Uh, you mean, other than me? Nope. But there were a couple of bisexual "sisters" in my congregation. Lotsa fun. 'Til I got outed, that is.
Jankyn
JoinedPosts by Jankyn
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Did You Know or Know Of "Gay" or Bisexual JWs???
by minimus inrecently, a former witness expressed his opinion to me that he knew more than a few witnesses that were gay.personally, i know of a bisexual ex-elder who was unhappily married for a few years.
now he's "out", pardon the pun, of the organization.
i know of a newly appointed ms who is married to a sister but most people suspect he is gay.
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New Watchtower format is all because of Blondie!
by drew sagan ini was just reading a thread about the new 'exciting' format for the watchtower and how there will be a jw only edition.
add to this what i believe is the new rule that da'd and df'd people are not allowed to receive the magazines unless they attend meetings.
this all got me thinking.... .
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Jankyn
Let me add my kudos: Yay, Blondie!
Best critique of weekly Watchtower studies around!
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A check in... Anyone here from NORTHERN CALIFORNIA...?
by Kudra in.
i periodically wonder if anyone here might have grown up in my neck o the woods... .
also perhaps some newbies who i didn't know of before might hail from the land of the redwood n such... .
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Jankyn
Livin' in the Big Tomato...but I didn't grow up here.
Jankyn
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The new "Bionic Woman" TV show?
by Junction-Guy indoes anyone know when this show will preview?
and what network?.
a woman at work said she saw the commercial but didnt know the date or time..
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Jankyn
I think it's coming in the fall. I have my hopes--but since it won't have Lindsay Wagner, what's the point?
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Song Lyrics That Remind You Of The Watchtower
by Arthur ini was listening to a song today by rush.
i had heard the song a few times before, but today i really listened closely to the lyrics.
i read the lyrics off of the cd jacket and the words remind me so much of how i felt in the watchtower organization - never being allowed to ask serious questions or raise any kinds of objections to organizational practices.
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Jankyn
Jefferson Airplane:
When the truth is found
To be lies
And all the hope
Within you dies
Don't you want somebody to love
Don't you need somebody to love
Wouldn't you love somebody to love
Better find somebody to love
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Email from mum: new niece, and one more young sister breaks free...
by sass_my_frass inlast week my brother's wife (he's a young elder) had their second baby, a little girl.
he was good enough to let me know by phone text message, which will be the last thing i ever hear from him unless they keep breeding.
yesterday i got an email from mum, which had on it this email exchange... apologise for what might feel like an intrusion into their privacy, but, you know..... ________________________________________________________________.
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Jankyn
On the one hand, this exchange is a perfect example of warped, delusional Watchtower-think.
On the other hand, this exchange must have been so painful for you. My heart goes out to you. I also want to add my "atta-girl" to the mix, for your decision to act like the healthy person you are becoming was just awe-inspiring.
Bless your heart.
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Incredibly aggressive email I received from a JW
by jwfacts ini put the following comment on answers.yahoo.com about changes to watchtower revelation doctrine.
there have been three different versions of god given light in the watchtower publications so far;.
1. calvin studies in the scriptures series vii- the finished mystery p.151 "calvin is entitled to the honor of having at one time been a papal star .... is called wormwood.
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Jankyn
Don't you ever feel sad for the frightened, ignorant people who cling so desperately to the illusion that they've been chosen to receive special knowledge?
Nope.
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Jankyn
Congratulations!
(I have a ways to go yet)
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Critics Say Washington AA Chapter Is Cultlike
by purplesofa insome of the similarities are amazing between this aa chapter and jw's.
purps.
critics say washington aa chapter is cultlike .
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Jankyn
Purps,
So sorry to hear of the troubles your daughter is having with a sick sponsor. I've seen and heard similar stories, and in many groups have been one of the "elder members" who tried to run interference for newcomers with these chronically-sick types.
Jgnat is absolutely right--it's possible for a strong personality to take over a group and lead it away from the AA principles. In most cases, that group simply dies out. Every once in awhile, there's a rogue group that causes problems--see my earlier mention of Synanon--but even in those cases, publicity usually follows.
