Posts by Sugar Shane

57

Elder Mentioning an "Apostate Problem"

by Simon Templar in

i bumped into a sister that i have known for at least 40 years or so.

we were catching up.

she and her husband have been in the truth for decades.

Sugar Shane

Just slightly off-topic, but what would the ELDubs do if, as a NON-JW, I were to partake of the grapejuice at their 'Memorial?'

They couldn't do a damn thing, could they? It's an open event, where the public is encouraged to attend, so I'm sure it happens from time-to-time.

What if I had family in? Would a wife or sibling who is JW get disciplined for letting such 'worldly' dip-sh!t partake?

My own interpretation would be that Jesus said, "do this in remeberance of me." He didn't single out anyone, as far as I can tell. Furthermore, in Matthew 26, Jesus says, "Do this, ALL of you," (not SOME of you).

Anyway, I figure there would be a hushed silence, followed by some whispering and clearing of throats. A bit like adults reacting to a toddler standing up and saying "aw, f*ck."

What say you?

34

How far will they go?

by careful in

i've been drawing back lately and looking at the big picture going on in the org, somewhat like slimboyfat has also been doing, but i am wondering about different possibilities.

so the current gb has modernized recently in various ways.

they have done a strong and sudden about-face regarding the electronic world, from viewing the whole thing suspiciously and condemning bros. use tablets from the platform to suddenly embracing them and causing the r&f to do so to such a degree that old ones are spending hundreds of dollars to buy devices that they have no clue how to use; they have heavily embraced this media for their message, very much like the churches have been doing for years, especially with their jw broadcasting and their caleb and sophia animations.

Sugar Shane

I know it sounds far fetched, but any chance things will get so bad they'll just go "Jim Jones" on everyone?

It'd be hard to pull off large scale, across the whole world, I'd think. But maybe isolated pockets here and there would decide to 'pass the plate,' whereby EVERYONE partakes of the 'wine/special kool-aid.' I shudder to think of such a thing, but that Tony Morris guy seems like just the type to push something like that on JWTV. Especially if things get really bad, such as more lawsuits, daily media exposure all over the news (including CNN's Nancy Grace), desperate mass sell-offs, signs of discontent and a gradual splntering of the Org into other sects.

Any thoughts on this?

45

Don't know what to do

by looter in

jw
friends

i'm in a crazy situation.

about a year ago, i was going to get baptized.

it was all planned and arranged until ttatt was learned.

Sugar Shane

To whomever gave me the negative rating, I was simply adding to what Wing Commander said. Not trying to persuade the poster to actually JOIN or not. Simply trying to lay out the seriousness of such a decision. Too many recruits join for all the wrong reasons, then end up getting separated during basic for 'inability to adapt.'

The military is a serious commitment & serious business. Just ask the sailors detained by Iran. Yeah, the perks are nice-no doubt about that. Just make sure it's what you REALLY wanna do. Basic/boot is like jumping on a speeding train. There's no 'trying it out first' unless ur ROTC Freshman thru Sophomore.

Don't like the message? Fine, don't sign up. If it's something that appeals to you, you might look up Jason and Joel Woodliff. These brothers were raised as JWs, but joined the Marines after 9/11. Their story was in the nat'l news, and I think they came from Ohio. They were motivated by the attacks, and did what they felt was right. Apparently, some of the other Marines' families virtually made these brothers their own. A very touching story. I'm not sure what became of them, but I'm sure that with social media & all the people on this site, someone might know something. Godspeed.

67

elders wife swapping question

by unstopableravens in

i hear of these stories of elders swapping wives, i remember when i was young hearing of three elders in florida doing this and getting dfed.

my question is this how is it possible to bring this up in conversation?

it seems impossible, how can there be multi elders that know each other willing and the wives?

Sugar Shane

Bump

45

Don't know what to do

by looter in

jw
friends

i'm in a crazy situation.

about a year ago, i was going to get baptized.

it was all planned and arranged until ttatt was learned.

Sugar Shane

The military idea is a good one...but, only go in once you've tied up any and all loose ends back home. You don't want any distractions or second thoughts to cloud your mind when you're getting in formation at 0500 for PT, or learning to clean the M-16A2 rifle with only 4 hours of sleep because you were on CQ the night before. Read up on the various branches, and buddy-up with those who have been there. Ask questions. Read up on some of the history (a few historically accurate movies are out there too). Get MOTIVATED about it. Join because you really WANT to be a soldier/sailor/airman/Marine, NOT just because you want to get away from home, or want college money---though those might be underlying reasons. Navy? Get the Bluejacket Manual & learn it now. Army? Get the "Smartbook" & learn it now. You'll get to see the world & get in shape, but Club Med it ain't. Be ready to go in with a can-do attitude and not look back. You'll be surrounded by a new family, with shipmates/buddies for life.

BTW--you might check out the Guard's RSP program. It'll bring you up to speed & get you motivated BEFORE you ship to basic. My 2 cents.

17

How could i have ever let myself get involved with this cult? pains me when i think about it.

by goingthruthemotions in

when i think about where i am at now in my life, in my marriage, with my kids.

why did i get involved with this cult?

i have brought out the cult personality in my wife and there no turning her back.

