Posts by Tornintwo

35

I almost died laughing at the meeting last night. OMG WTF is going on? Have I been away this long?

by macys in

ok so most of you guys know already that i am going through the reinstatement process for my parents but i do have a partially sinister plan which i will not mention here since someone told me that there are b-lites that read boards like this.

last night and it was the funniest experience i have ever seen.

besides that the brother doing the sound and video screwed up the whole thing when showing the videos and it took 3 brothers to fix it after 10 minutes, the whole thing was a joke.

Tornintwo

Funny post thank you! Still not tempted to go tho...4 months without meetings this week, not missing it!

2

How J.W.'s Are Programmed to React to "Inconvenient Truths"

by The Searcher in

been there, seen the movie, bought the t-shirt - done all three!

still cringe at how i viewed the corporation's teachings as sacrosanct.

bite the bullet lurkers - treat your gangrenous thinking and begin your recovery.

Tornintwo

So true....what excuses have I heard from jws about the bad press regarding child abuse:

"don't believe everything you read in the news"

"the victim is an apostate trying to cause trouble"

"they're just after money"

"Satan is using the press and the courts against us"

"apostate driven lies" ........

Please, use your God given critical thinking skills!

62

Umbertoecho here.

by umbertoecho in

hello people.. i'm tired and a bit sick at the moment but i can't let anyone think that this is going to go away.... i am able to tell you a few things in order to prevent any confusion in the minds of those who are thinking that nothing will come of this arc;that nothing will effect the wtbts in america and other places.. i have been there and given my testimony.

helen milroy and her assistants were there along with another group of people who are there to lend assistance if you crack up at any time during or after the hearing.

i did not crack up but can see how this happens.. security is tight and anonymity is sacred to them as they want to protect all who come forward.

Tornintwo

Thank you so much Umberto for your courage and your support to other victims. What evil has been allowed to flourish in this organisation, I hope they're forced to hang their heads in shame.

47

Hello, this is my first post

by noralee in

jw
friends

hello, this is my first post, i would like to introduce myself and say thank you to every one on this forum, you have been a lifeline to me these last few years.. i had been a jw for 30 years when i walked away a few years ago disgusted by the treatment victims of child abuse, domestic abuse and rape receive from the wtbts.. at first i thought it was a local problem, elders personal opinions, the way they handled the situations, imperfect men etc., until i checked out jehovahs witnesses and child abuse/domestic abuse online.

that's when i realized they had the same modus operandi worldwide.

that led me here, tbuo this forum, and then to crisis of conscience, jw facts, watchtower documents, jw survey, old watchtower literature and cd s, reading a couple of steve hassans books, and more recently exiting the jw cult.. the feelings of shock, betrayal, anger at the wtbts, angry with myself for being so gullible, depression, reflection, loneliness, have taken their toll.

Tornintwo

Welcome, what a great post. Don't feel bad, congratulate yourself for having the strength of mind to wake up from oppressive mind control and help your loved ones do the same xx

26

When does it end? My marriage is 90% great for the most part, except when it come to this cult

by goingthruthemotions in

i know marriage is tough and it takes work on both parts.

we have been together for 27 years.

the last eight have been involved with this cult.

Tornintwo

Sorry for you.....I'm in a 'divided' home too, it sucks.

Thankfully he's mellowed a lot from the controlling, abusive jw husband he was, ironically I think me and the kids leaving the religion almost took the pressure off him a bit. He no longer has anything to do with the kids discipline at all, they won't take it from him, so he doesn't have to worry about trying to control them in the 'right' way according to jw rules. Also he is not in the running for privileges now we've all left, so he no longer has to try to reach out and agonise about what he is doing wrong and why he is being held back (he was an m.s. on and off but could never kiss-ass, his relationship with the hierarchy in the org put terrible strain on our marriage for years). The whole thing, his son refusing to speak to him, his precious good girl turning her back on the religion, etc has humbled him, he's trying to be kinder, I almost think he's trying to 'win me without a word'

But, like you it drives me crazy that he won't think critically about the org, he will never question it, despite the fact he's been treated like crap. He is hardly ever his authentic self, for example with the kids, he wouldn't watch my daughter in her first singing concert because it was at Xmas, he won't give them any lifts anywhere because they are meeting 'wordly friends' and it would 'compromise' him. So he's losing his relationship with both of them now. I swear I could show him irrefutable facts that the GB were child murderers and he wouldn't believe it.

