Ten Aspects of Freedom from Organization

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Ten of the most wonderful things that have manifested with glorious freedom from the WT [a cult-organization]? So many! How can they possibly be reduced to only ten? But I will try:

1) Freedom of religion. I can now read and discuss any perspectives about Pentecostalism, fundamentalism, Catholicism, progressive Christianity, gnosticism, kabbalism, and sufism (three of my faves), Buddhism, reincarnation, Hinduism,, agnosticism, and any other delicacy from the wide table of the spiritual smorgasbord of human spirituality. I have found God (Love) in many. I am now, after many years, a universalist, seeing the good and value in each faith, each culture, and each century. I can finally breathe free in a world thick with diversity. I no longer have to "convert" people, or avoid them due to religious prejudice or fears.

2) Personal freedom. I can now celebrate each day, finding the good in it, watching whatever movies I want, reading whatever books I want. I am no longer a "child," and no longer need seek the "permission" of a "mommy" called the "org." Elders treat members as if they were twelve years old; for example, they prohibit "adult" movies and limit members to "PG"-rated films.

3) Deeper Love because it is now unconditional. When loving family or friends, I can now love them as they are, complete with imperfections. All real Love is unconditional, not dependent on the many criteria which we used to use to decide, "May I love this person?"

4) We have stopped dividing the universe, and everything in it, into the "pro" and "anti" Jehovist characteristics. It is a much more pleasant planet when you are following Jesus' command, "Judge not." (Mt. 7:1)

5) More and much better friends, friendship now possible with anyone and everyone. The answer to the question, once asked of me by a jw, "Is he (she) a brother (sister)?" is always now YES! For everyone has now become my "brother" and "sister."

6) Meditation on a regular basis, internal prayer, and selfexamination have led to a greater integration between body and mind, removing many "psychosomatic" problems of hypochondria from which so many members suffer. Stress and tension have been diminished in major ways.

7) Since there are no regulations permitting certain sexual activities and prohibiting others, Lovelife (sexual life with my wife) has grown in sophistication; we have increased our communication, and thus, our shared joy.

8) Now I see God as Love (1 jn.4: 8, 16), and now, I worship Love. This is so much more liberating, with a breath-taking freedom that allows me to "worship" by every act of Love, whether loving my wife, my sister, or any other, even loving the four-footed creatures.

9) The org uses huge chunks of time. Every Tuesday and Thursday evenings were used up by meetings, as was Sunday. Other days were consumed in the field-service work. So, immense amounts of time have been liberated. Now, all that valuable time can be spent investing in friendships, neighbors, family. Or, it can be used to study the world, or to explore hobbies. Or, you can invest it in yourself. (I've a master's degree in psychology, and a b.a. in Spiritual Studies.) God has given us the great gift of time to invest in ourselves and others. Now, we have time to share tv shows together, which we could not as members of the org; now, we also have time to read together, another "luxury" denied by the org.

10) We can now feel free to become politically active-- an important part of our new lives. Really caring for human beings means that you must care for their real social needs. Love calls us, in compassion, to move away from the "neutrality" of the org, and to take a stand for political activism which can really help human beings. The notorious "political neutrality" of the org turns it into a "dead zone" in the community. We also used to believe that the most valuable use of money was always to send it to the org; now, we support numerous charities, giving real aid to the starving and poor of the world, fulfilling Jesus' command that we love "the least" of these "his brothers." For in loving them, we are truly loving Him, as He said.

There is a ton more of data that could be shared. Once the heart begins to blossom with the flowers of many freedoms, there is hardly an end to the sense of daily, hourly celebration. God as Love created us for this sense of continuous joy, for joy is a "fruit of the Spirit." (Ga 5:22). If you want, or need, more, we will be very happy to elaborate on these joys and freedoms. "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom," said Paul (2 Cor. 3:17), and Jesus said, "You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free." (Jn. 8:32) The "truth" of Love should never burden us, weighing us down, constricting and restricting. Jesus said, "My load is light and My burden easy." Supporting the org is hard, and continual, work; but following the Love of God in our hearts is, as promised, an "easy" path; every moment is more fulfilling and happy than the preceding one.:):)

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Demand National Health Care For Everyone

Access to health care is a fundamental human right, not a luxury. People need and deserve universal, continuous, and accessible health coverage that is provided by a single payer and does not require full-time employment and a beneficent employer. It is time for our nation to adopt a national public health policy that ensures an equitable health care delivery system and a healthier society.

Action Needed:
Take Action: Ask your representative to co-sponsor the U.S. National Health Insurance Act, H.R. 676.

http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=9994911

Introduced by Representative John Conyers (D-Mich.), the bill would create a publicly financed, privately delivered system for providing comprehensive health care for all U.S. residents by expanding and improving the existing Medicare program.

The goal of the legislation is to ensure that all U.S. residents have access to quality, affordable health care regardless of employment, income, or health status. The program covers all medically-necessary care, including primary care and prevention, prescription drugs, emergency care, mental health services, dentistry, eye care, and substance abuse treatment. Patients would also have the freedom to choose their physicians, providers, hospitals, and clinics.

Take Action: Tell your representative to ensure that the program covers the health needs of women and girls, just as it covers the health care needs of men and boys.

Background:
Approximately 45 million U.S. residents lack health insurance and another 50 million are underinsured. Our employer-based health insurance system disadvantages the poor, the unemployed, the part-time worker, the self-employed, and employees of small businesses. The costly and inefficient U.S. health care system spends over $2 trillion each year, the highest health care expenditure per capita worldwide. A third of this money is spent on insurance company profits, CEO salaries, marketing, lobbying, and other non-health care expenses.

Over the last five years, health care costs skyrocketed 87% while wages increased by only 20%. Many people do not go to the doctor, or receive recommended treatment, or fill prescriptions due to their lack of insurance or because they cannot afford the out-of-pocket costs. As prices continue to rise, both insured and uninsured individuals and families worry about their ability to access health care services.
While the U.S. has the highest health care expenditure in the world, we are not the healthiest nation. The U.S. ranks 31st in life expectancy and 28th in infant mortality rate among industrialized nations. Countries with single-payer health insurance have far better health outcomes and spend significantly less than the United States.

Take Action Now!
Contact your representative to say "Please co-sponsor the U.S. National Health Insurance Act (H.R. 676)." We must stop the health care industry and their lobbyists from "playing doctor" with our lives and gaining large profits at the expense of our health. We cannot make small or struggling businesses provide health insurance for their workers if the price of this coverage is exorbitant. We must take action to create a more cost-effective system of health care delivery that covers everyone.

http://www.capwiz.com/now/issues/alert/?alertid=9994911