JWdaughter

Joined

• started 168 topics
• posted 6,688 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by JWdaughter

• 
  21

  Never Thought I'd Say This, But I've Found Something to Look Forward to in the Meetings

  by Sorry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  my therapist inspired me to start looking on the bright side.

  even though i've pretty much given up listening to the bs and usually tune out the meeting by playing on my phone/tablet, i find the local needs talk oddly fascinating.

  probably because it's the only part that doesn't seem outlined to death (at least at our hall), and you truly don't know what you get.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  The KH by my old house had gates that they closed during the meetings. They were safe from latecomers, anyway.
• 
  47

  Serena Williams Pregnant

  by wisdomfrombelow in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  now that she has announced that she is 20 weeks pregnant and not married, what is her status in the cult?

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  I'm happy for her! About the baby. I feel bad though because I am sure she is likely still a believer that "isn't strong enough" to follow the WT rules. I'm only sad about that because she is likely not mentally free, she is just going to be dissed by every JW and feel guilty and later, probably not long from now, going to go back in-at least for a time-hardcore. People who are DA'd for "sin" often seem to have the regrets that those of us who leave on principle do not. Not 100%, but I am looking at the patterns I have seen for over 40 years.
• 
  20

  BUSTED by a GYPSY

  by TerryWalstrom in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  busted by a gypsy__________________how do i know they are gypsy?i had some run-ins in l.a. many years back.

  had they worn a banner it wouldn't have been more obvious.the patriarch wore a special hat with a silver spangled band.i've seen the old gypsy with his cane and his scowl.

  he walks like a king or a panther at prowl.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  They have disabled tables outside when they have more than a couple of tables. I was talking to a Mennonite lady at one a couple of weeks ago who had just had surgery and was using a wheelchair for a few weeks after total reconstruction of a foot. February is lovely in Texas. Except when it's not!
• 
  38

  Even if it's not the truth, it's still the best way to live

  by Simon in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  how many times did you hear that gem?

  it often went along with "the truth is a protection" which is their way of saying "living a moral life is good for you ... and you can't do that without us".. but think about what people are really saying.

  i think the real message is "i know it's not the truth, but i chose to follow it anyway".. it seems like a pre-emptive argument because they know they can't defend it as "the truth" so instead they switch to defending it as a lifestyle.. of course any kind of lifestyle that has a decent moral ingredient to it, respect for law and order, discipline etc... probably increases people's chances of doing better in life, but they don't have a monopoly on it.. so just remember, next time you hear someone saying "even if it's not the truth" what they are really admitting is that they already know it isn't..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  It's hate to ask a question? Or to make a point? Simon is right in this case. It is the only defense of one who has no other.
• 
  104

  When You See a JW Do You Get Flustered?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i used to dread seeing a witness coming toward me.

  now i am quite comfortable and hope that they may say something to me..... does your blood pressure rise when you see a jw coming toward you?

  ?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  Not flustered. Today the doorbell rang at about 11 and since our lawn guy came over yesterday (stellar service! Call HappyFeet Lawn service in Houston-they rock) my husband was looking at me and asked who could it be? I said JEHOVAH"S WITNESSES, they probably came to invite us to the memorial- to which my never a JW husband said-oh yeah, its about Easter time, isn't it?.

  But, alas, it was just the postman. After two false starts, I was so ready for them. . . .but they got scared off, I guess. :(

  Tom Harley, It's true, btw, that the literature cart is a money making scam. Its not the rank and file JW who is making the money, but the WTS sucks it out of the rank and file while they haplessly try to promote it to the masses. The WTS isn' reallyt trying to recruit, they are just keeping all the nice little JWs out there because they need to feel like they are doing something that matters-since that something is the only reason for the WTS's existence. They take it away (and the carrot and stick of "active service") and they wouldn't get ANY contributions and would die totally and quickly, rather than the slow death they are dying right now..
• 
  8

  Jehovah's Witnesses Knocking at my Front Door

  by Richlist in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have jw's knocking on my door about 4 times a year.

  they walk along the whole street knocking on all the properties trying to hand out leaflets about god.. i always engage them in conversation.

  my street has a very large number of oap's who could really do with some extra help.....grass cutting, shopping, cleaning, help around the house, gardening, diy etc.. never once have i been able to persuade any jw's to do something worthwhile for these residents.. i'm left with the thought that jw's don't want to do anything really worthwhile for these people.......why ?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  Too bad the Mormons aren't coming around. THey would actually help if asked. Probably could call the local baptist youth group, too.
• 
  34

  Have You Found Your Place in the World?

  by Rainbow_Troll in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  we were all told when we were in the watchtower that we should be grateful to be part of such a loving family.

  we were told that just beyond the superficial glamour of the world was a quagmire of despair, emptiness and pain waiting to suck us in.

  obviously, we took that part with a mountain of salt or we wouldn't be here today.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  The world is a mixed bag, just like the Kingdom hall is. good and Bad. Kind and cruel. Beautiful and ugly.

