Posts by TallTexan

28

What sister elder said at the book study..........ARRRGH

by Pistoff in

hello all; my jaw dropped monday at the bookstudy.at the book study on monday, the only meeting i can stomach anymore, a statement was made that made my blood boil.

in asking the question "how does god protect us?

" sister elder answered this way: "well, one of the ways is like that abuse case that was filed in the (twin) cities, or wherever, (sic) it turns out it was thrown out because all the charges were false, or whatever.

TallTexan

That is so stupid. I guess the 14 bros and sis's that died that day didn't have enough faith or something. What about the people who were hungover and called in sick that day? Was god protecting them too? Or all the guys who were at hotels having affairs w/ their secretaries? Sounds more like a coincidence to me.

Have you ever noticed though, that the brother's are so reticent about correcting people from the stage? Unless, of course, it's someone they don't like and then they make these little smug "We all know that was dumb" faces? Gee, I REALLY miss the meetings....

28

What sister elder said at the book study..........ARRRGH

by Pistoff in

hello all; my jaw dropped monday at the bookstudy.at the book study on monday, the only meeting i can stomach anymore, a statement was made that made my blood boil.

in asking the question "how does god protect us?

" sister elder answered this way: "well, one of the ways is like that abuse case that was filed in the (twin) cities, or wherever, (sic) it turns out it was thrown out because all the charges were false, or whatever.

TallTexan

Unfortunately, that doesn't surprise me one bit. I remember being like that. Everything negative about JW's was a lie on the part of the media that 'Satan was using to attack God's true people'. I remember when the Dateline article ran, and even though I had been inactive for a number of years, I still didn't believe it. (Although, in all fairness, Dateline does NOT have a reputation for professional, unbiased journalism. They tend to sensationalize everything!) I never even bothered to check it out, just assuming that it was either a fabrication by a pi**ed off ex-elder or simply the sensationalization of a case or two, thinking, 'well, that happens in all religions'. However, if this were truly the 'one' organization, that type of thing would not happen nor be tolerated. I've since opened my eyes to see what is really going on in the world. I think the big problem with those still deep in the 'truth' is that they are afraid to look because they are afraid of what they will find. You know they are not taught to think and analyze things critically, and being confronted with actual facts and data would totally blow their 'fragile little minds', to quote Cartman...lol.

58

bank/credit-card accespoint in JW-convensionhall

by Ozner in

the 2 jw convension-halls in the netherlands have now a bank/credit-card accespoint to give contribution to the wts with your bank or creditcards.

do you know this happens in other country's?

it is really strange to see that brs&srs are giving donations with their visa & mastercards.

TallTexan

Or how about a commercial:

New suit - $200

Gas - $50

Hotel room for three nights (at the Society's discount rate) - $150

Meals for three nights and bag lunches for three days - $200

New release containing 'new light' - $10

Achieving eternal salvation by attending the summer convention - Priceless!

The Watchtower Bible & Tract Society Visa card - it's everywhere you want to be.

58

bank/credit-card accespoint in JW-convensionhall

by Ozner in

the 2 jw convension-halls in the netherlands have now a bank/credit-card accespoint to give contribution to the wts with your bank or creditcards.

do you know this happens in other country's?

it is really strange to see that brs&srs are giving donations with their visa & mastercards.

TallTexan

Yeah, the "How to witness with your new WTBS Visa card" will be an assembly part coming to a convention near you. Pretty soon, they'll have to start carrying credit card machines door-to-door to take CC payments that way too.

33

college education=spiritual weakness?

by twvsnt in

hi i'm twvsnt and i've been a witness for 3 years now.

im glad this site exists.

i've been meaning to speak to fellow witnesses who are more open-minded.

TallTexan

I was raised as a witness and NEVER had any encouragement to go to college because "Armageddon's at hand". After I got married I realized that I would have to have some formal education to raise my family appropriately. I opted for a two-year degree in the medical field. I received much the same criticism that you have and was counseled about 'putting Jehovah first'. I told them that would be hard to do if I would have to work 24/7 to pay my bills. I have never regretted once my decision. I went on to get my bachelor's degree and then my Master's in Business and have never looked back. I think a big reason that the elders don't want you to do this (or others in the congregation) is because education is knowledge which = power. They don't want you to be more educated then them, or may feel resentful because THEY have never gone to college. A college education teaches you to think for yourself and they don't want that. Why do they not understand that many times you have to put in more hours at a lower-paying job then if you spent a few years getting an education and could then work a 'normal' work week.

