Posts by SEAKEN2001

73

why waste time?

by lucidentity in

jw
friends

if everyone here , or nearly everyone here does not believe the jw's then why waste your time going onto these websites.

when everyone leaves the truth they automaticaly go to jw websites....why?

if you no longer believe it why waste your time?.

SEAKEN2001

Ahem, if I may break in to this flame for a second and address the original post.

(Why must we constantly fall victim to trolls. Can't we learn to ignore them? Certainly you can see how affective such trolling can be in obscuring the real conversations. Can some of us here learn from this and get better at ignoring the trolls?)

Lucidentity, welcome to the board. I hope you will be strong enough to stay involved here. All that you may be hoping for as a believer continues to be addressed here and in other places at some time or another. Can't say you'll get any answers but the inspiration to use your own thinking ability can be fantastic, if not downright frightening.

You ask "why waste time"? Well, that is in the eye of the beholder, isn't it? I think watching I Love Lucy is a waste but my wife begs to differ. Maybe by now you are beginning to realize that not many here consider this a waste of time. There have been many fine responses here already. I would like to add the idea that you are not being honest with yourself. If you really believed the JW's were somehow on the right path you would not be staying away from them. As the Witnesses will remind you, you must take the whole package. You can't stay away from the meetings and still get salvation. Be honest with yourself and you will better be able to see where you have issues with their theology. Once you see the issues clearly you can begin to work out the details with your chosen faith.

There are many emotions involved, fear not the least of them. Can you face your own fears? Are you willing to confront your own questions and accept the answers that become evident? Maybe you don't really want to admit that the JW's are just another man-made organization and that Jehovah has nothing to do with the organization? Maybe you don't want to admit that you are worshiping an organization of men instead of an all powerful God? Maybe you are questioning why this god of yours is so blind as to not see the duplicity in his own chosen organization and speak up? Maybe you are wondering why Jehovah so cleverly came to the aid of his people in ancient times but can't seem to lift a finger for the abused and neglected withing his modern chosen group?

Whatever your issues are, you have yet to face them. Maybe you are starting to do just that by your participation here. It can be a very bumpy ride and sometimes it seems like you're going to die. But in the end it's worth the effort to stay the course and face your fears. Ultimately you will discover that the WTS is not what is says it is and that God is not associating with anyone, let alone the arrogant bastards calling themselves 'faithful and discreet'. We are all in this together, no one has more of a channel to God than anyone else, and there is no truth to be found in any organization. The truth is inside you and it's crying to get out. Start paying attention to it's cry and you'll never regret it.

Sean

20

Being Spiritual, What Is It?

by larc in

jw
friends

being spiritual, what is it?

that title looks like a watchtower article, doesn't it?

i raise this question after reading a recent thread, regarding what people believe now that they are no longer a witness.

SEAKEN2001

Farkel,

I generally agree with you. However, I see here many describing what spirituality means to them, and that's OK. As long as they are not intent on leveraging their own definition and putting it over on everyone else. I do think there is some value in describing how you feel about spirituality. I think most who are honest with themselves will realize that the words are inadequate, similar to how a writer of a love song searches for words to express the mystery of love.

I am given to the idea, expressed by several so far, that my spirituality is tied to my awareness of my place in the world. The more comfortable I am with myself and how I interact with the world around me the more spiritual I feel. I feel there is a direct correlation between my own inner spirit and the great spirit in the world or universe around me. I lean toward the myths of the North American Indians and how they attempt to explain the connections between the spiritual and material worlds. I have no belief in such myths as if they were some definition of reality but I share a kinship with the idea, as I do with many other philosophies about the human condition. I guess I would say I think spirituality is a concept, or idea, or philosophy, or mystery, (choose the word) that is present in all elements of our world. But, as was suggested, there are no good words to describe it.

Sean

20

Being Spiritual, What Is It?

by larc in

jw
friends

being spiritual, what is it?

that title looks like a watchtower article, doesn't it?

i raise this question after reading a recent thread, regarding what people believe now that they are no longer a witness.

