when i came here in sept 2002, i had just found silentlambs and felt this was and intergrated board. I did take a lot of flak for my first post about the demons, but many came to my defense and helped me feel welcome. I generally still agreed with jws doctrine, just felt they were very unloving. (something i see here all the time). But i kept reading and eventually some of what u guys said sunk in. Now i know i was totally duped. I know now that just b/c there are some "good people " among jws, proves nothing. There are good people in all religions. I was genreally welcomed, but some posters were really rude. They did not understand that my mind was still in a vise grip, and it would take a while for the grip to release. I must admit, i was a bit shocked b/c i thought as a new person just questioning jws,many would understand. Some of the first people who really were very nice to me were JT, Garrybuss, and Valis, and jesika, BT and Nina and of course Brummie.
Are Jehovah's Witnesses REALLY Welcomed Here?
by minimus 88 Replies latest jw friends
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ScoobySnax
Andy
Of course I don't agree with any "support" of paedophiles, they are scum. In the week I had to pick my niece Megan who's 5 up from school as my sister was on a course. For the first couple of days waiting in the playground with all the other mothers and fathers for the kids to come out of class at 3:15pm I felt really conspicuous, and was eyed suspiciously. Maybe thats not a bad thing, as I was un-familiar to them. By the end of the week they were happy to chat with me, coz I guess they knew I was ok. But as I watched Meg come bounding out of class with her paintings and sparkly glitter glue pictures, I was proud as punch to be there for her. The thought that anyone would even look at her let alone lay a finger on her feels me with anger that boils. These people are sick bastards that deserve death.
I think the GB has handled some child moslestation cases appallingly, with the 2 witness rule. I believe that should be changed immediately to prevent any one slipping through the net. Some I'm sure have been damaged deeply by this policy. So of course I do not support it.
That does not mean though that I can not be pro-jw (notice I said pro and not an active jw) and agree with the majority of the direction from the GB, or what I might read in a Watchtower or awake magazine. Much the same as I can disagree with what some posters post here. As 1 example When Milton Henschel died some posters were saying the most appaling things about him, disgusting behaviour IMHO. Alot here will claim that they only attack the WT/GB, but I will stand by my original line that JWs are attacked here, but of course if you put yourself in the firing line, then you expect to be shot at. Hope this makes some sense Andy.
Scoob
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ScoobySnax
ps.....any tips on how to get sparkly glue glitter marks off my leather car seats would be welcome!!
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little witch
Ok, Scooby. I hear you.
Now when YOU say JW, who do you mean? What do you mean when you say you are "PRO JW"?
Do you mean that you accept without question EVERYTHING the governing body says, or that you believe what one of the "legal corporations" says, or what the "faithful and discrete slave" says?
Be precise. It will avoid an argument. Say exactly what you mean.
If you are "Pro jw", what do you mean by that? Do you believe some of what one of these elusive intities proscribe? I am confused. Bear in mind, I am only following the information that flows from the wtbts..... Which changes almost daily...
Help me out here....
And where you differ, please tell me why you are allowed to disagree with the fds, and why many of us couldnt...
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ScoobySnax
Slow down Little Witch, slow down!!
Firstly I don't sit on the GB the writing commitee, the legal dept, Bethel, the Body of elders or anything else, I'm not even an active JW as in preaching from door-to door publisher, so like you I pretty much can sit here at home, on this computer and type what I want, and believe how I feel. I am not any different than you in being able to disagree with the FDS, what makes you think you can't either and I can? You confuse me slightly....
I hope like so many here you don't think that anyone who may be pro-jw has no thinking ability, and must be a troll or stupid. Of course I question things all the time, in my job, at home, in my personal life, I constantly re-evaluate where I'm coming from. I read this forum and disagree strongly with some posts, but don't reply. I can read the WT and not agree with them on some issues too, then off I go again. If this can be marginalised into one post, and to make things clear, for me, PERSONALLY, I do think the GB/WT/JWs have the Truth compared with what else I have read and seen and experienced in my life up until now. That is my definition of being pro-JW
I hope again this makes sense, and clarifys for you my position, it isn't a position I expect others here to endorse or agree with, it is just my position. Hope that helped
Scoob
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garybuss
By the time a Witness gets here they are either having big problems or they are seeing big problems and they probably tried to give the Organization it's chance to explain and correct error. If they are like me, their questions or their issues went unappreciated and no answers to sincere questions came and no sympathy for wrongs committed came either.
