Posts by GLTirebiter

24

New (non Witness) here

by juci32 in

jw
friends

hello guys!i am just introducing myself here.

i have been visiting this site for about a year but never really posted much but i have really learned and enjoyed the topics on this forum, in fact i think this is the best discussion forum i have yet to come across .. a little about my situation is i am a non religious person married to a devout witness, when i met him 4 yrs ago he was out in the "world", never really mentioned his beliefs as we were enjoying life without it.

the more we dated the more i realized that something wasn't right.

GLTirebiter

Hello Juci, welcome to the forum!

Your story gave me a dose of deja vu. A lapsed Witness, seems to be utterly normal and nice, finds a non-believer fiance, promises to not try to change him/her, gets married, and then the steady pull of the oraganization pulls them right back in. Other than the genders being switched and that we have kids, it's much like my story. You have a lot on your hands, and I'll just second the advice everybody else gave you. Don't procrastinate hoping things will improve on their own, lest you end up in a place where only lawyers are happy.

I hope you're familiar with Freeminds, they have a nice repository of articles about the WT society and how it affects those it touches. I suggest starting with the marriage section, then the women's issues articles. Be warned, some of this will be a bit depressing:it's real life, not a Pollyana story from the latest copy of Awake.

Good luck to you,

GLT

38

Are JWs discouraged from seeking mental help?

by Kristina1972 in

my husband was raised in this religion, but was never baptized and does not go to meetings, although my mil is heavily involved.

although my husband doesn't practice his religion, he believes it is the truth and i hate asking him questions, because he is very defensive of the religion.

he and his mother, many years ago before i knew either of them, were treated for severe depression and hospitalized (at different times as a result of them going through divorces.

GLTirebiter

The WT org doesn't like for JW's to go to a marriage counselor either. They know that the counselor might suggest that the JW lifestyle/rules is what is making them unhappy- so quit going to the meetings and see, if you feel better!

I always wondered about that, Moshe. Are there any WT articles about this, or is it another unwritten "suggestion"? My trouble with the Ex seemed to get a lot worse when we discussed counseling, and I proposed one stipulation: an impartial counselor--not an elder. We never did see a counselor, she hired a lawyer instead.

GLT

28

Flipper

by asilentone in

jw
friends

obviously, most of us know that flipper always respond to everybody's posts everytime he starts a topic, i think he is the only one on this board that will respond to everyone in his own threads.

i would think it would be too much work for me or anyone here on this board to respond to everyone.

is that a good thing or bad thing?

GLTirebiter

I do appreciate that Flipper answers everybody, and I have no idea how he finds the time to do that. He must be a speed reader, and a really good typist!

Thanks, Mr. Flipper! (and Mrs. Flipper, who lets him take the time to answer all of us)

145

GETTING SUCKED IN? Ask the right questions to get the right answers.

by Terry in

it is too easy to get sucked in to the wrong argument at the wrong time.. asking the wrong question leads to the wrong answer.

a wrong answer does nobody any real good.. i once had a heated discussion with an old friend who is still an active jehovah's witness.. he came back at me with this:.

"okay, then--if jehovah's organization is a false religion, where is the true one?

GLTirebiter

"I believe" is not the same as "It is proven". We have no way to know the Bible is divinely inspired, inerrant, and has been faithfully translated through the millenia (or that oral teachings preceding the earliest written scriptures were accurately preserved until they were placed in writing). Some believe these things as a matter of faith, some believe those claims are absolutely false, and some have no particular opinion on these matters. There is no conclusive proof either way. What's important, imo, is to be honest with yourself about what is faith and what is fact.

GLT

4

Random jokes Bout JW

by fluke in

i had a man come to my house asking me about my vacuum cleaner... .

i thought thats great... all i need is a jehoovers witness....

GLTirebiter

"We love our vacuum,

We gave at the office,

We Found Jesus"

(seen on a doormat at the local hardware store)

15

Who is responsible if a Witness falls on your property while preaching?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

yesterday morning around 10:00 a.m.,my dog was barking non- stop.

i was upstairs and thought maybe a rabbit or bird was in my back yard.

i looked out the back window and found nothing.

GLTirebiter

You should get this advice from a lawyer. The law doesn't always take what we'd consider a sensible approach.

187

Favorite Love Songs?

by Robdar in

jw
friends

until recently, i have never been in love.

oh, i had lots of lust, but i cannot say honestly that i was in love.

silly love songs made me roll my eyes heavenward.

GLTirebiter

Paradise by the Dashboard Light

(It was long ago and far away, and it was so much better than it is today!)

6

JWs arent the only ones knocking

by chickpea in

.

GLTirebiter

LOL! Forwarding this to my sister, the former troop leader/cookie sale czar.

27

Cult expert S.Hassan speaks out on witnesses in Russia.

by koolaid-man in

http://www.goddiscussion.com/18765/russia-to-drafts-law-to-ban-religious-cults-mormons-moonies-jehovah-witnesses-and-others-fear-persecution/.

GLTirebiter

I don't see how paying...income taxes on profits restricts or prohibits the free exercise of religion

Income taxes aren't a problem, as long as they can be organized as a "not for profit" group with 501(c)(3) status. Many types of organizations legally pay no tax: educational, scientific, philanthropic, athletic, etc. The exemption from income tax is not unique to religions.

17

Are you a Christian? How often do you challenge your beliefs?

by cyberjesus in

until 6 months ago, i had faith in jehovah, jesus and the bible.

i was not a jw ( i had been dfd 15 years ago) but i was planning on going back.

i questioned some basic beliefs on the wts and discovered i had been lied to for over 35 years.

GLTirebiter

How often do I change beliefs? Not very often, and not very far. It would be more apt to say that I've adjusted them, not changed them wholesale. This has happened for me in the wake of SEEs (Significant Emotional Events), and I suspect that is true for many (most?) who come here. It comes with the self-reflection that happens when something really miserable or really wonderful happens in my life.

Am I Christian? That's a loaded question because there are some many interptrations of what that means. The Ex and the rest at her KH wouldn't say so, because I'm not and never have been a Witness. The RCC would say yes, but a sinful one because I don't "go to church" on anything resembling a regular basis (no suggestions pro or con, please). I would say yes, because I accept and try to practice the moral teachings of the Gospels.

GLT