Posts by SnakesInTheTower

113

Watchtower suppresses critical video

by besty in

as many of you know the active jehovah's witness known as v has a youtube channel http://www.youtube.com/user/wtcomments .

v has 27 videos and 1000 subscribers on his channel and over 200,000 views so far.

his most recent video is a satirical expose of the most recent generation doctrine change.

SnakesInTheTower

Before I was removed as an elder Dec 2006, I was a public talk coordinator in the congo. Yes, the public talks now come with a © notice on the bottom of each page.

I applaud and support V's videos and hope V continues to expose WTBT&S for what it is: a business and a cult masquerading as a religion. (As a side note, I dont think any religion should receive tax-exempt status for anything other than services that would otherwise be provided for by the government.)

However, V may have to be careful on that particular video because, from what I remember, that is an actual scan of the outline. I don't remember if the outline had the copyright symbol on it or not or if it was a pre-production copy that was leaked. You can be certain that WT is going to be more diligent about this going forward. If so, then pictures, videos, etc of them will be infringement... and not subject to "Fair Use" exemptions. Now, if someone were to take detailed notes and transcribe them....well...maybe that is a way around it.

Now, commentary on said outline...well...that is always open... so just take out the copy of the outline and voila.... back in business... but make sure that in its place they put a copy of the YouTube notification of the WT request for removal... maybe it will start putting seeds of doubt in the minds of the JWs that are obviously looking at non-WT sanctioned videos...

Snakes (Rich )

33

You may have forgotten about me but here's my update

by doublelife in

jw
friends

it's been a while since i've posted because i've been so busy looking for a full-time job so that i could leave my husband.

well, i've finally got one today.

actually, it's the same job i've had for about a year but someone else just put in their notice to quit so my manager finally gave me full-time status.

SnakesInTheTower

doublelife..

Thought I do want to clear up that he's not physically abusive, but he is emotionally

in discussions I have had with women who confided in me that have been both physically and emotionally abused by their husbands, some (not all) have expressed that emotional abuse is harder to take.... i..e., physical abuse -- people can see the marks... and the marks usually heal.... but emotional abuse no one sees any marks... and the pschyological damage often takes a long time, if ever, to heal.

glad to see you are making positive steps out of that situation....

The question is rhetorical, but: Why do people abuse their spouse? I dont get it. (usually we speak of men abusing women, but it can be reverse). Either you love them or not. Call me naive (I'll say it: "Snakes, you are naive").

I would never intentionally hurt my fiancee. I have, at times, said things that were hurtful...never intentionally...but still did it and so has she..thats human nature. How we deal with it afterwards determines the kind of partner and human being we are.

I would never hit my fiancee or her son. I love them both too much for that. So when I see other guys (esp) doing that to their wive/partner... I get very very angry. I guess we do not know what goes on behind closed doors and inside people's heads.

..sigh.... good luck to you as you move forward in your journey to a new life.

Snakes (Rich )

49

SOME ENCOURAGEMENT FOR THE NEWBIES AND LURKERS

by palmtree67 in

jw
friends

a quote from "crisis of conscience".

don't be afraid to read it.. .

whatever the initial distress - a distress that sometimes follows the demenaing experience of being interogated by men who, in effect strip one of dignity, make the weight of their authority felt, and presume to judge adversely one's standing with god - however torn one may feel inside, afterward there is a distinct feeling of relief, of peace.

SnakesInTheTower

bump and bookmark

68

Do You Think Prostitution Should Be Illegal?

by minimus in

jw
friends

recently, in my area, a number of people have gotten caught looking to pay for sex from a call girl.

a catholic priest was one of the "johns" that got arrested.. i know there are some that argue that it is debasing.

still, for a million years, it's been going on and there are willing parties who want to engage in this activity.. if two consenting adults want to have sex with one another and are willing to pay and accept the services, is it a horrible thing, in your opinion?.

