Posts by Antioch

11

Do you think an ideal relationship can work in these turbulent times?

by Perry-Zephyr in

i wonder about that and have researched it in prior times but i see so many that are falling apart.

thoughts?.

Antioch

Not sure what he/she means, but I would define "ideal" as a relationship that is able to sustain the mutual feeling that each is getting a good deal out of the relationship.

Instead, relationships often seem like they cut the "getting" count so thin that it's a constant struggle, OR one (or both) are actually cheating the other person altogether and one (or both) is suffering loss just to be in the relationship. After a few years, relationships seem to devolve and they just stop investing in each other like before when they were competing for each other's hearts.

To the question, yeah, I think such an ideal is possible in these times. In fact, I think it is even MORE likely in these times because illusions are much more easily destroyed by the empowerment of knowledge. It's easier now more-so than ever to have a strong basis to your perception of the world. Two people have more information at their hands to make good decisions about how to build what they want and what is reasonable to expect.

Personally, that's one of my main criteria when I'm checking out a gal. Is she reasonable? Does she look at the bright side of things? What is her definition of success? I ask myself if this gal seems like someone who I could sustain her feeling of "winning" by our being together.

43

On A Scale of 1 to 10 How Would You Rate Your Looks?

by minimus in

jw
friends

1 is undesirable.

Antioch

4.

106

If you thought Tony Moris the Third was extreme, wait till you hear this other GB member!

by Island Man in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqzc2m8_mba&list=uus0vqkpnsxult0gsz6ahpta.

Antioch

I about spewed my coffee when "Homosexuality" popped up. That was hilarious.

A woman wants 'the man's' job
---> that woman must want to be a man
---> That woman must want to have sex with women like a man then!
---> Therefore a woman who wants 'the man's' job is tantamount to homosexuality and transgenderism!

Wow. It boggles the mind that that crap actually came out of the mouth of someone with a brain.

8

Were the first Christians a high-control cult?

by Freedom77 in

jw
friends

after i left the borganization, age 21 going on 22, i stopped praying and was totally uninterested in any religion, and for about 10 years i was at best agnostic.

then, omitting a long story, i realized i missed spirituality in my life and eventually felt gently but definitely led to a mainstream protestant church, which suited me fine at first.. but i discovered that church is just not the place for a single man, especially a single gay man: despite what anybody may say about being welcoming to all kinds of people, the kinds of people who go to church (all churches) are overwhelmingly straight couples with kids, their grandmas and grandpas, and little old blue-haired widows.

very nice people for the most part, and totally undogmatic or pushy as the jw's are, but i have nothing in common with them outside of sunday service.. yes i tried going to sunday school classes, bible studies, church suppers, etc.

Antioch

That was a great post Cofty. I have resented my father for years because he destroyed our family and our family's future over the bilge of false promises. I spend every day thinking about and working on trying to salvage what he trashed. My family and it's name.

49

Seventeen-and-a-half glorious minutes with the irrepressible Mr Lett

by rory-ks in

jw
friends

can't...tear...my...eyes...away.... .

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx8db7m5mzq.

Antioch

Sir82, I don't know what he was like before, but he was my CO back in the 80s when I lived in Fort Wayne, Indiana. That's how he was back then too. I would also like to know the history of his histrionics.

22

Drama friday 2014 DC

by inbetween in

anyone seen the drama on friday ?.

it was about a pioneer couple, when the husband, also an elder, lost his job, and borrowed money from a fellwo elder, who apparently was considered weatlthy.. the main lesson of the drama was quite ok, even though a bit overdone, touching on the issue of gossip and false assumptions.. but there were at least two subtle lessons, whitch were quite disturbing:.

1) no matter what happens, remain pioneering.

Antioch

Exactly how much is their printing operation expected to shrink?

They have essentially gone from being literature sales (20th century) to a reale state landlord situation (new monthly congregation expected donations).

The McDonaldization of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Check out this quote:
Ray Kroc [founder of McDonalds] will ask students what business he is in. While this may seem like a stupid question to some, it is a serious one. Ray Kroc answers he is in the real estate business. McDonalds has built their wealth through the sale of franchises. Because real estate is his business, he makes money through the sale of his franchise and the location of the McDonalds. Let's think of all the McDonalds, it is not coincidental that they are located in key intersections. There are many other business minded people replicating this system of real estate.

