This is all fascinating stuff for me, as my dad was an up-and-comer in the org. in the late '60s, was recommended for traveling circuit work at age 26, and knew many of the brothers who gave these talks. I'd love to get drunk with Chuck now and hear what he really thinks/remembers. edit: and a thank you to Randy W. for hosting the audio of that talk. I still listen to bits and pieces of it for both nostalgia sake and for laughs.
Posts by Cygnus
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17Did anyone know Charles "stay alive til '75" Sunutko?
by IronGland inwhat was he like?
would he be amused to hear that talk he gave now?
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38
Who can and can't a JW sit next to at the hall?
by JH in.
there are so many unwritten laws, but most witnesses know when it's wrong to sit next to someone.. name a few cases, when it's ok to sit next to someone, and when it's not ok?
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Cygnus
prophecor (I dig your style),
You're probably right. That must be drilled into the minds of the women too. I remember a long time ago I wanted to sit 2 chairs in and my wife said NO you HAVE to sit on the end. I was like, why?
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15
RANT: Desultory ramblings of a frustrated cult member
by dorayakii inafter almost a year of living abroad, away from my parents and away from anything even remotely watchtower related, having allowed myself to not worry about these silly little things (yet convincing my parents that i was still going); now that i've been back for about 6 weeks, i feel that i have to put on a double effort to cover over things that i've said or done, and avoid using "suspect" words or phrases like "cheers" or "good luck".
its driving me crazy at the moment, and 10 times more than it was doing before i moved out.
today, i had a mini panic attack at having told a "worldly" friend of mine "good luck".
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Cygnus
I enjoyed your post. I'm not happy about what you're going through, but you did mention being the son of a prominent elder if I'm not mistaken. Maybe you could talk to him about your "doubts" and get a feel for how he'd react. Start with 10% of the truth and work up from there if he's understanding and receptive.
edit: oh and just so you know, while married to a JW I went through all that, and finally decided no (religious) man is gonna tell me what to do, how to view/behave spiritually, and I stood up for my feelings and told the elders to go fuck themselves. Maybe you get DF'd. Maybe, horribly, you lose your dad. But make peace with him. Before my DFing announcement I told my mother-in-law I was gonna get DF'd and she broke down crying and said "if I have to choose between you and Jehovah, I have to choose Jehovah." That was 5 years ago. 'Course i wasn't happy at the time but I got over it. In 5-6 you'll probably get over it too. And the best part is, I say shit good luck, goddamn, and all that and don't think twice. :) But for reasons i wont get into here I refuse to say "god bless you" when someone sneezes (Seinfeld had something to do with that....youre SO good looking) -
11
Disfellowship article, ideas please
by jwfacts ini have written an article for my parents.
they are somewhat influential in the org and i am trying to convince them to push for changes to current disfellowshipping policy, not that i hold out too much hope.
anyway, i would like what i have written checked for accuracy.
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Cygnus
I think it's a good article. I think Franz's chapter on DFing was good too. Unfortunately :( I don't think it'll make a difference to the WTS leaders just as Franz's didn't unless the JW populace revolts and starts talking to DF'd ones, like in the late '70s. Even today, many JWs when pressed on the matter say shunning is too strong and even my ex-wife who is a JW talks to me, and not just about 'family business.' My JW parents ignore the rule. So there's hope, but I'd be hard pressed to think the shunning doctrine will be lifted. Althought nothing would please me more.
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13
Who's the Pope of the Jehovah's Witnesses now?
by inquirer ini have seen on the 2nd page of the watchtower m. h. larson.... what's his first name?
is he the "pope?
i have forgotten a lot of things about jw structure.
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Cygnus
In comparitive terms, Theo Jaracz is the pope. Max Larson, Don Adams, etc. are presidents of cooperations that facilitate Watchower business. Jaracz is still running the show. Henschel was the last president who was also on the GB but I don't think he knows how to tie his shoes or what an email is.
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38
Who can and can't a JW sit next to at the hall?
by JH in.
there are so many unwritten laws, but most witnesses know when it's wrong to sit next to someone.. name a few cases, when it's ok to sit next to someone, and when it's not ok?
.
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Cygnus
Don't know anymore, but a couple of years ago when I went to visit caty in PA and her JW mom expected us to go to the KH, I sat next to her near the rear and groped her the whole time. Once we sat in the library with an elder also in there and I spent the time reading the Studies in the Scriptures, Enemies, and the 1975 Yearbok. Made sure the elder saw what I was reading too. Nobody there knew I was DF'd and just about everyone who came up to lovebomb me, or just genuinely be nice, thought I was great. If they only knew............ hhehehehe Edited to add: there also always seemed to be an understanding that the husband sit in the seat closest to the aisle. Never did understand that one.
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20
Good Memories
by joelbear in.
please use this thread only to post good memories.. i remember going to the beautiful white sand beaches of the gulf coast and playing in the sand with dad and chasing mom with dead jellyfish.
the water was crystal clear.
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Cygnus
It must be nice to have such fine Xmas memories. Mine involve shoveling snow or dressing warmly and then selling magazines written by old people I never met. Edited to add: Sorry Joel, I forgot you wanted this to be GOOD memories. So............ one or about Dec 25, 1985 we had a massive snow storm of over 6 feet and I was a paperboy and it took me 6 hours but I delivered every damned paper. Proud of myself.
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20
What the Bleep Do We Know!? -anyone seen this movie?
by ithinkisee in.
i thought it was fairly o.k.
- maybe it was too built up for me by others.. your thoughts?.
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Cygnus
Ken, I may never be able to grip a bowling ball again. But more than the act of throwing a 16 lb. ball to knock down pins is the friendship, good times, and closeness we share. I consider myself friends with a lot of JWDers and past yahooers and H2Oers, you you're definitely one of them, and one I pull for.
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122
Very good apologetics for honest seekers
by Shining One inare you tired of the arrogant assertions of the elite ex-jw clique here?
here is some powerful ammunition to "demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of god"!
http://www.carm.org/evidence.htm .
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Cygnus
I only read the first page of this thread so I might be posting irresonsibly. Matt Slick is a cool guy and I've talked with him a lot but carm.org is a terrible thing for a brain to encounter. Edited to add: Terry, who I just met recently, and AlanF (and Farkel), who I've both known for over 8 goddamned years...... I just wish they were my contermporaries. I love to learn from them, and occasionally mention something they didn't know or weren't aware of.
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20
Good Memories
by joelbear in.
please use this thread only to post good memories.. i remember going to the beautiful white sand beaches of the gulf coast and playing in the sand with dad and chasing mom with dead jellyfish.
the water was crystal clear.
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Cygnus
I love sand. It represents and is billions of years of history.