Posts by love11

137

I hate Walmart!

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

i rarely ever set foot in the place and will go out of my way to avoid shopping there.

tonight i made the mistake of giving walmart the benefit of the doubt and walked in the door.. they didn't have the main item i was looking for, but they did have one other small item.

i headed to the front to check out only to find they had only a few check-outs open and all of the lines were far too long.

Me too! Every time I go there, it is a bad time. Once every year or so, they sucker me in again with their low prices. But it only serves as a reminder as to why I don't shop there. The reasons I have are: They used (not sure if they still do) child/ slave labor to make their products, so ethically it bothers my conscience to shop there. Also, it seems to be a magnet for weirdo's. I have to watch my children like a hawk there. The last time I went there the cashier grabbed the paper I was reading. So much for customer service! To get lower prices than Walmart, I shop the Dollar Store and Big Lots.

18

I must say that I am very curious

by Grins in

i am looking for information on the beliefs of jehovah's witness i do not know much and i am afraid that most of what i am finding is biased information one way or the other.

i did find a "fact sheet" and i am wondering if all of it is true or not.

i looked at the watchtower website for answers to a few of these and so far i am finding them to be true.

love11

Some are left in the category "a conscience matter", but even so, if you do one of these taboos then you are looked upon as "not that spiritually strong". Socially speaking, following your own conscience instead of the advice of the organization, it could lead to not being invited to get-togethers, gradual distancing from friends, gossip, etc,.

Also, there are many unsaid "rules" too. Don't say "god bless you" when you sneeze, don't buy a small car because a van can hold more people for door to door work, etc,.

For all the rules you listed there are reasons why they follow them, mostly because they somehow find a scripture, or their translation of it, to justify the rule.

A big one with JW's is that they will not take a blood transfusion. A court usually has to step in for children of JW's, otherwise the parents would refuse the transfusion for their child. This is because the bible says not to eat blood. The oxymoron is that they think nothing of ordering a steak rare, but will let their children die to be able to refuse blood.

Another oxymoron- in one breath they denounce child abuse, but in another breath they encourage strong discipline of their children, all while quoting the scripture, "Spare the rod, spoil the child". I was told by elders to be more obedient after I showed them my many bruises. My sister was raped by two elders boys, the elders told her not to wear revealing clothing, she was only 14. A 40- year old elder had an affair with my 16 year old friend. She was disfellowshipped because she was being sinful. He only stepped down from his position as elder and was told to take his wife on a vacation. This is just an example of what they say and do are two different things. There is a public face and a private face.

Child abuse is rampant in the organization. Here's why: There policy is that you have to have two eye witnesses to the abuse before they will believe a child is truely abused. Another policy of the organization is that you are not allowed to take a brother to court. That is why they will discipline their members without the interference of law enforcement. So a child molester will be among them, be shunned/disfellowshipped as discipline, and then be allowed back in after a few months to a year. Usually the perpetrator repeats the offense at a different congregation, only is more cautious about getting caught.

The reason I am telling you all this is because you mentioned you were a social worker. More than likely you have ran across the abuse of JW parents. This abuse is more prevalent than you think. There are many cases going to court and settlements against the organization, due to not reporting the abuse. ALL settlements have been with gag-orders.

I should tell you that they do not consider it lying when in court. They feel that in certain cases it is acceptable to lie to protect the name of Jehovah. A bad reflection on them, they feel is a bad reflection on God. They mention the scripture- "Do not throw your pearls before swine." Pearls of truth. That is how they have gotten away with it.

I hope that helps- message me if you want to know any more.

43

ARE YOU UPSET THAT YOU DIDN"T GO TO COLLEGE?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i have read of some people's bitterness because they were denied the opportunity to go to college.

during the 60's and 70's the society really discouraged any education other than what was necessary.

since the end was so near, especially around 1975, anybody that decided to go to "higher education" was considered very weak and unbalanced.

love11

I wish I would have went to college when everyone else did, but it's never too late. You can always reinvent yourself; so that is what I did. At first I was so scared that I wouldn't even make it. I started out with only one class, but after one A, then another A, and another A. I decided to jump in and go full time. Since I began college, I have only ever gotten an A in my classes. When I was a JW in high school, they put me in the slow learner classes. I couldn't tell the school counselor that the reason I was failing was because I didn't have time to study. The real reason I didn't do good in my school work is because of all the studying I had to do for the kingdom hall. My parents said that was more important than school work. So in k-12 school I only got C-D.

