Posts by SB

29

todays watchtower/marriage counselors

by aquagirl in

today at the watchtower study,they said that marriage counselors encourage folks who are having issues to divorce..is that the stupidist thing that youve ever heard?

like,how many of them have gone to marriage counseling lately?.also the thing about the man being the head,the decision maker,that aint'jus' aint'a settin' right w/me...so,i assume if i get reinstated,i cant be an elder?like,because i dont have a penis?..um,hello,its 2007!!

!

SB

This is no different to the HLC members who attend hospitals to help Witnesses follow Watchtower suicide doctrines on no blood transfusions even on pain of death

Isn't there some law, that if your actions directly influence someone's suicide, then you can be held responsible for their death? Doesn't it stand to reason that Liasion comittees that visit patients in the hospital and "help them remain steadfast in their beliefs", would be influencing someone's suicide? JW's are right in one respect, this world is messed up, but they just don't see that they are helping mess it up!

13

Got your memorial invite?

by startingover in

a couple of years ago a couple of elders, who are nice guys and are long time friends, came over to see me and invite me to the memorial.

after listening to them, i asked them a question.

i asked why in 1 cor.

SB

i have wondered why jesus didn't have observers join him as well. the last memorial i went to, was last year. and i was astounded at how much emphasis they put on explaining who drinks the wine and why, instead of focusing on jesus. i guess they just don't want the wrong people drinking the wine, so as not to cause drama at the memorial.

i've thought about going, just to down the wine and leave. but i guess that would be disrespectful. :)

SB

20

Dating--Then & Now

by FreeGirl2006 in

jw
friends

i was the good little christian girl.

except for one brief blip on the radar, i dated only "brothers" and only with the view to marriage.

frankly, the attitude of the single brothers made me almost despise men.

SB

if and when I ever find another woman, Im gonna have to be honest up front and let her know of my background.

Junction Guy,

This statement makes it sound like being a JW in your past is something you are afraid to tell someone you might be interested in. I too felt this way. i would ge anxiety whenever someone would ask me about my past - i felt embarassed that i had no friends to bring to parties or hang out with. when i met my current boyfriend, i was still going to bookstudy every now and then to appease my JW roomate, until i could move out. my boyfriend (before we were dating) would ask me what i was doing tuesday, and i became secretive. i would just say, "nothing, i just can't do anything on tuesdays". finally, i told him, and i was so scared to do it. i thought for sure he wouldn't want to hang out w/me anymore. his response - laughter. and i would say 99.9 percent of "wordly" people, view it as something interesting in your past, and will view you as a strong person for taking a stand for what you feel is right/wrong. your past shouldn't weaken you - coming out of a cult is a strength building experience. it's like if someone is raped and then is ashamed to tell anyone they might get close to. and we all know rape victims are not to blame for the rape.

So my advice to you, is be as confident as hell when you talk abou your past. start talking about it w/people that don't matter to you - aquaintnces at work, etc. practice getting over that initial anxiety. say happy birthday to people, ask them if they did anything for easter. it gets way easy.

you will see that our WE as victims care more and worry more about the perception of our background as JW's, than anyone else ever will, by far.

Good Luck!

SB

20

Dating--Then & Now

by FreeGirl2006 in

jw
friends

i was the good little christian girl.

except for one brief blip on the radar, i dated only "brothers" and only with the view to marriage.

frankly, the attitude of the single brothers made me almost despise men.

SB

I couldn't agree w/this more. i got lucky and found the love of my life, on my first try in dating a "wordly" man. we took things slow - we were best friends before we even kissed. now we live together, and i couldn't be happier. he is patient, honest, and giving. there are no personality shows to please "friends". there are no rules to live by simply for social graces.

my sister is coming home in a few months - she's been zelously pioneering in another country for the past year. i am now preparing to be shunned, seeing as how i am a drifter, but my sister is a strong gossiping member of the org. nothing like car group gossip to catch everyone up on what the "inactive" members of your family are up to, followed by a pitiful shake of the head, and a "that's so sad, she was so faithful!".

i am still faithful, to the person who loves me unconditionally. i even told him the other day, that i must be lucky. all the married women in my former religion said they hated sex, but i like it. so i must be lucky. :) or - take out the religous sex rules, and then you can really find out what the person you are with wants/needs. have a "no one is watching" mentality. sorry - is this too personal? i think it's a reality though, for anyone leaving the org.

