BlackSwan of Memphis

Joined

• started 212 topics
• posted 2,911 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by BlackSwan of Memphis

• 
  29

  Beards vs. Shunning announcements

  by slimboyfat in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  during lett’s announcement that beards are now allowed he elaborated at some length how brothers ought to feel and react to the change in policy.

  he warned brothers not to resent not being able to grow beards earlier if they had wished to do so.

  he also warned brothers who supported the old policy not to allow themselves to wonder what the point of doing so was now that it has changed.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  So this is true. This is part of why I logged back in. I saw on FB a few weeks ago that beards and man buns are okay now.
  smh.
  okay.
  
  
• 
  14

  Sixteen years later and wow is life different

  by BlackSwan of Memphis in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have no idea if this is the right place to post this.

  if you're just leaving the witnesses or questioning and toying with the idea of leaving..... life goes by fast.

  and either you rip the band aid off and deal with it or let it fester and eat you alive.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I have no idea if this is the right place to post this. But. Oh well.

  If you're just leaving the Witnesses or questioning and toying with the idea of leaving....

  Life goes by Fast. And either you rip the band aid off and deal with it or let it fester and eat you alive.

  Ive seen people do both.

  But the sooner you face it the sooner you start to heal and figure out who you are and where you're going.

  I NEVER would have guessed 16 years ago that I would be where I am now.

  And where I am now is far far better then I ever could have believed.

  
  
• 
  510

  What Music have you Been Listening to this Last Year ? Post You tubes if you Like !

  by flipper in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wktxjuyiat4.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis
• 
  5

  Now Even Nuns Are Acused of Sexual Abuse

  by sparky1 in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  .

  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/women-describe-alleged-abuse-by-nuns-the-secret-not-yet-told/.

  how deep in society does all of this behavior go?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I just blogged about this, or rather have it scheduled.
  
  Don't you notice how no one who is not a former JW or former Catholic etc are willing to make this a part of the discussions on their social media?

  Don't you see?

  For centuries children (and whomever else would be weakest) are the sacrifices that people offer their deities. Whether it's Jesus, fame, fortune, power.

  Look at Hollywood. Look at the stories that came out about the monarchy, Andrew. Politics.
  
  Abuse is everywhere. That's not the issue. The issue is that now people are talking, now people have the tools they need to talk. We just need more people to listen and share and demand changes in the various structures of power that have made it possible for people to get away with it for so damned long.
  
  Sorry if this is ranty. :/
  
• 
  3

  Cutting the ties which bind.

  by Lost in the fog in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  the following article is about getting away from toxic family members.

  but it equally can apply to cutting off any toxic person or group of people.

  looking at the 5 points for identifying such toxic people - i have seen or experienced every one of them inside the congregation of jehovah’s witnesses.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  Your own peace of mind, and relationships with others change when you cut the ties.
• 
  1

  Brighton, Mi apostates? Lenawee county?

  by BlackSwan of Memphis in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  justin curious if there's any here..

  1. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  Justin curious if there's any here.
• 
  28

  "Are you the plumber?"

  by Jourles in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've been debating whether or not to post this story simply because the org knows who i am (post history from pre-'05 will tell you all you need to know), and i'm not sure if they would give my parents shit if they knew what transpired earlier this summer.

  but you know what, i don't care what they do, because my mom is dying of stage iv cancer and i feel this needs to be heard by anyone struggling with the loss of contact from their relatives.. for those who are not familiar with my background, i became a small thorn in the side of the wts while i was still in.

  i'm not big on being deceived, and for me, the org crossed my personal 'red line' when it came to blood and the child abuse issue.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I'm so sorry about your mom, Jourles.

  😞

  It's difficult to know exactly how to handle each situation. And while I can say good job, I don't think that's quite necessary.

  I'm glad you have found the victories.

  💜
• 
  70

  The Reasons for Cart Witnessing

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  whatever we think of it, you have to admit that it's quite "genius".. the door to door ministry as done in western developed countries where the jw quirky religion has probably reached their saturation level was a complete and utter waste of time in terms of the effort expended to recruit people.. at the same time, it was rarely something that anyone enjoyed which led to people being labelled as inactive, being pressured to doing more and maybe ultimately deciding jwism wasn't for them and leaving.. there was also the issue that many jws are actually pretty bad at knowing and articulating their beliefs so were pretty incapable of getting any meaningful message across.. they solved all this with the cart witnessing.

  the real point isn't to recruit, it's to make life easier for jws.

  now they can stand and chat with their friend, have a coffee, not talk to anyone or make eye contact and still act as a walking billboard for jw.org.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I've seen them in downtown Ann Arbor and in a little town south of that (Saline). I've been thinking of getting my own cart.....

  
  
• 
  16

  MICHIGAN PEOPLE!!!...Multi-millionaire witness Pat Patterson.....

  by integ in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  anyone heard of this guy?.

  he built up an insurance agency in michigan, and sold it for over 10 million dollars.. apparently, at his big office in novi, michigan, he only hires witnesses and they are all making big bucks.. i know an agent who was going to work for him in another state (they do business in 10 states i think), but declined to sign up when he found out the organization was owned and operated by witnesses.. he said: "that explains the ridiculously low commissions they pay their agents".

  they sell alot of life insurance.. why would this witness owned agency push life insurance if the end is so near???.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  I realize this is an ancient discussion but for good reasons I'm wondering what the latest is on Patterson and his company?
• 
  32

  What JW Beliefs Did You Find Difficult To Explain?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are a lot.

  anything blood related was difficult to reasonably prove from a witness perspective.. 1914 was another one.

  what can you add to the list?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  BlackSwan of Memphis

  1914

  It was ridiculous.