Posts by OrphanCrow

31

Reveal releases outstanding audio w/Trey Bundy doing interviews. One is with a former Bethelite who cared for old GB members

by AndersonsInfo in

https://www.revealnews.org/episodes/secrets-of-the-watchtower/?utm_source=reveal&utm_medium=dist&utm_campaign=zalkin.

not only will you hear howie tran, former-bethelite, but irwin zalkins talks about watchtower's child abuse secrets.

debbie mcdaniels talks about her child abuse and you will hear trey actually talking to the jw who molested her..

OrphanCrow

This is an excellent piece. Trey Bundy has done yet another tremendous job.

Thanks for posting this Barbara.

16

Our Art

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

.

OrphanCrow

theRebel: :- However was the second one done by my 11 year old son or me?

That is not a fair question so I won't answer it.

I love talking and sharing about art, especially when it is art that the person I am talking to have done themselves.

Art is communication, pure and simple. And I like to speak honestly about the piece under discussion.

Your question reveals a common misconception about what art and artists are. The standard refrain of "Huh...my six-year old could do that" or something similar is a non-productive position to take.

So. Tell me. You say it. You posted this and you say these are not gallery pieces. Tell me...be honest in your communication. It is your responsibility to be clear about the art - art is not a game.

I do really like both pieces. The way the paint has been handled with complete joy and passion in the second painting is beautiful. I don't care how old the person is who executed it - whoever the artist was, they had joy in doing it and that joy has been communicated.

And that is what art is about - communication. Art making is a language.

Rebel, please, tell us more about the art you posted. The one who posts the art answers questions from the viewer - they don't ask them questions, the art does that.

Who did these? How large are they? What kind of paint? What surface?

16

Our Art

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

.

OrphanCrow

Rebel, I think you have taken these photos at a gallery - you can see the frames on the sides. If you had done these paintings, I think you would have given more information and included the entire pieces.

I love the second one - a passion for paint. they could be yours...it is hard to tell without context.

I had made a post first that said I thought these were yours but I changed my mind and did a re-post.

As a part time artist, I will post a painting I did about 3 years ago.

It is a self portrait and measures 4 ft x 5 ft

9

Norway: Hospitals Refuse To Accept JW Blood Card

by darkspilver in

been sent this - could be an interesting story - seems totally unrelated to recent events in canada, but see under the sub-heading 'debate after birth' - translation is via google, which is unfortunately not very good :(.

from the thursday 8 december 2016 print editon of agderposten newspaper - a norwegian daily newspaper with a circulation of just under 20,000 (so admittedly a relatively small regionally based circulation newspaper).

jehovas vitner har laget et blodkort for overføring i en akuttsituasjon.

OrphanCrow

TheSearcher: Will those hospitals likewise ignore the warnings given by others via medical alert bracelets etc. if they are unconscious when admitted to hospital?

What are the medical alert bracelets alerting for? Do those bracelets not tell medical professionals what treatment they need to follow in order to save the patient's life?

The noblood card is entirely different. A noblood order is not about saving a person's life - it is a directive to not give life saving care.

And that is where I think the comparison fails. So many people have become used to treating the JWs as though they have a special medical condition and they don't. Their condition has been created through a combination of religious superstition and bad science.

They don't have a medical condition. They have a religious problem.

What I took away from the article is that the medical doctors in Norway recognize that a person will often change their mind when they are faced with the reality of their religious choice demanding they give up the most precious thing that "God" has given them - their life itself. And they state that it happens often that a person will change their mind. That is why they want to be able to transfuse someone who is not conscious.

It makes perfect sense to me. I think of all the JWs (and others) who have said "there are no atheists in the trenches". Likewise, "there are no martyrs in the face of death". Or, at least...there are many who give up their martyr stand when they are given free choice.

I am all in favor of patients having the right to refuse any medical treatment they want - if they are in sound mind and have all the information they need to make their decision. And, that decision does not need to be based on a religious notion. Being unconscious does not mean somebody is of sound mind. They can't be - they are unconscious. The idea of a sound mind is one that should be challenged in the case of JWs.

For example, if somebody presents themselves to a doctor for treatment of a broken leg but then refuses to let the doctor put a cast on it because the patient believes that a cast will give them cancer or leprosy, would the doctor consider that patient in their right mind?

The Norwegian doctors, from reading the article, also will continue to give the patient the option of receiving blood even right up to the point of beginning a surgical procedure. They give the patient every opportunity to make a free choice and it seems that they will still continue to honor the patient's wishes...if they are conscious. It is only in cases where the patient is unconscious that it will be up to the doctors discretion to employ life saving blood transfusions.

