you applied, you were told that you didn't qualify.
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Sabine
Well, one elder introduced us to speaker from NY as the strongest family
in the congregation. He said we not only put in almost half of all the
hours spent in service, but also half the contributions too!!
Gee I bet they miss our $$$$!!!