this is a true story.
it's about a sister named henriette venema.
she was a very loyal jw.
Wow, that's so cold ... the story of Hennie and everyone else's. Cold and heartless.
Not interrupting the meeting was also stupid. First, how could anyone concentrate with all that drama going on? And second, it was a really poor "witness" for the EMTs. I doubt they were impressed by the "show of faith". Instead, they very likely thought those people in that KH were uncaring creeps.
i'm a man - d'fd for 2.5 years now and divorced.
find it hard to date girls out here only due to always having this secret i carry with me that i was once a jw and the thought of telling a girl one day why my family don't acknowledge me as even alive.. recently been thinking of trying to get reinstated and then do a quick fade as i cant go back to the whole jw stuff.. easier said than done and was turned down twice by elders after an immediate attempt 2 years ago.. my motivation for trying would be 1.
) to see if family make contact and 2) play the last hand in their game and give the middle finger.. interested in viewpoints?.
Being a JW in the past is not something you should be ashamed of, as if you were a criminal or something. Once you are in a relationship where the issue of family comes up and you feel you can trust them, you can talk about it. Just be honest, as honesty is a crucial cornerstone to any successful relationship.
You can say something like "my parents/family are JWs and I decided it wasn't for me but their cult doesn't accept freedom of thought and choice, so they shun me. That's what their religion tells them to do, as crazy as that sounds. So we don't have a relationship because of that. Not my choice, as I would associate with them no problem but they are told they are not allowed to have anything to do with me, to pressure me, through emotional blackmail, to go back."
She'll probably be shocked and disgusted, as everyone I've ever told that to has been. But they'll be understanding and they'll not hold that against you.
The best way to give that cult the middle finger is to live a full, happy life on your own terms.
i have been df'd for 9yrs as of july 31 (yay me!).
so as i have written about previously in other posts, my whole family (parents + sister) made the choice to treat me as if i do not exist, and i have accepted it.
last summer they made a blatant show of it as our family reunion, in that they would walk right by me and not say one word...prompting our extended family to question their actions.
It would be interesting to hear what happens at the next reunion if someone brings up the shunning video. What will your JW rellies say in response to accusations that their cult advocates such hatefulness? What mental contortions and twisted BS will they spout to try to deny it? I'd love to be a fly on the wall at that reunion.
It was disgusting how they basically slandered you with their excuses as to why they shunned you, painting you as a bad person. They'll not come out looking too good at the next reunion and you might have created some family drama, but good on you! You were well justified to show their hatefulness, lies and hypocrisy.
i have argued with several jws who are now being trained to deny the org ever said the end in 75, what is your approach?.
I was there too. I was 14. It's what started me questioning and doubting this "religion". I was out by age 20, as soon as I could manage it financially. I never felt the love when I was in, hated everything about it, so that 75 crap didn't help.
As far as debating it, don't bother. The one time I brought it up with my mother, she said I was mistaken. When I insisted I wasn't, she told me to stop lying to slander her beliefs or she'd end the conversation. They do not want to believe that their belief system is a pack of lies, it's too scary a place to go to.
hello all,i have just signed up to do a comedy course.
it starts in september.in order to get a headstart, i did my first 5 minutes tonight about jws.i explained that i celebrated my first birthday last week.
bemusement and a tittle.explained that if you could choose between hare krishnas and people standing at a trolley/cart as a religion who would you choose?got a laugh.explained that the whole world will be destroyed if you do not listen to our message, yet we are not prepared to initiate a conversation at a trolley.big laugh.
I thought your jokes were cute and it's a good start. Since JWs are probably what you're most familiar with, it makes sense to write comedy about that but I'm sure you'll branch out into other subjects. Good luck with your course. And I admire your bravery. The thought of doing stand-up comedy is terrifying. Talk about making yourself vulnerable! Good on you.
Yes, it is funny that despite the 130 years of marketing, most of the world knows very little about JWs, or cares to. I've done my bit to fill in the blanks for people whenever the subject has come up - very rarely, as I don't deliberately bring it up. I like to inform them about the shunning and breakup of families, the hiding of pedophiles and the fact that refusing blood transfusions is through coercion more than blind faith for most. Just doing my bit, being helpful and all ;-)
so my mam visited today.
she recently went to convention in north east england, newcastle i think they still have them at.
before she left she said (this is her exact words btw) "you have put me in a difficult position and i can't come to see you anymore".. she told me that as i live with my partner and we are unmarried that she can't visit anymore.
Yeah, it's all your fault. Not hers, the person doing the actual shunning. No, you forced her into that position because you wanted to use your mind freely and to live your life your way. The horror!
Yes, it's astonishing how that can actually make sense to the JWs. The mind is a scary place sometimes, after a cult infects it.
seeing as im being shunned by my family and friends.
i've decided to turn the tables and shun them back - but using the same methodology and reasoning they use on me.
i've written the following letter:.
Poisonous convention ever. It's sick what they tell their followers to do.
I don't know when the convention is that my mother will be attending, or already has. Haven't rang her in at least 6 weeks, although it is her turn. I wonder what her attitude will be during our next conversation. I'm dreading it already, even more than I usually do.
seeing as im being shunned by my family and friends.
i've decided to turn the tables and shun them back - but using the same methodology and reasoning they use on me.
i've written the following letter:.
Great letter. Everything in it makes perfect sense and you've presented the facts with proof. I read how disgracefully your mother acted towards you, on your previous post, so she deserves this letter. She deserves worse, imo, but good for you for remaining civil and polite despite her nastiness.
situation is, i'll never return to the wt.
my family with never leave the wt.. depending on who you ask you'll get the following answers when you ask about me:.
my family: he's confused.
I read your letter on your other post and can absolutely understand why you would shun her back. Your mother's behaviour was poisonous and hateful. Even though your daughter is only 2, she will pick up vibes that make it seem weird & uncomfortable to her. And I don't think young children should be exposed to such toxicity. They're too young to process it. Your her dad and nobody has a right to treat you like you were dirt. I don't believe in putting our parents up on a pedestal and cowering before them. In our childrens' lives, we are Number Uno, not their grandparents.
can a parent slap or use a "rod of discipline" on their kids?
i know it's politically incorrect and perhaps illegal, but is it a personal decision based upon the scriptures or is it taboo these days?.
Well hopefully it's changed in recent years because they sure had no problem giving kids of all ages a walloping in the 70s. Especially for not sitting rigidly like a solder for 2 hours. Kids would be hauled into the restroom or outside and smacked, or god knows whatever it was that caused them to scream and holler in terror! It was totally abusive, given the competely unreasonable circumstances - forcing young kids to sit quietly and still like that in a boring meeting with nothing to do. Torture.