-----end of quote----- (ref: http://comm439sp10.csulb.wikispaces.net/McDonaldization)

So what business are JWs in now? Not burgers, and not literature. Apparently they are franchising Kingdom Halls now and expecting a monthly payment along with the benefit of owning the improved property.

36

Open challenge to "Dr" Rolf Furuli and Greg Stafford - DEBATE.

by Focus in

to me af's.

see below for more on af.

"prominent" (lol!

Antioch

AnnOMaly,

I think I love you. I know I respect you.

Focus,

Thanks for all the research, sweat, and tears it sounds like you've been investing over the years. I was there when part of that internet JW apologists thing went down. I even counted a ton of time from about 2003 to 2006 as a pioneer for my time on the internet (Beliefnet, Touchstone, CARM, etc.). I probably read a lot of your discussions. My point is I have a personal stake in thanking people like you for helping me break free. So thanks.

Your current post here, however, reminds me of a war veteran who is back in the USA after the war is over, but you're still holed up in your house in suburbia clutching a rifle and mumbling about foreign enemies long gone. Yes, you invested a TON into the clash of minds back then, but move on. Find your humanity again. Re-evaluate your objectives and current self-assignments.

Btw, those old enemies do not owe you a damn thing. Nobody owes you anything man. We're all fighting a hard battle and it's not over til you die. You're making this all too personal and frankly we'd like to see you fighting to help them break free, not fighting so hard to destroy them.

DriveslikeJehu

AdamN

Antioch

37

MINISTERIAL TRAINING SCHOOL, full course leaked!

by hildebrando in

all classes, all questions, all anwers, all 9 subject!

all leaked for do in spanish!.

http://www.hildeydesa.blogspot.com/2014/06/escuela-de-entrenamiento-ministerial.html.

Antioch

Why are all the leaks in Spanish nowadays? Apparently the latin community is really leading the way in seeing through the bullcrap. Bravo!

80

My Experience and how I finally let myself see the truth

by OneEyedJoe in

first off - for those lurkers who feel guilty just for being on this site and reading this (even if you don't read any further, as it is your right to choose that course) i want you to know that you're not alone in what you're going through or in what you are feeling.

if you read on, i hope my experience may be of some small help to you.. this may be long, but i'll try to organize it in a way that doesn't make it painful to read.

to start, i feel it is most beneficial if i'm upfront and honest with my goals from posting this, which are (in order of the degree to which they motivated me):.

Antioch

Hey Joe,

I tried to speed read the many messages here.

I too was born in and 29 when I left. I was an MS and a Reg. Pioneer. I also was drawn away due to the lack of rationality and logic in the dogma of the WT. However, when I realized I just had to go, and my brain was all fuzzed up, I just left. Like literally, packed up some stuff in my car when my wife was gone for the day, and left. I drove south to the mountains.

She and my family eventually found me. But I could not be dissuaded to come back because I knew that if I did, I would not be able to escape. My friends, job, family, wife, in-laws, etc. were all tied up in JWs. I had to get away.

I felt like if I went back with my wife she would convince me to stay in the JWs. I felt like I was not strong enough to do what I had to do with her undermining my effort to break free. Eventually, she got with a worldly man in her distress, and I became "free to marry." Time apart went on, she requested the legal divorce, and married a JW man. They have a child now.

My biggest regret is that I was not strong enough, smart enough, or just enough enough, whatever that is, to bring her with me. To stay out of the JWs, while still keeping us together.

I really, really, really regret that. She loved me. And I loved her. She was a fantastic wife. I will never find another woman like that.

My point is: Good job on breaking free. Be stronger than me. Keep your marriage strong.

59

New Leaflet to give to JW about TTATT

by TJ Curioso in

hi to all my fellows "apostates" in all world... especially in e.u.a.

and uk.. as some of you already know, ex-jw in portugal created a leaflet especialy to send to jw in all the country (individualy or to congregations).

we must say that it was a sucess from the point of view of the impact originated.

Antioch

Well that's interesting. I could take those to campus.