Posts by TallTexan

38

To all active JWs or double life JWs

by NowImFree in

one of the previous posts made me wonder how many active jws post on this site and how many of you are only in because not wanting to lose your family and you are leading a double life and also how many of you are still active but questioning.

please, all of you, i would like to hear your stories (of course not enough info to give away your identity) and why you are still in.

i think a lot of us that are out would be interested.. nowimfree.

TallTexan

I only stay so that I don't lose my family to shunning. I'm probably a wuss for doing so, but hey, it's my decision.

Not at all. Some people are willing to accept those consequences, some aren't.

The problem begins when the family begins to suspect that you're weak or apostate. Then, every time the talk to you or you see them it will be a double dose of subtle (sometimes not so subtle) WT infomercial. They'll casually talk about the latest magazines, or the great talk they heard, or all the great new people at the hall. You either learn to bear it or you blow up one day and tell the truth.

The important thing is that you're out and don't believe, and thus the destructive cult has no control over your life any longer....hang in there.

13

How did you treat your worldly relatives when you were a JW

by TallTexan in

jw
friends

i had an interesting conversation the other day with a friend who is also an ex-jw.

this person is older than i am, and was a jw for a number of decades.

she was talking about worldly relatives that she basically ignored when she was a jw.

TallTexan

I had an interesting conversation the other day with a friend who is also an ex-JW. This person is older than I am, and was a JW for a number of decades. She was talking about worldly relatives that she basically ignored when she was a JW. She has since gotten very close to several of them. She said she feels guilty sometimes because these people have welcomed her with open arms, never once holding against her that she never chose to develop a relationship with them when she was an active JW. Since she has been abandonded by many of her JW friends, some of whom she brought into the 'truth', she has come to value the unconditional love of 'worldly' people who could care less whether she never attended another meeting.

Did any of you find similar situations with worldly relatives with whom you didn't have a relationship until after you left?

25

Newbies

by TallTexan in

jw
friends

is it just me, or does there seem to be a flood of new people on the board lately?

i think it's awesome!.

welcome to all newcomers.

TallTexan

Is it just me, or does there seem to be a flood of new people on the board lately? I think it's AWESOME!

Welcome to all newcomers.

I say , have a or a , celebrate your , spend more doing things you REALLY enjoy (like figuring out how many emoticons you can use in one sentence), up all those df'd friends you haven't talked to in a while, and never feel one ounce of guilt for leaving a deceptive organization who has defrauded you out of enough time and money.

23

Part 1: How Would You Answer This Issue?

by Amazing1914 in

jw
friends

part 1:

when we were faced with tough issues as jws, we used one or more of a few ways to find answers.

we either searched the publications, consulted with an elder, or in some cases, wrote to the society.

TallTexan

Get a second opinion. If it agrees, abort it.

I understand your personal involvement in this type of decision. I am a very practical person. From working in a Level 3 nursery, I know the pain and suffering a child born with severe birth defects can go through (not all, but many). They have a lifetime (however long that life may be) of illness, multiple surgeries (for many of them) and poor quality of life. This could be a child who never sees the outside of a hospital bed.

Now, I know there are many, many parents who love and cherish their children who have severe retardation and birth defects and will send notes of abuse my way. I applaud them and have great respect for them. But it's not easy, and that's an understatement. It's mentally, physically, and financially draining.

From a strictly religious standpoint, I don't see how you could do it, however. The Bible states that life is precious and therefore should be preserved at all costs. From a strictly practical standpoint, I think it would be the right thing to do.

11

The "Sunk Cost" Fallacy

by LDH in

jw
friends

silent watcher made reference to a theory called "sunk cost fallacy.

" i had not heard of this term, but when i googled, i did get a reference to the very familiar concorde theory.

if you are not familiar with either, here is a primer.

TallTexan

Also known as the "Throwing Good Money After Bad" Fallacy....

Same goes for relationships - many people won't bail out of a bad relationship b/c of all the time they've already invested.

