Posts by humbled

68

Breaking the law under the guise of religion / getting away with slavery

by wasblind in

in the past i've compared the wts to slavery, but this book validates what i've come to know about this organization.. .

'cuz slavery ain't sweet, no matter how faithful and discreet.

jesus states: "....the truth will set you free.

humbled

I've read the thread, wasblind.

For people like Sulla (who objected to the comparison of pre-Civil War slavery in the U.S.) "where there is life there's hope" is a simple idea that makes them reject the comparison of WT slavery to the "classic" slavery of Africans.

For some, the horror of death or bloody beatings for bucking slavery is not mirrored by the penalties of the WT for those who buck against their chains. If you can walk away in your skin intact, there is life.

I ask--but is there hope?

I fall on the side of the two slaveries being very much the same --only the effect of the WT being far more insidious than the threat of beatings or of death. I hate the WTBTS.

I have to get ready for work now or I'd write more. But thanks for reviving the post.

BTW, I've been missing Mrs. Jones for a while. I hope she and the fam are okay. She not scuttled like happened like happened to Tammy?

17

Might Get to See My Grandchildren Today

by mrquik in

jw
friends

my oldest daughter is still in the cult.

i haven't seen my grandchildren in 5 yrs.

my son-in-law's father died this week & the funeral is today.

humbled

This sounds like a visit in a jail. Only shorter, with less talking.

You are a champ for going.

Live well, enjoy life, mr.quik.

I hope they come around.

2

Have you noticed how MISERABLE the trolley and other public preachers look?

by hamsterbait in

saw three "public preachers" standing in a triangle facing people as they approach.

they all looked so depressed, that i almost went up to them to ask:.

"where is your kingdumb smile - i thought jws are the happiest people in the world.".

humbled

Maybe it's a way to build enthusiasm in(or punish?) in those who hate going door-to-door.

13

Any one from Ireland? Happy St. Patrick's Day. How do you celebrate?

by Miss.Fit in

jw
friends

hello all, i know st.patrick's day is about over.. i was just curious how many of you observed the holiday.

i live in the usa in the south west.

where i live we have a large population of native americans and hispanics.. so st.patrick's day is low key.. we wear green and talk about drinking green beer.. i started to wonder what a real celebration would entail.. i dressed as a lepercaun for story time..

humbled

crmsicl--

Ouch! You are too right about St. Patty Paddy.

Are you Irish-fresh-from-Eire?

15

P R O U D of H E R: Daughter's column in the New York Times

by humbled in

jw
friends

she called last night to say it's online now, front page.

it'll be in the print version sunday.. not everyone's cup of tea, at first consideration: she is slightly embarrassed to be featured in the modern love column in the style section.. the times people asked to make a short video of her article "fight or flight".

they went to her bronx apartment to talk to her.

humbled

Thank you all for sharing with me.

Misery needs company--But it is joy that loves company most!

cultBgone, BandOTR, BoC and Sylvia --

ShirleyW--The Modern Love section (as my daughter told me) takes unsolicited submissions--and get plenty. Her piece was one she wrote some months after her breakup (maybe Nov.?) It was in remembering the good moments that she wrote it.

She sent it in. Not a hope for more than the catharsis.

Then she heard from them @ a month ago.

But for my two older girls--yes, often they get a foot in the door some places, some times by networking (who you know).

But sometimes, plain old persistence wins the day.

They are around people that help each other--and their little sister coming along, too.

Helping each other is really important.

15

P R O U D of H E R: Daughter's column in the New York Times

by humbled in

jw
friends

she called last night to say it's online now, front page.

it'll be in the print version sunday.. not everyone's cup of tea, at first consideration: she is slightly embarrassed to be featured in the modern love column in the style section.. the times people asked to make a short video of her article "fight or flight".

they went to her bronx apartment to talk to her.

humbled

Dear Band,

Sorry--It's in the Style section--the ever popular Modern Love.There it was on the online, first page portion. If I knew how to make a link , I would.

I don't know how.

It is not a light weight piece--even considering the section it's in.

Edit:

Thank you!!!! cultBgone!

