Posts by DevonMcBride

14

JW's come knocking on Christmas

by DIM in

jw
friends

well, after 10 months, the jw's finally came knocking on my apartment - on christmas day!

in my head, i was going to debate with them, maybe even reason with them.....what actually happened is that for some reason, all of the emotional things inside of me came to the fore and i waited until they were leaving my apartment, i opened up my door, grabbed the tract, crumpled it into a ball, threw it at them and rattled off a string of profanities (which i won't repeat here, out of respect for simon's rules).

i was really mad at myself for doing this, but at the same time it provided an immense cartharsis for me.

DevonMcBride

Dim,

Even though you didn't debate with them you at least got some building frustrations out, and I'm sure it felt good. I'm surprised JW's are able to evangelize in apartment buildings. My apartment complex has two big No Trespassing, Private Property signs at the entrance to the driveway. If your apartment building has a no trespassing sign they probably could get into trouble. I personally would call the police or at least threaten to if they stopped by my apartment. There are over 800 units here and if I debate with them they will just leave my apartment and continue with the rest of the 799 units, and maybe recruit someone. If I call the police, they will leave.

BTW, You probably are familiar with my apartment complex, since you lived 10 minutes away. I live at the Korman Suites Meadowbrook.

19

What is it with knocking on doors?

by PierreDelEclin in

jw
friends

not to be rude, but why is it you all knock on people's doors?

don't find that annoying?

would you like it if satanists or muslims knocked on your door trying to convert you?

DevonMcBride

Hi Pierre and welcome to this site.

The majority of the members here are ex-Jehovah's Witnesses and they feel the same way you do when it comes to door to door evangelizing. I never was a JW and understand exactly how you feel. Maybe one of the ex-JW's here can explain why the Jehovahs Witlesses knock on doors.

11

Powerball fever

by DevonMcBride in

yep, i was hit by the powerball fever.

i'm talking about the powerball lottery for those not in the 25 states participating.

i bought my tickets today and the numbers will be called tomorrow night.

DevonMcBride

I'm shocked that you're a female. All this time I thought you were a guy. Go figure.

Not many females would have an Ultraman picture under their name. Devon (not my real name) is usually a guy's name.

6

Steven Hassan needs info on court case

by DevonMcBride in

jw
friends

i received the following e-mail from steven hassan.

he read farkel's post about the judge banning shunning in a jw custody battle and would like more information.

i am very interested in receiving the actual case documents.. .

DevonMcBride

Farkel,

When you receive them can you e-mail them to him at [email protected] or snail mail him at the above address.

Thanks and Merry Christmas

Devon

11

Powerball fever

by DevonMcBride in

yep, i was hit by the powerball fever.

i'm talking about the powerball lottery for those not in the 25 states participating.

i bought my tickets today and the numbers will be called tomorrow night.

DevonMcBride

Yep, I was hit by the Powerball fever. I'm talking about the Powerball lottery for those not in the 25 states participating. I bought my tickets today and the numbers will be called tomorrow night. The amount is up to 285 million dollars. If Santa arranges for me to win, I promise to be a good girl the rest of my life.

Devon

6

Steven Hassan needs info on court case

by DevonMcBride in

jw
friends

i received the following e-mail from steven hassan.

he read farkel's post about the judge banning shunning in a jw custody battle and would like more information.

i am very interested in receiving the actual case documents.. .

DevonMcBride

I received the following e-mail from Steven Hassan. He read Farkel's post about the Judge banning shunning in a JW custody battle and would like more information.

I am very interested in receiving the actual case documents.

I was involved with a custody case in Massachusetts a couple of years ago,
Kendall vs. Kendall, in which the husband joined the International Churches
of Christ (a destructive cult in my opinion) and was telling his two
children that their mother, a Jew, was going to hell. The case went to the
Mass. Supreme Court and the decision went all in favor of protecting the
children from psychological harm. In other words, the father's 'freedom of
religion' did not give him the 'freedom' to inflict psychological harm on
his children. The wife won custody and he was not allowed to bring them to
cult activities nor proselytize to them.

Please email or snail mail the relevant documents to me:

Steven Alan Hassan
Freedom of Mind Resource Center Inc.
PO Box 45223
Somerville, MA. 02145

Thanks a lot.

BTW, feel free to post these comments elsewhere if you like.

16

The Government & Disfellowshipping

by Mary in

jw
friends

from everything i've read here, the jist seems to be that if you're disfellowshipped, you have little chance of winning a lawsuit against the borg because the government still gives them the right to "shun" members if they see fit.. it occurred to me that perhaps we're ignoring a potential ray of light at the end of the tunnel.

what if we tried to lobby the government into changing this, so that it would be illegal for any religion to shun former members?

it's a long shot maybe, but if it could be shown (maybe on another program like dateline) of how unfair, cruel and inhumane it is to tell people they must shun family members or close friends simply because they don't think the same way as them, then maybe eventually, one day, a law would be passed forbidding shunning in any religion.. it's not just ex-witnesses that would support this: ex-mormons, ex-scientologists, ex-seventh day adventists etc.

DevonMcBride

There would have to be extensive research and evidence to show how emotionally damaging and abusive shuning is. Expert Psychologists and therapists would have to be referenced and statistics of an increase in suicide from those shunned would have to be presented.

And even then, it would be a longshot.

Devon

Edited by - devonmcbride on 23 December 2002 21:9:7

32

How Much Longer Can The WBTS Survive?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

a 2000-year-old-plus religion cannot survive for much longer!

we are questioning the wbts every day!

the web is a great way of exposing the wbts, and we are doing it daily!.

DevonMcBride

Another problem with the Watchtower is that they are antiquated with their teachings. Modern day cults are using modern day methods. The Scientologists are using psychotherapy. My mother's neighbor almost joined a computer cult (I have no idea what they teach) and their are UFO cults and New Age cults.

The WT can't deal with change and progress. A true religion can adapt to modern day changes without rewriting their teachings, a cult cannot.

32

How Much Longer Can The WBTS Survive?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

a 2000-year-old-plus religion cannot survive for much longer!

we are questioning the wbts every day!

the web is a great way of exposing the wbts, and we are doing it daily!.

DevonMcBride

Here is my two-cents worth.

How fast the WT falls if ever, will depend on many factors. If no other big scandal breaks out, they will hang on longer. If something big happens to bring negative public attention to them, it could speed it up. Their future depends on their actions. Hitting them in the pocket also will help them tumble. One major lawsuit against them could rock things up a bit. The bottom line is money. Even if a percentage of devout JW's never defect, without the finances the organization won't stand forever.

9

My First Christmas (that I can remember)

by DIM in

jw
friends

will be this wednesday....i can't wait.

our presents are all under the tree, we have stockings for me, my wife, and the two cats.

we've been to a few christmas parties, and i'm just really enjoying the holidays...what a change over the last year or so, i'm so glad to be out of the witnesses.

DevonMcBride

Jason,

Have a wonderful first Christmas. Next year at this time there could be someone from Warminster, Huntingdon Valley and Bensalem Congregations also celebrating Christmas. I can't say who they are but keep praying they get the nerve to stand up to the Watchtower too.