Posts by blacksheep

23

ARMAGEDDON!

by UnDisfellowshipped in

jw
friends

the following picture is from the watchtower, february 15th 1975 issue, page 100:.

" book, 1988, page 52:.

" book, 1988, page 127:.

blacksheep

Like many others here, I remember the scary visions from the Paradise book, one thing, in particular, I recall being like a huge tidal wave destroying people.

But you know what was scarier? The pictures of the survivors of Armageddon. They were sitting around wearing Hawaiian clothes and reading the Paradise book. I knew even back then that I didn't really want things to be the way the JW's were picturing them.

It seems to me that the WT publications are geared toward appealing to people with 2nd grade reading levels. How appropriate.

4

FEAR OF LEAVING THE J.W.ORGANIZATION

by nightwarrior in

ive had enough,cant take it anymore,.

safety in numbers,feel secure,lots of fickle friends,the world is getting worse outside,ime afraid,i dont really agree with the society and its teachings,but what else will i do .where will i go.what will my family say.

this seems a common thought and leaving people in fear ,yes i understand what your saying about worshiping the organization ,i realize that man should be worshipping god but where do i go ???

blacksheep

Nightwarrior: sorry for your fears: it's not an easy time. I've been out for nearly 20 years now (2nd gen witness), and I remember the fear/uncertainty, the loneliness. It's simply the cult talking, the conditioning that you *are* nothing without the organization. If you are resolute, and REALLY start seeing the inconsistencies of the org, and the fact that they *don't*, contrary to what the put forth, have the truth, gradually, you'll grow stronger and stronger in your individuality. Gradually, you'll see that not everyone and everything in the world is bad. You'll discover yourself, including your strengths and your weaknesses.

I'm not saying it is easy, but believe me, it's well worth it. You are obviously a critical thinker. This is something the WTS discourages, becasue the more you think about it, the less they have to offer. I even went to college, which they also discourage. This helped me realize that there IS a whole world out there; that it doesn't center around a few JW's... I have a much better life now, and it's because I've been free to do what I want. Reading the following (when I was ready) helped me immensely: "Combatting Cult Mind Control," by Hassan, "The Orwellian World of Jehovah's Witnesses." Fortunately for you there's much more support through the internet and other orgs than there was when I was leaving. Take advantage of them!! It will help you to feel less alone. Take care, and I hope to see you around here.

44

Who still goes to meetings?

by christopherceo in

just a curious question to see what types of stories i get.

let's hear how you do it.

blacksheep

Not to judge here, and as a caveat, I've been away for *years*, but I just cannot imagine being able to stomach the meetings. Even now, when I read a bit of the literature, it just seems wacko, sleep inducing, and poorly written. The though of going to a meeting makes me sick: I'd personally be a hypocrit to even set foot into one of the KH's. Now, I'm not saying that I dislike all JW's as individuals, but to me going to their meetings at all is showing support for them as an org, which is something I cannot imagine doing.

But, years ago, when I was trying to break away, I think I DID taper off the way some of you folks are. I was always a closet meeting loather (2nd generation JW). Now after being away so long, it's REALLY an incredible freedom. Funny, how JW's say the world is so enslaved. I feel exactly the opposite.

28

Ladies, are you submissive enough?

by Celia in

jw
friends

i just received a magazine in the mail titled : answer magazine.

it must come from some born again christians and i have an idea who had it forwarded to me.... .

one article is : what's so scary about submission ?

blacksheep

Patriarchal B.S. having its roots in the *fear* of women. Ironic, since the vast majority of JW members are *women*. The WTS would do far better to up its membership by giving the majority more of a voice.

54

Are all women psychos?

by roybatty in

im not sure if i was married to a psycho or not and am wondering if anyone else has had a similar experience with their ex.

weve been divorced for 2-1/2 years and have had our ups and downs.

because shes a diehard jw and doesnt have grounds to get re-married i get an ear full from her blah...blah.. anyway, one minute shes like "its terrible that i have to wait for you to get married before i can" and then this past weekend she calls me to talk.

blacksheep

Uh, not sure if this is a guys-only thread. I'm not a guy, but short answer "no." More involved answer: I truly believe most JW females *are*. My mother is a die-hard JW, and all I can say if I think she is a tad psycho. So is my die-hard JW sister. My guess is your ex may have had a tendency all on her own, but the JW thing pushed her over the edge. Sounds like your enjoying (at some level) taunting her. I understand that: I have to say there's a part of me that enjoys taunting my mom/sister (heck, if they're going to be in a weirdo-cultic religion, they have to pay the piper just a bit, don't you think?

