Posts by return of parakeet

46

Crazy Religions

by Qcmbr in

i was reading a good article regarding the relative 'craziness' of faiths (blog) and they mentioned a lot about mormons.

in short they talked about the socially accepted craziness (as opposed to actual mental illness) of mainstream , culturally accepted faiths v those that are relatively new.

we see scientology as more crazy than catholicism if we fall into the trap of judging without consideration but when examined all religions have very crazy elements.

Qcmbr, I was away from the board for several years (I was Parakeet). When I came back this January, I found you had left the LDS and become an atheist. Did you ever tell the story of how that happened? If so, can you give me the thread? If not, maybe you can tell it sometime soon. I'm sure it's an interesting and enlightening one.

I admire that you recognized the flaws in religion (which the article cites) and elected to live life as rationally as is possible for human beings.

BTW, do you still call Jon Krakauer, "Krakpot Krakauer"? (Just teasing. )

18

I ran into an active JW...surprised

by nolongerconfused in

jw
friends

so as you all know, i have fully faded...i'm completely out and have not told the elders or da myself...just faded 100%.... so i run into an active jw, different congregation, and as i walk past him i say, "hey so and so, how are you doing?

"....he looks down, doesnt dare look at me in the eyeball and keeps walking...then a split second later he turns around and says, hey man, aren't yuo disfellowshipped?....

i was like wtf?...lol, i said "not that i know of"...i asked him who told him such thing?...he wouldnt tell me who, but he had "heard"...so i just left it at that and told him if he wants to know then to contact my ex-elders.... my thing is, could the elders have df'ed me without me knowing it?...i have not been accused of their so called "apostasy", nor have i received a letter requesting info or to set up a meeting, nor a call...the coordinating elder (formally president/presiding overseer) still texts me all the time saying hi etc...no religious texts or anything like that).

return of parakeet

krejames: " In one of the talks our last CO gave, he commented that we shouldn't have any contact with people who managed to "get around the system" without getting disfellowshipped, but are doing things that would be considered gross sins (EDIT i.e. faders leading "immoral" lives)."

I wonder if my dub mother will still talk to me if or when she hears this. I've committed the gross sin of putting up a Christmas tree and giving gifts to my children on Christmas day. She saw the tree, so she knows I'm a gross sinner leading an immoral life.

46

Crazy Religions

by Qcmbr in

i was reading a good article regarding the relative 'craziness' of faiths (blog) and they mentioned a lot about mormons.

in short they talked about the socially accepted craziness (as opposed to actual mental illness) of mainstream , culturally accepted faiths v those that are relatively new.

we see scientology as more crazy than catholicism if we fall into the trap of judging without consideration but when examined all religions have very crazy elements.

return of parakeet

Qcmbr: "... plus all religions and faiths are fundamentally equally crazy."

tec: "What a statement. And you worry about me?"

I agree with Qcmbr. All religions have an underlying premise that is irrational and unprovable. However, the leaders of religions differ in how much personal freedom they allow their followers and how much dissidence they allow.

Example: I'm sure there are exceptions, but one can remain a Catholic even if they disagree with some Catholic doctrines. Not true for dubs and other cults.

But basically, them religions be crazy, Jack.

46

Crazy Religions

by Qcmbr in

i was reading a good article regarding the relative 'craziness' of faiths (blog) and they mentioned a lot about mormons.

in short they talked about the socially accepted craziness (as opposed to actual mental illness) of mainstream , culturally accepted faiths v those that are relatively new.

we see scientology as more crazy than catholicism if we fall into the trap of judging without consideration but when examined all religions have very crazy elements.

return of parakeet

If there's one thing that separates humans from the rest of the animals, it's that humans behave in irrational, downright crazy ways.

My parakeet wouldn't dream of wearing a corset or tight high heels or mascara (she has eyelashes), or rouging her beak, or attending a Birds for Christ church.

She is sweet to everyone who treats her kindly. She is beautiful without trying to artifically increase her beauty. She concerns herself with the basic things of life -- food, water, love, and play. She is a better animal than I am, in every way.

