Posts by mamochan13

12

Elder Doofus????

by Gojira_101 in

i would like to share an experience from my younger days, which now as i sit here i can't believe it's almost been 10 years now since this happened.

it still feels like it was yesterday.. so my family and i moved out of our old hall and wanted to start new because of the crap we all went through in the old hall.

this is a link of my story ne posted for me http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/244665/1/one-experience-in-our-old-kingdom-hall-that-still-haunts-me .

Interesting story, Gojira, thanks for sharing. I think it highlights the whole philosophy of not allowing any individual member to shine or do anything extra that might help others if they do not fit the definition of "good standing". It doesn't matter what you do, sacrifices you make, how hard yoiu work. You must conform to their standard. You would think that with something like deaf translation they would be more concerned with quality of the message being given to the "listeners" but, no. It's all about whether the person doing the signing conforms to their rules.

You remind me of a friend I had. Her parents were not strong in the "truth" but she wanted to do something extra, so she, too, learned to interpret sign language. It didn't last long because she was not "of the right attitude".

Sounds like you tried very, very hard to fit in to the congregation, but it was never really the right fit. I can sympathize.

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

Understanding the "other side" of a story does not mean we condone it in any way, shape or form.

Geez. Have any of you who are dumping on the OP read about Zimbardo's prison experiments? How ordinary, moral people can be coerced to do horrible things to other human beings?

This isn't the first time I've seen posters here jump on someone because they happen to add an unusual or different idea that is not the norm. Half the time people don't even read the OP before they decide to condemn it.

From what I've read, there is a horrible social/cultural attitude in India that supports this type of horrific violence against women. Many bring it with them when they emigrate - we've read plenty of news reports of fathers murdering their daughters, haven't we? So how do we address this? By closing our eyes and refusing to listen when someone tells us that extreme poverty, deprivation, caste systems, and lack of opportunity drives young men to desperate, awful acts of violence? By condeming that revelation as being sensationalist and trying to stir up controversy? It's the reality. So how do we deal with it?

PS: Kurtbethel - I don't know of anyone who advocates for sociopaths, although there is a certain fascination for a character named Dexter who fits that description.

52

One experience in our old Kingdom Hall that still HAUNTS me

by Newly Enlightened in

the following is a true experience and my daughter gojira101 will verify that it happened to her.

an experience from our family's past that still haunts me and started my questioning whether this is the true organization of god or not.. my daughter, who has always been a good kid, never gave us any problems [she's an adult now] started regular pioneering.

within a few weeks of her starting, she fell on a steep hill and tore open her knee and had to have several stitches.

mamochan13

NewlyE and Gojira - so happy to hear that you are out and together as a family. That's a success story in itself - that the elders could not take away your family relationship.

Nice to have you here on the journey with the rest of us as we try to rebuild our lives post-JW.

86

The Other Side of the Indian Rape Story

by fulltimestudent in

i'm posting this story, not to defend an indefensible act, but to try to provide some balance.

the fact is that so many indians exist in a poverty so deep that it's difficult for westerners to even understand.

the youngest of the rapists in the now world known rape story, according to this uk, independent newspaper story, grew up in that world that seems hopeless.

mamochan13

One of the first things people say after a horrific crime is committed is: why? Investigators are trying to find a motive for the young man who killed little schoolchildren. Finding a reason for a behaviour does not mean you excuse it. You find a reason for why it happened because it might provide insight into how to prevent it from happening again. In some cases understanding a behaviour allows people to achieve forgiveness, which can be important towards healing.

Fulltime student posted an article by a respectable paper which tries to do exactly that - provide information that could give some insight into why this person did what he did. The OP is not condoning the action in any way by trying to find an explanation.

There is never any excuse for rape, brutality against women, murder. Understanding why it happens is important.

17

Especially for Cedars - My Cunning Plan. Or maybe not

by not bitter in

until the conti case came to light, i was not aware of the extent of child abuse going on in the org.

and i was completely unaware of the jw policies on these matters.

i read their offical policy on child abuse on jw.org and was gob smacked to say the least.

mamochan13

As you say notbitter, you wouldn't want to get your point across with a falso accusation.

You could, however, use the theoretical scenario as a basis for having a discussion with your parents. Sometimes people understand a concept when it touches home for them. It's easy for JWs to discount Ms Conti's story because they don't see themselves in it. Just like most think DFing is loving because they've never experienced it.

58

Awe in Science

by PSacramento in

http://biologos.org/blog/awe-in-science.

you must have experienced it, too - one is almost frightened in front of the simplicity and compactness of the interconnections that nature all of a sudden spreads before him and for which he was not in the least prepared.. werner heisenberg, in a letter to albert einstein1.

for many people, science invites awe and religion invites insight.

mamochan13

Interesting discussion. I like your prayer example, Cofty.

Tammy brought up something I was going to also mention, the idea that scientists must shelve ALL preconceived notions so they don't taint the evidence. It's difficult to do. I've read many instances of scientists who inadvertently (or deliberately) influenced the outcome of research by looking for a particular result and favoring only the outcomes that supported his or her preconceived idea.

I'd also add that science would search for answers and not discount evidence that some people were being healed by god, if it existed. In that context science is not impossible, it's inclusive of all possibilities.

52

One experience in our old Kingdom Hall that still HAUNTS me

by Newly Enlightened in

the following is a true experience and my daughter gojira101 will verify that it happened to her.

an experience from our family's past that still haunts me and started my questioning whether this is the true organization of god or not.. my daughter, who has always been a good kid, never gave us any problems [she's an adult now] started regular pioneering.

within a few weeks of her starting, she fell on a steep hill and tore open her knee and had to have several stitches.

mamochan13

NE - your story brought back many memories for me of the pioneering heirarchy. When I pioneered I was always left out because my dad was not a JW - the rest of the young pioneers were all children of elders. I recall one circuit assembly the overseer individually gathering up all the pioneers, then they brought them all out on stage, announcing, "We'd like you to meet all of the pioneers in our circuit." Except me. I was not invited.

There are many, many insensitive elders. That they would even give a talk like that singling our your daughter speaks volumes about how little they actually care for individuals. So glad you and your family have escaped together.

1

Jesus' TRUE life story

by processor in

how alcohol helpmed me to face hard times.

.

mamochan13

Processor - I love your stuff. I hadn't seen this when you first posted it. This one is a bit different, but classic nonetheless. In reading it I could really see how the legend of Jesus could spring up from ordinary events. People looking to follow a cult leader will attribute every event as a miracle.

Keep up the good work!

44

Homeschooling VS public/private schooling

by PSacramento in

i was wondering on the views about homeschooling vs public/private scholling.. thoughts?.

mamochan13

Depend on browser

26

reinstatement tries

by Honeybucket in

jw
friends

i am looking for the reinstatement guidelines for someone who has been actively trying to get reinstated for 2 years and have put in a reinstatement letter 3x in those two years but was denied everytime.

are the elders just making an example of them, have they permenately been kicked out, or maybe these people dont want to come back and this story is part of their fade.. .

has anyone ever heard of people not getting reinstated.

mamochan13

They made me wait more than a year just because they insisted the Organization book said a year (which it doesn't). They like to get their pound of flesh. I asked for reinstatement every month from the moment they DF'd me. That made them SOOO angry. They told me I was disrespectful of the borg because I was asking for reinstatement too soon. Assholes.

If you really want reainstatement (and I understnad the possible reasons), then you have to keep trying. It depends on what you did, the particular elders, etc. If you feel like things have gone on too long, maybe you can appeal to the society? I don't know. I was desperate and ready to do almost anything after they put me through months and months of hell.