Posts by Sentinel

31

The straw that broke the camel's back

by Satans little helper in

you know, the last little thing that blew your patience out of the water and forced you to face up to the fact that you were in a cult that doesn't believe in the bible so much as it believes in it's own power structure?.

for me it was beards.

stupid i know and possibly the most trivial of things to be 'stumbled' over but to me it was the epitomy of what was wrong with the witnesses - arbitrary rules poking their noses into the lives of people where they had no business.

Sentinel

I knew some "secrets" that a couple elders thought they had hidden. This was because their own children (my age) would confide in me-or I saw or heard it first hand. I would stay the night many times with them, and my eyes were opened to so much hypocrisy. Not even my own mother would believe me, so I felt that this religion had lied to me, and my trust was gone. Welcome to the adult world!

So, that was when I lost trust--and I was probably 16 or 17. My eyes were opened, and I could see many other things that weren't right..many things that I ended up keeping to myself, because I wasn't allowed to speak freely, even in my own home. Still, as long as I remained home, I was a good daughter and did everything my mother told me. I attended all the meetings, went in field service, and pioneered. I tried to set a good example.

The older I got, the more I knew that this was a great deception, and I felt so betrayed....so very alone. I still was trapped, because of all the borgism; and felt that I was unacceptable and unworthy. I felt the problem must be with "me".

/<

53

Since leaving how have you changed?

by Joysome in

what do you find yourself doing differently?.

do you ever feel a little shocked when your opinions on certain things have changed?

things that you were once so adamantly against?.

Sentinel

What do you find yourself doing differently?

The biggest change in me is that I’ve learned to R E L A X and not be so serious about everything.

Voting within four years of my exit.

Reading more literature—without guilt. Realizing my connection to the spiritual, without religion or dogma.

Being less critical of other people and their choices, and relinquishing my need to control them.

Loving myself and others—showing compassion.

Do you ever feel a little shocked when your opinions on certain things have changed? Things that you were once so adamantly against?

Not so much “shocked”, as being free to do things that my own conscience felt comfortable with all along.

I understand so many things in a much clearer way, which has opened my life up to the reality of living now.

When I was young and a borg, I was a very goodJW, and I did everything according to the established rules; now I

make a judgment call according to my own conscience, and act accordingly.

I look at the blood issue, organ transplant, homosexuals, worldly people, JW’s, religions, dogma, cults in a whole

different mindset.

/<

4

Interesting article...

by Phantom Stranger in

confidence man .

the case for bush is the case against him.

by william saletan.

Sentinel

I will admit I have a distaste for politics in general right now. Anyone can say anything to get a vote...and they do...they are. The system keeps a president from fulfilling many pre-election promises, so it's just basically a toss up of "personality".

I must say, I cringe when Bush mentions trying to change the constitution on matters of gay marriage, and allowing "aliens" to run for our governmental offices, even the presidency. He is getting rather pompass, and it doesn't sit well with me. If he were lost on the road, he would not stop and ask for directions. He was spoiled as a young man, and reaped the benefits of having a rich daddy. He wants to make daddy proud, and he has his own agenda. I am concerned about my new attitude, because I thought recently, that four years in office, during such turbulent times, has not been enough to allow him to do enough good things for this country. But he doesn't want to fix things, he wants to change everything. We don't need all these changes in our constitution right now. It just isn't the right time, if there ever would be. Our rights are being taken away little by little and we should be looking at this very carefully.

But, then Kerry isn't my pick either right now. Something about him just comes through as the democratic "puppet", saying things people want to hear. Anyone not wanting Bush, would vote for him just because of that. What kind of government would we have then?

Busy is trying to be "everyone's daddy", and just look at his daughters if you want to see how that turns out. Why doesn't he just concentrate on the state of this union, and matters of real importance? He needs to keep religion and politics separate in his campaine, because he is stepping on lots of toes, mine included. I think he has done well in facing the terrorism threats after 9-11. But, then he took us to war and made us believe that he had all the necessary facts to warrant such a decision. Apparently, he didn't. I don't trust him very much anymore. But it wasn't entirely HIS decision either. He had lots of backing. The bottom line is that we went to war, and we are still there. Some things just can't be fixed. Let's fix things here at home before messing with other countries. We aren't "god". Someone should tell Bush that.

It is such a shame that one must be wealthy in order to run for the office of president, because Abraham LIncoln did a darn good job, and he wasn't educated according to today's standards. I think we've probably lost some really good people along the wayside, who couldn't afford to "play the game". And, from what I've seen in my experience in the work force, a college degree is not much more than a piece of paper that indicates one has PAID for their time in college. It doesn't necessarily mean they are qualified or ready to face the real world. And why can't we get a woman in office?

