Posts by Cadellin

40

What finally helped you to peek behind the curtain

by UnshackleTheChains in

i'm interested in finding out what it was that finally enabled you to open your eyes to the real truth of watchtower.

what started me thinking, was the societys very own book...' 'revelation..it's grand climax at hand'.

i found that book farcicle.

Cadellin

I can relate to so many of the moments already described, but the first inkling came when I was about 20. I've always loved science and was so excited when the bright turquoise "Creation" book was released, especially since so much of it was backed up by REAL SCIENCE in the form of QUOTES. In particular, Carl Sagan's book Cosmos was quoted, something to the effect that the fossil record could be consistent with a Designer. Only, I looked up the actual quote and found that it was a partial quote, that what Sagan was really saying was that the fossil record was consistent with a capricious, unpredictable, destructive kind of Designer. Not exactly what the WT was saying. I was able to stifle my shock and carry on like a good minion, pioneering for years, marrying an elder, until I was in my late 30's and I thought--I need to look into that again. I started researching everything about creation vs. evolution, Noachian flood, etc. and well, when you actually start looking at real science, everything pretty much falls apart.

This site was invaluable as well, as Leolaia was posting then, some truly scholarly and eye-opening stuff.

25

Stuck

by Cindy in

i feel so stuck.

i am married to a wonderful man.

i have been married for almost a decade and adore my husband.

Cadellin

Hi, Cindy:

I was in/am in exactly your shoes. I discovered TTATT and it was a devastating shocker to me. My husband is an elder and fairly zealous but not unbalanced. Essentially, I just did a very long, slow fade and here I am, inactive for about eight years and never happier! We kept out marriage together and just agreed to disagree. In fact, my husband helped me in my fade by running interference between me and elders who wanted to "talk" to me (we know what that means). So I never had to face official questions or anything like that.

It's hard--don't get me wrong. I let my field service time dwindle, as you are doing, right down to an hour a month and then, one August, I just didn't turn one in. And guess what? Nothing happened. About two years later, we moved to a different state and that made everything even easier.

The point is, you WILL get through this. It is quite possible to make a happy life for yourself and keep your marriage intact. And coming here and getting support is part of that.

137

Mouthy has Passed Away

by Simon in

jw
friends

update on mouthy (grace gough)this is graces granddaughter.

i wanted to send an update that today my beautiful grandmother passed away - surrounded by friends and family.

- may 22 1927 - sept 2nd 2016. mouthys_granddaughter.

Cadellin

We have lost so many this past year. Dear Mouthy.

46

"You will never grow old in this present system of things" -- some campaign tools

by FatFreek 2005 in

i am approaching 76 years old.

i can clearly recall that awake!

statement and similar during the pre-1975 hype -- "staying alive in '75", et al.

Cadellin

And yet, if you raise the failed 1914 generation prophecy, many Witnesses will say "Oh, but we're not serving with a date in mind," or something to that effect. That has become the new response which is simply a slogan designed to turn off their ability to critically analyze failed prophecy. It makes me so angry because, once more, this organization wants it both ways--they want to whip up urgency by saying that we're at the very end of the end times and yet, they want to buffer failure by saying at the same time that they aren't serving with a date in mind.

Well, if dates don't matter, then what's the big deal about taking four years to go to university?

14

More daming evidence against evolution from an expert

by konceptual99 in

don't worry, i'm taking the piss.

it's just another jw.org video promoting one of their own who had the benefit of a university education and medical training before they became a witness and letting him try and debunk years of research with an appeal to emotion about the placenta.

https://tv.jw.org/#en/video/vodintexp/pub-jwbiv_201608_1_video.

Cadellin

It is astonishing that they are still referencing that atrocious turquoise book! After everything that has been written about that embarrassing piece of deception, I am amazed that they would release a video where this doctor extolls it like he does. So, if it is such a great book, why did the Society stop publishing it?

Moreover, this guy is supposed to be a man of science, of critical thinking. What kind of critical thinker would read something like that and just swallow it down without checking it out thoroughly? Admittedly, it would likely be hard to follow through on the references if you could not read English. Still, I can't imagine there aren't resources in Spanish that would enable a Spanish speaker to investigate the false claims in Life-How did it Get Here?

