Posts by MMXIV

449

"Feeling sorry for yourself" about being hit by your husband is not Christian 2/15/12 WT Page 25 P 12

by yourmomma in

have anyone of you read, the absolutly jaw dropping paragraph in this article about a women who was hit by her husband?

its in page 25 of the 2/15/12 wt study edition (i read the dumbed down version).. .

if there was any question, that the watchtowers stance is for wives to simply take it when their husbands abuse them, this makes it crystal clear.. who the hell is scanning these things before they go to print?

MMXIV

I've just come across this thread and had to read pretty much all of it. So many tragic experiences - sorry to all those who have suffered or are suffering (even if like Mr Flipper you weren't the victim).

Firstly domestic violence victims go through some powerful thought processes and feelings - typically self blame is a part of the cycle. On average in the UK (and I'm sure this doesn't differ significantly from other western countries) it takes 35 assaults before the victim comes forward to the police. Often they then return to the abusive partner due to control the abuser still tries to exert - this may be financial as the victim doesn't have money to live elsewhere or there are threats relating to children.

To be part of a controlling religious organisation that seeks to self remedy (or in reality contain the issue) that reinforces the belief that the victim is to blame is blatently damaging. Also a religion that does not support the victims (particularly where the abuser is a JW) clearly demonstrates it not only sympathyses with the abusers but creates conditions under which this thrives.

As I've been led to believe the WBTS often writes articles in response to letters about situations that are occuring in the congregations. This must crop up frequently and the governing body is telling it's female members to put up with domestic violence, not report it and hope it goes away.

About a third of all murders in the UK relate to domestic violence and each murder costs over £1.5m to investigate. It is a widespread problem and complex to deal with even though the police have, as Joe Grundy mentions, been treating this as a high priority for a long time. I recently spoke to the domestic violence advisor to the UK home secretary and she admitted the scale of the issue is significant - perhaps 16-20% or all crime.

I would urge any women, whether a JW or not, who has been abused by their husband or partner to contact the police. Don't stop to justify that you still love your partner (or they love and need you), or that you might be to blame, or that you think they won't do this again. In virtually all cases they will do this again and again and it may get worse. Especially where children are involved. The police will help you. Your life will get better. But you need to act now.

mmxiv

56

Common JW phrases that aren't in the Bible

by biometrics in

i'm interested to know common phrases jehovah's witnesses use, but don't actually apear in the bible (even the nwt).

especially phrases most jw's would assume are in the bible.

e.g.. "paradise earth".

MMXIV

do not call (what part of that did JW's never understand)

non-blood medical directive (because Gods word isn't enough in a medical emergency)

1914 (gone out of fashion now - used to be quite big a few years back)

approach you in the name of Jesus Christ (like JC was some introduction service)

WBTS legal department (protecting God's interests and more than a few paedo's too)

assembly deficit (dig deep for the loving provisions and timely reminders)

brooklyn bethel real estate empire (JW's all knew it, just never uttered the holy words until they came to JWN)

tax exemption status (pay Caesar's things to Caesar right?)

elders book (cos the flock still have a little life left in them that needs sapping)

congregation bar-b-q (opportunity to not invite those that might be a little irregular at meetings just to let them know they are bad association)

circuit overseer fleet car fund (dig deep again brothers - even JC's ass had to be paid for)

bethel room guest policy (open door policy if a sister is in the room but completely forgot about what 2 boys could get up to)

mmxiv

156

In love with a JW...

by CuriousUK in

apologies if this has been discussed before, or is in the wrong forum, but i could really do with some advice.

two years ago i met the love of my life; someone i regard as my soulmate.

he is an active jw and i am a practising church of england person.

MMXIV

oh and I just want to add that if you attend any meetings - watch the people carrying the microphones. You'll notice they're only men - women aren't worthy of that even if they experienced in stage direction. Yeah because God says men have a monopoly on microphones? There are a million things wrong with JW's - many who've commented have spent decades absorbing all those abnormalities and deprogramming the views.

