Yes, it's true. We all sacrificed something to be raised JW. Many JW kids are very smart, read well, speak well (for obvious reasons). I received encouragement all the time from teachers to go to college, but I never planned on that. I have since then, and it was the best thing I ever did. Do it now - it's SO hard when you have kids. You become somewhat socially retarded, because you are only around people who are like you, who believe what you do, who are not taught to critically think and problem solve. Many who were raised JW suffer from self-esteem issues because you grow up being ridiculed and being different. I had a good childhood because I had great parents. I can only imagine what it would have been like if we had been 'normal'.
TallTexan
JoinedPosts by TallTexan
-
10
I had an epiphany
by lostlantern ini will start by apologizing for the following rant and i hope i do not bore everyone but this is on my mind.
i had an epiphany.
it may have been a segment on the today show, a short piece about catholics and celibacy that started the thought process.
-
-
-
26
Double life, anyone??
by dinah inhow many of you lead double lives while growing up (especially those who grew up jw)?
in the last few days, it seems that bothers me about my adolescence.
i had to be one person for my mother, while still trying to be myself.
-
-
TallTexan
I can name maybe, MAYBE, a half a dozen JW youths that I knew growing up that weren't leading a double life of some sort - and hundreds that were. We were just kids being kids. Drinking, drugs, sex, rap and heavy metal music, porn, more drinking, stealing, property destruction - I know JW youths who did it all. Many of them would be on circuit or district assembly parts. Most of their fathers were elders. Some went to Bethel, or became pioneers. These were not the 'dregs' of the JW community, but rather the children of the 'spiritually elite'.
-
16
And on the 8th day. God created the Beer Widget
by AlmostAtheist inhave you popped a can of guinness and heard that fwoosh sound?
you have surely waggled the can and heard that little thing knocking about inside?
that little thing is one of the 20th century's greatest contributions to mankind -- the beer widget.
-
-
TallTexan
. But I was actually drinking the far-superior Wexford at the time!
I was just messin' w/ ya. I agree....Wexford is excellent!
One of the ladies I work with is from Canada and she just brought me back a liter of Crown - said it was about ten bucks. And it's what - $50 here! Sweeeet.....
-
23
Watchtower January 15, 2006, Reinstatement
by blindersoff inwatchtower
january 15, 2006, "oppose satan, and he will flee!
" pg 29, paragraphs 13, 14
-
-
TallTexan
It seems the elders are enjoying the little power that they have in keeping those out that they should really be trying to keep in.
You know, that's a great point. I saw a post on an 'anti-apostate' thread on another forum that stated:
"If they were this zealous when they were in the truth, maybe they wouldn't be where the are now". Of course, that has it's own idiocies, but the concept is the same. If the elders tried as hard to 'shepherd' as they do to 'judge', maybe there would be far more people remaining in the 'truth'.
-
23
Watchtower January 15, 2006, Reinstatement
by blindersoff inwatchtower
january 15, 2006, "oppose satan, and he will flee!
" pg 29, paragraphs 13, 14
-
-
TallTexan
I think some of them must love lording over their postions and keeping a power and fear over their congregation
I think this has a lot to do with it. It's left up to the elders to determine the level of repentance using 'Jehovah's spirit'. Since they don't have his spirit anyway, it all boils down to when THEY want to let someone back in. If they're known as 'tough' elders I guess they think they'll have less wrongdoing in their cong's.
I know someone who is still df'd (for almost 2 years now) and they have been studying and making all the meetings. Several months ago she went for her first 'resinstatement meeting' and was told that the elders in her previous cong that df'd her didn't think she was ready. Huh?
-
16
And on the 8th day. God created the Beer Widget
by AlmostAtheist inhave you popped a can of guinness and heard that fwoosh sound?
you have surely waggled the can and heard that little thing knocking about inside?
that little thing is one of the 20th century's greatest contributions to mankind -- the beer widget.
-
-
TallTexan
Drinking Guiness from a can??????? Now THAT'S apostasy!
-
9
Why is society so obsessed with doctors and pills?
by free2beme ini went to the doctor last fall to have my cholesterol tested and it was high.
rather then telling me to diet, exercise and other natural advice.
i was handed a prescription for something to lower my cholesterol, and sent on my way.
-
-
TallTexan
As a medical professional, I can tell you the reason most doctors resort to prescriptions first is that 90% of their patients will NOT make the needed lifestyle changes. As a country we could probably cut out a large percentage of the prescriptions needed if we would take care of ourselves. But most people will simply not do something that a pill can do for them. I see it every day. They don't take care of themselves then come in the hospital and want you to fix them and fix them NOW!
