Posts by Sunchild

22

the internet, does it really matter??

by astra in

jw
friends

hi, i have been following some of the discussions about the internet and jw.

some people think that it seems to make a big difference, that it will seriously reduce wts ranks because people get access to all sorts of information and because they can get in contact with people who maybe have the same doubts and thoughts as themselves.. but how big a difference do you think that the net is making?

how many people do you think have withdrawns from jw because of infomation or contact achieved over the net?.

Sunchild

Astra, meet Exhibit A of the Internet's power to get people out the the JWs.

Not quite two years ago, I reached a point where I just couldn't take it anymore and decided to leave the Witnesses just for a little while. I had every intention of coming back later; I still believed it was "The Truth." After that, though (since God was going to kill me anyway), I decided to look into those evil apostate Web sites I'd been warned about. Needless to say, I'm NOT going back now! But that's not all.

In addition to helping me learn the truth about "The Truth," the 'Net has helped me find and explore new spiritual paths as well as helping me make make some new friends, one of whom I'm dating now. I think that's actually the biggest power the Wathctower has over people, the social isolation it imposes on the flock. But thanks to the Internet, people no longer have to feel all alone when they decide to leave. And as I think others have said here, the easy access to opposing views that the Internet provides could make it much more difficult for the Org to find new suckers... er, members... in developed countries.

*Rochelle.

---------
http://www.dreamsphere.net/ -- See it, live it, wear it.
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

65

What does your username mean?

by closer2fine in

jw
friends

i was just wondering what everyone's username meant.

i have my own guesses (sixofnine, silentlambs, slayerlayer-i'm almost afraid :o), amazing-enough said!,mommy, fredhall-is that your name?, ozziepost-from downunder, and the list goes on!

please share!!

Sunchild

I just thought that Sunchild was a nice name for a Pagan, something nature-fied and cheery. Besides, it's also descriptive of someone with my lovely brown skin.

*Rochelle.

---------
http://www.dreamsphere.net/ -- See it, live it, wear it.
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

113

Silentlambs and Signifiers that Signify Nothing

by dunsscot in

call me a neopositivist, a semi-verificationist or semi-falsificationist, but the claims made by "silentlambs" reminds me of the shakespearean line that was quoted in the creator book published by the wtbts.

that is, the contentions of silentlambs seem like much "sound and fury" that in truth signify nothing.

i am of course referring to the supposed dateline show and the claims made about some members of the gb of jehovah's witnesses.

Sunchild

Farkel,

Why use any of those fancy words, when "pompous windbag" works just fine?

*snicker* Now, THAT was funny. I'm sure our friend here is a smart enough guy, but he's just trying WAY too hard.

*Rochelle.

---------
http://www.dreamsphere.net/ -- See it, live it, wear it.
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

38

Why believe Revelation or Last Days?

by Seeker in

jw
friends

those of us who used to be jws, i have a question for you: why would any of us think revelation has anything to say about the 21st century, or that we are in the last days period?.

when we left the jws, we did so because of their false teachings.

we saw through their faulty reasoning about why we are in the last days.

Sunchild

Have you not seen the moves of pagan religions in establishing alliances?

And nobody called me?! DAMN!

Seriously, there's a saying in the Neopagan community: "Organizing Pagans is like herding cats." From what I've seen, it's true. Pagans tend to be smart, creative and VERY independent people, and we don't recruit. What other people want to believe is their business as long as they don't hurt anyone else.

Assuming that you're talking about Neopagan faiths and not just... well... anything that's not Christian, I don't think there's any danger of Pagans taking over the world. All we really want is for you guys to leave us alone.

*Rochelle, not part of any known global conspiracy.

---------
http://www.dreamsphere.net/ -- See it, live it, wear it.
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

41

Is it just me?.....

by ExmormonRobertson in

jw
friends

i've been looking at the pictures of all the women posters, and they're beautiful!

had i known that jw women looked this good long ago i'd be a member today!.

dana.

Sunchild

November: Sunchild, in a lovely birthday suit.

*g* Now, see, this is the reason why I don't post my picture anymore.

*Rochelle, who would've taken the job if she could pose with....

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

6

from jw to athiest

by notwal03 in

jw
friends

the jehovahs witnesses, though misled in their doctrine,are still a passionate people for god.

why is it that so many who were once so devoted to god have turned from him.

do you not realize that religion is man made, and therefore, all church's doctrines are subject to mistakes.

Sunchild

I'm not an atheist, but I have "turned away" from your God. He seems a bit too brutal for me, a little too demanding, and just too... well... too male for me, as a woman, to really relate to or feel comfortable with.

From what I've read about your God, he doesn't value women much. Sure, there are some nice things thrown in here and there, but overall, the "natural use" (Romans 1:26,27) of women in the Bible is to be as playthings for men, always submissive, always subordinate, always a servant, alwats "tainted," never an equal. And why? For something that's that's no more than a genetic coin-toss. It's senseless and disgusting.

I couldn't start serving your God again without sacrificing my self-respect. I just can't do it, and I don't see why I should.

*Rochelle.

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

6

Phantom Pain....

by Sunchild in

jw
friends

i know i've been away for awhile (yeah, like that many people would notice *g*), but for the most part, i've been working on a site redesign.

if you're curious, you can see it at http://www.dreamsphere.net/ .

and for anyone aware of the reasons i went on hiatus in the first place, don't worry: i'm not mad at anyone.

Sunchild

Circe: *g* Cute.

