talesin

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Posts by talesin

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  19

  Not one single head was lost on the wife birthday!!!!

  by James Mixon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  a surprised birthday party for the wife yesterday.

  we had no idea about the planned party.. the kids (wife daughter and husband) really surprised the wife and i. sunday morning a. truck pulled up and started unloading tents, tables and chairs.

  the son-in-law fired up the grill,.

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  talesin

  How Wonderful! Happy Birthday, Mrs. Mixon!

  Thank you for posting this James Mixon, it is so lovely to hear GOOD NEWS.

  xoxo

  tal
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  26

  Buddhism Anyone?

  by LaurenM in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so, i have recently been delving in buddhism and i must say it all makes sense!

  like, the philosophies and ideas are what i've always believed but could never put a name to.

  for example, they don't believe in god, they teach acceptance of all faiths, that peace can be achieved - not by changing other people - but by changing yourself, that everyone has goodness in themselves, that happiness can be gained internally (not externally as a gift from god), and that life is temporary so we should enjoy it!

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  talesin

  my two pence ...

  Like most religions, Buddhism has some good points. The Shambala school stresses "mindful meditation", which is a great healing tool.

  But then, Xtianity teaches to "Love your neighbour as yourself", which is also a good value.

  Hindis believe that every living thing is to be honoured.

  Life is what you make it - there is some truth to be found in many religions, as there is in many schools of philosophical thought ... but keep in mind that religion, is merely a CONSTRUCT. It is a metaphor and / or allegory at best, and at worst, an injurious controlling tool of the ruling classes.

  Take what you will from Buddhist thought, as you would from any fable or fairy tale, but choose your *own* ethics, your *own* morality. Refuse to COP OUT, and choose a religion or g*d to define you.

  xx
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  33

  Thought I was stronger!

  by Peony in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  just come home from a weight loss class early.

  it's 6 months since i da'd and two and a half years since i've been to a meeting.

  there was a witness there (unless she has left, i wouldn't know) we made eye contact!

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  talesin

  I feel like such an idiot because I know I have done nothing wrong.

  Hi, dear Peony (love that flower!),

  Oh, how well I know that feeling! It is the sinking of my heart, KNOWING I am not perfect, and it's ALL MY FAULT.

  Guess what?
  
  No one is perfect! And YOU are perfectly normal.

  We do NOT have any ideal to live up to. That is one of the biggest lies we are taught. You are good enough, you are strong enough, and you CAN do this ... AND ...

  Life is better on the other side, yes it is!

  Keep on keepin' on, and we shall be here to listen, and give you support when you want.

  xo
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  27

  Making wise use of magazines letter

  by Saltheart Foamfollower in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi all, just got this letter (sorry about formatting - anyone clean it up?).

  christian congregationof jehovahs witnessesthe ridgeway, london, nw7 1rn telephone: 020 8906 2211august 13, 2015to all congregationsre: making wise use of our magazinesdear brothers:millions of people worldwide appreciate the bible study aids that are provided by thefaithful and discreet slave.

  (matt.

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  talesin

  Hmmm, I wonder how much free litera-trash i can get from the cart down the street? I shall stop the next time I go by, and see what they will give away!

  After all, I may need quite a bit to share with my flatmates. *nudge, nudge, wink, wink. Know what I mean?*
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  579

  Won't get fooled again ...Moon Landing.

  by The Rebel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so i was fooled by the witnesses.

  what can i learn from that?

  not to accept things at face value but to seek out opinion and different view points.. hence my question " do you believe man landed on the moon?.

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  talesin

  Instead of questioning the Moon Landing, why not question the motivation? Also, there is a lot of bux being spent on Mars and other destinations, so I don't think that is an issue. So the billions are not labelled "NASA". *shrugs*
  
  Exploration or Star Wars? That, to me, would be a more relevant debate.
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  20

  Social changes- 50% of British youth think they may be a 'little' bit gay

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  this is an amazing social change, and bring humans closer to reality.. from the independent - a british newpaper.

  a survey reports:.

  read the full story at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yougov-poll-homosexuality-half-young-people-10458032.html.

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  talesin

  fulltimestudent

  Hysteria actually comes from the, I believe Latin word, and means "Womb". The psycho-sexual aspect, I think, follows from that, even pre-Foucault. That is why women were said to be 'hysterical' when they were mostly, just strong willed. (Think of Frances Farmer, for example, and that was in the 40s or 50s!)I have an excellent psych textbook that goes into the origins and oh my, I'll see if it's unpacked, you can check it out on Amazon.

  * it's been since I was in junior high that I took Latin for a few years, but those things never leave you. Etymology interests me. Was reading your thread(s) re Daniel and god vs divine. Fascinating, Captain!

  : )

  From the Online Etymology Dictionary: So, it was Greek ... meh, leave it to such a culture to label women like that, hey? Remember the Spartans? *grins*
  
  

  hysterical (adj.)

