Posts by Xanthippe

84

How do I as a future "Therapist" help ex-jws that won't move on from the WT?

by booker-t in

i am halfway through my master's program in psychology/sociology and plan on being a therapist/sounselor.

i left jw's in 1988 and i have never looked back.

i enjoy my life so much after getting my aa degree, then my ba degree, and now i will soon get my ma degree.

Xanthippe

Wow bookerT you've stirred up a hornet's nest here haven't you? I have been out for twenty-four years and only came to look up some facts on here a few months ago and yes I think I probably have become somewhat addicted. I do keep trying to wean myself off this site and only look at it occasionally. There was no internet when I left but my husband and I did decide we weren't going to spend our lives being anti-cultists. Besides there was so much else to do, money to be earned, a house saved for after living in rented apartments for 16 years and a family to start etc.

I have had counselling and I have benefited from it. I do understand what Tater-T is saying that feeling that nothing in this world is worthwhile as we were taught is difficult to shake. Because many of us now believe that there isn't a divine plan after all we have to devise our own plan. To me what makes my life worthwhile is being a good parent, travelling and seeing the world, creativity, art and beauty, reading good books, charity and voluntary work. Different things give life meaning to different people. If you can help people find meaning in their lives when you become a therapist bookerT then you will have done your job.

25

My experience with the "faithful and discreet slave"?

by Blttex in

who really is the faithful and discreet slave........ .

funeral experience.

i attended my first "worldly" funeral last saturday.

Xanthippe

Hi and welcome Bittex. What a great story and thank you for bringing up the d word. Sometimes I get tired of the way people avoid it. My teenage daughter has been to eight funerals, all close family and friends including her own father. Some of us can't pretend it doesn't happen!

I tried to make her father's funeral totally about him and the peope who loved him. He stipulated he wanted a non-religious funeral in his will and we had a celebrant take the service. It was great to hear all the things he achieved in his life after leaving that religion. As you say it was a celebration of someone who had lived, really lived!

13

why do I write?

by Separation of Powers in

i must admit, i feel rather like winston smith from orwell's 1984. i sit here in front of the image of a blank piece of paper on my computer screen.

i am alone in my study, alone, but like winston, i am hesitant to write on this blank piece of paper, fearful that i am under the watchful eye of the telescreen.

it is a form of paranoia, i guess, a paranoia that is synonymous with being in the organization; an organization that worries more about perception than substance.

Xanthippe

AnneB, LOL, I am not sure if the emperor has any clothes on either

13

why do I write?

by Separation of Powers in

i must admit, i feel rather like winston smith from orwell's 1984. i sit here in front of the image of a blank piece of paper on my computer screen.

i am alone in my study, alone, but like winston, i am hesitant to write on this blank piece of paper, fearful that i am under the watchful eye of the telescreen.

it is a form of paranoia, i guess, a paranoia that is synonymous with being in the organization; an organization that worries more about perception than substance.

Xanthippe

Separation of powers, welcome to the board

1

Interesting article by James Kirk Wall - covering ID and NDE

by cantleave in

two of my favourite subjects in one concise blog.

itelligent design and near death experiences.

http://www.chicagonow.com/an-agnostic-in-wheaton/2013/03/james-kirk-wall-responds-to-intelligent-design-and-nde-argument-for-faith/.

Xanthippe

Yes I find NDEs fascinating too Cantleave. This writer makes some very interesting arguments. The NDE survivor will make of their experience whatever their faith or atheism dictates. Probably, but that is not always the case. Some have been greatly changed by their experience.

He asks how is seeing a red shoe in the road when you have an NDE proof of the afterlife? Well if a person reports seeing a red shoe in the road and they are lying unconscious in a hospital at the time and later leave that hospital to see that red shoe in the road it means some part of them saw it while their body lay in ICU or on the operating table. To me that is far more interesting than they report seeing angels.

But until it happens to us and we see things in another part of the hospital from where we are lying or can report conversations from the waiting room etc., it is going to be difficult to believe. That doesn't mean we have to call these people who report these experiences crazy or stupid anymore than Galileo should have been hauled before the Roman Inquisition for believing in heliocentrism. It's very interesting and should be investigated further.

19

Anointed Witnesses - is this a credible site ??

by *lost* in

jw
friends

how do i incorporate text to my post guys ??

can't copy and paste.. anyway digging around jwn searching for info on anointed and came across link to this web page.

so i'm assuming it's the wt org.

Xanthippe

Thanks Pterist both for answering Lost and for helping me. I asked about that website a few months ago and got some very 'sniffy' replies like I was advocating it as a good thing. I was just asking for information and I finally got it, thanks. Very helpful.

25

My first post...Facebook discussion

by mzmmom in

jw
friends

i have been visiting this site for almost a year, and i have found it very useful.

there was a post on a facebook group last night about jw visits and to be nice when they call at your door.

so, after about 100 posts, i posted a link to this website.

Xanthippe

Welcome Mzmmom, good to have you here

67

I played with the Ouija board last night....

by dazed but not confused in

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Xanthippe

parakeet you did it you changed your avatar

22

But, they're so HAPPY!

by stillin in

you can't deny it.

smiling and brimming with good cheer.

is it sort of like the person who buys a lemon of a car and won't admit it?

Xanthippe

They are constantly ill if my JW family are anything to go by. Sick people are not contented people! By contrast I last visited my doctor a year ago.

67

I played with the Ouija board last night....

by dazed but not confused in

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Xanthippe

Well good for you, that's another taboo smashed