Posts by Xanthippe

12

The Americans are back!

by Xanthippe in

jw
friends

today will be the third time this year there were american tourists at my local national trust stately home calke abbey, derbyshire.

nice to see they are coming back to visit the uk.

haven't been many around in my part of britain in the last few years.

Today will be the third time this year there were American tourists at my local National Trust stately home Calke Abbey, Derbyshire. Nice to see they are coming back to visit the UK. Haven't been many around in my part of Britain in the last few years. I wonder if it is because of 9/11?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calke_Abbey

We did see a few Americans in Rome. The day we visited the Colosseum, we were sitting in a restaurant opposite having lunch when the American couple next to us said something to my daughter about having a baby. She said she thought she'd eaten a lot of pasta but well!

Turned out they meant William and Kate which had been announced the previous day when we'd been on a plane, so they knew about it before we did. Then they asked her if she had met the royal family, in all seriousness. She thought it was so funny she had to text all her friends.

33

How Has Turning Athiest/ Agnostic Affected You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

many jws believed in god.

now many here, do not believe in a deity.

how has this affected you in your life?.

Xanthippe

In every situation I have to decide how to act, whether ethically, with compassion, or not. It's all up to me. I like it!

39

What is a morally upright life?

by jgnat in

is it relative, or do all human societies and cultures hold at least some things to be good?.

i don't think right and true is "universal" other than what is right and true for people.

a dolphin or a praying mantis may have alien perceptions of what is "good".

Xanthippe

The only way to get your conscience to tell you that you are worthy is to do what you think is worthy. Finding an entire group that thinks you are worthy, good luck with that! The rise of individualism has made that practically impossible, thank god! Be your own person but make friends who genuinely care about you.

39

What is a morally upright life?

by jgnat in

is it relative, or do all human societies and cultures hold at least some things to be good?.

i don't think right and true is "universal" other than what is right and true for people.

a dolphin or a praying mantis may have alien perceptions of what is "good".

Xanthippe

We have uniquely experienced that lack of social acceptance is not in fact death. Well those of us that have left the Watchtower have. We are quite able to notice that we no longer live in caves or mud huts and yet we do not want to feel bad among work colleagues, neighbours etc., even though we have to accept that 30% of people will just not like us according to sociologists. I was shunned, I did not die but I made my own ethical standards. As thousands of us have! Perhaps it is also about integrity, following through on what we have decided to believe ethically. Self respect has become important but I am not sure why. If I wait long enough someone will tell me

39

What is a morally upright life?

by jgnat in

is it relative, or do all human societies and cultures hold at least some things to be good?.

i don't think right and true is "universal" other than what is right and true for people.

a dolphin or a praying mantis may have alien perceptions of what is "good".

Xanthippe

I honestly don't know what a morally upright life is, it doesn't compute anymore. I just try to be good to people and do no harm. If that is simplistic then so be it.

The idea of sanctity evolving from learning not to eat tainted food is very interesting. Most things deeply entrenched in the human psyche are about basic survival.

When people ask 'is nothing sacred' I feel nothing is. Life is supposed to be sacred but this leads to refusing assisted death. We let humans suffer worse than dogs and cats. So no I don't think life or anything is sacred but I do understand the desire to be 'clean'.

This might be purely about hygiene and survival but I think we have an innate desire to feel that we are 'good'. Which again might be about social acceptance and therefore survival but I am not convinced of that. Guilt is a hugely destructive force in the human mind which leads me to think that there is more to feeling 'good' than mere social acceptance.

44

Why are alot of JW's Fascinated with Sci-Fi?

by NoMoreHustle in

i am still in & gradually fading.

i have always wondered why alot of jw's that i know are really into alot of sci-fi stuff like star wars, i robot, x-men stuff etc.

i mean they take it another level with this fantasy stuff.

Xanthippe

I loved the forbidden planet bigmac, saw the stage version too.

Hey Star Trek predicted mobile phones, tablets and credit cards. Some good themes too, what it means to be human etc.

27

What happy, wonderful thing happened to you since you left the "truth"?

by Jeannette in

more than one thing for me, but i have learned to enjoy festivals, and just enjoying free time.

it's not that the org wouldn't allow it, i just felt i shouldn't.

there are others, of course, and i really have been happier and good things have come my way since i left.

Xanthippe

My BSc in my forties.

My baby girl after pioneering and nearly leaving it too late.

My little house with a garden at last!

Florence, Paris, Niagara Falls, Rome, Lake Como, New York, Montreal, The Alhambra in Spain, Greek Islands.

Our first Christmas, poignant and lovely.

My daughter as Mary in the school nativity play aged five.

I couldn't choose just one. Thanks for asking Jeannette, I need reminding just how lucky I am.

34

What makes a "good Jehovah's Witness"??

by stuckinarut2 in

so, i have been thinking...what is the formula or recipe for the "perfect jw"?.

here are a few points i thought of...please feel free to add!.

always dress in the jw manner...no variation in clothing / hair styles / facial hair.

Xanthippe

People who are proud of being ignorant and never having read a book. Those who have never had an original thought, looked up a word they don't know or googled something they didn't understand. People used to walk in our house and just stare wide-eyed at our books. One JW said books made him nervous.

43

"I don't care if it's teachings are false, I'd never leave because it's the best way of life"

by 4thgen in

jw
friends

have you ever heard that statement?

i have heard it many times and i just don't know what to do with it.

they are chosing a to live a lie because they like the lifestyle.

Xanthippe

When my friend said this I said am I supposed to stop my child going to university? Does the best way of life mean she has to sacrifice her good brain, do menial work and live in near poverty as I did pioneering? When she said they are the most moral people I said have you heard of Candace Conti?

69

What Happened to the Religion I Left in 1995?

by JoshJeffries in

jw
friends

josh here, new to the board.

glad to know this site is here.. i would not be writing this if it were not 2014. i was a ministerial servant and regular pioneer who left the jehovahs witnesses back in 1995/96, around that time.

i left suddenly, didnt fade away, just left when something clicked one day in my head during the morning shower and made me realize this religion wasnt true.

Xanthippe

Hi Josh same thing happened to me when I looked at this forum two years ago, I left in '89. Overlapping generations! A different Watchtower for the public. More partakers at the memorial and numbers still rising! My brother and sisters swallowed all of this and are still there, can't get my head around it.