Posts by think41self

12

What really gets me going

by ballistic in

jw
friends

i have gone through various emotions including anger at the wtbts for all that i went through while growing up only to be disfellowshipped at 22.. my net result is a dead father due to the blood issue and a split family and, of course, years of wasted time.. i would like to say, however, that i am not angry with all witnesses and i am not a conspiracist who believes the leaders have a hidden agenda.. i believe that informed persons should be able to join the witnesses if they believe it is right for them.. what i hate though is the fact that thousands of children, like i was, are still indoctrinated from birth.

they are told "we don't baptise babies because they are too young to choose it for themselves.

" but in reality, what choice are you really giving a child who by the age of 13 would have experienced: 3380 hours of meetings, 832 hours of larger assemblies, possibly 1560 hours of field service, at least 2028 hours of personal study (watchtower, book study and personal study) and more importantly, what choice does a child have who is told they have an open mind but who is never allowed examine religions or persons with opposing views?.

think41self

Great post Ballistic,

I agree with your sentiments. Once I got past the initial anger and hurt of being shunned by my family, the anger is pretty much gone. After all, I was once a loyal dub who faithfully shunned my own dear family members! So how can I remain angry with them when I understand exactly where they're coming from? I can't.

That doesn't mean that I don't get incredibly angry with the old men in Crooklyn though...who are making decisions that cost people their lives, such as your father( I am so sorry about that Ballistic ) and I'm sorry, but I FIRMLY believe that they recognize the error of their ways in regards to some of this, but the fear of LOSS OF POWER keeps them from changing it or admitting to it. Just my opinion. And to me, that makes them contemptible human beings.

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

15

Yahoo Single Witness will be DF'd (HaHaHa)

by BoozeRunner in

jw
friends

check out this response to a topic over at yahoo single witnesses.

the poster known as greatgrooves2002 is surely toast after this one...lol!!!.

it seems that texasangelchild asked some pretty tough questions, as she recently began studying after the death of her twin sister.

think41self

Thanks for sharing that with us Boozy,

I think GreatGrooves is an honest person, and yes, in actuality they were encouraging the questioner to continue their studies...but that is not what the dubs will see in that post. All they will see is don't give your devotion to any organization, but only to God. That right there is enough to get ALL their panties in a wad!

BTW, I know several loyal dubs who could have written that post. I too wondered if it were or not...but it could have been!

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

46

What flavor are you? Test Du Jour

by Esmeralda in

jw
friends

okay...a little fun on a friday night.... : http://www.emode.com/emode/tests/flavor.jsp.

mmm ... mocha!

strong and rich but not too sweet you're the flavor of late nights and early mornings.

think41self

CLOSER!

I knew you and I had a lot in common, I'm a pink grapefruit too

It must have been that damn Tom Cruise question...honestly, I've never thought about it...does that make me weird?

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

21

for married people only

by teejay in

jw
friends

there's a running debate i have going with my wife.

i have the opinion that it is very possible for married people to have friends of the opposite sex without the idea of a sexual encounter entering into the picture.

she disagrees, saying that once you're married, the marriage mate should be enough to offer you all you need in the way of companionship, conversation,etc.. let's say you're running an errand at the mall and happen to see someone of the opposite sex that you have known for years (your mate knows/doesn't know them... doesn't matter) and you decide to grab a cup of coffee and have a two-hour chat.

think41self

Thanks Outlaw

I think you're pretty nice yourself.

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

3

Is Love Never Having To Say Sorry......?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

my po dad used to tell me that forgiveness is only available to the penitent.

as humans, we are under no obligation to forgive anyone, anything, unless the perpetrator expresses repentence.. is that right, we don't have to forgive unless we see remorse displayed by the wrongdoer?.

if i forgive someone for a transgresion against me, and that person has no remorse, does that make me a spiritual cuckold?

think41self

Hello Eman

Have I done something to upset you? Is that what this is all about? If so, I sincerely apologize!!!!

I think you're on the right track. Forgiveness is something we do for ourselves...not to benefit the other person. It contributes to our OWN mental health and peace of mind. Sometimes you will NEVER get the other person to even admit to their transgression, much less apologize for it. Of course, I think those people suffer a far worse fate in their lives than worrying about what I may think of them!

