Posts by sammielee24

19

Perverted Justice, Dateline & The City of Murphy, Texas

by cruzanheart in

unbeknownst to the town, our police department partnered with perverted justice and did a sting operation in our little town of murphy, texas.

dateline came and filmed a segment and, what with one thing and another, the white-bread suburbanites came completely unglued about the whole thing.

they contacted the media and what would have merely been an episode of dateline turned into a media circus, complete with geraldo.

sammielee24

It's a shame people want to bury their head in the sand. I've watched these stings on Dateline as many times as they've had them and it makes me sick to see how many men line up to have sex with young girls. The town really doesn't matter - the act these guys set out to do - does. I could care what town they live in or where the sting is held because as long as Dateline keeps up this work and airs the film - shows the faces of the men - the conversations they are having with kids - it's all good. It means that somewhere, someplace, some perv will think twice about picking up condoms and beer and heading off for a night with a 13 year old. I shiver when I see these grown men with daughters and sons of their own because then I have to wonder what might have transpired in their own homes already. sammieswife.

15

What percentage of those disfellowshipped get reinstated?

by jwfacts in

i remember reading somewhere that only 1/3 of people disfellowshipped get reinstated, but can't remember where.

it may have been one of franz's books, or even a watchtower.

can anyone remember if such a figure has been given, and what it was?.

sammielee24

Ask my MIL and she'll tell you 'most come back to Jehovah' and she can spout names for you who did - and if I point out that most often it's because they don't want their family to treat them like they are dead - well - it's like the words haven't been spoken. It's not the numbers that count - it's the reason they go back that should be the concern. One thing thats most ridiculous to me - is the repentance allotment for reinstatement. If you move to another congregation but your reinstatement has to come from your old congregation - from Elders who might not like you or hold grudges - how can repentance be measured? They don't see you. They don't know whats in your heart yet they can keep people from getting back in that are really repentant just because they want to. sammieswife.

35

I watched "KNOCKING" DVD

by garybuss in

jw
friends

it was l o n g. loads to think about.. .

lots of extras.

i think i watched them all.

sammielee24

Thanks Gary...what site did you order it on? Is there a general link somewhere I can look for? sammieswife.

23

I really need some advice

by hambeak in

jw
friends

i want to contact my adult children and let them know i do love them.

they only 2 out of 4 called me and when they thought i would die from cancer wanted to get something.

i do really love my kids ages 26 to 32 and am so depressed tonite.

sammielee24

Sorry to hear of your distress Hambeak...I don't know your circumstances but if you want to contact your kids I think you should. Doesn't have to be a long winded letter to start with - nothing full of explanations or excuses but maybe just a contact letter to tell them you miss them and that you would like to hear from them. Perhaps letting them know that if they have questions, they can ask you - that sort of thing. Take care....sammieswife.

35

I watched "KNOCKING" DVD

by garybuss in

jw
friends

it was l o n g. loads to think about.. .

lots of extras.

i think i watched them all.

sammielee24

I zoomed around in the PBS site and the Independent site but couldn't find any link to purchase the video. I did see that it airs in May 2007 in California at 10 pm but I have to think that the additional footage that you saw won't be included in the television version? Did you find the video without the additional footage worth watching or would you have passed on it if it had only been an hour long? sammieswife.

45

How do Cults recruit and keep their members?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

how do cults recruit and keep their members?

it starts with learning something new that was not known before.

in the case of jehovah's witnesses, the individual is introduced.

sammielee24

Wanderer - thankyou.

In my association with Witnesses - I have dealt with people who joined when they were adults, people born and raised in the Society and people who were 'close' to being baptized but who eventually made the decision to terminate their relationship (in whatever form that took) from the Society. What I've found is that those joining as adults were looking for something in their life that they couldn't seem to find by understanding and acceptance of themselves. Sometimes and for some people, I think introspection of oneself, is burdonsome. I feel absolute compassion for those born into it because what has been taken from many of them (especially in zealous families) is most often who they are and what they might have become. What I tend to feel more ofen when dealing with people who joined as adults and who adhere to the shunning poliices, disassociation from the world, prejudice, blood issues etc., is simple frustration. I recognize the brainwashing that has taken place but despite that, I still find it frustrating that they - who were once part of the world, might have married in the world, have all their family in the world - reject that world as evil to follow a leadership that has ripped their own blood from their heart. sammieswife.