I think it is a good stand to take. It would have made a difference for Eloise Dupuis. She was in a coma for six days before the lack of blood allowed an infection to take her life. If she had been in Norway, the doctors would have been able to save her life and she could have went home to that beautiful baby she birthed.

The JWs' rejection of blood is not a medical condition. They have a mental condition - their mind has been conditioned by religious superstition to reject life.

27

Angry and scared

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i feel like everything that comes out of my mothers mouth is something negative and cringe worthy.

all she seems to talk about with me is how terrible and demonic our disfellowshipped relatives are, how horrible the world and holidays are, or how she is so much better and "holier than thou".

it really makes me sick sometimes.

OrphanCrow

BlackWolf: Every time they ask I just say that it's my own decision to make when I'm ready, and then my dad just says "well, when will you be ready?". It's really frustrating because if I try to actually talk to them about my doubts things will end badly like they did last time.

Then don't talk to them about your doubts.

Your parents want reassurances from you. I think they are fearful. Of what...who knows? It could be varied - fear that their baby won't make it to paradise...fear that they won't make it there if they aren't seen as good parents...

Regardless, what you are doing/saying now isn't working. Maybe tell them, next time they ask about you getting baptized, that you are praying about it. And tell them not to worry about you so much because you know that Jehovah loves you anyways even if you haven't been dunked. Tell them that in your heart, and in your prayers, you know that Jehovah will tell you when the time is right. They won't be able to argue with Jehovah.

31

Lunch today with.. JW step father....

by raven in

it has been a while since i've posted, i think its because i have finally gotten some peace and quiet as far as harassment from the jw elders.. my step father, the one who reported me to the elder police for a sinful act invited me to lunch today.. it has been almost a year since the incident, we have talked here and there, it has been just casual though.

he says he is in town for work and asked if i would like to meet up for lunch, i couldn't think of any excuses so i agreed.. i hope it goes well, hope that we don't go into the jw nonsense.

hope he doesn't bring elders with him, am i paranoid or what?

OrphanCrow

raven: Yes yes I know.. I had(have?) some very bitter feelings towards him.. I just try to not think about it, it's in all honesty a very confusing situation.

It is time you stopped ignoring your feelings. You should be bitter and you should be angry. There is nothing wrong with being angry when someone has treated you badly. Nothing at all - nurture your anger and make friends with it - know what it means and stop stuffing it down. It is your anger and you have earned it. Experience your anger, taste it, feel it and embrace it - be human. Anger won't destroy you - it will make you whole.

The situation isn't really that confusing. You are too close to it to see how simple it really is. Distance yourself. Stop putting yourself back into that confusing situation. You need distance and time to process what has happened or you will find yourself, if not back in the same situation, in another one just like it. You need time to adjust your 'template' or that victim pattern will continue to plague you for the rest of your life.

Good luck, Raven, and go find some good, kind, and honest people to hang out with. Life is short and it is a waste of time investing in relationships that are unhealthy for you.

31

Lunch today with.. JW step father....

by raven in

it has been a while since i've posted, i think its because i have finally gotten some peace and quiet as far as harassment from the jw elders.. my step father, the one who reported me to the elder police for a sinful act invited me to lunch today.. it has been almost a year since the incident, we have talked here and there, it has been just casual though.

he says he is in town for work and asked if i would like to meet up for lunch, i couldn't think of any excuses so i agreed.. i hope it goes well, hope that we don't go into the jw nonsense.

hope he doesn't bring elders with him, am i paranoid or what?

OrphanCrow

WC: This guy TURNED YOU IN TO THE ELDERS, like a snitch going to the Gestapo, and you are going to have lunch with him? WHY?

Ooohhh. I missed that part.

In that case, I totally agree with WingCommander.

When a person shows you who they are, you should believe them. I didn't realize this is the jerk who gave you so much trouble, Raven. By going for lunch with your step-father, you are repeating past victim patterns.

If you don't want to be a victim, you have to change your behavior. He won't - you have no indication that he has changed and any little thoughts you have about this being a warm and cuddly reuinion is simply wishful thinking on your part - exactly like a victim behaves.

Don't want to be a victim anymore? Then stop thinking that someone, who has abused and mistreated you in the past, will change. "Oh...it will be better this time..."

