Posts by problemaddict 2

15

Another one decides to leave

by problemaddict 2 in

well in a month where i had a friend of 20 years tell me "we can't kick it no mo" because i no longer go to meetings, i had an even older friend who is coming to visit me, call me and tell me hes out.. currently a high profile ms who gives talks out all over the place, the elders said they are recommending him for appt to the body in sep when the co is coming through.

but nope......hes about to step down all together.. what did it?

because i am not disfellowshipped, and soft peddle my issues with the org, i was able to speak to him about things like blood, and a couple other things.

problemaddict 2

Glad everyone enjoyed it. We have had a couple of conversations since. I have encouraged him to take it slow with his wife, and that he will find as he allows himself to research things he never would have allowed himself to consider, that he will find things he agrees with, and others he doesn't. Thats ok. It doesn't mean anything significant one way or the other. But I told him if (when) he reads something that makes him angry....to call ME, not start running at the mouth.

He considers himself a Christian and currently is in the I don't know where to go phase. We discussed the scripture, and the "who" instead of the "where". He gets it. Just not 100% ready to let go.

I have had another friend, that I met on this board and now has started an EX JW meetup in San Diego, who specifically got his wife to calm her fears, by saying he would still go to meetings and support her if that is what she wanted. Just having that security (in her mind), made it mean he wasn't leaving her, or bugging out. I think My buddy here is doing the same thing and its wise. But I did tell him to be careful. If hes goingto live with principle, at a certain point he will want to be gone completely, and the older your kids get, the harder it would be to transition.

The morality question I did like this.

If an athiest does good for their neighbor, feeds them, clothes them, doesn't steel, doesn't lie, is loyal to their spouse and friends, etc...Is that more or less moral than a Christian who may do those same things, but be motivated at least in part by some eternal reward or fear of punishment?

Point being, JW's nor any religion, have the trademark on "morality". Least of all JW's.

64

Geoffrey Jackson: "That would be presumptuous of us"...

by Calebs Airplane in

within the first few minutes, mr. stewart asked geoffrey jackson if the members of the governing body consider themselves to be god's spokesperson on earth.. his response: "that would be presumptuous of us" (implying that they don't consider themselves to be god's sole channel of communication).. to me, that was the worst lie of about 26 lies he's told during this hearing.

however, mr. stewart missed an opportunity to call out mr. jackson on this bold-faced lie.

he should have asked him to explain why the watchtower magazine teaches otherwise.

problemaddict 2

For a religion that has dubbed itself "the Truth", they sure seem to have a hard time telling it.

46

Discussing the RC with a friend and my JW wife was listening.

by Driving Force in

i am fuming at the moment and my wife has made me so angry.. i live in germany and an ex jw, a friend of mine is also ex jw but does not understand english so i was giving him a rundown on the friday session of the rc with gj.

my wife was in another part of the house but heard my phone ring and so she came to listen, i did not realize this, because when the phone rang i closed two doors between myself and my wife.

she opened the first door and started listening to the conversation.

problemaddict 2

Wow what a story. It reminded me that maybe not even two years ago my wife started punching me in anger because of how I was ruining our lives.

She hasn't been to a meeting in a year, and wants nothing to do with the religion. We are just still on the down low because of family. I say it all the time, if my wife can leave.....anyones can.

The story is amazing. She didn't even see the testimony but has decided you are lying. She is ready to back this man she has never met, and yell and scream at her husband about this mans reputation, without any knowledge of whats up. What a betrayal that must feel like.

Equating with you working against Jehovah because you said this guy is lying. The way they have conflated themselves with God himself while not doing so explicitly, is pretty amazing. Have to hand it to them.

How else would someone act like this simply because you hold an opinion about some testimony! I mean what kind of reaction is that!

My heart goes out to you.

15

Another one decides to leave

by problemaddict 2 in

well in a month where i had a friend of 20 years tell me "we can't kick it no mo" because i no longer go to meetings, i had an even older friend who is coming to visit me, call me and tell me hes out.. currently a high profile ms who gives talks out all over the place, the elders said they are recommending him for appt to the body in sep when the co is coming through.

but nope......hes about to step down all together.. what did it?

because i am not disfellowshipped, and soft peddle my issues with the org, i was able to speak to him about things like blood, and a couple other things.

problemaddict 2

Well in a month where I had a friend of 20 years tell me "we can't kick it no mo" because I no longer go to meetings, I had an even older friend who is coming to visit me, call me and tell me hes out.

Currently a high profile MS who gives talks out all over the place, the elders said they are recommending him for appt to the body in Sep when the CO is coming through. But nope......hes about to step down all together.

What did it? Because I am not disfellowshipped, and soft peddle my issues with the org, I was able to speak to him about things like blood, and a couple other things. So we spoke openly, and we would disagree, but it was never contentious. I never "tried to convince him" in his words. I sent him the story below since he is from the same area more or less basically asking him to look at the photo and see if he knew him. I warned him that he probably doesn't want to read the article since its his story of beef with the organization.

https://medium.com/@danielgenser/what-i-believe-to-be-true-and-how-i-have-come-to-believe-it-13df821c3ed

He then researched 607. That was basically the end of it. He told his wife the next day. (I tried to stop him). She agreed with him, said he had some good points, but she wanted to raise her kids as JW's to give them a moral center, and didn't want to lose him. So they are working it out, but she is loyal to him, and he agreed to even go to meetings with her continually if she wants him to. (we all know how that goes).

