alanv

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Posts by alanv

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  9

  How many of the woman 'sisters' had to sit in the back seat while in FS

  by life is to short in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was wondering how many of the sisters on this board had to sit in the back seat while in service.

  when i was single i almost always used my car and unlike most of the sister who turned over their cars to the brothers to drive and would then take the back seat in their own car i never did.

  so i did not have a problem with this being single.

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  alanv

  Women in the org are not encouraged to anything except pioneer and be a good wife.

  My son who is a JW asked us to speak to him first before we ask his JW wife to help in any way. It's all about power.
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  18

  Have any of you had experiences with a spouse who puts loyalty to thier parents and the organisation over you?

  by captain in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm going through this at the moment and very disillusioned - especially when i find that people who i thought were my good friends (read: elders) are actually siding with my spouse..

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  alanv

  It depends if the parents are JWs. If they are, then your spouse will probably put the religion before you what you say.

  If the parents are not witnesses then scriptually she should be going by what you say, unless it goes against her faith.
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  17

  Governing Body two-thirds majority

  by wannabefree in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i believe current count is 9 gb, so that makes 6 out of 9 for it to be so?.

  how about two-thirds when all 10,800 or so are given a say?.

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  alanv

  Very interesting reading in Ray Franz' bookks rer. the two thirds majority.

  In a nut shell if 5 out of 9 vote for a change in maybe something really important, even affecting people's lives, it would not go through as the majority was not two thirds, even though the majority wanted the change.

  Recommend everyone to read this in Ray's books. I am assuming this rule has not changed.
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  23

  Setting up trust – any suggestions on how to handle our JW daughter?

  by Bonnie_Clyde in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we set up a trust a few years ago but have an appointment with our attorney later this month to make sure it is current and make any changes necessary.

  originally we had our daughter and our two sons to share equally.

  now i feel that it should not be equal.

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  alanv

  This is so difficult for you. I have one son who is a winess and one who is not. I am lucky they are both very helpful and loving.

  What about being totally honest with and ask what she thinks you should do. Is it right for you to give your hard earned money to someone who apparantly does not care very much for either of you. It may make her think. If she continues to show a disrespectful attitude I know I would not be helping her out very much.

  That is me. You obviously have to decide for yourself. It's not easy.
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  12

  Peter Gregerson, long time friend of Raymond Franz, on the six screens call tonight, Saturday April 17 at 7p.m.EST

  by koolaid-man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  peter gregerson has a story to tell.

  it's a story of spirituality, deception, confusion, and wisdom.

  it is a story shared by many others who have caught a glimpse of a freeing pathway from the deceiving clutches of the watchtower religion and have walked that lonely road out.

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  alanv

  Rick, I always listen to you on the internet and have only just got around to hearing Barbera Anderson. I personally agree with her when she says that most people in the org. really do believe they are right. We did when we were a part of it. Yes they do sell many publications, but they feel that is neceassay to spread the word. Of course we all agree that it is a terrable organisation to get caught up in, but that should make us even more determined to help those still in it, bearing in mind that they really do believe in it.
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  30

  Jw's must be having a hay-day!

  by AK - Jeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  all the earthquakes, mudslides, and now volcanic ash in the sky of europe grounding air-travel.. the end is nigh!.

  jeff.

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  alanv

  Yes I thought the same Jeff. The earthquakes do seem to be coming regularly in a short space of time. Also they are bound to be saying something about the cloud of ash that has descended over Europe.

  It's the unsuspecting householders that I feel sorry for. Many are often taken in when something like this happens.
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  41

  If someone is benefitting from being in a cult, should we leave them there?

  by Confuzzled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if scientology has narcanon, and it has gotten people off drugs (although that 85% sucess rate they say they have is suspect), and becoming a jw sorta forces you into line, would it make sense to leave someone in if they were helping them?

  if you knew somebody was a drunk, sex addict, drug addict, what have you, and they were studying, and it appeared that they were actually being helped (albeit by twisted means) would you leave them be?

  like, if uncle jim was a fall down drunk that ran around on his wife, then someone introduced him to the wts, and it all stopped, would you still try and expose the cult even if they were actually helping and it was working?.

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  alanv

  It's a very good question. My son was going off the rails in several ways before he became a witness. We his parents were trying to help and guide him but he wasn't listening. Then he got in with the witnesses and to be honest they did sort him out.

  As black sheep says the same help would have been available elsewhere, but he chose this route.

  He is now a much more resposable adult, but on the negative side he is going round people's doors telling them they will die if they don't change their ways. Also he does not have the ability to reason things out for himself, and of course he keeps his distance from the family because of the JW aversion to certain celebrations.

  So there is good and bad. But to be fair, he did need something to help him, it's just a shame it had to be this religion.
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  33

  I finally did it

  by doublelife in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i told my mom that i'm not going back to the meetings.

  i wasn't planning on telling her that but i've been going through some hard times with my husband and just got fed up with her hounding me.

  so she asked if i'll still consider going back to the meetings and i just flat out told her no and that it wasn't up for discussion.

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  alanv

  Welcome to the world of the faders. Good descision to fade rather than disassociate. You probably feel you would really like to tell the WT to shove it, and disassociate yourself from them, but if you can fade it is so much better if you have family in the org. Make no mistake, however close family members are to you they and JW friends would totally reject you if you formally said you want nothing to do with them. So good for you. I wish you well.
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  14

  I have to give GREAT THANKS!

  by its_me! in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i wanted all of you to know how much you have helped me in the few short weeks that i have been here.. i was starting to sink into a very deep and dangerous depression, wrestling with the lies that i have been taught all of my life, and feeling like i was evil because i did not want to follow anymore.

  fearing that i was deeply offending god and hurting him.. since being on this site, the weight is starting to be lifted.

  the thick veil of fog is slowly starting to clear, and i feel like i can live!

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  alanv

  its_me. As I write this I must say I have tears in my eyes. I am so glad you are finally free. You're right this is a wonderful site for helping people get free from the WT.

  I guess we will never know how many others are being helped, but I wish to add my own thanks to everybody as well for all the help and encouragement I have had, just by reading their comments. Thank you all.
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  18

  Seen this???

  by mouthy in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  the bossert was one of the several hotels that the jehovahs witnesses acquired and renovated during the 70s and 80s.

  by 1984, when the witnesses purchased it, the building had been reduced to a sad condition by age and neglect.

  the witnesses performed an excellent restoration, reproducing the mahogany windows and replacing 2,500 square feet of bottachino classico marble with stone from the original italian quarry.

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  alanv

  kret. I think you are absolutely right. Ray Franz the ex governing body member who obviously new the gov. body members very well, did say that generally they do mean well.

  Just go over the top with their organization worship.

  They may not have swiss bank accounts, but they do have a good life.

  They do have better apartments in Bethel than the boys. Also they regularly go all round the world and are able to mix business with pleasure.

  So free board and lodging, nice car and regular holidays. Can't be bad.