Posts by tall penguin

33

I'm just numb! :-( I need to vent!

by caz in

i have just witnessed for myself one of the most hypocritical scenes ever before in my life!

my sister's ex husband, ( father to 3 boys, 12, 15, 20 years) commited suicide a few days ago.

he has been a jehova's witness all of his life and and also suffered from bi polar disorder for most of it also, particularly bad in the past 3 years.

tall penguin

Hi Caz and welcome to the board! I'm so sorry for what you've been through. The jw's really know how to take a bad situation and make it worse. I feel your anger. And it's completely justified. The elders are notorious for ignoring the emotionally distraught and only swooping in at the last minute like they've been there all along. It's bullsh*t!
Please feel free to continue to talk. There's lots of support here.
tall penguin

28

Mrs. ITIS/FreedomLover - How I "saw the light!" ha ha ha

by freedomlover in

okay, first thank you to the greastest degree for the warm welcome and insight you all have given itis and me since i've started visiting your very apostate site.

my life as a jw.

it starts with my maternal grandmother.

tall penguin

Wow! That's quite the story. Your mother reminds me of my mother. I'm always amazed at how similar these stories are.
I'm proud of you for finding the courage to see things differently. It's not easy. The emotional roller coaster you described is hard to bear at times. I can relate, having just left a few months ago. Some days the grief and anger are so overwhelming. It's nice to know though that others are going through it and others still are on the other side of it.
Please keep sharing with us.
tall penguin

13

The story of my life (part 12- My first committee)

by onacruse in

jw
friends

i title this part this way because i was, over the course of the next couple of years, involved with so many committees (one way or another) that, even though i wasn't an elder, i almost felt like one...as subsequent parts will show.. in any case, it was inevitable that my smoking would be found out.

to his credit, the brother that approached me did as the bible says he should do: he approached me privately, inviting me to voluntarily broach my error with an elder.

of course, as much as i respected, and still have no reason to disrespect, this friend, there was the clearly implicit threat that "if you don't, i will have to.".

tall penguin

onacuse,
how did the elder get "honored" with an Awake article? Was it like an elder-of-the-year award? :)
I'm looking forward to the next installment in your epic saga. I imagine from some of your comments here that there is much more to tell.
tp

13

The story of my life (part 12- My first committee)

by onacruse in

jw
friends

i title this part this way because i was, over the course of the next couple of years, involved with so many committees (one way or another) that, even though i wasn't an elder, i almost felt like one...as subsequent parts will show.. in any case, it was inevitable that my smoking would be found out.

to his credit, the brother that approached me did as the bible says he should do: he approached me privately, inviting me to voluntarily broach my error with an elder.

of course, as much as i respected, and still have no reason to disrespect, this friend, there was the clearly implicit threat that "if you don't, i will have to.".

tall penguin

Thank you for continuing to share your story. It's like a good book that I can't put down!
You've been through a lot.
I'm curious to know how your wife responded to your being disfellowshipped. I guess you'll tell us more in time. You mention that she went to the meeting that night. I don't quite understand that mentality. Is it for closure? For martyrdom? My Mom insisted on being there when my DA announcement was made, like it would prove how strong she was for Jehovah. I just don't get it.
tall penguin

23

Just sayin Howdy

by forsharry in

i saw that other people had done this and i figured it would be a good way to introduce myself.

i've been reading many of the threads and let me tell you that it's comforting to read that others feel the same way i have felt about being in the organization.

i'm not sure how much i can contribute as far as delectible tidbits of information, but i have replied to a couple of threads to, if nothing else, interject some 'humor' into things.

tall penguin

Welcome forsharry. I can really relate to your story. This one line caught my eye..."Cause I was an obedient child, honoring my parents by following their lead, when deep down inside I wished that I could be killed so that my 'personal' suffering would end and hopefully I would be ressurected into paradise...and if not...then I would be dead, and at least not having to worry about burning in hell was a comfort, eh?"
Yup, been there. I've had a death wish since I was very young and I saw suicide as a very viable option. I figured that if I killed myself I'd be out of my misery and if there was a resurrection for me, fine. If there wasn't, I'd be dead and not know the difference. Seemed quite logical to me.
I'm so happy you've made it to this board. You'll find lots of encouragement here. Oh, and, btw, you have a pm.
:) tall penguin