The thing is some JW are really nice, but the beliefs do bring out the worst in people - especially making people judgemental and it is very damaging. It's so controlling. If everything that JW's really believed and taught were included into a privacy statement - you'd never sign up - no-one would.

mmxiv

156

In love with a JW...

by CuriousUK in

apologies if this has been discussed before, or is in the wrong forum, but i could really do with some advice.

two years ago i met the love of my life; someone i regard as my soulmate.

he is an active jw and i am a practising church of england person.

MMXIV

Welcome CuriousUK!

You've taken a very good approach by the way getting his view on how your job, it's a normal question which should get an honest response. Clearly you're talented and put a lot into your career and I just wanted you to get an insight into how JW's would view your job and therefore why they would put considerable pressure on you to give it up.

1) You can't have a job that means you cannot attend every meeting, be able to participate in preaching and attend the conventions for 2 or 3 weekends a year.

2) You cannot have a job that might conflict with being a JW. So elders will want to know the content of the plays you stage manage - do they contain any violence, swearing, immoral themes or simply promote anything that is ungodly? You could not manage anything with a Christmas theme.

3) Are you required to mix with anyone that could harm your spirituality? That would particularly mean someone gay.

4) What would you do to let your colleagues know that you are a practicing JW so they are aware of your stand on all items 2) and 3).

5) Taking any job that means you are away from the marital bed at night would raise suspicion of infidelity especially as a woman. It wouold only be a matter of time before you were tempted.

6) Does your job require you to mix with worldly people? How would you get out of after show parties etc?

7) As a woman studing to be a JW pressure would be put on you for all of the above reasons to quit your job. If you refuse I doubt very much that you could be baptised. Therefore you would not be eligible for marriage to your b/f. Your B/f, as the future head of the house would be pressured to make you quit and as a JW you should submit to his advice.

8) If you are willing to change your career to something dull and unfullfilling (which you will have to do) think about your children. They will be indoctrinated against education their whole lives and told to take rubbish jobs.

These things came to mind as I'm here, doing my job, that I'm very lucky to have despite growing up with no qualifications and doing rubbish part time jobs while I was a full time JW preacher. I've spent a decade or more getting educated and throwing caution to the wind to get back on track in terms of a career. This all whilst slowly extracting myself from this cult. A side point - during that time I've learned that women are equals because growing up a JW I believed they were second class citizens - not a nice religion towards women.

I hope this has given you a little insight into a JW's view.

It's a really selfless thing to give up your career for someone. But you won't be giving it up for your b/f - it's for a religion that does not care about you. If he wants to you give this up - he doesn't love you - really he doesn't.

mmxiv

12

Watchtower: Registered in England as a charity!?

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

watchtower: registered in england as a charity!?.

http://bestcharity.info/watchtower-registered-in-england-as-a-charity/.

bangalore.

MMXIV

Cedars,

The more I consider the charities commissions rules the more I think the WBTS are vulnerable to ex-JW's campaigning against their charitable status. Normally they could try and write off the view of an ex-JW as being biased and therefore not objective, however the fact that ex-JW's have such a view is evidence itself.

Evidence is required, it can't be suppossed. But getting a large petition from people who have been affected would be a part of that evidence. For anyone who considers their experience as a JW was on the balance of things detrimental rather than benefitial sign the ePetition that Cedars has set up.

mmxiv

12

Watchtower: Registered in England as a charity!?

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

watchtower: registered in england as a charity!?.

http://bestcharity.info/watchtower-registered-in-england-as-a-charity/.

bangalore.

MMXIV

Blondie,

Legally the WBTS Britain complies to the Charities Act 2006 in terms of it's puposes by "the advancement of religion" and follows guidelines for trustees and reporting etc.

There are a number of tests that the Charities Commission make but one interesting area that the WBTS could lose it's status as a charity is if it causes detriment or harm to the public. See guidance below (apologies in advance if it's too long). It's worth a read with the WBTS' policies on blood, shunning and damning view of other religions:

E4. Principle 1c Benefits must be balanced against any detriment or harm

'Benefit' means the overall or net benefit to the public. It is not simply a question of showing that some benefit may result.

The achievement of a particular aim may be of some benefit to the public but, in achieving that benefit, may also have detrimental or harmful effects. In assessing the public benefit of individual organisations, we will consider any evidence of significant detrimental or harmful effects of that organisation carrying out its aims in its particular circumstances. There would need to be some real evidence of detriment or harm; it cannot just be supposed.