  I don't find the world to be a hateful place, but a hopeful one, and I like it. The WT's world is a false construct so its just an illusion at its best in any case. Real hope and optimism and work towards improvements is better than false hopes, false promises and thinking if we are just patient enough, God will fix everything thats ailing us.

  I may not be all that I had hoped, but that is because real life dictates, other people actually DO inform my decisions and my opportunity and my responses. Which means that I don't knock on doors that will never open, stubbornly, all the while knowing they won't open, but sometimes the doors I knock on don't open and that is disappointing, but there is actually some reason to think that the next door will open. JWs just keep banging on closed doors out of pure stubbornness. That's gotta be frustrating. Sales is frustrating enough when you can have a measurable way to track your progress. JWs can only track the time they wasted and the (purchased) sales material that they give away for nothing at their own expense.No one is buying their crap and they know it.

  My place in the world is mine, and not dependent on elders or an organization to accept me or my work. I am satisfied.
• 
  21

  I need your opinions and recommendations please.

  by bola in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  after my exit from the watchtower shunning cult, i have received tons of invitations from different churches.

  but because i am aware of religious cults, i need recommendations of churches that are not cults at all.

  after exiting the watchtower cult, i don't want to fall into another religious cults.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  Plenty of churches don't have "requirements", but that can not be said of all of them. Some are more "organized" than others. If you are a believer, a nice neighborhood church, calvary (maybe) or even baptist (various kinds) are great for community and social interaction. Find one that feels comfortable and don't feel the need to "join". In fact, if they are comfortable with you just attending and participating, that's a good sign. I went to a So. Baptist church that didn't keep track of members or non members. They screened any volunteers, but didn't require "membership" to do anything. I also attended an orthodox church which had a great social hour after church, women's groups, study groups, etc. It was small but active within its walls and out in the community with projects and stuff.

  Watch out for the mega churches or tiny churches that are very pastor focused (thats how the WT started). If the majority of their advertising is about their pastor or pastes his face on everything, run.

  Episcopalians are nice enough, but some are definitely more into building a community than others are.

  Find a church that is useful in its community, not just a place to show up for 45 min on sunday. Some may send out the youth group to invite people to the harvest party or christmas services, but the churches that encourage people to show their faith rather than telling everyone about it are kind of the ones I liked best. they have food banks or a regular rotation of folks who work at one, they have donation boxes for goods in the foyer, they have community notices and allow AA meetings and have support groups or social groups organized. NOT counting hours spent propagandizing.
• 
  5

  INNOCENT!! - JW walks free after 20 YEARS in jail

  by darkspilver in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after spending 20 years in jail for attempted murder in a compton shooting - this week marco contreras was declared factually innocent and released.. for now, he said, he was looking forward to two things: good mexican food and april 11. he’s a jehovah’s witness, and that’s the day his denomination will remember the anniversary of jesus’ death.. .

  question: how many witnesses to the crime where there?.

  contreras’ attorneys say an eyewitness inaccurately identified him as the gunman, although he’d been at home sleeping at the time.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  Good thing somebody went to university-and it's good that "worldly" people fight so devotedly to ensuring justice for others. I'll bet that not one JW is on the staff of the loyalty project there at Loyola.
• 
  23

  11. How can we show our support for the Messianic King? (From book study last night)

  by NikL in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  the study was on how wt has refined itself over the years by ceasing celebrations of christmas etc.. paragraph 11.

  11 what a fine example those faithful bible students set for us!

  reflecting on their example, we do well to ask ourselves: ‘how do i view the direction we receive from headquarters?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  JWdaughter

  Now, maybe that is the new term they want for themselves. They used to be the society, then the organization, now HQ. Why not? None is scriptural, but lets be real-the Scriptures are merely their tool, not anything that they value intrinsically.