Posts by Tea drinker

17

Will I get DF now?

by iknowall558 in

jw
friends

jehovah's witnesses news, library, history, videos, talks, illustrationshey lorraine, could you explain your comment from this anti-jw group?.

lorraine catherine barrie yes......me too.

they wont come to my door though cos im a big bad apostate but would love to have copies of this leaflet to distribute to local jws the week they study the article.. .

Tea drinker

No, I can't believe that it has not been removed yet.

All the while that this is up, it is a "danger" to those already having doubts. I am surprised that the administrators have not thought about that themselves. Of course, you basically anticipate their unreasonable reaction by saying that you are aware that the post might be removed. I doubt that this sits comfortably with them--you essentially show their position to be weak in a very clever and "sincere" way.

They are in a catch 22 situation I think. They can leave it up, thus showing their reasonableness but also "endangering" those who might read it; or they can remove it and thus cause alarm bells to ring in others who have already read it and believe you to be sincere. The latter course would also highlight that they are arguing from a weak position and that they therefore need to silence their "opponent" rather than debate with her.

What you have done is great but I must say that I think that it will eventually get removed. Either way it is a lose-lose situation for them.....unless of course they can out you as an apostate, smear you and thus convince everybody to ignore what you have previously said based upon that negative label.

31

The effect of this religion on my children & the action I had to take - Part III

by jambon1 in

here is parts i & ii.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/191112/1/the-effect-of-this-religion-on-my-children-the-action-i-had-to-take-part-i.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/191251/1/the-effect-of-this-religion-on-my-children-the-action-i-had-to-take-part-ii.

Tea drinker

Thank you so much for posting this. I have enjoyed reading all parts but this final part was very moving.

I am pleased for you and your family. I am amazed that your wife agreed so easily to allow your children to stop attending; she is a real gem. As others have said, I think that she is probably in turmoil herself. This conflict is probably one of the main reasons that she has had the courage to face down the JWs with regard to not bringing her children up "in the truth."

All the best to you and your family. I hope that your wife will resolve her own inner conflict soon and leave the Watch Tower behind.

This thread has made my day. As soon as I saw that part III was up I made a nice cup of tea before sitting down and reading it. It did not disappoint.

31

The effect of this religion on my children & the action I had to take - Part II

by jambon1 in

i posted this part of the story earlier this week.. http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/experiences/191112/1/the-effect-of-this-religion-on-my-children-the-action-i-had-to-take-part-i.

so we are at the point where my daughter has been taking in my lifestyle for 4 years since she i left the truth when she was just 4 years old.

my son who is a couple of years younger thankfully seems to be immune to most of the indoctrination from the jws.

Tea drinker

Thanks for sharing this Jambon1. This story makes me angry too.

Like some of the other posters, I too used to feel like your daughter as I was growing up; and I even wished that people I loved would die before the Great Tribulation. You are right, this kind of nonsense should not even be going through a child's mind. These thinking patterns would even lead a well balanced adult into developing an unhealthy outlook on life, let alone a child in his or her formative years. Your daughter is fortunate that you have seen "the truth" for what it really is and that you are working towards helping her.

I truly wish you all the best and I am eager to read part 3.

Take care.

27

Have They Ever Given a Figure of How Many Are to Die at Armageddon?

by cameo-d in

has wt ever published a number of how many they expect to die at armageddon?.

will it bring the population down to the georgia guidestones advice for a manageable level?.

.

Tea drinker

They have never put it in print but they pretty much imply that 7 billion will be destroyed as only Jehovah's Witnesses are expected to survive. Even when I was fully indoctrinated my stomach used to turn when speakers would say things like this. Sometimes phrases like "a nucleus of seven million righteous ones will see the other side of Armageddon" would come out during various talks I heard.

One speaker I heard actually spoke of 99% of the world's population being obliterated, with no sign of discomfort from the audience. I knew it was all nonsense by then but was still going to meetings for family. As soon as I heard that statement though, I knew that that would be the last meeting I ever attended. I just couldn't sit among people like that anymore. They had the nerve to debate whether Hitler would be resurrected because he killed millions whilst they hoped for the death of billions; all of this so that they could have an easy life in a paradise. Sick.