I also agree with the post about being a single mother after a divorce. This happens so much that I always tell ANYONE I know who is female and has the opportunity to get an education!! If I had not, because I was convinced that "Armageddon was near", I would have spent the last 15 years of my life struggling every day to simply make ends meet. Instead, I've had a rewarding career in health care and now health care administration where I help people every day. I never regret going to school. I would have regretted for the rest of my life letting a bunch of self-righteous, controlling, narrow-minded individuals keep me from advancing myself. Not everyone wants to be a window-washer or janitor. That doesn't make you materialistic. Being intelligent and wanting something more is not something to be ridiculed, except by those who will not or cannot think on their own and pursue what they want to do.

I've been out for 10 years, and I won't tell you what to do, but DO NOT put your future on hold. Go to school now while you can, unencumbered by a husband or kids. It gets a whole lot harder then....

21

How do most of you....

by TallTexan in

handle being called on by jw's in service?

do you try to 'show them the light' or just be polite, or even angry?

also, i heard it rumored once that the local cong's kept a file on all 'apostates' in their territory and wouldn't let the publishers call on them for fear of them being 'turned'.

TallTexan

handle being called on by JW's in service? Do you try to 'show them the light' or just be polite, or even angry? Also, I heard it rumored once that the local cong's kept a file on all 'apostates' in their territory and wouldn't let the publishers call on them for fear of them being 'turned'.

7

Before the Donation for Literature Arrangement

by sandy in

back in the day before the donation arrangement for literature did any of you find it difficult to go out in field service?.

i am not trying to embarrass anyone or make anybody feel bad.. i just want to know if having to purchase literature to go out in field service was a financial burden?.

did lack of $ for literature prevent any of you or your friends from participating in field service?.

TallTexan

<shudder> I don't know what was worse...asking for money, or asking for a donation. I hated service anyway - that was just another component as to why I hated it.

I don't remember it being a financial hardship, though. I remember when I was 'old enough' I had to pay for my own literature out of my allowance, which really p**** me off. I grew up in South Texas and quite a few of the publisher's in our hall were low income and I do know that at times it was hard on them.

The Society is pretty smart, though. They knew that by making it a 'donation' system that the publishers would still pay for the literature whether or not they got the $$ for it at the door. It was good business sense and good PR sense, 'cuz they made their money, while knowing that many publishers would not ask for the donation at the door, so it would remove the image that they were 'selling' literature.

29

Thanks to everyone (and let me introduce myself)....

by TallTexan in

randy was kind enough to recently post my story on his website (www.exjws.net/pioneers/rjjw.htm) the response i received was overwhelming, with many invitations to join this discussion forum.

i won't go into my story, as it is posted and, as long as it is, is really only the tip of the iceberg.

the more i read and the more i talk to former jw's, the more i'm convinced that i have been duped..something i never thought would happen to me, as cynical as i am.

TallTexan

"Great crowd of apostates"??? That may be one of the funniest things I've seen since the cartoons on Randy's site....

29

Thanks to everyone (and let me introduce myself)....

by TallTexan in

randy was kind enough to recently post my story on his website (www.exjws.net/pioneers/rjjw.htm) the response i received was overwhelming, with many invitations to join this discussion forum.

i won't go into my story, as it is posted and, as long as it is, is really only the tip of the iceberg.

the more i read and the more i talk to former jw's, the more i'm convinced that i have been duped..something i never thought would happen to me, as cynical as i am.

TallTexan

Randy was kind enough to recently post my story on his website (www.exjws.net/pioneers/RJJW.htm) The response I received was overwhelming, with many invitations to join this discussion forum. So here I am. I won't go into my story, as it is posted and, as long as it is, is really only the tip of the iceberg. The more I read and the more I talk to former JW's, the more I'm convinced that I have been duped..something I never thought would happen to me, as cynical as I am. I spent 25 years as an active JW ( I was born into it in 1969), and the last ten as inactive, and it looks like I will spend the rest of my life as one of the 'lowest of the low', an apostate...lol. Anyway, thanks to all of you that have given me words of encouragement, and please, keep in touch as I continue my enlightening, fact-finding mission.

12

George Dubya's Resume

by Michael3000 in

jw
friends

he'll need this, come november... .

george w. bush .

1600 pennsylvania avenue .

TallTexan

Weren't many of 'his' economic problems actually created during the Clinton administration? He just happened to be in office when the house of cards called the ' 90's stock market' fell down. Just a thought....