Posts by cat1759

38

Grading of Disfellowshipping Offenses

by RAYZORBLADE in

jw
friends

just putting this out to you.. have you encountered, or noticed on occasion how what you were disfellowshipped for, also dictates who will associate with you, post-jw?

yes, i'm talking about those beloved ex-jws/df'd/da'd/apostates.. by that, i mean, if you were, let's say, disfellowshipped for scriptural/doctrinal issues, perhaps in the ex-jw world, you hold yourself or others of that ilk, in higher esteem?.

those that were disfellowshipped for smoking, heavy drinking or drug use, perhaps as previously not strong people.. those that were disfellowshipped for sexual misconduct: (file under: other) and similar to the above.. it's interesting.

cat1759

I was raised to love everyone, although it is hard at times.

I silently went away in my own pain. I worked so hard as to have an reason why I wasn't going. When I went to the hall I would become so depressed, so would log more hours at work.

I chose to post the story in 1996 against the elders. I was treated badly at my old hall long before I moved out and long before I posted the story because of the handling of my sons abuse. After everything that happened I could not get back into the stream of things. All I kept hearing was a very old and dear friend saying to me, "just sit in the hall, just be there no matter how bad it is because the end is coming and Jehovah knows all." I have a great deal of love for three older persons that I grew up around. They would cite experiences for me to follow everytime I went South to see my parents. I never wanted to do anything to hurt these three people as they were so dear to me. They loved Jehovah with all their heart. They were always helping others. They actually loved me and my children. No matter how bad the witnesses up here, these three people treated me with human love.

There was no comittee meeting. There was nothing. I knew at the time I posted they could interpret it as apostacy. I no longer cared as the bitterness had to ease somehow. I started to heal.

I don't view any other exjws as worse than any other. No one had a right to judge anyone. They seem to keep the congregation clean from smokers, adulterers, idolators, etc but when it comes to pedophiles there is nothing. The only ones I will NOT associate with are pedophiles. They are the lowest. They need help. What happens between two consenting adults, or any of the other listed offenses have nothing to do with the real world. It has to do with the person and their own conscience.

We make decisions out of fear or love!

Cathy

33

Should The Watchtower Be Blamed For Everything Bad Happening In Your Life??

by minimus in

jw
friends

at times, i read some watctower apologists complain here that everyone blames the watchtower society for everything or anything negative in their lives.

sometimes, because of who is expressing this view, a few might jump on the bandwagon and attack the poster.

but i wonder whether or not we at times need to deal with our own negatives about ourselves.

cat1759

Ravyn,

Truly an amazing woman! The experiences you cite were horrendous. To currently be disabled and to have lost so very much due to a belief is beyond reason.

My heart goes out to you!

Cathy

69

Ex-Bethelite Testifies About Spying In Watchtower World Headquarters

by fleet#44 in

jw
friends

by paul blizard.

click for more at http://www.geocities.com/paulblizard/test.html it's not only going on but been expanded.

paul blizard writes .

cat1759

Wow I thought all witnesses were honest and upright.

Close your shades at night, never know who is watching you change your clothes.

Cathy

17

What do you think of yourself?

by Lady Lee in

jw
friends

ok i have read how some of you percieve me.

kind - okcompassionate - okcaring - okstrong - oksweet - huh?.

most often we define ourselves by the way we are treated and how others label us.

cat1759

Ladylee,

Thank God for the age process. I earned every grey hair and wear them proudly or could it be I am to cheap to buy Miss Clairol?

The jury is still out on what I think of myself. I don't look in the mirror, don't have mirrors in the house now that the boys are gone.

When I pass over maybe by then I will have figured it out.

Cathy

39

Dad flew home this morning

by Simon in

jw
friends

my dad has been over from canada for the past month and staying at our house.

it's been so good seeing him even though he's not in the best of health (he's not supposed to fly .

the kids have loved him being here and i was really choked after we said goodbye lastnight and our youngest, dylan, started crying saying he didn't want grandad to go home and insisting on sitting on my shoulders waving till the car was well out of sight.. they are both asking when they can go visit again.. i hate goodbyes and being separated from family by such a long distance.

cat1759

Simon,

Decisions decisions! I live 800 miles from my family. All my children live around me. The only thing I regret is that I didn't see my dad more often. I would send the kids down for the summer or go for a week or two every other year.

