Posts by SAHS

32

Yet Another Putdown of Women! – KM March 2015

by SAHS in

jw
friends

this weeks service meeting part (week starting march 23, 2015) in the our kingdom ministry under the heading meetings for field service that accomplish.

their purpose includes a little sub-article entitled when a sister must conduct.

the direct link is: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/ click the little document download button under the one labeled km15 03-e us and then choose a format (pdf looks best)..

SAHS

Excellent comments, folks! It all goes to show just how ridiculous and backwards the teachings and policies (opinions) of the WT leadership really are.

I recently attended an event in a church community center, and I checked out an item on their bulletin board listing the scedule for “ushers.” As I thought, the names listed were pretty much mixed between males and females. Aside from women preachers (mostly non-Catholic, I assume), I’ve noticed that all the various administrative positions and general duties of service within churches and in spiritual community-based organizations and programs are freely mixed among the genders. I showed a non-JW man a photograph of the WT governing body, and right away he asked me, “No women? They’re all men. How come there aren’t any women?”

JWs are so used to that extreme misogynist crap within the WT leadership and membership, but to any normal people outside of the WT, it just seems bizarre, nonsensical, and plain extremist. Most JWs by far, especially born-ins, don’t really realize just how different they really are from everybody else.

32

Yet Another Putdown of Women! – KM March 2015

by SAHS in

jw
friends

this weeks service meeting part (week starting march 23, 2015) in the our kingdom ministry under the heading meetings for field service that accomplish.

their purpose includes a little sub-article entitled when a sister must conduct.

the direct link is: http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/ click the little document download button under the one labeled km15 03-e us and then choose a format (pdf looks best)..

SAHS

This week’s service meeting part (week starting March 23, 2015) in the Our Kingdom Ministry under the heading “Meetings for Field Service That Accomplish

Their Purpose” includes a little sub-article entitled “When a Sister Must Conduct.” The direct link is: “http://www.jw.org/en/publications/kingdom-ministry/” – click the little document download button under the one labeled “km15 03-E Us” and then choose a format (PDF looks best).

Here is that little part about women directly pasted below, in which I have highlighted in yellow the most pertinent parts:

___________________________

When a Sister Must Conduct

___________________________

A sister should wear a head covering and would normally be seated when conducting a meeting for field service. What she chooses to discuss would be similar to what a brother would consider. While she should avoid giving the appearance of instructing those in attendance, she may initiate a group discussion. If she invites another baptized sister to say the prayer, that sister should also wear a head covering. If a baptized brother joins the meeting after it has started, the sister would normally invite him to finish the meeting. The service overseer should try to anticipate unusual situations and give appropriate instructions so as to minimize awkwardness. For example, a very young, perhaps preteen, baptized brother might attend when a sister is assigned to conduct, but the elders feel that he is not yet qualified to conduct the meeting. In such a case, the service overseer can inform those involved that the assigned sister should conduct the meeting, but the brother should say the prayer if the elders feel that he is qualified. Or perhaps there is an adult brother who is restricted from conducting the meeting or offering congregation prayer for reasons known by the elders. Without revealing confidential information, the elders should let the assigned sisters know that they should conduct and pray even if he is in attendance. The elders might also let the brother know which days sisters are scheduled to conduct the meetings for field service.

___________________________

Now, we have all heard about the head covering thing for sisters in those rare instances when they absolutely have to take the field service group because no baptized brothers are around. There is nothing new with that – except, I don’t recall ever reading a directive from the Watchtower organization that in that situation where a sister has to conduct the group, she has to not only wear a head covering but also she has to remain “seated.” So, she would have to remain seated even if offering prayer for the group.

As well, “she should avoid giving the appearance of instructing those in attendance” . . . . um, isn’t the whole idea of taking, or conducting, the field service group to “instruct” those attending, to organize them into partners, car groups, and territories? If whoever is conducting the group isn’t supposed to appear to be “instructing” and making necessary practical working arrangements for field service, then what the hell are they there for? I’m sorry, but that just doesn’t make any sense to me. Either you’re doing the job of conducting/organizing or you’re not.

Further, “if a baptized brother joins the meeting after it has started, the sister would normally invite him to finish the meeting.” After it’s already started? The Watchtower organization can’t even allow a woman the basic respect and dignity to at least finish conducting the group if a baptized testicle-carrying member arrives partway through? Really?

“The service overseer should try to anticipate unusual situations and give appropriate instructions so as to minimize awkwardness.” Awkwardness? So, it’s really that much of an “unusual” and “awkward” situation for a woman (female) to conduct a little field service group? The governing body must really feel uncomfortable about the very thought of a woman (female) having to do anything in the congregation. (But, of course, cleaning those toilets and washing those floors and sinks is always most welcome for those apparently lowly women. I guess that’s their real place, at least according to those seven grumpy old men at the big conference table in New York. Lucky them.) “The elders might also let the brother know which days sisters are scheduled to conduct the meetings for field service.” Oh, yes. We wouldn’t want any of that awful “awkwardness” arising from one of those “unusual situations,” now would we?

