this is a personal venting topic - mostly getting some things that have happened in the recent past off my chest and laying it all out where i can see it.
so don't answer or even read it if you don't care - i know.
i'm whining, but mostly to see if i can focus some of this energy.... anyway, i'm furious right now.
czar,
you have truly had the day/week/month, etc. from HELL.
As well as the other crap (esp. yr play) I'm really sorry about the troupe. What idiots!! That must have really hurt. Being attacked by one's fellow artists is particularly painful. {{{{czar & gf}}}} Usually comes from jealousy IMO.
Your rant was warranted. I always say "F*** 'em if they can't take a joke!" Don't let it get you down.
tal
edited to say: ps, sometimes I get the crazy label, too. Once again, I apply above FU expression.
we went out to eat with my daughter and husband tonight and on the way back i counted the churches on the 16 mile streach of road home.
there were 18 churches that were on this one road.
can you imagine the money that goes to pay the preachers and buy the buildings?
Frenchie, I have always wanted to ask someone so bitter about religion
... hmmm, to me she sounds REALISTIC. Maybe angry, but WTF?
One of the Anglican churches in our city had a fire. The city contributed $350,000 to help rebuild.
THREE HUNDRED AND FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS OVER 1/4 MILLION $$$$
BUT we can't afford a decent homeless shelter for women, or a skateboarding park for the teens.
These points about MONEY are well taken with moi. We all criticize WTBTS for being money-grubbers. Why should other churches be exempt from the same criticisms.
my 2 cents
tal
i admit i have never voted (shame), the last couple of years i have decided to vote but when the time comes i back out.
i like having the freedom to choose whether to vote or not but i never know who to vote on the day that counts and then i feel uncomfortable at the last minute.. how about you?
brummie
Yes, I voted two weeks ago in our provincial election. Happy to say my candidate won.
It took me till I was 35 to decide to vote. A friend of mine was running, so I registered for her party and worked as a volunteer before and during the election. Ever since then, I have enjoyed being a 'part of the process'.
brummie,
It is one of those things that is instilled deep in a lot of us (not to vote) and I know it can be a big deal to overcome. It was for moi. Sounds like you would like to vote, my friend. If so, just take a deep breath, and do it. You may have butterflies on the way to the voting box (at least I did), but once you have done it, I would be willing to bet that you'll no longer feel uncomfortable with casting your ballot. It gives me a real sense of being part of the community.
Question for Americans:
So, when you register to vote, you must declare either a party or independent? The reason I ask is, here in Canada, you just register, show proof of citizenship, and ID or some other paper (eg. phone bill) that proves your address is correct so that you are voting only at your polling station. This helps prevent double voting (corruption).
Here, your party of choice is completely anonymous. Those who register with a specific party do that independently with the specific party. It has nothing to do with the actual voting process.
Funny, isn't it? We live next door, yet know so little about each other (sigh). It's really too bad.
How about you folks across the pond? How does it work there?
tal
ps. to iiz2cool - good luck with the election!!
i'm going to be a man of few words here.
christianity, in it's truest, fundamentalist form, promotes an unhealthy and non-productive victim mentality.
the christian feels helpless on his own -- condemned by sin and absolutely unworthy.
quoting from thebeliever
Organized religion, which mainly consist of various forms of Christiantity was created to control the masses.
my take on the original statements by logansrun is well expressed in this quote. The purpose of ORGANIZED religion, IMHO, is to control people. Personal belief is very subjective, however, belief in one's own power of choice and values overrides religion. I do NOT agree that 'organized religion' 'mainly consist(s) of various forms of Christianity'. It is, indeed, one of the smaller, and youngest of the main 'organized religions' (think of Buddhism, Shintoism, Judaism, Islam, Hinduism - MILLIONS (most likely billions) more than Christians).
Organized religion has been used for milleniums as a form of monetary and political control; thus, 'the opiate of the masses'. One 'believes' in a god, therefore one does what 'his' priests tell one. The intent of the individual may be to do 'good' deeds (eg. love thy neighbour), but the control exerted by the power structure of the 'church' takes over and tells the believer how to feel and act, instead of the individual thinking for her/himself. Therefore, control by the individual is lost and the power structure takes over. In our culture (western), media has become a form of control, indeed the 'new' religion of many, although they may not realize it.
to KGB and others who may feel personally attacked by this argument,
this is not an attack on your personal belief system (at least by moi), but a provocative question that asks you to question whether people use religion (perhaps as a means of survival) as a way to deny thinking for themselves, and anaesthetize (sp?) themselves to their feelings by following a proscribed way of acting/thinking because it's easier to follow a religion that has rules and structure than it is to make one's own choices. And it's certainly easier for the religious leaders and/or government to control us when we are following our 'faith' that is government-sanctioned. Note that the laws of any given country often reflect the religious faith of the rulers of that country.
