Posts by abbagail

15

Secret Letters and files

by simplesally in

jw
friends

it still bothers me very much that they are allowed to keep files on us and that we have no right to see the contents.

they can choose to look at them or destroy them, whatever they wish, but our wishes about a file with our name on it, about our lives is not unavailable.

when you change halls a letter is written about you to the next group of men in black.

abbagail

Hubba Hubba! Who would have known? Thanks nancee park for that detailed info. And Thirdson, your first-hand experiences... I'm saving this info.

So, is this how it would work? I've been away soooo long, way past the seven year mark. So the former (DF'ing) cong would have destroyed the JC notes or whatever. Let's say I moved and wanted to go to the KHall, and told them I had been DF'd years ago. Would they then call Bethel to get the scoop? Or would they call the former cong and pick their brains?

Has anyone ever gone back to a new KHall and just pretended like they were "in good standing" (i.e., never mentioned the DF'ing)? I know I know, get struck dead by lightning for that. Just wondered if anybody ever tried it, and if they did, what happened? ... ;)

Grits

3

Give Us A King

by Zechariah in

jw
friends

give us a king .

what object lesson and prophecy does the bible provide of the development of organized religion?

how specifically does it apply to and was fulfilled by jehovahs witnesses?

abbagail

Thanks Zechariah, for pointing this out. Good post - Food for thought and it makes sense.

Grits

2

minister arrested

by kelsey007 in

jw
friends

this is found at tennessean.com.

notice that they are entertaining prosecuting the parents- could this open the door for jw prosecutions?

knowingly allowing their children to be in a position where they are subject to abuse and neglect.

abbagail

Thanks kelsey! Veeeerrrry interesting indeed. Sounds like a great plan - to charge the parents for knowingly allowing the kids to be in harm's way. Now THAT is the kind of message we need to get out to the JWs. That would certainly make them WAKE UP and pay attention and stop sucking up to the GB/elders' ideas of hush-hush.

Grits

22

Fear of the New World

by WildTurkey in

jw
friends

i always had a fear as an active jw, that i would not like life in the new world that i would not like to be perfect.

to never make a mistake, that would mean you would never get to kiss and make up.

i would never get to watch a real football game, and porn would be completely out of the question.

abbagail

BluesBrother, your dream sounds like a scene from the movie, "Cool Hand Luke." (Paul Newman).

Lyin Eyes... DIE LAUGHING! Everything you wrote, way too funny; and especially the false teeth; and having to do paperwork v. being outside. Having been chained to a desk for most of my working career, I ACHED to be outside. Definitely could relate to that one.

I wanted to live forever, sure, No Problem, but HEALTHY, full of energy, wake up feeling GOOD every day, and remain 30 years old forever, no eyeglasses (they ARE such a pain); and if we were going to be perfect, why would we need clothes? No more washing and ironing. No makeup EVER needed or wanted! No pantyhose! No angry thoughts or feelings. No stress. No money worries! No oil changes to worry about or tires needing to be rotated. Getting to have your own house (without mortgages or rent) and hopefully, a few able-bodied pool boys to cut the grass! LOL! Birds singing every morning. NO sweltering humidity but a perfect temperature. No tempting "bad for you" foods, but only luscious gardens and aromatic flowers, organic fresh food growing everywhere, just for the picking! NO fear, you could walk along the street any time of night to enjoy the stars or the full moon or the night air and not have to worry about the boogey-man. Time would never be an issue. We would have had eternity to learn new things, study different subjects, perfect different hobbies, time to learn to play as many instruments as you wanted. Unending health and youth, so you could just keep going and going and going. I don't think I would ever get bored with it. Having grown up going camping and being in the outdoors alot as a kid, I always pictured it being like that but better -- that thrill and excitement you felt as a kid about such things. It sounded great to me! I fell for it completely. Still not convinced it will never happen. Though I agree with all who said, We had to "fear" not living up to the expectation and being "zapped" out of sight at any time, and/or at the end of the 1000 years having to be tested AGAIN. That part really bummed me out.

Oh well, enough "day dreaming" for one session. Great thread, though. You guys think of the most interesting topics! I never think of one-tenth of this JW stuff until I see one of you mention it, and then all the memories come flooding back. This really IS a great place to hang out! Thanks people!

Grits

38

IF BETHEL MONITORS this board what are they saying

by minimus in

jw
friends

it's been said many times that bethel monitors this board.

if they do, what do you think they're thinking?

do you think this board could cause a staunch bethelite to question things?

abbagail

Well, they didn't specifically mention J-W.com, but freeminds and observer got Honorable Mention at a book study (see this thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/forum/thread.asp?id=34985&site=3) so SUMbody's lurking SUMwhere.

I agree with SYN about the New Light... how can they do Damage Control unless they come check out the DAM-aged? ;)

And just diiiiiiieeeee laughing at the JW/Lawyer jokes! Priceless!

(Good question, though, about WHERE did the lawyers come from? Had to be converts, or else they are flat-out hired via retention "worldly lawyers" and nobody's tellin' ... When Moreno said "screwed up" in one of the abuse articles, I thought, "Hmmm, doesn't sound very JW-like to me." Maybe it's just his 'bad association' with the other lawyers making him talk that way to the media. Tsk Tsk.)

