Posts by mamochan13

52

don't any of you get afraid??

by nowisee in

all of the stuff re wts.

yet with all of this stuff happening in the mideast....with al gore's "an inconvenient truth" and scientists backing him up...with nkorea....with "christian" rhetoric....with pornography taking over the minds of our men.....bird flu....debt up to the eyeballs....complacency....pacs.....enron...corruption...serial killers in phoenix.....shrinking dollar....economy being sold to overseas.....etc.

can anyone reassure me?

mamochan13

Michael Moore does a good job of pointing out how the media tries to scare us in his movies.

Last year I read an article that showed that there are actually fewer wars and fewer per capita instances of violence now than there were a century ago. Can't recall the source, but this article wasn't the only one.

Humans in North America are enjoying an increased life span and better quality of life.

There are plenty of good news stories if you look for them. As JW's we are used to only seeing the bad ones, and the media is quite happy to help that notion along. In fact, government benefits from keeping citizens in fear (again I refer to Michael Moore).

Look at the amazing advancements in medicine, science, technology. I read today about a paralyzed man who can now communicate via his brain waves. I'm no longer afraid of the future, I'm excited, and eagerly awaiting the many new things we have yet to learn and experience.

54

What Bothers You The Most About Jehovah's Witnesses?

by minimus in

jw
friends

for me, i think it's their hypocrisy.

they lead (the vast majority) a double life.

and ultimately they look down on anyone not a jw yet they won't even wn up to it.

mamochan13

On a personal level - the spiritual rape they subjected me to.

On a broader level - the attitude towards everyone else, that everyone else in the world is deserving of destruction simply because they do not choose to accept the same set of teachings.

80

Be Honest: Did You ACTUALLY Report Accurate Field Service Time?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i bet most people did not.

i think nearly everyone counted time spent on breaks.

or sitting in the car for an hour and a half while the elders did a "shepherding" call.

mamochan13

When I was a publisher I was always honest, even if it was only 1 hour.

As a pioneer it was harder. I did all the things on Blondie's list, starting time with a letter at 7 AM then counting all day no matter what came in between. But I tried to be honest, even in months when I only managed 30 or 40 hours instead of 90 or 100. A couple times, though, I admit I rounded things up.

I suppose, though, if you compare it to regular employment - how many workers actually put in a full 40 hour week doing the job they are being paid to do? Add in coffee breaks, lunch, chatting with co-worker, surfing the Internet, smoke breaks, etc. Not that different, really.

58

Please explain how disfellowshipping is a loving gesture

by McKafka99 in

can someone please outline the rationale and scriptures used to support the idea that disfellowshipping is a loving gesture?

i am trying to understand how this behavior is justified, when in my mind in seems a simple matter; one only needs ask oneself, 'if jesus (or jehovah) were standing next to you, would jesus (or jehovah), support any shunning-type actions?

' i find it very difficult that the answer would ever be 'yes'.

mamochan13

your explanation is right on, Tijkmo.

There might be an argument that, if done exactly as outlined in the elder's manual, DF'ing could serve the purpose of the "time out" - as a disciplinary tool used out of love with the individual's best interests at heart. I'm not making that argument.

But in practice, DF'ing is a deadly weapon in the hands of ignorant, pompous, vindictive, power-hungry men who take delight in making examples out of people and breaking their will.

If you severely beat a child into absolute submission while he begs for mercy and forgiveness and sincerely apologizes for committing a wrong - what does that make you?

21

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 7-2-06 WT Study (INTEGRITY)

by blondie in

comments you will not hear at the 07-02-06 wt study (may 15, 2006 issue date, pages 26-30)(integrity).

review comments will be in red.

wt material from today's wt will be in black.

mamochan13

Thanks again, Blondie, for another well-researched and thoughtfully-commented review. The reference to Seligman was interesting - at first I couldn't recall why his name sounded so familiar to me, then I remembered him from my psych studies on learned helplessness. He's well-known for developing the theory of learned helplessness, the notion that when people feel they have no control over their life situation and believe their choices are irrelevant, that anything they do will not change their environment or future outcome, then they become completely helpless and unable to act for themselves, relying on others for everything. It has been linked with depression.

"Obeying the WT in all things even when they are wrong" and blindly believing that you must obey so you won't be among the "6.5 billion non-JW's who will soon be dead forever" - sounds like a classic case of learned helplessness to me.

33

Looking for some insight on why some people here do this

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i left the witness religion in 1997, and when i left i never turned back and do not even own or read any of their publications.

i know it is wrong, beyond all doubt, so why waste my time at their meetings, conventions or assemblies.

why read information that is known to be bias, hurtful and not very well thought out?

mamochan13

Great question. Thank you for asking it. I've wondered the same about myself. For a long time I avoided sites like these. I wasn't ready to question theory. The behaviour part had already freed me.