That is, What We Are Taught is the 'right' thing to do. Why is the Christian way the 'right' way'? Why is the Islamic way the 'right' way? Why is Shinto the 'right' way? Isn't that what most cultures teach their young? 'Follow the WAY, and you are GOOD.' Whether that way is Christian, Islam, Wicca, Hindu, or whatever.
Why not make up your own mind what is the 'right' way?
'religion is the opiate of the masses' If you're listening to someone else tell you what to do because of a 'belief system', then you're not thinking for yourself. Not anti-Christian, just pro-freethinking.
... just tryin' to splain' the point as I see it. Hoping I don't get flamed, but I can take the heat if I have to. Oh, well, that's why I don't usually engage in these discussions.
t
i read on one of the posts that elders visit disfellowshipped persons once a year?
is this an accurate statement?
while we were never disfellowshipped, we just faded away over 25 years ago.
here's my story on this topic
I faded. Two years later they came after me and DFd me.
Five years later my father and another elder paid a visit to me and my then-husband. Laid a big guilt trip about my parents (don't you know you're breaking your parents' hearts, said the elder gravely) and got me really upset.
My husband (truly one of the mildest men I have known before or since) ordered him from our home with the instruction to NEVER come back. I later (after working it through) told my father that I never wanted them to lay this guilt trip on me again. Not only that, I told him that they were the ones who hounded and DFd me when I tried to leave quietly, and how dare they come to MY home and try that type of manipulation.
That was 1984. Haven't seem them since, except when they are hawking mags on the street corner. I put a sign on my mailbox saying "Absolutely No Jehovah's Witnesses."
I dunno, I guess it's different for everyone (?).
tal
i'm going to be a man of few words here.
christianity, in it's truest, fundamentalist form, promotes an unhealthy and non-productive victim mentality.
the christian feels helpless on his own -- condemned by sin and absolutely unworthy.
logansrun,
'religion is the opiate of the masses'
can't remember who said it (Marx or maybe another socialist); a remnant of philosophy class, but one I hold dear to my heart.
this one who has 'freed herself' couldn't agree with you more
talesin
http://disc.server.com/indices/46743.html
looking for tona gomez-downey ca/portland, or
looking for lorelei johnson-bloomington
How about the Duck family of NJ?
tal
out of their own mouths (well, web-site actually): .
jehovah's witnesses avoid making rules and regulations beyond those provided in the scriptures, and they do not follow traditions that contradict bible teachings.
emphasis is placed on personal application of bible principles and the value of a sound, bible-based conscience.matthew 15:9; 2 corinthians 1:24.. just thought you'd like to know!
iiz2cool:
I think field service is a very dangerous pastime, and should be avoided at all costs.
uiz2cool!
when I read the title to this thread, I started to snicker. When I read the above comment, the dam burst (lol). Truer words were never spoken. How nice to hear you express my feelings about the dreaded door-to-door!
tal
for all of you who made a conscious decision to leave the organization.. what was the price you had to pay or what was you willing to give up in order to be true to yourself.
( wife, children, extended family, friends, jobs...etc).
and how have you coped?
shotgun
All of the above.
It was worth it to be free, and I don't regret it for even one second.
I agree with Mouthy - I did not give it up. It was stolen from me. Have been rebuilding for many years, and life continues to get better.
I'm sorry you have to go through this, but I will not sugarcoat it for you. It's a challenging path, but much better than living a lie, at least IMO.
How have I coped? Any way I can!!
Here are some lessons I had to learn: I don't have to be perfect; I can't take care of others if I am not caring for myself; there is no need to feel guilty; I can always go back to school; blood is not thicker than water; protect all children at all costs; live for the moment; and on and on ad nauseum.
Your journey may seem arduous, but embrace the good times. Live and learn as you go. You are strong. It gets better.
Peace, love & happiness
talesin
i remember as a child of 3 and 4 in the 70's betsy wetsy, clogs, pom poms for your ponytails, etc.
what do you remember?.
1. you consider ocean pacific a designer label.
teejay
I was thinking of 'clackers' but could not for the life of me remember the name. Man, the hours I spent playing with those things.!
and how did I forget 'PLATFORM SHOES'
brummie,
now I'll be hearing that song a-l-l-l day. Ahhh, no one dances anymore ... remember Donna Summer, folk? Longest disco song was ?
t