SEAKEN2001

Thank you jjrizo! You have just cleared up the mystery of life for me! You are my Bhudda, oh wise one!

Sean

38

A Timely warning regarding Disfellowshipping. A Mu

by MARTINLEYSHON in

jw
friends

i have been disfellowshipped for 2 weeks.

my story the shortened version.. i left the organisation 2years 2 months ago.

i live 25 miles from the kingdom hall that i attended for 29 years, man and boy.

SEAKEN2001

Yes, Mulan, I suppose we will have to see. I have always been under the impression that if I speak up or in any way show myself to be anything other than a loyalist I will be DF'd. If they ask me to a meeting I will decline. So, we'll just have to see if the boys here agree with your WTP contact. I suspect he was handing you a line of bullshit. It would be nice if they did actually leave us alone but I'm not betting on that.

Sean

3

West Springfield, Holyoke, Southbridge, MA?

by NeonMadman in

just wondering if anyone here was ever in the same congregation as me?.

1969-75 west springfield, ma.

1975-78 holyoke, ma.

SEAKEN2001

Sorry Neon,

No, was never in those congs. Had some friends though who were in Holyoke/Chicapee. Last I heard one was DF'd and I wonder how he is doing. He used to travel over to our house in Shokan just to visit. A great kid. I was friends with his older brothers when at the farm and visited them several times with another one of my buds. Those were great times. Now I miss them all. The two older bros are still in bethel I think and my other bud was also DF'd and moved back to CA. What a shame that we have all drifted apart and that this religion has stunted our friendships. Also knew a couple when at the farm that was from the Holyoke area and I stayed with his mom once when visiting. I think they left the farm under pressure and returned to MA. Don't know how they are doing now. Miss them too. I worked with the wife in the laundry. She was a lot of fun. I really like a lot of folks from your neck of the woods!

Sean

27

I LOVED MY WIFE ...... (1)

by Bhagavad in

jw
friends

but now she's gone ...... from breast cancer a couple of years ago.

we prayed and prayed to jehovah in jesus' name: the "ask anything in my name" jesus.

we asked jehovah, not to cure her miraculously, because that's what people pray for in tent revival meetings.

SEAKEN2001

I am very sorry for your loss, Bhavagad. I lost my mom to breast cancer also. I have often thought of putting together some memorial, like a grave stone, or something. I think you should pursue whatever helps you deal with your grief and hold onto the memories. I like the candle shrine idea. And don't be concerned that she would ot have approved whiler alive. She didn't have the experiences you have had and did not get to know what you now know about truth. Make the decisions that you feel are best and that represent your true feelings.

Sean

29

"What is your ultimate goal?"

by SEAKEN2001 in

jw
friends

i follow the threads on legal questions with interest because somewhere inside me is this voice yelling at me to get back at those bastards that lied to me and my family and all the other good people i have come to know here and abroad.

i too carry a lot of anger with me from my experience as a witness.

however, another poster raised the question "what is your ultimate goal?

SEAKEN2001

JT,

so glad you are finding peace of mind. And having Sunday morning to yourself is priceless!

Siddhashunyata,

thank you for your input. I agree completely.

Princess,

I can't imagine being married to someone you don't like. If I didn't like my wife we wouldn't be married. I guess it's because people see things mostly from thier own perspective that some have taken my comment to mean that I want out of the marriage. That is most certainly not the case. As always, it is hard sometimes to make one's thoughts clear in this medium. I hope my above comments can be properly understood after reviewing all that was said but maybe someone will still misunderstand. That's OK. My wife misunderstands me all the time. If I say these things to her she also thinks I want a divorce, ha! We will work it out.

Sean

29

"What is your ultimate goal?"

by SEAKEN2001 in

jw
friends

i follow the threads on legal questions with interest because somewhere inside me is this voice yelling at me to get back at those bastards that lied to me and my family and all the other good people i have come to know here and abroad.

i too carry a lot of anger with me from my experience as a witness.

however, another poster raised the question "what is your ultimate goal?

SEAKEN2001

Thank you bonovox. I knew you were just contributing some advice and I appreciate it. With respect to the religion I have indeed left it all behind. But this marriage thing is more important to me so I am willing to fight my fears for awhile longer. Take care.

