Good choices beksbks - I'd add Manon des Sources to that and for any Emmanuelle Beart fans: Un Coeur en Hiver
MMXIV
Posts by MMXIV
-
140What's a really good movie you'd recommend that most people probably haven't seen?
by A.Fenderson inwhat's a really good movie you'd recommend that most people probably haven't seen?.
my personal recommendation: synecdoche, new york.
it's one of those movies that words fail utterly to capture--which really is the hallmark of a good movie, i suppose.
-
-
-
15
People You've Met
by watson inborn and bred a jw, i never really developed many relationships outside the org.
with the exception of employees, virtually none.
i wonder what would have happened if i had tried to reach out to different "interesting" individuals that i ran into over the years.
-
-
MMXIV
After the age of 21, when I started to know people in the world, I never told them that I was a JW and more recently that I've left the JW's. I was always embarrassed of it. I was worried that with the truth being such a small world, if I said something to someone in the world, the next thing they'd be telling someone they knew who was a JW. I would just never refer to it and if JW's ever came up in conversation (on the two or three occasions in the last 15 years - cos they're really not a topic people ever talk about) I'd listen to the odd strange stories and not say anything.
I did feel like I was holding something back but also it just wasn't relevant to the conversation or the other person.
In terms of meeting interesting people - I've been lucky enough through hobbies/work to rub shoulders with lots of truly amazing people - I could list 20 or 30 that would be recognised by most on this forum - and the few minutes I may have spent with them were not spent talking about my childhood - know what I mean?
When I had to go for interviews recently - many were quite surprised I had reached the level I had without a degree. I'd always waffled around it in the past but I was honest for the first time and admitted my parents were strongly religious and against higher education so I didn't get the opportunity of university. I got the job, been promoted and no-one has referred to it since.
It's a huge deal that most JW's have/are gone/going through and people you meet will be interested in it, but keep it brief and let them ask the questions.
MMXIV
-
17
Friendship with the opposite sex
by LoriJis ini have to ask a personal questions.
do you think it is ok to have a friendship with someone of the opposite sex if you are in a serious relationship or married?
nothing intimate just friendship.
-
-
MMXIV
Yup as long as you know yourself well enough not to start having feelings for them. When I've told my partner about friendships she's been fine about it although sceptical about the other women - generally thinks they're loitering with intent. I have observed both sexes having friendships with someone who is in a relationship and then jump at the chance to get involved when the relationship ends.
As long as you and your partner are fine about it then all good.
MMXIV
-
64
Hello..this is my story..
by Lozhasleft ini'm pleased to have found this site...i've browsed a little ...read quite a lot and gasped at some stories, giggled at the one liners and nodded in recognition of others' strong opinions and can relate to a great deal.. i'll try and keep my intro as brief as possible for anyone kind enough to listen.. i got involved with the witnesses in the late 70's in the uk.
i was in my early 20s and had had a love and fascination for the bible since my difficult childhood.
i soon brought my life into 'line' although it took a long time for me to pack up the smoking which didnt go down well in those days when 6 months of study should have been enough and if you hadnt cracked it then it was suggested that you were some kind of loser.... i reared my 4 children in the 'truth' as well as i could but i cant claim that we were a 'strong' family in their terms...just muddled along really..my husband at the time was a very difficult and abusive man and home life wasnt easy for any of us with his anger, jealousy and violence.
-
-
MMXIV
Hi Loz,
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I've been thinking about it during the morning. To a far lesser extent some of your earlier story reminds me of my parents although I made sure I didn't follow in my father's footsteps and he mellowed considerably with age. I'm truly sorry that you had to go through so much. I strongly believe that the WTS fosters bullying in the home and your experience sadly demonstrates this. I'm sure that you never expected to get to where you are today so it's great to hear how you have managed to get through this - although not quite sure how.
Welcome
MMXIV
-
24
Watchtower 1974- Obviously a Bethelite writes all fat people who eat more than others will be destroyed!!!
by Witness 007 inbethel lunchtime....their is always a young brother who eats more potatoes or chicken etc.
leaving the plate empty and others from his table scrounging from other "less hungry" tables.
so some writer with a chip on his shoulder writes this article.. watchtower 1974 p.167 "glutton...fails to show love for jehovah.
