I'm wondering what prompted you to ask...
startingovernow
JoinedPosts by startingovernow
-
8
Is it easier to recover from physical abuse or mental abuse?
by The Berean inor are the two connected?.
-
-
-
11
craig fergussion just now...he went on about cedar point ohio????
by oompa inin his intro it was.....somebody in the audience was from sandusky me thinks she said......and he went on how that was near cedarpoint......several times he mentioned it?....wtf???........oompa.
well damm...i just edited this after a google........and it says cedar is the roller coaster capital of the world???????
?.........geeze learn something new everday...and ya......i love coasters..........
-
-
startingovernow
There is a picture there with the caption, 'Russelites.'
-
17
Has there been a JW Facebook directive?
by Gregor inor is it just the usual internet cautions?.
i have an jw aunt who abruptly de activated her fb account yesterday..
-
-
startingovernow
thebigdebate,
For some reason that me me laugh!
-
381
Were you or someone you know sexually molested by a Jehovah's Witness ?
by flipper indue to the fact there are about 27,000 members of this religion that are known pedophiles, and the information about it is kept in a secret database file, i wonder how many lurking jw's as well as others are aware of the severity of this problem?
remember, it's 27,000 pedophiles that they know about.
what about the thousands that don't get caught?
-
-
startingovernow
I wish I knew for sure. There was a wife of a prominent elder who was abused by a family member. I don't know if that family member was a JW or not. At the time I didn't think to ask, since I wasn't raised in the religion and thought it was a safe place to be. This woman, understandably, was pretty screwed up. She had an eating disorder as a result of her abuse and she did not speak to those that were not members of her family or specially select few people of choice. Any rudeness or inappropriate behavior as an elder's wife to people like me was excused by her past. I went through a lot of inappropriate unscriptural handling of things by this family and it always came back to excusing them because of her abuse, which I tried to do. I only wish I had considered the bigger picture of things. If I had considered that the relative had been a JW, I would have hopefully started to question the organization, instead of being bogged down with just a few people. My excusing a few people for their "imperfection" is what kept me in physically and emotionally for way to long. If I had known what goes on behind closed doors of the organizational directives, I would have hoped I'd had the sense to leave long ago.
Years later I did hear gossip of someone who had been abused by a M.S. The sister telling me related the account in such a way that I did not know what to think or believe. She told me about a girl she knew who said she was abused by another JW, and then smiled and said in a sing-song tone, "he's still a brother today." I remember being confused and disturbed, but by that time I had heard so many stories by JWs I didn't know what was true or not, and the fact that "he was still a brother" indicated to me that the sister was implying that it was the girl who was making things up. Boy, oh boy. This was after the Dateline show, which I missed. I'm so sad that I was part of an organization that let's abuse go on while claiming that no matter what may happen, "Jehovah will take care of it in the end." This discussion is making me think back to the sister that related the story. She knew the girl personally. I don't know how someone who was directly told they had been abused could be OK with it, go on being a JW, and then gossiping about it like it was just like any other story...
-
8
Show your blood card and get a ....?
by startingovernow ini am trying to remember for what reason i had to show my blood card at a dc in the early 90's.
the only reason it sticks out to me is i remember the comment being made from the podium that many of the cards of jws were not in fact signed, and therefore would not offer "protection.
" the fact that some jws did not have their card signed is of interest to me too (after all, why bother having it if you don't sign it?
-
-
startingovernow
Ah, thanks again...you sound like a wealth of information, could have used someone like you many years ago!
-
1
Yearbook gift disguised as request for money
by startingovernow ini admit it, i used to love reading the yearbook.
when i got one i would have it read in about 3 days.
so imagine my joy when a bethelite asked me if i would like him to send me a copy before they were released to the general population of jws.
-
-
startingovernow
I admit it, I used to love reading the Yearbook. When I got one I would have it read in about 3 days. So imagine my joy when a Bethelite asked me if I would like him to send me a copy before they were released to the general population of JWs. Of course I said I would like that very much. What I didn't know, is that it is customary for those receiving such Yearbooks to give a personal "donation" to the Bethelite who gave it to them. Of course, even if I had known this, I had no money to give. Imagine my surprise when the next year came along and I had to wait for my Yearbook just like everybody else. While I secretly envied other JWs who had Yearbooks mailed to them before I got a copy, I am not sad to have the expectation of giving money to something that was disguised as a gift.
-
8
Show your blood card and get a ....?
by startingovernow ini am trying to remember for what reason i had to show my blood card at a dc in the early 90's.
the only reason it sticks out to me is i remember the comment being made from the podium that many of the cards of jws were not in fact signed, and therefore would not offer "protection.
" the fact that some jws did not have their card signed is of interest to me too (after all, why bother having it if you don't sign it?
-
-
startingovernow
Ah, thank you! I thought it had something to do with the Proclaimers book. Although you've confused me even more. I remember distinctly standing in line, but I had not been baptized for 10 years at that point. Did they specify the 10 years before they had us get in line? I would think I would remember standing in line and not getting a book...
-
8
Show your blood card and get a ....?
by startingovernow ini am trying to remember for what reason i had to show my blood card at a dc in the early 90's.
the only reason it sticks out to me is i remember the comment being made from the podium that many of the cards of jws were not in fact signed, and therefore would not offer "protection.
" the fact that some jws did not have their card signed is of interest to me too (after all, why bother having it if you don't sign it?
