Ravyn

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Posts by Ravyn

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  19

  The Taking Down the Tower Myth

  by IslandWoman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some prominant xjws have promulgated this myth.

  some have done so out of hatred for the watchtower others because of love for the ones hurt by the watchtower.. the "taking down of the tower" will not happen.. just as the roman catholic church continues and all of her children continue, so will the watchtower.

  it fills a need among the religiously disenfranchised and will continue to so for some time.. there is no "smoking gun" large enough to take down a religion which draws to itself the cast offs of other religions.. reform, reform, reform.

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  Ravyn

  what did I do? (that was a short half-life even for this board!)

  Ravyn
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  40

  I am now officially Disfellowshipped

  by kelpie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  talk about kicking you when you are down!

  you all know i just lost my first baby through miscarriage and that my mum was supportive through out the whole ordeal... well it didn't last.

  she called me last night and informed me that there had been a committee meeting held and that the elders had decided due to the circumstances that they would disfellowship me.

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  Ravyn

  Rhode Island for one has a law called 'presumptive evidence of marriage' that says if you exchanged vows in front of witnesses and rings(IN Rhode Island--but you do not have to be residents of RI) and start using his name you are married with or without a license and you can apply for a license anytime after that if you have your witnesses sign the form. Lee and I did this and when we 5 years later had a church wedding in the Catholic Church--it was good enough for them. We never did get a license and now I have a certificate from the church saying we are married too. Incidentally if we wanted a legal divorce we would also have to file for the license in Rhode Island before we could file for divorce(not likely). It is perfectly legal and minimally documented---which is what we wanted. I understand other states have similar laws too. check it out for Australia.

  Ravyn
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  51

  Witnessism's........

  by integ in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i know some have posted similar topics like this, but i thought it might be kind of fun (for the new ones that are coming here in droves) and others, to give some examples of catch phrases etc, that are unique to the jw world.

  here's a few to start:.... "muster up boldness", "sound down into our hearts","satan's crafty acts", "paradisaic", "young ones"," discernment".....these are just a few of the more irritating.

  add yours if you'd like.. integ.

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  Ravyn

  in jehovah's own due time..........

  a perfect organization run by imperfect men............

  wait on jehovah, do not push ahead of his organization............

  affording elders double honor..........

  not lording it over the flock..............

  if a man cannot keep his own household in line how can he expect to lead god's household?

  a theatrical spectacle to the world..........

  win them over without a word............

  heap fiery coals upon their heads.........

  remove the splinter from your brother's eye..........

  (this is making me nauseous,)

  Ravyn
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  19

  The Taking Down the Tower Myth

  by IslandWoman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  some prominant xjws have promulgated this myth.

  some have done so out of hatred for the watchtower others because of love for the ones hurt by the watchtower.. the "taking down of the tower" will not happen.. just as the roman catholic church continues and all of her children continue, so will the watchtower.

  it fills a need among the religiously disenfranchised and will continue to so for some time.. there is no "smoking gun" large enough to take down a religion which draws to itself the cast offs of other religions.. reform, reform, reform.

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  Ravyn

  The 'tower' does not deserve to fall anymore than any other religion does. They all deserve to 'fall', but it won't happen until humans outgrow their need for religion. so evolve already dammit!

  Ravyn
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  72

  Sex in the New Book "Learn from the Great Teacher"

  by AlanF in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i just obtained a copy of one of the new releases from the summer jw district conventions, learn from the great teacher.

  this book is oriented towards children, and frankly, is a stereotypical piece of propaganda from the "faithful and discreet slave".

  in some ways the book is incredibly revealing, since it has to break down a number of ridiculous jw teachings into a form that even jw children can swallow, and when those teachings are put into simplest form their ridiculousness is evident to everyone but small children and stereotypically braindead jws.

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  Ravyn

  I probably will not win any popularity contests here for this post...BUT.............

  sexual 'experimentation' between peers without intimidation is not unhealthy. In fact IMHO it promotes a healthy and informed view of sex. 'Playing doctor' is a part of grwoing up and to deny natural sexual development IS perverted. For the Borg to equate this normal, natural part of maturation with demon possession or demon-pleasing is sick sick sick. It is this kind of oppression/suppression that creates sexual predators and victims. sexual ignorance is NOT bliss, it is dangerous.

