greenie

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Posts by greenie

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  9

  Brianna Karp

  by Fe2O3Girl in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i saw this article today on brianna karp, an ex-jw doing her best to overcome financial adversity.

  thought i'd share.. http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2009/oct/30/americas-new-homeless.

  i'm one of america's new homelessbrianna karp lost her job, is broke and is now living in a trailer but she's not beaten yet.

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  greenie

  Is that JWN on her laptop in the background? Cool!
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  6

  ? about 8-15-09 WT and Millions Now Living Never Die talk from 1920's

  by whyizit in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a jw friend recently gave me this magazine and requested i read the article on page 12. this was to "help" me with my questions about the leaders of the org.

  did not answer anything, but only added to my questions!

  is "millions now living will never die" available in kh libraries?

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  greenie

  Can anyone provide definitions for divine inspiration vs. spirit direction. That seems so hokey, I'd love to see the nuances.
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  22

  Deep thoughts: conditional love

  by greenie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, i know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for jws (ex.

  as soon as you're not one, you've often lost jw family and friends).

  in my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, i'm not a jw, my partner is).

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  greenie

  Thanks for your responses everyone. Heavy topic, but interesting what you all had to say!

  Paul from Cleveland - I love him very much (he's not my wife :) ), but with JWs you know as well as anyone else that you are talking about much more than religion. It's a whole lifestyle and culture. If you were not a Dub, how do you think it would feel to be married to someone who thought you would perish at Armageddon. I mean, I fit that bill, right? Because I am familiar with JWs (only now!), and I do not accept their teaching. In addition, his religion, and him if he's being totally faithful (read: programmed), teach that my religion is W-R-O-N-G and without merit. It is an unfair view, but what makes it even worse is that it is an unfair view based on fallacies. So he's disparaging me based on JW teachings that aren't even correct.

  Narkissos - I wouldn't say it's headed that way. I just vacillate in between wondering how in the world I got into my situation (A: he wasn't that forthcoming about his religious views and what they mean as far as culture/lifestyle go), then being angry about it (A: hey, I'm not the one that went to a Convention looking for a mate, right!?!), then being really hurt because it seems like someone I love very much tried to dupe me (A: no answer for this one...). Mostly it's the third one, the hurt part. We once talked and he said I'd need to think about if I could handle a life with him. Thinking back on that conversation makes me angry because I feel like he's actually the one who should be thinking about if he can handle a life with me, a life complete with holidays, politics, empowered women, Casper the Ghost (was just hearing from his family member about a "demonized" tv show), toasting, blessing people when they sneeze, charity work for the community, oh, and church. At least that's how I feel today. And it changes often.

  What do you all think of that, if anything?
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  26

  Child Molestation and the Two Witness Rule

  by garyneal in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  this morning, as i was fixing breakfast, my wife and i got on the subject of religion (again) and i apologized to her for some of the things i said yesterday regarding the jehovah's witnesses.. in short, i said that given the way she treated me in regards to keeping me in the dark about certain financial situations, overdrawing her checking account and running up $500 in credit card debt due to her overdrafts that i am surprised the elder and his wife would approve of her activities in light of their teachings.

  i said, "when you go to their house and study that book 'keeping yourself in god's love' with them, ask them what they would think of you taking such a nonchalant attitude over how you are managing the household finances and the way you respond to me when i inquire about the situation.

  telling me that 'i should not worry' and that 'i am being fed and have a roof over my head' in such a way that i should just be quiet about it and let you be in charge.

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  greenie

  Gary - your wife sounds just like my boyfriend. And your reasoning and tone sounds a lot like mine - wild! I can really relate! I always like reading your posts because I can relate to them so much. I couldn't agree with you more on these points:

  I said, "I understand, but you got to understand the uniqueness of your religion. They put down all other religions claiming that they are the only ones who are right and then act in ways that make them out to look like hypocrits." We have the same discussions. He feels I dislike his views just because he's a JW, but the real reason is because what you tried to tell your wife in the above. If we were different denominations or relgions in most cases both of our beliefs could be respected and accomodated. However, PURELY because he is a JW, they cannot. Unfortunately, I think this makes him think more than he's got the right religion (I hear about the path being narrow, the group being small, etc. A LOT).

