Posts by tooktheredpill

63

any former elders have an answer for me?

by helricha in

jw
friends

so i was df'd for living with/having sex with my boyfriend for 3 years and then not ending the relationship and moving out within the week between the first meeting of confession and the second meeting where they tell me what their decision was.

i did move out 3 months later with the intent of being reinstated over a period of time.

well i couldn't cut off the relationship with my bf even though i did move out, so i married him after a year and then 2 weeks after that i slept with someone else.

tooktheredpill

Helricha:

I’m an Elder. And let me tell you something: Elders are NOT marriage counselors! We are supposed to give “spiritual guidance” only. Do you love your husband? Do you really want to fix your marriage? Look for professional help. (I noticed that apparently he is not a JW).

As you mentioned at the end of your post, you want to “salvage a relationship with Jehovah”. Jehovah knows everything. He knows what you did, and knows how your heart feels right now. Confessing to the Elders is the same that confessing to a priest or another human. They can’t do anything to fix your relationship with Jehovah. Talk directly to the one you need . And don’t be afraid of looking for professional counseling.

This may help you:

Psalms 86:5:

5 For you, O Jehovah, are good and ready to forgive;
And the loving-kindness to all those calling upon you is abundant.

37

WT and Awake covers to title, have fun video to follow

by Wasanelder Once in

here you are.

i will use these and the ones unused from the last thread to make a fun with covers 19. .

.

tooktheredpill

Everybody is welcome to write the Main article...

37

WT and Awake covers to title, have fun video to follow

by Wasanelder Once in

here you are.

i will use these and the ones unused from the last thread to make a fun with covers 19. .

.

tooktheredpill

37

WT and Awake covers to title, have fun video to follow

by Wasanelder Once in

here you are.

i will use these and the ones unused from the last thread to make a fun with covers 19. .

.

tooktheredpill

34

What does freedom from the Watchtower mean to you?

by AK - Jeff in

thoughts?

tooktheredpill

Although I'm still inside the borg:

-I don't feel guilty anymore (Since I was 13, I always thought that Jehovah will kill me in the big "A")
-I can read the bible without filters
-I can use my brain and think for myself
-I’ve learned to respect more what other people think, without judging them

26

If You Were Ever An Elder...

by Henry in

what about the responsibility of being an elder did you dislike the most?

i served from september 2003 - june 2006. there were two things that bugged me the most the first was i got sick of the bickering amongst the body.

we had 7 elders and in nearly every situation, big or small, there was some division that got personal.

tooktheredpill

I became more aware than ever just how power hungry many elders are.

I agree with Vinnie. I will never understand why some people really thinks that having a "priviledge"(tm) in the congregation is like earning a higher rank in real life. Some even "fight" for the position!!! If they can see the reality: you are not earning NOTHING; you need to use the time that you need to take care of your family for congregational matters; that all the instructions that you receive from the "Mother Organization" is only to cover their backs...

It's really pathetic...

20

To all of you who continue to "cover your tracks" and are still in ((HUGS))

by Lady Liberty in

jw
friends

dear friends,.

there are so many here with circumstances that will not allow them to leave the borg, and who week after week have to put on a show, and go to the meetings and service, that i just wanted to send you a big (((hug)) for hangng in there.. though each situation is no doubt different, one thing most likely the same..you would leave if you could,, and you have to endure all the things being taught each week, that you have come to learn are lies!

but we are glad you are here!!

tooktheredpill

Lady Liberty: Thanks a lot for your caring thoughts. I'm still inside the Borg because of my family, wife and friends. And as "Billy the ex-bethelite" said, I'm trying to liberate some minds while I'm in. Basically, when I go preaching I only give tracts and magazines, NOT asking for donations. I'm giving no bible studies now. And playing the game...

Thanks a lot for thinking about us. Keep us in your prayers!

Have a great day!!

3

Elders: Help for research about Reporting Child Molestation

by tooktheredpill in

if any of the people reading this is an elder too, please help me to do some research.. the only letter that i've found to all the bodies of elders about this matter is dated feb 15, 2002. in page 4, it has a section titled "reminders regarding the handling of cases involving child abuse".

it says mostly to "call the legal department for assistance".

it says that child abuse is a crime, but it doesn't specify that the authorities should be called.

tooktheredpill

If any of the people reading this is an Elder too, please help me to do some research.

The only letter that I've found to all the bodies of Elders about this matter is dated Feb 15, 2002. In page 4, it has a section titled "Reminders regarding the handling of cases involving child abuse". It says mostly to "call the Legal Department for assistance". It says that child abuse is a crime, but it doesn't specify that the authorities should be called. It says: "Never suggest to anyone that they should not report the matters to the authorities".

The other letter that I have in my possession about this issue was sent to Spanish congregations, and it was dated March 14,1997. It doesn't say ANYTHING about reporting to the authorities. Just to use the "Special Blue" envelopes to inform the WT about anything similar in the congregation.

Check this link: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/msnbc/Sections/TVNews/Nightly%20News/2007/11-Nov/reportinglaws.pdf. It is titled "Clergy as Mandatory Reporters of Child Abuse and Neglect"

I think that the letter posted by the WT in their website is deceiving. As an Elder, I've never received specific directives to report child abuse to the authorities.

Any help will be appreciated.

30

Is Smoking the practice of Spiritism?

by freedomfighter in

hi guys,.

i was raised as a jw and was baptised when i was 16. i am now 35 and have finally realised that "the truth" is actually the opposite.. my family has a long history of mental illness and i am "lucky" to only suffer deppression and panic attacks.i believe what i was taught as truth has effected me adversely.

e.g " you won't have to go to school son, armageddon will be here before then.

tooktheredpill

OMG!!!

I can't stop being grateful of finding this forum! It is a real relief knowing that I'm not alone and a lot of people here understand me!

freedomfighter and monophonic: I’m also 35 yrs old, baptized at 17. I’ve been in medication for years. Diagnosed with GAD (General Anxiety Disorder) with constant panic attacks since my childhood. I don’t remember a day in my life that I went to school and I wasn’t anxious or nervous.

onacruse: Thanks for your explanation about how the “brain is simply looking for an "equilibrium". From certain point of view, medicating daily IS an addiction! Can I be disfellowshipped now for using Prozac??

Thanks a lot for sharing your thoughts!!!

36

What song describes your state of mind at this point in your life?

by restrangled in

jw
friends

mine is the verve /bitter sweet symphony...... what's yours?

icanchange, icanchange, icanchange....nonono!.

r..

tooktheredpill

What song describes your state of mind at this point in your life?

Hmmm... Good question...

Maybe "Trashed and Scattered" by a band called Avenged Sevenfold. These are some of the lyrics:

Keep on writing you're just raping yourself (nothing can take my mind away from them)
Don't you ask about me, ask 'bout somebody else (Once I've fallen there's many stories to tell)
I can't feel it, won't embrace it, it's overwhelming how far ya take it (I'm in a state of questioning)
And don't you tell me you know we' re destined, you won't convince me, I won't listen (Resentment building, you've put
our lives on hold)

...And don't you try to stop me, it's a place you'll never know
Don't try to judge or take shots at me, I'll never let you seize control