just a quick thought.... we know that the org loves to paint all those who fade or leave as "negative, bitter and unhappy"...because of course "the truth is the happiest way to live".
so, never allow ourselves to be that way when talking with witnesses, or family members still in.. show them that we are happy, our lives are fulfilled and positive.. then they have no ammunition.
also, it helps other doubters to see that there is life in the world beyond the org..
Talesin ... you are absoltely right.
If we try to put on a front that we are happy and joyful all the time, we are no better than them, AND people will see right through it.
The best example for us to show them is to JUST BE OURSELVES! Happy, sad, indifferent ... it's all part of life.
Life cannot be lived with just one brushstroke.
i'm pretty sure it is, just wanted to confirm.
this would be someone who went once and only looked....
Just take some JW.ORG promotional material to pass out and you're all good! Perhaps pasties for the ladies with the logo in the middle?
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/ny-court-of-appeals/1181065.html.
new york city gives religious buildings water exemptions if the building is entirely used for religious purposes and if there is a caretaker's apartment, there can be only one.
that assembly hall had 2. the water dept denied their application for exemption on that basis.
Good find, Rattigan! Interesting! They barely qualify as a religion anymore, anyway!
i use to hate when people who made goodbye posts on message boards.
why would they think that just because you no longer post on a chevy truck forum or a los angeles lakers forum the world would crumble around those still left there.
this place is definitely different.
confusedandalone ...
I first created my account here over 12 years ago. (My WildThing account says 11, but that's because I changed my mind about using my real name, so created a second account.) I still have to peek in every once in a while. I still have quite a bit of contact with my family that is still in, and so I still need a place to vent and marvel at the new stupidity I see on a regular basis. I have taken long breaks from this board ... sometimes very long breaks (years), but it is a good place to find some people who understand why you are STILL dealing with their dysfunction.
My point is ... move on. It's healthy. But give yourself permission to come back when you need to.
Good luck!
i think if there isnt one already, there should be a scholarship for ex-jws to get a college education.
i dont know exactly what would be the qualifications to win the scholarship or where the money would come from..
In theory I think it is such a great idea! But in reality, the only ones that would contribute would be ex-JWs, who overwhelmingly are "not rolling in it" and my $5 contribution will not get us very far.
The other problem is that whatever funds we could come up with could not possibly ever keep up with demand, even if there was a stinking rich philanthropist among us.
There are so many ex-JWs that come out of the organization that are uneducated and yearning for higher education, there would be thousands clamoring for whatever meager funds we raise.
I guess I am just pessimistic when it comes to bringing about any real change on that issue. Now if we could get our hands on the society's coffers ...
out of interest, and to formulate a cordial chat, would you give your top one reason for your belief or non belief?.
my foremost 'one reason' for non belief is:.
the historical evidence that provides an explination and timeline for how the modern religious doctrine's and dogma developed over time.. .
I believe in a living universe. Planets and stars (and presumably new life) are still being created. And I believe all living things seem to be connected somehow. Is that God? Maybe, but it's not the Jehovah I grew up knowing. In my mind, Jehovah does not exist. But maybe God does ... sort of.
deceptive jw elders case#2 .
appointing spiritually qualified men to take the lead and serve as elders and overseers has been a feature of watch tower congregational organization since about 1972. jws were told in talks at conventions, in literature, and finally in the two versions of the organization book that the biblical criteria is used when elders meet to consider some men for appointment as an elder.
jws are also told that these qualified men are already appointed first by holy spirit, and then as the congregation is lead by that spirit to recognize them, the elders meeting is a confirmation of what god has done.
I have not had good experiences with elders. My dad was an elder, and he lived a double life. Everyone thought he was such a wonderful man, but little did they know living with him was hell. He was an abusive monster. When things got as bad as they could get, and my mother sought help from the other elders, they told her it was a family matter and they couldn't get involved. This went on for years and asking for help at various times. After 30 years of marriage, it took a mental hospital to get us away from him. And he was either a MS or an elder for most of those years.
So after we finally got away and moved to another state, my opinion of elders didn't change. I was convinced that if you were not a hypocrit and a corrupt person, you would become so shortly after becoming an elder. A year or two before I left for good, my mother and I were at the meeting when they announced my brother-in-law was an elder. I sat there and cried. And they were not tears of joy. Everyone was congratulating him and I could not. He was such a good person. He is still an elder, and I don't know what kind of elder he is. I hope he has managed to hold on at least a little bit of the decency and kindness he use to have. I just know if you enter into that position, you really must have to sell your soul in order to do some of the things the org asks.
i still do not understand the new structure at this point.. there has to be something between thousands of co's and the gb.
i know there were zone overseers that the do's reported to.. i have spoken to a couple of elders i can talk to frankly and they both said they have no idea.. rub a dub.
.
I don't see them reporting to the branch office. Isn't that too many? I just don't see them breaking down their pyramid of power that much. I agree, there has to be something in the middle.
as the title says, please list what you find annoying with the organization..
Wild_Thing
can you go to 9?
Challenge accepted!
8. They condemn everyone to destruction, except for themselves.
9. They teach parents to have conditional love and acceptance of their children.
i recently logged into one of my many duplicate social media accounts.
i had a large amount of friend requests from congregation members.
the account is blank and i want to make it seem as though i am an active user.
I am Facebook friends with 7 JWs, three of which are family. The other 4 asked to be Facebook friends long after I had left, just so they could play games with me. Most of them block me from seeing things on their Facebook page, including my sister. I no longer play those silly and am ready to delete them.
If you want to keep the peace, you could accept them as friends and then block them from seeing anything you post, until you post something you want them to see. If they ask, you can just tell them you don't use Facebook much.
As far as an apostate profile, you should definitely put down that your favorite TV shows are the Smurfs and any TV show with Neil deGrasse Tyson.
Your profile picture should definitely be old Charlie.
Good luck!
