answers, part 3
Mar. 17th, 2003 11:42 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cellioDo you have any big regrets?
Yes.
Oh, that's probably not the question you really wanted to ask. Ok, I can elaborate. :-)
The only time that I initiated a breakup of a romantic relationship, it played out badly and I feel that this was largely my fault. I'm not certain what specifically I could have done better, but I'm sure I could have handled it better in some way. The other person got hurt pretty badly (though he tried not to let it show), which was certainly no one's intent, and the friendship has never been the same. (It wasn't a hostile breakup; it was more of a "this isn't going to work" situation.)
Somehow you are on my read list.... do you know how you got there because I don't remember...
I don't know. As far as I know we don't know each other in real life, and we don't appear to have friends in common right now. Maybe we did and you saw me on a "friends of friends" list, or maybe you surfed randomly or via similar interests?
How far is your shul from where you are and how long does it take you to walk there?
Approximately 1 mile (less as the mole digs, but that's not an accurate measure of surface distance -- it just means don't trust maps in Pittsburgh). It takes me about 20 minutes to walk there on average. I can rush it in 15 minutes or so, but I rarely feel the need to rush on Shabbat.
Would you mind telling your conversion story (the long version)?
I don't mind. Let me try to figure out the best way to bridge the gap between the short summary and the longer version that, among things, manifested in approximately 150 pages of journal at the time. This may take a few days.
Actually, here's an oddball question (which is not, itself, an answer to your question, but more of a tangent): I could post that journal over a similar span of time in a different LJ ("reruns"?). It would take about a year altogether. (I think there's value in not just reading it all at once. I can't just post the entire thing as-is anyway, as I have to edit out people's real names and stuff like that.) Would this be at all interesting to anyone? Don't worry; I'm not using this as a way to blow off your question.
I'll also entertain more-specific questions by email, if that helps any. The hardest thing about trying to tell a big story is figuring out the parts that would be seen as interesting and significant to others.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-23 01:39 pm (UTC)What you've described sounds similar to some organizations that have been labelled cults.
Congratulations on finding a place that works for you. If you're happy there, why look elsewhere?
(By the way, if Ev wants an LJ code, let me know. I've got plenty.)
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-25 11:37 pm (UTC)No holidays at all so no loot at all. Although JW's do have one holiday that coincides with the Jewish passover and they do celebrate wedding anniversaries. I can't remember offhand what they called their one holiday but it involved passing around unleavened bread of which only one the 144000 chosen ones that get into heaven could eat. I could research this more if you are interested. It's sort of a weird holiday to start with.
What you've described sounds similar to some organizations that have been labelled cults.
Yes, as I age away from that part of my life, I realize that more and more. I am somewhat embarrassed to have fallen for that since I pride myself on my intellectual abilities. It amazes me what we deem acceptable behaviour - from opening your mouth when going to the dentist and letting someone poke around in there to yearly well-woman exams. I call it the sheep syndrome. Although in my defense, the JW way of thinking was eased onto me and well it's very easy to want to conform when one is a teenager.
(By the way, if Ev wants an LJ code, let me know. I've got plenty.)
Thanks, I will keep that in mind. That is very generous of you and I do appreciate it. I am thinking of being a paying member now that I am funded.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-26 06:57 am (UTC)Wow. What is their rationale for this? I mean, why wouldn't Christians want to celebrate Christmas and Easter, at least? (I'm assuming they're Christians. The ones who've come to my door have certainly talked about Jesus and waved the "new testament" around, at least.)
I am somewhat embarrassed to have fallen for that since I pride myself on my intellectual abilities.
You were 14. And, as you said, you were introduced to it gradually. There's no shame in that. When you realized you disagreed you left; a lot of people wouldn't have.
Codes: I'm a permanent member; I can generate 5 per month. That's more than I can use, so I have no objection to giving them away to anyone who asks.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-26 12:41 pm (UTC)"Christmas and Easter: Jesus was not born on December 25. He was born about October 1, a time of year when shepherds kept their flocks out-of-doors at night. (Luke 2:8-12) Jesus never commanded Christians to celebrate his birth. Rather, he told his disciples to memorialize, or remember, his death. (Luke 22:19, 20) Christmas and its customs come from ancient false religions. The same is true of Easter customs, such as the use of eggs and rabbits. The early Christians did not celebrate Christmas or Easter, nor do true Christians today."
Here is another link on their view of Christmas customs CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS Are They Christian?
So yes, JW's are Christians, but true Christians. Grins. The research I have done today has inspired me for yet another journal entry on this topic.
On the other topic, I tend to put off personal e-mails (so Ev does not know yet about my LJ) but I will definitely keep your generous offer of codes in mind. Thanks again.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-26 01:06 pm (UTC)You know, you've got to admire them for having the strength of their convictions to actually rebel against the pagan associations in some Christian holidays. I mean, pretty much everyone agrees that Jesus wasn't born in December and most of the trappings came from the pagans they're supposed to oppose, but the JWs are the first I've heard of who've done something about it.
(no subject)
Date: 2003-03-26 10:25 pm (UTC)The initial attraction to JW doctrine (doctrine - I was looking for that word all day!) is that it makes sense and comes from what one would deem a moral high ground. I don't want to get myself into a definition of moral high grounds here -I am afraid I would dig myself into low ground doing that!
It all seems to make sense but then they do still have some pagan customs such as wedding bands, honeymoons etc. They do abide by most of the trappings of the wedding industry which in my opinion detracts from the purpose of the event. Anyhow, I must not get into a discussion of weddings here.. we still haven't announced in real life our decision to do it next year.
Anyhow, I do admire them for taking the high ground in a lot of their beliefs. It is just too bad that their religious organization does not let them freely associate and study the Bible independently of the JW-published books (they even have their own Bible translation which has been highly criticized by scholars). That in my mind, makes them suspect.