We should first clean up our own act here before trying to clean up the rest of the world. We don't own the world. We have no right to want to control it. Other countries need to be left alone, as long as they are not acting grievous towards mankind. That is what the United Nations is all about; a joint effort to keep countries working together for the good of all. Yet countries are each different, and they need to be allowed to be different. They have their own style of government, and they go through their own growing pains.

Can you imagine it: We are in the midst of our own Civil War, and Israel descends upon us and starts wiping out anyone with a musket or a sword. They set up their own government and try to force us to let them lead us. They do this because they say they don't believe we are being very christian. What gives them the right? Indeed!!

/<

11

Rapture

by robmoore88 in

i'm wondering what the wts teaches about the rapture and tribulation.

does that tie in with their "paradise earth" doctrine somehow?.

robert

Sentinel

Think of your worse nightmare about the end of this planet and then put it to writing, adding a bit of religious hype. There you have it, "revelation".

No doubt, some of us are guided by enlightenment of "source", but most just eat too much chocolate or drink too much wine before going to bed. Others are religious psyche cases.

I believe in reality and what makes the most common sense. We can only control what we do right now.

/<

9

A shout out and a word on hypocrisy

by joelbear in

haven't been posting much due to busy schedule with school and work.

but glad to know y'all are here.

i am in my last semester of college, yay.

Sentinel

Injustice is rampant....but:

We cannot change others; we can only change ourselves.

/<

12

Reconnecting with an old friend

by Nosferatu in

okay, it's not as simple as it sounds.

tonight, i ran into a friend who i haven't spoken to in two years (we've known each other since we were 4 years old).

i was civil with him, but he wanted to re-connect.

Sentinel

...and you did say he was a friend?????

Tread these waters carefully.

/<

32

i suppose this is a good place to say hello

by myownsaviorthankyoumuch in

Sentinel

Hi there. I really like your "message in a name", but do you have something a bit "shorter"?

Thank you, "thank you much". See what I mean?? Now I'm so confused, but very happy to welcome you aboard. I'm "my own savior" as well, so I understand where you are coming from.

I look forward to your posts, "M.O.S.T.Y.M".

/<

60

PASSION of the Christ

by myownsaviorthankyoumuch in

wondering if anyone has seen it yet, and what the general consensus was around here.

i saw it a week ago this coming monday, overall i liked it, and didnt really see what the controvesy was, thought that the aramaic w/ english subtitles was a nice touch, cinematography was great, watching mary's griefmoved me a whole lot more than watching jesus get tortured, satan rocked visually, i especially enjoyed the fact that he was portrayed by a female, [that was not a comment to instigate the femenists on the board] though he had one too many hollywood moments, i really like the fact that jesus actually came across as arrogant, not the weakling he is always portrayed as during the easter season, he actually had some nads, and had something to say, that was cool, made him a lot more real in my eyes, after walking out of the theater though, i could only keep thinking to myself this was such a tragedy in the likes of homer, a hero bound for disaster, a legend told through the centuries, much like king arthur became a legend based on the events of a real man, im thinking the same must have happened with him, 80 flogs with bamboo into it i was thinking endorphines and adrenaline, yet it kept going into a second round, how he was able to walk after that and carry a cross, seemed a bit ludicrous, comments??

?

Sentinel

I find it rather amusing, how blood and gore "moves" people. I wouldn't pay to see this in a movie theater. They say Mel didn't do it for the money--which is no doubt true. This is a case where the "book" is worse, and none of it makes any reasonable sense. (Don't mean to offend anyone here.)

But, the glory.....yeah, he wanted that glory for sure. It seems that Mel did a good job in the business of directing, and that's what all of this is about. The power play was that he "directed" Jesus, God, the devil, both Mary's, the Jews, and the ruling powers of the day....and he influenced alot of people to "pay him to do this".

My sister went to see it, and her response was a negative.

My son went to see it, and his response was a positive.

Everyone to their own taste, but I have no interest at this point. If Mel really wanting to send a good message, he'd take every penny of the profits and feed and clothe the poor and needy. After all, even though the movie doesn't address it, Jesus real message was love and compassion. Let's see what Mel does.

/<

12

When Only a Cult Remains: a True Story

by metatron in

several years ago, an elderly brother was no longer able to take care of himself.

credit, a witness couple related to him, took him into their home.

sadly, the other witness.

Sentinel

Metatron, I found this thread of yours very interesting. And, it makes absolute sense, considering the deep- seated internal infiltration of borgism.

/<

19

Other Gods.

by Englishman in

so who are these other gods, then?.

the societies literature is full of references to false gods, other gods, no gods before me, ad nauseum.. the kingdom squalidies also make frequent referals to "other gods".

"feared above all gods is he....".

Sentinel

Oh, and remember what they told us that "anything" that we gave our attention to, that might take away from meetings or service......these things like TV, telephones, movie theaters, jobs, travel, etc? These could become "gods" if we put them ahead of the kingdom.

/<