But when I left, and when I was df'd, I lost my spirituality. I lost everything within me that I thought I believed in. I lost my relationship with god. I haven't yet been able to try and find it again. I've simply put that part of me aside. So for me, it helps to take apart the JW teachings, as lady Lee says, to deprogram myself and clear my mind. To reinforce that what I was brought up to believe was wrong. It's a protection, I guess, in a way. My children don't have the depth of knowledge I have, and I fear for them when they are pressured by my mother. So anything I can learn to add to the reprogramming helps. I'm to blame, of course. I taught them all this stuff in the first place.

I do understand why some feel they have to keep going to meetings...it's very hard to make that final, complete break. This is a high power high control cult. Incredibly powerful.

I always used to say that I would leave the "truth" for many reasons - but apostasy would never be one of them. I loved the bible, I loved what I believed. I researched everything, I read everything. When the elders told me the Organization book said one thing, I knew they were lying, because I had read it in great detail along with the references. I was like Blondie.

So it helps to have people like Blondie point out the inconsistencies. And it helps me to read them for myself. I need to know what is in that latest magazine to protect myself and my children.

Gee...just saying that, I realize how vulnerable I feel sometimes.

45

Most ridiculous Kingdom Melody Lyrics

by Fleshybirdfodder in

jw
friends

a couple of my favs:.

"loyal love, god is love, may god's love move us to love".

"...like bees that were molested, but we can ever beat them off...".

mamochan13

This thread brings back some memories - made me laugh!

Regarding the song selection & absence of pianist. For many years I was the pianist in the hall. it was kind of a position of honour, I guess, what little we "sisters" could have. over time, though, it got so that only those who were pioneers or ministerial servants were allowed to do it. Soon they phased it out entirely. The line I heard was that they wanted to curb any special feelings that might have developed among the musicians. Strange, since the bible is full of accounts of the power of music - King David was a singer and musician, for example. But they really didn't like us musicians individually.

It also might have to do with something that happened in our circuit. A high profile elder who played in the band for conventions ran off with the flute player. They disbanded the orchestra the following year.

it used to be that the visiting speaker on Sundays was allowed to choose a song. I remember one elder, a former opera singer, turned the congo on its ear by having everyone get up and sing a song every 10 minutes during his talk - to illustrate a point. It was wonderful! So innovative. Heh. yeah, I don't think he's giving talks anymore.

62

I have to make one of the toughest decisions of my life

by unbeliever in

jw
friends

i am not even sure why i am posting because its so personal but i could really use some advice.

i am also embarrassed that i got myself in this situation.

there is this guy that i have known for a couple of years.

mamochan13

Some interesting perspectives on this. I don't agree with all of them, but I just wanted to add a comment regarding the whole "love" thing.

You can have a very happy marriage built on other factors besides love. Mutual respect, friendship, common goals, a shared love of a child - these are things that can be far more powerful and lasting than romantic love. Romantic love fades quickly, and it should never be the primary basis for marriage.

My suggestion would be to not rush into anything but leave all your options open. let the relationship develop a little more once the baby is born, see how it goes. Remain open to the option of marriage, maybe even moving. Take a trip, visit, see if you could adapt to a different country. But don't do it all right now, you aren't ready for that decision yet. Have the baby in an environment where you have support. let the father come visit, but start looking at him with new eyes - as someone you could learn to love over time. Give yourself a little time, and I think the decision will be much easier when the time is right for it.

And yes, do see a lawyer, make sure you don't leave yourself open to anything. But this guy sounds like he's willing to work with you. You have so many positives here.

15

Are They Watching Us??

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

after reading iron claws recent post, "i lost it!!!!!!!!!!!

", it made me wonder if possibly the elders asign someone from each hall to watch sites like this to see if there are anyone posting that tell experiences they may recognize.

i find it strange that the c.o.

mamochan13

Although I tend to agree that they probably aren't closely watching individuals through these forums - if they have targeted someone as a potential apostate who they want to make an example of, anything is possible.

When the elders wanted to get me, they sat outside my house all night long and looked in my windows. So why wouldn't they watch forums?

30

Did any of you head off to University after leaving the org

by yaddayadda in

one of my biggest regrets is not getting a degree, due to the jw brain-washing against higher education.

i feel a strong sense of never having reached my academic potential and having been restricted in many ways by this.

i was a high achiever at high school + some teachers were bemused that i never went on to varsity.

mamochan13

yes, I went to university, and it was the best decision of my life. You are never too old to do it. university was a key factor in allowing me to achieve a measure of healing, and in helping me regain the self-esteem the religion had destroyed.

In addition to gaining great personal satisfaction & the education I've always wanted (but was denied by the JW org), my eyes have been opened through critical thinking. I now know why the org discourages university. When you learn to analyze and question everything you are taught, it becomes very difficult to blindly accept teachings that make no sense.