You have to feel sorry for them really, fully mind controlled, they are missing out on a lot of good in life for the sake of 7 men in Brooklyn.

My advice is just lIve your life, if she gives you the silent treatment completely ignore it, go out and do something fun with your kids, come back and give her a big smile and offer her a cup of tea or something, like nothing whatsoever is wrong. Water off a ducks back..

For me he goes to the meeting, I sit on the couch with a glass of wine watching my favourite series, he goes on the ministry, I take my baby to soft play and chat with other mums. He sits around praying for daily needs, I go out and get a job. If he doesn't keep up, me and the kids will leave him behind, one way or another.

30

Elders, oh my God what a bunch of losers!

by Crazyguy in

ok i don't mean to put all of them into just one box so to speak, their are some that are smart successful etc.

but my god most of them are just wasted space, ignorant, no drive, horrible jobs, make nothing for income and the only thing in life they have going for them is this title.

no wonder so many will not wake up and hold on to this stupid cult, it's all they have.

Tornintwo

OP a bit harsh, but it's true I've met some very genuine, loving and compassionate elders, unfortunately I can count them on one hand after 25 years. Just reading "In Search of Christian freedom", and Ray has some very insightful comments re different types of elders and the control they are under,it's long but worth a read for anyone interested in this subject:

But people who have gained a degree of success in the secular world may simply be reluctant to detach themselves from an or ganization that is fairly extensive, has organizational strength and numbers. They perhaps feel a desire to employ in a religious context the same secular abilities that gained them success in the world, or perhaps donate or loan funds and, as a result, experience a more intimate, privileged relationship with men in authority. I believe the Witness religion, along with some others, lends itself notably to those of such inclination. This was not so much the case in its early history but is so today. The organization’s intense focus on works, on expansion, on big gatherings, big projects, provides an ambience in which those with secular administrative experience and preferences can shine. In a larger religion they might be “small frogs in a large pond,” as the saying goes. The Watch Tower organization is small enough for them to make an impact, gain prominence, and yet large enough that elevation therein can give them an added sense of personal importance. They may be men with insight, who are capable of seeing the flawed nature of the organizational teachings and policies, the variance between these and the teachings of Christ and of Scripture. They may even feel, per- haps cautiously express, their concern about this. Often they can say more than others, and express their thoughts to men in authority, such as members of the Governing Body, particularly if they are known to give strong financial support to the organization. I know men who have done this. In general they have experienced disappointment at seeing that their words often had little effect, did not receive the same kind of reception that their money gifts received.

...........

Yet such flattery and efforts to impress men in au- thority are remarkably common within the Witness organization, and concern for gaining or maintaining organizational favor and position is often obvious in the conduct of a considerable percentage of elders and traveling representatives. In large measure it is such concern for position that gives the organization the degree of power and control over them that it has. Because of it men will even enforce policies that they believe are wrong in order to retain organizational favor. They do this at the cost of their freedom and moral integrity.

These motivating factors are not restricted to men of secular success and ability. They often apply with equal force to those of far more humble background, even the underprivileged. The Watch Tower’s organizational arrangement may allow these to achieve a marked elevation in social status by virtue of diligence in meet- ing organizational goals, zeal in the program of activity; the sheer force of the hours they report. All of this may pave the way to even- tual eldership. They may now deliver lengthy talks before audi- ences of a hundred or more persons, whereas without the official position they hold they might find it difficult to get a dozen per- sons to listen to them for any period of time. Like those of more impressive background, these may feel hesitant to do anything or say anything that might jeopardize the status they now enjoy.

