thewiz,
Typical Bethel attitude toward women in the WT Org.
Edited by - ARoarer on 20 December 2002 16:59:50
Edited by - ARoarer on 20 December 2002 17:5:13
ARoarer
JoinedPosts by ARoarer
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87
Silent Lambs/Bill Bowen..Who rejoices now?
by wasasister inhaving read the exchanges between rev, bill bowen, and others involved in the silent lambs website, i honestly feel sickened.
i remember when i first started to hear rumblings that "something big" was going down regarding the society's handling of child abuse.
i was overjoyed because i had first-hand knowledge of several atrocities in this regard and was hoping against all odds that a major upset would force them to change their policies.
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87
Silent Lambs/Bill Bowen..Who rejoices now?
by wasasister inhaving read the exchanges between rev, bill bowen, and others involved in the silent lambs website, i honestly feel sickened.
i remember when i first started to hear rumblings that "something big" was going down regarding the society's handling of child abuse.
i was overjoyed because i had first-hand knowledge of several atrocities in this regard and was hoping against all odds that a major upset would force them to change their policies.
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ARoarer
Wasasister, don't be discouraged. I think what Hawk said is true. When I came forward over the issues of abuse covered up by WT, I never did so believing they would be good enough and change their arrogant attituted, and their 2 witness policies. I came foreword because I wanted to encourage others to do the same and break free from WT terrorism towards victims. I spoke out because the pedophiles in the organization thought they had the power to impose silence. I spoke out because I wanted WT to know they can't impose silence on vicitms of abuse. I spoke out for me and my family. The media attention, and Bill's support were an added blessing for his outspokeness. His effort and drive did what many of us were not able to do on our own, in that not only was WT put on notice by victims, but that victims were willing and able to inform the public through the media what WT wanted hidden. I feel that we have succeeded beyond what I ever dreamed of in the 80's. The public is no longer as ill informed about Jehovah's Witnesses. And Watchtower no loger is as able to impose silence among victims by telling them "they are the only ones". Yes there has been bickering and dissention between Bill and others, and I am sure the WT cult will try to explain it by saying they don't have Jehovah's backing. But that is rediculous and typical WT doublespeak. All newly forming groups, companies, organizations, families, marriages, and alliances ultimately go through periods of adjustments though trial and error. That is normal human nature. Silentlambs is no different. And mistakes and poor judgement will be made. But people learn, and perfect, and iron out the kinks. JW's with thier "we are the center of the universe" attitude will undoubtadly think the way they will think anytime there is a problem. And sometimes coming out of WT we tend to carry over the same belief that everyone is watching every little move we make. Well Hawk is right, outside this board no one knows or cares. I know this because when I stay away from here I lose touch with what is going on. And that is a good thing. I am living my life apart from WT, and everything that goes along with it. So don't worry so much. Take the bad with the good and look at all the good that came from all of this. But if you are sitting around believing more has to happen so WT changes it's policies, you will be waiting with all he JW's sitting around waiting for the New System. I son't believe a leopard can change it's spots. WT is just an arrogant, greedy, uncaring money making corporation totally detached from the needs of it's members.
Edited by - ARoarer on 20 December 2002 16:1:54
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JW's a FRUSTRATED people?
by Smiles inwe know that the wt portrays the jw's as a "happy" people.
the wt would have the world believe that the wt organization as a whole is a "happy" organization.
yet somehow they still believe that jw's are a "happy" people.
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ARoarer
When we were active JW's all those years, my husband had life threatening high blood pressure, I had anxiety, and panic attacks, sleepless nights, and depression, my youngest chlldren had stomach aches in school, and especially during the holidays, hives, and headaches, and depression from not being allowed to participate in sports, sleep disorders, asthma, etc. Since we left my husbands blood pressure is lower than average, and my children are happy, playing sports, going to college, celebrating holidays, and no longer feeling guilt ridden over wanting to do normal things.
