Posts by think41self

3

Keep God out of public affairs

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

rather an interesting essay:.

comment:keep god out of public affairs: religion will never provide a moral framework for technological change, argues the distinguished philosopher, a.c. grayling , who says the state must sever all support for all faith-based groups and events in order .

the observer - united kingdom; aug 12, 2001. by a.c. grayling.

think41self

Interesting essay Expat,

Thanks for sharing it with us. I see that JW's received honorable(?) mention. I agree with the writer...religion needs to be kept in the private sphere. Many think we are losing that here in America, allowing religion to become more and more involved with the affairs of state. Funny, isn't that one of the things our forefathers fought so strongly to prevent? All of us here have seen the power of religion in individual lives...destructive power. It needs to stay contained in personal lives, in my opinion.

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

23

Dfd and looking toward re-instatment

by GoingNuts in

i have been dfd since i turned 19, i aux, pioneered for a short time and then selfishly went after the fruits of the flesh.

smoking, sex, drinking, drugs, etc.... the thing i couldn't, or wouldn't, see at the time was that i was acting selfishly.

it didn't matter what others in the cong.

think41self

Hi Goingnuts

Not sure exactly what you're looking for here, but I can answer a couple of questions for you.

I left because I saw that a bunch of men were trying to run my life, and make important decisions for my life that they had no business doing. No, I am not trying to go back...I will NEVER go back. It was a dysfunctional religion...and I was dysfunctional while I was in it.

As for leaving the organization and "going wild"...don't you think that had more to do with your age than anything? I left when I was 36 and I did not change any of my behaviors...I took up smoking about a year later, and still am. But as for the drugs and promiscuity, no I wasn't looking for something to numb me, or give me a false sense of self worth. So you do not need a religion, especially one that tries to stifle independent thinking, to get your life in order and stop self destructive habits! A good therapist might be a good place to start for you. I wish you well in your search!

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

12

This is for those of you who asked for my exp...

by MrMoe 2 in

it's long, so take a deep breath!.

ok, this is for those of you who wanted my life experience as a jw, so here goes.. i was born to a beautiful woman/mother who was abandoned by my biological father.

my mother was raised as a jw and left in her teen years and turned to the baptist church as an adult.

think41self

((((Amanda))))

Wow! That's quite a story...and I know there was probably so much more to it. Thank you so much for opening yourself up to us and sharing.

I feel so badly for that little girl you were, needing understanding and love. I am glad that you were able to get some comfort and love from your "mom & dad". They sound like a lot of witnesses, loving but misguided. And the treatment you got at the hands of the elders and the congregation...well, it just makes my blood boil! SO MANY times people who go to them because their consciences are bothered and they think they are doing the right thing, only to have the elders tell them they WEREN'T repentant so disfellowshipped you. What hypocrisy! As if all of them haven't done some of the same things you've done.

Please know that you are accepted here...just as you are. And that stupid ass boyfriend who left you because you didn't look like Kathy Ireland...well, I hope he is happy sleeping alone, cause I doubt very seriously Kathy would give HIM the time of day. Hang in there sweetie, it does get easier.

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

36

Thanks for the support love, Erica

by angel in

jw
friends

i am erica garza rodriguez.

i wanted to write and thank all of you for your interest and support during this long pursuit of justice.. to those wonderful friends who were able to travel to ritzville for the trial, my heart overflows with humble gratitude.. bill bowen (and wife sheila, behind the scene).

b (you know who you are), pat, chris, richard and wife, gsark, baharama and sister, maximus, were you there?

think41self

Erica

Thank you for sharing words of encouragement with US! Your example is an inspiration to others...and all of us here are very proud of you.

Thank you for letting us know you were here.

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

9

Anyone else notice the milestone? Thanks Simon...

by individuals wife in

jw
friends

anyone notice the milestone tonight - we've just passed the amazing total of 100,000 posts on this board!!!!

thought we all needed a pat on the back and three cheers for all our effort!!!.

what a lot we've got to say!!

think41self

Simon gets an apostate kiss from me any time!

And Logical, you are getting funnier and funnier buddy.

I knew we were having a lot of fun here, that just proves it!

