Posts by Bigdummy

28

The JW Family

by dubstepped in

jw
friends

maybe this is a bit obtuse, but see if you can follow me here and maybe throw in your own views.

as i see it, the organization as a whole is a family, and like most, it is dysfunctional.

you have the parents in those taking the lead (gb, elders, overseers, etc.

Bigdummy

My personal experience and observation of being in for almost 60 years is this. The children of

some of the elders and the children of other prominent authority figures before the elder arrange-

ment were some of the worst examples of child upbringing. Whether the child was bent to be unruly

from the start I don't know. But I was in several different halls during my lifetime because of my dad's

work. Some elders kids were into drugs and got some of the other kids involved in them. One elders'

son got a sister pregnant and he went to Bethel. When she started showing a few months later the

beans got spilled so to speak and he was sent home only to go to prison several years later over

something I don't recall. I've seen quite a bit over my lifetime at the hall. Nobody is perfect and I sure

ain't. I've done things I'm not proud of but I can't go back and fix it now. I used to beat myself over my

mistakes but I try to go on and be happy. There was a youngster in our hall one time that 90% of the

cong thought he was a child prodigy. When he commented or gave talks most people in the hall

looked at him and were in amazement. The PO thought the kid was the reincarnate of the Apostle

Paul or something. My wife and I knew better. We had a son this boys age and they hung around

together so we could see what was probably the real deal. Several years went by and this kid just

went absolutely off the rails. I'm not a psychic who can see ahead but I do have a lifetime of seeing

and reading people's behavior and actions for a long long time. It's just a learned thing. Kids are

kids. I pretty well know them. I've been working with them for 12 years in a school setting and as

a bus driver. If you try to keep them under your thumb at all times, you got problems. Give them

a little space and treat them like youngsters and don't expect adult type behavior from them, and you

will fare better. Getting back on point,I think, and I have zero credentials to back me up, that some

elders think their little sons are always potential elders or Bethelites and they are raised under

strict enviroment. When given the chance later on in their formative years they have had enough

and they rebel. Not always, but a lot of times. I could relate myriads of examples of these kinds

but I'm sure everybody here has their own examples they could relate. My 2 cents and it may not

be worth that!

13

New Watchtower and Awake 11 pages of shallow articles...what happened!!!

by Witness 007 in

found the latest copies next to the toilet {witnesses must have visited my wife} and had a look after not reading anything for a year.

its a pamphlet not a magazine!

only a few pages long with shallow articles.it felt like my "spiritual food" was now those cheap home delivered diet t.v meals!!

Bigdummy

I remember one day out in field ministry I went to a door by myself because it was bitter

cold. My wife and a few others stayed in the car and we were just going to the door one

at a time because of the cold and wind. I noticed as I was going up to the door that there

was four or five vans out in the yard. This was kind of in the rural area where you see

several vehicles in yards but these vans looked like they were driveable so i wondered

what may be going on. A woman came to the side door and immediately invited me in.

I told her why I was there and she said they were beginning to start their worship service.

I looked past her and there were 9 or 10 people in the living room with guitars, banjos

and fiddles etc. They were looking at me and wanting me to join them. As I didn't really

care to go into peoples homes I didn't know, I cut my visit short. Red flags went up also

as my jwdub training alerted me that these people are crazy and I would probally be

chastised for associciating with crazy pagan unbelievers. But as years went on and it

dawned on me that things I was taught as a youth growing up in 'the truth' did not add

up and things that I thought i knew didn't even make sense when I stepped back and

looked at things. I sometimes think back about those people with the guitars and banjos.

Were they crazy or delusional or did they worship in the way that they saw fit to worship

God? Who was I to determine how someone is supposed to look and dress and express

themselves to the Creator. I know I may be off target from the original post of shallow topics

but I look at things differently now since my 57 years of indoctrination. Back when I was a kid

you didn't question this or that from the platform. What they said was how it was. I wasn't old

enough to question or wonder about anything. If a brother said something from the platform

it had to be true otherwise why would he say it. My wife knows how I feel now so she just kind

of lets it be on the not going to meetings thing. I faded mentally a long time ago. I stopped

physically going to meetings in a sudden stop a couple of months ago. I got mad everytime

I went for the last few years. I couldn't and wouldn't keep up with the latest light. I was in mental

turmoil wondering why some witnesses acted the way they do but yet were in the most loving

religion ever. People would comment with glee, it almost seemed, that billions were going to die

if they didn't do what we say. Someone has called me twice and left a message asking for my

service time. I don't answer the call ( I have caller ID ) and I don't return the call. I've had depres-

sion problems my whole life and have finally come to the conclusion that this group-think control

thing kept me wound up my entire life. My mother is a strong JW so growing up with her didn't

help. She has been in for 60+ years and has a minimal grasp of what the JW's believe but yet

she is at all the meetings. I've rambled long enough but to cut to the chase I don't let people

tell me how to feel about anything or anyone. I sometimes wish I could go back in time and went

in and at least sit in with those worshipers on that cold Saturday morning and listened to what

they had to say. I might have learned something about being humble and listening to my own

thoughts and ideas instead of being told what to believe and don't ask questions. That's what

brains are for.