42

ITHINKISEE Update: My fleshly JW sister says I am Satanic and dangerous

by ithinkisee in

jw
friends

i went to my dad's house for christmas.

it was the first christmas we celebrated together since i was 5 years old.

it was my kid's and [freedomloverr's] very first christmas ever.. .

SB

what a horrible conversation! i really like how you kept mentioning "natural affection". nice JW "buzz word" to catch their attention. You sound like a very normal person, i really empathize with your family dividing like that. and good for you for not letting your kids go to her house w/o you! she would try to indoctrinate them for sure, feeling it was her godly duty.

SB

25

"Ashley Treatment" keeps severely disabled girl from growing

by Fe2O3Girl in

this news story came out today and i was surprised that we haven't had a lively discussion about it.

it brought to mind some of the ideas we discussed on the "is circumcision child abuse?

" thread.. ashley is now 9 years old.

SB

i can understand this, but it still bothers me. there are plenty of severely handycap people who's bodies have developed naturally, and they are "fine". it's like this family got to a certain point and they didn't want to accept the new physical challenges of having a handicap daughter. and i agree with the "what if it was a boy?" question! i don't think it's right to create a "non-gender", no matter what the circumstances. there is medicine to relieve cramps. and honestly, how big did they think her boobs were giong to get?

42

Skeptical of the Apostates Motivation

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

skeptical of the apostates motivationmy best friend presented a hard-hitting question about former jehovahs.

witnesses.

he believes that many individuals leave the truth because it is hard; and they look for any miscue to escape the organization and their responsibility to god.

SB

i would use the example of a relationship gone bad. if i was in a long term relationship w/someone, and found out our whole relationship was built on lies and secrets, yes, it WOULD be hard to stay in that relationship. it would take a lot of work, sacraficing my own feelings of hurt, betrayal, and anger. on the other hand, it's not easy to leave either b/c of the anger of wasting all that time.

of course, an answer that i've always wanted to throw out there is, "prove to me that 607 BCE was the fall of jerusalem and i will reconsider my doubts".

SB

50

My Kingdom Hall is near extinction!!

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

our kingdom hall was started in 1973 with only 3 families totaling 13 people.it grew to 85 members in the early 90's and that's because many were related to these 3 families.with older members dying,the young leaving when they reach 18, 5 divorces and many disfellowshipped,the congregation is down to 26 members.talk about low morale.

where is jehovah's blessing now?

SB

That one about sally struthers .LOL

ha ha ha ha ha, i just watched that southpark last night.

8

WBTS Branches

by SB in

jw
friends

i have been to 7 branches but never the ny bethel.

it's too bad i was disillusioned before i could make it there.

czech republic.

SB

I went to the KH in Prague 1, the english cong. and the chinese group (just for kicks) :). I remember the tile work in sweden, it was interesting ~ and the baby ducks in the pond! they ate my sandwich then went for my hand. :) I didn't get to know too many people in finland or sweden as it was a fast trip, but I went to an english assembly in norway, in 2002. (i had a part on stage, HA!). :)

8

WBTS Branches

by SB in

jw
friends

i have been to 7 branches but never the ny bethel.

it's too bad i was disillusioned before i could make it there.

czech republic.

SB

Unfortunately, a LOT of my photo's are of WT stuff, KH stuff, and gatherings w/the "friends". I have the most interesting photo's of Prague, Czech Republic b/c that place is so amazing. I spend most of my time just walking around taking pictures.