Posts by BrendaCloutier

12

Wt mag 2/15/03pg10- United Nations-paid for/provided baptismal wading pool

by sf in

a good friend sent me this piece of delicious 'morsel'.

i'm still chewing.

have a taste!

BrendaCloutier

I'm not gonna be one to jump on the band-wagon here. I looked at the WT pic. My opinion:

The "wading pool" is a hole dug in the ground, lined with a tarp, and filled with water.

The tarp has the United Nations HCR logo on it. I don't know if the logo is on both sides of the tarp. If it is, and it is the only thing available to make the pool, then they (JWS) did what they could to do what they do to save souls. If the tarp was printed only on one side, then they should have turned it over! May have been calculated, maybe not. The UN probably did not provide the tarp specifically for the baptismal pool, but for "normal" tarp uses, like temporary housing. It was the JWs that commandeered the tarp for their purposes.

I don't think there was any conspiracy here. Only idiocy in not turning the tarp over.

No, I'm not a WTS supporter. Just a calm mind amidst overeager finger pointers.

Hugs

Brenda

36

Do you believe it is wrong to celebrate Halloween?

by anew in

jw
friends

thought i would throw this out to the board.

i was raised a jw.

i now celebrate most holidays.

BrendaCloutier

Celebration of the Eve of all Hallows, or Samhein(sp) is not devil worship.

It originally was a celebration in honour of our deceased ancestors, still practiced as such in Latin American countries as the Dia del Muerto - Day of the Dead. More joyous and less solomn than Memorial Day here.

Catholocism, in it's way of adapting existing holidays into "christian" holidays, named Nov 1 All Saints Day to help with it's conversion of the pagans.

I've played the "role" at parties (witch or vampire or whatever), I've given out candy, I've had a private ancestor dinner where I set places at the tables for each ancestor I wish to honour and make foods they liked. I was the only human there.

As with most of our holidays, the American Corporations have capitalized on them with the ghosties and faeries and costumes and candy and parties.

Party on

Brenda

23

QUIET signs at assemblies

by Jez in

lol...this one kills me.

again this year brothers had to walk the halls carrying signs that said "quiet please" everyone just ignores these poor embarrassed brothers.

the assemblay is going on and yet the halls are full of ppl walking, visiting, cruisin'.

BrendaCloutier

A couple friends and I learned American Sign Language so we could talk with the deaf in our congregation and eventually translate.

It was very handy at meetings and assemblies. Few could understand, and we weren't being loud, unless our gesturing got alittle out of control.

Bren

11

question about marriage?

by l3gi0n in

.

i know how divorce is viewed in this religion, but what about annulment?.

.

BrendaCloutier

I recall anullment being allowed also (30 years ago) if the marriage wasn't consumated.

But, didn't most of us get married young to the first person who showed some interest so we could have sex?

Bren

31

Is It True That Since Leaving The JWs That You're Totally Angry & Unhappy?

by minimus in

jw
friends

the watchtower tries to say that "apostates" are in a bedarkened environment.

they are looking for "true freedom" which they say does not exist.

we are said to be "gnashing our teeth" and angry.

BrendaCloutier

Oh, I've had my moments. I was a bit lost when I left, not sure what to do on Tues, Thurs eves, and Sunday afternoons. But my growing alcoholism helped fill and forget the hours. It was touch and go there when I had to get away from 1st husband and almost offed myself (russian roulette), then I discovered I really could get a D.I.V.O.R.C.E. Had 2 more since.

Since I left, I've raced sailboats, skippered cruising sailboats for friends, and sailed the Mexican pacific coast and otherwise traveled Mexico, the US, and Carribean with my spousal unit. I've gotten clean and sober, found a higher power who is far more infinite and loving than Jehovah, and discovered my native american roots and spirituality. Learned some about paleantology, archaeology, and anthropology. As a highschool pull-out because I had enough education to be a wife, I worked my arse off and became a successful computer nerd (software tech and trainer, systems administrator), without going to school other than a couple of classes.

Today I am disabled with FibroMyalgia and arthritis, and working on getting my SSD.

Today I am truly happy. No one messes with my mind, except me!