Anyway, I believe the "subject yourselves to your husbands," even if he's a unbelieving S.O.B., has to get to a lot of women. It creates a weird psychosis. My JW sister once confided to me that she had "harmful thoughts" toward her husband, who *is* a JW. Go figure.

15

Why aren't you a believer?

by therealtruthsayer in

there were times in my life when i wondered to myself "am i making a mistake by leaving "jehovah"?

" at this point i know i have no doubts because why would a loving god kill everyone on earth who isn't a witness and i don't think that the true religion of god would be delivered to a white man in america.

that's why i'm no longer a believer.

blacksheep

Left Jehovah? Sounds like a distinctly JW POV. Now, I'm no religious buff, but you don't hear people who are lax on going to church on Sundays as "having left God." Good grief, the guilt-trip JW's try to lay on you: if you're not attending all 5 meetings a week, going out in service once-twice on the weekends, and attending all the big assemblies, you've "left Jehovah."

Me, I was "raised" as a JW, but deep down never really believed it. The rational, humanistic spirit in me was telling me it was a load of santimonious crap looong before I could say it out loud. Left Jehovah. That's the cult programming talking, hon!!!

8

Question to JW lurkers on 144,000 saved ones

by Gerard in

the watchtower organization states that through good works and sincere effort only 144,000 elite jws will go to heaven.

the 144,000 are mentioned in two chapters in the bible: revelation 7 & 14. by looking at the verses it is obvious that the 144,000 are literal jews of the ancient tribes with no gentiles among them (7:4-8).

they are all males (14:4) and virgins (14:4).

blacksheep

Of course, anyone can see that the 144,000 would be literal. But you can't just go by the book of Revelation alone. You have to check out Ezekiel, Daniel, and oh, I think Psalms, maybe Genesis (records the 12 tribes, multiply that by 12, then do the day-for-a year thing--dang where's my calculator) anyway, there's the whole formula. I'm not that smart and could never seem to explain it well, but my mom was an absolute whiz. She'd have that NWT flippin' so fast that you couldn't help but be convinced about the 144,000, the generations, the last days, Babylon the Great Harlot, the whole 9 yards was all right there in black and white. How can you miss it?

13

What "Miracle" has Jehovah done for you?

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

hehehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!

from our friends at purelanguage .

i know we all have had wonderful things happen to us that only jehovah could have done.

blacksheep

btw, what's "pure language?" Is that a JW website? These folks seem to be wackos, even for JW's.

13

What "Miracle" has Jehovah done for you?

by teenyuck in

jw
friends

hehehehehehe!!!!!!!!!!!!

from our friends at purelanguage .

i know we all have had wonderful things happen to us that only jehovah could have done.

blacksheep

Yeah, it always used to bug me to know end how some JW's could claim god's "blessing" or "intervention" for somthing as stupid as getting a finding a bang-up bicycle so they could ride their bike to the meetings, but yet when real tragedy strikes someone whose a die-hard JW, it's just "time and unforseen occurence."

This probably dates me, but I remember going back a few years and reading a book by some doctor to was doing then little known "bloodless" surgery. At the time JW"s it was circulating around our hall as a "must read." It was horribly written. It's like, this guy is some JW hero, although a non-believer. I just recall it because the JW's (and the doctor) treated every case like it was some miracle from Jehovah. That was hard enough to stomach. But then I read this elaborate story about how this JW couple worked through the maze of court orders and other red tape in order to not have their sick baby be given blood. I don't recall the details, but by some miracle, of course, Jehovah helped direct the doctor's skill so that the baby didn't need blood. Well, then as a footnote it said, tragically the baby died a few months later when the mother dropped it (or it befell some similar accident--I cannot quite recall). A lousy friggin' footnote. So Jehovah had blessed the baby/family by making sure he survived all this bloodless medical treatment, but then he dies via a totally unrelated accident. Yeah, that *really* gives me faith in Jehovah's "blessings."

22

Incredible quote from KM_03_02!

by Nowhere in

km, feb 03 - page 3, paragraph 6: .

a brother who was unexpectedly laid off from his secular employment took advantage of the situation to auxiliary pioneer....reflecting on his experience, he said: "what a month!

" how elated he was for having jehovah's direction and help!

blacksheep

He was elated? Maybe light-headed from hunger and all that door to door exercise. No doubt he gained a renewed appreciation for everything: food, sleep, a roof over his head...