16

Grace: What is it?.

by Lady Lee in

this may seem like an odd topic for me to handle but i have had this rolling around in me for a long time.. i'm sure many of us recall the oft repeated quote from jws that "faith without works is dead" the concept of grace is unknown to them.

one website gives one aspect of it as.

grace is a beautiful word, truly a great bible truth is resident in this word.

tall penguin

It's funny...I've been thinking about this a lot lately too. I got to thinking yesterday how strange it seems that at the end of this life, the Sovereign of the Universe is going to do a run-down of all the mistakes I made and then summarily destroy me if those mistakes surpass the good deeds I did. What happened to "not keeping account of the injury"?!
I was also thinking about unconditional love. I am not a parent yet. But I work with children. And I can't imagine any loving parent sitting down their child and going over a list of errors versus a list of good acts and judging whether the child will be blessed or punished over this summation. Seems absolutely ludicrous to me.
And since we're supposedly made "in God's image" I can't imagine the God of the universe being less loving and kind than the average human parent. Just simple logic to me.
An elder once summed up the society's position on grace when he said, "There's no unconditional love in the organization." And he seemed rather proud of that position. Sad, so very sad.
tall penguin

35

Because They Treat People Like Sh*t!

by metatron in

jw
friends

sorry about that title.

i rarely use such language - except when it makes a point that needs emphasis - and this one does.. .

i have run into 3 witnesses in the past couple of days.

tall penguin

For me the most disturbing thing is not just the mistreatment of people in the org but the coginitive dissonance that surrounds it. The abused person somehow manages to still believe that they're in the true religion! I have something to illustrate this well. When I disassociated 2 months ago, I sent emails to my closest friends outlining my decision and my reasons for so deciding. The following is the response I received from a dear friend who has been through more sh*t in the organization than most people I know of. My friend writes:
"I have thought long and hard about what you have decided and have come to the conclusion that although the organization isn't perfect, I truly in my heart of hearts believe that it is sprit directed and I need to be a part of that. I have had my difficulties with the truth as you have had and I have been wronged by elders to the point of being effected mentally and emotionally, but when I look around me and see evidence of Jehovah's sprit with this organization, however imperfect, I can't deny it! I just love Jehovah and he's asked me to worship him thru this organization. As a result, I think it best for my spiritual welfare and peace of mind that I don't associate with you until such time as you come back. I'm really sorry if this hurts you but I must try to do things the right way, Jehovah's way!"
Now, this is a friend who spent most of our friendship talking (often quite colorfully) about how the org had done her wrong. And justifiably so! She's been through hell. Yet it seems that on some level, she's not ready to let go of being abused. It's a strange addiction.
tall penguin

9

Body of Elders...

by Quentin in

ive been on the board a little over six months.

before coming here i would tell people: i can be surprised, but never shocked.

thats no longer true after reading through the topics and comments.

tall penguin

From the outside looking in, it's now totally inconceivable that anyone would allow a group of men to dominate their life the way jw's allow the elders to. When you're in it though, it's not so easy to be objective. If you believe it's "the truth" you're willing to put up with any inhumane treatment, even thinking that it's "Jehovah's will" that you be tested in some way. It all seems crazy now. But then hindsight is always 20/20.
tp

6

rise and shine

by gladdy in

jw
friends

past wake people who were sleeping after working a night shift.

what were you directed to say to these people?

apologetic or ?

tall penguin

Although we were directed to never apologize for coming to people with the "good news", even if we woke them, I always did. If I'd spent all night working only to be woken up I'd want someone to apologize to me. The Golden Rule got the best of me I guess.
tp

5

Now this is the way to post an item on Ebay

by CaptainSchmideo in

jw
friends

...and a gentle jab at many of us older guys, and a valuable lesson to pass on to younger guys..

back to home pagelisted in category: clothing, shoes & accessories > men's clothing > pantsdkny men's leather pants i unfortunately ownstylish.

tall penguin

Hilarious!!!