I've recently been asked to represent the country overseas because of my good grades. I am in an honor society and have been on the National Dean's list for several years in a row. It just goes to show you that when you are allowed the freedom to spread your wings, amazing things happen.

No one has the right to take away your dreams!

41

When Did You Start Feeling Uncomfortable In The Truth?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

when did you start feeling uncomfortable in the truth?it started out for me by asking questions out of curiosity, which eventually led me.

out of the organization.

my history as a jehovahs witness could easily be summed .

love11

In kindegarden.

It was the first time I realized that I was different. I didn't know that other people celebrated holidays, birthdays, saluted the flag, etc,. I didn't know any different because I never was around a "worldly" person before that. I felt bad and ashamed, going to school went from excitement to depression- instantly. As a 5 year old, I just thought fun times were for the other kids, not me. Like I was being punished and I was evil because I wanted to do satanic things like eat a birthday cupcake. I never went in the clubhouse in the classroom, even though I really, really wanted to, because my parents said I should never step foot in a worldly persons house. I sat in the back of the room during a christmas party and watched the other children open gifts, while I colored a horse, with a lump in my throat, trying to hold back the tears. Over the years the discomfort was only supressed.

58

Really, What's So Wrong With The Jehovah's Witness Religion To You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

is it that bad??

is it worse than fundamentalists of every other sort?

are jws worse than radical muslims?

love11

Their policy on not reporting the crime of child abuse to law enforcement without two eye witnesses.

Whoever heard of someone abusing a child in front of two eye witnesses? That rarely happens. By the way, the bible says- give ceaser's things to ceaser and god's thing to god's.

The law of the United States is that a child is believed when they say someone abuses them. The courts will decide if that person is guilty or innocent. This should NEVER be a decision left in the hands of inexperienced ministers who did not get a degree in criminal justice or have the authority to discipline such a crime. Yes, crime!!!!

This policy of the Jehovah's Witnesses allows for children to be abused, plain and simple. The members of the congregtions should be enforcing that the organization change this policy; it is ungodly and torturous to children.

I would say this policy is the lowest an organization can sink.

15

How has knowing the Jehovah's Witnesses changed your culture?

by love11 in

hi, long time no see.

i am in a cultural anthropology class now and any info.

you can give me for my paper would be appreciated.

love11

Wow, thank you for all of your comments. It has been an interesting semester for me. I have not been to a kingdom hall in twelve years and recently I went to the memorial for more information for my paper. It was surreal. Old, dusty, and worn out are words that only come close to what I saw. Thank you again, for your help. I will post my finished paper as soon as I can for any that care to read it.

15

How has knowing the Jehovah's Witnesses changed your culture?

by love11 in

hi, long time no see.

i am in a cultural anthropology class now and any info.

you can give me for my paper would be appreciated.

love11

Free- I don't think that feeling will ever completely go away, but it will lessen over time. Some distrust is a good thing!

15

How has knowing the Jehovah's Witnesses changed your culture?

by love11 in

hi, long time no see.

i am in a cultural anthropology class now and any info.

you can give me for my paper would be appreciated.

love11

Zagor- Good to see you could still be an individual in any environment! That's probably why you're on the outside now.

Avid- I know what you mean. You have to go through an entire overall of your life. Being raised in it from birth, every mental developmental milestone is delayed. Autonomy is nearly non-existent.

Rose- So glad that you are bettering yourself. Personally, I know I could never go back because I have too strong of a mind. They don't like girls with tough minds! lol

57

MY OBSERVATIONS FROM THE MEMORIAL TONIGHT (just got home)

by Mary in

jw
friends

well, as per usual, the memorial talk bored the hell out of me, but i found it, in one way to be an improvement over last years when they had the most boring speaker on the planet there http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/111544/1.ashx this guy at least knew how to speak.

unfortunately, he didn't have much of a script to work with.. there was the mention of adam sinning and mankind needing a redeemer etc., no mention of when the israelites left egypt though.

that's probably the first year i've ever seen where this hasn't been mentioned.

love11

I went tonight and it was word for word what you experienced. I think someone writes their speeches!

35

Did you see anything Strange at the Memorial- if you went???

by Mad in

i want to see if i imagined it!.

mad.

love11

ya, hardly any FAMILIES there. Mostly couples, old people, and single people. I only counted three families at a meeting of 159 people. Weird huh?