  Ravyn
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  20

  An unexpected Consequence

  by 40wastedyears in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have read this board from time to time for almost two years.

  it has been a mostly positive experience.

  since this is my first post, i will give a brief background.

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  Ravyn

  Dear Glen,

  OutnFree nailed it! You are depressed! You don't have to feel sad to be depressed. A major life changing event is stressful even if it is good. Talk to your doctor about it, if this is the first time you have experienced this sort of thing than it may be able to be adjusted on a temporary medication. It may be as easy as just taking a pill, and contrary to popular belief--that is not always a bad thing.

  glad to meet you!

  Ravyn
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  13

  The WT on witchcraft

  by figureheaduk in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  felt a little bored earlier so i decided to take a trip over to the wt's badly researched propaganda official site, when i stumbled upon this little gem concerning the wiccan faith:.

  http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/2000/4/1/article_02.htm.

  it's the usual waffle from the (old) boys in brooklyn about paganism is worshipping satan, only the bible (and by implication that the wt) is the absolute "truth" blah, blah, blah.

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  Ravyn

  well I am not Wiccan. But I am a witch. And I can honestly say I have not been afraid of anything since I LEFT JWs. Before I left them I was terrified all the time. (demonic afraid I mean).

  Ravyn
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  45

  If you decided to try a church, which one would you try?and why?

  by LyinEyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking of doing something i have wanted to for along time, just to see, that is go to a church.

  i guess i am a little afraid , or nervous , more than anything, but i feel i ready to venture out there and see what it is about,,,,,,,,,,,lol, i might not stay , i just want to try it.. i just want to give it a chance and right now i have no reason why i shouldnt if i go in with my eyes open.

  i dont know what religion to start with,,,,,,,,, i figure this may be a journey on finding what feels right to me, or it could end up i stay home and do my own worship , who knows.. i know there are many christains on this board and i would be interested in hearing why you choose the faith you did, if it is methodist, catholic, baptist, or other mainstream ones.. i am also interested in other forms of religion some have choosen, and why?

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  Ravyn

  oh I just thot of something---

  if you try a UU church(Unitarian Universalist) many times in the summer the pastor or minister takes the time off and the services are conducted by the members and it may seem odd. So if you decide to check them out...give them a couple of chances when the summer is over too.

  I think you are getting some great responses here! Borgfree has a very good review of the religons that don't appeal to me personally but might appeal to you!

  Keep in mind also the region where you live---some groups are just flat out weird in certain areas of the US.

  Ravyn
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  45

  If you decided to try a church, which one would you try?and why?

  by LyinEyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking of doing something i have wanted to for along time, just to see, that is go to a church.

  i guess i am a little afraid , or nervous , more than anything, but i feel i ready to venture out there and see what it is about,,,,,,,,,,,lol, i might not stay , i just want to try it.. i just want to give it a chance and right now i have no reason why i shouldnt if i go in with my eyes open.

  i dont know what religion to start with,,,,,,,,, i figure this may be a journey on finding what feels right to me, or it could end up i stay home and do my own worship , who knows.. i know there are many christains on this board and i would be interested in hearing why you choose the faith you did, if it is methodist, catholic, baptist, or other mainstream ones.. i am also interested in other forms of religion some have choosen, and why?

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  Ravyn

  On a personal note: I am a witch. I believe in reincarnation and I have definite memories of past lives, including knowing skills and places I have never had the chance to know in this life, that can not be explained any other way. I practice magic(k) as a means of energy manipulation and science. My hereditary belief system is gothic/norman/norse as best I can tell. But when I married into an Italian family I was initiated into the Italian Old Religion by my husband's Nanna and Noni. Similar beliefs in 'fairies' or 'fallen angels'--see the Book of Enoch(web search). But I also consider myself New Age, because I do not think the old religions are totally where we need to be at this time...I believe in the evolution of humans in a spiritual sense and feel we are definitely on the brink of something big---Armageddon/Ragnarok/Apocalypse/Age of Aquarius/Rapture....something, but I don't think it is understood yet. (Kinda like the feeling you get when you watch Planet of the Apes and they happen upon the Statue of Liberty in the sand....wooo wooo wooo!) I am a believer in legends like Atlantis and other civilizations. I am not Wicca.

