Posts by rebel8

94

just what am I supposed to believe now??

by purrpurr in

while i'm glad i found this site, it has also crumbled to bits everything i've believed in my whole life.

i feel like the certainty, magic and wonder has gone out of my life.

this has left a huge hole in my soul.

rebel8

There is so much wonder and magic in the natural world. There are some awesome books you can read to begin your journey to recapture that sense of wonder, for example, Broca's Brain.

36

It's my 25th yr anniversary of freedom

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

approximately 25 yrs ago today, i left the borg forever.. .

thank you jwn/jwd for helping me heal by listening to me.

there are not many greater gifts than freedom..

rebel8

Thanks everyone!

What would you say have been your major accomplishments since leaving? (Other than feeling freedom and enjoyment of life)

Lots of college, decreased many irrational fears caused by brainwashing, learned how to (mostly) not judge others, vote, celebrate holidays, went to other churches without lightning zapping me , got a career, moved far away from the area filled with jw memories, admitted my jw past to a limited number of people IRL, read many non-jw books, pursued a hobby for its own sake, had days off without having to go door knocking, helped lots of people escape, became an apostate & wrote books/ran a website, got the Holocaust Museum to add the Declaration of Facts and Penton's book to their library, spread the sign language masturbation video all over the Internet (along with others, after someone else discovered it!) which ended up on comedy shows and got a gajillion hits--hopefully preventing lots of people from ever suffering the way we did, got my heart broken several times, got married to a normal person, bought property, studied and understood scientific and mathematical concepts, disproved creation and the bible, experienced normal joys and heartaches, was in the metaphorical foxhole and remained an atheist, kicked the ass of cancer and other assorted major and minor illnesses, told some really petty jw bullies exactly where to stick it, developed a talent to freak out jws by acting demonized (only when they deserve it).

What I have not accomplished yet?

Become 100% free from intrusive memories, 100% free from irrational fears caused by brainwashing, 100% free from social awkwardness in connection with lessened ability to relate to others due to my weird past, 100% free from sadness related to my past

So yes, to those who say, "Move on," I have. And that doesn't mean that remnants stick around. We are a product of the sum total of our experiences. No way around that.

48

Hubby's tempted to go back

by jgnat in

jw
friends

today he kept bumping in to (or rather dodging and weaving from) fellow witnesses.

he's talking about returning but can't figure out a way to do it without enduring a fair amount of humiliation.

i did not panic.

rebel8

My best advice would be to say, "I have a brain and a pair of balls, so I couldn't imagine ever going back."

36

It's my 25th yr anniversary of freedom

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

approximately 25 yrs ago today, i left the borg forever.. .

thank you jwn/jwd for helping me heal by listening to me.

there are not many greater gifts than freedom..

rebel8

Approximately 25 yrs ago today, I left the Borg forever.

Thank you jwn/jwd for helping me heal by listening to me. There are not many greater gifts than freedom.

24

Not on JW.org: Canadian National Post; Jehovah's Witness Canadian Model CoCo Rocha interview

by Balaamsass in

scenecoco rocha is a devout jehovahs witnesslilian asante | jan 17, 2013 2:10 pm et | last updated: jan 17, 2013 5:20 pm et.

rebel8

There is also the "creature worship" issue. This religion does not allow putting any individual on a pedestal, for it will puff her up with pride. It's the reason they don't allow birthdays or things like being in advanced courses in school. Modeling seems to be an inappropriate career for a jw.

I'm sure I could come up with some clips of jw sistas in prarie skirts, baggy blouses and no makeup, held up by the boranization as the shining example of womanhood. But I'm too lazy to look for those clips.

75

JWs getting "Footloose" at the Kingdom Hall

by AndDontCallMeShirley in

i hope no one here get's injured when they see this and their jaw hits the floor:.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=689701664435095&set=vb.100001858044479&type=2&theater.

rebel8

He was painfully shy and couldn't ever get the courage to go from door to door try as he may. After he died a horrible death in a modern hospital with every possible means to save him, the Brothers comforted us saying we'd be seeing him again soon in the New System because he died faithful to Jehovah.

We asked if we could have his Memorial at the Kingdom Hall. They said it wouldn't be allowed because he wasn't baptized. I said "So he'll be allowed in Jehovah's New System, but in this system his memorial can't be held held in the Kingdom Hall ? "

Oh my god.

29

JW internal warfare threatens the Tract campaign

by Quarterback in

i overheard this argument re the new tract campaign.

one elder told a publisher, to hide the tract in the mailbox if the home owner wasn't home.

the publisher was used to folding the tip of the tract, and just left a tip showing.

rebel8

If they want to put it in the mailbox then they need to pay for postage like the rest of us.

Ensuring laws are enforced is an effective cult shrinking technique. cultprevention.blogspot.com/2009/11/how-to-shrink-cults.html

The KM in 2000 states, " to not make the tract invisible to passersby's". The publisher said, " it was invisible to passersby's."

What?! In pioneer school we were taught the opposite. It promotes break-ins.

75

JWs getting "Footloose" at the Kingdom Hall

by AndDontCallMeShirley in

i hope no one here get's injured when they see this and their jaw hits the floor:.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=689701664435095&set=vb.100001858044479&type=2&theater.

rebel8

That is so bizarre.

Also, that line dancing did not deserve all that hollering. It wasn't that good.

The only reason they're so excited about it is because they are not used to seeing each other have fun. It's like seeing your boss drunk at the xmas party.

So there's my snarky post of the day.

17

My mother listed me as a Jehovah's Witness at the Hospital for a pending emergency surgery

by adjusted knowledge in

jw
friends

i've been having some medical issues recently and had to check into the emgerceny hospital.

when they admitted me the registar asked my mother my religion.

she told them jehovah's witness.

rebel8

1. Change your record with the hospital immediately. If you're already discharged then write them a letter. If you're in the US, you have a legal right to write an addendum to your medical record. Do it. You never know when you might need to be admitted again.

2. The elder may very well have found you because you listed yourself as a jw (by your failure to object when your mom told the staff your religion). HIPAA allows directory info to be given unless you specify no info is to be given to anyone. Clergy of all sorts come in to the main desk and the hospital and pick up the lists of their flock to visit. (TIP: If you don't want clergy to visit, have your record changed to "declined to state religious preference".)

3. CC all your providers on your letter about your religious status. State you accept blood if necessary (if that's what you want).

By not objecting, you have potentially put yourself in danger.

2

What's the harm in believing in falsehoods?

by rebel8 in

jw
friends

some people wonder if others' beliefs should not be challenged--just leave them alone--do not be a "voice of reason".. what's the harm of belief?what's the harm of not thinking critically?

here are 365,632 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.what's the harm of believing in medicine that doesn't work?

368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages what's the harm in not being vaccinated?

rebel8

Some people wonder if others' beliefs should not be challenged--just leave them alone--do not be a "voice of reason".

What's the harm of belief?
What's the harm of not thinking critically? Here are 365,632 people who were harmed by someone not thinking critically.
What's the harm of believing in medicine that doesn't work? 368,379 people killed, 306,096 injured and over $2,815,931,000 in economic damages
What's the harm in not being vaccinated? http://www.jennymccarthybodycount.com/Anti-Vaccine_Body_Count/Home.html
And we all know this one.