sammielee24

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Posts by sammielee24

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  111

  Question about shunning from someone who has never been a JW....

  by whyizit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wondered, since the jws claim that jesus is their teacher, what evidence do they have of jesus shunning "bad associations"?

  it seems to me, from reading the bible, that the religious people of his day really gave him a hard time, because he actually spent the majority of his time with "bad associates", rather than shunning them.

  thomas, though he followed jesus, wasn't totally convinced.

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  sammielee24

  he reason I ask is because anyone can accuse. Proving something is another story.

  Imagine a world where we could have people killed merely by accusing them without proof?

  Imagine a world where we could have people believing the bible is an inspired works without proof. Imagine a world where people believe that a virgin bore a child without proof. Imagine a world where people follow an organization that was started by one man who believed that God gave him the truth - without proof. Imagine the same people following the next leader of that organization because he was Gods channel - without proof. Imagine a hundred years later more people following the same organization with all of its altered truths because it's leaders believe they are Gods mouthpieces - without proof. swife.
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  13

  Divorce for emotional abuse?

  by somebodylovesme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  because of a recent family situation (always a good time!

  ), i've been in a debate with a jw relative about whether the society permits divorce (without remarriage) where there is emotional abuse.

  this relative swears the literature has said that a person can leave her spouse where there is emotional abuse, but that she cannot remarry.

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  sammielee24

  I believe that text does apply for emotional abuse as well - you can get divorced because of emotional abuse, you just can't get remarried as this might fall under the spiritual endangerment guidelines. Then again, its a conscience matter. BTW - I should point out that there are many men who are emotionally and mentally abused so it's not just a female issue. sammieswife.
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  49

  Should Jehovah's Witnesses Be Allowed to Adopt Children?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  religion, race, sexual orientation etc.

  are not legal barriers to adoption in most areas.

  but knowing what you know now, if you were part of the decision-making process, would you be inclined to facillitate jw's to adopt?

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  sammielee24

  Jeff - I agree with your explanation. I am still however perplexed over the lines of civil liberties and privilege and you are right, many people not just JW's, have equally tumultous lives for any number of reasons. I suppose to my way of thinking though, if I know beforehand the culture that I am putting a child in has at the very least a 50% chance of destroying that individual - I would still put the welfare of the child first. If as Anewme said, it is recognized that the environment may be toxic and stall tactics are used then I guess that's a legal way around the whole issue. The problem of adoption vs fostering has bothered me for as long as I can remember. Babies are a commodity - everyone wants one - but there are many kids in foster care that are sit there for years without family contact and can't be adopted because the parents won't sign over their parental rights. Don't get me wrong - I think there are good people everywhere and life is a crap shoot at best for most of us. We all don't come from Norman Rockwell families but if I can give a kid a chance at some of that life I would not hesitate to step on someone's liberties if that is what we deem adoption to be. I feel that although we are changing the rate of value we place on our children, we still at times view them as less than ourselves, therefore, if we infringe on what someone believes is their inherent right to adopt a child, we devalue the child by ignoring their right to be placed in as balanced an environment as possible. There are no guarantee's but all options must be waived. Anewme - you would have made a wonderful parent. I feel that for those of us not privileged enough to bear our own children, we can look outside ourselves and take on a closer relationship with young people around us, wether that be a niece or nephew, a young cousin, a stepchild, working with youths...any number of avenues remain open to us to share, educate, entertain, love, guide, cherish and assist children. Just as one of my beloved uncles was my inspiration - the greatest compliment that I ever received did not come from any man or woman in my life - it came from one of my nieces who embraced me and told me that I have been, still am and will always be her role model. sammieswife.
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  49

  Should Jehovah's Witnesses Be Allowed to Adopt Children?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  religion, race, sexual orientation etc.

  are not legal barriers to adoption in most areas.

  but knowing what you know now, if you were part of the decision-making process, would you be inclined to facillitate jw's to adopt?

