Posts by VIII

52

Need some support

by ~Jen~ in

jw
friends

i don't post very often but i'm in need of some support.. i left my husband and the jw's back in the summer.

we have 3 kids and have joint custody of them.. i've spoken to my family once - back in the fall and it was a great conversation - my parents (dad is an elder) said that they just wanted me to be happy however that is.. last week i got a voicemail from my mom saying that she loved me and thought about me every day.

i was so happy.

VIII

Oh, my, I am so sorry you have to hear that. Especially from your Mom who should be there for you.

You have to remember, they are brainwashed and in a cult. They are trying to get you and your children back into the cult. Please be strong for your children, I am sure your children and going through a hard time.

When my parents spilt, I wanted so bad to go with my Dad, he was the one who left the JWs and we got stuck with our JW Mom. I couldn't imagine a more terrible fate than being stuck with a JW parent. As long as your children know that you love them and they don't have to be JWs, I am sure that they will see that there is light. As long as you don't diss their dad either. Try to let them have outside friends so they also see that Worldly people are not evil etc.

As for you EX: When he starts, I would tell him you are going to record what he says to play back to the Judge so you can have full custody. Or, just do it and then tell him you did. Call your attorney and ask what the rules are in your state. Don't let him browbeat you this way. You are not a bad person. You left a CULT. It is not a religion.

Also, get Steve Hassan's book--Combatting Cult Mind Control. He also has a web site which is very good. Type his name in and you'll find all kinds of info and helpful stuff.

If you haven't, try to find counseling in your area. It is also helpful. Family counseling for you and your kids could be long term help, you and they will appreciate down the road.

I wish your Mom was a better Mother. However, the Cult has it's tentacles in very tightly.

Hugs, VIII

32

Okkkkk...you MESS with my kids and you MESS WITH ME JWs!!!

by WuzLovesDubs in

i have soooo had it with these assholes...sooooo had it!!

my daughter who is 19 is pre-engaged to a wonderful 20 year old guy who treats her like a princess.

he lives with us to both help me with the rent and for them to save some money for their future.

VIII

I have to agree with cameo-D.

Look, you know that there is a "...a sickeningly self righteous holier than thou JW elder."

If you actually believe a holier than thou JW Elder is going to let any unmarried, young people sleep in his home, you are delusional. Seriously. Sorry to be blunt, but you need to take a step back and look at it from *his* viewpoint.

He has his position to think about. His reputation. As a leader of the pack of Dubs, he has to uphold all the rules and regulations he imposes upon others. If he lets his step-grand-daughter and her boyfriend come by and stay, he will have to bend the rules for anyone in the Cong who finds out he did it--and they will find out. They always do. He will be a hypocrite.

He won't risk it. His position as an Elder is too important. You have to realize that after being on this board.

As for them sharing a bed and not having sex--you are also delusional. Hopefully they are using protection. At least put some condoms somewhere where they can find them. For their sake and their future. Having kids so young is tough. Some close relatives did and they never finished school etc.

BTW, the sleeping arrangements of people in someone else's home comes up in Dear Abby to Ann Landers to every advice columnist in any US paper. Not having unmarried people sleep together is not a JW thing, nor a religious thing. The people could be 19 or 60. People who have guests in their home just don't want to know that people are having sex in their beds, apparently. Unmarried.

Why, I don't know. However, Motel/Hotel is always an option.

Cutting people out of your life, just over this seems extreme and over the top. Especially if the JW Elder is talking to you and them. I would think long and hard about that. Throwing people away over a *morality* issue, that you claim doesn't exist, should be a last resort.

24

Man smashes 29 TV's at Walmart. Why? Why? Why?

by dissed in

jw
friends

as one who has been wanting a flat screen tv really badly, i took this story very hard.. what would drive someone to such madness?.

my first thought it was 'oldhippie' had seen something on tv he didn't like.

somebody making fun of the geico lizzard and he decided to even the score.

VIII

I want to see the security tape. To fully understand his mindset. Motive says a lot.

And, related to the thread on US Prison Populations, what should happen to a guy like this?

Since Walmart is so hated in America, why would anyone care that he caused $22,000 in damage?

Many on *this* board would cheer that Walmart got what they deserve. And, since some feel that Prisoners (criminals) in America are the new Slave Class, this man will only be used to wash sheets for the Marriott Corp.

So, he should be a hero for blasting Walmart where it hurts, (their bottom line) and the insurers (who many hate for *their* profits) who will have to pay Walmart for the damage he caused.

Basically, he is a hero, yes?

7

Study Links Religion and Racism

by leavingwt in

jw
friends

i must admit that this surprised me.

i've personally never noticed a connection.. .

study links religion and racism.

VIII

I bet if I did a study of *Pots* and asked them how they viewed *Kettles* I could come up with some pretty interesting stats also.

I wonder why they only looked at *Christian* participants and not, say, Muslims?