SnakesInTheTower

dacheech:

cyber, it should be part of the us health care bill

wonder how many forms you would have to fill out, how many insurance committees would have to approve it, and if you have to meet your deductible before it would be paid for... are there copays? how many "Sessions" or "treatments" would be allowed in a calendar year....

how would that be coded on the CPT billing?

Snakes (Rich )

16

After Reinstatement

by truthlover in

jw
friends

can any current elders, ms, etc.

tell me if restrictions are given when a person is re instated since 2005??

i ask this as i am reading the requirements for re instatement -- it says a person has to prove they want to be reinstated and have to attend meetings for a year or more before the elders would even accept the letter request for re instatement..... .

SnakesInTheTower

when I left as an elder Dec 2006...the announcement of reinstatement was made at the Service Meeting "So and So is once again one of Jehovah's Witnesses". Though the restrictions are not announced, they are made known to the elders (and MS on need to know basis). The only thing that a person who is reinstated gets back at first is field ministry (as they are now known as a JW again) and field service reports are once again accepted. Of course, the Service Overseer would be overseeing their reintroduction to the ministry, especially if a length of time has passes since a person was active.

Elders would of course know what restrictions were in place (and such restrictions, and dates they are lifted, would be written on the outside of the JC envelope in the file...this allows all elders to keep aware of all DF/DA/restrictions, etc. without knowing the details of the case itself.)

MS in the congo may need to know about restrictions. ie., a brother reinstated might be asked to offer prayer at a meeting for service or read or comment. If an elder is conducting, they automatically would know if the reinstated brother had these "privleges" back. If a MS were conducting, then he too would need to know. So generally any elder, and any MS acting in capacities of teaching or leading the flock would need to know.

Depending on the congo, this would be hard to keep up with. Honesty on the reinstated persons part would keep them from accepting any such thing while under restriction. Wind of breaking restriction gets back to the JC.... it would slow the lifting of restrictions.

As for Bible studies with a reinstated person. If it has been only a year or two, then likely the study would be a targeted "as needed" study to make sure the reinstated person is on board with the GB. If it has been longer, or a new publication has been studied in the field, or the person seems to not know the basics, then probably the 6-12 month study would be held.

I just thought of something though...I really dont care any more, but the fact that I still remember this crap from 3.5 years go is scary...LOL...any more recent info?

Snakes (Rich )

51

JW membership turnover - a real-life study

by besty in

jw
friends

much has been commented here on how jw's rely on an ever-changing membership for keeping their 'the sky is falling, the world is ending' doctrine fresh.. recently it was posted that fully 2/3 of born-in jw's leave at some point, and i thought you might like to see how this works in practice.. so lets take sam and i and our extended families - we were both born and brought up jw's.

start with me.

mum and dad were converted in the 1950's.

SnakesInTheTower

ooohhh pretty.....a resurrected thread...lol

my family was studied with by a special pioneer couple... they were childless... but I am sure they brought lots in the cold north of AK.

...my family was mom, dad,,...and us 3 kids...

dad died "faithful" ....

mom still a dub...

middle brother never dunked.... married a non dub...their child not a dub...

little brother never dunked...married, divorced....never to dubs...kids not dubs

I left...

net gain...1 the JW lineage dies with mom....

Snakes (Rich)

ps... besty:

Best thing sice I came to Manhattan Beach was getting a cell phone with 666 in my number :-) LOL

my cell number ends in 666... i love it.... was a clean number...no one ever wanted it...so I dont get calls for other people who used to have it..

17

JWs will be in West Palm Beach! read & COMMENT, please!

by Nathan Natas in

jw
friends

see: http://blogs.palmbeachpost.com/westpalmbeat/2010/05/jehovahs-witnesses-kicking-off-summer-convention-season/comment-page-1/#comment-3346.

jehovahs witnesses kicking off summer convention seasonby andrew abramson.

after last years fiery theme keep on the watch!

SnakesInTheTower

It seats 5,000 assholes, according to Wikipedia.

