Posts by Phaedra

23

MERRY CHRISTMAS

by jhine in

l don't visit very often now , but l wanted to drop in to wish all you folks a merry christmas and happy new year .

as l cannot find a thread already started for this l have started one !

in the immortal words of chuck berry ( l think ) " come on everybody " join in wishing your fellow posters a merry christmas , happy holidays etc .

Phaedra

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you, too!

Still feels weird to say, but glad I can.

9

George Micheal dead

by Je.suis.oisif in

just that, he's died aged 53. confirmed on bbc.

rip.

bloody hell, i'm devastated..

Phaedra

Another childhood icon gone.

Eventually, all of us.

Waiting for That Day.

RIP

23

What's Expected in Field Service?

by Cold Steel in

do all potential converts have to take part in field service before baptism?

and do new members generally try to bring in their friends and family or do they generally keep their religion to themselves?

what do pioneers do if they're going door to door and chance on someone they know or work with in their personal lives?

Phaedra

The elders delayed my baptism until the next assembly several months because my hours weren't up high enough long enough.

"What prevents me from being baptized?" Figures on a timeslip.

9

A better way to ask questions - Anybody remember "Amazing"?

by Bonnie_Clyde in

first of all, i wonder whatever happened to jim whitney (aka amazing).

when i first joined this forum, i remember being so impressed by the way he got his family out.

instead of knocking the organization head-on, he would ask questions that can't be answered during his family study, such as, "how would you answer someone if they said we were false prophets?

Phaedra

I remember Amazing. We had a few good conversations in the early days. His perspective here and at other online venues helped give me insight into various things. Wonder what he's up to these days.

29

dealing with religion after leaving the witnesses

by joker in

i’ve noticed many people posting on this site seem to have completely given up on religion/spirituality.. but some have attended services at another religion, or just follow their own heart regarding what to believe.. my question is how does anyone deal after leaving with all of the witness crap that we believed about babylon the great, the great harlot, spiritual prostitute, etc., etc.

i’m finding out that i seem to have built myself a pretty solid wall regarding religion.. some people can just chuck all beliefs into one basket saying that they are all basically garbage,,, and that is ok, no problem i respect that.. but for myself there is a certain part of my personality that needs a spiritual belief not like the witnesses in any way, but something to meditate on, and contemplate.. being a witness taught me how bad it is to actually think of god in any other way besides what the jw’s believe.

and now when i attend any other service, the dark jw side seems to pop out and seriously makes me believe that everything i see/do/say is wrong.

Phaedra

Joker,

I really get where you're coming from. I have no answers. Raised in a similar environment that was less liberal, I am still searching for God. Not having much luck.

Phae

4

Crystal Lake, Illinois, Goodbye, and Good Luck

by Phaedra in

i spent the majority of my growing years in the crystal lake area, with a watchful eye under the tutleledge of the grownups whom i thought had it all figured out.

milkovetch, penkava, redman, gordon, and sterne, before the congregations split into 2 in the late 90s, i was already enamored into the truth with total belief and readying for the revelation book persecution.

then your families crumbled with red letters surfacing all around.. during and after a storm of controversies, scandals, and the like, i realized all people are people and prone to bad decisions and mistakes.

Phaedra

Vidqun, Thanks for that.

Flipper, we learn how much alike we all are, don't we?

Joker, I have always admired and been thankful to your family. Your wife was a great liberal JW role model. I hope you have found peace and happiness outside the org.

21

Catching My Breath (RIP JWD'ers)

by Phaedra in

mouthy.

farkel.

ros.

Phaedra

People who weave themselves into the fabric of our lives.

To all JWNer's, that means you, too. Thanks.

The study in humanity is fascinating here, with a shared past.

Every contribution here, even when not acknowledged, touches someone in some way.

Simon and Ang, thanks again for this platform. It means a lot to so many.

I know the hours you put into its upkeep and maintenance are numerous and a labor of love. That's what real passion is. You do it no matter what. I've paid my own Web site bills for the same. Hosting, downloads, content creation. I'm thousands in the red, but still do it anyway despite pirates and content thieves. Site scrapers, and the new generation that begs for money to fund every project.

Your thousands of unpaid hours that invest themselves into the souls that you reach by happenstance are appreciated by me.. Regular visitors, skittish newcomers. Curious. Angry. Search engine traffic. You serve them all. Without compensation. Asking for funds. You'd do it anyway. I understand. And tip my hat. Thank you for this site for so many years, despite the competition.

Thanks for your continued presence (ts).

16 years in,

Phae

21

Catching My Breath (RIP JWD'ers)

by Phaedra in

mouthy.

farkel.

ros.

Phaedra

Mouthy

Farkel

Ros

Oompa

and others.

Eventually all of us.

RIP

Your contributions have enriched my life.

Thank you.

This is one unique journey we can all relate to.

11

ACTIVISM strategies

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

with the proliferation of social media, more people have been reached by the watchtower organization than ever before in history.

it sure took them long enough!.

at the same time, anti-jw activism has caught fire to counterbalance the propaganda.. there are all sorts of activists operating "out there" using books, videos, podcasts, facebook, and incidental un-witnessing to puncture and perforate the false message and counterfeit codswallop of the governing body.. __________.

Phaedra

Discussion groups (especially this one) led the way long before all the rest.

I became part of JWD around 2000. It and sites like it did a great job and filled a great need.

I ran a successful Web site as well during web 1-2.0.

On top our work, like generations before, others stand on top of us.

A quality article with great research is passed by for a recycled bullet-point listicle.

We have entered a new era on the Web. Social media and crowdfunding rules along with clickbait sites and creating a following for yourself on YT with charisma and all that jazz.

Attention spans are short and opinions are like... well, you know.

Cedars gets his book funded by his groupies with their name in this book. It's just the way of the world now.

Cross-generational, and COC is pirated by a click. Nobody cares anymore. It's sad, but what the majority wants.

Maybe it will slow down when new creators find their work being given away without compensation. They'll get it when the books they write are pirated and everyone moves on to the next piranha feast.

What goes around, comes around.

62

the new understanding

by heathen in

hi guys , i know i was never a favorite here and haven't posted in awhile ... question .

what do you think of the new understanding of , " this generation " they seem to go in circles on this one big time , once 1914 generation was almost gone they said they didn't know what it meant and now in the new publication the generation includes the second generation after 1914 .... i agree they don't know what they are talking about and this is just another control move .

any comments ?.

Phaedra

The new understanding will continue to be refined and goalposts moved as time goes on and nothing manifests. Thus has been the way of this cult for over 100 years.