Posts by Billygoat

175

Do you want the real truth or not?

by Jason in

jw
friends

on this website there seems to be so many lies and so little actual truth.

is this supposed to be a place to get answers or confuse the hell out of truth seekers?

well, for you seekers out there, if you find the truth on this site it'll be a major fluke.

Billygoat

Jason,

Okay, so you say you weren't angry and didn't bash. Even though that may not have been your intentions, that IS how it came across to me. I'm not saying everyone thinks like I do, but it MAY have come across that way to others. Thus that could be the explanation for the negative replys. Again, just as third party observer...your postings sound like you're a narcisstic a**hole. If that is not what you are then just consider being a little kinder in your postings. "Do you want the real truth or not?" is not necessarily the best way to post an article. I'm not talking about the content of your postings (that's all together a different issue) but the delivery. You get much farther with honey that with vinegar! ;)

Billygoat

15

Sincere doubt on the Sovereign issue

by Sincere Inquirer in

jw
friends

this is the first time i post to this forum in order to find new ideas about a doubt that has been torturing me.

no one in my congregation was capable of providing me with a reasonable explanation, and the society did not answered my letter about this sincere doubt of mine.

so, any help will be appreciated!.

Billygoat

Interested in seeing if anybody else missed this...I don't have anything to add.

Although, Sincere...you'll find many more things that differ from WTS and the Bible. MANY more...just be patient and see what you learn here for a day or so.

Billygoat

13

Speaking of bathrooms at the DC

by TweetieBird in

jw
friends

reading mulan's thread about her daughter-in-law's experience in the bathroom, i couldn't help remembering what happened at one district convention in jacksonville.. a sister brought her little 2 year old son in to spank.

she whipped him for so long with a thick comb and everytime the little boy would cry she would spank him some more because he was crying.

i went back to my seat crying.

Billygoat

OMIGOD! Closer to fine! That 4 year old was my little brother! We'd trained him to pray to Jah whenever he was feeling afraid (he was scared of the dark). My dad still thinks that story is hilarious!

My father was big into abuse. Not just discipline, but abuse. We had CPS called on us twice and not once did they do anything. But both times we got our chops busted because Dad thought WE were the ones who called.

I wonder (along with the pedofile and clinical depression issues) how many abusers are hidden with the WTS?? My dad was EXTREMELY abusive to me and the other kids - still abusive with my mom!

What do you think?

Billygoat

175

Do you want the real truth or not?

by Jason in

jw
friends

on this website there seems to be so many lies and so little actual truth.

is this supposed to be a place to get answers or confuse the hell out of truth seekers?

well, for you seekers out there, if you find the truth on this site it'll be a major fluke.

Billygoat

Jason,

I've just read through this thread and want to make an observation. You've sounded very angry and defensive before anyone really has brought up a point to argue with you. I'm just curious as to what has gotten you so riled up. If you feel that this web-site is full of lies and BS, why not just go somewhere else? Let others live and speak their thoughts? I understand sometimes the language on this board is vile and some people CANNOT back their beliefs (they just want to argue for arguments sake) but please do not judge these people for those two reasons alone. I'm not saying you don't have smarts because you're just a newbie. But if you hang around long enough, you'll know what people are full of crap and what people actually have something substantial (and interesting) to say.

You are probably getting bombarded with negative emails because you are coming into a community of people and bashing them before really knowing them. You don't see personalities and sarcasms in postings. You also don't know who to take seriously and who not to. If we came into your house and made derisive comments about your house, you'd probably get on the defensive as well. I could see almost anyone say, "If you don't like my house, why are you here?" But most of the people here WANT your observations and your viewpoint as long as you can back it up. Being polite in your postings and not sounding holier-than-thou might help ease the pain too.

Just my 2 cents...

Billygoat

82

Prevalence of JW Suicides - Real or Imagined?

by AMNESIAN in

jw
friends

in one or two recent threads i've seen reference to the possibility of a rising number of jw suicides being another of the organization's very dark realities about which it is vigilant in keeping concealed from its pub populace.

is there anyone reasonably informed regarding this?

is there reason to suppose the incidence ratio among jws is any higher than among any peoples/religion?

Billygoat

I can only speak from my own experience. When I was DFed I lost it. I lost everything that I thought was mine. No - let me rephrase that - everything I thought was mine abandoned me. My parents, childhood friends, my church. Yes, I had clinical depression. I was on antidepressants as a teenager because I didn't think I could ever do anything that would make up for the sin in my life. Which is certainly true. I couldn't go out in service enough, I couldn't study my bible enough, I couldn't have pure enough thoughts and actions. I felt like I was constantly (and barely) trying to keep my head above water on a sinking ship.

