Posts by LongHairGal

19

Meeting announcement for emergency contact info of non-JW friends & relatives (?)

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

i just saw this post on reddit and can hardly believe it.. if i remember correctly years back they told you not to have anything to do with non-jw friends or relatives.

they discouraged you from bothering with non-jw family and to avoid them on holidays!!

i needlessly missed out on some delicious holiday meals with people who genuinely cared about me.

LongHairGal

FEDUPJW:

I’m glad your parents had you and that other kind relative. Forget about the people in the congregation.

In another Nutshell, this is what the real problem in the JW religion is as I see it:..The Witness religion (UNLIKE Christendom) has NO programs to help anybody!! Therefore, the wrong ‘message’ is that Other people in the congregation are going to be hit up for money. They never tell this to new recruits because I’d never tolerate it.

The BIG problem with this is that the religion discouraged college and careers so many are low income. Also, there were hateful attitudes towards people who did get careers! Much of the vindictiveness was on the part of people who NEVER wanted to work but preferred to be in the full time ministry with part time crappy jobs..These people also got invited to special gatherings that I was never invited to….SO, what makes anybody think people who got criticized are going to give money to people who didn’t want to work??? This would also extend to what you said about your parents getting help. I mean, what kind of ‘help’ would you imagine they were going to get from people in the congregation?

No offense, but I think this is a wrong expectation that people in a congregation are going to care for anybody’s aged parents. Really? (Hospitality here and there and barbecue invitations are one thing: caring for somebody else’s relatives is another thing entirely.).. Just be glad You were there for them and that you had enough sense to plan for your retirement.

8

First rule of book club: don't talk about book club

by Judgerussellford in

i've never heard anyone else but ne say this but i've been saying it for years.

if you agree and have also been saying this for years, that is hilariously greater.

watchtower is just a cooperation that hides behind a religious title, that owns real-estate around the world, these buildings wich only have 1 purpose.

LongHairGal

Hi JUDGERUSSELLFORD:

I was raised Catholic and (sadly) got involved with the JW religion as a young working person several years after 1975. Nobody mentioned 1975 to me.

I found out much later on about people who quit jobs and made other foolish gambles before 1975. It was all hush-hush. I am just happy I never did.

Glad it makes you happy to collect these books. That sounds like a very impressive collection you have!

19

Meeting announcement for emergency contact info of non-JW friends & relatives (?)

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

i just saw this post on reddit and can hardly believe it.. if i remember correctly years back they told you not to have anything to do with non-jw friends or relatives.

they discouraged you from bothering with non-jw family and to avoid them on holidays!!

i needlessly missed out on some delicious holiday meals with people who genuinely cared about me.

LongHairGal

I just saw this post on Reddit and can hardly believe it.

If I remember correctly years back they told you not to have anything to do with non-JW friends or relatives. They discouraged you from bothering with non-JW family and to avoid them on holidays!! I needlessly missed out on some delicious holiday meals with people who genuinely cared about me. And, for what?

So, what is the reason for this new direction and what kind of message does it say to people still in the religion?

Is it because nobody can count on their so-called spiritual brothers and sisters to be there for them when things get bad? Is it because too many Witnesses are leaving and the rest are too old or just plain irresponsible? If I remember correctly, JWs weren’t necessarily ‘there’ for you even when things in general were going well. Some never said hello.

This puts many active JWs in a bit of a predicament. What if they have been shunning their non-Witness family for decades and there are hard feelings? Also, what if the non-JW relatives are Out and don’t want to be contacted. They certainly would not want their name, address and current phone number on any form given to the religion! I know I wouldn’t. Also, what about JWs who never cultivated non-JW friends because the religion told them not to (“Bad associations spoil useful habits” 🙄).

I am Out and thankfully have no family there so this has no effect on me but the few JWs I know are in this situation. It really makes you wonder about what IS going on there.

8

First rule of book club: don't talk about book club

by Judgerussellford in

i've never heard anyone else but ne say this but i've been saying it for years.

if you agree and have also been saying this for years, that is hilariously greater.

watchtower is just a cooperation that hides behind a religious title, that owns real-estate around the world, these buildings wich only have 1 purpose.