If you still desire to have a relationship with someone who has treated you so badly...then I guess you still have some life lessons to learn. Keep trying...it is hard to stand up for yourself when you don't realize how strong you actually are.

You made your post looking for advice so here is my advice to you - make up an excuse that you are busy if he calls again and then go out and do something nice for yourself. With people who don't try to trap you back into their deceitful lifestyle.

You will remain a victim as long as you keep acting like one. Going for lunch with this guy is victim behavior.

13

Banned From The Kingdom Hall

by darkspilver in

banned from going to the kingdom hall..... a former jehovah’s witness has been banned from visiting any of the organisation’s kingdom halls in the uk – or face going to jail.. http://www.kentonline.co.uk/deal/news/judges-jail-warning-to-former-117012/.

previous thread / discussion.

youtube channel.

OrphanCrow

Yes, it was inappropriate behavior. And an example of the rage and hurt that an ex- member can feel when they are disfellowshipped.

"...going to the man’s house to post leaflets through his letterbox."

Geez, I wonder where he learned how to do that?

29

JW's arrogant as f...?!

by Alostpuppydog in

has anybody else noticed that almost all the jdubs are super arrogant?

i mean even from just the basic ones to especially the elders and the overseers omg.

they act like they are so high and mighty that you should just worship them.

OrphanCrow

Yes, the majority of JWs who I have interacted with have definitely been arrogant.

I don't know if that is just a quality that the Org is responsible for implanting in its members or if that quality is something that attracts the members. Probably both.

The doctrine and structure of the JW religion is all about elitism. The higher you go up the food chain, the more elite you become. Until you can drink the blood of Christ and join in his lofty perch. And the lowly members, the ones who are merely of the worker class with no special privilege, usually act out their elitism by kicking the dog - the worldly ones.

It has made me cringe when I have heard JW elders, with a grade school education, make derisive comments towards people who are educated professionals. I was working at a hotel desk one day when a herd of JWs came in. There was a newspaper with a headline about a judge on the front page that was lying on the desk. A fat elder, who I know didn't graduate high school, picked the paper up, read the headline and snorted, "Huh! Why would he want a raise? What is so hard about judging?" Snort snort and a big laugh. It took all my strength not to reach across that desk and slap him. I kept my mouth shut (one of the rare times) but I so wanted to tell him what a judge has for education and what kind of knowledge base he would have because of his years and years of studying and work. That elder had no business making fun of someone who could run rings around him as far as knowledge of the law goes.

Many times I have heard JWs poke fun at people who are educated and professional. Or better dressed than they are, or just not like them. If a person isn't a JW - they automatically belong to the scorn class.

The scorn of the elite. The arrogance of the elite. I have seen, heard and felt it many times. It isn't pretty.

31

Lunch today with.. JW step father....

by raven in

it has been a while since i've posted, i think its because i have finally gotten some peace and quiet as far as harassment from the jw elders.. my step father, the one who reported me to the elder police for a sinful act invited me to lunch today.. it has been almost a year since the incident, we have talked here and there, it has been just casual though.

he says he is in town for work and asked if i would like to meet up for lunch, i couldn't think of any excuses so i agreed.. i hope it goes well, hope that we don't go into the jw nonsense.

hope he doesn't bring elders with him, am i paranoid or what?

OrphanCrow

raven: I am sure you have had encounters with JW's since leaving.. How do you handle it?

Well. That depends.

It depends on my mood, who the JWs are, how old they are, if they have kids with them, if I am related to them, if it is raining, or if it is snowing. Or if I need new material for an art project. Lol!

I am afraid that my responses to the JWs have varied from inviting them in for a chat and tea to screaming like a banshee at them. I think I have responded in almost every way possible - except physical altercation. I have never punched them

It just depends :)

I was rather proud of myself once. I had a woman from my childhood congregation call on me and I told her that when I had left the JWs at 13 years of age, that I pretty much knew as much about the Bible as she did right now. And she agreed with me.

Then I said, "Well, after I left, I didn't stop studying the Bible. I read it for myself and I studied it from more than one church's perspective. And, when I went to university I studied it as well. From Jewish scholars. So, I am not going to engage in a Bible discussion with you because I like you and doing so would put you at a severe disadvantage. If you can ever come here and leave your Bible in the car, I would be happy to make a pot of tea and chat about how our lives have been - talk about our kids and stuff. But, you can't do that, can you?" She admitted that she couldn't do that and she left. But, every time we ran into each other around town, we would smile and say hello.

How will I handle it next time? I have no clue. It will depend on the weather and if I am in a good mood or not.