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  sammielee24

  I'm not sure if I understand the civil rights issue in this regard. I can understand the civil right to practice your own religion, however, I don't know if I consider adoption a civil right or a societal privilege. If a civil right (for example) gave us the freedom to engage in Nazism and all that entailed - does that right to practice that lifestyle also give us the civil right to adopt children and teach them to engage in the same practice? I might agree that all people should have to pass a test to be a parent, however, now you've stepped on the civil rights of people to procreate without government involvement in their lives. I personally get tired of hearing people go on about how it should be illegal to divorce..yet you can get married without any problems so in my opinion, people should have to attend life counselling for a year or two together even before they get married. Make getting married more difficult instead the other way around - but to do so would again be sitting on the civil liberties of an adult couple. A very interesting topic indeed but I still believe that any member of a cult should be refrained from adoption - the problem with any cult member is trying to make them understand that they are in a cult and the harm being done to them and their offspring. sammieswife.
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  44

  Name that poster round 1....

  by Sparkplug in

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  sammielee24

  Sparkplug you are such a gem!!!!!!!!!!!!...Dang there are a lot of fine looking people here! It's like a photo album that you've just put together and given as a gift to the family! Thanks - I really enjoyed this! sammieswife..
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  49

  Should Jehovah's Witnesses Be Allowed to Adopt Children?

  by TMS in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  religion, race, sexual orientation etc.

  are not legal barriers to adoption in most areas.

  but knowing what you know now, if you were part of the decision-making process, would you be inclined to facillitate jw's to adopt?

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  sammielee24

  should we not measure instead the individual and his qualities, not judge him on his religion or race?

  Jeff - while I agree with much of what you say, I don't always think its so easy to define the absolute ethics or morals of all society. How can you not measure an individual by his religion or race, if those things make the man who he is and totally define his own ethics. If a religion spews hatred for all others not of their religion and that is the way the adult lives their lives, is it right to subject a child to the ethics, morals and values of that religion? We are not talking about people producing their own children - we are speaking of children being brought into the environment. If a person lives their life with racial hatred or superiority (there are no boundaries on culture or colour) then why allow a child to be brought into the ethics, morals and values of that family? I don't see that as discrimination. It can be a slippery slope certainly but just as no child should be allowed to be brought into any abusive household, the same should work for any religious household that can be deemed just as abusive. Witnesses have no respect for others in the world. They are forced to mingle in order to work, but they do not socialize with others. They are taught that people in the world have no morals, that they are no more than pigs in a barnyard to put it bluntly. Many are home schooled so as to avoid contamination from kids in the world. They are raised with fear, guilt and low self esteem. They are pushed to marry inside the organization and punished if they don't. They are advised to refrain from education that provides a financial future for them and any family they might have. They are not loved unconditionally. We might say that all these things exist in other families not just JW's, but if you recognize any of these things before a child is placed, do we not have a right to protect the child? Would I allow a child to be placed in a home where I knew he/she would be subjected to regular beatings in the name of religion or culture? No. Would I allow a child to be adopted into a family who believed for religious or cultural reasons, that they should mutiliate their female children? No. Would I want a child to be adopted into a family who believed that it was okay to have sex with your daughters for some religious or cultural reason? No. The list could go on and on...but it boils down to what definies us ethically and why. You loved your daughter and have no doubt been a wonderful father, but I think we've all heard how many mothers and fathers tell their kids how much they love them and at the same time they are shunning them - sometimes for the rest of their lives and that is abuse in no uncertain terms. As someone who could never have children, I understand very clearly the desire and reasons for adoption ..but IMHO unless some of the basic doctrines of the JW's were to change, I wouldn't see adoption into a JW family as being in the best interest of a child. sammieswife.
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  102

  my bethel servise left me seriously depressed!!!!

  by xcaliber in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i auxilary pioneered for a year, then i regular pioneered for 2 years while serving as a ministerial servant.

  then i served at bethel for 3 years.

  while at bethel i worked harder then i have my hole life.

