Ok I mostly lurk here and have only posted a couple times but Jeff. for what it's worth I believe you are dead on. I've had a similiar experience, same setting. My experience has also been too though that the vast majority of JW's have "religiousity" they sorely lack "spirituality". They only know their 'higher power', God, Jehovah as defined by the WT. Even worse, there is an arrogant, smug attitude that they this unique relationship with him no one else has-especially the males. Jimmy Carter has some of the most sensible and intelligent discussions on fundamentalism and male privilege. After listening to him speak on NPR with Krista Tippett on Fundamentalism amid other topics, I went to their site to download the transcript. It is quite a shocking parallel to the JW's. I haven't been active for 20 years yet I am finally becoming the spiritual woman I never would have been had I remained within the confines of the WT. Sorry- much more than $.02.......just really pumped. Just finished Barb Anderson's "Secrets of Pedophilia in America" early this morning.... and every other emoticon possible.
jadedgramma
JoinedPosts by jadedgramma
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24
What's wrong with JW's in a nutshell.
by JeffT ini was pondering this after an aa meeting the other day.
a couple of the 12 steps involve working constantly to improve our conscious contact with god.
they do not seek him out, go into a guide place to seek his guidence.
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Can a Sexual Predator Be Cured?
by Kenneson inthe state of california is conducting an experiment by releasing some sexual predators, who have undergone treatment at a state hospital into some communities.
one such example is cary verse, who is now in bay point.
convicted of sexual assault of three boys and a man and treated in atascadero state hospital, he left treatment in feb. 2004 and is now on conditional release.
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jadedgramma
UN**#@&^%^BELIEVABLE! JMHO-they should be sent to a deserted island to live amongst themselves-no provisions.
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Grandpa turned in to police by JW elders
by InquiryMan inin norway, a 71 year old grandpa has been sentenced to 11 months jail and a fee og several thousands dollars for having molested his 8 and 10 year old grand-daughters.
he wanted to have his sentence reduced because of having been disfellowshipped from the jws.
the court did not find that to be a reason to reduce his sentence.
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jadedgramma
inquiryman-are you in the USA? May I ask what year you were no longer an elder? My daughters were both molested by members of the congregation-one by her paternal gr.father and for years by afriend of the family's-another JW. I ignored my husband's pleas not to take legal action and turned him and he was charged and convicted of 2nd degree criminal sexual assault. His sentence? 7 years in prison. What he actually did? 7 days in the county jail. He turned himself in to the police and it made things easier for him. He also molested 2 of my daughters friends-also in the cong.....get this-while out in service! Anyway-the other *&&$$(**** that molested her for years (unknown by us except for one minor incident) and she was one of 10 young girls including his fleshly sisters who went to the elders with the same stories and worse. They were ALL told not to go to the police and forbidden to discuss this matter with anyone-and followed this with the standard threat of DF'ing if they spread this "slander" as the ***%$### denied everything....they must have "misunderstood" his actions-even the violent raping of his own sister for at least a year and the abuse of 2 of her other fleshly sisters. This has been consistently the pattern in the 19 years my family has been in this congregation. Because the very public lawsuit my daughter was involved in we received hundreds of emails and calls from others whose experience was almost identical in that the elders responded the same way-no action, strongly urged not to report anything to the authorities and-the gag rule. Don't know if the cases where the offender admits to his crimes differs from our experience. Haven't heard of anyone who was encouraged to "report". Just our experience.
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What did JW teaching do to your view of God?
by thom induring the last few years that i was a jw i formed an opinion more and more of how i thought god was cruel and didn't understand or care about how his actions affect people.
i started to believe that we humans were just his little play toys and like a mean kid, he'd just kill off some now and then for whatever reason without any concern for his "toys".
in wondering how he could justify killing so many at armageddon, killing so many in the time before jesus came to earth, judging people who are in an imperfect state just because they happen to live at the time of armageddon but everyone else being judged in a perfect state without satan's influence i started thinking that he really had no concern for people and maybe even enjoyed the thought of those who would be "weeping and gnashing their teeth" right before they die forever.
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jadedgramma
MerryMagdalene-thanks for the welcome! Another point I had was in questioning the "choice" available to we pathetic humans-do it his way...or DIE and die some hideous excruciating death. Oh wait-live for him and do it his way and once again-you might get the privilege to die a tortured hideous death but at least this way we get a title-that of martyr. More than anything being raised a JW has rendered me a hopeless cynic/skeptic. Any suggestions as to overcoming this??
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What did JW teaching do to your view of God?
by thom induring the last few years that i was a jw i formed an opinion more and more of how i thought god was cruel and didn't understand or care about how his actions affect people.
i started to believe that we humans were just his little play toys and like a mean kid, he'd just kill off some now and then for whatever reason without any concern for his "toys".
in wondering how he could justify killing so many at armageddon, killing so many in the time before jesus came to earth, judging people who are in an imperfect state just because they happen to live at the time of armageddon but everyone else being judged in a perfect state without satan's influence i started thinking that he really had no concern for people and maybe even enjoyed the thought of those who would be "weeping and gnashing their teeth" right before they die forever.
