Posts by Grout

22

WOL: Free to remarry

by Moxy in

jw
friends

dont know if anyone pointed this thread out already or not but its pretty fascinating.

the incredible number of posts in a short time in what is normally a pretty slow forum shows how difficult a situation this for witnesses.

there are so many interesting and wacky comments being made there, you'll just have to read it for yourself.. http://www.witnessesonline.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/witnessesonline/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000092.

Grout

Esmeralda: Your experience rings many bells with me. My stepfather was concerned only with control of his new show family. And, when that control failed -- in no small part due to his molesting my sisters -- he became focussed solely on how the divorce would play out in the court of congregation opinion.

One silver lining in the otherwise pitch-black cloud of JW handling of child molesters: As of a few years ago, no molester can ever serve in any official capacity in the congregation, no matter how "repentant" he is or how much time has passed. It does my heart good to know that that S.O.B. ex-stepfather has cut himself off forever from his lifetime goal of elderhood.

7

With a Bang or a Whimper?

by Grout in

jw
friends

i'm pondering whether to go back to my congregation of record and make an issue of my departure, or just carry on with my new and happy non-jw life.. i'm sure that there are many here who have followed each of these paths.. what advice would you offer?

Grout

LDH1, thank you for your comment. But I can't really do what you did. You see, I stopped going in field service for about a year before I finally decided to quit. No one in any KH has seen me for a long time, and the most recent KH I attended hardly got to know my name because I had just moved in when I finally dropped out.

(I had serious problems getting motivated. Consider: If God is just, then each person's survival depends on only his actions and character. Therefore, whether other people live or die can't possibly depend on me. So, what's the big deal with field service? If I don't go, and someone has to go, won't God arrange for it to happen? I asked a C.O. about that once; he got all flustered, almost frightened, and basically told me to get back to work. Thanks heaps.)

22

WOL: Free to remarry

by Moxy in

jw
friends

dont know if anyone pointed this thread out already or not but its pretty fascinating.

the incredible number of posts in a short time in what is normally a pretty slow forum shows how difficult a situation this for witnesses.

there are so many interesting and wacky comments being made there, you'll just have to read it for yourself.. http://www.witnessesonline.com/cgi-bin/cgiwrap/witnessesonline/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=6&t=000092.

Grout

In theory, two witnesses are required to prove a charge of adultery.

7

With a Bang or a Whimper?

by Grout in

jw
friends

i'm pondering whether to go back to my congregation of record and make an issue of my departure, or just carry on with my new and happy non-jw life.. i'm sure that there are many here who have followed each of these paths.. what advice would you offer?

Grout

I'm pondering whether to go back to my congregation of record and make an issue of my departure, or just carry on with my new and happy non-JW life.

I'm sure that there are many here who have followed each of these paths.

What advice would you offer?

19

poll? is the u.n./wtbts issue your last straw?

by zev in

jw
friends

is it your last straw?.

its my last straw.

reading that letter from the u.n. has sealed it for me.

Grout

Disclaimer: I am NOT a lawyer.

"Actionable offense" = "something that gives you a cause of action against them". That is, it's something that if you take them to court and you win, they have to pay you damages.

And, no, I am not sure whether this legal theory has been tested in court. That's why I didn't suggest you take them to court, only to bring the issue up and scare 'em a bit.

Mind you, I personally believe that this is a sound principle, and as such I'm looking forward, if necessary, to testing it in court with regard to myself (I was dunked at 14). But since I am NOT a lawyer, I strongly suggest you consult a lawyer before taking any legal actions of any kind.

17

Blow Out

by LittleToe in

jw
friends

what's the most impressive way you've seen someone da themselves?.

alternatively, if you had your time again, how would you have done it?.

(not that i'm inciting to riot, officer, honest!

Grout

Darn, I almost want to join a Ministry School just so I could do the Trojan Talk.

Next best thing: Show up for a WT Study and give a comment that tells the truth.

19

poll? is the u.n./wtbts issue your last straw?

by zev in

jw
friends

is it your last straw?.

its my last straw.

reading that letter from the u.n. has sealed it for me.

Grout

Disclaimer: IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer).

Don't forget that DFing is an actionable offense by the JW organization unless you were baptized as an adult. Children can't enter into legally binding contracts. If you, like I, were baptized as a minor, then the JW org has no legal right to harm you in any way ... including by separating you from your friends and family. Reminding the committee of this fact might help you get them off your ass.

Disclaimer: IANAL (I Am Not A Lawyer).

13

Suggestion for GB to deal with current situation

by GermanXJW in

jw
friends

the current world situation and the wt dealings with the un result in some bigger problems the wt leadership has to solve.. firstly, the war.

an event as big as the attack on the wtc so that people say this has been an historic event comparable to the events of 1914: if this has not been prophecied in the scriptures what should be expected to be?

the wt's only chance is an application of the "pushing" between the king of the south and the king of the north.

Grout

A more realistic thing to hope for is that they will continue to proclaim they have the one true religion, but *in practice* will permit members to carry on relatively normal lives.

There is another theory which states that this has already happened:
* Higher education pretty much OK now
* Blood fractions OK ... further loosening inevitable
* Assemblies max three days long; in the olden times they were NINE days long
* Continuous reductions in hour requirements for pioneering

etc. Sadly, though this is a wonderful opportunity to "come clean", that's something I don't expect to see until the current crop of gerontocrats are completely out of power.

12

Blame it on the Dead Guy

by metatron in

jw
friends

how to fix the organization.. just like the iran-contra scandal!

blame it on the dead guy!.

this is a perfect opportunity to come clean and reform the.

Grout

If they didn't blame Franz for 1975, they're sure not going to blame anyone for the UN. At least, not anyone they like.

19

poll? is the u.n./wtbts issue your last straw?

by zev in

jw
friends

is it your last straw?.

its my last straw.

reading that letter from the u.n. has sealed it for me.

Grout

No, this wasn't my last straw. My last straw was biology. While it may be possible to fit modern biology into some semi-Christian theology, it sure wouldn't be JW theology.

Once you know that Adam was not specially created but that we are all cousins to all living things on Earth, the whole religious house of cards comes tumbling down.

However! I have high hopes that the UN debacle may turn out to be the last straw for my wife ... and possibly even for my mother, who has been hanging on to the JW organization even though it covered for the man who molested her daughters, my sisters. I'm not sure I can persuade her, though. I'm pondering whether to give it the old college try.
--
Chip Salzenberg: Free-Floating Agent of Chaos