gsark

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Posts by gsark

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  38

  D.A. vs. Slow Fade

  by Black Man in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  which is better in your estimation?

  hit the borg with a d.a.

  letter or do the slow fade.

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  gsark

  For myself, I was df'd and so there was no 'outing method' issues with me. But three of my four children are unbaptised, approved associates and they just faded away, this means they can come back in if they want.

  But my oldest was baptised and married to a Witness whose family are witnesses. They have decided that if they ever left, they would do the 'fading' thing for the simple reason that they can 'come in' any time if a situation warranted it.

  Another advantage is that if you have something to say that is critical of the WTS, being still 'in' has more weight than being df'd, da'd or an 'apostate.' I mean really the WTS can't say that these comments are made by 'disgruntled ex-JW's' when they are still in good standing.

  Another advantage is that 'fading' still gives you access to the most recent literature and doctinal 'truths'.

  Another advantage is that 'fading' gives you access to those who are genuinely sad and searching over present WTS conditions. A 'faded' person is more accessible to someone like this, and in fact they have no one else to go to. Some JW's still 'in' consider this a kind of ministry.

  And lastly, as with substance abuse, domestic violence, unwed teenage pregnancies and a host of other social ills, the best use of time and emotional and other resources is to CATCH THEM YOUNG. Or in the case of JW's CATCH THEM STUDYING. A few well chosen words, slip a Watchtower into their hands, maybe slip them a WT CD-Rom and a 'search word' hint, and it's over before it is started and another one saved.

  But there are always some that just have no emotional resources or support system for such a course; they want out, they need out, for their own sanity. And it most certainly is appropriate, you can't help someone if you're dead!

  Great posting, great thread. Hope to see more like this.

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  16

  Kingdom of the Cults

  by troubled in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i came across the above book while i was browsing in a bookstore.

  since i was on my lunch hour, i could not read it fully, but did quickly look over the information.

  it spent a great deal of time discussing matters pertaining to russell.

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  gsark

  Troubled, my dear..

  1) You are currently a Jehovah's Witness

  2) Anything you read that is critical of Jehovah's Witnesses is going to feel unconfortable. This is the way it is. That's called being human. Nobody here on this board can help you with that aspect of gaining new knowledge. We all went through it as well.

  3) This is a good place to come and share your FEEELINGS concerning what you are reading. I too went to Randy's site and didn't read it all at once, I had to stop to cry once in a while. I couldn't finish Crises of Conscious or Blood on the Altar all the way through at once because I had to stop and cry once in a while.

  4) Such is the price for personal growth.

  I wish you well. I enjoy your postings

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  15

  Question on WT and Rape...Help Please..

  by gsark in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  awake!

  awake!

  awake!

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  gsark

  wasa...I guess that's why JW's are developing the reputation of being a 'cult'. That's quite a feat of mind control isn't it?

  In any case it doesn't look as tho I can help her. Of the four kids I raised 'in the truth' (translation: dragged down with me)three are out and I guess it's time to be grateful for them. As far as the last one (she was the oldest and therefore was 'in' the longest) I just have to pray, like so many others on this board with family 'in'.

  Thank you wasa, and all you others, for your wonderful support.

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  11

  Wife in Surgery

  by Yerusalyim in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  prayers and thoughts for my wife, liza, who is undergoing a hysterectomy today.. she has fibrodal tumors and cysts in her uterus, she gets to keep her ovaries (thank god).. yeru (who gets cut off for six weeks).

  yerusalyim.

  "vanity!

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  gsark

  You both are in my prayers. God Bless!

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  26

  Domestic Violence?

  by alamb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  has anyone ever addressed the incidence of domestic violence in witness families?

  i am relatively new here and don't want to cover old ground.. thinking back, i can name multiple examples of households in each congregation i attended where domestic violence was evident.. i have an active protective order against my ex.

  who is still active in the congregation he attends.

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  gsark

  Hey, Alamb, i am glad you and others like you are 'out of it' as well. And now here you are with us.

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  15

  Question on WT and Rape...Help Please..

  by gsark in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  awake!

  awake!

  awake!

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  gsark

  A quick note first to say thank you to everyone on this board for the months of support and friendship, and for putting up with all of my ranting/raving postings. I am in your debt always.

  I apologize in advance for the length of this post, and for the depressing subject.

  Situation I was raped in 1989, and because I did not resist my attacker (and lived) I was df'd in view of the WT position at the time.

  This is the History of the WT view toward rape as far as I could find it.