16

Hypnotic Language Patterning

by Simon Morley in

i have not attended any meetings for three months but recently i was struck by a strange recollection of something common to most meetings i attended.

at every meeting, regardess of the time of day, frame of mind, secular workload, etc, i would feel i was being lulled into a numbing sleep.

it was not that the material was boring to me (i have attended many boring secular conferences and never experienced the strange effect that a meeting had on me).

Tea drinker

Some great points. I too have been to some really boring academic conferences but nothing compares to the mental tiredness and fatigue that I have experienced at meetings. Also, at least you get free booze, snacks and conference dinners at non-Witness events. That always deadened the pain a little.

As you say, the same material is constantly re-used and it is this repetitiveness--along with the "do more" mantra--that really seems to wear people out. Just look at the faces at the average Kingdom Hall: weary, despondent and depressed. I always noticed how many Witnesses seemed to be almost ecstatic at the end of the meeting (a contrast to when they walked in). In their minds I suppose it's because they "know" they've done the right thing by attending even though they didn't feel like it (the guilt has temporarily lifted). In reality, I would say that it is simply due to a sucbonscious sigh of relief that the whole thing is over.

I think the atmosphere at meetings also causes a general fatigue in Watch Tower followers. I know I felt it. Even an elder relative of mine jokingly commented: "why is it only Jehovah's Witnesses that seem to get fatigue related illnesses?"

On the issue of the weary and tired look--Steve Hassan made an interesting comment in Combating Cult Mind Control that dozing off is actually a sign that people are responding well to the hypnosis. Pretty frightening.

20

JW boy and 'worldly' girl - love torn in two

by nekoreichan in

hey everyone, .

i have a question about being in a relationship with a jw boy.. we were friends since the beginning of our senior year in high school.

i called him oniichan ( older brother in japanese) so it'll just be for fun.

Tea drinker

Welcome nekoreichan.

I was in an almost identical situation to you. I was in love with a Japanese girl who came to England to study. However it was I who was the Witness.

She did not return my feelings at first and, like one of the posters related above, it was "okay" for me to pursue her without worrying too much--I couldn't have her. I worked tirelessly, pursued her in all the traditional ways: chocolates, flowers, poetry, tickets to the ballet (I even had her fitted for a dress and bought matching jewellery) and eventually she did return my feelings and we even planned to marry.

This put me in a difficult position but she had been studying with me (as a JW) for quite some time by then, and so I was hopeful that she would eventually get baptised. However, she eventually told me that she could not accept the religion. This led to all sorts of problems. I planned to marry her whether she converted or not as I loved her so much, but I just could not stop seem to stop myself from badgering her and trying to convert her (I was trying to save her life after all..."sigh"). This eventually tired her and the battle of wills eventually made us both ill. Soon after, her parents got wind of the whole thing. First objection: I was a "gaijin" (foreigner). Second objection: I was a Jehovah's Witness and her mother knew all about the religion. As you can imagine, it all ended badly: we both said and did a lot of hurtful things. I am ashamed of myself but I tell you this: it was my manipulative and controlling attempts to make her submit to the Watch Tower which were most toxic to our relationship. She said I was like two people: a kind, romantic and gentle man who put her first, most of the time; but an unreasonable tyrant when it came to religion.

This is my point nekoreichan: he may love you and he may even get the courage to court you, but he will not be able to stop himself from trying to manipulate and control you as long as he is indoctrinated. He believes that you will die a painful and agonizing death if he does not convert you and this will haunt him until he can get you into the Watch Tower. I know this because I was him six years ago. You have got some good advice from other posters and I would like to echo some of the advice they have given you. Perhaps you can help him awaken? That is your choice but be careful. Others have explained the choices you have. I would give their comments due consideration.

Kindest regards,

Tea drinker

63

Are Any Of You Afraid of Dying At Armageddon?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i'm not but i know some jws that have drifted but when things like 9/11 catastrophes occur, they're right back at the kingdom hall.. do you ever worry that the great tribulation might occur and you will die?.