Skeptic, you may not feel these things because you are making choices for yourself and your happiness at the cost of livng a double life in the WT. So why would you feel frustrated? But the average JW, is frustrated, guilt ridden, fearful of elders "coming after them" and basically living a frustrating lifestyle living their entire lives waiting NOT TO DIE. For me and my family the truth about the "TRUTH" has set us free from WT burdons and lies.
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Population of Deaf JWs
by Yizuman inanyone have any idea what the exact numbers there are with deaf jws?
just curious how many there worldwide?.
anyone still on the inside able to get that information?.
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ARoarer
Before I left the WTS, I was very involved with the Deaf. We had a Deaf Bookstudy in our home, and also ASL classes were taught to those interested in the congregations in our circuit. The lady giving the instruction was very well known and dedicated to the Deaf. We often had Bethelites come and give lessons. I used to feel sorry for the familes who were divided between hearing and ASL assemblies.
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My Son
by Windchaser ini have three living children.
one i gave up for adoption, so i never hear from him.
my only daughter doesn't speak to me because she hated being a jw and hated me for forcing it on her.
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ARoarer
Windy,
Don't be so hard on yourself that you believe you are a rotten mother. You touched my deepest part of my heart when you mentioned that you gave your son up for adoption. That is a pain within you that has made you feel unworthy of ever being a good mother. Windy, it must have been so terribly traumatic to have been forced to give up your child for adoption. I well know the pain. When I was 17 I became pregnant and my parents put me in a home for unwed mothers. It was run by Catholic Charities, and the nuns. In those days, during the 60's it was a shameful thing to become pregnant and so many teen girls were placed in these homes to give birth in secret and give up their babies for adoption, and the records were sealed. I ached for the baby my parents and the nuns forced me to relinquish to the nuns, and in those days we did what adults in authority told us to do. After my son was born, I went against the nuns and held him for all of his feedings. I bonded to him before they took him from me. I look back on it and believe my anger and pain towards my mother and the Catholic Church was the reason I fell prey to the JW's. To make a long story short, I and my son evetually re-united. I searched for him wit the help and support of my husband, and my son, now in his 30's has been in our lives with our other children since his 20's. He is now married and has had his first baby with his woderful wife. When I learned to acknowledge the pain of the loss of him, is when I felt the guilt and shame of the long kept secret belief that I was a bad mother. I was made to believe I was bad by the nuns, and then later by the WTS. But I know now that this was something they instilled in me to believe about myself. It stayed with me as I raised my other children and no matter how hard I tried to be the perfect JW, and perfect mom, I never believed that I was. Leaving the Organization and dealing with the issues of Watchtower hiding and protecting sexual predators, changed my belief in myself as a mother. I now have come to see that the badness was not me but those whom I had put my trust. Windy, embrace the feelings you buried long ago when you gave up your son, and give that pain a voice, and don't blame yourself. Your adult children need you to be thier mother now just as much as when they were young.
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What to say to the elders
by freedom96 inso the elders come a knockin.
they ask "the question": so, do you consider yourself a jehovah's witness?.
what is the correct answer so they don't da or df you?.
