i had one of the best days i've had in a long time.
it was cold and snowy so i declared my own snow day.
and went for a walk with my dog in 13 degrees fahrenheit while treading through snowy slush.
I'm so happy you're getting re-connected with old friends. They understand what you're going through more than "worldly" people could (unless they've grown up in a cult too).
And they really haven't changed much at all in that 15 years, have they? I got together with old friends last month that I hadn't seen in that long, and it was like we were still teenagers. Just a bit wrinkly and grey, but still teenagers. Great stuff!
this weekend at the circuit assembly, (i stayed home, thank goodness), i heard a nine year -old girl was baptized.
and she seems a bit mature for her age, but hardly mature enough,in my opinion, to make such a choice on her own.
it seems to be a trend in our circuit right now.
They put down other religions for child baptism because they aren't old enough to make this sort of informed decision on their own. But at the same time they pressure their own members constantly (on fear of death) to do exactly the same thing! It's amazing that more don't see through this crap and make an issue of it. Of course "sheeple" aren't allowed to make an issue of anything, or they wouldn't be sheeple.
Even when I was a believer with a small child, I had decided that I would not allow him to be baptized until he had moved out and started his own life. If you're not able to support yourself, then you can't make a major life decision like that.
"What Did Jesus Do?" (how old was he when he got baptized) - doesn't matter: times are different now. I suppose Jesus didn't have the benefit of the guidance of the "faithful slave class".
the following is a little exchange on facebook i had, me playing devils advocate.
now, i am well aware after a search of the wt library 08 that the wbts saw no problem using ymca pools to do baptisms in the 1950s, and then in the 1979 had the big article saying a jw cannot join the y. so is this guy wrong, or has it changed?.
you wroteon january 9, 2010 at 8:25pm.
Sure, you can "exercise your christian conscience" and join the YMCA, but be prepared to lose your "privileges" (or worse) if one of your "friends" decides to make an issue out of it.
I grew up in walking distance to a YMCA swimming pool and would have LOVED to have gone with my school friends, but I was not allowed because it was part of "Babylon the great".
Mom & Dad: "What if you're in there swimming when armageddon comes? You surely wouldn't have Jehoovas protection! You wouldn't want that now would you? Of course not. Now let's go spend our Saturday's knocking on doors wearing full suits and ties in the summer heat to spread the 'good news'."
hah!
samantha bee on the daily show just recommended that tiger woods become a jehovah's witness (they were playing off brit humes suggestion that tiger needed to become a christian to achieve redemption for his infidelity); "serena williams, prince, ... it's like scientology for black people".. .
the clip should be online soon @ the daily show site..
Scientology doesn't discriminate on skin colour, but wallet contents. Scientology doesn't accept people without money.
neither.. i have no affinity at all to the commercial christmas.
i do, however, think that the religious celebration is not as wicked as the society has made out.
ok, it maybe at the wrong time of the year but it is clear that the birth of christ was something to celebrate at the time and is still worth remembering today.. .
xmas = just giving gifts and hanging out with friends and family
i was baptized at the age of 15, my father was very opposed.
i loved god and wanted to be a spiritual person.
so, anything in the literature which told one how to be a spiritual person was of great interest to me.. i remember hearing and reading this phrase over and over and over again "put jehovah first".. don't get an education - "put jehovah first".. don't take that emt certification course that meets on tue and thursday for 6 weeks - "put jehovah first".. don't get a real career, be a janitor and "put jehovah first".. don't spend time with your "worldly" parents on the weekends, instead abandon them and fill your time up with field service and meetings and "put jehovah first".. .
It's basic cult indoctrination.
did you at least want to say "hi"?
or did you avoid them like the plague?.
Wanted too, yes. But never did break this rule until I woke up. So stupid! I broke lots of other "rules". I don't know why I was such a dick about this one.
Last year I ran into a guy in town who is DF. I invited him to sit down for a cup of coffee. He was shocked, and said it wouldn't be appropriate, that I shouldn't be talking to him. I told him I don't believe those things any more, and we had a nice chat. But he was looking to get reinstated, and I doubt he'd extend me the same courtesy at this point, knowing how 'evil' I am.
this last week has been especially hard for me.
this is all new to me, and as most of you know, the journey is gut wrenching, quite painful.
lately, i've been trying to take the go with the flow approach.
You do deserve to start living your own life. But I don't want to say too much to pressure your decision. But things aren't always as black and white as they seem. My parents have accepted my exit which I was afraid they wouldn't. And if you do things thoughtfully you may be able to achieve similar results.
We'll be here for you no matter what. Never think you're without friends.
practice?.
was it to get a head count on about how many vultures, ravens and crows he'd need to clean up the planet?.
Just to test our faith. That god is such a jokester. He knew Eve would eat the apple, and knew we'd dig up these things eventually.
hey!.
introduction.
here is a quote some of you may recognize:.
The scientist who labeled her "Eve" deserves a kick in the nuts for causing confusion.