  1610s, from Latin hystericus "of the womb," from Greek hysterikos "of the womb, suffering in the womb," from hystera "womb" (see uterus). Originally defined as a neurotic condition peculiar to women and thought to be caused by a dysfunction of the uterus.
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  20

  Social changes- 50% of British youth think they may be a 'little' bit gay

  by fulltimestudent in

  1. social
  2. current

  this is an amazing social change, and bring humans closer to reality.. from the independent - a british newpaper.

  a survey reports:.

  read the full story at: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/yougov-poll-homosexuality-half-young-people-10458032.html.

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  talesin

  This is not really surprising. I remember hearing the term "circle jerk" many times in the 70s or 80s, even used in a movie, I'm sure (you know, something like Fast Times at Ridgemont High, or Breakfast Club). Of course, that was the 70s/80s, and I was already a teen/20-something apostate and day-yum! an atheist.

  It seems that at least in some parts of the West, religionism and homophobia is still rampant? SMDH
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  13

  JWs are not charitable

  by BashfulAshG in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hey guys,.

  i'm just venting here because obviously, i can vent to no one else because i am still in the congregation.. jws as a whole do nothing to help the poor, the homeless, the sick, the hungry, though some individual jws do.

  because they are too busy giving to the gb.

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  talesin

  They have "no natural affection". If memory serves me, that is one of their favorite quotes from the Gospel.

  haha, JWS, I am rubber and you are GLUE! Everything you say bounces off me and sticks to YOU! *sticks out tongue*
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  42

  i feel more confused than ever

  by BlackWolf in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well i know i've been posting a lot of topics like this lately and i'm sorry if i sound whiny or annoying.

  my parents were asking me why i was so upset lately and i ended up just telling them the whole truth.

  i told them i don't believe in god or the bible because i don't have any evidence of anything.

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  talesin

  BlackWolf

  Hoping that a snippet of my personal experience helps you realize, that yes, you can do this! You have lots of support here, and will find some in RL (real life) as well.

  I was 18 when I had the same experience, and my mother immediately told me I had to leave at the end of the month. Mind you, six months earlier, my friend had suicided (gay pioneer), and I had been gravely ill for about six months. Thanks, Mom! (haha) I had a grade X education, and was quite frail. But, I did it! Got a job and an apartment by the end of the month. So, moving on ...

  After about 7 years of those feelings of doom and guilt, I realized that I could not believe in this so-called "God of Love". The straw that broke the camel's back, was a 'shepherding call' by two elders (one was my father, and the guilt trip was heavy, but enough of that).
  
  Know that by that time, I was married, had gotten my GED and working at Exxon, going to university part-time, with a new home and car, and a social life, had the world by the tail!
  

  .

  So, I said my last prayer to him (well, actually "it", being a fairy-tale entity as all gods are), and it was short. Maybe this will help you. "Dear Jah, you know I am a sincere person and speak with good intent. I cannot believe in these people and what they say. They are hypocrites. If I am wrong, then all I ask is a swift death when you destroy the rest of the World. I will always be a good and honest person, but I can no longer believe in YOU.. In Jesus' Christ name, Amen."
  
  I put it behind me, and never felt guilty again, for living *my* life, for choosing to *not* believe, for being ME.
  
  It's okay, you can do this. You came to the right place for support. I have never regretted my choice to leave the cult.

  xx

  Edit: I *always* forget something - if you are in school, you may want to talk to a guidance counsellor, or a teacher that you really like. When I was in junior hs (grd 7-9), I had two teachers who really tried to help me. Back then, there wasn't much they could do to stop abuse, but they *did* succeed in crushing my parents and the JWS' attempt to censor the assigned reading list, which included A Clockwork Orange by Sir Anthony Burgess - a great book! But nowadays, you may find a really supportive person to talk to, and your parents need never know! : ))
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  25

  Do we have consensus that Mr Jackson was wearing a gold Apple Watch?

  by StarTrekAngel in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i mean, we have discussed mr morris' "rolex" but many also pointed out to the potential for a knock-out.

  i don't think there are apple watch knock outs out there, are they?

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  talesin

  I would think there is a JW-appropriate explanation that goes something like this:
  
  

  The GB must dress appropriately to be able to present to the "worldly ones" (*snickers*) they must deal with, as representatives of Jehovah's True Organization TM. They must defend Jah's name in court, and deal with Satan's attempts to discredit Jehovah. In order to protect "the flock" from "this wicked system of things", they need to blend in with the "world" in their necessary business dealings.

  There, it's all explained! BB said it more succinctly. *shrugs*

  Edit: An afterthought. What I like to call "The Ruling Elders" in my region, who lived in my circuit, were almost 100% upper middle class. They dressed in tailor made suits, and yes, pinkie rings were in style in the 70s. So why is it such a big surprise that these GB members (ie, the JWS' board of directors) are dressed in expensive (albeit often tacky) attire, and it's found acceptable by the R&F? hmmm....

  .

  .

  And, mark this, but I totally agree with the Red Dot. Yikes, is it THE END?! *just kidding, Minimus, but yeah, agreed*