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ARoarer
Freedom96,
JT is right in everything he has advised you. We went throuth this with the "Mo Larry & Cruly Judicial Committee wanting to meet with us after not appearing at the meetings for several years. In our case we were being interviewed by the media and Dateline, and Headquarters wanted us out fast before the show aired. They made the phone call with the same bullshit you speak of. One elder lurking on the other end. We told them that we had nothing to say that, we have done nothing unscriptural and that we wanted to be "quietly left alone", even though this was not a DA'ing. Of course we knew their whole game plan and expected all there tactics, so we decided to "play" with them and not make it easy. Since we were already in the public eye and we had already gone through a court proceeding over abuse issues, we had our lawyers send them a letter. Of course we already knew there legal rights that they hide behind. The Society uses these rights., however we wanted to give the local body as much inconvenience as possible. This dragged on for months and the local body could not do anything without dealing with our lawyers and the Legal and Service Depts. They probably had to come out many nights and put on their monkey suits only to be frustrated by not having the pleasure to ambush us at the JC Meetings. I remember their faces as we allowed them to set up a date for a JC meeting through our lawyers, expecting that we would sit down with them at the KH to meet with them. Jeesh, we delivered more legal words in letter form and walked out leaving a whole body of turkeys in thier monkey suits sitting in a circle in the library. I can only imagine how they were looking forward to pouncing on us even though their letters to our lawyer said even though we were being brought up on charges of apostasy, they wanted to "help" us. Our letter explained they had no authority over us since we had left years ago. Eventually we were df'd as we knew we would be, but we took advantage of the media attention and had them frustrated dodging reporters. It was satisfying to show them that we were not fearful of any of their rediculous rules. As for your young child, trust me, over time, the witlesses won't be able to have a hold if you are the example of what is normal, in critical thinking, enjoying all people without the intolerance of the JW doctrine. School will reinforce that attitude. Human kindness towards all even when they don't believe as we do. Kids understand that in this generation. Good luck with your decision to distance yourself from such a destructive, dishonest cult.
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Please pray for my dad
by Dogpatch infor those of you inclined to prayer, i request it in behalf of my dad.
he is in the hospital for a blood clot in his leg, which is potentially quite dangerous.
he cannot move until it is dissolved, if that happens.
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ARoarer
(((((((((((((Randy & Dad))))))))))))))
Prayers sent your way, and I hope your dad will be out of the hospital soon to make a full recovery.
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Are JW lawyers crooked?
by Jerry Bergman ini have heard much about crooked watchtower lawyers on this site and wondered if anyone had anything to back this up?
i have my own experience (extremely bad) and was wondering about others.
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ARoarer
Jerry,
Are JW lawyers crooked? I think that is putting it mildly. They are corrupt, and will do anything they have to to protect Watchtower, even if it goes against Watchtower's own religious doctrines that the R&F are expected to obey. They are evil corrupt lying wolves in thier elder sheep clothing. I happen to know they publicly slandered victims of sexual abuse to the news media. They directed elders to lie in the courtroom, they are without a Christian conscience when they face victims in the courtroom. I also heard that they file "friend of the court" briefs in behalf of other churches when it comes to legal battles in the courts. The WTS tells it's youth not to pursue a college education, yet it sends these guys to college to become lawyers, to protect their legal interests, and real estate holdings. I have heard of Bethelites send to law school and knew of one in the circuit I was in who was going to law school. I sat in a depostion and watched and heard an elder, a "friend" lie to protect a pedophile, and later tell my husband "don't you see, if I told the truth the elders would be responsible, and then the Society would be responsible. He later again lied in the Courtroom sat with the pedophile's supporters, and continued his dishonesty, later saying he was directed by Brooklyn to lie. There is not on honest one in the bunch. They are directed by the lawyers for WT.
Downunderandout, I have to disagree with you about not all JW lawyers being crooked. Don't believe it. Yes all lawyers lie, But these JW lawyers think they have Divine approval to lie, which makes them even more lethal when they come up against their own members in a courtroom.
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Computer games are from the Devil
by ignored_one insorry guys.
but the old guys in brooklyn have decided that you're spending far too much time enjoying yourself.
see aw 12/22/02 for details.
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ARoarer
The probably own stocks in the game business.
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Convincing Old Friends/Love
by metatron insome of you may wonder how to get your old witness.
friends thinking about how the organization has gone astray.. love might be a beginning.. jesus said "by this all will know that you are my disciples,.
if you have love among yourselves.
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ARoarer
Metatron, I don't think any JW can be convinced that thier Organization is going astray. The Society covers all the bases to keep them brainwashed. They would give you an answer. Why? because they have the answer for everything. The Society, being well aware of this problem has already cooked up an explanation. They will just say this is a fulfillment of prophecy because "the love of the greater number will cool off". When I used to pioneer and get annoyed at the lack of love within the congregation the other more "mature" pioneers would explain it away with that scripture. You can't win when they are programmed to "stop think" with what the FDS feeds them.