LongHairGal

JUDGERUSSELLFORD:

I was always bothered by the idea of all those damn books..All that was really needed was a Bible. Period.

For the first year I was there I wouldn’t even open any of the magazines. Of course, that bothered everybody around me including the people I ‘studied’ with. In time, I gave in. Too bad I didn’t listen to my instincts. I could have saved myself wasted time and not gone through what I did!

I ‘Faded’ from the Witnesses years later. I am just grateful I didn’t totally fall for it and quit my job like they were urging me to. I wouldn’t be Retired today if I listened to these assorted meddling fools who would have ruined my life. Would any of them or the religion/corporation/organization be supporting anybody today??…Nope.

32

Can you list the positive points of being a JW as against the negative points of being a JW in your experience ?

by smiddy3 in

i was a twenty y/old when i converted to the jw religion and was a problem drinker and i was a chain smoker .when i was baptized at a circuit assembly a year later , my conversion and change in lifestyle was given as an example of the effectiveness of incidental witnessing to the audience.. so i can point to the 2 positives becoming a jw .. 1.i gave up smoking.

2.i gave up drinking for a while ,but because i still had association with my wife`s and my family who were not jw`s ,i learnt to control my social drinking when i started again.. and i have been a responsible drinker ever since ,even though i left the religion 29 years ago.. the negative points of being a jw in my 32 years of being one ?

are far too great to list here .. love to hear your thoughts..

LongHairGal

DESIROUS OF CHANGE:

While we can all point out some ‘positive’ factors/benefits from being a JW, they can ONLY be perceived as positive so long as the negative effects weren’t enough to either kill us OR severely hamper us.

I am referring to people dying from the blood ban; those who suffer severe depression from shunning, etc. with ruined family lives which stays with a person forever; and, lastly, poverty as a senior citizen because of not getting a decent job w/benefits in younger years.

A lot of JWs/ex-JWs fall in the category of falling somewhere outside these categories so they can say they ‘benefited’ somehow because of the religion. But, they only benefited from dumb luck and favorable circumstances (like the fact that I was not born-in but came in with a full-time job which I held onto until Retirement).

My honest assessment is that the bad might outweigh the good.. If I had it to do all over again, knowing what I know, I would never have joined the JW religion and I’m glad I’m Out.

68

Prediction of how Watchtower going to be in 5 Years.

by Foolednomore in

jw
friends

i can see it that watchtower will become an online/tv based group with just con-vention hall$.. field service would be letter writing and phone preaching, door to door is done.. watchtower will have pay to view programs and still ask for donations after all that.. zoom meetings are here to stay.

kingdumb halls will be sold off except for con-vention venues, or need for new ones$.. df'ing will continue.

the craziness will continue.

LongHairGal

DISILLUSIONED JW:

Please don’t take offense. I was speaking in generalities when I said many JWs either don’t know or don’t much care what is being taught. (We aren’t using our real names here and nobody knows who you or your family are.)

It’s true there are so many teachings there it takes an unusual person to keep track. But, the Witnesses I know certainly are not in this category and are just ‘there’. They would probably get tongue-tied if you asked them an intelligent question about their beliefs.

I still believe the religion was psychologically harmful to me anyway. But, my observation was that not everybody was equally damaged by the religion. It was hit and miss and depended on who you were. Some people are perfectly happy there. Let them stay there. I’m just glad I’m out 21 years. I was only TOO happy to forget most of the useless teachings there and only recall the few basic ones.

I also believe the ‘loyalty’ thing is not just about control but because they want to keep people from leaving when they are stumbled or things don’t make sense..Of course, this doesn’t necessarily work because there is a steady exodus of people - especially lately. I hope it continues.

