Posts by JAVA

6

The Truth for Dummies

by JAVA in

the url http://skipstarbuck.homestead.com/ is a great little spoof in the "(....) for dummies" series found in book stores.

JAVA

The URL http://skipstarbuck.homestead.com/ is a great little spoof in the "(....) for Dummies" series found in book stores. Enjoy!

20

Hello Hello (Continued) Intros ....

by Roamingfeline in

hey, nice to see you again, kismet!!!

where ya been?

i do agree that the other thread was getting a bit long, and totally lost it's original purpose!

Thanks for sharing your interesting bio. As pointed out by ZazuWitts, it looks like we have some things in common with JW spouses. I also consider myself a Unitarian, and know several former Witnesses who used the Unitarian religion as a stepping stone back into a religious community. I've been a UU member a little over 10 years.

About your Web site--it's GREAT!!! I've had your site listed on the Open Directory (search engine) for some time. As a reader of Orwell, your JW take on Animal Farm is on the mark.

Again, it's nice seeing you here.

20

Hello Hello (Continued) Intros ....

by Roamingfeline in

hey, nice to see you again, kismet!!!

where ya been?

i do agree that the other thread was getting a bit long, and totally lost it's original purpose!

JAVA

TMS:

Some of the operative words may be disillusioning, de-mystifying . . . . Making a pilgramage to Bethel never interested me. We always opted to go to a scenic locale instead. Subconsciously, I've probably wanted to retain my pristine, fanciful image of headquarters.

Yeah, I guess it's easier to maintain the delusion by not visiting the Land of Oz. The visit might also stumble Toto if he peeks behind the curtain. With less wisdom than you, I visited the Brooklyn and Farm Meccas. I don't remember being overly impressed or disappointed. However, the woman giving the Farm tour seemed cold and matter-of-fact; not what I expected from someone living in the Temple of Israel.

p.s. Two close personal friends returned from stints @ Bethel in the late 50's. Both men remained JW's, but were less in awe of the "Society" than most.

I also had two friends who returned and remained JWs. Like your experience, both seemed less enchanted when returning. Actually, both were bitter and withdrawn. One of them died in his late 20s from a condition induced by stress. I can't help wondering if his few years at the Farm caused his death. That happened in the mid 70s, and I sincerely believe Tom Williams died for something he disliked in the end.

12

Resurection

by larc in

jw
friends

after all these lo so many years, i just thought of something.

why this logic didn't occur sooner, i have no idea.

let me try this on you and see what you think.. all those folks who never heard the truth will be resurrected, right.

JAVA

waiting:

Will you two be obliging this weekend?[

No, we'll just go out drinking. I have a few ex-Witness friends coming into town on Saturday. One from Norway, another from Indiana, and larc lives just a few miles from me.

A few years ago I had a gathering of former Witnesses at my house; we called it an "Apost-O-Fest." I met several neat folks, we stay in touch and get together from time to time. With the first gathering I made a large sign that hung outside saying: "Welcome to Apost-O-Fest!" My house is two blocks from the Kingdom Hall, and about half the congregation passes when going to meetings. As a side note, they sold the building about a year later and moved to another location. I wonder if there are any houses for sale close to their new site?

12

Resurection

by larc in

jw
friends

after all these lo so many years, i just thought of something.

why this logic didn't occur sooner, i have no idea.

let me try this on you and see what you think.. all those folks who never heard the truth will be resurrected, right.

JAVA

Red & waiting:

(sigh) I guess I have to handle this properly myself. (sigh) Ignore waiting's inane comments. (sigh)

Thanks for trying to keep larc on the high road, but even Jesus has a difficult time putting a thousand-dancing angles on the point of a needle. Larc and I live in the same town, and he's making a shepherding call on me this weekend. I'm asking the group for their prayers and support. Like the Tower, I also except donations.

Edited by - JAVA on 28 December 2000 16:29:48

20

Hello Hello (Continued) Intros ....

by Roamingfeline in

hey, nice to see you again, kismet!!!

where ya been?

i do agree that the other thread was getting a bit long, and totally lost it's original purpose!

JAVA

Hi Kismet:

Yes I agree, we're having too much fun on the other "Hello Hello" file, and the origional thread is getting a little tattered and worn.