It wasn't until several years out of the WTS that I finally got the necessary help (therapy) that helped me realize I HONESTLY couldn't live up to the manmade standards set out by the WTS. I read the Bible. Studied the Bible. And the Bible only. THAT is when I realized that God was giving me grace - no matter how bad I was, I could accept his gift of grace and renew my life and move on as a True Christian. I life a better, more spiritual life now than I did as a witness. I'm so thankful!

My gut instinct is the same as a few others mentioned. I would NOT be surprised if the suicide rate is higher with WTS members v. other religions. It would be interesting to have some hard-core facts though.

Billygoat

34

Why did you get baptized?

by NoLongerAjw in

jw
friends

was it for love of the kingdom hall and jehovah?

pressure .. felt like you had to?

for me it was because all my friends my age had gotten baptized.. and it was left up to me to do it too.. to fit in i guess.

Billygoat

I did it for two reasons:

1. I thought it would repair a bad relationship I had with my father. I knew it would make him proud of me.

2. All of my best friends were either already baptized or getting baptized that DC. I was very convincing when it came to answering the questions. I think I learned as a JW to say whatever I could to fit the goal of the moment.

Sad reasons and it was totally MY doing. But wrong reasons none-the-less.

Billygoat

53

Got Busted By Wife?She Said She Want Tell.(update)

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

i recently picked up the nasty habit of smoking.

i have been hiding it from my wife for about a month now,(she is still a witness) to make a long story short i only smoke when i drink and go to the casino.

in lake charles well she busted me and was actually nice about it and said it would be our secret as long as i did not bring them in the house are ever smoke around the kids.. sounds like she might be comming around maybe, i only hope.. anyway i had to tell someone.

Billygoat

BigJim,

Man oh man. I'm so sorry. Just keep in mind that most JW are not thinking for themselves. Someone else is doing it for them. So when she says those things, she is reacting out of what the WTS has taught her not what she has thought on her own. Be patient with her...I know...easier said than done.

Spousal smoking isn't grounds for a scriptural separation. But Blondie is right - that doesn't mean the elders will give her good Biblical counsel. They may even try to conjur up lies as they have in other situations we've heard about. Don't underestimate their determination!

Perhaps instead of being frustrated that you do the things she hates, she's actually feeling neglected? Maybe you could lay low for awhile on the smoking and pamper her/romance her/seduce her, she'll remember why she fell in love with you in the first place. I think taking her to karaoke so she sees it's really okay is a good idea. Maybe she just needs a little womanly (not necessarily sexual) attention. I just get the feeling that the smoking issue is just the tip of the iceberg. There is something deeper bothering her and she either doesn't know what it is or is not willing to share at this point.

There have been times in my relationship that I've felt very insecure and unhappy. The best thing that my boyfriend did was to just talk calmly and listen to me. He didn't always understand where I came from, but at least listening to what I had to say (without interrupting and trying to argue or fix it) did me worlds of good! It really made me think, "You know he's not perfect, but look at all his great qualities!" Maybe you could just sit down and listen to her heart?

But I highly recommend not threatening her with exposing "The Truth" to the kids. Threats come across as Devil's work. It'll just scare her off even quicker!

Just a few thoughts...

Billygoat

17

Email from JW Cousin

by Undecided in

jw
friends

hi folks,.

i just got this email from my 72 year old cousin.

what do you think of his advice???.

Billygoat

That's the problem Gopher...JWs feel that if you reject THEM or the WTS you are rejecting GOD. Which we all know to be false. Trying to get a JW to reason with you is like trying to squeeze milk from a man's tit. It's not going to happen, no matter how hard you try.

Billygoat

12

Happily gone forever!

by Steve Josef in

i was raised as a jw.

i do believe that what they call a religion is in fact, child abuse and mere brainwashing.

i have since left, but rements of this cult still haunt me today.

Billygoat

It does take a long time to live a normal life without feelings of guilt. But it DOES happen. Find friends that love you unconditionally and they'll be the ones to help you realize that celebration (holidays or any other occasion) isn't necessarily about the holiday itself. It is about sharing the human spirit! Be patient and pray alot! It will come in time.

God bless,

Billygoat

9

One year tomorrow

by Tesha in

i have been disfellowshipped for one year tomorrow.

i have been alone through out this time and completely lost.

recently i decided to look up jw sites on the internet and found a moving story of a lady who had been through a similar experience to mine.

Billygoat

Tesha,

Welcome aboard sweetie! You're story hits too close to mine too! I miss my little brothers like crazy - I know you understand. I just pray that at some point they wisen up and see the Truth as well. I have Faith that God will take care of them since they don't know any better.

Keep posting! You'll find healing and unconditional love on this board! (Amidst chaos and the occasional weird comment. But you'll learn to love all of us in a special way!)

God bless you,

Billygoat