Things to remember:
Any AA member can claim any amount of sobriety they want. Whether or not they're actually sober is another matter. That's why it's so important--as in any situation--to watch what people do rather than what they say. I personally watch for the ones who claim a number of years and then say, "But time really doesn't matter." I've found that when they say that, it usually means they don't have much time. Here's a good rule of thumb: a drunk who doesn't know his or her sobriety date probably doesn't have a sobriety date.
AA does not ask any member to provide for any other member. Our tradition is to be self-supporting through our own contributions, at both the group and individual level. We don't feed, clothe, house or employ at AA--there are social services agencies for that. So any AA member that is asking for those things--or trying to force those things upon a newcomer--has an agenda that is not part of AA.
Now that doesn't mean we don't give tips on job openings or rentals--like any friends would for each other--but we don't function as an employment agency or an emergency shelter. And all too often, we learn the hard way that trying to take care of other drunks only makes it possible for them to be insincere in their recovery.
For example, I had a sponsee that was homeless and unemployed, and I took her in and let her sleep on my couch (this was very early in my sobriety--I was only about 2 years sober at the time). The deal was that she would help around the house and look for work during the day. After a month, I figured out that this was not good for her when I walked in the door after work to find her stretched out on the couch holding my remote like it was glued to her hand, drinking my Pepsi. When she looked up and asked, "What's for dinner?" I knew it was time for her to go. She is sober today, for almost 10 years--but she had a number of relapses before she realized that she had to take responsibility for herself.
If your daughter's sponsor is alcoholic (at least alcoholic like I'm alcoholic), her behavior will catch up with her and cost her a great deal--quite possibly her life. I'm sorry that your daughter has been hurt in the process, but believe me, the sponsor will pay at some point. Making a police report is the best thing your daughter could possibly do, both because it gives your daughter a chance to reclaim her autonomy and reinforce her own determination to do the right thing no matter what, and also because it makes it possible for the sponsor (and I am using that term very loosely here) to face the consequences of her actions.
Hang in there. I'm hoping for the best for your daughter...and always, for you.
Jankyn
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Critics Say Washington AA Chapter Is Cultlike
by purplesofa insome of the similarities are amazing between this aa chapter and jw's.
purps.
critics say washington aa chapter is cultlike .
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Jankyn
It happens. One offshoot of an AA group that went bad ended up becoming Synanon (the group that tried to kill a reporter in N. California).
However, I've been sober in AA for almost 21 years and across five states. Ultimately, abuses can occur in any AA group--remember that the demographic is completely made up of wounded/damaged people. "13th Stepping"--the practice of sexually preying on newscomers--is discouraged both officially and unofficially, but it does happen.
On the one hand, AA can be completely dysfunctional. On the other hand, its members started out completely nonfunctional--no one whose life is going well ever chooses to go to AA.
That's why sticking to the principles works. If someone starts telling you something that doesn't match your conscience or the basic AA principles (which are intended to help alcoholics find a power greater than ourselves which will make it possible to stop drinking and heal emotionally, mentally and spiritually*), then move on.
That can be hard. But staying sober is hard. Those of us who've been around for awhile do try to take newcomers under our wings. I've sponsored hundreds of women in the last 20+ years--dozens of them have actually stayed sober--and I've been fired by a few for crossing the boundary from loving advice to bossy know-it-all. Deservedly so, and I hope I've learned from it.
It's important to remember that most alcoholics die drunk. I'm all in favor of continued research into the causes, prevention and treatment of alcoholism, because frankly, the odds suck for most drunks--and I say that as a person who's beaten the odds. Great, wonderful--I wouldn't trade my sobriety for anything. But for every 30 people who come to AA, one stays sober for a year. That sucks, and we need to find something that works for more people.
Bottom line: Whether it's a religion, a political group, or a recovery system--anyone that tells you to give up responsibility for your own life is dangerous. Run like hell.
Jankyn
*I want to stress that the higher power does not need to be God/gods/a god. I'm successfully, spiritually happy and sober--and I'm still agnostic, after all these years. One of my best friends in the program has stayed sober for 25 years in AA, and she's an atheist. All it takes is this: ask what the underlying principle is in each aspect of spirituality and then ask what it honestly means to me. It's no skin off my nose if some people find Jesus/Allah/the Great Mother...I just wanna stay sober and be happy about it.