Posts by cyber-sista

45

A Very Sad Shell-Shocking Day

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

why is it our lot as former members of the watchtower organization to suffer so much emotional pain?

just when we think we have reached some level of putting it all behind us, something new pops up to bite us hard.

a couple that i have been very close to just sent me a very sad e-mail.

cyber-sista

Sadly, they make some fair comment about the behavior of many ex-JWs. Although, they also misrepresented my positions to my own face. They know better than that, because I have never turned away from Jehovah, Jesus, or the Christian faith. I simply do not accept the twisted version of who Jehovah is that is promoted by the Watchtower. Nonetheless, the behavior and words of many ex-JWs and a number of ex-JW web sites had a share in causing them to return to the Watchtower Society.

Amazing...It is hard to imagine anyone returning to the Org after coming out of it. I have learned that the WT and other cult like religions can be likened to an addiction. Sometimes we may get away from it, but the addiction is still there. Some replace it with another addiction or like an alcoholic who truly never recovers may at times find the desire for alcohol so strong that he goes back to drinking. If we have a loved one who is an alcoholic there is nobody to blame for it when they go back to their drinking.
I think that the majority of people who have been involved with the WT can easily recognize when there are things said about Jws that are not true. Sad to say the religion is bizarre and twisted enough that many bizarre and twisted things have happened to so many of us that we do become broken in many ways. Many of us end up angry and grieving in many ways and need a place to go and vent out our true thoughts and emotions--this is something the WT never allowed us to do. There is far more good done by this than harm. If someone returns to the WT, because they say they don't like what the X-JWs are doing, they aren't recognizing that there are people out there who still hurting and processing through their WT experience. The way I see it is if someone makes this an excuse for their returning to the WT it is like an alcoholic blamimg someone for their return to being an alcoholic.
I am sorry though that you are sad over your friends. There is a good chance they could leave again. They know much now and the bells will be going off for them at the first sign that something is wrong in the Org and I'll bet it won't be too long before that happens.
The best to you,
cybs

41

A Letter from A Witness

by cruzanheart in

jw
friends

one of my witness friends in england told a friend of hers out in service about how i'm not going to meetings anymore, what a shame, etc., etc., so this well-meaning little person decided she wanted to write me a letter.

i asked why, and she told me the story of this young man.

remember how i was able to leave the matter of my husband?s relationship with jehovah in his hands?

cyber-sista

Cruzin...Wow...I was moved by your story. I too have read bits and pieces of it over the months, but you put it the story together well in this letter. Open and honest without personally attacking the woman who wrote it--good job. I am going to save this one for reference if you don't mind. I am trying to find a voice to express some of my story when the time comes. Thank you...

Love, cybs

59

How Many Here Left The Organization? How Many Got Kicked Out??

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.....

cyber-sista

I left..

I was sick of heart and tired of the hate and prejudice towards any and all things not JW. Wanted the freedom to show love and compassion to others who were not JW.

24

Apostates are to be warned "Twice" BEFORE being DFed.

by gumby in

most who have been disfellowshipped or dissassociated from the jehovahs witnesses for apostasy, have never been given 2 chances if they have been found guilty of promoting 'ideas', that go contrary to the organisations beliefs, and rarely do two witnesses testify against you.

especially if they have encouraged others to accept what they are saying is true that goes contrary to the organisation are they dealt with in a fast manner.. .

however....did you know that all those who have been found guilty of telling others information concerning the organisation that is faulty are to be given at least two warning before they are to disfellowship you?.

cyber-sista

From my experiece I see that the elders just do whatever they want. One of them told me about a situation that I was close to and the situation was that they had prayed as a body of elders and came to a conclusion about what was in my daughter's heart and judged her by that (by the way she had committed no sin) When I questioned this one of the elders said that they could do this because they were judges for Jehovah and his holy spirit had directed them in this matter. Later read in the shepharding book something along these lines, so I could see where he could have got that idea. So if they are judges for Jehovah and they can judge people's hearts without even talking to them--they can do anything they darn well please without any prior warning. I think that once you are suspected of being an apostate they will drop the axe on you---no questions asked.

PS--good info gumby--I am saving this in case I ever need it.

18

Wanted to introduce myself.

by mysterio91 in

i've been reading many threads here in the past few days.

feels good to know other people think like me.

i'll give you a little background on me.

cyber-sista

Welcome Mysterio,

Sorry about your Dad. What you said to him at the end was enough to comfort him --that was good. Don't worry about the words or whether the words of the WT are true or false on that one--paradise can mean many things and is universally meant to be a place of comfort and peace. It was your comforting thought that allowed him to let go.

About the WT--there is a ton of information on this site and many links to an almost overwhelming amount of information. All I can say is that this information is what the WT does not want you to know. This is why they are so paranoid about the internet--this is where they are being exposed big time. I was a member for 20 years of my adult life. I left because of the ever changing WT policy, the hypocrisy and the cruelty that was displayed towards myself and others especially by those "taking the lead". I found out more later--some of which shocked me to the core..There are thousands of people leaving the Organization each each and many like my self are leaving not because we are all bent on living an evil immoral deviant life style (what the WT says will happen to you after you leave). I live a better life now than I did then where I have the freedom to show true compassion and love towards humankind. The best to you on your journey through all of this. Looking forward to hearing more from you. There is lots of good support on this site.