I have a lot of respect for people who have been JW's for 30,40,50, or even 60+ years who still get out, instead of staying with the "this is all I've ever known" mindset. That would have to be really hard. I did it for 30 years, but that includes from birth, so those first few years don't count...lol.

35

Whose been ripped off financially by his JW brother?

by Spectrum in

i posted this in another thread but it is more relevant here.

i worked for jw doing back breaking work for a while only to be told by another jw that he was ripping me of - he was paying me half the going rate.

i was only 17 and naive didn't know anything about the world of work.

TallTexan

HiddenQuestioner,

Welcome to the boards! You have taken your first step into a brighter world.

Welcome to JW justice. You must have 2 witnesses to 'convict' a pedophile, but she can lie and take you for 1/2 with some bogus evidence. Although, there's no way someone would lock me out of MY house....lol.

What did she use in court to prove it? Or did she have to? Some states automatically award 1/2, regardless of the reason.

Stay away from the 'loving Christian congregation' () and find some REAL friends.....

13

Oprah, James Frey and the call for TRUTH

by Scully in

i don't know if you have been following the story about james frey, author of a million little pieces, how the book was inducted into oprah's book club last fall, with him making an appearance on the show, proclaiming the "memoir" as completely true and unaltered.

she even delayed announcing her next book club selection by six weeks to give this book more publicity.. some investigation by the smoking gun revealed that many of the accounts in the book were embellished beyond any recognition of truth.

for example, the incident where frey claims to have been in jail for 3 months, was actually only a matter of hours.

TallTexan

While not a huge Oprah fan, I have an immense amount of newfound respect for her. I respect that she attempted to defend him initially, but when the evidence became overwhelming, she faced the music with dignity and honesty.

This is something that the Society and most JW's will not do. The Society will not own up to their mistakes, and the average JW, even when confronted with overwhelming evidence, continue to defend something they don't understand.

James Frey is like the Society. I read the other day that he said he embellished a 'little' to present a positive message. An "end justifies the means" argument. The Society, likewise, 'embellishes' to achieve an end (salvation for it's members - cash in it's pockets) while justifying the means (dishonesty about past and current misdeeds.)

In reality, he wanted to write a book that would sell, so he lied. In reality, the Society wants to retain power and $$, so they lie.

Great post Scully, as usual....

52

Can you celebrate your 100th birthday when you are a JW?

by blondie in

jw
friends

as a devout jehovah's witness, mrs. merle is prohibited from celebrating her birthday.

but a week from tomorrow, relatives and friends will flock to the camoset village country living mobile home park in johnstown to attend a super bowl party that just happens to feature ice cream and cake.. "that's why we're calling it a super bowl party," explained her son bob merle, 73, who lives just five trailers down the road.

"we don't celebrate birthdays, but we have to celebrate 100 years," said mrs. mechem, 78.

TallTexan

I'll bet there's a committee forming as we speak....

31

Switch "Knowledge" to "Bible Teach" - Why?

by Inquisitor in

can anyone tell me (or link me up if this has already been asked) why the january kingdom ministry instructs publishers to gradually wean studies of the "knowledge" book and to start with this new release "what does the bible teach"?.

what are they trying to hide?.

it didn't seem like there was much to be embarrassed about in the knowledge book.. inq

TallTexan

I think the Bible Stories book has more information than any of the newer pubs....

12

Watchtower failing in it's stated purpose

by yaddayadda in

the watchtower is failing in it's stated purpose contained on the inside cover of every issue.

"it keeps watch on world events as these fulfill bible prophecy".

when was the last time you read an article that discussed current world events and how they are related to bible prophecy?

TallTexan

good news that God's Kingdom will soon destroy those who oppress their fellowmen

Should be rewritten to "God's Kingdom will soon destroy ALL who are not JW's, or who claim to be JW's but don't get enough time in field service, or attend enough meetings, or rat out their fellow believers."

This is the utmost in dishonesty. Most people would read it and say "Well, I'm safe. I go to church, believe in God, and don't oppress my fellowman." But we all know that's NOT what JW's really believe.....