15

P R O U D of H E R: Daughter's column in the New York Times

by humbled in

jw
friends

she called last night to say it's online now, front page.

it'll be in the print version sunday.. not everyone's cup of tea, at first consideration: she is slightly embarrassed to be featured in the modern love column in the style section.. the times people asked to make a short video of her article "fight or flight".

they went to her bronx apartment to talk to her.

humbled

She called last night to say it's online now, front page. It'll be in the print version Sunday.

Not everyone's cup of tea, at first consideration: she is slightly embarrassed to be featured in the Modern Love column in the Style section.

The Times people asked to make a short video of her article "Fight or Flight". They went to her Bronx apartment to talk to her. So that is her voice narrating the 2:14 minute video. She has mixed feelings about it all.

However.

I am thinking that, for any lurkers or newbies who wonder about life and --yes--even love outside the Borg my daughter's essay says this: following your heart does not guarantee the outcome you hope for every time. Yet both life and love in the "world" still has ways to go gently on inspite of disappointment.

--without harsh judgement we heard all the time in the Organization.

She quit going to meetings at age 16. She walked away from the Organization that told her not to go to college. She went to college on her own and kept going. Writing and editing every step of the way. It was not easy.

I stayed in 15 years more after my brave girl left. Then another daughter left and she went to college --on her own. It was not easy--likewise successful...None of my 7 children are Witnesses--- so much clearer thinking than I.

I invite you to take the time to watch and especially to read her column(Even if it is not at all about the Organization).

No one need say a word--I am just happy she had the sense to her life into her own hands. I am trying to do that now after all these years. It is not easy but---what is?

Oh. And did I say I am proud of her?

"Fight or Flight" by Sarah L. Courteau

9

Buying a body of elders

by hoser in

jw
friends

yes, everyone has a price.

a number of years ago in a congregation i once was in there was a wealthy businessman in the congregation.

he made sure that all of the elders had annual vacations overseas or to the tropics paid for by himself.

humbled

Raging Bull,

The double-standard thing wore a lot of JWs down while I was still in.

It sometmes seemed to begin when an elder's children grew up to a point that all the theories about "keeping the Congregation clean" suddenly seemed harsh when they looked at their messed up teen (redundancy there!) and realized they would lose their child if they applied the rules to them with the same rigor that was applied to others.

Good for them and their some-times-sympathy--but it was rarely sound or honestly, fairly applied. They rationalized behavior for some and scapegoated others.

And the secrecy! I think that it probably hurt more people than it helped. Jeez--these guys weren't even free to use common sense if they even had it.

I pity any of you good fellows who served as elders whose basic decency had to contend with the WT Rules.

Maeve

13

CO visit

by thedog1 in

it's the co visit in our hall this week.

last night he gave a talk about all the changes that have taken place in the last few years, like the change in the book study arrangement and the changes in public forms of witnessing, the rise and importance of jw.org.

he then emphasised what our reaction to these should be.

humbled

EoM,

I'm laughing---but surely They would allow that even a perfect JW requires this one thing for HS to work properly: a cup of Starbucks.

24

How Were You Affected by All The Rules & Regulations From The Watchtower Society?

by minimus in

jw
friends

there are so many directives for elders, pioneers, ministerial servants and "publishers", it is mind boggling!!!.

to fulfill all of their expectaions, you would have to be perfect!.

i must say, that i really don't know how some do it, every day, ever week....i wonder how long some of the elders that frequent this board will still push the flock like the watchtower says they must..

humbled

Man, the rules and regs wore me down.

I never was a "poster child" of a publisher--I couldn't be. I had seven children and lived without many modern conveniences.

The rigid requirements wore and tore either my time or my mind. As many have said many times before--you can never do enough. I had been a late in life recruit--so I was doubly conflicted as it became apparent that Jesus never expected the busy work the WT over-seers expected.

It would take pages to itemize the crippling effect the rules and regs had on my non-witness husband and our children--because I brought this crap into the home.

The worst thing I ever did for myself and my family was get into this religion--and the best thing was getting out.

Maeve