Great picture. This could launch some unintended PTSD, but be that as it may, it is a powerful image.
AllTimeJeff
JoinedPosts by AllTimeJeff
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71
Do "Thousands of JWs die each year" because they refuse blood? I say YES!
by AndersonsInfo inhttp://www.freeminds.org/blogs/musings-of-a-watchtower-insider/thousands-die-each-year.htm l. this blog article is solely my personal opinion, but i have tried to present important material for your consideration because i believe that one life lost to this blood-ban is one too many and there have too many deaths since 1945 and it's time something is done about it.
however you think on the subject, just wait until you read the conclusion of my blog article.
oh, by the way, all points of view are important to me and most welcome so i look forward to reading them here on jwn .
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AllTimeJeff
Hi Barbara. As a very reasonable blog, I applaud what you wrote.
I have not invested a great deal of time thinking this through. On the couple of occasions (not counting today) that I have visited the subject in my mind, I have to admit that the claim "thousands of JW's die each year from refusing blood" didn't seem reasonable to me.
Your blog has given me pause to rethink it.
I noted in your anecdotal examples something that JW's try to do when arguing in defense of their blood teaching, that JW's didn't die from blood transfusions, but because they had something else go wrong. In other words, blood or not, there was nothing anyone could have done.
That is so misleading, yet, I know it is a rhetorical tactic used by the GB to explain away their own culpability regarding JW's who die as a result of this ridiculous blood doctrine.
Your point regarding the difficulty in documenting why a person dies in a hospital setting is well taken. While many of the examples you gave were of those up in years, the point is, those who are old can live even longer and even have their medical conditions treated were the JW handcuffs taken off doctors.
In the end though, to make this claim is to try and direct media attention to the problem. It is unreasonable to expect, imo, that the GB would ever change their stance, because it would just open them up to too many lawsuits. However, any information that gets out their that a JW can get their hands on and cause them to think and rethink their personal decisions on blood medicine could very well save lives......
Regardless of exactly how many die each year due to the JW blood doctrine (and I am sure it is substantial), the fact remains that thousands of JW's are harmed each year, and have resulting shorter life spans, as a result of the JW ban on blood transfusions.
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24
Did you do a fake prayer before eating lunch at the assembly, etc????
by asilentone ini did it many times.
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AllTimeJeff
Well, there were many hurried, insincere prayers....
Towards the end though, a lot of faking.....
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47
Back. and seeking ideas for screwing over the memorial
by Sirona inok. me and friends are going to attend a memorial on 30 march.. what would be the best way to get our message across?.
should we just throw a hundred flyers into the hall in the middle of the memorial?.
should we drink the wine and eat all the bread and then stand up and say something?.
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AllTimeJeff
Hmmm. Maybe that could be 3 or 4 signs, so I would need some volunteers...
(I am not planning on doing this btw, my weekends are spent recuperating from the first 30 years of my life as a JW...)
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How Did YOU Finally Leave The Organization?
by minimus inwas it a long process?.
is it still ongoing?.
did you have a long range plan?.
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AllTimeJeff
I resigned, blew up the bridge, and never looked back.
As an elder, you are taught that if you ever have to write a letter, you should try to get it on one side of one piece of paper, with no smaller then a 10 point font and some margins... (I shit you not) So it gave me great pleasure to say all that I had to say on one side of one piece of paper.
I know that sounds cool, and I smile as I type it, but it was painful. Nevertheless (I learned that word at the Theocratic Ministry School ) I couldn't have done it any other way.
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53
My Dad died
by aquagirl inmy dad,an elder for 25plus years,concentration camp survivor,the works,died in a few weeks ago.i am df'd but have been the only one who helps him and my mum.my jw sister couldnt give a rats ass about them.i was at my mom and dads house after he died,helping my mom with everyting,hell,id been there for 2 months because i was afraid to leave them alone.i knew my dad wasnt feeling well.guess he was worse than i realized.he died.the witnesses came in droves.small kitchen.im sitting at the table.they not only didnt speak to me,but they didnt even acknowledge that i was in the room,about day 3,i stopped answering the door..one "lady" called.sister carol.when i answered the phone she hesitated and said",now you know,i caint tawk to yew"{strong southern accent.ala elie may clampett}"you orta let cher mawma ainser the phone.