-
-
startingovernow
I am trying to remember for what reason I had to show my blood card at a DC in the early 90's. The only reason it sticks out to me is I remember the comment being made from the podium that many of the cards of JWs were not in fact signed, and therefore would not offer "protection." The fact that some JWs did not have their card signed is of interest to me too (after all, why bother having it if you don't sign it?), but I'll start a new post on that
Anyone remember this, and what specifically was given after your blood card was checked?
-
381
Were you or someone you know sexually molested by a Jehovah's Witness ?
by flipper indue to the fact there are about 27,000 members of this religion that are known pedophiles, and the information about it is kept in a secret database file, i wonder how many lurking jw's as well as others are aware of the severity of this problem?
remember, it's 27,000 pedophiles that they know about.
what about the thousands that don't get caught?
-
-
startingovernow
Wow. The blog that is meant to "expose" Silent Lambs is beyond sad. They choose sentences from the WT that make it appear that the WT encourages abuse victims to report the crime. Truth is, when the entire subheading is read, it's shown that trying to apply what the WT is saying leads to doubt and confusion for the victim.
***
w9511/1pp.27-29ComfortforThoseWitha“StrickenSpirit”***
What
oftheAlleged
Abuser?
A person who actually abuses a child sexually is a rapist and should be viewed as such. Anyone victimized in this way has the right to accuse his abuser. Still, an accusation should not be made hastily if it is based solely on “repressed memories” of abuse. In this case the most important thing is for the sufferer to regain a degree of emotional stability. After the passage of some time, he may be in a better position to assess the “memories” and decide what, if anything, he wants to do about them.
Consider the case of Donna. She reportedly had eating disorders and went to a counselor—apparently one of dubious competence. Soon she was accusing her father of incest and he was taken to court. The jury was deadlocked, so the father did not go to prison, but he was left with $100,000 in legal bills. Then, after all that, Donna told her parents that she no longer believed that the abuse happened!
Wisely, Solomon said: “Do not go forth to conduct a legal case hastily.” (Proverbs 25:8) If there is some valid reason to suspect that the alleged perpetrator is still abusing children, a warning may have to be given. The congregation elders can help in such a case. Otherwise, take your time. Eventually, you may be content to let the matter drop. If, though, you want to confront the alleged perpetrator (after first assessing how you would feel about the possible responses), you have a right to do so.
During the time that the one experiencing “memories” is healing, awkward situations may arise. For example, an individual may have vivid mental images of being molested by someone he or she sees every day. No rules can be laid down for handling this. “Each one will carry his own load.” (Galatians 6:5) Sometimes one may feel that a relative or a member of one’s immediate family is involved. Remember the dubious nature of some “repressed memories” when it comes to identifying the one suspected of being a perpetrator. In such a situation, as long as the matter has not been firmly established, keeping contact with the family—at least by occasional visits, by letter, or by telephone—would show that one is trying to follow a Scriptural course.—Compare Ephesians 6:1-3.
What
CanEldersDo?
If the elders are approached by a member of the congregation who is experiencing flashbacks or “repressed memories” of child abuse, two of them are usually assigned to help. These elders should kindly encourage the afflicted one to focus for the time being on coping with the emotional distress. The names of any “remembered” abusers should be kept in strict confidence.
The elders’ primary task is to act as shepherds. (Isaiah 32:1, 2; 1 Peter 5:2, 3) They should be especially careful to “clothe [themselves] with the tender affections of compassion, kindness, lowliness of mind, mildness, and long-suffering.” (Colossians 3:12) Let them listen in a kindly way and then apply healing words from the Scriptures. (Proverbs 12:18) Some who are afflicted with painful “memories” have expressed appreciation for elders who make regular visits or even telephone calls to check to see how they are doing. Such contacts need not take a lot of time, but they show that Jehovah’s organization cares. When the afflicted one realizes that his Christian brothers truly love him, he may be helped to recover a considerable degree of emotional balance.
What if the sufferer decides that he wants to make an accusation? Then the two elders can advise him that, in line with the principle at Matthew 18:15, he should personally approach the accused about the matter. If the accuser is not emotionally able to do this face-to-face, it can be done by telephone or perhaps by writing a letter. In this way the one accused is given the opportunity to go on record before Jehovah with his answer to the accusation. He may even be able to present evidence that he could not have committed the abuse. Or perhaps the one accused will confess, and a reconciliation may be achieved. What a blessing that would be! If there is a confession, the two elders can handle matters further in accordance with Scriptural principles.
If the accusation is denied, the elders should explain to the accuser that nothing more can be done in a judicial way. And the congregation will continue to view the one accused as an innocent person. The Bible says that there must be two or three witnesses before judicial action can be taken. (2 Corinthians 13:1; 1 Timothy 5:19) Even if more than one person “remembers” abuse by the same individual, the nature of these recalls is just too uncertain to base judicial decisions on them without other supporting evidence. This does not mean that such “memories” are viewed as false (or that they are viewed as true). But Bible principles must be followed in establishing a matter judicially.
What if the one accused—though denying the wrongdoing—is really guilty? Does he “get away with it,” as it were? Certainly not! The question of his guilt or innocence can be safely left in Jehovah’s hands. “The sins of some men are publicly manifest, leading directly to judgment, but as for other men their sins also become manifest later.” (1 Timothy 5:24; Romans 12:19; 14:12) The book of Proverbs says: “The expectation of the righteous ones is a rejoicing, but the very hope of the wicked ones will perish.” “When a wicked man dies, his hope perishes.” (Proverbs 10:28; 11:7) Ultimately, Jehovah God and Christ Jesus render everlasting judgment in justice.—1 Corinthians 4:5.
-
-
-
startingovernow
You have a pm...