Interesting how results can be skewed. But, being the *Intelligent* Ex-JWs we all R, we all knew that, didn't we?

*Intelligent* based upon Minimus' lastest definition.

8

Did the "New System" Already Start?

by cameo-d in

according to wt propaganda, did the "new system" officially begin with the (absurd assumption)arrival of jesus in 1914?.

or does it start after the firebombs from the sky as they depict in their wt artwork?.

.

VIII

I've got Windows 7 OS. Does that count?

12

My Aunt's funeral at the Kingdom Hall

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

i couldn't resist posting this good story from cynthia hampton.

http://www.freeminds.org/sociology/women/my-aunt-s-funeral-at-the-kingdom-hall.html.

randy.

VIII

Very sad. Very typical. Very much what I am not looking forward to.

Thanks for posting this. The author did a great job. I hope I can be as clear headed when the time comes.

66

Gerrit Losch (take a look at his pic!)

by asilentone in

jw
friends

how does he keep up with his hairstyle daily?

shampoo?

( alots of hair in between!

VIII

The middle finger ring--easier for all the peeps at Bethel to see when he is flipping them off while sunbathing. In his speedo.

64

Did You Know A Lot Of "Very Intelligent" JWs?

by minimus in

jw
friends

in my lifetime of knowing jehovah's witnesses, i recognized very few as being extremely intelligent.

most seemed to just go along with the program.. i noticed we have a number of "very intelligent" exjws here..

VIII

Since many that I knew/know are *born ins*, intelligence and JWs seems like an oxymoron.

When you are raised as a dub you are discouraged right from the start to think. You are discouraged to think about anything except Armageddon and Paradise. You are discouraged from education which only expands your mind and enhances someones natural abilities. Watchtowers, Awakes, going out in FS, going to the meetings, wearing the proper clothing, not associating with Bad Associationsl, not stumbling someone.

It all becomes too much.

When seemingly *intelligent* people join as adults, well, that is for the psychologists to figure out. There are numerous reasons. Here is a very interesting article from TIME magazine, circa 1979 on why people joined The People's Temple cult.

A cult is a cult. And, make no mistake, the WTBTS is a CULT.

If you are honest and look at people who have joined the JWs and The People's Temple, you can see similarities.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,912251,00.html

As to the main question: I don't think I knew any *Intelligent* JWs. Some were, seemingly, smarter than a 5th grader, however, they wouldn't win on Who wants to be a Millionaire.

14

Why do elders offer to "study" with witnesses?

by donuthole in

jw
friends

has anybody else ever experienced this?

when you get into a bit of trouble in the congregation or have certain questions/doubts over teachings and they want to study with you all over again?

you could have been a witness your whole life, know the bible teach/live forever/knowledge book front to back, even have studied with others and brought them into the religion - and the elder sitting across from you wants to know if a bible study would help you.

VIII

It's not only Elders. My Mom offers, week after week, month after month, year after year. I keep hearing that if only I'd take her up on her offer of a *Free in Home Bible Study* I'd see the Truth for what it Really is and Come Back to Jehovah.

Uh, NO.

I am not interested, nor is my never-a-JW-husband.

She thinks that the offer of a bible study and the mind numbingly dull material will entice me to go back to the Cult. Again, a resounding NO.

Once your brain is lifted out of the liquid, dipping it back into the Watchtower juice ain't gonna happen.

113

Should I walk away from my "underwater" home?

by The Berean in

jw
friends

millions are now facing the dilemma of making house payments on a property that is not worth what is being paid.

.

after originally promising to repay the bank, is there a "moral" obligation to continue in a dwelling, even at a loss ... or is it best to exercise the "legal" right of foreclosure and pay the consequences ?.

VIII

PS, not everyone bought their home without documentation. My loan was a prime loan. Good credit score, full documentation. And I'm upside down. I'm not walking away but others in my situation are. Because through the fault of the financial disaster caused by the banks, their homes are now under water

.

Most people bought their homes with documentation. Unscrupulous mortgage lenders and loan officers were able to get those through on a minority of loans, but enough that it caused a ripple.

Being upside down is because of prices being ran up. I saw it in my own area. People were bidding on homes. Bidding wars were going on for homes, new and used. When prices get artifically inflated because people believe the price is going to keep going up and someone else will pay more for it, this happens.

The banks took a calculated risk in giving out the mortgage. If you are willing to say "Yes, I'm willing to pay $3000.00 per month for my mortgage, yes, I'm willing to sign the house over to you if I don't pay, etc., etc.," the bank will take the risk and give you or anyone who is credit worthy a loan.

There is money to be made for them either way. Whether or not you pay they win.

Don't you all see that? They win. It is all business to them. Busniess. It is not ethics. It is not morals. It is M-O-N-E-Y.

If you held individual stock in those banks, you would want them to be making as much money as possible so you could be making as much money as possible. It is business. It is money.

Money really does make the world go around.