"i told her to bite me and hung up on her...same here,when we got back home.i hate these people with the fury of a thousand suns,but for some reason,i am now in possession of some great elders notes.been laying low,but im going to start posting the juicy stuff.just cause itd be nice for calvin to know that he was seen "dancing recklessly" at a wedding and that sister renee was being councied for her weight and still insisted on gaining more.also that sister e wasnt giving her husband his "due"..{yik}and that certain concetration camp survivors were being coerced into saying that they were jw's at the time of incarceration.but one wouldnt.my dad refused to play their game,and as a result he was asked to step down as an elder at age of 80.that and that he refused to shun me.his notes have been very enlightening..nice folks thise jw's,no?
they were so mean to my dad, he really believed this crap,and tried to do the right thing.but because he wouldnt dance their way,and turn me,his favorite person{and he was mine|into the cold they treated him badly and mocked him and even his accent.i hate them.really.any ideas?the local elder here,just asked my mom about her financial situation...grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
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AllTimeJeff
My condolences on your loss.
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47
Back. and seeking ideas for screwing over the memorial
by Sirona inok. me and friends are going to attend a memorial on 30 march.. what would be the best way to get our message across?.
should we just throw a hundred flyers into the hall in the middle of the memorial?.
should we drink the wine and eat all the bread and then stand up and say something?.
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AllTimeJeff
Hey Sirona. This isn't meant to be a pile on, I wanted to express agreement for those that urged restraint. I think you made a great decision.
Today, I was thinking about this oddly enough, which is why I am responding to your thread now. I asked myself, "What would be the most effective protest to a JW gathering?"
To me, I think a big simple sign as people walked by at a convention would be best. It would say the following.
DO YOU KNOW WHY THE GOVERNING BODY DOESN'T WANT YOU TO RESEARCH JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES ON THE INTERNET?
IT'S BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT TO HIDE, AND MANY LIES
WHY ELSE WOULD THEY FORBID IT?
JUST GOOGLE JEHOVAH'S WITNESSEES WHEN YOU ARE ALONE. DON'T BE AFRAID. THEY WON'T KNOW ABOUT IT.
THOSE WHO USED TO BE JW'S AREN'T EVIL, THEY JUST LEARNED THE TRUTH. THATS IT.
How I would fit that on a sign is another matter entirely.
But thats all you need, just implant this one idea, "What is the GB so afraid of?" Then, let nature take its course.
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22
I'm dying here in Cleveland
by paul from cleveland inthis economy is killing me.
many sleepless nights..
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AllTimeJeff
Hey Paul. Some times are made to thrive, and others to survive. This is the time to take pride in every day you survive. There will be other times for you to make some money and progress. Don't discount that. Not too many are thriving right now.... Peace to you my friend.
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41
The trouble with fading as your leaving strategy
by eyesthatsee inwhatever your chosen strategy for leaving jws, the fundamental truth is that there is no clean / simple exit.
the mind control, the manipulation of normal family relationships etc will make any strategy very difficult at times.
the key issue is to know this ahead of time and be prepared, as best you can.. we've all chosen leaving strategies acording to our personal circumstances, preferences and learning from others.
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AllTimeJeff
I used to feel this way. I think it important to mention here that faders fade for one simple reason: to bypass via that small "loophole" that exists so that they can still associate with family and friends.
Otherwise, I can't think of a good reason to fade.
The consequences of leaving is the one thing that the GB still has, to be able to keep loved ones away from you as punishment for ever leaving the group.
I didn't fade, and I have discussed here many times the wisdom of fading. At first, I didn't understand, but over the years, I realize why those that fade do, and I applaud them.
I agree that fading has many disadvantages, and I think in fairness, one thing shouldn't be overlooked. In order to gain your family and friends, you do have to live an incongruent life, and play their game a bit. Even if it is playing it against them.
Having said that, the blowing up the bridge method that I and others took by resigning has its own consequences, and they shouldn't be minimized....
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Understanding JW Recruiting Concepts Can Help Others To Leave
by AllTimeJeff inunderstanding jw recruiting concepts can help others to leave.
when i first left jehovah's witnesses (jw's), i was somewhat amused at the sheer amount of anti jw websites out there.
while websites like freeminds.org and jwfacts.com are great, (non hysterical sites that stress fact and presentation over emotional responses), there are at least 5 times as many other sites that act as if you should treat a jw at your door like you would a spreader of the ebola virus.. i don't disagree with the fact that jw's are somewhat dangerous and usually go for the low hanging fruit.
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AllTimeJeff
Hi hatchetmom! Welcome. Glad you avoided the sickness!
Shamus, anytime I use absolutes thoughtlessly, well, I get ashamed.... :) Good call. You are right of course, it isn't the only way. My point though is simply that for most JW's, the water is there. They know that "information" exists about their religion and that they are forbidden to look at it. They are curious. But they snuff out the curiosity.
So most who leave (as opposed to being kicked out) go to a place called factual information. That place has never changed, and never will. It's all history, and the only thing one has to do is read it with an open mind.