if you had to come up with 10 good reasons for people to learn how to effectively speak to jws, what would they be and how would you suggest they do so?
what is the most common misconception people have about jws?.
what is the most common misconception that jws have about christians?
If you had to come up with 10 good reasons for people to learn how to effectively speak to JWs, what would they be and how would you suggest they do so?
What is the most common misconception people have about JWs?
What is the most common misconception that JWs have about Christians?
when you were a j.w why were you taught to not celebarte christmas?
also is there fact behind there teachings?.
did you ever feel left out at this festive season and what did you think of others that celebrated?
I'm not a JW, but would love to know why it such a horrible thing to celebrate Christmas, but every JW I know seems to LOVE to celebrate anniversaries? I mean, aren't they the BIRTH of a marriage? What about all the paganism used in weddings? The rings, the wedding party, the way we dress, the eating of the cake, etc....all has pagan origins. And the drinking! Don't forget that. I mean, my JW friends rarely miss a Margarita Monday, yet you can find all kinds of references in the Bible of how drinking has had horrible consequences--even the curse of an entire race. -Gen. 9:23 Don't forget incest-Gen.19:34-35 Murder-2 Sam.13:28 Even today, look how many people die as a direct result of drinking! And if you want to go a little further with it, every JW that I personally know has a cat. Not many people in the Western world know the pagan origins of Christmas, but I haven't met too many who have not heard of cats being worshipped as gods in ancient civilizations. They were even mummified and laid in tombs with Kings! From what I have read in the Bible, TRUE idolatry is a problem with the heart. It's what we DO with objects and how we View them that makes them idolatrous. -Deut. 11:16; Job 31:26-28. Christians have the laws of God inscribed in their hearts-Jer.31:33; 2Cor.3:3; Heb. 10:16. As for celebrating holidays, Romans 14:5-6 and Col. 2:16-17 allows us the freedom in making that choice for ourselves. If you are sitting in front of the Christmas tree and all of the sudden you feel like you love it more than God, then by all means, get rid of it! My brother was in the military and for 3 years straight, the only time we got to see him was on Christmas. We cherish those memories and thank God for them. What is wrong with that? It's all about love. Love for our Saviour, love for our family. Against such things, there is no law. Many employers give their employees the day off to celebrate holidays, and not usually on the exact date of the holiday itself, does that mean the JWs go on in to work? Or do they take the day off like the rest of the "world"? I just don't get the double standard. Maybe you could ask your ex-husband some of these questions for me, because I am just dying to know who makes these rules and why so many people allow a bunch of guys in a religious organization to brow beat them into missing precious time with their families?! Please ask him on my behalf, because I just don't get it. I am not being sarcastic, I really want to know. God bless you and Merry Christmas!
my best friend of almost 30 years started studying with a jw aquaintance of her's about 8 yrs ago.
she didn't tell me about for 5-6 years.
she said she was kind of in and out of studying.
My best friend of almost 30 years started studying with a JW aquaintance of her's about 8 yrs ago. She didn't tell me about for 5-6 years. She said she was kind of in and out of studying. At that time I didn't know anything about it. I thought they were just another denomination of Christianity, that did things a little different, like knocking on doors, not saluting the flag, etc... Never seen anything wrong with it, until her behavior started getting argumentitive toward her Christian brother-in-law. Then she went off the deep end about an e-mail I sent that she said petained to the trinity. THEN I found out about the blood transfusion issue and NOW it is really concerning me for her and her 11 yr. old son. She recently told me she will no longer be celebrating Christmas. She is not baptised yet, but is dressing the part, and making her son wear the suits too. None of her family is in the WT. I would like to know what former JWs think the chances of her staying in that organization will be, since she doesn't have any family in it? She is in her late 30's. Is she still in the honey-moon stage, since she is not baptised yet? She has been fairly independant and rather selfish. I am surprised at how much they have been able to get her to change. She goes to 3 meetings and an at-home study. Not many Sundays yet, although she seems to feel guilty about that. I have read countless books and bring up questions at every opportune time, but for the most part, I am just trying to make sure we stay friends. Did any of you join the WT as an adult and what do you think would have made you decide to leave sooner? What stage of the "game" could you have left, without the fear taking over?
my best friend is a stone's throw from jw baptism.
she told me she is not celebrating christmas this year.
(this is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!
My best friend is a stone's throw from JW baptism. She told me she is not celebrating Christmas this year. (This is a gal who used to make it a point to "mend fences" with disgruntled friends and boy friends, in order to trade gifts!) Is she still in the honey-moon stage? She is going to about 3 different functions a week, but not going on Sun....yet. What do you think could be done to interrupt this process? I am VERY careful not to offend her or say negative things about the WT. She is in her late 30's, has been "studying" off and on for about 8 yrs., and is currently taking her 11 yr. old son to these meetings. She wears dresses to them and he has to wear suit-type garb, which is out of character. That is one of the ways I know she is really getting pulled in. Her Aunt passed away and I am going to the funeral this afternoon. I know she will be there, along with several family members. Not a real close knit family, so I don't have much to work with as far as support from them. (They are not JWs.) Is there anything I could maybe bring up that other groups do that might strike a cord with her and make her think, as she continues in this indoctrination process? Something that might make her think...".WHOA! Maybe I better back off and think this over for awhile." Since her husband started working nights, she is really falling in deeper, quickly! Help!
can you help me build a glossary of elder-speak?
you know, those phrases and arguments designed to appease, coerce, or guilt congregation members in to a desired course.
by exposing elder-speak, i hope to reduce the power of the words.
When you get your glossary completed, PLEASE send me a copy of it!! [email protected]
i would like to find former jws in my immediate area.
i have done a search on-line, but no luck.
i would like to find them without drawing attention to myself from those still in the jws, since i have close friends and family in the wt.
I would like to find former JWs in my immediate area. I have done a search on-line, but no luck. I would like to find them without drawing attention to myself from those still in the JWs, since I have close friends and family in the WT. I am considered to be non-threatening at this point, and would like to keep it that way. I have never been a JW. But I am interested in starting a support group and would like to have contact with former JWs who would like to help others become free. Their insight would be very helpful. Any ideas?
this was basically my second year out of the organization - we mark our leaving january 2004. i came across this site and began posting here one year ago today.
[edited to say this week not today].
i have found many here to be truly a blessing from god - no matter your individual views of him.
You saddly short yourself when you say that what you contribute is of little value. Your one response and advice within that response to my post was more valuable than you will ever know. Not having been in the JWs myself, but having people I love being taken in, I can use all the insight and information you can muster. I've found all of your posts that I have read to be helpful. Thanks for posting them!
one who is non-judgmental about others.. after 40 yrs of mind-control and judging everyone and everything in black/white, i am noticing that i don't even give much thought to the old witness predudice and self-righteous judgmentalisms anymore.. i could generally care less if a person i meet is a christian or not, hetero or homo in sexual prefs, wears earrings or not, how they dress, ect.. could it be that the witness fog is finally lifted and i am able to see the world without the witness filters?.
that is not to say i don't care about some of those things on some level, but they make little diff to me in general now.
i have become.... dare i say it.... normal!
Hey, Jeff! This is a little off the subject, but you responded to a post I put up yesterday, and were very helpful, I might add. Did you say YOU were from Indiana?!!!!
hi guys.
i haven't posted here in a year or so, perhaps more.
i'm not sure what i want to say, and i'm not sure that i want to put it down, since the more info you give here, the easier it is to be spotted.
Hi!
I hope that before you decide to re-join, you will read Toxic Faith. It does not put down any religion and may help you to see things from a different perspective. Another great resource is Combatting Cult Mind Control. Again, it does not put down religions per se, but helps you to see why you are going through some of the issues you mentioned. Therapy would be great, but you would likely need someone who knows how to deal with mind control issues. A support group for former JWs might be a big help for you. I truly hope you stay with your family. You are right. Your children need you. Think of what might happen if you are not there to protect them when they need it. If my information serves to be true, while you were in the JWs, you were repeatedly taught that anyone who leaves the organization will fall in to immoral behavior....right? Could it be that subconsciously, you are doing what is "expected"? I hope you will consider the two books I mentioned. You can get them anywhere, sometimes CHEAP on e-bay. In the meantime, remember how much your kids need their Dad. Do not let anyone take that reality away from you. I would say that they are very fortunate to have you. You seem to love them so very much. That is worth fighting for.
okay here is the deal, my aunt called last night and asked us over for thanksgiving dinner, my mom agreed to go and everything was fine until my aunt mentioned that my other aunt whom i will call evil witch would also be there.
my mom had already said yes and she would like to be there to see my aunt but i don't want to go if evil witch is going to be there.. a few years ago we went over for thanksgiving dinner ( my mom did not go b/c she and evil witch do not get along, but i wanted to go to see my cousin) it was awful, evil witch said horrible things about my mom, if that wasn't bad enough she said all of these things in front of my sisters who were only nine.. needless to say i was angry, i was so mad that i got my sisters and told them it was time to go home, we didn't even have dinner.
a few days later i called her and told her that what she had done was wrong and that she should know better than to say certain things in front of my sisters, she proceded to scream at me, and i told her to go to hell and to stay away from us ( can you feel the love?).
The only thing more pathetic than a miserable person who has nothing good to say, is the person who gives them the power to steal their peace and joy. Especially if you allow them to interfere with being with the people you love. Arguing will not help. Show some class and don't let her pull you into her misery. You will be a great inspiration to your sisters, if you handle the situation with dignity. I have made such a fool of myself by getting hot under the collar and flying off the handle. Those days are gone. I choose to be kind, inspite of what anyone else does. My Mom used to tell me to "kill 'em with kindness", and you know, it really works! Just try to bite your tongue and refuse to come down to her level. Try to think of things that might happen and how you can react in a positive manner. Your Aunt seems like a person who is very bitter. Misery loves company. Be happy inspite of her, it will drive her CRAZY!