Grits

2

More WT double-talk

by thinker in

from the forward of the kingdom interlinear translation of the greek scriptures:.

the forward starts on page 7 with these words: "the original writings of the christian greek scriptures, commonly called "the new testament," were inspired.

no translation of these sacred writings into another language, except by the original writers , is inspired.".

abbagail

Great stuff, Thinker. I have that book right here but would never have read the Forward in a million years. Those are some powerful quotes. It's a keeper, as they say. Thanks for pointing this out.

Grits

6

new wt prophecy

by johnny cip in

i have not heard anyone talk about the new wt prophecy.

they said that millions now living today will never die.

this was on the back page of a wt in 2000 or 2001.. i had a lot of fun with jws with that one.

abbagail

Hi John! I see you finally made it over here. Welcome Newbie!

Old Hippie: I think what John is referring to is: The WTS basically let it be known they would not be making any more "last generation/last days" predictions (at least in print) after their '95 "new light" on the meaning of "generation." But then in either 2000 or 2001, five or six years later, here they are again making a "printed" comment (prediction? prophecy?) that those now living will never die (or whatever it says, as I haven't zeroed in on which mag John is thinking of).

Is that what you are saying, John?

Grits

24

my global statement

by lauralisa in

jw
friends

i am so off this planet.. i have had so much therapy in the past, i dunno, forty years, that it makes me "sick".. i have learned to speak in cognitive-speak.

i have learned to think in cognitive-speak.. i have survived jw-endorsed "therapy": a jw-sanctioned therapist in northern virginia who could "cure" dissociative disorders in just a few sessions.

she learned this technique from the "society" and therefore, did not charge for her services.

abbagail

I don't know you, lauralisa, or your whole story. I hope this is not a suicide note... 'cuz it sure sounds like one. (I've written -and acted upon- several in my own life so The DEEP Pits are not unknown to me). What is your PTSD from? I've got that label, too, but it doesn't affect me so much anymore (not tooo much anyway). I think getting older helps (hormones DO affect the brain chemistry, as I'm sure you know). Are you hooked up at SIlent Lambs (IF that is what your PTSD comes from)? I like hanging out over there myself. It helps. What is a JW-therapist? Never heard of a "bethel-sanctioned" therapist.

I loved your use of the word "whatevered" over and over. ;) So true when one hangs around therapists and shrinks too much. I've been thru 'em all myself, and don't bother with any of them any more. Their opinions never seemed to "hit home," so I just blew them off eventually. Maybe a little vaca away from therapists would help clear the air. (?)

Sounds like you're feeling pretty alone. The worst feelings are "hopelessness" and "despair." Feeling "trapped" is also another killer. I wouldn't wish them on my worst enemy because they truly are deadly. I don't know what to say except I KNOW THE FEELING! Having ONE person who understands The Deep Pits does help. Do you even have ONE person you can talk to? (A friend, not a therapist). When there were no friends to talk to (and as much as I hated it when my Mom would say it when I was "dying" as a teenager), she would say that old cliche, "This Too Shall Pass." And I DESPISED hearing that, because I did not know how to believe it or apply it. But in the last 7-8 years or so, I was Forced to LEARN TO BELIEVE IT (or either overdose again which my body just couldn't take one more time and not 'really die' from it), so I would say that phrase over and over in my head (half praying, half chanting), because I really DID know, somewhere deep inside, that if I could just "Hang On" for a few days, it really WOULD PASS. I came to conclude (in my own case at least) that it is completely physical in nature, triggered by hormonal upheavals, that no damn therapist or doc was ever able to figure out. So I just had to learn to SURVIVE on my own. And Yes, it was TORMENT. And it could still hit me again. Not saying I am safe and free from it forever. But it comes Less and Less as I get older, THANK GOD!

Please come back and tell us more. We're listening.

Love,
Grits

32

Oprah Awards $50,000 to Silent Lambs

by abbagail in

jw
friends

ah ha!!

now that i got your attention.... well, oprah hasn't yet awarded $50,000 to silent lambs, but she very well could if enough of us "nominate" silentlambs (bill/sheila/joe/barbara, et al) for oprah's "use your life award.

" any regular oprah-watchers will know what i'm referring to; that during the season, she presents various individuals (on monday's show each week) with this award for their service to their cause (along with the big fat check)... .

abbagail

Heeeey, mpatrick & sambeli! Thanks for the btt! I was shocked just now when I saw the thread back on Page 1 of "ACTIVE" topics. I know it had drifted all the way back to page 4 or 5, so I figured it was a "done deal."

Jesika did post it to the SL Guestbook, and I think there were about 4 or 5 people there who said they also went to the Oprah site and "nominated" B.Bowen/SL. So, overall, that's more than a dozen writing within a two-day time span, not bad??? (Of course, a few 100 writing in would really do the trick, but what can you do...)

I would think it would be frowned upon to btt it myself now and then, or is it? Not sure what the forum "etiquette" is for something like that. Lemme know, and I'll "btt" this topic once a day if that is allowed???! ;-)

Thanks again sam & mp!
Grits

11

JWs killed in Philippines?

by julien in

jw
friends

i just heard this on the news, has anyone else heard it?

i can't find info about it on the web.

i think they said 6 jws were kidnapped, 2 beheaded now.

abbagail

:-(.....

Toooo Sad. Terrible Terrible Terrible. What is more Satanic that BEHEADING people? That is soooo wicked. The four sisters must be terrified. I don't even want to think what might happen to them.

Prayer time.

Grits

PS: Thanks for posting the update. I would have missed it, since I'm not watching the TV.