Sean

For all - I want to make it perfectly clear that I am deeply in love with my wife. She is no more or less perfect than I am and she loves me too. That counts for a lot to me given that many people can't seem to get along. I always liked those comments from old codgers that have been married for a hundred years where they say something like "we were both good forgivers" or "she was the only one who ever put up with me", etc. I 've never been under the delusion that I was going to marry some perfect goddess and be in ecstacy contantly and for ever after. I am very happy to have a good wife and I'll be damned if I'm going to let the WTS and their petty rules about proper religious conduct ruin that for me. I trust that my wife will figure it out someday, and if not, at the very least put up with me in love. She is a good girl and I will defend her honor. Please don't suggest that she is a worthless pursuit. I beg to differ.

Thanks to all who have contributed to cheering me up today.

Sean

29

"What is your ultimate goal?"

by SEAKEN2001 in

jw
friends

i follow the threads on legal questions with interest because somewhere inside me is this voice yelling at me to get back at those bastards that lied to me and my family and all the other good people i have come to know here and abroad.

i too carry a lot of anger with me from my experience as a witness.

however, another poster raised the question "what is your ultimate goal?

SEAKEN2001

Hey Francois,

that Alaska trip sounded pretty good! I would love to see Alaska.

Thanks for the comments. Actaully, I didn't mean to give the impression that I was disatisfied with my wife and am looking for an excuse to leave her. That is not the case. Like I said earlier, I like my wife and we get along very well. Whatever problems we have are equally my own fault and I do not think she is the problem. I WOULD like to see her get up to speed with me on this JW/religion thing and that is perhaps the source of my angst with her. The feelings of distrust are coming from a baseless idea I learned when in the dub cult. I am still held captive somewhat to that habit of thinking that my wife must be on my side on all religious and spiritual issues. In my mind I now know that that is a load of crap but I still haven't found the balance in my feelings about it.

The family business is just another wrinkle and, yes, I am concerned that my speaking out to defend those being hurt by the WTS will jeapordize my position in that business. But I am willing to test those waters and deal with whatever happens. In reality the two tings are not dependent on one another. I doubt very much that my wife will shun meor try to block me from participating in the business. Whatever happens there will come from her mom and our employees. They may all surprise me and decide to tolerate me. Who knows? But if I have to move on in my business life I will have no problem doing that. But it likely will not include a move to Alaska.

Sean

29

"What is your ultimate goal?"

by SEAKEN2001 in

jw
friends

i follow the threads on legal questions with interest because somewhere inside me is this voice yelling at me to get back at those bastards that lied to me and my family and all the other good people i have come to know here and abroad.

i too carry a lot of anger with me from my experience as a witness.

however, another poster raised the question "what is your ultimate goal?

SEAKEN2001

Sabine,

thanks for your comments. Yes, being able to understand how difficult it is to leave that cult makes it easier to be patient. I keep remembering how my Dad put up with my mom and me for more than five years before we came around. I am willing to wait for her but I've got some things I want to do and I'm not getting any younger! Hey, I think I would choose Hawaii over Woodinville too! Although I am partial to your current part of the world having been raised there.

Ahh, Dawn.

Thank you for your kind advice. I know you are only trying to help. Believe me when I say that my belief in Jesus did at one time give me a huge support mechanism. I hope that one day you too will advance down the path of life that will allow you to leave the christ behind. Until then, may all your prayers find a hearing ear. Thanks for sending some in my direction.

Princess,

are you defending me? Ha ha. Thanks. But I think I understand where bonovox is coming from. I had the tendency once to be so simple. [Uhh, I thought about how I could change this word so as to not cause offense. But I think simple is the correct word]. But now I realize that everyone lives in their own universe and not everything works the same when entering another universe. I think he is just trying to help. I interpret your remark to be saying exactly what I have expressed here. He is not in my universe, is he?

Yes, you are right. Silence isn't working for me. I need to be more vocal and active. I gave it two years but now it's time for a change.

Sean