41

"Jehovah's people as a whole can never be corrupted..."

by cappytan in

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zgds4z-h2i.

transcript below (with key points of interest bolded):.

please open your bibles to phil.

Bigdummy

"It occurs to me that the "as a whole" qualifier is utterly meaningless."

murderers. just Hitler and his higher ups and The SS and all the other crazy soldiers who had a

bent mind. But the whole German population weren't crazy and sadistic. Even some of Hitler's

higher ups tried to kill him or have him killed. So all of the German government weren't corrupted.

So the " as a whole " statement means absolutely zilch.

14

JW Personality used as an excuse....

by Anon_SA1 in

jw
friends

i had a discussion with a current jw member of +- 30 years, we got chatting about how you can be sure your faith is right and what checks can be done.

i then suggested looking at ex members view points and literature.

her response was her "i am not someone who takes initiative to look online at stuff, i doesn't feel my personality needs me look at outside view points" in summary she was saying her personality type is not interested in looking at other views.

Bigdummy

Oubliette,

"Funny, they pound on stranger's doors wanting THEM to question their faith/beliefs, et cetera, but the average JW will absolutely NOT do the same thing themselves."

That's because they already have the truth and don't need to look at anything else. Ahemmmm!

I've wondered that same thing many times Oubliette. It makes my head hurt.

5

I had every intention of going to the Memorial last night.......

by dubstepped in

i wanted to go and to do it for jehovah and jesus and what they've done for me.

i wanted it to be a personal thing between them and i. i haven't been to a meeting in close to a year, not that anyone notices or cares.

this isn't my first stint away, and nobody would notice or care if i was found dead.

Bigdummy

I went with my wife to the memorial last night. I went in a few minutes before it started and we all had

to leave right after it was over because of the Spanish congregation coming later. I hadn't been to

a meeting on in field service in a while so I was kind of anxious about attending. But I noticed that one

thing was stressed very hard and that was the fact that only the anointed should partake of the

emblems. That was stated about 3 different times . Even in the prayer given by an elder right before

the wine was passed it was mentioned again and during the prayer he tried to be cute and said some-

thing about those who had partaken in the past that weren't of the anointed and it caused a giggle

among several who had their heads bowed. I have never in my 57 years of attending meetings have

I heard anybody try to be funny during a prayer. I guess they didn't want the emblem partakers to

increase once again.

21

For Active Jehovah's Witnesses

by The Searcher in

this is a reminder for some, and fresh bible guidance for new arrivals to this site.. have you been "witnessing" today, or are you planning to?.

revelation 12:17 - ".......and have the work of bearing witness to jesus.".

acts 8:16 - ".......been baptized in the name of the lord jesus.".

Bigdummy

As I mentioned in another post, at the assembly last weekend the name Jesus was used in the prayers

only. So that was 3 times total for the whole day. He was not mentioned in any parts but we were admon-

ished to turn down 6 figure salaries and to stay away from massage parlors and strip clubs.

13

Pride or Humility - I guess it depends how you look at it..

by bradford in

one of the constant themes of the literature and of the well meaning witnesses who regurgitate it to those that have left or are in the process of leaving is this:.

you are filled with pride.

you think you know better than jehovah's organization.

Bigdummy

Bradford's quote:

" the one single religion that god approves, and that everyone else is wrong (and going to die!"

There is a sister at the hall who would always finish her comment with this quote " if they

don't listen to us at the door they are going to be destroyed." I was amazed that she could put

that ending line in almost all her comments regardless of the topic or subject of the meeting .

It was like she relished the thought that untold billions were going to die if people didn't listen to her.

She would almost be grinning when she said it like she had some kind of power to mete out God's

wrath. It was sickening for me to hear her. If she and a bunch more people at the hall would be my

immediate neighbors in the new system I would rather go ahead and die now. There are a bunch of

JW friends I could live by but I'm just saying.

9

New Kingdom Hall Design

by vinman in

latest tv.org video.

only been mentally out 4 months, but lett's concluding words made me want to vomit.

the propaganda is thick.

Bigdummy

I listened to the last several minutes of the above video with Lett. I already started

simplifying my life by living the life Jehovah gave me here on his earth. I have never

really, my whole adult life, enjoyed going to 3 meetings a week field service on

weekends, studying for all the meetings etc. Some brothers and sisters are really

gungho and deeply involved. I went to the meetings and went in service but I began

to realize that there is a whole world to enjoy right outside my front door. Jehovah

created all of these beautiful things in nature, squirrels running across my yard, birds

flying around, gardens to tend if that's your desire but it seemed like you are running

around in in field ministry to save other people ( so you won't be blood guilty) but

you don't have time to spend with your family. My wife and I had 4 children and that

costs money. I don't mind that. That's what money is for. But if everybody simplified

their lives like Lett suggests and work part time and pioneer who is going to have

valuable assets to give to anything? Some JW's may say " we will have time to plant

gardens and do such things in the new system". So if live to be 80 that means I

spent 75 years going to peoples door who don't want me there anyway and adhere

to rules and regulations with no Bible basis, and the doctrines change on a whim and

you need to hustle to keep up with the nulite. I know this sounds like a disjointed

rant but I'm not very good at putting my thoughts down on paper. I usually blurt out

my thoughts when my crap-o-meter gets peaked and then I get funny looks from

elders who think I'm trying to cause trouble. I was not trying to cause anybody any

trouble or draw anybody away from what they believe. Believe what you like. When

I work a puzzle I expect all the pieces to fit. I guess I'm weird that way. If someone

can truly explain that the 144,000 in Rev 14 is a literal number from the context of

that chapter I'm willing to listen. The GB says it is a literal number. I can't see it but