I get texts at random times like "problemaddict!........how did I not see this sooner! It was so obvious. I've made all of my lifes choices listening to some old guys in brooklyn that completely hide their actions, financials, processes, and proceedures, from the people who worship with them. I feel like an idiot!"

He believes in the bible, and this is super new for him. He is giving his talks over the next month, to not arouse suspicion. This Australian RC tape of Jackson he watched in full. It just put the nail in the coffin.

I just thought I would share that.

13

Sydney Morning Herald Headline about Compensation for Victims May Cause JW Organization to Gasp

by steve2 in

geoffrey jackson's unfailingly diplomatic responses during friday's royal commission hearings have undoubtedly limited damage to the reputation of the jw organization - but i could never again imagine the watchtower and awake!

magazines criticizing other religions over their responses to child sexual abuse within their parishes.

too close for comfort.

problemaddict 2

Can you imagine the damage redress would do? I mean.....its a clear admittance of mishandling of what they have been calling apostate lies publicly. Think about that for a minute. they reacted too quickly, and now have placed themselves into a situation that they HAVE to fight redress given to victims. Otherwise they admit it may not all be apostates (man those apostates are powerful!).

The worst part of this article is the following.

In evidence, Mr Jackson said an apology to alleged sex abuse victims was "perceivable".

Oh please! For the reasons already mentioned and more....this is laughable.

31

New video "Jehovah Has Done So Much for Me"

by NoIdeaWhatToBelieve in

hey all,.

have you seen the new video on http://www.jw.org/en/jehovahs-witnesses/activities/living-bible-principles/adult-survivor-child-abuse-video/ ?.

isn't this too much of a coincidence?

problemaddict 2

Is there a word for when you laugh at something that also makes you mad? I laughed because its such a pathetic and clear attempt to manipulate people that may know what is going on.

I am glad this woman has healed from a terrible experience. Of course.....it wasn't in the organization. It wasn't handled by elders. Maybe she found no justice and still struggles with that. But the point is of course that when she says "Jehovah has done so much for me", the message is clearly "the organization has done so much for me".

Its because she equates healing with the 12 years of service, and the love in the KH.

Its poor timing and shameful. I am however glad for this woman and consider it brave of her to discuss publicly something so personal. I wonder how they found and asked her to do it.

17

Geoffery Jackson Plan Against the Commission

by thedepressedsoul in

geoffrey jackson will attempt to df them all, shun them, take away their privileges, write a wt article on them, have the elders talk to them, their family cut off ties with them, read them watchtower articles, tell them they need to submit at least 10 hours per month etc... .

then, the "oh shit" look on his face moment when he realizes he has no power outside of his pinky ring club.

.

problemaddict 2

Wait......he doesn't have to appear in person? That obviously changes everything. His handlers can put a monitor in front of him to make comments on. And just not being in the room, is already a huge deal.

I really hope they continue in the manner they have and do not give him the soft peddle.

30

Hello!

by BeautifulMind in

jw
friends

i've been enjoying all of the discussions here for a good while now.

i found this site as i was researching things about this religion i've been in (finally after nagging curiosity and questions) but i wanted to figure things out more before coming on here and posting.

i'm glad to see that im not alone or crazy!

problemaddict 2

Hi and welcome. I remember when I first figured out the apostate boogeypeople were not fire breathing vitriolic meanies. they were just people. Some hurt, some healing, and some just living and supporting others.

So my first question is basically what was the catalyst for "waking up". I'm always curious, because I'm always thinking about what actually works with people.

18

Article in New Yorker magazine

by InquiryMan in

i guess this article will be appreciated within the jw community, being on the positive side when discussing blood transfusion.

it is the first of three articles to be published in that prestigious magazine.. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-jehovahs-witnesses-are-changing-medicine.

problemaddict 2

The email address I found is this.

[email protected]

I sent her a nice e mail complimenting the article. Clearly she has focused on the aspect of their impact. I basically asked her to consider that while this has been an unintended virtue related to their refusal of blood, that many have died for this campaign.

I also mentioned the fact it is enforceable through shunning, and for her to consider the element that creates in the doctor patient relationship. How many JW's behind closed doors say give me the blood?......lots!

18

Article in New Yorker magazine

by InquiryMan in

i guess this article will be appreciated within the jw community, being on the positive side when discussing blood transfusion.

it is the first of three articles to be published in that prestigious magazine.. http://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/how-jehovahs-witnesses-are-changing-medicine.

problemaddict 2

Anyone know how I could get a staff writer for the new yorkers e mail? I would love to correspond with her regarding her series. It looks like there are 2 more to come.

I thought the article was fair. It wasn't untrue, and seemed pretty concise.