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  sammielee24

  WHAT WOULD YOU DO IF YOU WERE ME????

  What is it you want to do with your life? Do you want to get married? Then you have to be able to support yourself. What job do you want? Do you want to work cleaning bathrooms or would you rather work as a computer technician, a library, carpentry, plumbing? Think of what you want to be doing 10 years from now - what kind of life do you see for yourself when you are 40? Do you see a house? Kids? A car? A vacation? Or do you see yourself only out in service knocking on doors? You need to decide for yourself where you want to be in the future and work toward that goal. The Society may not like education, but the Society will not pay for your health care, your retirement, your car, your vacation, clothes, food, rent or raising children. If your aspiration is to continue knocking on doors, well - I guess I'd advise you to play the game and aim high because the only people who are gaining anything in the organization are at the top. At least they have a roof over their heads and money in their pocket - and I'd wisely bank that extra money because you'll need it when they kick yout out years down the road. As for them only having the real truth in the bible - perhaps you may wish to pick up a bible other than the Watchtower written New World Translation - I think you might find it interesting to note the differences and recognize that despite being told it was inspired, the NWT, the society bible, is nothing more than another translated piece of work and men no more inspired than I am at writing my own translation. What would I do if I were you? I'd never stop learning. sammieswife.
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  27

  Too Dang HOT!!

  by caligirl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just stepped out into my back yard and thought i was going to melt.

  i was going to fill up the inflatable pool for my son, but by the time it gets filled up, the water will be about 90 and not worth the bother.

  i'm sure that other california people can relate to this.

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  sammielee24

  Took in a show yesterday and it was 111 at abt 5 pm...no a/c - only a swamp cooler and it's steamy. Just got in and right now my thermometer on the sunny side of the house says its 116 outside....on the shady side it's 94....humidity is abt 82 ...even the birds have taken to hiding...supposed to be another week of this stuff so my advice is fill up the tub with cool water, climb in and just keep humming to yourself...'don't worry...be happy'......sammieswife.
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  27

  What if we wrote letters to the Society.....

  by Lady Liberty in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  goodmorning all and "happy saturday"!!.

  i recently had a very upsetting conversation regarding my stand with my active aunt.

  for 4 hours i tried to reason with her on many issues.

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  sammielee24

  Lady L - I have sent 2 separate letters last month and I'm still waiting on a response. I was specific with my questions and asked for them to respond with the same sincerity and seriousness that I asked the questions. I also made clear to them my intent of showing the responses directly to the failthful JW's that I know, since the issues directly affect my life. Nothing yet. sammieswife.
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  52

  What has this board given to you?

  by Crumpet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  having cooled down a bit in the garden i got to thinking about what this board has given me and wondered what anyone else feels they have gained from it.. for me its been invaluable and even life changing:.

  1) freedom from the brainwashing - when i came here i had already read ray franz's books and still believed it jws had the truth - hat i was basically worthless and that i would die at armageddon.

  the reasoned conversations and help of the posters from all over the world has enabled me to have freedom of thought - something i didnt even know i didnt have until i spent time here.. 2) friends who empathise and know from an experience what i have been through in a way outsiders can never possiby understand.. 3) entertainment - unbelievable laughs and moments of humour that have cheered me up so many times.. 4) association - via the aposta bbqs and telephone chats i can now have so i don't feel so isolated and to some extent alleviates the awful pain of separation from my loved family.. 5) information - from this board and posters here i have found out things that were my right to know but would never have learnt otherwise - my sisters marriage, my aunts tragic death.. 6) reunions - i have now met at least one person who knows me from my childhood and has grown into a man of such kindness and patience that i would have missed out on completely had he not been here and been kind enough to hold my hand - even when i've been an irritating totured little idiot!.

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  sammielee24

  Understanding, education, insight, more compassion and the ability to learn another language to name a few...sammieswife.