69

All 2016 Convention videos in English and all Talk outlines for download

by Watchtower-Free in

all convention videos in english and all talk outlines for download.

http://avoidjw.org/2016-regional-convention/

Cadellin

First of all, a huge thank you for this! I am horrified at the emotional manipulation. JWs will eat this up and be absolutely terrified at the bunker scene and then swoon at the last one. Of course, everyone would love to be part of that last paradise video, but wow--ach. Have to go.

57

RUSSIA: Jehovah's Witnesses face possible liquidation

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.forum18.org/archive.php?article_id=2181.

24 may 2016. russia: jehovah's witnesses face possible liquidation.

by victoria arnold, forum 18. if prosecutors proceed with their threat to liquidate the jehovah's witness headquarters near st petersburg, thousands of local congregations across russia could also face prohibition of their activities and individuals could be vulnerable to criminal charges for expressing their beliefs, forum 18 notes.. the jehovah's witnesses' principal body in russia is under threat of dissolution as an "extremist" organisation after the deadline in an official warning from the general prosecutor's office expired on 10 may, forum 18 notes.

Cadellin

If the state determines that such teachings are hate speech and detrimental to the well being of the state it has a right to limit such teachings

Stop and think about this. Do you really want "the state" liquidating groups they consider speaking hate? In particular, a dictatorship like Russia? Seriously? This is chilling; Russia won't stop with JWs. Freedom of belief, of religion and of speech are fundamental human rights that should not be curtailed except under exceptional and extreme circumstances. JWs have not engaged in any activity that meets that standard. That they teach what some may perceive as hurtful or disagreeable ideas or that they practice shunning does NOT mean that it's okay to liquidate them. Who is next? Buddhists? Scientologists? Jews? Gays and lesbians?

I realize that I risk being branded a JW apologist by saying that--nothing could be further from the truth. I have nothing but bitterness for the religion. Instead, I do have a strong belief in inherent human rights that lie beyond the reach of any state.

234

New ANTI-GAY video for Kids on jw.org

by ttdtt in

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/one-man-one-woman-marriage/.

disgusting!.

Cadellin

Little Rock Guy: By that standard, virtually anything that makes me feel bad about myself could be classified as inciting hate. I don't think it helps anyone's case to set the bar that low--and I'm NOT trivializing true hate speech or promoting homophobia by saying that. On the contrary. I do think, however, that we need to move past simplistic definitions of what constitutes hate speech.

ttdtt: How do you know I'm not? Something does not have to be necessarily classified as inciting hate to be disturbing, narrow-minded and simply erroneous, as that new JW video is.

234

New ANTI-GAY video for Kids on jw.org

by ttdtt in

https://www.jw.org/en/bible-teachings/family/children/become-jehovahs-friend/videos/one-man-one-woman-marriage/.

disgusting!.

Cadellin

I wouldn't describe this as inciting hate; I do agree with the poster that speculated that the WT lawyers vetted it very carefully. BUT it is disturbing in that it promotes the old fallacy that you can pray the gay away. "People can change!" Yikes.

57

Did you participate in a Drama?

by Hecce in

i am bringing this up because even it was a lot of work, for the majority of the friends this was a rewarding experience.

camaraderie, joking, costumes, props and when the time came the celebrity status of being in the drama.. back in the 50s and 60s, conventions could be as long as 8 days and from about 1966 the dramas became an integral part of the program.

we had one per day and the brothers looked forward to their presentation.

Cadellin

I was a little girl when our congregation put on the drama of the Exodus. The entire congregation was involved--either speaking roles or extras--I mean, everyone. We had a couple of rehearsals a week and it was a HUGE deal. But so much fun--so much camaraderie. I have nothing but happy memories. Everyone had a job, and there was real room for being creative, either in doing the make-up or helping with costumes or the acting or whatever. There was a great sense of belonging.

It makes me sad that that is no longer part of the religion, that it's been replaced by videos. Unfortunately, most people probably wouldn't have the time to put into it now. But we did back then--I wonder how?