Take care,

Love, cybs

35

stuck in!

by red so deep in

well, this is my first post here, and i'm kind of doing it in secret, cause i know if my parents knew of my "poisoning myself with apostates" they would not be happy at all.

anyways, my story is; i'm 17, i've been brought up "in the truth" my whole life, and now i'm starting to question the wt and christianity in general, and i have nobody to talk to about it.

i feel awkward about talking to my witness friends about it, cause i worry that if i speak out against the organazition and the wrong people (i.e; young ones around here that would never think of questioning the society) hear about it, it might result in my punishment (reproof or dfing).

cyber-sista

Welcome Andrew,

What the WT Org doesn't want you to know is that there are thousands of JWs leaving every year (thus all their paranoia propaganda about the internet). No, we aren't all leaving because we desire to live an evil life of greed and debauchery. I was in for 20 years of my adult life. I never commited a WT sin. I left because I loved my family (long story much of it told over the months in my back posts). I left after what happened to me and the abuse I saw that happened to others in the Organization. I also saw WT policy changing and started to study the history of the Organization at first using only the WT CD. Now my conscience no longer allows me now to be one of JWs despite the consequences. This will be your journey and your choice Andrew--you are the one in control of your life. We are only here with our own personal stories and to offer each other support and a listening ear.

The best to you,

cybs

23

Do they expect everyone to have a MONEY TREE???

by recoveringjw in

jw
friends

ooh!

i am so mad, i don't even know if i am posting under the right subject!.

my parents (still thick as thieves with the jw's--dad's an elder) were asked to move to myrtle point, or last year because their congregation was not doing so well and they needed some help.

cyber-sista

recovering...I can see how this is most frustrating for you. I have seen many witnesses struggling with the finance thing for years. Keep your eye simple--don't have a career, don't get educated--but give give give to the Organization and work for them for free--this thinking dooms many to a life of financial burden. .. I am sad too about your Dad thinking about giving up his guitar. It is probably one of his only real outlets. if you can buy it from him only with the agreement that he keeps it as a gift from you then do it would be a nice gesture. Of course that is only the tip of the problem. I hate what this Org does to people's lives. Like my shrink says when I try to explain the things that happen int the Org "this is crazy making stuff." Wish I had some good answers for you, but I am still trying to figure it out myself. I hear you though and feel your frustration too.

Love cybs

30

6 pubs reveal one of the possible reasons for WTS association with UN

by Pole in

most of us are familiar with the requirement which says that in order to asscociate with the un, ngos must: -"have a demonstrated interest in united nations issues and proven ability to reach large or specialized audiences, such as educators, media representatives, policy makers and the business community;".

"have the commitment and means to conduct effective information programmes about un activities by publishing newsletters, bulletins, and pamphlets; organizing conferences, seminars and round tables; and enlisting the cooperation of the media".

interestingly, according to this document:.

cyber-sista

This is great info. The WT articles on the UN written during the 90s were cleverly written as to appear as just informative news articles so this change wouldn't be picked up by the average JW. It appears that the UN bashing became less in the 90s. I imagine this was a manipulative move in order for them to get closer to the UN. I can only guess this was some sort of a financial move for the WT. The plot thickens...

26

No judicial action, even with 2+ witnesses

by cyberguy in

this is a paragraph from

http://www.watchtower.org/library/w/1995/11/1a/article_01.htm

if the accusation is denied, the elders should explain to the accuser that nothing more can be done in a judicial way.

cyber-sista

The WTS who has no skilled psychiatrists, psychologist, or doctors in this field but of course has an opinionn; they will also discourage victims from going to anyone qualified. The elders are definitely not qualified to make this assessment of someone's memories.

I have seen over the years uneducated, uninformed,ignorant men (AKA elders) give terrrible advice to those under mental distress.

I have also seen the elders and the society out and out lie. Another incident that slapped me out of my WT state of denial there at the end was a case involving child molesting. This is what I was told by a sister who I know very well.: She and some of the other sisters noticed that one young boy in their congo was displaying sexual diviant behaviour when playing with their children. the mother of the boy had recently broken up with her husband who was from a very prominent JW family in their area. The wife accused then accused the husband of molesting their son. It was a complex story, but the upshot of it was the elders told the sisters that it was against the law in their state for a minister to report a case of child molesting. It was against the law for a minister in their state to report a case of child molesting. When the sister told me this I actually had her repeat it to me and she herself admitted that it was a funny sounding law. Of course then since all JWs are ministers none of them could report it. The elders told them they had talked to the society and they were handling it and not to talk about it. I immediately went online and did some investigation into the laws in that state and no such law exists, which I knew. I then wrote the sister back and asked about it again without giving her any of the information I knew and exactly what the elders had said to her. She had been confiding in me about it, but never wrote me back. I sent her another email and she never responded to me about the incident again. After that I looked up some news articles and found silent lambs and the American family foundation. Like Danny Hazard has said before--to finally wake up from the WT is a surreal horror. To know that I was a played a part in promoting an Organization that is operating in this manner is not something I will ever be proud of. I guess we can at least be proud of the fact that we had the guts to leave despite the consequences.

12

IMPORTANT - document to download regarding UN situation

by El blanko in

(probably should have posted here rather than 'friends')

a good friend of mine has spent a considerable amount of time building an air-tight case against the societies handling of the united nations issue and has uploaded the information to share.

the document is just under 1 megabyte in size and suitable for print in microsoft word.. i suggest anybody with even a passing interest in this issue, downloads the file now.

cyber-sista

I am marking this one to come back to later. Sounds like great info, but I am virus paranoid so I will come back to it and download first to disc. Great that someone is gathering all this info together--the average JW doens't have a clue to what this is all about--sad to say some are in such deep denial they don't even want to see it even if they know in their heart it's true.