Have you ever had a dog that was dumber than a box of rocks? I have; his name was Dave Matthews. We loved him anyway. Maybe Stanley is smarter than he lets on, but I still have my doubts about Dave.
Sail Away
JoinedPosts by Sail Away
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21
For Dog Lovers-- Meet Stanley!
by Sail Away inhave you ever had a dog that was dumber than a box of rocks?
i have; his name was dave matthews.
we loved him anyway.
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Non-JW music teacher talks about JW.org
by Watchtower-Free inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzgd8oa2re .
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Sail Away
Simon, I too am so sorry to hear that your deluded parents allowed that wonderful opportunity to be taken away from you. It breaks my heart. I want to thank you for providing the discussion forum to explore our thoughts and feelings about our own experience as Jehovah’s Witnesses. I find that I am rather torn about the subject.
On one hand, I think all teachers are entrusted to be compassionate, approachable role models who can also challenge and inspire our children in the classroom setting. My daughter is a teacher, and I admire her more than I can say. On the other hand, I do believe that parents have the right to raise their children as they see fit.
In retrospect, I would like to retract my statement that this teacher crossed the line in trying to “de-convert” his student. Actually, I think he acted in a responsible manner by approaching the parents for a Bible Study. He was up front in his approach. I do still have misgivings about a teacher taking a student aside privately to attempt to “de-convert” a student. Teachers are not cult experts of any kind, and they will never have the full story about what goes on behind closed doors. Because of that a teacher may not be aware of the full impact of his actions in a given situation.
My initial response was coming from the place that his man, even though he thought himself a friend, likely knew little of the student’s reality (his “norm”) at home. For me, as a teen in an abusive family, it would have been a blessing if my parents had been reported to Child Protective Services. Children from abusive homes are taught not to tell, so that didn’t happen. When my parents took away my prospects of going to a High School for the Arts, it wasn’t because they were JWs. It was because they were just not functioning at a level to support any of their five children in that manner.
As teen I personally adopted the JW family model as a norm that looked better to me than my experience and gave me hope that I could one day have a happy family life of my own. Yes, it’s a cult. I know that now, but I chose cult over crazy. I chose it for structure, and it served me well at the time. Let’s just say that, in my opinion, not one of the seven siblings in my blended family faired as well. There is the perfect storm of mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction and domestic violence in my family that is being carried on to the next generation to this day. I was able to put an end to that in my own family, and we are all out of the cult. It was a painful path, but it was mine to choose.
Who knows how things would have played out if a teacher had tried to extricate me from the cult. I like to think that I would not have turned down the scholarships I was offered, and I would have gone on to college and explored my many interests and talents, but realistically, that is not what happened in my family of origin. I guess I’m saying life is not black and white, and each situation is different, so I guess the only thing we can really do is use our best judgement, act out of kindness and tread lightly. I think this teacher did that, and is now doing all he can to educate the public and protect other families. He seems like a good man who is doing a valuable service by shedding light on damage done by the teachings of fundamentalist religions in general, not just JWs. All religions that teach that we as individuals are nothing and only live to serve god destroy human potential.
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Non-JW music teacher talks about JW.org
by Watchtower-Free inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnzgd8oa2re .
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Sail Away
I know from experience growing up in an abusive family that a teacher who reaches out to an isolated, troubled teen literally saves lives. I went to 5 different high schools and can remember the Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, English and French teachers by name who helped me see that there was something "normal" beyond my experience of "normal" at home and at the Kingdom Hall. None of these beautiful people hurt me or behaved inappropriately in any way. Kids need good, aproachable role models. That said, not one of them ever tried to de-convert me. That crosses a line that shouldn't be crossed.
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The last video in the 2016 convention...
by problemaddict 2 in...is an epic triumph is emotional manipulation.
bringing together all of the stories they told thus far and placing them int he "new world" complete with the little boy who was killed in a car accident coming back from the dead.. i have a good friend who is stuck in with family and plays the role.
he said everyone was crying, and the people next to him rated the videos by how many tissues they needed to dry their eyes.
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Sail Away
Misogynistic cult! So the wifey gets to stand by with great admiration as hubby pounds one nail into their new home. It will take a thousand years at that rate! Why can't she pound nails, not submissive enough? Then a beautiful young woman admires a handsome, talented violin player. Apparently, that's all woman are good for-- admiring their men. Ugh! Nice to see so many fit JWs! Must be The Grapefruit Diet. Oh, and what's with the beard?
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Old Relative Not Happy About Push To Use Ipads Etc
by disillusioned 2 ini was in a close relatives house yesterday and she was having angry and resentful at the push to use electronic devices at the meetings.
she was talking to another relative of mine who has just got an ipad to use.
this relative of mine is very elderly and obviously prefers to use her bible and other books.
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Sail Away
My 90-year-old JW in-laws have long held that computers and TVs are Satan's tools. They have neither in their home. My FIL was an elder for over 50 years. His "privileges" were gradually taken away because the younger elders couldn't reach him by cell phone or email. My FIL was tremendously saddened by this, and he still refuses to get these devices, stating they are not for them, but for the young.
Funny thing-- we hear the elders are trying to set up a shepherding call to share a video about not being prideful and stubborn and accepting help in your old age. Don't think that's going to fly! So far they have not invited the elders in when they show up. They just say it's not a good time.