34

I have doubts... can you help me??- A new idea

by HowTheBibleWasCreated in

i have been perplexed as to how to brung my wife out of jws and to exit the religion... but i had an idea last night.

i know that elders will legitimantly meet with brothers who have doubts and encourage them... not df them .. this is a sheperding call etc.. thus since my wife knows i have doubt s i could say: i want to have two brother over to discuss this ... she will agree.... of course i will hit these guys with biblical textual issues, an biology to where they are stunned and still ask... "so brothers... can you solve this conflict...?".

in this case they will not think of me as an apostate but may question their own beliefs... .

Tornintwo

I had a c.o. Call on me during my initial doubting phase and managed to get quite a few issues discussed, in front of my husband, by coming across as 'confused and doubting" rather than rebellious. I definitely disturbed my husband with some things I said about child abuse and even the elder showed signs of c.d. The c.o wasn't phased at all, I got the impression he knew it all already. There is the account here:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/354370001/doubts-shunning-shepherding-call?page=1&size=10

I threw a lot more at my husband the UN, Malawi/Mexico, the ARC. Until he shut his ears and told me he absolutely didn't want to hear anymore because it disturbed him and effected his faith. I realised he wants and needs this religion. He came to it in a very dark time in his life and I honestly think he will never, ever leave it. There are some like that we have to accept, agree to disagree and work round it as best as we can.

35

Video: 607 & 1914 Why These Dates Matter to Jehovah's Witnesses

by LevelThePlayingField in

this is a great video.

i think it's his best work so far.

everything you ever wanted to know about 607 in 30 minutes.

Tornintwo

Bumping this thread because the video is really very good and as many as poss should see it. Just makes me realize how utterly bonkers the whole thing was and wonder why I ever swallowed it! Never mind the fact it's based on a false date discredited by historians.

There's is an interesting side point made in the comments also which I'd never thought about. I always believed the dragon was hurled down with great anger and as a result WWI broke out. But if it was October 1914 when Jesus was enthroned and war broke out in heaven, then dragon was hurled down (presumably after the heavenly war of undetermined duration) then how come WWI started in July?

29

Encounter with J.W's at wittnessing kart.

by karter in

jw
friends

me-you allow pedophiles to go d2d and into peoples houses even when they have children.. j.w-no we don't.. me-the one that interfered with a relative of mine does and another i know who raped his sister does in fact he's an elder.. j.w-we cant stop them going d2d.. me- so now your saying they do go d2d you can't stop them,no you don't want to!.

j.w-it happens in all religions.. me- so that justifies sending pedo's into strangers houses.how would you like it if a pedo came to your place and you didn't know.. j.w- it happened to my mother and if he came to my place it knock him out.. me - but you have no problem with anyone from your church going to peoples houses even if they are a pedo.. we argued around in circles with him saying the elders may not know and me saying well i told them and so did the victim and he admitted to it ,then i told him about the r.c in australia and he said that could be anyone claiming to be a j.w could be on the stand ( by this time he was getting desperate)the i said like jeffery jackson?.

i told them to look it up on you tube.. i gave then the names and congro's the 2 pedo's are in and said i'd come back next week and see if they had checked it out.the lady's body language said she knew the elder that raped his sister as they are a well know family they were in the year book a few years ago.. stand by for next week.. karter.

Tornintwo

Great experience....would love to see it reenacted at the next jw assembly ha ha ha

42

Beards

by HowTheBibleWasCreated in

i have a beard.

i spend a month on vacation with no worry from the congregation overseas of course.

i grew a full beard now and with glasses i finally have posted my picture on facebook og me... next to half life 2 cover showing i look like gordan freeman lol.

Tornintwo

My daughter has/had a 19 year old witness friend in UK, a few months ago she told me he was really down because he'd been pulled into the back room and counseled about his new beard. He was depressed about it because it had taken him months to grow and he liked it and they'd made him feel like crap. I was furious. This is a young boy who despite being smart had given up the chance of higher education, was auxiliary pioneering and reaching out, was keeping himself 'chaste' and spending way to much time at home for a kid his age, and instead of commending him they pick at him about his one way of expressing his individuality. Aaaaggggghhhh, their lack of nurturing for young people makes me crazy.