Sugar Shane

Regarding the divorce option, I'd prefer that route over living with all the tension, day after day. That said, I would only do it if the odds of custody were in my favor. If the best I could get was every other weekend with kids, or something like that, then "hell no" I wouldn't go that route. It's all about the kids at this point, and making sure they don't get fully indoctrinated.

I made am ultimatum with my wife (she's JW and I'm not) in which I was fully prepared to go through divorce if she didn't back off trying to get the kids baptised, ect. I meant it, and the ball was completely in her court if she wanted to stay together. She backed down, but I'm still keeping an eye on her. Btw, my older kid sees the TRUTH about 'the troof' now, and doesn't want to get baptised. I also made clear that any baptism decision MUST go through ME, as head of houshold according to Watchtower's own writings. Otherwise, we're back to the 'nuclear option' of divorce...er private arbitration in my case (my wife doesn't want to make a scene in front of her family). Setting the ultimatum isn't fun, but since she sees everything in black & white, I found I had to dish it right back. It's the only language she understands...like the US Prez dealing with North Korea.

Questions:

1) Are you the sole breadwinner? Or main one?

2) Do you, or others on this board feel that given all the negative publicity surrounding the JWs child-abuse policies, shunning, ect., that your chances of custody are improved in a divorce court?

3) Given the cutbacks, and money grabbing, are the congregations still going to great lengths to defend fellow JWs in divorce cases? If so, how would they fare against some of the law-firms/consultants which specialize in defending the non-JW parent?

22

A lot of "forbidden" talk is going on among witnesses

by nevaagain in

jw
friends

me and my wife are still "in".

we had the "talk" a couple of times, but shet is not ready to leave yet.

while a couple of years ago she started crying on the thought that i am an "apostate" and even gave me an ultimatum until she would rat me out to the elders (never happened), now i sense that she might is a little bit more open to the the thought to leave one day .... anyway, all out friends and family are still in the truth and whenever we are meeting with other witnesses topic #1 is always the recent changes to the meetings / conventions (reduced to one day) which always lead to the changes to the magazines and the recent lay offs of the special pioneers and bethelites.

Sugar Shane

Is it possible that some congregation members are sending anonymous emails to elders/COs concerning all the problems the Watchtower is facing??

I know that in the business world, employees will sound off in such a way when they want to force an issue, without blowing their cover. I've actually seen this firsthand. This is especially so when there is no union protection. It appears the average JW has no 'whistle-blower' protection in such a high-control religious sect.

So, could that be happening on a large scale? Let's say you have just one or two individuals in each cong, sending out regular (or not so regular) mass emails from an anonymous account? While most hardcore JWs would immediately disregard it, there must be some who think about it. For example, if you just sent out a video of people dancin' in the KH, followed with a simple comment like, "So...I don't know about you Brother ______, but I'm kinda wondering where we're headed with all this. We're starting to look like the Pentecostals." Such a remark might catch on and go contagious throughout the KH, I would think.

You'd have to send it to enough people, I'd think. Otherwise, Elder X or Elder Y might just ignore it & it wouldn't get anywhere.

Any thoughts?

10

2015-12-2-BOE/Memorial Songs!

by Atlantis in

2015-12-2-boe.. .re: new songs for memorial .click the green download button.. http://wwwb.fileflyer.com/view/u8bdzb2.

..wtunderground!.

Sugar Shane

So...what date would they normally READ this letter to congregations?

I'm just wondering how early this leak is...and to what extent your average J-dub would be confused/perplexed/freaked-out if presented with this info by a worldly person such as myself.

Would my JW friends & fam be like, "what the.....how did you....now, wait a minute..."

Meanwhile, I'd just smile & say..."I just know stuff...let's just keep it at that."

35

2015 November 19, BOE! Circuit Account Balances!

by Atlantis in

delete if already posted.. .

2015-november 19, boe.

.. re: review of circuit account balances.

Sugar Shane

Does anyone have the US version of this letter?

I'd like to send it to all the elders at my spouse's KH. Bwahahaha!!!

24

WT March 15, 2016 - Kids pressured toward baptism again

by Designer Stubble in

the study wt of march 2016 is up on jw.org and is the standard article around this time of year...pressuring young kids to dedicate their lives to the organization again.

this wt will be studied during may, so just in time to pressure them into baptism at the regional conventions this summer.such articles really upset me, as the realization of how many young promising lives will be destroyed.

how many families will be broken up, when the child who got baptized as a minor (ages 6 and up are mentioned in the literature) decides as a young adult that his/her conscience no longer allows him/her to be part of such a destructive cult.

Sugar Shane

Bottom line for me, as a non-JW with a JW wife, I plan to approach one of the main elders and nip this in the bud. He's the same guy who previously sent me WT materials which AFFIRMED my 'headship' according to their own rules, despite my being a 'non-believer.' Now, it looks like I'm going to have to fire off a warning shot, by reminding him of my headship, and that ANY decision to baptize, MUST GO THROUGH ME FIRST....PERIOD.

I would expect that he would comply, based on the publications he previously sent me. But, I'm also aware of the contradictory double-talk they are so good at. So, I could almost imagine them trying to baptize my kid behind my back, based on some OTHER WT publication.

Anyone have any experience with this, and know what to expect from this guy? If any of you have been in a similar position, OR if you've been an elder/CO, then your input would be helpful. Thanks.