When I asked questions, the shunning started. So my first idea of getting my questions resolved by the Witnesses themselves hit a roadblock right off the bat. At first I thought I had just questioned the wrong Witness and I moved on to the next and the next and the next. All met me the same . . . zip. Then they must have gotten together and labeled me an apostate because the doors really closed. My sons started to avoid me except when they needed to borrow my tractor or my moving cart or unless they needed money.
Now I only had one place to turn for answers. That was to the former Witnesses and they were not that easy to find in days before the Internet. I went to the library and found the Witness group named in books about cults. I read in one library book where the leader's nephew had been kicked out of the group and had written a book. I sent for it. This was 1992. I found a book written by Bill Centner and I called him. He had died the year before but I talked to Joan and she gave me a couple names.
One of the names I got was Jerry Bergman and I called him right away. He talked to me a long time and I knew I was hearing the truth about the religion that refused to talk to me. He referred me to Randy Watters and I called him the next day. I got every book about the movement I could find and read them all. I went to meetings of former members and met many of the people I had just heard about or just talked to on the phone.
When I reached out to former members, I was afraid of them and every time a car drove in the yard, my heart would race until I saw it was not the elders coming to get me. When I read Crisis Of Conscience in 1992, I called an elder I knew to question him about things I had read in the book. He squealed his tires getting away from me and I have not seen him since. Then I called my dad and he lied to me about having another appointment and having to leave and he has not been here since although he has been invited.
So the former Witnesses I talked to were not aware of the drama playing out on the other stage between me and the Witness people I was questioning. The Witnesses would not discuss my questions and they were shunning me and not inviting me to family gatherings while the former Witnesses were all nice to me and not only answered all my questions, they gave me the proof copies with their answers. Nothing they gave me required faith. It was all open and honest and my years of feeling guilty for not staying with the group left me. When I had all my facts together and could see what had happened to me, I was sad and angry all at once and my fear of the elders was all gone.
Some wannabe former Witnesses were uncomfortable with me because I am not a Gnostic. One early gathering of former Witnesses I attended would not let me address the group because I was honest with them and told them I have no communication with any gods or ghosts. It didn't set very well with me but I went anyway and I had a good time and was able to pick up some books I needed for my Watch Tower library. I didn't have a good enough time to go back. I couldn't see any difference between my story and those told at the meeting by others. They just didn't like it that I didn't quit the Witnesses and adopt their religion as a replacement.
When people involved with the Witnesses contact me, I try to meet them where they are and I try to be a resource to them. I'm not referring to those that call and say "Jehovah will get you!". Or call me names. And I have had my share of those. I mean anyone who is civil. Being civil is reasonable and that's a good place to start. That's all I can ask from anyone. All of us come here with our baggage and it's not all the same. I don't ask you to get rid of yours, I just offer to help you carry yours for a while because mine is a lot lighter than it was. GaryB -
ScoobySnax
Where-as unlike Gary, (above) My journey and experiences have been totally different.....
Some remain Witnesses in their hearts, but are just too damn lazy to get back and make the effort again.........at least thats me.
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garybuss
Scooby, 949 posts on a ex JW board doesn't seem to me to represent lazy very well. One post might represent lazy, but not 949. Me thinks you are not lazy. What's reason #2? GaryB -
little witch
Thank you Gary. That makes sense to me.
Scooby, what is a "witness in the heart". I love God, and I love you. Am I a "witness in the heart"?
I have researched the meaning of the ancients when they say "heart" they mean the mind.
Now, my heart is a muscle that pumps blood.
My "heart" as in, I love you with all my heart, involves my mind. my person, my emotions.
If I witness that God loves me, and that through him, I love you,
Will jehovah kill me? Do you hate me? Does the GB tell you to hate me? I am confused, and I want you to tell me in your own words the answers to my heart felt questions. Please do not use the language that comes from the watchtower, because they do not make sense to me.
If you care about me at all (and I am being genuine here) please explain this to me.
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ScoobySnax
oh Gary, its really quite easy, sitting here with a beer or 2 in front of a computer, listening to all my favourite music really is easy to do whilst typing up here. It is so lazy and self indulgent that its almost a sin it itself!! I love it.
Reason # 2?? I blame the beer, and refer back no # 1