Now ... who's the smarter species?

69

I am beginning to wonder

by mouthy in

jw
friends

why am i closing all the threads.

i am so sorry if i dont give the right answer.

return of parakeet

Mouthy, you should be honored that yours is the final and definitive post on a topic.

After you weigh in, there's nothing more anyone can write that adds anything substantive to the conversation.

Your years of wisdom allow you to have the last word on almost any topic.

22

The problems with fighting the WTS

by return of parakeet in

over the years, many well-intentioned posters have been frustrated when they ask fellow apostates (wear the name proudly!

) to band together to let the world know how corrupt and destructive the wt cult is.

i think there are some hard facts about this particular cult that make combatting it so frustrating:.

return of parakeet

Gopher, did that Dateline program result in any change in the way the WTS operates? I do remember the broadcast, but I don't know how much good it accomplished. Maybe the results were an increase in the number of dubs who left, but there's no way for us to know that, is there?

Blondie, your statement about changing the WTS by changing the laws that affect them is the way to go, I agree. What's good for the goose is good for the goslings.

This thread was just posted about a new documentary dealing with the WTS's financial shenanigans. There is more going on than I thought. I suppose with dubs, one must be satisfied with the smaller victories in hopes the bigger ones will follow.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/246347/1/New-TATT-Documentary-coming-to-Brooklyn-in-March

30

Is there anyone out there who married a non jW...?how did it turn out for ?Are u happy?

by Chichi89 in

jw
friends

please be honest....did love conquer it all?.

how did u make it work?.

return of parakeet

Chichi, read this thread and decide whether you want to take this kind of chance for your future:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/245585/1/My-Son-and-I-have-about-5-Months-Left

There are many, many threads with the same heartrending results that often happen when dubs marry non-dubs.

22

The problems with fighting the WTS

by return of parakeet in

over the years, many well-intentioned posters have been frustrated when they ask fellow apostates (wear the name proudly!

) to band together to let the world know how corrupt and destructive the wt cult is.

i think there are some hard facts about this particular cult that make combatting it so frustrating:.

return of parakeet

Smiddy: "This is a good thread , its apity the title doesn`t do it justice ...."

I started typing the title and got sidetracked by writing the thread. Posted it before getting back to the title. Edited now. Thanks.

Fernando: " Still scores of individual dissidents have had a significant and cumulative impact. "

I don't mean to diminish the brilliant work of individual dissidents in bringing light and reason to their dub friends and family. My point is that mounting a large-scale effort to expose the WTS has many factors working against it.

Blondie: " It is not necessary to find these issues from an ex-jw viewpoint...many issues spill over into many non-jw lives. "

Again, the work these organizations do is exemplary. But the JW scandals are not on top of their list -- The Catholic clergy, Muslim and FDS fundamentalist cults, which, by virtue of their size or their violence, get the lion's share of attention.

By a major expose, I'm talking about a 60-Minutes segment, or an hour-long documentary devoted specifically to the WTS and JWs. Something big.

22

The problems with fighting the WTS

by return of parakeet in

over the years, many well-intentioned posters have been frustrated when they ask fellow apostates (wear the name proudly!

) to band together to let the world know how corrupt and destructive the wt cult is.

i think there are some hard facts about this particular cult that make combatting it so frustrating:.

return of parakeet

The Satanus subset 6b: Those ex-dubs most likely to desire exposing the WTS are themselves not yet free of dub or dub-like thinking to make an effective attack.

17

Being an Orphan Hurts No Matter What Age

by WhoLovesMagic in

jw
friends

what kind of parents forget the day you were born?

jehovah's witness(es)!!!.

yes today is my 3rd birthday (only started celebrating 3 years ago).

return of parakeet

Happy Birthday, WhoLovesMagic!

My dub mother does a strange thing on my birthday. She calls and says she wants to acknowledge my XX number of "trips around the sun." We both know she's saying "Happy Birthday" without actually saying the words. Although it's nice to hear from her, all I can think of is "weird, weird, weird."

Don't let your mom make or break your birthday. Go live a little.