  WT 1-15-64 scream
  WT 6-1-68 scream
  Aid to Bible Understanding, 1969, 1971 don't scream
  Awake! 3-8-74 scream
  Awake! 7-8-80 don't scream
  WT 10-15-80 scream
  WT 3-15-83 don't scream
  Awake! 2-22-84 scream
  Awake! 6-8-84 don't scream and scream
  Awake! 5-22-86 scream
  Insight on the Scriptures, 1988 don't scream
  Awake! 3-8-93 don't scream

  As you can see, my assault in 1989 placed me right in between 'screaming' in 1986 and 'not screaming' in 1993. (I guess the Insight book was ignored by my elders, oh WELL that's so NEW) I thought by 1999 things had settled once and for all, for crying out loud. Because I have one child still 'in' the org, I sought reinstatement, and the elders said "fine, just come to meetings and all will be forgotten."

  Well I wasn?t ready to "forget" and so just simply didn?t attend meetings regularly. I was aware also that the WT has a poor history of accepting back new-light/old-light disenfranchised ones such as myself. Better for them if people like me just stay out.

  Last night I did research, and found this;

  WT 12/15/98 This exemplifies that when it comes to money and material things, victims of robbery who do not resist may reduce the likelihood of injury.

  And a footnote; There are, of course, limits to cooperation. Jehovah's servants do not cooperate in any way that violates God's law. For example, a Christian would not willingly submit to rape.

  translation: scream!

  I had wondered why the elders hadn't called at my home at all in over two years in spite of some meeting attendance, now I know why. Since I had objected to the Society's stance at my df'ing hearing, that makes me (this year SO FAR) at the least an unrepentant fornicator and at most a quasi/fullblown apostate.

  QUESTION:
  My WT CD-ROM only goes to 1999, does anyone know if this is the newest present 'light' or have there been more changes even yet? Because if this is the latest WT stance, I?m going to sit through meetings for 6 months to a year for NOTHING. I wouldn't be reinstated untill the policy changes again, if even then. Any insights would be appreciated.

  Thanks in advance, Gsark

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  42

  Are't You Sick of This??

  by Explorer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  aren't you sick of being filled with so much hate ?

  i think hate is one of the greatest sins.

  satan hates jehovah, and his people.

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  gsark

  Hello Explorer, a good point but...

  You put up a nice big post about 'hate' but never define 'hate'.

  Care to take a shot at it? We've all taken the time and mental energy to read your post and some of us responded, care to respond back?

  of the waiting with bated breath class..
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  42

  Disfellowship?????????????????????

  by tattoogrl333 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  today's study topic included disfellowship.

  i'm a little confused i was told that the only way you can be disfellowshipped was if you did something you knew went agains jehovah and would not repent for it.

  but the only person you can repent to is jehovah......... then i was told that the elders can however "keep the flock pure" b/c if jehovah is not happy with the congregation he can take his holy spirit away.

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  gsark

  this thread WILL keep going on.

  Tatoogirl represents what is wrong with many religious organizations past, present, and future. Fresh ideas, zealousness and youthful energy. Minds that are inquisitive, to new ideas, adaptive to new ideas and unafraid to ask questions.

  Tatoogirl also represents everything that is right about this board and the reasons that this board works. It is our differences without divisions that make what we do here so effective.

  You go girl!

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  8

  Disfellowshipping on Trial

  by joelbear in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the issue of the responsibility of elders in jehovah's witness congregations is under discussion on several threads currently.. what i really believe should be on trial here is the whole idea of a group of men being set up to make such extremely serious decisions regarding the lives of others.. by discouraging the use of professionals to assist in psychological matters, family matters, and most seriously matters of abuse, the watchtower society brings much responsibility for its actions and their affects onto itself.. tattoogirl addresses this on another thread.

  can men judge men?

  can janitors and laborers and accountants help an abused woman or child by reading them a few scriptures?.

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  gsark

  Good Going, JoelBear

  Biblical scholarship aside, the results of one of the most failed social experiments inside an american religios organization should, in and of itself, attest to its unscripturalness.

  For if disfellowshipping/shunning was effective, what are WE all doing here...

  Hee Hee....

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!
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  6

  Copright question about the Society

  by ExmormonRobertson in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i just recieved the watchtower cd rom today and did a search on mormons.

  i found some very funny stuff i would like to reprint on my web site.

  does the watchtower society come after people hard when someone reprints their articles?

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  gsark

  "Unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this program, or any portion of it, is illegal, dishonest, and unfair.

  If the 'Society' says this on their published material, and yet it is legal/fair/ to use their material, aren't they making a blatantly false statement? In other words, a lie?

  Life is a roller coaster. Get in, sit down, shut up and hang on!