Posts by AllTimeJeff

33

Governing Body trying to control marital relationships

by Whynot in

4 years ago during the circuit overseers visit he asked a rather innapropriate question from the platform.

i say it's innapropriate because i think it's wrong to tell happy married couples how to love each other and much more wrong it is to tell them they should love their children less.. he said: "mothers, who should you love more your children or your husband?

" i think most mothers will quickly say you should love your children more.

AllTimeJeff

I was made an elder at 26. And got to give marital advice, straight from the elders handbook! What wisdom I had.

Of course, I had ZERO business offering anyone advice back then. Fast forward a few years later when I was getting ready to leave. One of the things I wanted to get a feel for was, would be my ex JW wife get the elders involved in our marital life? Would I have any semblance of privacy and dignity? Because long ago, I determined I would never meet with the elders for judicial proceedings, or even marital counsel.

One thing I know hasn't changed is that the JW religion isn't interested in anything but its own power. They especially aren't interested in women. So many elder meetings, with misogynistic comments and points of views shared. The women are there for the men. It's as sickly simple as that.

One thing I quickly learned to despise as an elder was how much influence they have over marital matters that should be private. It is disgusting. It's even worse when an elder or CO feels they can say what they want about this. Total mental illness.

56

Spiritual "Protection" - a Menace on Psychological Development

by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

not quite a week ago, @lost in the fog created a thread entitled: do you have this illness?.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5187824140681216/do-you-have-this-illness.

in my year of being on this forum, i have browsed many a disillusioned thread of ex-jehovah’s witnesses expressing similar symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder when detailing their awakening - my own story included.

AllTimeJeff

This..... So true OTWO

JW's don't really have opinions. They are used to looking to their Watchtower library to see what they are supposed to think about issues.

13

In Search of An Analogy

by InjusticeSystem in

i hope this finds all of you well.

i'm also hoping some of you might be able to help me with a particular type of de-witnessing strategy that i'm trying to develop more in my own discussions with active family members.

it seems to me that analogy and metaphor plays a prominent role in the society's teaching (critical thought killing) techniques.

AllTimeJeff

I think analogies on the spot work best.

I comfort myself by knowing even the most stupid "worldly" person says no or slams the door. I was a born in. The GB strategy in the age of the internet has changed. It used to be that you could call on an otherwise nice and stable household and start with a theological discussion. No internet to investigate. No pedophile stories. All it took was someone being pissed off at their priest/pastor, some love bombing, and voila! You have a JW candidate. A disaffected individual currently unhappy with what is going on in their life.You didn't have to be crazy back in their hay day. Now you sorta have to. Because anyone can research these guys on the internet.

The tack of starting with paradise and working backwards to the truly ridiculous teachings hasn't changed, but their target audience sure has. Most educated people are not joining, and we all know why.

In my opinion, I am afraid that unless you are dealing with a born in who, like Neo in the Matrix, sees the glitches and is motivated enough to investigate for himself, analogies will have limited effect.

8

Giving the GB a Windows Version Name

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

i don't know which version of gb we are on.

(also unknown, which "old light" doctrines they changed to conveniently fortify their own position, when i was at gilead in 2005, i called them 2.0 because the last of the old guard was dying off.. for those associated with "ancient" history, windows started to come in their own with 3.0 and 3.1 in the early 1990s.

that is, until windows 95 happened, and the ubiquitous start button was first introduced.

AllTimeJeff

Thanks for anyone responding to this silly little post. Just a thought. But I actually really like GM Millennium. That floats off the tongue a little better.

56

Spiritual "Protection" - a Menace on Psychological Development

by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

not quite a week ago, @lost in the fog created a thread entitled: do you have this illness?.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5187824140681216/do-you-have-this-illness.

in my year of being on this forum, i have browsed many a disillusioned thread of ex-jehovah’s witnesses expressing similar symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder when detailing their awakening - my own story included.

AllTimeJeff

Actually, my brother and mom have passed. Both were pretty sad situations in their own right. I wouldn't say my dad caused it, he just chose not to educate himself or deal with it, and now must live with those choices.

8

Giving the GB a Windows Version Name

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

i don't know which version of gb we are on.

(also unknown, which "old light" doctrines they changed to conveniently fortify their own position, when i was at gilead in 2005, i called them 2.0 because the last of the old guard was dying off.. for those associated with "ancient" history, windows started to come in their own with 3.0 and 3.1 in the early 1990s.

that is, until windows 95 happened, and the ubiquitous start button was first introduced.

AllTimeJeff

I don't know which version of GB we are on.(Also unknown, which "old light" doctrines they changed to conveniently fortify their own position, When I was at Gilead in 2005, I called them 2.0 because the last of the old guard was dying off.

For those associated with "ancient" history, Windows started to come in their own with 3.0 and 3.1 in the early 1990s. That is, until Windows 95 happened, and the ubiquitous Start button was first introduced. (and the accompanying "Start Me Up" ad campaign with Mick Jagger and the boys)

I think the Governing Body of JW's need a more telling and permanent description of their legacy of absolute failure. Failure as leaders, as prophets, as protectors of their flock, and especially failing to just simply be honest, own it, and tell the truth.

