gutted

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Posts by gutted

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  1

  Candace Conti case - An issue of policy, was "Elder Manual" used?

  by gutted in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i am curious in order to establish the fact that the society uses a policy of first contacting the branch in regards to cases of child abuse and not the police, was the elders manual used as proof?

  i have a suspicion it was, but would like to see it verified.

  casually looking at the case notes right now.. i also wonder if they used previous documentation made by the elders for the perp, such as his first "conviction".. anyone have insights?.

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  gutted
• 
  1

  Candace Conti case - An issue of policy, was "Elder Manual" used?

  by gutted in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals
  1. 
• 

  gutted
• 
  1

  Candace Conti case - An issue of policy, was "Elder Manual" used?

  by gutted in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  i am curious in order to establish the fact that the society uses a policy of first contacting the branch in regards to cases of child abuse and not the police, was the elders manual used as proof?

  i have a suspicion it was, but would like to see it verified.

  casually looking at the case notes right now.. i also wonder if they used previous documentation made by the elders for the perp, such as his first "conviction".. anyone have insights?.

  1. 
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  gutted

  I am curious in order to establish the fact that the society uses a policy of first contacting the Branch in regards to cases of child abuse and not the police, was the Elders manual used as proof? I have a suspicion it was, but would like to see it verified. Casually looking at the case notes right now.

  I also wonder if they used previous documentation made by the elders for the perp, such as his first "conviction".

  Anyone have insights?
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  9

  2 year into my fade, where I'm at...

  by gutted in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well it's been exactly 2 years and 2 weeks since the night where i investigated (googled) as much about jws as i could after being born and raised in the cult till my mid 20s.

  it took just one all nighter to completely demolish all of the doctrines and bullshit of the religion.

  basically after that i went to one more convention and have not stepped into a kingdom hall since.

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  gutted

  Well it's been exactly 2 years and 2 weeks since the night where I investigated (googled) as much about JWs as I could after being born and raised in the cult till my mid 20s. It took just one all nighter to completely demolish all of the doctrines and bullshit of the religion. Basically after that I went to one more convention and have not stepped into a kingdom hall since. I've ignored all the elders calls and they have ignored me, my fade is going well on that front.

  Life is strange, the first few months of me leaving were painful but also happy. I made new friends and had such an optimistic outlook on the world, thinking I could accomplish and do things I truly wanted. I have maintained all my family relationships which I am very happy about. I've lost basically all my JW friends which is not surprising and I thought that would happen as it usually does.

  Life has become more complicated as of late. I have a bunch of issues with myself that I'm trying to resolve and I should probably see a therapist about. A major thing for me is I still feel like an outcast in this "world" and feel like my social skills are poor due to avoiding contact with "worldly people". I do realize a lot of that is my personality but if I do hang out with a "worldly" group of early to late 20 year olds, they have stories which I just can't relate to at times. Like having multiple partners, wild parties, crazy trips... I spent my teens and early 20s being a good JW and felt like I shouldn't date till ready for marriage. Now I'm finding dating really hard because I just don't have the experience and I'm awkward. I have pretty low self-esteem and I know some of that is the constant guilt and fear I had growing up. I'm trying to improve it, as I see that people will generally walk all over you if they detect weakness, but it's just so damn hard.

  I'm not blaming the JWs for all my issues, I realize now I have the ball on these things and I it's up to me to make things better. I will say it was nice to have a hope to lean on, and sometimes, just sometimes I wish I could go back to the comfort of the organization but I obviously never will. Just the feeling of belonging to something wholesome and working towards a greater purpose, not all the little bullshit politics we had to put up with.

  I used to frequent the forums and read JW related books a lot when I was first fading, now that has drastically gone down in importance for me.

  I'd like to hear from people who have been fading and what positive and negative things they have found or if they can relate to my experience at all.
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  117

  "9/11 was in fact....an Attack on Jehovah's Organization!!"

  by RagingBull in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  good day,.

  this week is the super special week of activity with one of our favorite jw celebrities...the circuit overseer!!!.

  in last night's talk, he gave sooooo much encouragement...just hearing him made me want to fall to my knees and worship him!

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  gutted

  I think this is just COs being COs. They always pull out a little shit-nugget of "truth" out of their asses. Funny enough a lot of times it's not in print anywhere, they're just that spiritually minded they can decipher world events with their vast Bible knowledge. Funny how some have some skewed personal opinions, I guess they can get away with it cause they are nearer the top of the totem pole. I think if a reg pub would spout some of the idiocy these guys do they would be ostracized.

