Posts by OnTheWayOut

28

Elderly widows targeted, convinced to sign over Power of Attorney and Personal Representative of Estate

by Stop.the.abusers in

i discovered that my 96-year-old grandaunt had named her jw elder as personal representative of her estate and another jw "best friend" as her power of attorney.

i learned that they used a financial advisor at wells fargo advisors to help raid my grandaunts bank accounts in the years before her death, and then the wt and jws received most of what was left of her estate.

i am currently working on a book to expose this horrific practice.

OnTheWayOut

I can imagine that nobody wants to prosecute or cover the story because there really is no evidence. People regularly visited a woman who broke her hip and health went downhill in her mid-90's. She clearly stated she wanted to stay at home and did not seem unhappy with her care.

The real story is that she should not have to suffer while ill, especially with so much money in the bank. But prosecutors will assume this is about money and inheritance instead of the neglect in the report.

I am confident that you are right. I just try to see the other sides of a matter. It sounds like you would be happiest to see these vultures found guilty of a crime more so than getting an inheritance. It doesn't seem that you will get that.

20

Paul Grundy being interviewed on ABC 612 right now

by Anonymous1 in

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/stations/local_brisbane/live?play=true

OnTheWayOut

I will have to listen later. Paul has been so helpful with his work.

http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programitem/pe5A3ppwZ3

19

have you been moved by something you have read.

by Sabin in

i found this book by carmel reilly, it`s called dear god.

childrens letters to god from around the world.

i promise you that if you are having a bad day this book what ever your believes will lift your spirits.

OnTheWayOut

I think you will find that this forum is loaded with people who have been moved by something they read, or by just a song.

52

Court seizes over one million Jehovah's Witnesses brochures brought into Russia

by StarTrekAngel in

http://red.theworldnewsmedia.org/index.php/en/forum-home-page/jehovah-s-witnesses/93-court-seizes-over-one-million-jehovah-s-witnesses-brochures-brought-into-russia

OnTheWayOut

Village Idiot, it is easy to see how Russia goes too far. I was just pointing out that we as ex=JW's should see that, regardless of how they overstep and trample freedoms in Russia (treatment of the LGBT community is a great example), they may be right about this one.

I was giving room for disagreement opinions on the degree to which government should go. So fair enough: You think calling for killings is a clear line that should not be crossed. I think JW literature "loaded with hate of other beliefs and encourage[ing] violations of human rights via shunning" is a clear line.

I can see where I might be biased on this. It is possible that I would defend Nazi hate speech (although I doubt it) ahead of cult speech. It just might be as Cantleave says above: it couldn't happen to a more deserving cult.

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

OnTheWayOut

As amazed as I was when I discovered TTATT, I am more of the thought, "Why not the rest of them?" I read somewhere (probably on this forum) that Jehovah's Witnesses should really be kind of a ten-to-fifteen-years-and-you're-out kind of religion. I didn't agree on the time factor, but otherwise thought it had some merit. I thought that many many many members would do as I did and examine the changing doctrines.

But it just isn't so. It frustrates me to no end to point out a huge problem with the JW's, like telling my wife about all that's going on in Australia and the failed policies, and all she does is say "No, they report such allegations. This can't be true." And no matter what I said or add to it, she wouldn't even consider examining unbiased reports for herself.

The rewiring of the brain is sufficient in a majority of cases to prevent members from committing thoughtcrime. "They said they joined the UN for a library card, so that's it." "They said they report these crimes committed by a few bad people who joined the organization, so they do, and they get rid of the bad people." "They have all of their chronology worked out on charts, so it is so."

No, truly I am amazed that so many more don't wake up.

52

Court seizes over one million Jehovah's Witnesses brochures brought into Russia

by StarTrekAngel in

http://red.theworldnewsmedia.org/index.php/en/forum-home-page/jehovah-s-witnesses/93-court-seizes-over-one-million-jehovah-s-witnesses-brochures-brought-into-russia

OnTheWayOut

No matter how much I despise the Watchtower I am a firm believer in religious and non-religious rights. Whether it be Mormonism, Scientology or whatever they have a right to print and distribute their crap.

Here in the United States, people cherish freedom of speech, but they recognize that the government will limit that because of speech that involves incitement (urging someone to behave unlawfully) , false statements of fact, obscenity, child pornography, or threats.

While such issues are never going to be easy to define and agree upon, government has always stepped in to place limits on speech, even in the land of free speech. We know, more than the Russian government, that JW literature is loaded with hate of other beliefs and encourages violations of human rights via shunning. So, while people will argue about whether that should be their right to distribute their crap, please try to understand that there is a governmental responsibility to regulate free speech.

41

Canadian branch getting rid of their trucks and drivers

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

a recent letter to the elders outlined the new arrangement for delivering literature to the congregations.

the canadian branch will be downsizing by eliminating drivers and trucks and utilizing commercial carriers to bring the boxes of monthly literature .

more outsourcing and more lay offs.. the funny thing about it is that they want to have the literature delivered to various private homes of the rank and file rather than have the literature delivered to the kingdom hall.

OnTheWayOut

I guess they could have it delivered to an assembly hall, but they probably decided that nobody will be there on most weekdays to receive the order. Strange, it seems they could easily get the kiss-ass pioneers to volunteer to be available to accept a delivery. Just assign them days to sit around and wait and give them 8 hours on their report for their trouble. They see that as a WIN-WIN. Maybe they are too cheap to have the lights on for that.

Paying a bit more to deliver to private homes might be bullshit. They might not pay more.

30

Life after the witnesses, friends, faith etc

by Theburstbubble in

jw
friends

hi everyone, this is my first post so go easy on me :) i have been a witness all of my life (i'm 37) and truly believed it until 3 years ago.

my husband and i had become spiritually weak and over time i began to question more and more until i came to the conclusion that the witnesses were not the true religion but just one of many religions and that if god is there then there are many paths to get to him.

anyway, i've battled with keeping going as my husband still believed and i didn't want to be in a divided household as we have a young daughter and thought it would be very confusing for her (and us).

OnTheWayOut

Welcome. My new friends are way way way more genuine. They are not conditional. They don't care if I am liberal or conservative, atheist or Buddhist. I had to find friends instead of just having the instant fake friends from the Kingdom Hall.

As far as your need to believe or not, take your time. If God doesn't understand your need for time out, then he is not who they say he is.

31

Having One Of Those "Pondering Disassociation" Days :(

by freemindfade in

there are a lot of things that make me have days like this, the utter embarrassment of being are part of a cult that protects child abusers, that enforces emotional brutality through shunning, and that lies constantly.

the lying i can tolerate, the world is built on bullshit, i have a high lie tolerance.

i can ignore it if it has no effect on me etc.

OnTheWayOut

I would say there is no easy answer. Something I did was have an unbaptism ceremony. Mine was private but included ritual and the burning of Watchtower materials. Fire being opposite from water. Yours could be completely different, but consider it. It will address only really your reason #1 for wanting to DA. If it isn't enough, then you are no worse off.

17

Starting to get grilled by parents

by Anonymous17 in

so my parents had a meeting with me to talk about me not progressing spiritualy as i should be.

i felt like i was being interrogated in a nice way.

they want to know who i talk to and if my association at work good.

OnTheWayOut

You are in a tough place, but it is good to remember that your parents are trying to do the right thing. They just happen to be wrong. As Daniel said already, "....they want you to be saved. They are indoctrinated in this belief."

If you can remain such a kind person to them, they should probably keep contact with you as you leave that religion as your own adult. Consider reading Steve Hassan's books to know how to deal with them better. COMBATTING CULT MIND CONTROL has been re-released.