So, how about GB 2014. (or GB14?) You can start me up on that, because that's 100 years since 1914, since millions who saw it will never die. Except they did.

GB 2014, you all have a nice day. Have fun with those pesky, Adventist inspired Gentile Times too.

70

A Message to Active Elders Lurking on JWN

by 00DAD in

there are really only a couple of reasons an active elder would be lurking here on jwn.. .

[if !supportlists]i. your ever growing doubts about the organization have led you here, or.

[if !supportlists]ii.

AllTimeJeff

I started online as an elder still in, but planning my exit. I was in total hell back then. I was also current on the thinking of GB 2.0. Over 10 years later, I am O U T and don't have a freaking clue what they currently believe. Only that their motive most assuredly hasn't, the consolidation of their power.

I feel for any sincere elder who posts here. Thank you for having a door of honesty open in your heart long enough to speak out, even anonymously. Elders are on the ground floor, the front lines. They are truly plumbers and deal with all of the shit.

56

Spiritual "Protection" - a Menace on Psychological Development

by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

not quite a week ago, @lost in the fog created a thread entitled: do you have this illness?.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5187824140681216/do-you-have-this-illness.

in my year of being on this forum, i have browsed many a disillusioned thread of ex-jehovah’s witnesses expressing similar symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder when detailing their awakening - my own story included.

AllTimeJeff

Couple of comments on this very interesting thread...

Shame is something that isn't isolated to the JW experience. Many religions stigmatize behaviors that don't agree with their unique theology. We definitely live in more liberal religious times, so the fact that we can actually talk on an electronic forum about this is cool. But don't take that for granted. History is replete with the masses living in shame, or at least being smart enough to pretend to be ashamed so as to function in their very controlling environment.

Eriksons last psychosocial tier, (ego integrity versus despair) is something I am going through with my Dad. He has once again cut me off, but I know that his is despair. He has lost everything, is all alone, and has sadly reached out to the cult at the end of his days that provide him the only semblance of association. However he chooses to judge himself, he must live the remainder of his days with the sad realization that he lost his youngest son, his wife, (my brother and mother) and has chosen to push me away. I have had to make the very real choice that he is no longer a healthy addition in any small amount to my life. For me to have ego integrity at the end of my life, I have to move on from him. Big, sad lesson. But I am willing to do it. Have to. He's made his bed and must lay in it now.

56

Spiritual "Protection" - a Menace on Psychological Development

by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho in

not quite a week ago, @lost in the fog created a thread entitled: do you have this illness?.

https://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/5187824140681216/do-you-have-this-illness.

in my year of being on this forum, i have browsed many a disillusioned thread of ex-jehovah’s witnesses expressing similar symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder when detailing their awakening - my own story included.

AllTimeJeff

jp1692, thanks.

Ironically, I am a grown up now, mostly. Mature. Embracing me and not really caring if others don't embrace me.

Btw, not caring what others think of you doesn't mean you don't care about them. It just means that total strangers on up to our parents, after a certain point, shouldn't control what YOU think of YOU.

I look at some of my old posts here, and I am glad they helped others. I wanted that. I felt guilty that I was ever an elder and a missionary in this horrible sickness of a cult. I no longer carry that. I was a born in, and at least when I woke up, I left. I didn't linger. I left EVERYTHING and started over. Of that I am proud.

My legacy is to be happy. Because the Governing Body propagates that if you leave, you're a miserable, demon infested maggot, who also drinks boxed wine. (they don't drink boxed wine at Bethel ;) )

On her deathbed, my mom told me to "be happy". Didn't realize that was such a b*tch to figure out. But, I am glad she pointed me in the right direction. Because if all exiting JW's here on this forum can be at peace with whom they are, forgive themselves and the past, and enjoy and appreciate the life they have, we will have truly conquered the legacy of the cult and the sick leaders of it that we have left behind.

19

On leaving JW's and hating religion...

by Jehalapeno in

jw
friends

it's been nearly 4 years now since i completely woke up to the watchtower lies.. thinking back on my jw life, during the time i believed, the organization truly did teach us to hate all beliefs that were contrary to the watchtower's.. i hated "false" religion.. so, when i finally woke up and applied critical thinking to my beliefs, i just went on hating religion in general...only this time i added jw's to that list.. a few months of waking up, i decided to base my beliefs on evidence.

i didn't want to have a set of beliefs unless there was some logic or evidence behind it.

so, now i consider myself an atheist.. and i kept on hating religion.. within the last six months or so, something has changed.

AllTimeJeff

We live in a unique time in history. Not sure what technology, video and the information age in general will do for religion as it has been. There is no doubt that with few exceptions, organized religion has been used as a control tool for the masses, usually politically.

Whomever Jesus might have been, the greatest rule after loving "god" is to love your neighbor as yourself. I can run with that. I won't go to church to tell me who my neighbor is (Jesus had a comment or two on that...) but if everyone can be viewed as our neighbor, and we love them, be a Christian then. These are the greatest two commandments, right? ;)