68

Prediction of how Watchtower going to be in 5 Years.

by Foolednomore in

jw
friends

i can see it that watchtower will become an online/tv based group with just con-vention hall$.. field service would be letter writing and phone preaching, door to door is done.. watchtower will have pay to view programs and still ask for donations after all that.. zoom meetings are here to stay.

kingdumb halls will be sold off except for con-vention venues, or need for new ones$.. df'ing will continue.

the craziness will continue.

LongHairGal

DISILLUSIONED JW:

I also believe that those that stay in the JW religion don’t even care what is being taught. Hardly any of them can explain what the teachings are. It’s not about accuracy of beliefs and I think it never really was. I was so deceived as to what the religion was really all about and would never have joined if I knew.

They only know the name ‘Jehovah’ and the words ‘new system’. Everything else makes no difference to these people.

I also believe the changes were major and not ‘minor refinements’.

Why do you think they were always talking about ‘loyalty’? This bothered me because it implied that something was wrong but you should stick with it anyway..or something was wrong with you.

Some believe it is the ‘truth’, others might not be so sure but it’s too late to uproot their lives and go elsewhere. This religion is a whole lifestyle.

Like you I believe the JW religion is damaging psychologically and I’m not even a born-in! Anybody who wants to stay in? Good luck. I’m just glad I got out years ago with most of my marbles intact, and with the full-time job they all hated me for which I kept until Retirement.

68

Prediction of how Watchtower going to be in 5 Years.

by Foolednomore in

jw
friends

i can see it that watchtower will become an online/tv based group with just con-vention hall$.. field service would be letter writing and phone preaching, door to door is done.. watchtower will have pay to view programs and still ask for donations after all that.. zoom meetings are here to stay.

kingdumb halls will be sold off except for con-vention venues, or need for new ones$.. df'ing will continue.

the craziness will continue.

LongHairGal

FOOLEDNOMORE:

Well, I’m glad your business is good.

I’m also glad you said in a previous post you filed complaints officially. At least it’s on record just in case there is any trouble or ‘misunderstandings’ at some point. Let’s hope everything continues to go well. 👍🏻

68

Prediction of how Watchtower going to be in 5 Years.

by Foolednomore in

jw
friends

i can see it that watchtower will become an online/tv based group with just con-vention hall$.. field service would be letter writing and phone preaching, door to door is done.. watchtower will have pay to view programs and still ask for donations after all that.. zoom meetings are here to stay.

kingdumb halls will be sold off except for con-vention venues, or need for new ones$.. df'ing will continue.

the craziness will continue.

LongHairGal

FOOLEDNOMORE:

Just never mind about these JWs that don’t want to work. It’s not your problem to motivate them. We already know they are looking for a free ride…Just go about your own business and ignore them.

I would also have signs that say “NO Soliciting”..I have seen these in businesses. I also wouldn’t have unnecessary chitchat if anybody wanders in and doesn’t look like they want to order anything ..The only thing I would say is “can I help you?” No talking about the weather or anything.

If you don’t get a response, take your eyes off them and smilingly greet the next customer and go about your business ignoring the person not ordering.. I can’t imagine they would have the nerve to hang out after that.

Have you spoken to the local hall about this? [Tell me: are you afraid the JWs will boycott your business? I hope you are popular enough that there are enough other customers.]

How do you think other business owners would respond if this were happening to them?

68

Prediction of how Watchtower going to be in 5 Years.

by Foolednomore in

jw
friends

i can see it that watchtower will become an online/tv based group with just con-vention hall$.. field service would be letter writing and phone preaching, door to door is done.. watchtower will have pay to view programs and still ask for donations after all that.. zoom meetings are here to stay.

kingdumb halls will be sold off except for con-vention venues, or need for new ones$.. df'ing will continue.

the craziness will continue.

LongHairGal

FOOLEDNOMORE:

Well, I’m glad to hear that you have complained officially about this problem.

I didn’t want to think you didn’t have the backbone or courage!

Inaction and not speaking up would only encourage ever more outrageous and nervy behavior on the part of these people. What your JW mother does privately with her money is her business. However, once the business is yours it’s in your hands now.

Good luck with the business and here’s to hoping the only people coming through your door are happy and paying repeat customers!