Posts by Georgiegirl

39

Blondie's Comments You Will Not Hear at the 06-06-10 WT Study (YOUNG PEOPLE) TEST PLEASE FORGIVE ME

by blondie in

jw
friends

young people strengthen your desire to serve jehovah.

what invitation was extended to children in the christian congregation?

serve god or the wts?.

Georgiegirl

I agree and disagree with AIW on this one. First of all, "The difference between Jehovah's Witnesses and influential organizations like FOTF and similar organizations is they don't attempt to divulge their teachings into public schools systems and in effect indoctrinate other people's children with their ideas."

(winces) There are sooooo many differences between JWs and these other organizations - not just this one. However, I recall many many talks where I was told that, as child in the school system, the entire school was my "special territory" and responsibility. Of course, I was one of the fortunate ones who actually got to go to school; many in my congregation were homeschooled, leaving them with a highly inadequate education. Such a disservice...

Interestingly enough, studies have proven that teaching abstinence and only abstinence (not other forms of birth control) actually INCREASES teenage premarital sex and birthrate.

Where I agree is that I think what is being done in Texas in re-writing the schoolbooks to reflect a right-wing Christian agenda is completely wrong.

103

Damage Control on Secret Societies

by alice.in.wonderland in

damage control on secret societies .

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19970601/article_01.htm .

satanic activities of secret societies.

Georgiegirl

Again I ask - the Spanish congregation on Regg Drive?

42

Disfellowshipping - But You KNEW About It Before You Were Baptized!

by Georgiegirl in

started a new topic b/c i didn't want to threadjack another ongoing pointless debate.

:) (isn't it interesting how the apologists all come out around dc time?).

i have seen that statement made over and over again by jws about disfellowshipping.

Georgiegirl

Started a new topic b/c I didn't want to threadjack another ongoing pointless debate. :) (isn't it interesting how the apologists all come out around DC time?)

Anyway. I have seen that statement made over and over again by JWs about disfellowshipping. However - it's always presented like - well - you aren't going to go out and commit fornication or kill or steal, right? And as a person who has been thoroughly duped and really believes you have just learned "the truth" and who genuinely wants to do the right thing - of COURSE it never enters your mind that you would ever want to do one of those things.

However, the majority of posters here weren't DF'd or DA'd b/c of any "moral" sin- but simply because they learned accurate knowledge and in good conscience, could no longer support an organization that claims to be led by God's Holy Spirit but which clearly is not.

In the meantime, tho - we've raised families, made friends, created a complete societal structure...and have to leave all of that behind and become isolated pariahs. Did you know that isolation is considered a violation of human rights? And yet, that is exactly what the WTBS does if you no longer believe - and when you are baptized, when you really truly believe you have "the truth" - learning differently and the consequences of learning differently are NOT explained and frankly, there is no way you can possibily anticipate that.

So no. We DIDN'T know the full truth about DA'ing and DF'ing when we were baptized.

103

Damage Control on Secret Societies

by alice.in.wonderland in

damage control on secret societies .

http://www.watchtower.org/e/19970601/article_01.htm .

satanic activities of secret societies.

Georgiegirl

The Spanish congregation on Regg Drive?

36

A Responsible Discussion on Ray Franz's Role in the Lives of Former JW's

by AllTimeJeff in

jw
friends

since it was learned that ray franz went to the hospital and then passed away, most threads have in my opinion, correctly tried to give some honor and respect to a courageous, honest, and principled man.. some borderline trolls, who know many former jw's are easily upset (and they know this.

i know this...) try to take advantage by hitting on a hot button.

in this case, its to call you a follower of ray franz.. we all know that isn't true.. but i think that a legitimate discussion on this is in order.

Georgiegirl

Forgive me if I just cut and paste what I wrote in a previous thread - but it really goes to your point - he was a good, kind, humble man - always. He is one of the few men that makes me think of the scripture that describes the difference between a righteous man and a good man. Ray was truly a good man.

**When I was a child, Ray and Cynthia were friends of my parents' friends in our congregation. They would come to visit - I remember how excited everyone was that a Member of The Governing Body was coming - you know how that is - the barely concealed excitement that a Chosen One was visiting and you might actually get a chance to see them or maybe (gasp) talk to them! Talk about worship...