Thanks for sharing your bio--wow, 11 years at Bethel! Your reasons for leaving caused me to think about the different ones I've known who left the religion soon after leaving Bethel. I'm sure the Society doesn't keep track of ones leaving Bethel with the retention and exiting figures of those who leave or stay in the religion. However, most of the folks I know who left Bethel also left the religion within a few years. If the Society was really "God's Organization," one might think exiting Bethel members would become life-long pillars in the Witness community. It's interesting how the Tower keeps records on Hours, Publishers, etc., but information that might suggest trouble in paradise is conspicuously absent.

Edited by - JAVA on 28 December 2000 16:22:8

67

'Deaden your body members'

by Maxee in

i recently read a post on the net regarding how often men think about sex.

i started to think about how often i did.

i followed this up with a survey on antoher site and found i ranked low and they told me i had sexual problems.

JAVA

I like this one:

"Sir, if you were my husband, I would poison your drink."
--Lady Astor to Winston Churchill
"Madam, if you were my wife, I would drink it."
--His reply

I'm pleased you finished the 12-page paper with a passing grade, larc. However, don't use a 48-size font the next time.

67

'Deaden your body members'

by Maxee in

i recently read a post on the net regarding how often men think about sex.

i started to think about how often i did.

i followed this up with a survey on antoher site and found i ranked low and they told me i had sexual problems.

JAVA

This is a Public Service Post:

larc wrote --

oxymoron: smart woman

Larc is not allowed to use the Internet for the next few hours. His spouse locked the prof up in his room until he writes a 12-page paper on "Men are from Mars, & Women are from Higher Places." The paper must be single spaced, with 1-inch margins. (His last paper used 4-inch margins, and was tripled spaced.) Larc will return when the Goddness grades his paper; a passing grade is 92% or higher. I understand she takes points off for spelling errors.

Because this is the Christmas Holiday, I think it's fitting to observe a moment of silence for our brother in need . . .

Edited by - JAVA on 25 December 2000 21:14:11

67

'Deaden your body members'

by Maxee in

i recently read a post on the net regarding how often men think about sex.

i started to think about how often i did.

i followed this up with a survey on antoher site and found i ranked low and they told me i had sexual problems.

JAVA

TW:

I wish Java and Larc had been on my comittee cases. I might have passed.

I don't believe you or anyone else deserved larc on a committee; he started meetings off with a prayer ending with "off with their heads" and "disembowelment." Typical elder, and as a professor, well . . . I won't even go there. Otherwise, larc is a nice guy.

--the Beerman Elder's tag team

54

JW Decline

by larc in

jw
friends

i found some interesting statistics, some of which you may know, that indicate that the wtbts is in decline.. 1. in the twenty years from 1970 to 1990, the rate of yearly increase dropped from 10% to 6%.

in the last 10 years it has dropped from 6% to about 2%.

since the world population growth is about 1.5% they are only growing at about 1/2 of 1% faster than the population.. 2. in 1999, there were 21 large countries that showed a decline.

JAVA

larc:

Do you think the internet is partly resposible for this? What other factors are there, do you think?

I think the Internet is responsible for the Tower's decreases in most countries, with the exception of Third World areas. The Tower can't control the information, and like most of the world, the Witnesses are getting on-line, too. I get email from JWs reading my Homepage; most of it is negative, but they're seeing information they were shielded from in the past.

Most of the Witness Web sites are poorly done, and the Tower has encouraged the flock not to "waste time" on the Net. The ex-JW sites are numerous, compared to the JW sites. Type "Jehovah's Witnesses" into any search engine, and you'll see what I mean. It's no wonder the Tower has painted the Internet as the dark side. However, the Internet is just about everywhere, and the Tower is loosing this battle of control.

Also, folks can read information from the Net with very little effort, and in private. Most Witnesses do not have so-called apostate materal in their homes, but they can't help see the other side of the coin when they log on. If we surveyed former members who exited the Tower in the last 5 years, I wouldn't be surprised if the majority left with the help of the Internet!

Another point of interest might be how long folks are in before exiting. As you know larc, I did a survey about 12 years ago, and found most exiting Witnesses were in 20 or more years. Because of the Internet, I think members might be exiting sooner.