So you get:
The overweight and grossly obese require prescriptions for hypertension, diabetes, high cholesteral, acid reflux
Smokers who require prescriptions for asthma, bronchitis, hypertension, chronic pulmonary disease, reflux
These two categories of patients combine for a LOT of hospital admissions. They could lose weight and stop smoking, but they refuse. When you have three doctors telling a patient and their family that if they don't lose weight they will die, they assume that there is a pill that will fix their problems. I hear it day after day.
However, I do think the physician should have emphasized lifestyle changes FIRST, and I know that many do. I guess they get frustrated at people's unwillingness to care as much about their health as their caregivers do.....
-
45
Richie's Elders: Deaf? Dumb? Both?
by RichieRich inlet me preface this by saying that i in now way mean to insult to the deaf/mute community by comparing them to leaders of a very prevalent cult, the jehovah's witnesses.
you see, in the service meeting last night, there was a talk based on an article in the january 2006 our kingdom ministry entitled "young ones: shining as illuminaters".
the brother who gave this part is my book study overseer, and a member of the "richie taskforce", i.e.
-
-
TallTexan
You rock dude. <headbanging for RR>
Seriously. That was sweet.
Nina,
As RR is still technically a minor, he may not have the opportunity to express his true feelings at this juncture. I think this follows the rule of "an immoral law should be broken". In this case, the WTS has NO right to invade RR's personal life, yet they do. If they invade without right, he has every right to be a 'sneak' as you so inappropriately put it. I personally call it 'playing close to the vest'. It's his business, so he does NOT have to share it with everyone around him.
-
5
Need some help....
by EC ini would really appreciate if any could point me to some articles, books or commentaries that wouldn't necessarily be considered "apostate" that would help me compile a letter.
i have been skipping around researching for about 1 yr and 1/2.
i didn't necessarily stick to one thing...when something made sense, i moved on.
-
-
TallTexan
You can prove that Jerusalem fell in 586 using the Society's own publications. I saw a post on here recently about how to do it. But if you add up the dates they provide in different publications for different events, it works out to 586. That may be one way.
The issue with the blood is pretty easy to discuss. Use the JW literature that claims "We abstain from blood" and then use scientific reasoning to show that the use of fractions is NOT abstaining, that receiving organ transplants provides significant numbers of both red and white blood cells in the donated organ.
The UN is REAL easy, as the material is available from the UN. You can also write the Society, get their stupid explanation on WBTS letterhead, so at least no one can deny that they actually were a member.
There's quite a bit that can be done. If you haven't done so already, read Franz' other book "In Search of Christian Freedom." He reasons from the scriptures showing how the Society's stance on a number of things is non-Biblical.
-
4
My neice read article about man sentenced to KH...
by MsMcDucket inthis is what she wrote me (notice how she calls my girls her girls:.
auntie, im not exactly sure why you chose to send this information to us for good or for other however, im going to choose the good.
anyone that comes to know the truth knows that there is only one road that leads to salvation (matthew 7:13,14) also matthew 7:15 says to be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheeps covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves and 16 says by their fruits you will recognize them, never do people gather grapes from thors or figs from thistles, do they?.
-
-
TallTexan
She's on to something here, she just doesn't know it.....
Anyone that comes to know the “Truth” knows that there is only one road that leads to salvation
That's right - Jesus Christ. (I know she was referring to the borg)Matthew 7:15 says to “be on the watch for the false prophets that come to you in sheep’s covering, but inside they are ravenous wolves
True. Be on the watch for false prophets. They typically prophesy in God's name and then their prophecies don't come true. 1874, 1914, 1921, 1925, 1975 all fall into this category.
TWINS KEEP ON SERVING JEHOVAH NO MATTER WHAT – YOU WILL HAVE NO BETTER RELATIONSHIP THAN THIS – HE DOESN’T HURT YOU, HE DOESN’T FORSAKE YOU AND HIS LOVE IN UNCONDITIONAL.
True. God doesn't forsake you....however the organization that claims to be his DOES love conditionally.
See, like I said - she's onto something, but doesn't realize it. Typical of JW's - they know all the scriptures, but by applying them to the borg they make them void of meaning. They are close to the truth, but the organization has successfully positioned itself between the publisher and God as the means to salvation.
Nice try at getting them some 'postate material, though....lol.