I'm leaving this forum...at least temporarily. As I mentioned in conversation over dinner at the Chicago Apostafest, my upcoming school schedule (which begins next week) combined with my workload will make it very difficult to be an active member on this forum. Perhaps I'll check in occassionaly when life is a little slower but for now I'd better distance myself from the on-line scene or else the other elements in my life will suffer. With this in mind, some departing thoughts....
I continue to hold to the suspicion that most ex-JWs do not manage their thoughts and emotions with regard the WTS fairly or rationally. Yes, the Society is wrong and we have been hurt. But, it wasn't that bad. There is plenty of good in the Witnesses -- both as individuals and even as an organization -- and it behooves us to look for it. Of course, "good" and "bad" are subjective human constructs so it could be argued that there is no objective reason to believe that the organization is "good" in any sense (or "bad"). Nevertheless, for pragmatic reasons -- to keep your sanity -- look for good. You will find it.
It takes two people to make one enemy. Think about that.
There is no such thing as a "normal" life; no one has a "normal" life. If you think your childhood was "stolen" from you by the JWs (as I have sometimes thought) take a drive in a ghetto and ask yourself if these kids playing in some delapidated sandlot have "normal" childhoods? Yes, they celebrate Christmas too. Take a walk in a nice suburban shopping mall and see the fourteen-year-olds with cellphones and ask yourself if that is somehow "normal" for a member of homo sapiens. Look at the superficiality and ask yourself if a theological grand narrative is so much worse than the banality of lunch at Taco Bell and the latest "reality" show. Accepting that there is no such thing as "normal" will go a long way in your "recovery" process.
Just let go.
This being said, there really is nothing "abnormal" about logging on to the internet every day to engage in a diatribe about some well-known but little understood Christian sect. I can't point to some objective piece of logic which says you shouldn't do this, but at the same time I can't point to any objective fact from the Universe which states that murder is wrong. Nevertheless, I believe it is. I also believe that there is more to life than the "Evil" Watchtower.
I just bought a plant and it is delightful.
With this in mind, it is time for an interlude. I have lots to do. I wish you all the best. For those that wish to keep up with my goings-on -- I do consider some of you as friends -- my email address is [email protected]
Peace unto you,
Bradley