Posts by JerryTX

72

Is Ray Franz still living?

by hungry4life in

jw
friends

a friend of mine has been sharing her doubts about the organization with me for the last year.

she read both of ray franz's books and found that they were interesting and dealt with many of the questions she had.

she then wrote to the society anonymously and explained why she could not in good conscience preach regarding 1914 ( she used my p.o.

It is interesting to note that the Vatican church has annually budgeted multi millions of dollars to settle child molestation cases for years, and yet it didn't make the big headline news until about 10 years ago here in the USA. Yet child molesting priests have been a problem much longer than that.

To think hundreds of cases filed against the Watchtower Society would be immediately noticed and picked up by the press and given heavy rotation on the evening news demonstrates a lack of sophistication, and naivete.

Ministers, priests, deacons, elders have been fleecing, molesting, and engaging in other shenanigans with their flocks for years. It's an *old story.* Today a story like that hardly raises a surprised eyebrow anymore.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

27

requiem for Frank,my husband

by Tina in

jw
friends

edited

JerryTX

Tina,

I always appreciated chatting with you. Sorry you're going through a hard time. Taking a break from the board is good sometimes. Don't hesitate to come back if your situation changes.

As to accepting support or a shoulder from a person who claims to be heading back to Jehovah's Witnesses, which will require that he shun you as an apostate, I would be wary of them.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

20

How many have you helped 'out?'

by LDH in

jw
friends

after last week's post regarding how many people you helped become a jw, i thought it would be fun to see how many people you've helped become apostate.. i received a phone call from norway about an hour ago, ( a poster on this board) who tells me that i influenced his decision to leave the jws.

(thanks, i)we've never met, only been email buddies.

the written word is powerful, and many do read these forums.. hopefully, i'll be able to speak to his dyed in the wool jdub girlfriend, but for now i'm satan incarnate as far as she's concerned.[8>].

JerryTX

I helped my two younger sisters get out. Still working on mom and brother.

I was shown the way out of the Borg by a persistent Southern Baptist chap who was out to save me -- LOL -- by the name of Craig Carter in San Antonio, Texas. Was further assisted by: Randy Watters, Marilyn on the Helpline, Ron Frye, Ray Franz, David Reed.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

72

Is Ray Franz still living?

by hungry4life in

jw
friends

a friend of mine has been sharing her doubts about the organization with me for the last year.

she read both of ray franz's books and found that they were interesting and dealt with many of the questions she had.

she then wrote to the society anonymously and explained why she could not in good conscience preach regarding 1914 ( she used my p.o.

JerryTX

Thank you, Celia. You posted as I was writing.

--------------------------------------

"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

72

Is Ray Franz still living?

by hungry4life in

jw
friends

a friend of mine has been sharing her doubts about the organization with me for the last year.

she read both of ray franz's books and found that they were interesting and dealt with many of the questions she had.

she then wrote to the society anonymously and explained why she could not in good conscience preach regarding 1914 ( she used my p.o.

JerryTX

Did anyone attempt to contact Ray himself and explain the importance of having the excerpts posted?

Did Randy or Kent, or anyone else for that matter, bother to contact Ray himself and ask *permission* to post the materials?

Does anyone have one fact -- just one -- besides the fact that he sent a letter asking for his materials to be removed?

Before anyone ASSUMES what the intentions are, why not contact the man himself. Being quite old, he may not even understand or appreciate the impact the internet has on the world around us.

Before anyone says bullshit like "Ray is shooting himself in the foot"
or speculating on what his intentions are, why not contact him and get the word from him? For all we know, some ignorant lawyer is holding his hand and telling him what to do and Ray is oblivious to what's going on. The man is very old, has a wife he is obviously concerned about, and lives as simply as he can to get by.

Give him a fucking break.

Thank you.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

83

I Don't Sympathise With Suicides

by Englishman in

jw
friends

let me explain.. firstly i have seen any number of so-called attempted suicides.

i've walked past an old girl friends house, seen her watching tv through the window, by the time i'm knocking on the door she's told me that she had her head in the gas oven and my knock stopped her.. my mother in law walks into the sea for a pastime.

every time she can't get her own way she walks in up to her knees and waits for someone to see her.