My husband has spoken to his dad several times recently and believes he is fully competent and of sound mind despite the money-grubbing elders' claims to the contrary.
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I'm getting disfellowshipped
by raven inhi everyone, a bit of an update here on my continuing disaster of a situation.. (refer to my previous posts for the full story) my mom met with me yesterday for dinner, it was nice.. however, she brought up the fact that because i live with my boyfriend and how everything has gone down, i will be disfellowshipped.. i think the elders basically have enough proof of this.. due to the anonymous tipper (still have no clue who it was, i live in another town 100's of miles away from my old congregation territory), and my mom telling them.
i'm not sure when they will announce it, or if they will contact me prior.. at this point i feel so emotionally dead i don't care- on the other hand, i don't want to be disfellowshipped because i do not want to loose a relationship with my mom.
that is the whole reason i tried fading out.. .
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Sail Away
And you never know; this may be the thing that causes your mom and family to re-think the shunning policy and all things borg. Let's hope. --DJS
My son's getting disfellowshipped was my tipping point. I had long-standing doctrinal issues, but that was the last straw. There was no way I was going to shun my son. I was in for 42 years and had raised my kids as JWs. Shunning can wake people out of the JW trance. I do so hope that happens for you, Raven.
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Died Due To Refusing Blood Transfusion
by rrb2016 inwell, last monday my mother, a jehovah's witness since her baptism in 1968 died last week because she would not accept a blood transfusion.
she was 76 and had lung and skin cancer.
i know that the cancer would have gotten her anyway, but she was bleeding internally, and was told that she needs a blood transfusion, as her blood count went all the way down to 3.2 (should be 12-14.
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Sail Away
I am so sorry. May you know peace. -
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"The Bunker" WT Conventions 2016 (Gag Me)
by Poztate inin the very near future the gang will be down in a bunker,cellar awaiting the police,military to break in and take them away to camps or executions .
(paranoid much) this is the foretold "prophecy" of the governments turning on religion and saving them for last.since the couple portrayed as simplifying their life by getting rid of a lot of material things is shown to be (about) the same age in the bunker we know it must be any minute now that it will happen.
i have been out for over 35 years and things seem to be getting more bizarre each year.. when did this doctrine really become main stream?
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Sail Away
Poztate
Absolutely, I was 10 in 1968. There were the Babylon The Great and Finished Mystery book studies, threats of persecution, rape and mayhem in Nazi concentration camps and later in Malawi, not to mention the whole 'Stay Alive 'til 75' craze. I had horrific nightmares into my mid-thirties and now have PTSD.
I recall in the late 1960's early 70's there was almost an obsession about torture, persecution and what that might involve. It seemed to be a morbid fascination at the time
This IS outright child abuse, and my heart breaks for the children still in. The bunker mentality is deeply disturbing.Diane
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Someone anonymously tipped the elders?
by raven inso here an update on my current situation, in a nutshell i've been trying to quietly fade for the past 5 months.. well, my mom somehow found out that i am currently fading and that i live with my boyfriend (for more info on this check my previous posts) i told her yes i live with him and yes i no longer want to be a jw.
anyways, yesterday she met my boyfriend.. awkward.
and after lunch she pulled me aside to tell me that the po came up to her (he was part of my jc when i was reproved) he said to her "someone came to me and said - i cannot say who so they will remain anonymous- but that your daughter is living with someone" my mom confirmed and apparently he told her that i have one week to confess this, and if i don't my parents are obligated to tell them everything.. what kind of nonsense is that?
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Sail Away
I am one of those who sent a letter through my attorney threatening legal action if they announced my name from the platform. As a matter of conscience, I wanted no further connection with the organizaton. I had been out for over four years by then though. Also, they had no information about my personal life or beliefs other than the fact that I was unwilling to shun my son and wasn't going to be a hypocrite and pretend I was. If they wanted to believe I was depressed or stumbled, I didn't argue. I ignored all forms of contact from all JWs except two doorstep "shepherding calls" in two years. I was pleasent, but didn't let them in and gave them nothing actionable. You don't owe them anything. Using your own mom against you is dispicable.
I still have occaisional contact with rank and file members I may see in town. They don't shun me, so I'm guessing my letter worked. I seem to be on the "do not call" list though, because they do skip my house when they are working my street.
Don't give them any information to use against you. As others have said, they may not even have their "two witnesses".
Wishing you all the best,
Diane
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Who is your " I am" that your voice should be heard?
by The Rebel ini was recently thinking before i became " mike" i was an innocent baby, then as the days passed slowly by, i developed a sence of " iam".
as the days moved forward my body, slowly developed a a "sex organ" whilst my mind took on a sence of " emotional" and " intellectual" i am" .
this allowed me to become my current " i am?.
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Sail Away
The Rebel, I'm totally with you with regard to a total aversion to all things religious. A good Buddhist teacher will tell you to only believe that which you have experienced personally. Don't beleive anything anyone else says is true. That feels like a safe approach to any spiritual leanings we may have.
I like your version of The Four Noble Truths. I read a book entitled, The Four Agreements years ago. It's not Buddhist Psychology specifically, but dovetails with it well. One of the "Agreements" is: "Don't take anything personally." It's easier to do without a rigid, fixed sense of self. The book may be of interest to you.
Diane
PS for onlookers-- My favorite book on Buddhist Psychology is The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield.