Posts by Gregor

28

Is stepping down from being an elder a big deal?

by Clam in

recently ive discovered that my brother in law has stood down from his position as an elder.

ive of course been intrigued but theres little chance of him discussing it with me.

however the other day my non jw mother (his mother-in-law) asked him why hes resigned from eldership.

Gregor

Oddly enough, it was a CO's visit that led to my resignation."Resignation" really is too fancy a word for quitting the elder job. Imagine the guy who drives the truck around to all the portable toilets to suck them out,... "After careful consideration, I have decided to resign my position as driver of the shit sucker"...

The New CO we had was so fucking stupid I just couldn't take anymore. I wrote a letter to Brooklyn wherein I both resigned and took him down too. It was very satisfying. The day I mailed the letter I quit shaving and by the time word got around that I'd quit I looked like Clint Eastwood in Hang 'em High.

39

What about calling out to Jah?

by hallelujah in

the big to me is what about jehovah.

after years of calling out to jah, literally, i start to wonder whether jah really helps me or rather it's just a type of mantra.

i have started thinking that i have to look after myself.

Gregor

As you well know UnkyBruce, I have a cynical streak a mile wide. I really think we should start our own religion. Monetary gain would be an unavoidable side effect. Helping the little people would be the reward.

25

Movie: The Truman Show = Jehovahs Witnesses? Anyone seen this movie?

by Trojan in

by now, i realize there are a couple of good movies that help to understand the situation a jw finds himself in, once he finds out the truth about "the truth".

like: the village, the island, stepford wifes.

i find that these movies help me to understand the situation of being trapped in a cult and the mixed emotions about finding out and the courage and strenght needed to leave.

Gregor

The original 1950's "Invasion of the Body Snatchers" when everyone you used to know look the same but now they are only concerned that you get a seed pod put under your bed so you can be completely absorbed and conform to the group.

Truman Show was good too.

16

Have you ever bit your lip?

by CountryGuy in

jw
friends

okay, this is a strange request, but i'm desperate... i have bit my lip too many times.

i bit it for the first time on sunday and have bitten it about 10 times since!

no matter how careful i am, i keep biting it!

Gregor

Oh, yeah. When your 15 yrs. old sitting in the meeting and Sister Schwartz cracks an audible fart, try not to bite your lip too hard.

16

Have you ever bit your lip?

by CountryGuy in

jw
friends

okay, this is a strange request, but i'm desperate... i have bit my lip too many times.

i bit it for the first time on sunday and have bitten it about 10 times since!

no matter how careful i am, i keep biting it!

Gregor

Pop an ice cube in your mouth immediately and hold it on the bite as long as you can, take a break and do it again, etc. (Same thing for burned mouth or kitchen finger burns).

Happening more often? Obviously, once it swells you have to be super conscious of it. But one of the reasons it happens initially is that you may be putting on weight, especially if it goes to your cheeks, (like me).

The good thing is, the mouth heals very fast.

39

What about calling out to Jah?

by hallelujah in

the big to me is what about jehovah.

after years of calling out to jah, literally, i start to wonder whether jah really helps me or rather it's just a type of mantra.

i have started thinking that i have to look after myself.

Gregor

Religious people call it prayer. But athiests can "pray" too. It is called "Positive self talk" and works basically the same as prayer. Either one is a healthy way to meditate and mentally organize your concerns by vocally or mentally verbalizing.

Asking, or supplicating, for strength to deal with the serious things life throws at us.

Airing our guilt or asking forgiveness for doing the things we know we shouldn't have so as to start fresh with new resolve.

Putting our life in perspective by thanking God or Providence for the things we do have, including life itself.

But I think the power of religious prayer is corrupted by expecting Gods answers to be manifest in the external, physical world. ("Dear God, please help unle Bill to quit being an asshole") Yes, there are those co-incidences (Wow, uncle Bill sent me a birthday card!) that can reinforce the idea of spiritually interacting with "GOD" , but, more often than not, the individual feels that their prayer went unanswered ("Please make Bob/Sue notice me and get the hots for me").

For me, the 'prayers' that work are those that refer me back to myself and my outlook for the answers.

36

When did you first "get the truth"

by unclebruce in

confessions of a "theocratic liar.

may 16th 1965. hampstead gardens primary school.

adelaide.

Gregor

Third generation witnesses, like me, didn't get the truth, the truth got us.

9

What makes a Special Talk "Special?"

by Virgochik in

when i was growing up, they'd announce the date and title of a special talk.there was lots of buzzing and excitement, and everybody was encouraged to invite irregular ones and relatives to attend.

poor grandpa and aunt m. always got begged to dress up and come out to hear this vitally important message.why?

because it wasn't just a talk, it was a special talk!

Gregor

It was always the Sunday before the Memorial. After the speaker sat down (by the way, everyone clapped at the end for the Sunday talks but never clapped at any point during it.) The MC would announce the Memorial, date, time, bring your friends,..blah blah blah.

I remember all the cigarettes being lit up by the newcomers, bible studies and and unbelieving mates as soon as they hit the parking lot. Same thing at the Memorial. See ya next year!

21

Watchtower "study" - a puzzle for drones

by Gregor in

ok, here's how you prepare for the watchtower study.

come on, it's fun!

an unmarked copy of the watchtower for thewt study that week.

Gregor

Yes, margin notes on a really dog eared copy were good. If held properly, it could be seen by others over your shoulder from several rows back. It looked like you had completely inhaled all the spiritual food there was to be had in that article. If this was observed consistently you got the reputation of being a very knowledgable, spiritually mature, brother or sister. If Armageddon started tomorrow, you'd have nothing to worry about.

Conversely, to be seen with a clean, unmarked magazine during the meeting was a sure sign of a weak publisher. Having to raise your hand for a copy when the meeting began, well, you must be, as the Hawaiians say, a real "weaky-sicky-newy"

20

If they had the "truth", wouldn't they stop printing new literature?

by JH in

jw
friends

.

the fact that they are coming out with new magazines and new books all the time, can only mean that they haven't found the truth yet.. if they had the truth, they'd be satisfied with their old publications.

Gregor

GOOD EXAMPLE

Some of us remember the 'new light' that unequivocly stated that various named Society publications were the actual anti-typical fullfilments of :

1. The 7 Trumpet blasts by Joshua that brought down the walls of Jericho.

2. In Revalation the 'bowls' that were poured out on Babylon the Great

Once, near the begining of the summer conventions the Society hype machine was getting every body all goosebumpy over the impending release of a bombshell .

I'll never forget what it was. A Resolution that essentially warned all non-JWs..."OK, this is it! No more Mr. Nice Guy! You better shit or get off the pot! We're not fooling around this time!"

It was printed on the four sides of a piece of really cheap newsprint. We had to fold them. You would think such an important warning should at least be on the same quality of paper as the Watchtower.