Posts by jamiebowers

113

I just found out that my youngest brother committed suicide

by SnakesInTheTower in

jw
friends

my middle brother called me a couple of hours ago.

our youngest brother, josh, who was 38, was found by his friends in his apartment.

he hung himself.

dating even though not scripturally free to do so

by seekingadvice in

wondering what to think...i'm recently divorced from my jw spouse ( i was never a jw).

we have a 11 year old son who is being forced to attend meetings and have all the beliefs that ex has.

i'm constantly being told what i should do and i'm supposed to go along with ex on whatever he says because apparently the "head of the family" continues after divorce in his world.

Good for you for putting your foot down about no jw activites for your son while he's with you. Since your son seems to be in turmoil about his father's behavior and cult activity, take your son to counseling. It can help him deal with the trauma, and it will provide a record for probable future court action. Print out those text messages for leverage. Show your ex that the only person he can control is himself. Take full advantage of the law, (arrest, restraining order, etc.), if he becomes threatening or violent.

Your main concern is your son, not placating this overgrown baby. He thinks he has the world by the ass; when in reality, you could cut him down to size with a few swipes.

18

dating even though not scripturally free to do so

by seekingadvice in

wondering what to think...i'm recently divorced from my jw spouse ( i was never a jw).

we have a 11 year old son who is being forced to attend meetings and have all the beliefs that ex has.

i'm constantly being told what i should do and i'm supposed to go along with ex on whatever he says because apparently the "head of the family" continues after divorce in his world.

jamiebowers

First of all, who has custody of your son? If you have at least joint custody, then he shouldn't be forced into jw activities/beliefs while with you. Having proof of your ex's relationship is a HUGE bargaining chip for you to gain custody if you don't have it.

Second, your ex is bound by secular law, so he isn't head of you and wasn't even when you were married unless you let him. He sounds like a hypocritical, sanctimonious asshole.

Get custody of your son if you don't already have it, and limit his association with the Watch Tower cult as much as possible. Risk of being reported to the elders should be great enough for your ex to comply. And do not give him freedom to remarry based on a lie. I wouldn't even give it to him if/when you're intimate with someone else. That is nobody's business but yours.

16

Adjusting

by cognac in

jw
friends

just feel like i could never make it on the outside world.

i was never able to adjust, except in being a mom and in business.

those are the only things that i feel strong in.

jamiebowers

You're living your life on your own terms without the judgment of family and lifelong friends. With that also comes a lack of support. But good things like true friendship, and love of any kind, don't come easy. Give it some time, and eventually you will find more than what you've lost.

11

Does Anyone Have Knowledge About Follicular B Cell Lymphoma and Blood Transfusions?

by jamiebowers in

from what i've read, platelet and red blood cell levels are usually severely lowered during traditional treatment for this type of cancer.

is this correct?

and if so, are platelets and red blood cells now part of the watch tower approved fractions?

jamiebowers

Yes, I know conventional treatment would probably extend her life quite a bit. But I can't find any stats on how long a life she'll probably have without treatment.

11

Does Anyone Have Knowledge About Follicular B Cell Lymphoma and Blood Transfusions?

by jamiebowers in

from what i've read, platelet and red blood cell levels are usually severely lowered during traditional treatment for this type of cancer.

is this correct?

and if so, are platelets and red blood cells now part of the watch tower approved fractions?

jamiebowers

I spoke to my mom earlier this evening, and she is dead set on chemotherapy, even if it didn't result in blood transfusions. She's convinced that chemotherapy doesn't work, and that her course of treatment is the Max Gerson diet, which includes coffee enemas and eating organic fruits and vegetables. From what I've read, this diet has not only been disproved as a cure for cancer, but also causes a host of health problems related to the unbalancing of electrolytes.

Well, she's 72 years old, and free to make her own choices. But I have a sinking feeling that one of her "spiritual" brothers or sisters, who is probably also making a healthy profit, has turned her on to this quackery.

11

Does Anyone Have Knowledge About Follicular B Cell Lymphoma and Blood Transfusions?

by jamiebowers in

from what i've read, platelet and red blood cell levels are usually severely lowered during traditional treatment for this type of cancer.

is this correct?

and if so, are platelets and red blood cells now part of the watch tower approved fractions?

jamiebowers

Thanks for the responses. My inquiry is not about myself but my jw mother. She has shunned me for 27 years, and in a very rare "necessary family business" conversation, she informed me of the type of cancer she has and that she's chosen not to treat it with chemotherapy and radiation.

I had a feeling that her reasons for refusing treatment involved the blood issue, and that suspicion was confirmed with a little research. What I wasn't certain about was whether the necessary treatment included so-called Watch Tower approved fractions.

It's not surprising that she's willing to die for the Watch Tower. My mom has handed her life over to this cult for the past 40 years, giving up her independence and her children. Now it seems she's giving up her actual existance.

11

Does Anyone Have Knowledge About Follicular B Cell Lymphoma and Blood Transfusions?

by jamiebowers in

from what i've read, platelet and red blood cell levels are usually severely lowered during traditional treatment for this type of cancer.

is this correct?

and if so, are platelets and red blood cells now part of the watch tower approved fractions?

jamiebowers

From what I've read, platelet and red blood cell levels are usually severely lowered during traditional treatment for this type of cancer. Is this correct? And if so, are platelets and red blood cells now part of the Watch Tower approved fractions?

16

Attorney General: JW congregation didn't report child abuse

by betterdaze in

delaware attorney general: sussex co. jehovah's witnesses congregation didn't report child abuse.

by associated press 1:47pm, august 5, 2015. the delaware attorney general's office is suing a jehovah's witnesses congregation in sussex county, claiming that elders failed to report an unlawful sexual relationship between a woman and a 14-year-old boy, both of whom were congregation members.. oral arguments in the civil action are set for november.. authorities say elders learned in january 2013 that katheryn harris carmean white was having sex with the boy and failed to immediately call a child abuse hotline.. the congregation's attorney argues that the elders are protected by clergy privilege from the reporting requirements, similar to the confidentiality of a church confessional.. carmean white, who worked as a teacher's aide at seaford middle school, was later convicted of rape and child endangerment and sentenced to six years in prison..

jamiebowers

It was born out during proceedings surrounding the Gilbert Simental trial in Murietta, Ca. that it is not considered a confessional when the confession is made to more than one person. In other words, three elders on a judicial committee who then contact the branch with said confession doesn't equal a priest or pastor. While laws may vary from state to state, this just seems to me to be common sense.

52

Disfellowshipped at 18

by asensier in

you can probably guess how this story goes.. i began dating a non-witness boy.

he knew i was a baptised witness and understood the consequences i faced for dating him.

we agreed to keep our relationship secret, which was easy considering our 200 mile distance.

jamiebowers

As difficult as it is for you now, you're worlds ahead by leaving at such a young age. At least you're not saddled with a jw husband and kids that would be in the middle of you leaving a cult. And a cult is what the Watch Tower is. Google Lifton's criteria of thought reform and the BITE model.

As loving as your boyfriend sounds, he can't be your whole life. It's not healthy for either of you. So live your life. Get a job, go to school, make friends, explore the world! If you're careful about who you choose, you can build a family of very good friends. And if you have non-jw relatives, reach out to them. I'm certain that most of them will be glad to hear that you're out of the cult and will want to get to now you.

There will always be a listening ear on this site. So use it when you need to.