Gayle

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Posts by Gayle

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  9

  Bullying

  by is there help out there in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  growing up as a jw were you ever bullied bu worldy people for being a jw.

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  Gayle

  Called a "Communist" (late 50s-early60s) several times in school when not standing for the national anthem.
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  81

  An Elder wrote anomously...

  by Butterflyleia85 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i realize as an elder that i am speaking out against the very organization i try to faithfully represent, but i personally think that the governing body is wrong by teaching that only what they teach us, as printed in the watchtower publications, should be considered to be the truth.

  theyve made the expression of any personal opinions or group debates over their official versions of biblical truths subject to disciplinary action often leading to someone being disfellowshipped.. .

  that is why i feel that i must keep my own identity somewhat anonymous.

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  Gayle

  I do get a little excited when I see an existing JW, especially an elder, in this phase of seeing and admitting the true facts about the Watchtower organization at this level. I remember that phase for myself many years ago. I remember still hoping that the organization would improve and correct their errors and misrepresentations. With time and disappointment, it became evident to me that the organization was not going to change for the better and for my conscience sake, sanity and peace of mind, I had to move on.

  With actual 'truth,' allowing it to 'peek' through your brain/mind and with time, one has to open the mind for more truth, can't stop. Each person's 'eyes' have to adjust a bit at a time, at our individual pace. With growth, most realize that no one person or group knows it all. Many opinions are shared here and welcomed here. Individuality and independent thought we see here and should be respected.

  I hope many more there in the organization are opening up as this elder.
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  121

  November 15 Watchtower (Study Edition) - discourages showing affection to your spouse

  by CrazyBlonde in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  another gem from the same edition - article to be studied december 28 - january 3 (which most will miss lol coz of summer vacation) entitled "what do your prayers say about you?

  " page 6 para 19 reads:.

  19 when we are being represented in public prayer, we need to display reverential "fear of god.

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  Gayle

  How they add to scripture, make extra rules all the time.
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  61

  COs Disappearing Latest

  by wouldacouldashoulda in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi posters.

  could someone give me the latest on cos and whether they are disappearing or not?

  please feel free to post recent links i may have missed.. .

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  Gayle

  Truly, I always felt sorry for circuit overseers wives,,how awful, living somewhere a week at a time, over several years,,for most women that would be torture/miserable to never have your own space, no matter how humble. Then, there was a big change of many getting their own little trailer which I thought was so reasonable, but then I think that was squelched by headquarters (in late 80s?)

  Knorr asked us in '73 if we would consider circuit work when we got married, without hesitation I was yelling, to myself only of course, no way!!! I suspect nowadays, JW young women assert themselves more and will tolerate less, they are a bit more in tuned to their comfort level as I think women of years ago suppressed themselves more.
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  22

  so much to say

  by leftchica in

  1. jw
  2. friends
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  Gayle

  So many best wishes for you that you see the Watchtower organization as not being true, only harsh and cold. I hope you can just keep yourself from the elders and stop going, too busy,,keep your peace. Don't let them trap you. They have no power over you. Hopefully with time your husband will re-evaluate the religion and investigate its history, its flip-flops and double-tongue manipluations. It is very difficult when you cannot talk freely but be true to yourself. Since your husband has been in and out of the activity of the Watchtower, perhaps he has something bothering him deep down, but unfortunately, some can go this way all their life, not in, not out, in a type of limbo.
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  50

  How many congregations have you been in???

  by angel eyes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  or did you remain in the same one since childhood?.

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  Gayle

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  61

  LaidOff Bethelites: Weeping And Gnashing of Teeth

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  don't let any of the watchtower's propaganda deceive you.

  i encountered some private conversations among witnesses about the subject and it's ugly.

  yes, there is suffering as many of these victims try to live on charity and can't find jobs in the worst economy since the depression.. some of their private observations include shock that you need a college degree for nearly any job and that the watchtower society couldn't have picked a worse time to do this to them .. all the while these complaints are discussed, i try not to show that i am astounded by their bizarre "logic".

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  Gayle

  I was at Bethel 5 years. Married there, officated by Nathan Knorr in '73. When I got pregnant there at Bethel, we left. When I left there I could tell everyone how happy I was that I was going to have a baby, but I realized how happy I was to leave Bethel also. Early on, Knorr was very clear to "new boys" how everyone was "indispensable". He instilled "fear" in everyone that anyone could be kicked out at any time. He could go on a tirade about any subject. A couple boys one time had water balloons and threw them out a window at their Bethelite buddies. When Knorr chastised them in front of the "family" (on closed circuit tv for all dining rooms), everyone was chastised.

  When we left, finding suitable work was always a struggle and involved many moves. My husband then, tried frequently to talk to Bethel friends the reality of that struggle. They remained emotionally and mentally clueless to that reality. The good thing with the moving we had to do, eventually brought on our "inactive" status. The good thing for me about that "inactive" state, I was able to get personal time to "rethink" the reality of JW life. It took me a lot of time because I had to rethink every little thing from my youth as a JW, pioneer days, and Bethel days, how I was going to raise the children and re-evaluating how to think of the "future" for me and my children. My "evolutionary" process took years. So our hardship, in looking back, gave me a valued learning experience and awakening.

  I see some here feel empathy for the "laidoff" Bethelites. I am normally a sympathic person to a fault, but I don't feel sorry for those Bethelites. There is a form of over-cushioning, a false sense of security for them. Many of those remaining, I suspect, are fearful of being "laid off". Those more at the top like the Governing Body may feel more secure. However, I liken the security of the Governing Body like the security of the hiding Bin Laden has in his "caves". The are surrounded by their "Taliban" supporters. However, exposure is on their tail. With all the lawsuits and Internet and books coming out about their "sins", they cannot be envied.
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  10

  Spanish JW's are just as rude

  by dissed in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was in homedepot (hardware store) the other morning and i noticed two jw spanish brothers making the rounds, in the store.

  they stood out to me because they were wearing suits, ties, and one was wearing an overcoat to carry literature.

  (this is the summer here).

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  Gayle

  Stores just don't allow it,,"No Soilicting". The store will soon discover and watch for that. However, I, too, did "streetwork" as a pioneer back in the 60s,,in retrospect I hated it. So even some of these JWs, can wake up someday.
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  164

  My sister died in a head on collision last night

  by Bumble Bee in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i still can't believe it.

  she was here for the bbq, we had an awesome time, laughing, her telling stories from our childhoods.

  i gave her a hug and told her i loved her before she left.

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  Gayle

  Bumble Bee,,I am so sorry to hear of your great loss. So much sympathy to you and your family at this sorrowful time.
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  24

  Who has given the masterbation talk on the TMS?

  by Out at Last! in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i had the "privelege" of giving the masterbation talk years ago.

  when i looked at the talk slip and saw the theme, i thought at least they have an expert on the subject.

  the best thing about it was that the point i was to be counseled on was gestures.

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  Gayle

  Nathan Knorr talked about this often just before breakfast at Bethel back in the early 70s. Hadn't even had any coffee yet so was still just waking up. He would go on and on about it. Obviously, he had some bring problem the way he was about it. I would definitely notice the boys walking to the factory much more slowly those mornings. I did hear one Bethelite complain he was very tired hearing Knorr go on about the subject just before we had scrambled eggs those mornings.