The more that little blurb in this week’s Our Kingdom Ministry can get shown around to people in general in the “world,” the more people will be able to see just exactly what they would be in for if they were to join, and thus be able to make a more informed, and hopefully intelligent, decision just in case they ever got any ideas about membership. Copies should really be sent to women’s rights groups, or even just human rights associations. It’s ridiculous and nonsensical little things like this that will surely prevent any more growth of the Watchtower “religion” in any progressive parts of the world and be the purging of more and more of the current membership out the door. What a stupid, quirky, medieval outfit!

23

U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge, the Honorable B. Dwight Goains, a Jehovah's Witness

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

the current sitting u.s. federal magistrate judge, in alpine, texas, is a jehovah's witness and is set to retire on november 9, 2015.. .

link to news article.

on november 9, the honorable b. dwight goains will retire from an eight-year term serving as the u.s. magistrate judge in alpine, texas.

SAHS

Isn’t that interesting that a Jehovah’s Witness would actually be a U.S. Federal Magistrate Judge. I say that because JWs have often frowned upon anyone even serving on jury duty, especially for a capital murder trial, as even that would apparently be thought of as putting oneself in the position of “judging” involving the life and death of their fellowman. And that’s the reasoning that has been used by many JWs to request an exemption from such jury duty on grounds of religious conscience. I’m sure that ever since his position “as a federal prosecutor,” the Honorable B. Dwight Goains would be in such a position to make life-and-death decisions, thus having the moral culpability to God that goes along with that, at least according to the WTS’ teachings.

And according to a similar line of reasoning that has been adamantly pushed by the WT organization, a JW could be disfellowshipped for choosing to remain employed as a police officer or security guard carrying a gun because they could be in a situation where they could become personally bloodguilty. (My dad had a Bible study quite a few years ago who was a policeman, but, of course, he had to quit his job so he could be baptized.)

Yep. Kind of makes you go, Hmmm. (At least it does for me.)

15

Breaking cognitive dissonance - or - how to get Bill Cosby to help a dub see the light

by undercover in

jw
friends

let me preface this by saying, i don't know if mr. cosby is guilty of all that he's being accused of.

the number of women coming out against him is pretty damning, but no real proof has been offered (that i'm aware of anyway).

and it is this circumstantial, hearsay evidence that can actually play into the hands of someone trying to get a jw to grasp the seriousness of the child abuse claims in the jw religion.. how so?.

SAHS

Most JWs, even if they were to see Anderson Cooper or Don Lemon reporting live on CNN about anything to do with the sex abuse scandals and coverups in the WTS, they would probably just say something like, “Oh, that’s just from apostates; it’s all lies to discredit the organization.” Some JWs would probably think that the “apostates” are working in cahoots with CNN and all the rest of the media. Yep. It’s all a conspiracy from Satan the Devil to JWs. No matter what, their precious WT organization is Almighty God’s only spirit-directed organization – the only one that has the truth, don’t you know.

But, funny thing, back during the O. J. Simpson trial, my mom said that a lot of the African and Jamaican sisters were telling her that he was definitely innocent, no doubt about it. I guess you just can’t mess with a JW’s pet hero, no matter who that might be.

23

Crazy JW wields machete at New Orleans airport - shot - died because he refused blood on religious grounds

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-machete-attack-new-orleans-airport-has-died-n327841.

SAHS

Those people at the airport who potentially could have been severe casualties or even fatalities really owe their life and limbs, literally, to the police officer, Lt. Heather Slyve, for her lifesaving services that day. That just reminded me: officer Slyve wouldn’t even be allowed to be a JW unless she quit her job because it involves carrying a gun. And if, say, she had already been a JW, she could be disfellowshipped if she decided to become a police officer after she was baptized. Kind of makes you think – this officer’s commendable and heroic actions would have just been looked down on by JWs because they were performed while working at a job which is considered a disfellowshipping offense because it requires bearing arms, but, on the other hand, the WTS demands all its members to let their children die because of their blood policy, which has resulted in the deaths of thousands of children, and somehow that is supposed to be okay according to the JWs. When you think of it, that’s most bizarre.

23

Crazy JW wields machete at New Orleans airport - shot - died because he refused blood on religious grounds

by Wild_Thing in

jw
friends

http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/suspect-machete-attack-new-orleans-airport-has-died-n327841.

SAHS

“7Starz”: “Was he doing airport witnessing?”

LOL!!

16

Hello All!

by ihunt in

jw
friends

i figure it's about time that i stop silently lurking around this community and actually add to the conversation, so here goes a first post.

a little about me-i was born "half-in", that is, my mother has been a witness for the entirety of my life whereas my father has never been.

i was an active part of the congregation (at least for what an unbaptized publisher can do) until i turned 18 and got an opportunity to attend a university (go school!).

SAHS

“ihunt”: “I don't think my father ever educated himself about Jehovah's Witnesses' control structure or about their doctrine, and its awful difficult to convince someone that their beliefs are incorrect when you are completely ignorant to their stance.”

Hi, “ihunt,” and welcome to the board! It’s always good to see so many more and more folks like yourself waking up and daring to poke their head out of the little prison of the Watchtower organization/corporation.