My dad and I talked everyday that I was able to be home. We would spend three hours at least twice a week getting caught up. I regret that I did not go spend time with him. I knew he was dieing and I also had responsiblities to my children. I was not allowed to move out of the state due to child custody. Spend time with those that love you and your children because children need to know there is more to life than their parents. Now that dad is gone I go once every three years. Reminds me, next year is coming to quickly.

Good luck.

Cathy

25

Finish this sentence. I would become a jw only if.........

by micheal in

jw
friends

this should certainly bring some very interesting and humorous responses - so go for it.

cat1759

If a woman like Grace (Mouthy) was the head honcho. In doing so she put the the GB in cages where they were only allowed to read the same watchtower for years to come.

Cathy

85

To Those With Ears to Hear...

by AGuest in

to that he said, "the reply is not yours to make; it is mine.

his reply was that, "have i not told them?

so, then i asked how it was that i was speaking directly to the father, and not to the son, as i usually do.

cat1759

Gumby,

I didn't take offense. Heck after the night I had I thought it was funny. At least it made me laugh.

I guess right now the only belief I really hold true is belief in myself. Pass a Texan Tea I need to relax.

Badolputtytat,

You are so right. Time and place for everything.

Cathy

85

To Those With Ears to Hear...

by AGuest in

to that he said, "the reply is not yours to make; it is mine.

his reply was that, "have i not told them?

so, then i asked how it was that i was speaking directly to the father, and not to the son, as i usually do.

cat1759

"It will, however, leave me with no choice but to see you as among those who "weep" and "gnash their teeth" when they are told the truth. And if that is your choice... remember it is YOUR choice, and thus, so be it."

I read through all the posts even the silly ones. You made the comment I posted among some other comments in your thread. First: leave me no choice but to see you as among those who weep and gnash their teeth. Not sure that others weep and gnash their teeth but that is how you see it. Second: when they are told the truth? What truth? The truth that was rightfully your vision? The truth that you believe is the truth? This is what I was pointing out. The hate you saw while you were walking up to the head of the table and how they grew ugly out of hate for you? This was what I was referring to, nothing else.

As far as beliefs go, I don't believe in the same things that you do. As of right now I still have a couple of books to get through before I even begin to take up some form of faith. In other words all the facts have not been laid on the table for me to pick up my staff and follow blindly to any persons conception of the truth.

As far as Gumby's words who cares? Never get upset at something someone says. That is where he is at in his life. I am not the at the same place as Gumby and neither are you. We walk through this life alone. We fall or rise on our own merits.

I did not mean to belittle your thread. If you took it that way I do apologize.

Cathy

33

Should The Watchtower Be Blamed For Everything Bad Happening In Your Life??

by minimus in

jw
friends

at times, i read some watctower apologists complain here that everyone blames the watchtower society for everything or anything negative in their lives.

sometimes, because of who is expressing this view, a few might jump on the bandwagon and attack the poster.

but i wonder whether or not we at times need to deal with our own negatives about ourselves.

cat1759

Minimus,

I don't blame anything or anyone in my life. It is where i need to be and how I got here was also what I needed.

What I don't agree with in your statement is the school issue. Back in 1975 you were encouraged to spend the last days preaching as not to be found negligent, wanting in God's favor.

There were alot of us children back then who wanted to do other things. There was intelligence. Do you think because we were denied the privalege of going to college that we were dumb. Also your statement about some of us who didn't finish high school were not really smart enough to go to college, hey no loss there. Many of our families moved to where the need was great as the end was coming. We took to heart the counsel given from the GB. We did what we had to because we actually did love Jehovah and actually did believe in him. Our choices were limited and college was not to be mentioned because those that were going to college were the ones who's families were not considered strong anyway. Consider the source. Do what needs to be done, not what others are doing.

So in essence those that did not have the opportunity back then have it now. It is harder to go to college when you are taking care of children and working your ass off because you need to support them all because the end did not come. So we believed, so we were stupid?

We all did not live charmed lives with choices. Most of us have moved on and made better choices.

Cathy

21

why I left

by teejay in

about ten years ago, i started doing research into the jw religion.

it took a personal event to make me want to do that for the first time in thirty years.

blindly believing what i was told wasn't working anymore.

cat1759

Nice post Teejay.

It is sad that hypocrisy reigns.

At least the Catholic church in Boston apologized for the pedophile priests.

Cathy