Tea drinker

I was always afraid of that as a young child as I never thought that I was good enough even though I went to all the meetings. The fact that I did not enjoy them meant that God was angry enough with me to destroy me. I'm so glad I am past that now.

To be honest though, I was always more worried about those non-Witnesses that I cared about. As a fully brainwashed witness I used to lie awake at night begging God to kill me in exchange for sparing someone I loved--assuming, of course, that I was worthy of being spared anyway. The whole concept really messed me up and was one of the reasons I sought therapy.

10

i knew a sister who would have made a wonderfull mum and wife

by looloo in

jw
friends

but she is now 45 , and has spent all her life sticking to the societys policy of only marrying in the "the truth" i saw her looking at my new baby with such longing and she said her baby would look just like her she was sure !

she has seen all her friends and younger sisters marry and have babys , i dont think she could cope if she knew the sacrifices she has made for the cult were all in vain , i also knew a lady of 86 who was very sweet and "mumsy" i asked why she had no children , she said she was waiting for the "new system" she died at 87 !.

Tea drinker

I knew a sister who is also in her forties and unmarried with no children.

I could never understand why, as she was attractive, artistic and intelligent. Thinking on it, that combination might have been a bit intimidating to an "exemplary" and "worthy" brother. Anyway, she had this deep melancholy and always looked sad. Nevertheless, she was always so pleasant to people and would always try to cheer up other depressed sisters. I was always curious about the deep sadness I could see in her eyes even when she was smiling. I was then told one day, by another member in the congregation, that this sister had turned down an opportunity for love with a non-Witness man who absolutely adored her.

Upon hearing this, I remarked how sad it was. The person who told me then said, "well, she put Jehovah first." I still think about that poor sister and how she is doing. I wonder whether she regrets her decision. I think she must be pained by it, judging from her general demeanour. I am so pleased that I am out of this religion. I would hate to go through life constantly pining for a lost love because I thought that I was doing the right thing.

8

what have jws got against harry potter /smurfs

by looloo in

jw
friends

i knew jws that watched cinderella and sleeping beauty ,snow white ,wizard of oz etc so why arnt they allowed to watch the more modern films with "magic" and "wizardery"in them?

it makes no sense , did anyone ever question that ?

on a different note i remember it being announced that the full monty was banned (you dont even see anything )lol.

Tea drinker

Sometimes I just think that the magical content of these things is just an excuse to ban them: the time spent watching Harry Potter or The Lord of the Rings could be "better" spent in the ministry. Also, it gives the easily stumbled brigade a chance to impose their warped views on the regular, more reasonable publishers.

Always having been a quiet person, I never really put up any resistance when told what I should or should not do: I would usually just roll my eyes and discreetly do what I wanted later on. The first time I actually spoke up was when the PO's wife found out that I went to see the Lord of the Rings. She came up to me in the hall, interrupted my conversation and told me with great indignation that it was demonic. Infuriated at her rudeness, I smiled, bowed my head in an old fashioned display of gentlemanly respect, and very politely said "that is your opinion." Seeing her eyes pop out and her body begin to tremble with anger at having been challenged was one of the most satisfying experiences I have ever had.

They only have as much power as you give them.

7

"B.F.F" -Witness love is not for free! We "love" worldly people! Yeah right!

by Witness 007 in

it's incredible how witnesses cosy up to immoral worldly people who are possible converts...sure they smoke, live in sin, are homosexual, wear short skirts and lowcut tops but...they are my new best friends!!!!!!

until after studying for 2 months they say: "look, i don't want to be a witness at the moment, but i enjoy your friendship......" .

typical cult recruitment methods.

Tea drinker

I know exactly what you mean. I saw this conditional "friendship" all the time. Although I was a born-in I had plenty of non-JW friends. I was often counselled about my friendship with these people as they had not shown an interest in "getting to know Jehovah."

As far as I was concerned they were my friends, not because they were potential recruits (something they made clear), but because I actually liked them. I did however point out to those who were "concerned" enough to counsel me that at least I was not a hypocrite, unlike them with their feigned interest in others. My statements went down like a lead balloon, naturally, but it certainly felt good to put these people in their place on occasion.