i'm one of those people who constantly gets reminded of random things by other random things, especially word associations & music... .
things that remind me of the my life as a jw (and i use the word 'life' very loosly) .
1. all along the watchtower (song by jimi hendrix) .
microwaves - ok, you're going to have to go with me on this one. A sister I used to play badminton with once told me that she wasn't going to get a microwave because the GB hadn't endorsed them in the magazines and she didn't trust them
You're kiddin' ..right?
2 corinthians 12. .
1i must go on boasting.
although there is nothing to be gained, i will go on to visions and revelations from the lord.
2 Corinthians 12
1 I must go on boasting. Although there is nothing to be gained, I will go on to visions and revelations from the Lord. 2 I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of the body I do not know--God knows.
Does anyone have an explanation for what this third heaven is, other than the one given in the “Jesus Mysteries” which states that it is a reference to the seven pagan heavens? A book title, URL, or personal opinion will suffice.
i'm one of those people who constantly gets reminded of random things by other random things, especially word associations & music... .
things that remind me of the my life as a jw (and i use the word 'life' very loosly) .
1. all along the watchtower (song by jimi hendrix) .
Ankle length polyester floral dresses
Plastic book bags
Plastic boxes full of white cassette tapes
Droning American accents
The smell of old burnt coffee (from the assemblies)
this is a bit of a spinoff of avishai's post "anyone been beat up for being a dub?
" i suffered this as a jw and i completely blame the wts for it.
the following quotes are from the pink great teacher book:.
Witness kids are an easy target. At least other christians at school had the common sense to keep their religious ideals to themselves. At my school, we had about 6 dubs, two of which were elders sons. I was forever stopping them from recieving daily beatings. I never liked these two elders sons, but I dislike bullies even more. Pitty you werent at my school Nos, I'd have taken care of ya.
non-roman fonts used: spionic .
this article is also available in transliteration and text-only formats.
editor's note: bart ehrman delivered the kenneth w. clark lectures at duke divinity school in 1997. this article, though slightly modified from the oral presentation, preserves the original flavor of the lecture.
Very interesting post, and comments.
21. None of the early pagan critics of Christianity was as thorough and penetrating as the late-second century Celsus, and none of its defenders was as brilliant as Celsus's posthumous opponent, Origen.
Does anyone have information on these guys?
don't you just hate them.
i seem to have a horrible habit lately of waking up at some ungodly hour (i can say that now right?)..
and then i can't fall back asleep.. i'm amazed how well i actually function the next day sometimes..
smoke hash and read alot.
You might fall asleep (more likely pass out) but you'll feel like sh1t in the morning. I should know, I've been doing it EVERY night for the last 15 years and just quit last weekend.
Now I find hot milk and a shag is the best cure. (but obviously not at the same time)
yxl1
.
after becoming a witness, slowly we became programmed to believe that 99% of the world was not approved by god and that they were evil, and in the darkness, and would all die at armageddon.. most of us left the watchtower, or are on the verge of doing so, so at a certain point it's normal to be in a so called no man's land, where you don't believe what the watchtower taught and at the same time you still believe that the entire world is not approved by god.
i was just wondering how long you stead in this mode of beleiving that the watchtower teachings were wrong, but at the same time, you still remembered and believed that the world was also doomed?
It took me about 7 years. 7 years of pushing it to the back of my mind. It wasnt until I started investigating the JW organization that these fears were laid to rest. www.freeminds.org and CoC were probably the biggest help.
Since Ithen I've met many former JW's from my old congregation that, as you put it, are in No-mans land. It doesnt take long to reasure them that its all a load of hogwash, and you can see the relief spread over their faces within hours.
when will the guilty feeling of leaving the org go away?
i am feeling at my lowest point right now, and its terrible.
this after visiting my parents and feeling that awkward tension building between us.
Repeat after me, “I am NOT doing the wrong thing”
It takes some of us a long time to get rid of those feelings of guilt and betrayal and for some it will never go away. That is why sites like this are such a great help. My sisters and I felt the same way for years after leaving and it wasn’t until I did my own research on the Witnesses (www.freeminds.org) that the feelings of guilt, imminent death, and betrayal vanished. Once you have the real truth, you will not feel bad, but it takes time. Brainwashing takes time to undo because you’ve been taught to think in a certain way for (probably) a long time.
For example, my younger brother has just been released from jail and when I met him, he told me he was thinking of returning to the meetings. I reminded him on how they publicly humiliated him from the platform while still a minor without informing mum, but that didn’t matter. His reason? He didn’t want to die at the big A. After a few discussions, and showing him printouts from this site and others, he now knows the truth and for the first time he feels free from theocratic guilt.
Your parents will not and probably will never understand your choices, but you are an adult with a child and the welfare of that child comes first. Others on this site will probably be able to give you better advice on how to deal with your parents, but just remember…You are doing the right thing.
Good luck to both of you.
Yxl1
I learnt how to sleep with my eyes open...
who or what is your all time favorite singer or band?
even if you never saw them, if you could---you'd spend big bucks to see them.
i love anita baker.
Male Artist? Cant decide between Prince and Stevie wonder. Bands? Thats easy, QUEEN!!! Female artist? either Bjork or Kate Bush.
