Posts by Xanthippe

9

She sent me 'Return to Jehovah' I sent her a Christmas card

by Xanthippe in

it just felt so good to say to a jw i don't feel the guilt this booklet says i must be feeling.

i don't feel guilty for having a great big christmas tree or letting my daughter have birthdays, easter eggs, dress up at halloween, have sleepovers and friends, i told her.

i only feel guilty about not contributing to live aid and bandaid and giving the money to a cult instead.

Xanthippe

It just felt so good to say to a JW I don't feel the guilt this booklet says I must be feeling. I don't feel guilty for having a great big Christmas tree or letting my daughter have birthdays, Easter eggs, dress up at Halloween, have sleepovers and friends, I told her. I only feel guilty about not contributing to Live Aid and Bandaid and giving the money to a cult instead. Where in this booklet does it list as a reason for leaving, having done masses of research and no longer able to conscientiously stay in a religion they no longer believe in?

I said seven men in Brooklyn should feel guilty for telling me not to go to university when it was FREE! One time she wrote she said did I feel forced to pioneer? Of course I did, every meeting and assembly. They actually used the words blood guilt on me, like I'm a murderer if I don't do it! Didn't her husband feel the same when he went to Bethel?

Ended with Deuteronomy 18:20-22 about the prophets who speak falsely and deserve death. Wished her well and hoped they don't work her too hard or frighten her with their prophecies. It ends with 'you must not get frightened at him' in the NWT. Sent my love and popped the letter in a Christmas card.

22

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn"

by Simon in

if you've never come across the above title before, it's considered to be the shortest novel possible.

a story, possibly a moving one, in just 6 words attributed to earnest hemingway.. it started a genre called "flash fiction" which is a memoir in six-words.. what would yours be?.

indoctrinated child found freedom, love, family.

Xanthippe

I agree with you Talesin. Thanks to the OP for making me reflect today. Concentrating on finding six words to sum up how I feel about my life has helped me find direction again when I was seriously flagging. Going to put it somewhere I can see it every day.

38

Why do animals suffer?

by nicolaou in

bonnie is fourteen years old now and she's still fit and active, but she sleeps (and farts) a lot more and is definitely slowing down.. she loves us in her own dumb way and always comes to the door to greet me when i get home from work.

she doesn't 'sin' but yeah, she'll steal biscuits and feel shame afterwards.

she's loyal and intelligent and i dread the day when .

Xanthippe

Our treasured pets have wonderful long lives compared to wild dogs and big cats. They give and receive love and add a huge amount to our lives. Lesson to learn? Just enjoy life yourself before you are spending your days sleeping and farting. 😆

22

"For sale: baby shoes, never worn"

by Simon in

if you've never come across the above title before, it's considered to be the shortest novel possible.

a story, possibly a moving one, in just 6 words attributed to earnest hemingway.. it started a genre called "flash fiction" which is a memoir in six-words.. what would yours be?.

indoctrinated child found freedom, love, family.

Xanthippe

Global Adventure

Requires stamina, minimal baggage.

32

The Noble Fir

by Oubliette in

the noble fir.

the fir tree stands silently in the corner of our living room: proud, erect, strong.

even unadorned, it is beautiful.

Xanthippe

Happy Christmas Oub and everyone on the forum.

30

People keep sending me messages saying "what happened?"

by slimboyfat in

jw
friends

i am sorry i haven't replied and if it seems rude.

but people keep asking me what happened and i am not sure what to say.

thanks for writing anyway.

Xanthippe

I'm glad you're back, I enjoy your posts. People should respect your personal boundaries if you don't want to talk about it.

18

Atheists and Christmas

by nicolaou in

yes, we can enjoy christmas!.

we can put up and decorate a xmas tree, wrap and give presents and get the whole section of non-jw family round for a big turkey dinner with all the trimmings - yum!.

we don't feel guilty about getting time off work and relaxing in front of all those cheesy xmas movies (baby's day out is still my favourite).. so if, unlike me, you want to frame your festivities in a story of a magical baby go right ahead, this thread isn't about belief bashing.. whatever your definition of the 'true meaning of christmas', mine is just as valid; it's the celebration of my freedom, my ability to choose how to live my life and who to share it's joys with.. so let this rabid, godless, antichrist of an atheist wish you all a very merry christmas!

Xanthippe

Happy Christmas everyone.

56

Privacy

by Esmeralda001 in

i need some advice guys.

how do you get people to mind their own buiseness without coming off as rude?.

i was invited to a jw gathering last night.

Xanthippe

It is my experience that when I'm in , i'm being bullied by influent members and when i'm out , i'm being tourmented by my conscience. Either way i'm unhappy, so I might as well stay in the org, be the nicest person that I can be, and wait for Yah to destroy Babylon the Great.

Oh sweetheart my heart goes out to you. You are being bullied by so-called true Christians but if you stay away your conscience torments you.

First of all why would a loving God destroy Babylon the Great as they call it? Which is just all the other people called Christians, like my little old mother in law of 85 and the other old ladies in her church. All the kids and babies that have been christened too? All the other religions too that kids are born into depending where they live in the world.

What does your conscience inside the real you tell you sweetheart? Surely that we should love and tolerate people from all different backgrounds, beliefs and cultures?

The conscience you are talking about is just cult programming from repetitive meetings and studies. That fades when you stop attending and then there will still be the real you, being 'the nicest person' you can be, as you put it. Without the bullies trying to find out all your business! I worry about you, please think carefully about this religion.

BTW my daughter's studying for her finals too! Good luck!

25

My daughter surprised me last night.

by Driving Force in

i started my fade a the beginning of 2015, took counseling form a psychiatrist, and worked hard to get my family away from the cult.

my marriage split and i now live alone with my 15 year old daughter.. she came to me last night and we started talking about jws.

she told me that the subject they are discussing at the moment in philosophy is "cults".

Xanthippe

Xanthippe
She saw the video at the convention in summer.

So she had all the information at her fingertips from the Borg and from school and made the connection for herself. She's very bright.

25

My daughter surprised me last night.

by Driving Force in

i started my fade a the beginning of 2015, took counseling form a psychiatrist, and worked hard to get my family away from the cult.

my marriage split and i now live alone with my 15 year old daughter.. she came to me last night and we started talking about jws.

she told me that the subject they are discussing at the moment in philosophy is "cults".

Xanthippe

Driving Force well done waiting for your daughter to come to you to talk about cults. That takes great patience. You are right to be proud of her. By the way where did she learn about the ice-cream vid, was that at school?