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jadedgramma
Hey-just a newbie here. Saw this thread and it really hit me. Born and raised JW-extended family,active.blah blah blah. What got me questioning my thoughts on God were all the hypocrites I found everywhere,ever changing "lights",elders who didn't give a rat's ass about anyone unless the CO was coming or was visiting(husband included).The absurd litany 4 times a month of what not to do's. Is god really with this bunch? Then found out firsthand how the borg sweeps the child abuse issue under the rug when my daughter was molested. Hmmm why wasn't 'He" directing these clowns to kick this _____ out and put him in prison??? Became seriously depressed then inactive. Then became 'enlightened ' more by what I have read here and other books. One day while driving and deep in thought I asked myself-what kind of God would demand that his son be tortured to death-and his followers do likewise? I got sick just thinking of how horrid I was for even having those thoughts. I want to pray but keep hearing those old tapes playing over and over-he won't hear your prayers if you're not doing what he asks of you-as interpretted by WTS.....it feels as though the concept of a god will forever be twisted by the dubs brainwashing and manipulations. Thanks for listening...and sorry for rambling
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Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-17-05 WT Study
by blondie inparagraph 5.
paragraph 6.
paragraph 7.
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jadedgramma
Pistoff-
"3. " Never have I seen such...any non-witness who sits through this intellectual mugging would be insulted to be called an unbeliever if he believes in God and Jesus."
On the contrary, Pistoff! Perhaps they would consider themselves 'blessed' as I now do to be counted among the 'unbelievers' according to WTS. After years of crippling depression (catalyst?learning of my then 10 yr old daughter's sexual molestation by her paternal JW grandfather) and becoming inactive I was told by the PO that I was NOT a JW-he sneeringly asked me when do YOU preach or witness? This sham of a sheparding call was to see if I was committing some heinous sins they should be aware of. So by my own choice I refuse to go the local KH and be flogged mentally, emotionally and spiritually by those responsible for my 'spiritual welfare' and their source the grand WTS. Each and every day I rejoice that according to the WTS I am now an "unbeliever"!
My advice to those still attending and suffering the same-consider these "lessons" just what they are, an odious, fetid,reeking blast of flatulence! And as such run quickly from the vicinity thereof. Most importantly, as you ponder the incredulous offensiveness of this stench,as in all flatulence-consider the source!!!
Crass, crude? Yeah but not anywhere near what I wish I dared say.
jadedgramma
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April 2005--Child Abuse Awareness Month
by blondie insilentlambs has alerted us to this special month in making people aware of this issue.
april is child abuse awareness month!
suggestions on what we might do to raise abuse awareness in our local communities
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jadedgramma
Blondie-thanks for the announcement re:child abuse awareness.
This is only my second post although I have been watching this forum and been very aware of Bill 's site and have personally spoken to him about several matters. I am so depressed enraged and a little hopeless over this hideous child abuse coverup! My daughter was involved in one of the lawsuits filed against the WTS within the last three years. The local cong. was also sued. Although the courts believed everything she and a friend testified to they determined that the WTS does not have the legal obligation to protect our children from known or suspected child molesters.
How many other mothers or fathers are going through the rage and pain and agony of knowing what was perpetrated upon their children and realizing that NOTHING WILL BE DONE ABOUT BRINGING JUSTICE to these monsters? This was the main reason why I was so reluctant to post before........RAGE! Being afraid to say too much, yet hating myself for not making a clean and public break from an organization that protects these animals. How does one deal with the bitterness?
I feel powerless to march or do anything public or political because I have grandchildren that would not be permitted to see me if it became known to the parents.
If anyone has any comments I would welcome them. It is destroying me.
jadedgramma
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Comments You Will Not Hear at the 4-10-05 WT Study (Marriage--March 1)
by blondie incomments you will not hear at the 4-10-05 wt study (march 1, 2005 issue)
review comments
will be in black and parentheses ().
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jadedgramma
Blondie-thank you from the bottom of my rebellious heart! I have been reading alot of the material on the site but until the past couple of months wasn't aware of your awesome "reviews" and 'comments you won't hear at...'. Ditto most of watch-out posted. My first post so am anxious and yet I feel as though I know so many of you out there. Finally, I know I am not the only one who for years questioned and doubted the twisted, convoluted trash being presented as spiritual food...the truth. The years of guilt and shame for daring to doubt even silently that this could possibly be true. This forum has been a life line for me.....if that sounds corny...well there it is.
So Blondie thanks for all the time and effort you expend.....there has to be thousands of people like me out there that are inspired and given courage by what we read here so your time is well spent.
jadedgramma