  Turdburglers :)
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  10

  The 50 Most Brilliant Atheists Of All Time

  by Bangalore in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the 50 most brilliant atheists of all time.. http://brainz.org/50-most-brilliant-atheists-all-time/.

  bangalore.

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  gutted

  Disappointed Christopher Hitchens was not on this list.
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  29

  How was the singing in your congro?

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  mine as best abysmal.. we had brother ..i can't sing in tune but will sing louder than anyone else.. sister trained opera voice that sang a note or 3 above everyone else.. the rest were just down rite dreadfull..

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  gutted

  It would vary. I remember once the sound system wasn't cooperating and we had a classically trained singer that started us off on the right note, that was kinda cool.

  In my last congregation we had the typical older opera singer sister, sounded like a pig being murdered
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  30

  Will the WT stats take a dive in 2014?

  by Aussie Oz in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  while looking through stas charts on jwfacts i notice two charts of publishers through the years.. on them, it is very clear that growth fell off the chart after 1975 and dropped dramaticaly again at 2000.. we know why for 75 and remember that many understood the big a to come by 2000.. will 2014 mark a subconscious and hopefully conscious psychological reaction from jws and 'interested' ones i wonder?.

  oz.

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  gutted

  It won't matter at all, there is no significance to 2014 for the typical JW.

  A thousand years is but a blink of an eye to Jehovah, wouldn't be suprised to see that in one of the Watchtowers as a specific reference to this date. Only 900 more years to go!

  I do find it funny that only ex-JWs care about stuff like this, I forsee most dubs not even giving it a passing thought.
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  16

  Woe is me...

  by gutted in

  1. social
  2. relationships

  i need to get this out and this is the only place i know that it will be ok to do so.. so i've been out (inactive) for over a year a half now and decided i wanted a relationship with a non-jw, obviously.

  i'm in my late 20s and never really had a girlfriend.

  it doesn't help that i'm an introvert and not a very social person, add to that the guilt and control issues i have from jws and i don't think i have many outgoing attractive qualities.. i have been on dates with about 4 girls so far, one i approached randomly and the others from online dating.

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  gutted

  I need to get this out and this is the only place I know that it will be ok to do so.

  So I've been out (inactive) for over a year a half now and decided I wanted a relationship with a non-JW, obviously. I'm in my late 20s and never really had a girlfriend. It doesn't help that I'm an introvert and not a very social person, add to that the guilt and control issues I have from JWs and I don't think I have many outgoing attractive qualities.

  I have been on dates with about 4 girls so far, one I approached randomly and the others from online dating. The latest girl after the second date texted me that we aren't compatible which sucked but oh well.

  I still feel somewhat optimistic but am having a lot of thoughts of being a "forever alone". At times I think that it'll be ok, but I know this is actually a really hard part of my life right now. I have so little experience and girls around my age have so much more which I find intimidating.

  The online thing is going hard, I've worked on my profile and messages but I barely get any replies and if I do it doesn't go past a reply or two.

  And I've read a lot of information on dating and self-improvement, I dress well and take care of myself but still no dice.

  I don't necessairly blame JWs because my other friends who left at the same I did are getting girls, one recently got a girlfriend so I've come to the conclusions my personality sucks or is lacking which has been very hard on me and I feel depressed a lot.

  I'd like to hear from people that have been in a similar boat... I know the old advice of "just get out there" but I've tried that and feel like giving up.
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  68

  As of today, I will no longer be one of Jehovah's Witnesses.

  by Knowsnothing in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i spoke with my mother, told her everything, my doubts, my fears, my sins.

  it came rushing out.

  my mother is devastated.

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  gutted

  Good to hear knowsnothing. It's interesting to encounter elders that are quite good at rhetoric and have strongly internalized the JW doctrines/beliefs and even have their own viewpoints on certain teachings. Trully a company man.

  Here is my take on your discussions with the elders, take it or leave it:

  You'll never "win" a debate with an elder, because even if you win it all is circular logic in the end. Once they are somewhat defeated they will go to loaded language that turns off the brain like "Where else would we go?" "But it's the closest to following the Bible of any religion" "It's the TRUTH" etc etc etc.

  Also your last debate the elder keeps shifting to different topics, generally you want to stick with one you are very knowledgeable of and try to get the point across.

  You're on their radar now, and your two courses of action are 1. DA/DF 2. Say you are weak and will stay in the org, then slowly fade out.

  If your intentions are to debate the elders this will most likely result in DFing for apostasy.

  Good luck, and enjoy your new life!