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

3

New friends

by Tikva7 in

jw
friends

hi, my name is grace and i am looking for some brothers and sisters to email.

i am currently studying and associating with a few jw and would like to make more friends in the truth.

my email address:.

think41self

Hi Grace,

Welcome to the board If you are just studying then you should find some very interesting topics to read about here. Not all here are JW's, many are no longer, some never have been. But there are a lot of nice people here, I know, I'm one of them

Feel free to ask any questions and join in any discussions. My email is open if you'd like to correspond further. Have fun here!

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

17

Toronto's August gathering

by Kismet in

jw
friends

once again people were either to tired or to ummm preoccupied to post after the gathering today.. it was a great event for me since i saw an old friend from 7 years ago..another former bethelite who left the org before me.

we were good friends at bethel and it was great to re-aquaint ourselves as free persons!!!.

got a chance to get to know others much better.

think41self

Moxy Baby!!!!

I'll be standing by the door from 4:00 on just breathlessly waiting for you!

And ladies, if there are no organized events on Friday evening, we can still manage to get together and turn the town upside down, don't ya think? Woohoo

Tracy

115

Ritsfield Victory!

by silentlambs in

hello everyone,.

i am bill's wife.he just called me from washington and told me to let you all know that erica won her case today!.

that sick child molesting bastard is in jail now as we speak.. his sentencing is set for september 24th i think.. one down many more to go.. thanks to all who have supported this cause.. sheila

think41self

Wendy,

I am going to try this one more time. Denial seems to be something you are still struggling with.

You said "I have often asked other posters to put themselves in someone else's shoes, why is Safe, so upset I asked her too?" Because of the subject matter of the thread Wendy. You do NOT ask a former abuse victim, which you WERE aware of, to put themselves in the place of the abuser to try to understand their reasoning or thinking!!! Come on! That one is so obvious everyone else can see it. Why can't you?

THEN you said, in an attempt to justify your earlier comments, that you were just trying to "get one on one with Safe...just bringing it closer to home for her". Gee Wendy, do you think maybe this is where Dana got the idea you were referring to the personal matters you talked about in IM? Everyone else got that impression, why didn't you?
Then, the icing on the cake, you said " Do not be so quick to jump the gun, that is a sign of a guilty conscience." It doesn't matter if you put a little wink behind it Wendy(that is just passive aggressive behavior) your intent to Dana was AGAIN obvious that you were referring to personal matters. If you can't(or won't) see that, then you are not the reasonable person I thought you to be, and we will just have to give up trying to understand each other on this topic.

Tracy

17

Toronto's August gathering

by Kismet in

jw
friends

once again people were either to tired or to ummm preoccupied to post after the gathering today.. it was a great event for me since i saw an old friend from 7 years ago..another former bethelite who left the org before me.

we were good friends at bethel and it was great to re-aquaint ourselves as free persons!!!.

got a chance to get to know others much better.

think41self

Hi Guys,

Sounds like ya'll had a great time. Wish I had been there, especially since there was such an abundance of testosterone!! I'm used to that(living with hubby and 3 teenage boys).

I am GREATLY looking forward to next month! And Moxy better be there, or I'll rub his fur the wrong way just to irritate him.

Safe and I had a little mini 'fest yesterday. We met up with Roro and his lovely wife and little girl. It was great to be able to talk face to face with them...so much in common. He he, we all admitted to having misgivings before hand thinking "What if these people are just weird?" Needless to say, that wasn't the case! At least, I hope that's what Roro says,

See you all next month

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson

8

Disfellowshipping

by TweetieBird in

jw
friends

the whole idea of disfellowshipping someone from the congregation has always been a source of contention with me.

maybe it's because they disfellowshipped my husband a month before we got married for something totally lame (i would go into it but then it would give my identity away).

just trust me when i tell you that it was only done out of jealousy.

think41self

Hi Tweetie,

Ahhh, you've hit on the crux of the matter here: "Give me credit for having a brain and choosing to associate or not associate with those who perhaps are bad association."

The borg does NOT allow you to think for yourself. ONLY spirit appointed MEN have the capability to decide FOR you who is to be considered good or bad association. The rank and file JW's accept this. I used to accept it (GAG...) Now it is ludicrous to me that someone else should make those kinds of decisions for me that affect MY life. I hope one day they all "see the light" and get out of that dysfunctional religion.

think41self

"It is much more sensible to be an optimist instead of a pessimist, for if one is doomed to disappointment, why experience it in advance?"
Amelia Peabody Emerson