I bet if I wrote them a letter and told them I didn't believe it I'm sure there would be

some repercussions. It may be literal, frankly I don't care and don't see it changing

my life one way or the other but if you tell me if I don't believe it and I'm going to

die as an unbeliever cause you say so it irks me real bad. I'm done for now. I feel

better. Sorry for the double space. I tried to fix it but I can't. Didn't go to compu-

ter classes. Didn't have time because I had to get ready for the meetings. LOL

17

Just another experience

by bradford in

i just wanted to add another piece to the puzzle that is the exile from the organization.

a little background about myself first.

i was not born into the religion, technically.

Bigdummy

Welcome from me also Bradford. I've been in "the truth" going towards 60 years.

Take a piece of advice from The Searcher and me. Stay clear of any meeting of

an official type. They don't care what you have to say they just want a little more info

to hang you. I've never been the recipient of a JC meeting but my wife and I sat

in on one with our 15 yr old son. He took a sip or two from a beer at a concert and

one of the other young JW brothers felt compelled to tell the elders about it. They

all tasted it and it was wrong. They were all underage. I was told about it from my

son so to me it was over. Big deal he tasted some beer. The elders weren't as

forgiving as me because they wanted ALL the details. We go to the meeting and

these elder brothers who I had known for years took on a different persona. They

weren't the helpful and loving type I had recognized in the past. One of them asked

my son if that was all he ever did wrong . What a question! If I admitted everything

I did wrong by the time I was 15 I'd still be making a list to this day. But anyway one

of the elders accused him of lying. He said we know and we have witnesses of

past sins. I thought really I had no knowledge of these additional wrongs. He kept

badgering to come clean and they would be easier on him. After several minutes

of this crap and my sons repeatedly denying any other sins the elder gave up and

said " we really don't have any other accusations or witnesses. We just wanted to

see if you would admit to anything else". My blood pressure must have surely

spiked. I was mad. So this elder flat out lied to try to get more info. I told an elder

friend of mine about it and told him that elder lied and my friend said " well some-

times they have to do that to find out other things. Went my son got 18 he never

went to another meeting. He's in his mid 30's now. The elder that was lying faded

out of the truth and was living with another woman. I heard they are married now.

Bradford, I know how you feel and what you want to say but if you want to

fade and keep your family relationships in tack, I would steer clear of a frontal

assault on the doctrines. You won't win unless you count showing them up on some

crazy doctrines and you getting kicked out is a win. You can show them some-

thing wrong with a particular belief but leave it at one or two and let it simmer.

That's what I did but I got tired of doing that because whatever I said was wrong

even if I showed them and reasoned with from the Bible.

32

Trying to live the rest of my life without being bitter.

by Bigdummy in

i'm new to this forum.. i was raised in " the truth" from age six and now i am in my mid 60's.

my wife was born in " the truth" and is very strong in the religion.

i have had many experiences during my lifetime with the other members of several congregations.

Bigdummy

As I mentioned above I went to the assembly with my wife because she was

upset she was going alone. I missed the opening prayer and I left before the

closing prayer. But at the end of the baptism talk the prayer ended in " in Jesus

name we pray". That was the ONLY time I heard the name Jesus during the

entire assembly. I thought that was odd and very noticeable. But a speaker in

the afternoon part did bring out that "some brothers ( for the millionth time in

recent history) had fallen spiritually ill, viewing pornography and lo and behold

going to strip clubs and getting a massage by a woman gyrating on him with a

lap dance." I kid you not that was his words. I felt embarrased for the mere

fact that he even said this in front of teenagers and children. What was the point

of saying that? Shock value? I have seen episodes on 20/20 type of shows were

JW elders have killed their wives and sometimes children. I've never heard that

from the platform and nor do I need to. I know people do bad things but if they

fade away from the WTBTS I wonder if the JW's think you are automatically

going to go to strip clubs. One Presiding Overseer we had who was always saying

" I did this and I did that", was giving a part one night and says " we don't let our

young boys watch just anything on tv. I don't want them to come to me sometime

and say, daddy what's a threesome?." Puhleez! Did he have to say that? What's

with all the sexual innuendo from the platform? I like to hear stories and accounts

from the Bible talked about from the platform not some speakers hangup about

talking about sexual problems or perhaps immoral wrongs. Yes, I already know

Jehovah would frown on threesomes and lap dances. It seems some speakers

like to draw attention to their own personal fantasies perhaps. I don't intend to

do these things so I want to hear something with substance.