JerryTX

One of my co-workers killed himself several months ago. I took him to lunch two days before he did himself in. We had a good time.
I guess since he had already made his decision to do himself in, he was relieved and at peace with himself.

After lunch we were goofing around with someone's digital camera. My coworker did a goodbye wave when I took his pic. Now I know why. I thought he was a real bastard for doing that. He knew we'd make the connection later in a couple of days.

He didn't tell anyone. He had many things going for him. However, he was not open to getting help. No one saw it coming. I felt sorry for him, but I felt sorry mainly for myself and my other co-workers and his family who would have done anything to help if he'd only asked. He was too proud to ask for help, and didn't want our help. So instead we got to look at his dead body in a casket and go to his funeral.

I can understand he must have been suffering unimaginable emotional pain to carbon minoxide himself to death in his own apartment alone.
With a good shrink, medication, a support group, a willingness to ask for help, or any one of the above, he would probably be alive today.

I am pissed off that he would do that without asking for a helping hand.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

26

And they talk about love?

by Xena in

jw
friends

with the 4th anniversary of my parents death looming and the anniversary of their last wedding anniversary party where my family was together and happy for the last time just being past ....i was feeling kind of depressed and wanted to reach out to what family i have left.

i sat there and debated in my mind if i should do it...should i try and reach out to my sister..see if i could reach her across the barrier of the jw religion.

should i try to remind her that we are sisters...we were sisters before we became jws and we will always be sisters.

JerryTX

Hi Diane,

Pretty impressive you had the guts and courage to pick up *and call her.* Kudos to you! Regardless of what your sister does or says, she knows how you feel and you had the courage to let her know. Now you can let go in peace if you want. I'm sure you'll always welcome your sister back into your life with open arms if she ever chooses to be a part of your life again.

Relationships take two to tango. But, really, who wants to be close friends with a judgmental religious fanatic; family or not? Ummm, not me. Although I did reach out to my brother for years with phone calls and emails without getting anything in return, I remember how it felt to finally let him go and stop trying to get him back in my life. I felt relieved.

Hugs to you!

(beer too)

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

21

Witness memory #2332

by Naeblis in

jw
friends

(cause even i like to post witness stuff at times).

* names have been changed to protect the innocent.. "tim!

get to the hall as quick as you can tonight.

JerryTX

How do people not know this was written in the middle stall as I released from my bowely prison my earlier lunch.
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LOL. Golly, Naeb, I nearly spewed my beer all over the computer screen I laughed so hard. Great line and great metaphor! Shitting out a shitty talk while shitting on the pot. LOLOLOL!!!!

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

13

I'm Going Too. Hello Again.

by Englishman in

jw
friends

i'm going to the pub.. see you tomorrow.. englishman.. bring on the dancing girls!

JerryTX

Drink a Guiness for me. A cold one. And order two. I like two.

Cheers!

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"

13

Lurker comes clean with first post

by Mozzer4Life in

jw
friends

well, this is really my 3rd post, but my first here i am thread.

oh yea, my name is neil.

many of you might recognize me as andi or billygoats boyfriend.

JerryTX

Neil,

Welcome aboard, Grillmaster. Quite a journey you've had. I'm glad for you and for Andi you were able to get the monkey off your back. Thanks for sharing your story. It's always inspiring to me to hear how people have beat a potential disaster in their life, whether it's drugs or a cultic religion. Andi is the most non-judgmental person I've ever met who had religious beliefs, Christian or otherwise. Certainly this board is exposure to an eclectic mix of people who have helped me to be more tolerant. Slowly but surely I'm getting to where you are as far as being more open and less judgmental, and the old JW personality is beginning to fade. Good to have you here.

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"The truth will set you free--but first it will make you damn mad."

M. Scott Peck - "The Different Drum"