The guilt will pass. This year was the first year I skipped the assembly completely. I always skipped it mentally but this year I didn't even physically go. It felt great. I had pretty well the same experience as you. I'm pretty ticked about all the time I wasted as a child thinking/fearing the end of the world. The more you separate yourself the less guilt you feel. It's like a leech that sucks out every free thought, and ounce of happiness. It's sad but it's never too late to drop the guilt. I get what you're saying. You're not alone.
Miss 8572
JoinedPosts by Miss 8572
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24
how was it for you.....
by Iron Rod ini have a question for everyone regarding your personal experience with the brainwashing techniques of the wt.
(its amazing that i can even say that now.
once was a time i would have bristled at the mere suggestion that the society brainwashes people.
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48
Was the Watchtower taken off guard by the internet and XJW forums
by JH indo you think that the internet and xjw forums caught the watchtower off guard?
just a few years ago, disfellowshipped ones were powerless and rendered silent by the watchtower.. to what degree do you think the internet has made life difficult for the watchtower?.
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Miss 8572
Maybe it's just me but I think this analogy has turned into a history lesson instead of a helpful illustration.
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48
Was the Watchtower taken off guard by the internet and XJW forums
by JH indo you think that the internet and xjw forums caught the watchtower off guard?
just a few years ago, disfellowshipped ones were powerless and rendered silent by the watchtower.. to what degree do you think the internet has made life difficult for the watchtower?.
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Miss 8572
Forgive me if this has already been mentioned but I think the importance of Terry's analogy is, given that the WTS is represented by Rome: Rome fell. Lets not forget: Absoloute power corrupts absoloutly, and if you give them enough rope they will hang themselves. ...it's coming soon to a kingdom hall near you.
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Miss 8572
I don't know about Bethel but on the outside... all of my friends drank to excess except me. They would go out in service, comment at meetings, etc., etc., etc. but when it came to partying... they partied alot hardier than me. Three or more of my JW friends and aquaintances (on occasions that I know of) actually drank till they puked and passed out. As far as I know they probably still do... the buch of Pathetic losers. My worldly friends never did that on a regular basis. I think the only reason someone does that is to try and escape. Makes you wonder... what are they trying to escape?????????????????????????? I don't think you need any hints.
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41
Does your personality type affect your belief in the divine?
by Paralipomenon inrecently, i was reacquainted with a friend that i knew since i started grade school.
he grew up in the world wide church of god and i as a witness.
neither of us did christmas so often we would find ourselves in the library while the rest of the school did christmas activities.. .
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Miss 8572
I think that this discussion board attracts like minded/like personality people so maybe most of us on the board are INFJs mainly because it's rare to be different and make your own decisions no matter what the cost. At least we're not IN JW. Lol.
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41
Does your personality type affect your belief in the divine?
by Paralipomenon inrecently, i was reacquainted with a friend that i knew since i started grade school.
he grew up in the world wide church of god and i as a witness.
neither of us did christmas so often we would find ourselves in the library while the rest of the school did christmas activities.. .
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Miss 8572
1. Your Myers-Briggs type: INFJ (apparently it is the rarest personality type making up only 2% of the population... which makes me feel special!) 2. Your religious upbringing (if any): Jehovah's Witness from birth (never baptised)
3. Your current views on God, religion, and spirituality: I am undecided on the God issue but I am more comfortable with beleiveing he doesn't exist. If he does he is or is like the wind, without a personality, simply here as a highly evolved entity we may someday as a species become like. It's really funny that I commonly use the Karl Marx catch phrase in conversation as well and did in one of my posts yesterday (just like Monophonic, also an INFJ posted above)... "Religion is the opiate of the masses." I feel that it has caused more problems than it has found solutions for. It serves a purpose for people who need some kind of an explanation for everything in this solar system and acts as a drug to satiate this need for explanation. I don't feel I need religion to validate me. Spirituality is nothing like religion. It is about finding/questing after an inner peace that will validate your existence. Without some sense of spirituality you are empty and will never get to know your true self. Reading/history/art and creativity are key to my search. I find "god" through my own search of nature, feelings, etc. not through an organized system which seems to take any mystic/magical aspect out of what "god" is. I feel that religion (at least western religion) being something organized by people, has been organized by the personality types that are interested in order and organization. Because of this personality types lack of intuitiveness, creativity, vsion they can't picture "god" as anything other than what they do and take him literally (see pictures of "god" in a man's form, in watchtower publications). Their seemingly 'catagory happiness' and obvious comfort in positions of organizations/governments/powers has caused them to railroad the small 2% of us INFJ's (and the like) in the world into recognizing their viewpoint of "god" and the rules/guidelines of religion. I think it is the creative/intuitive types who see "god" for what he truly must be and who take the time to understand and experience him in thier own life. Let's not forget, the pagans came first and must have had a better understanding of how we all got here seeing as they were chronologically closer to the exact point of "creation." But I'm not at all bitter.
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53
Ok, What celebrity gets your blood pumping?
by Dragonlady76 ini have been inspired by the what do the jwd posters look like thread....my avatar picture is jude law, he's my dream guy..... so who's your heart throb?.
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Miss 8572
I tend to like the more unknowns:
Ioan Gruffudd has to be #1 (Mr. Fantastic of the Fantastic 4) cause he's just perfection!
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32
How Are YOU Politically Incorrect??
by minimus inwhat comments or feeling do you have that might make you be considered "politically incorrect"?
keep in mind that the expression does not just take in political points of view.....
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Miss 8572
I go out of my way to piss JW people off by saying controvertial things disguised behind a pleasant manner at the hall and out and about like: "Jesus was a socialist/communist" or "Karl Marx said 'religion is the opiat of the masses'... it's sunday so let's get our doseage." Not even joking. :D
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122
Sad News Orangefatcat's husband died this morning.
by orangefatcat inthis is one of the sadest days in my life, my beloved husband marco passed away this morning at 5:15 am.. it has been a dreadful day.
but my dear friend was with most of the day while we went togerther to make funeral arrangements.. that was really hard on me.
i have done nothing but cry and cry all day, i finally fell asleep a few hours ago while my friend diane was here and she let me sleep.
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Miss 8572
Oh my goodness. I just pm'd/replied to you a few minutes ago on an unrelated issue but I had no idea. My deepest and most sincere condolances. I know there is nothing that I can say to make you feel better but... sending you: <warmth>, <comfort>, <love>...
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119
Anyone Else from Canada?
by Miss 8572 ini'm really intrigued by that fact that i may know some of you and yet not know that i know you.
i just want to know how many people from canada are here.
if you don't mind and don't care about posting your province (cause i'm too timid to) we could all get an idea of just how many canucks are really out there.
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Miss 8572
Thank you all for commenting. Fantastic turnout! For serious. If I wasn't such a yellowbelly I would plan a party and invite you all but I guess JWD will have to do for now. Luv you all. Miss 8572. :)