It’s Tuesday night and the
Before anything else, I would like to thank all those who have so freely passed on their experiences and knowledge – it has helped me in recent years more than I can possibly (and succinctly) express. Before coming to this forum, I spent some significant time trawling through Kent Steinhaug’s excellent site – to him and the members of that board I owe a great deal for providing much needed information at a critical time.
I have been encouraged, touched and at times dismayed by your words and experiences – I appreciate the openness of this forum’s members.
OK, who am I?
Firstly, I am not a JW – never have been and never will be. I was brought up in the Church of England but left at about 18 due to hypocrisy, self interest and a total dissatisfaction with organised religion. I have not changed my opinion on this matter in the ensuing years.
Secondly, my wife is studying with the JW’s – has been doing so since 2000. Not baptised, not publishing, but going to the and the Public talk. Oh yes, a weekly “Babble Study”. For various reasons she has been searching for answers to life, the universe and everything. There have been many issues along the way which have required consultation with the cleaner, the window washer or the hedge trimmer to clarify: I am now well aware of Theocratic Warfare so I take the conveyed “doctorines” with more than the proverbial grain of salt, especially when it comes to blood matters. In some ways, I am prepared for her to go along this path (for various reasons) but I am certain that if baptised she will end up Dfed or DAed. I will be there to pick up the pieces if that happens.
While I do not actively discourage her involvement – which would probably be a futile exercise at this time – I am well aware of some of the “spiritual food” dealt out. While I can maintain my composure, it is, without doubt some of the most puerile drivel that I have had the misfortune of encountering. I am afraid that I also take great exception to the illustrative material – I am not 8 years old and do not appreciate this type of infantile illustration. Pure unadulterated crap.
I do take exception to misrepresentation, lies and distortion – I have seen plenty of it over the past few years in JW material, but can appreciate how a susceptible individual can be totally sucked in. By the way, if I hear they are “lovely people” again I will scream.
Where I hope to comment in the future is on the pseudo science that the BOrg dabble in. I have a strong science background and take particular exception to this type of misrepresentation.
I do seem to have strayed from my original line of thought – sorry about the dump, but I do need to let this loose.
Regards,
HAL
PS I have limitations in my ability to logon so responses may be delayed.... and don’t read too much into my alias or the avatar - I am a science fiction tragic and after all, HAL (in Kubrick’s 2001) was a victim of his programming…..