Of course, I was lectured quite thoroughly about how to behave and what to do when in the presence of the Nearly Divine...

And then I met them. They were the kindest, most down to earth couple. Even as a child, I felt that they were genuinely interested in me - not at all like what I had been prepared to expect. Humble, loving, kind. Over 30 years later, I still remember them so clearly. I remember thinking that this was a truly spiritual and loving man - turns out that I wasn't wrong.

Then I remember ordering his book - only a couple of years ago - and reading it. Growing up, even having that book was grounds for DFing - remember? And so it was with a pounding heart and a paranoia I ordered it and kept it well hidden...of course reading it confirmed what I had already learned - but for those who say it is full of lies - I am a personal witness that the information in it is true. I KNEW these people - I lived through the Malawi horror - every bit of it rang true.

And yet through all of the slander and maliciousness heaped on his head - it is still an extraordinarily kind and forgiving account.

My heart is so sad today.**

18

How I left Jehovah's Witnesses/Maeve Courteau

by not a captive in

in february of 2009 i slipped a letter of conscience under the doormat of my former book study conductor who was out of town.

that letter was written because i could not support a portion of the materials that constantly was featured in wts literature.

at the time i was a sister in good standing.

Georgiegirl

Thanks for posting this because I think it's an excellent reminder that you NEVER know what is going to make someone leave the organization - we get alot of posts here along the lines of "What should I say to my family/spouse/friends" and then the standard responses - 607, blood, pedophiles, etc etc - but we should always remember that it's going to be different for each person. Better to ask questions and find out what is important to each individual. Hope your move goes well and you continue to find much happiness.

211

Ray Franz has had a stroke

by coffee_black in

jw
friends

just setting the record straight.

there is another thread that notes a claim on wiki that said that ray has died.. he had a stroke yesterday, and is in the hospital.

he is still alive.

Georgiegirl

When I was a child, Ray and Cynthia were friends of my parents' friends in our congregation. They would come to visit - I remember how excited everyone was that a Member of The Governing Body was coming - you know how that is - the barely concealed excitement that a Chosen One was visiting and you might actually get a chance to see them or maybe (gasp) talk to them! Talk about worship...

Of course, I was lectured quite thoroughly about how to behave and what to do when in the presence of the Nearly Divine...

And then I met them. They were the kindest, most down to earth couple. Even as a child, I felt that they were genuinely interested in me - not at all like what I had been prepared to expect. Humble, loving, kind. Over 30 years later, I still remember them so clearly. I remember thinking that this was a truly spiritual and loving man - turns out that I wasn't wrong.

Then I remember ordering his book - only a couple of years ago - and reading it. Growing up, even having that book was grounds for DFing - remember? And so it was with a pounding heart and a paranoia I ordered it and kept it well hidden...of course reading it confirmed what I had already learned - but for those who say it is full of lies - I am a personal witness that the information in it is true. I KNEW these people - I lived through the Malawi horror - every bit of it rang true. And yet - it is still an extraordinarily kind and forgiving account.

My heart is so sad today.

51

How many Elders does it take to change a light bulb?

by karter in

jw
friends

??????????????

?.

Georgiegirl

What makes any of you think an elder would notice there wasn't any light at all? ;)

12

A snippet from a JW email - what a way to view the world we live in!

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

my wife received an email from her friend, a jw.

i suppose it is just a small thing but it highlights one of the things that really pisses me off about the jw religion.. after talking about some situation she comments:.

"i know it's always hard work in this system, totally rubbish.

Georgiegirl

Oh - and it IS hard work living in this world when you're killing yourself cleaning and window washing. ;)

12

A snippet from a JW email - what a way to view the world we live in!

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

my wife received an email from her friend, a jw.

i suppose it is just a small thing but it highlights one of the things that really pisses me off about the jw religion.. after talking about some situation she comments:.

"i know it's always hard work in this system, totally rubbish.

Georgiegirl

You know what would be interesting? To get several of the congregation lists and then do a survey by mail or email or telephone as to how many JWs are on some type of anti-depressant - and then call the same # of people from a regular church and ask the same thing. You'd have to do it so they didn't know you were targeting JWs of course, which might raise some ethical issues...still, I think the results would be very telling.