  I don't believe gods or goddesses require worship or sacrifice per se. I think there are Higher Spirit Beings and they do communicate with us and they can help---but they don't HAVE to. I believe our souls/spirits continue to exist after our bodies die. And I believe this life is a school where we have to learn in order to evolve into higher life forms like the ones we call gods and goddesses. They are just Senior Classmen. I believe in gnosis and enlightenment. I believe in Karma, but not in the typical way. I think we start out each level of existence with the tools we have collect from the previous ones. This can be advantages and disadvantages, but I don't think we carry 'sins' into the next level that have to 'paid' for. I believe the only thing that is constant is change. I believe in Chaos theories. Ialso believe there is some elemental common denominator in all human religions and that they serve as an incubator for human spirituality so therefore it is normal and natural and good that we occasionally as individuals find the neccessity to have to move on to some other one.

  well, that's all I can think of for now. Ask anything! There are LOTS of people on here who will be happy to answer you--and some of the answers might even prove useful! LOL

  Ravyn
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  45

  If you decided to try a church, which one would you try?and why?

  by LyinEyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been thinking of doing something i have wanted to for along time, just to see, that is go to a church.

  i guess i am a little afraid , or nervous , more than anything, but i feel i ready to venture out there and see what it is about,,,,,,,,,,,lol, i might not stay , i just want to try it.. i just want to give it a chance and right now i have no reason why i shouldnt if i go in with my eyes open.

  i dont know what religion to start with,,,,,,,,, i figure this may be a journey on finding what feels right to me, or it could end up i stay home and do my own worship , who knows.. i know there are many christains on this board and i would be interested in hearing why you choose the faith you did, if it is methodist, catholic, baptist, or other mainstream ones.. i am also interested in other forms of religion some have choosen, and why?

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  Ravyn

  I still go to church when I want to. Here is my 6 years of experience, and my 'safe' list:

  the Unitarian Universalists are good for tolerance and acceptance, but not really 'churchy'--depends on what you are looking for. They are a highly intelligent group and they are a fantastic connection for education and learning about all religions. But, usually any ritual form of religion is done as individuals, not something you will find on a Sunday service. I recommend associating with this group because they are very useful in making community connections and non-invasive. And they don't care if you never show up or go to other places.

  for ritual and a sense of history and culture I either go to Roman Catholic Church or Anglican/Episcopalian. Not every one can handle the RC. So in that case American Episcopalian or traditional Anglican is a good choice--especially for the traditional Christian holidays. Pretty and satisfying services/masses and gives you a sense of continuity thru the centuries.

  Methodists are pretty tolerant, but much more on the Protestant side of the coin. Great television commercials in the US! I have heard them use a woman and a black man's voice for 'God' LOLOLOLOL.

  Presbyterian and Lutheran scare me because I have seen as many damaged people out of those two denoms on the exit christianity boards as I have JWs and Mormons. Don't know why, but it seems to be a political problem within the congregations---I figure best not to get involved if I can find what I am looking for elsewhere.

  Any Evangelical or Fundamentalist is just an automatic F for me. Never never again! Baptist, Church of God or Church of Christ, any Pentecostal, Holiness or Charismatic movement is just way too rigid and judgemental and cultishly terrifying for me. Too many rules. I will never limit my deities again by human weakness.

  I hear Quakers are tolerant, never tried them--I am more into the ceremony and ritual.

  I have found in my own research(and I don't mean just web surfing---I went to a couple of Divinity Schools for atleast 2 semesters in my searching...)that the movements in the US who claim 'authentic', 'original' or 'primitive' Christianity are way off base. Christianity came directly from Judaism(most likely Essene), with influences of Hellenic Greek philosophy and Mithraism(a form of Zorastrianism adopted by Roman soldiers) and it was VERY ceremonial and ritualistic. Sorry but the stripped down versions we see today that advertize as being the way it was done in the first century are just not accurate. So the whole Kingdom Hall Memorial thing is just bare and cold, not accurate. (Along this same line of thought, Luther did not intend to start a new religion, he only wanted to reform Catholicism, he did not have an argument with the masses, only the corrupt priests of the time. His followers took the ball and ran with it, and IMO threw the baby out with the bath water.)

  Just my opinions,

  Ravyn