Hugs on y'all's journey

Bren

15

ARE YOU HAPPY ????

by christopherrobin in

jw
friends

what a concept !!!!

!

BrendaCloutier

I'm happy inspite of myself!

Brenda

59

How Many Here Left The Organization? How Many Got Kicked Out??

by minimus in

jw
friends

just curious.....

BrendaCloutier

In 1975 I got married to a JW man and was shunned by old friends and by his congregation because I married into the "wrong" JW family. I stopped going to meetings within 6 months because of the BS that congregation was pulling. I brought it up with my dad who "couldnt do anything about it", and with the travelling overseer, who said I was imagining things. Then I was told it was my fault my husband began abusing me. Blah blah blah. Attended my last memorial in about 1978.

There was actually a short time in 1981 or 82 that I looked at going back . Had finally been able to get a divorce after a suicide attempt (because I didn't believe in divorce). I had run into old friend and attended a couple of meetings and a party at their house around Christmas time. The only thing missing at the Christmas Party was the tree, decorations, and carrols. Theocratic songs, rum punch and wine, replaced them. Then coffee was served to sober up the crowd before they drove home. THAT was my last association. Couldn't stand the hypocrasy.

This web site has brought me up to date on some questions I've had over the years. Also, lately had weird JW dreams, like I'd crept back into the organization, wouldn't do field service and tried not to get caught and DF'd. Wierd. Those dreams have gone away

Hugs

Brenda

8

When the Society Tried to Kill Off a Critic

by metatron in

for the sake of anonymity, names will be omitted:.

many years ago, bethel had a lot of morale problems.

you didn't need much of a brain to figure out why - knorr was an.

BrendaCloutier

They are utterly reptilian in dealing with people

It's unfair to degrade lizzards and snakes with the attitudes and behaviour of these humans. Sociopath, protect the cult at any and all expense, yes. Let's leave the innocents out of it.... ;) Brenda

67

I MADE A SCENE AT THE KINGDOM HALL REMODEL TODAY

by Corvin in

jw
friends

the set up

it was getting close to noon and elese decided to give her mother a call to let her know she was ready to be picked up.

sara said she had to stop by the kingdom hall to drop off some ice for the brothers doing the remodeling.

BrendaCloutier

Goodonya, Corvin! (Good-on-ya Aussie term)

I wish I had parents who would stand up for me like that. You are teaching your children well by example that it is ok to stand up for themselves, and it is ok to question and not tolerate inappropriate behaviour and lies, especially in adults. I wish more parents (dubs or not) were able to do this. It is a rare and beautiful thing.

Hugs

Brenda

9

Ex Cult Members and Toxic Relationships

by Sirona in

i've been thinking recently about how being an ex cult member affects the way i handle current relationships.. it appears to me that sometimes i am still influenced by the old way of thinking (jw way of thinking).

they teach that we should always be "humble".

they told us that we were imperfect.

BrendaCloutier

ding ding ding ding << bells ringing here

For me it was a combination of JW subserviant wife, never allowed to use the word "no" as a child, and being in a couple of marriages to violent alcoholics (other than me ;).

So I was pretty f.. fouled up when it came to personal power and relationships.

In my alcoholism recovery i was confronted with my toxic relationships, especially the one I had with myself. It took a lot of work to become relatively "normal". I attended free weekly groups put on by a local (Seattle) women's shelter to work on the DV issues for over a year. I attended Alanon and CoDA meetings regularly. I read.

The single most helpful book for me was Melodie Beatty's book "Language of the Heart" a 365 day meditation and teaching book. (I believe she is god-inspired).

One of the neat things I discovered is it's OK to be kind and loving. It's not OK to continue to be kind and loving to people who continuously treat you poorly.

Another neat thing I discovered is that I was in an excellent possition to remake Brenda. I'd try on new behaviours with people. The ones that worked and I liked, I kept. The ones that didnt work, or I didn't like how they felt, I discarded.

I also walked away from people who refused to honour the work I was doing and the boundaries I was setting. I simply no longer needed people like that in my life.

Good luck in your journey. You have an exciting path ahead of you!

Brenda

PS My spousal unit says I still take some "wifely duties" on that he thinks should be shared.... I happen to take them on because I enjoy them.