-
-
MMXIV
Ever known of anyone to be disfellowshipped for being a glutton? Seriously? The WTS could easily support this with scripture. On the ministry you can be clearly idenfied as being a glutton. If you smoked on the ministry or were drunk you get DF'd - so what's the difference?
MMXIV
(enjoying another slice of chocolate cake)
-
22
V's memorial teaser - its time to get busy with your email campaigns :-)
by besty inthey had better wine glasses at this hall, but otherwise everything was the same.
we had one at our hall last year.
so the people in the side rows get to hold the wine glass twice.
-
-
MMXIV
Captures the memorial experience very well - good post besty.
Not wanting to hold the emblems is an unusual angle and it's true that it is considered compulsary to observe. First-timers at the KH are expected to have understood enough from the talk to pass the emblems. As I recal kids at a very young age participate by touching the emblems as they pass - and are not really likely to be able to comprehend what it means. So why isn't one able to politely refuse to observe without raising serious questions in the minds of surrounding JW's?
MMXIV
-
8
Baby Dies at Hands of Babysitters JW connection
by sweet pea inthree year old killed after weeks of abuse .
baby ryan's mum was brought up a jehovah's witness and gave birth to ryan when she was 16. begs the question, what made her go off the rails?.
and does anyone know of the hancox family in the midlands?.
-
-
MMXIV
Shocking. The article doesn't say if the injuries were over a period of time or in just one attack. One assumes the latter as the mother would surely have observed injuries and known something was wrong.
It is easy to criticise after the event but any babysitter - no matter how well recommended could potentially flip - as indeed can some parents. Although these were not registered child carers (£40 would buy you day care for a day not a week). I dare say the mother will have a "life sentence" for having left her child with murderers.
MMXIV
-
31
One year in jail for JW man who circumcised son at home
by behemot inone year in jail for metro vancouver man who circumcised son at homeby andrea woo, vancouver sunmarch 25, 2010comments (46)metro vancouver -- a metro vancouver man who circumcised his four-year-old son at home with a razor blade and blood coagulant meant for horses has been sentenced to one year in jail followed by two years probation.
in april 2007, the man, identified only as djw due to a publication ban, gave his son, dj, honey wine before placing him on garbage bags on the kitchen floor.
djw then cut away the boy's foreskin with a razor blade.. .
-
-
MMXIV
Shocking as this story is - in some places "home" female circumcision has been practiced routinely and doesn't get the media coverage it should - granted these countries are few and far between.
If this was in your local congregation - wouldn't you feel a collective responsibility towards the boy. There must have been some kind of warning signs that the dad wasn't the full picnic.
MMXIV
-
-
-
MMXIV
A white russian. or two
MMXIV
-
28
new light over the next 5 years?
by dozy inthe next new light?.
ok a bit of idle speculation here feel free to add your own thoughts.. a few changes that the wts might make over the next 5 years and my odds:.
144,000 is symbolic odds 2/1.
-
-
MMXIV
I predict "Brighter Light" on how to treat those disfellowshipped. I think a loving provision will be made to allow you to talk to them at the KH only - as long as it is upbuilding conversation and the DF'd person isn't allowed to question doctrines. All contact at the KH can then be monitored. Outside the KH the current policy stands.
In practice it means you'll still be treated like a 2nd class citizen but the WTS can defend it's policy more easily and ensure association is on it's terms under it's watchful eye. Not many disfellowshipped will hang around the meetings unless they want to come back so it'll be trying to bring them back to the fold in a slightly less nasty way.
Wobble - not sure tithing will happen but I think you're definately on the right thread - contributing more. Pay Caesar's things to Caesar and God's things to God. I can hear it now... Brothers - how much do you pay to Caesar? Is it 10% of your salary. 20%? How much more so should we pay God's things to God. Let us make a personal resolution today to give more - the widow gave every last coin that she had. Let us therefore not waste money on a vacation that we return from "tired". Let us instead joyfully help support the preaching work in countries where it is most needed.
MMXIV