think41self

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Posts by think41self

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  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

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  think41self

  Teejay: I'm sure you'll go as a happy, satisfied old fellow, sleeping peacefully in your own soft bed....no gutter for you, buddy

  Patio: Isn't that why we have living wills and such? Just make sure you have people who know your wishes and that you trust.

  HadEnough: Know exactly what you mean! I wasn't supposed to get old enough to even get out of school, much less have children of my own! Yet here I am, 38 and with kids 15 & 16. And yes, when you remove old belief systems, you are left with a void, which in itself is frightening! And while I certainly don't dwell on thoughts of dying, I would much rather face the future without some fantasy dream that for all I know would desert me at the moment of truth anyway.

  Expat: As usual, you have put it succintly: One way, we'll get an answer. The other way, we won't know enough to care. I can live with that!

  Bigboi: I'm with you, I like it here, even with the problems. But then again, I used to think I wouldn't like sailing, too many things I couldn't control. Now I love it, for the very reasons I used to fear, I can't control most of it, and must just go with the wind. So who knows, maybe that is what is next for us?

  think41self
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  Terraly,

  Interesting...I hadn't thought of it that way. Of course, the difference is, before we were born, we(depending on our beliefs)had no hopes and dreams and relationships that we had worked for, no life's work that we cared about. So even the thought of starting all over again from zero is somewhat disconcerting, isn't it?

  Just another reason to enjoy what we have, cherish the ones we love, experience new things, appreciate each day for the potential that it offers each one of us. Thanks for your thoughts.

  think41self
• 
  4

  jws and the heart?

  by claudia in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi does anyone know the reasoning behind jws allowed to have heart symbols?

  i thought they had a pagan origin?

  thanks in advance

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  think41self

  Hi Claudia,

  Trying to make sense of and understand the rules and regulations of the Jw's is like trying to explain the rules of the english language to someone. I before E, except after C,etc...it is mind boggling!

  Why can they wear wedding rings, when they know these have pagan origins, too? The standard answer is: Enough time has passed that the pagan origin is forgotten and it only has the modern, accepted meaning. Well I say enough time has passed that those stupid accounts in the Bible of people being killed at someones birthday party has been forgotten by most, and the standard accepted meaning of it just being a nice thing to tell someone you're glad they're around should be used! What do you think? Will the society go for it?

  think41self
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  LOL Thirdson,

  Here's a hint: Don't go to any soccer games!(The number of people getting trampled to death is enough to make you shudder)

  And I agree, if God cared enough about us to create us with these thoughts and feelings, why would he leave it at that? Just makes you wonder, but not worry.

  think41self
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  Introspection,

  Good points: The whole "wait for Armageddon" mentality made many of us put off our education, careers, some even put marrying and raising a family on hold. And for what? A nebulous dream that someone would one day make all of mankind's problems go away.

  That thinking also kept us from taking responsibility for any of these problems. No, one person cannot solve any of these problems alone, but if you get enough people working toward a common goal, say, caring more for the environment, don't we begin to make a difference?

  See, you guys are stimulating me to thought, which is what I wanted

  Philo: What can I say to that remark? Right on
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  Gopher, I'm with you. I just want to make the most of the life I have and make a meaningful contribution to mankind...even if it is by raising my children to be healthy, well adjusted adults! That's good enough for me.

  Lindy,

  I know where you're coming from. for awhile I was angry that the borg, in essence, stole my youth. Now I am over that, and just determined to enjoy and make the most of life now.

  As far as not knowing the future, I take comfort in the fact that I look around at the earth, the intelligent and thoughtful design, the seeming concern for the comfort and delight of humans, and I hope that this "creator", whoever they are, shows that same thought and concern for us afterwards. That's good enough for now.

  think41self
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  Safe4kids,

  Scary thought about wishing you could die now, while you feel worthy!

  Isn't that like what we used to say to ourselves about worldly relatives,"I hope they die before Armageddon comes, so they'll have a chance at resurrection"?

  No wonder we all needed therapy when we left, talk about having skewed perceptions!

  think41self...who is still skewed, but in other ways
• 
  8

  A bad case of the clap

  by expatbrit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  back in the uk, i remember that at the baptisms, the audience were told not to applaud until the last candidate had been dunked.

  this, we were informed, gave the occassion a proper sense of dignity and decorum.

  in general, clapping was restrained at assemblies.

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  think41self

  Good point, Expat.

  I think it is just another control issue with the brothers, here in the States, especially. I mean, they tell us when to eat, when to go to the bathroom(only during intermission or you'll miss important spiritual food!)when to talk(have brothers walking the hallways with signs saying "Quiet Please")when to discipline your children(a 2 year old should be able to sit quietly for 2 hours if properly disciplined)what to wear when we go out to dinner(don't change clothes and wear your name badges as a good witness to people in the area), etc.....

  Major control issues! So glad to be freeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee

  think41self
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  Good point Slipnslide...

  No point in having "control issues" over something you have no control over, right? There is a peace of mind that comes with that.

  P.S. About your name...do you want us to fear you as the leader of an army...or think of you as that kid's toy that you roll out on the lawn, water down, and slipnslide all over?
• 
  31

  Do You Fear Death?

  by think41self in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future.

  do you fear death?

  what do you think are the possibilities for the future?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  think41self

  I am very interested to know how all of you feel about the subject of death and the future. Do you fear death? What do you think are the possibilities for the future?

  Of course I know no one "knows" what the future will bring, just want to have a stimulating discussion, and find out how others have felt about these questions since leaving the borg. I know many have taken different paths, some have embraced other faiths, some are deists, atheists, agnostics, etc...

  Speaking for myself, I think I feared death as a JW, but now I don't. Even tho when I was a JW, I truly believed in the paradise earth and the resurrection...honestly, I never felt very confident in my "good standing" in Jehovah's eyes, so the reality of it was that I was quite often afraid of an untimely death, because I wasn't going to be in good enough shape to get resurrected. Did any of you feel that way?

  The simplest thing could make me feel unworthy. Did I not go out in service enough that month. Was I irregular at the meetings. Did I fool around with my boyfriend and thus be deserving of death? These were the thoughts I had when I was a witness, and frankly, I had an unhealthy fear of dying.

  Now, I am happy to say, without those ridiculous guilt and fear techniques that my mind was once controlled by, I am not afraid of whatever the future might bring! If there is a heaven, if aliens are going to take us to the home planet, if we will exist in another dimension...whatever. We don't know, and we won't know until it happens, so why worry about it, right? Now I find I am much freer to really enjoy life without fearing death. And yet JW's would have you believe that the opposite is true, that without that faith in a resurrection, you have nothing. Well, my experience was that the belief that "maybe in the day of God's wrath, you "might" be saved", was no comfort at all, but in reality, a strong cause of guilt and fear.

  Just curious to know your thoughts and feelings on the subject

  think41self