There is only one thing we can be certain of - we were dead until we lived and we will live until we die.
Best make the most of it because we can't get a refund.
i've noticed on so many threads people misrepresenting what and atheist is.
so hopefully anyone who is so inclined can view this clip to get it a bit of clarity on the definition, so others don't have to constantly repeat themselves and correct uneducated assertions on what atheism is.. enjoy.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1wdnrkllq.
There is only one thing we can be certain of - we were dead until we lived and we will live until we die.
Best make the most of it because we can't get a refund.
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
Have a wonderful day
You too Hadit.
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
Thank you all for your comments. Yes there was an intentional hint of satire.
Thank you for your prayers and good intent Tammy. In the UK it is now morning and I have just slid the lid off my box.
sabastious I find it hard to believe the matter-of-fact tone in your post reflects your actual emotions on such matters.
I left the Tower many years ago and difficult as it was at the time, life moves on. It has made me less trusting and rather reclusive and guarded but it's a big world and the freedom to choose who we want have as friends brings with it a certain freedom.
To survive as humans, we have to develop the ability to let go of the past, which includes people. Our life has to be what we do each day. I have seen so many people destroy themselves by harbouring regrets and longing for the past.
The past is gone. It exists only in our mind each time we choose to give energy to recreating our version what happened. All of us who were JWs had good times too. I treasure them and still laugh when I think about those times; young optimistic and waiting for a new world. Some of the JWs I knew were great people and it was a privilege to share that time with them.
When it comes to feeling, I actually feel sorry for the people I left behind. My relatives have made some very poor life choices due to their beliefs. I have empathy for them because they have been lied to and conned. They drew the short straw.
We all have to grow up and face reality. It was my choice to leave and I have no regrets. It was not possible for me to continue living a lie, however much I wanted to. I hope you all find your own way of coping with the pain and loss of losing something that you once valued.
They key is to stop placing value on the things you chose to let go of. You once valued them and they brought you a feeling of security and joy. Now they are out of date. Imagine you are updating your wardrobe. Replace them with up to date friends and a fresh new philosophy or faith and then value those new things. Value yourself and others who have chosen to share a part of their life with you!
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
I think that's a pretty tough outer shell you're wearing, my friend.
Tammy - as perceptive as ever.
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
There seems to be a consensus that shunning is painful at first but hurts less as time passes. It takes time and a positive attitude to see being shunned as a blessing. Since leaving the Tower, I have not had to attend a single funeral.
My father died last year. My brother, who is a brainwashed elder, wrote to inform me that I would be allowed in the kingdom hall but not to the reception at his house. There was a PS that mentioned they had forgotten to tell me that my elder uncle, a prolific breeder who went forth and multiplied, had died 2 years earlier, or invite me to the funeral. I ignored the letter.
From my mother, I received a torn off notebook page with 2 sentences stating that it was her duty to inform me that me that my father was dead; the first letter from her in 15 years. I ignored the letter. I always shred these nuisance letters from religionists, as trained to do by the Tower.
Being let off from attending all these morbid and boring funerals, dressed up like a kipper, is an added bonus. I can honestly say that I have not shed a single tear over their failure to live forever. Instead I have experienced a warm glow, knowing that death has robbed them of the ability to continue shunning me, while I enjoy a comfortable life and good health. The devil looks after his own, which is more than their god does.
Let the dead bury the dead!
if you could send in questions to the news media for an interview with the devil what would you ask him?
no sarcasm please.
this is meant to be a serious topic..
Did you really get beat at fiddle playing down in Georgia, old Buddie?
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
Who is the single Dub Gladiator that speaks with you?
My older brother. The only one that lives in my town.
I misled you - he left the Tower a couple of years after me, so he is not a JW.
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
it was hard at first but now i enjoy it.
Will, I notice that you started a similar thread before this one.
It is hard a first when old friends shun but it gets easier with time.
It was wonderful to be away from their toxic actions and still is.
Well said Blondie
i've noticed on so many threads people misrepresenting what and atheist is.
so hopefully anyone who is so inclined can view this clip to get it a bit of clarity on the definition, so others don't have to constantly repeat themselves and correct uneducated assertions on what atheism is.. enjoy.. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bt1wdnrkllq.
Over a number of threads you have had a fair crack at explaining that atheism is not a belief. Believers do not want to hear this. If they can successfully claim that atheism is a belief, they can then demand that we stand up and offer prove for our belief.
The idea that anything can be straight forward and simple is alien in the world of people who believe there are invisible beings, of varying status, lurking in the fundament and heaven.
Quite simply, the world is divided into two types of homosapiens:
Theists who believe in and often worship god or gods.
A-theists who haven't a clue what they are on about and would rather spend their spare time sinning..
it was painful at first but now i see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar.
my wife is happier too.
it's like having a heavy rucksack removed.. i have 39 jw relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the tower.
It was painful at first but now I see the advantages of not having needy relatives spending the weekend with me and scoffing my food and raiding my bar. My wife is happier too. It's like having a heavy rucksack removed.
I have 39 JW relatives and 38 of them shun me along with the army of ex-friends who remain in the Tower. I did have 43 JW relatives but 4 of them died recently, which I found rather encouraging.
Some of my relatives were prepared to correspond with me by post. I wrote and told them I would rather they saved their postage as I don't read junk mail. To my brother I said, 'If I am not welcome at your home as a brother or even a friend then to whom would I be writing?"
What is the point of wasting time and money travelling to see people who clean windows for a living and who's heads are full of crap. What would we talk about? Let me arrogantly declare that I have moved beyond them and no longer associate with losers. I don't think I could bear the boredom. Also they are easily shocked and don't know that I am a gladiator.
What about love you may ask? We love what we value and I now place zero value on them. I save my love for worthy people who share my values.
There has been a weakening of their resolve in recent years. Word has got back to me that they may be prepared to toss me a few crumbs if I promise not to write any more books about their corrupt organization.
I have have insisted that they stay as far away from me as possible and return to their own vomit.
How do you feel about being shunned?