45

How do Cults recruit and keep their members?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

how do cults recruit and keep their members?

it starts with learning something new that was not known before.

in the case of jehovah's witnesses, the individual is introduced.

sammielee24

What kind of individuals do you think get readily "taken" ?
What other methods do cults employ regarding recruiting?
What is your point of view regarding cults and there methods?

I think people who are born into a cult vs people who voluntarily join a cult as adults are different. I believe that people born into them and who are surrounded by cultists have a more difficult time in trying to move forward only because there are no other experiences to compare to. Their comprehension of the world at large is altered significantly and as a child, if your independent, critical reasoning is retarded, your social skills are not allowed to enhance your life, you are more fearful than ever of leaving. People who join as adults I think are people who have 'troubled' lives and are extremely susceptible. A 'troubled' life can mean different things to each of us, therefore, a person who is struggling with depression or anxiety might be highly vulnerable, just as a mother overwhelmed with her work/children/marriage might also be. People looking for a reason to 'fit' in, meaning in their lives, a belief that will provide them with answers might search for something outside of themselves which makes them open to recruitment. Many people want consistency, they want that structure where they can absolve themselves of responsibility for their inaction/actions by virtue of living inside a cult where the grand master makes the rules and all you have to do is believe and/or follow and you feel safe. Living forever in this case, is icing on the cake. In a nutshell - when a cult is dangerous in that it restricts the freedoms and rights from the follower, when it subjects it's members to constant fear and degradation, when it lies and manipulates followers for financial gain, allows and condones the death of it's members to the point of martyrdom - they should be banned. The problem is - when defining cult - there might be a number of definitions where one might decide that all religions are cults. sammieswife.

121

Mom Died -- and I found out from an old friend!

by BrendaCloutier in

ok, i'm writing this thru tears as i just found out in the last 5 minutes.

my dad died in august, and they had been together just 1 or 2 weeks over 70 years married!

i didn't expect her to last without him, and visa versa.. i just tried to call my sister, and no answer there.

sammielee24

So sorry to hear about your mom Brenda...(((((big hugs)))). sammieswife.

6

another Hollywood marriage ends

by Mulan in

just read on msn.com that britney spears has filed for divorce in los angeles.

sammielee24

I read this today - divorce sucks but better now than later for her and those kids. I always felt badly for her because I always sensed a sort of desperate desire she had in wanting someone to love her. Being young and thinking she was in love- wanting a family so much - she made a mistake but thank goodness she's crawling out from under it now. She will emerge a much stronger and independent woman for the experience. sammieswife.

87

What if she never leaves JWs? (The interminable waiting period...)

by AuldSoul in

jw
friends

this has nothing to do with whether i love my wife.

i always will.. pragmatically, i have come to the devastating conclusion that i don't want to be married to a jw.

any jw.. she asked me last night, "so, do you believe in santa clause, now?

sammielee24

Is this the sort of thing that I could have a nice chat with the CO regarding? I had already instructed my father to have no secret conversations with my wife about our relationship, on the grounds of the headship principle, and he has directly ignored that more than once.

My gut feeling is if the CO agrees to meet with you (and many would refuse any association), it won't change anything because the deed has been done. If your father has spoken or advised your wife in regards to your marriage or a possible separation, and against your wishes, then it could easily become a matter of 'misinterpretation'. I would still go ahead and try - but I wouldn't get my hopes up that it will solve anything. What a PO says - always trumps what a non Witness says - therefore, you as a non Witness may just be 'misunderstanding' the conversations they had. Sorry for your troubles - living with love and respect based on condition of position can be demoralizing ...stay strong.