I dont know why it is required to lump all of Jehovah's Witnesses into the "asshole" category. My mom is still a JW, and I do not consider her an asshole. Until a couple of years ago when she moved, she attended that particular convention location. I attended one year with her when I was still an active JW.

Rather than resort to name calling, no matter where the anger stems from, and I know I suffered from it for a time, why not attach blame to where it belongs: to the leadership of the Watchtower Society, and to individuals (elders or otherwise) that, because of their abusive personalities, would be assholes in real life whether or not they are JWs or not. Being a JW just amplifies their being that.

Some may have considered me an asshole when I was an elder, and maybe by the very nature of being an elder, I was. I hope that I have reformed my personality and become the person I should have been all along: a loving, kind person that genuinely cares about people and only wanted to help. I just needed a different outlet. As one friend, who was never a JW and had no connection to Witnesses, said to me shortly after I left the Witnesses, she said: "Rich, I knew you before when you were a JW, and after you left... and you have always been like a brother to me. I like you much better now that you are not a JW. Your true personality was allowed to come out."

I consider that statement the ultimate compliment and sign of progress exiting the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses.

Snakes (Rich....of the "formerly an asshole" Sheep Class)

27

Personal Story: Trying to Help the Flock

by OnTheWayOut in

and told him that we needed to handle both cases.

and his buddy.

's buddy on the case.

SnakesInTheTower

OTWO..

Sounds like we had similar ways of trying to keep people out of the JC room. There were times that I was forced to stand by while petty "rules" were enforced and for that I will always be sorry. I think I may have written previously about a situation in which a sister who was still under restriction from a previous JC could not have her wedding at the KH..and a MS friend and his wife did not attend because of the elders stand on it.... then not long after the PO's sister gets a free pass ...not to have a wedding at our KH, but at her fiancee's KH. It was arranged by her JC (from our KH) to expedite the lifting of restrictions so that she could have a wedding at the KH. Such sickening hypocrisy.

It sickens me now thinking about it.

I had individuals approach me on various occasions...smoking, fornication, doubts about the Org. I, too, squashed or otherwise intervened if at all possible. One case was a brother who was being eyeballed for apostasy. The PO and his daddy (the former PO) must have had a grudge against this brother...I swear it was like a witchhunt with all of the "Investigative Committees" they had on him and the reams of paper the PO printed out from this brother's blog proving his apostasy (no such proof...it was a stretch). I had the brother and his family switched to my Tuesday night Book Study group out of the one the PO conducted...I told the PO it was so I could "keep an eye on him" but in reality it was so the PO couldn't. I warned this brother what was going on behind the scenes. I tried to keep him out of the line of fire for as long as possible.

Eventually he was DF for apostasy, but I think between the original JC (which the CO made all of us elders serve on, I am sure as a loyalty test on our part) and the appeals committee, the brother was able to speak his mind and go out the way he wanted. I am sure he is happier now... (you can PM me or post if I am wrong). I was impressed with his calm demeanor in the meeting...at least that was how I recall it.

The whole JC system is so unChristian....... sigh....glad I am out of it...

Snakes (Rich )

35

I will come back to the Kingdom Hall when......

by Cagefighter in

jw
friends

i can sport my beard and they have a smoking section!

.

let's have fun with this thread..

SnakesInTheTower

If the gladiator games are brought back.....

... and feed the Governing Body and the Legal Department to the lions....

....for their pedophile and blood policies....

...then they might see me enter a K'Hell.

Snakes (Rich )

84

The Witnesses are freaking out

by Sour Grapes in

i still go to a few meetings a month just to keep members of my family happy.. the witnesses seemed to be getting all worked up about how close the end.

it sorta feels like the 1975 era only 35 years later.

the brother who gave.

SnakesInTheTower

WTWizard...

what scares me is that I actually understood that algebraic explanation....

...did you go and get a college education behind the backs of the elders?

LOL

SnakesInTheTower (of the "graduating college May 19, 2010" Sheep Class...aka Rich)