It would be great if you could educate your father in the many hangups and dangers of the Jehovah’s Witness “religion” without your JW mother even knowing. People in general – including most JWs themselves, by far – are unaware of the real facts and history of the Watchtower. If you could somehow show your father some of the things you have discovered about the WT corruption and obvious falsehoods and have him agree that he not let your mother know that it was you who showed those things about the WT to him, then maybe you could have a powerful ally in your father as someone who could bring those things to your mother’s attention. You could have him tell your mother that he just happened to come across such information completely by himself and that you had nothing to do with it. That way, perhaps your mother could be introduced to some important and eye-opening things regarding the real truth about the WT (the truth about the truth, or “TTATT” as we say) but you still wouldn’t get into any kind of trouble because your mother would just think that your father just decided to do his own research about the WT organization completely on his own.

And, of course, if your mother eventually did start to wake up, start researching and questioning herself, and decide to fade away from and leave the WT “religion,” then you would be completely in the clear and free – along with both your parents! Now, that would be the sweetest outcome of all. You never know. It’s definitely worth a shot. You could have your cake and eat it too, so to speak, if you play your cards right and everything works out right.

Take care, and the very best of luck to you. Having one parent already not in the cult, you’re completely half lucky already.

16

Hello All!

by ihunt in

jw
friends

i figure it's about time that i stop silently lurking around this community and actually add to the conversation, so here goes a first post.

a little about me-i was born "half-in", that is, my mother has been a witness for the entirety of my life whereas my father has never been.

i was an active part of the congregation (at least for what an unbaptized publisher can do) until i turned 18 and got an opportunity to attend a university (go school!).

SAHS

[accidental double post]

15

[REPOST] Memorial Non-Attendance: The Single Most Impactful TTATT Witness to Family and Friends

by AMNESIANO in

jw
friends

(originally posted march, 2014)anyone who has awakened to ttatt and has conscientiously left the organization--especially a once-prominent, highly-regarded, studious believer from a prominent multi-generational tribe of jws-- after decades of devout, high-profile "serve-us," who continues to put in an annual appearance at the memorial thoroughly subverts and undermines, by this one act, any hope s/he may entertain that his/her departure will stir family or former friends to question the whole watchtower bamboozle.

by this one concession s/he assigns him-/herself by every single jw to their handy and dimissive purgatory: the "spiritually-weak.".

nothing blasts a louder, clearer, and more deliberate message to the jws who personally knew you and those familiar with your jw bona fides that you are not merely "not making the meetings," "inactive," or "spiritually-weak," but that there is a conscientious reason you have rejected the entire watchtower society life than choosing to forego what they know you once believed to be jehovah's must-attend, one-and-only, holy/sacred event of the year for his people, the lord's evening meal.. you hand them the very justification they so relish to self-righteously label you as a "submarine witness" deserving of jehovah's, and more importantly, their judgement.

SAHS

“AMNESIANO”: “Anyone who has awakened to TTATT and has conscientiously left the organization . . . after decades of . . . "serve-us," who continues to put in an annual appearance at the Memorial thoroughly subverts and undermines, by this one act, any hope s/he may entertain that his/her departure will stir family or former friends to question the whole Watchtower bamboozle. . . . you squander your prize opportunity to nudge thinking ones to seriously ponder the possible reason for your shocking departure.”

This reminds me of how the Watchtower organization keeps telling its members that by being firm in upholding the disfellowshipping arrangement, it may be what is needed to shock a loved one back to his/her senses so as to repent and “return to Jehovah” (that is, the Watchtower organization). We (us “apostates”) can use that same kind of tactic to our advantage: Those of us who have stopped going to meetings, assemblies, conventions, and field service could make it a point of also not attending the annual Memorial to show that we ourselves are standing firm and resolute in our personal decision to completely move on from the Watchtower “religion,” in all its forms. And this might end up being just the very thing to shock, or “nudge,” our loved ones into finally questioning the Watchtower organization to enough of a degree that they too might see the light and come to their senses! It’s only fair, as it’s sort of like using one of the WT’s own tactics, that of shunning, only in our case we’re only shunning the WT organization instead of our family – which I think is more what it ought to be!

10

Reasons for Leaving

by maksutov in

i finally got my book finished.

it is available as a free ebook here: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/527252 i'm sure the contents are familiar territory to most people here, but hopefully it will be of some use to those who are either thinking about joining or thinking about leaving.

SAHS

I was just thinking – anytime you happen to run into any JWS in the future, either at your door or in transit, whether they know you or not, you should ask for their email address. Get as many email addresses of JWs as you can and compile them into a little database. Then, email the complete contents of your free book to all of them at once. Who knows – you might end up doing a handful of them a real favor by causing them to take a good, hard, objective look at the Watchtower organization, and maybe even wake up and get out of it. That would be sweet, for sure! And certainly don’t forget to include anybody who you know has recently been called on by the JWs and whom you suspect might be thinking of checking them out. You could be saving them from wasting their life and maybe even from actual death from the blood transfusion policy, either themselves or someone in their family.

The JWs are always “warning” people about “Armageddon,” or at least so they think – but someone’s gotta warn unsuspecting people about the JWs!