Claudia, thanks for the compliment. :) And:

i feel as if i am destined to sit on a fence.

Hm. For me, it isn't so much that as feeling like I'll always be an outsider. An observer. Even if I'm in a group, I'm never really part of it.

Seeker:

There are times when it does feel lonely. But go back to that awful system that produces such awful persons? No thanks.

Do you remember that scene from "The Matrix" where the guy who turns traitor is having dinner in a fancy place with the agents? The one where he talks about knowing that the juicy, delicious steak he's eating doesn't really exist, and how ignorance is bliss? That's part of the feeling I'm trying to describe. I don't think it's really that uncommon for people who have left a given belief system, even if the feeling only lasts for a moment and the option it presents is never seriously entertained.

I know I can't go back to Christianity any more than you can, and whenever I see posts from people like our friend Rex, I remember why I don't even want to. But every now and then, in those moments when I feel a bit lonely, I just want to belong somewhere and not have to think so much. One of my moments of just being human.

*Rochelle.

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

6

Phantom Pain....

by Sunchild in

jw
friends

i know i've been away for awhile (yeah, like that many people would notice *g*), but for the most part, i've been working on a site redesign.

if you're curious, you can see it at http://www.dreamsphere.net/ .

and for anyone aware of the reasons i went on hiatus in the first place, don't worry: i'm not mad at anyone.

Sunchild

Hi, everyone. I know I've been away for awhile (yeah, like that many people would notice *g*), but for the most part, I've been working on a site redesign. If you're curious, you can see it at http://www.dreamsphere.net/ . And for anyone aware of the reasons I went on hiatus in the first place, don't worry: I'm not mad at anyone. Everyone is guilty of being human every once in awhile, and being mad at people takes up too much energy.

Anyway... there's something that's been on my mind every now and then. What I've written below is also an entry in my Weblog, and I thought it might be relevant for this board.

Phantom Pain....

Now and then, in some strange way, I think I miss Christianity. I don't know if it's so much a desire to return to Christian beliefs (I think that train pulled out a long time ago) as a kind of phantom pain that's left from no longer having all the answers and having to find them on my own. But there's more to it, too, something beyond the mere absence of certainty.... It feels more like a longing for something that I can't quite name.

On some level or another, I think I miss that sense of belonging. Yes, maybe that's what I'm trying to define. I can't change how I see things now without lying to myself, and I couldn't return to Christianity without undergoing a lot of strenuous mental gymnastics, trying to make the things I know mesh with the things I'd have to believe again. I would have to forget too many things, have to leave too much behind. But... at least I would fit in, at least in some respect. I've been a misfit all my life and gotten somewhat used to it. But deep down, in some strange way, some part of me still longs to be like everyone else, even if it's just an illusion.

In my particular part of the world, "Christian" means "normal", "accepted," and "morally good." It means having ready-made friends in a way, and having a group to belong to. And if you're known for being a "good Christian," there's instant admiration, too, and people have a nice, convenient way to think of you in a positive light. Instant love, even if it's from a distance. If you're a good non-Christian, though, it doesn't seem to count as much since people don't have a way to define you.

Has anyone else ever felt this way? Wishing every now and then that you could accept Christianity just for the sake of feeling less alone? It's an easy way out for someone like me, when you don't really know how to make friends but still want to feel loved by people.

*Rochelle.

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

25

You Know's Seared Conscience

by Seeker in

jw
friends

[moving this to its own thread so as to avoid hijacking the original thread to a new topic.].

when i pointed out how you know was associating with apostates by being here, as the society has pointed out, he responded:.

my conscience doesn't bother me.

Sunchild

What's an agnostic tell a child about the death of a loved one or when a child asks, "what happens to someone when they die"?

Hm, I have a better question. What's a good Christian such as yourself supposed to tell a child when an unsaved loved one dies?

*Rochelle.

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."

30

BEW's ..........Irrational Thoughts

by LadyBug in

jw
friends

i have been having some pretty irrational thoughts lately.. its only been 3 months since we decided it is not the "truth".

but sometimes i think we (my family) would have been better off if we had stayed inactive witnesses.

the strain affects the whole family.. sometimes it feels like my whole world has fallen apart.

Sunchild

{{{BEW}}}

Like Kent said, just take your time. Read things. Write things. Talk to people. Be introspective. Draw pictures if you like. Just spend some time exploring, and don't worry if the answers don't come right away, or even if they don't come at all. One of the most important things you can learn in life is to be comfortable with the fact that you don't have all the answers, and that you never will. Anyone who claims to know it all is lying to himself and lying to you.

From the sound of it, though, quite a spiritual void has been left behind for you. Use this to your advantage. Is there any spiritual path you were curious about, but didn't dare explore while you were a JW? Here's your chance! Is there a certain philosophy that you've heard about, but don't know much about? You can read up on it now! Read, learn, experiment, find what works for you and throw out the stuff that doesn't! You have that power now. I suspect that all of the answers you need -- perhaps not all the answers you want, but all of the answers that you need -- are right inside of you if you take the time to look for them. And don't let other people force their answers on you, no matter how certain or knowledgeable they seem. Never underestimate the value of your own intuition.

And above all else, don't worry so much about "getting there." I've found so far that journey itself is quite a worthy adventure.

All the best,

*Rochelle.

---------
"Most men complacently accept 'knowledge' as 'truth'. They are sheep, ruled by fear."
-- Sydney Losstarot, "Vagrant Story."