As for the dubs and their "works befitting repentance" may I say......

Anyone can play their little games, and put on their little act of being sorry, just to prevent being df'd. That's not a sincere show of contrition anyway. But we've all seen that before, haven't we?

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

21

for married people only

by teejay in

jw
friends

there's a running debate i have going with my wife.

i have the opinion that it is very possible for married people to have friends of the opposite sex without the idea of a sexual encounter entering into the picture.

she disagrees, saying that once you're married, the marriage mate should be enough to offer you all you need in the way of companionship, conversation,etc.. let's say you're running an errand at the mall and happen to see someone of the opposite sex that you have known for years (your mate knows/doesn't know them... doesn't matter) and you decide to grab a cup of coffee and have a two-hour chat.

think41self

Hi Teejay,

I agree with most of the other responses here. I have no problem with my hubby having friends of the opposite sex. He occasionally does have coffee or lunch with them, no problem. Just because you're married is an excellent reason TO have outside interests and friends. By keeping our own individuality and broadening our own experiences through personal growth, we maintain the "sparkling personalities" that probably attracted our mate to us in the first place.

I think honesty and discussing any jealousy you feel, even if you're ashamed of it, is the key to making it work. If your mate has a real problem with one particular person, you should be considerate of their feelings, EVEN if it's really their own issues, and nothing you've done that causes them concern. I'm not saying you couldn't be friends with that person, but an honest discussion with your mate about why they feel uncomfortable, and discussing scenarios they may feel comfortable with, might be a good idea. Just a suggestion!

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

44

Christmas&Thanksgiving-Are you celebrating?

by Vitameatavegamin in

jw
friends

hi friends;.

just wondering about this subject of holidays again.

i really miss christmas but don't have enough nerve to celebrate it.

think41self

Hello Vita!

You'd better believe I will be celebrating the holidays. It is a wonderful time to spend with the family. We are creating traditions of our own...that have nothing to do with religion. So jump in sweetie, the water's FINE.

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

7

Door Magazine

by JanH in

jw
friends

for extremely irreverent religious humour, i recommend http://www.thedoormagazine.com/.

how they got the above pic of the absent yadirf, i do not know.. - jan. --.

"doctor how can you diagnose someone with obsessive compulsive disorder and then act like i had some choice about barging in here right now?

think41self

Jan,

I love irreverent humor Thanks!

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

7

The lesson my child taught me today

by Esmeralda in

jw
friends

i know that my child is well off.

we're not rich, by any means.

we're still in the post college, young years of marriage, just "starting out".

think41self

Oh Essie

I LOVE these little gems in life...that we learn from our children. You DO have a beautiful style of writing, and you are blessed in life with many good things, I think.

Give your daughter this for me

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."

32

May I have some comments, please?

by Kent in

jw
friends

i did get an interesting mail from "mommy" - and i think this might be interesting to dig into.. please, let me have some comments!.

http://watchtower.observer.org/apps/pbcs.dll/artikkel?nocache=1&dato=20011015&kategori=news&lopenr=110150008&ref=ar.

yakki da.

think41self

Seven,

Nice to hear you haven't lost your wit and charm, even tho' battling the nicotine deeminz. I just quit smoking myself. I've only been doing it two years, and Friday was my birthday, so I thought I would quit for my birthday. It's been a little hard for me, but I haven't wanted to hurt butterflies or kittens. Hubby says I was a little cranky today...but I only hurt him a little bit.

Seriously Dave, congratulations on quitting after so long. And you're right...once things get so bad, why not pile a little more shit on? After awhile, you start to get impressed by how high the shit pile has gotten, and you can't believe that it can hold EVEN ONE MORE piece of shit...and then an ex wife or something will call, and you say "Holy Shit Batman! That is some stupendously serious SHIT" So I think I can relate to you, a little bit.

BTW Kent....we've had a lot of fun with your post, even tho' not even one of us knows what the hell it's about!!!

think41self

"Not believing is not the same as not knowing."