  The fact that many posters here are atheists would certainly seem to play into the Watchtower's hands concerning those who leave the 'truth.' Though I can understand why someone who was hurt by the only religion that they knew, the religion that claimed to be the only true religion, would wonder if this whole God business is for real. I too see this and understand what you're saying. It seems like a lot of people here have been so hurt by a religion that literally sucks you in, chews you up, and if you leave, SPITS you out, that they seem to go the opposite direction and forget religion all together. I get nervous sometimes that that's what my JW might do if he ever left the religion. I think it's very damaging spiritually to be taught from birth that yours is the only right religion. That doesn't leave anything for you if you leave.

  Carla, I guess we must sound alike too, on a calmer level.

  I tried to talk to my JW about the child molestation issue, and he of course didn't believe me. He said the same, of course you can report it to the police, etc., etc. I need to find articles and whatnot online about victims' experiences, especially about the law suit and gag order. It's also an interesting point that the Catholic church said they would never make victims sign gag orders. Gary, Carla (and anyone else), have you noticed when you start talking about these things how blindsided they seem to be (this could also explain their "my way or the highway" response). I can't believe they've never heard or seen this stuff. You can bet your bottom dollar that there isn't a Catholic that hasn't heard about their sex abuse issues. How do they keep these people in the dark!!?!?

  Gary, how do you handle your daughter's religious education? Is she old enough to know anything? Any ideas on how you will handle that?
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  22

  Deep thoughts: conditional love

  by greenie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, i know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for jws (ex.

  as soon as you're not one, you've often lost jw family and friends).

  in my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, i'm not a jw, my partner is).

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  greenie

  I get the difference between unconditional and fickle, and see your point, but why don't you think unconditional love exists, JD?
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  3

  You know what I've noticed?

  by sd-7 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  after reading that 'assembly survival techniques' entry by kingagag, i was reminded of all the great quotes i took from previous assemblies/conventions/impositions of israelite rules on christian congregation (meeting 3 times in a year--straight out of the ot).

  i noticed something about the programs.. every concluding talk for every program shifts the focus to the faithful slave.

  the final talk at the convention referenced that term at least 8 times.

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  greenie

  Goodness SD-7! It was a long post but a good one! Sometimes it's nice just to vent. Your wife is still a JW? Good luck with everything!
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  22

  Deep thoughts: conditional love

  by greenie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, i know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for jws (ex.

  as soon as you're not one, you've often lost jw family and friends).

  in my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, i'm not a jw, my partner is).

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  greenie

  I don't doubt what you've ever said KB, and I wasn't thinking of this in regards to the advice everyone has shared with me. It just more or less occured to be today. Like, how could I complain about their lack of unconditional love if I wasn't practicing it. But maybe you guys are right. I mean, I wouldn't say a woman that left her abusive husband was practicing conditional love. Hmmm...
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  22

  Deep thoughts: conditional love

  by greenie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, i know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for jws (ex.

  as soon as you're not one, you've often lost jw family and friends).

  in my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, i'm not a jw, my partner is).

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  greenie

  Thanks Robdar.

  Others, no response? Am I being too deep? Too complicated? Or...too boring!?!
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  22

  Deep thoughts: conditional love

  by greenie in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  so, i know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for jws (ex.

  as soon as you're not one, you've often lost jw family and friends).

  in my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, i'm not a jw, my partner is).

  1. 
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• 

  greenie

  So, I know people talk a lot on here about how love is conditional for JWs (ex. as soon as you're not one, you've often lost JW family and friends). In my own situation, many of you have counseled me to get out of my relationship (for those that don't know, I'm not a JW, my partner is). Wouldn't that make my love conditional? I'm just thinking deeply and was wondering what others thought.
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  48

  College

  by AllTimeJeff in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know i have threatened to do this before, like when i first left.

  but i am thinking of going to college.

  this time, i feel determined.

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  greenie

  School is awesome! I know a guy who went to law school in his forties! He's a huge success now. Also, if you are interested in teaching, there are emergency certificate programs going in states right now due to shortages. You should look into them. I was surprised at teacher salaries.