The existence of detriment or harm does not necessarily mean that the organisation cannot be charitable. It is a question of balancing the benefits against the detriment or harm.

If the detrimental or harmful consequences are greater than the benefits, the overall result is that the organisation would not be charitable.

Examples of things that might be evidenced to be detrimental or harmful might include:

something that is damaging to the environment;
something that is dangerous or damaging to mental or physical health;
something that encourages or promotes violence or hatred towards others;
unlawfully restricting a person's freedom.

No organisation that has aims that are illegal, or that intentionally deceives or misrepresents its aims and so is a sham, can be a charity. Where that sort of detriment or harm is present then there is no balancing to be done as, notwithstanding any benefits that might arise from carrying out the organisation's aims, it cannot be recognised as charitable.

As with the consideration of benefits, we are concerned only with the detriment or harm that arises from the particular organisation carrying out its particular aims. The fact that it may be argued there is detriment or harm to the public generally from certain types of charity carrying out particular charitable purposes does not mean that the detriment or harm actually exists. Or, if it does exist, that it necessarily applies to any organisation having those charitable purposes in its objects.

Where the benefits are overwhelming, the existence of some inconsequential detriment would not affect public benefit.

For example, it might be argued that the provision of motorised transport for people with a disability has some harmful effect on the environment. But, in general, the benefits of giving mobility to people with a disability are considerably greater than any consequential harmful effects on the environment. We might encourage the charity to consider ways of minimising any harmful environmental effects. But, unless the transport were grossly polluting of the environment for some reason (in which case it is unlikely to be roadworthy anyway), we would consider the benefits to outweigh the harm.

Conversely, where there may be some benefit but the harm is considerable enough to negate the benefits, public benefit would be affected.

For example, we recognise that there are risks involved in playing any sport. But some dangerous or 'extreme' sports involve risks that go far beyond the usual risks associated with energetic physical exercise. If an organisation is concerned with promoting participation in such a sport, we would consider what steps the organisation takes to minimise the dangers to personal safety and reduce the risks of injury to a minimum. If insufficient steps were taken to minimise the risks, then whatever health benefits there might be from the physical exercise of participating in the sport would be greatly outweighed by the dangers to physical health.

mmxiv

11

Did you / do you have KH Parking Lot Security Duty?

by Alfred in

jw
friends

just wondering if this is only a regional thing.... i've been in two kingdom halls in the 90's where the parking was basically shared or public... so every 15 minutes, baptized publishers (who were not irregular or inactive) were rotated and had to stand outside in all kinds of weather just to watch everyone's vehicles.

when the weather was nice, it was a good opportunity stretch out to take a break from the borefest.

but i always thought that this was so contrary to their belief of "putting kingdom interests first"... i even approached an elder one time about this and asked: "why are we putting material things ahead of listening to the public talk?

MMXIV

best assignment ever. Standing still was also considered a little dodgy so we'd adopt the slowest pioneer pace round several roads. It was never done in the rain, but sunny days were wonderful.

mmxiv

25

Most Jehovah's Witnesses dont want ex-JWs, dis-fellowshipped, disassociated to be successful!!!

by Joliette in

jw
friends

or to acheieve any goals in their life.

and how dare you try to enjoy your life in this sick and demonic world.

dont you know that this world wont be here for long?

MMXIV

This will sound harsh but it's my honest experience:

I've never met such a goldfish bowl of jealousy and envy. They were positively gleeful when someone who left would be working part time delivering pizzas. They even used this in their answers at the W/T but added some fake pity. They also had an incredible ability to assume they themselves could easily have been more successful. "I'd have been a rock star if I wasn't in the truth" syndrome.

Also rather than hate for others to be successful I noted that they often didn't really acknowledge success. Sometimes this was because they didn't understand how hard people have to work to earn a lot of money or compared someone's achievments to an even more famous person. Some were too thick to understand or so self absorbed in their own JW community.

This is based on numerous this said about people who didn't go to all the meetings, those who were "weak" and those who had left. Especially those who had left.

There is a patter of modesty that JW's learn, but many are far from modest, caring or empathetic. Some are, but the cult brings out the worst in people.

mmxiv

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