Posts by ambersun

19

The Internet has been a lifesaver for victims of Cults of all sorts .Is it then the beginning of the end for Cults ?

by smiddy in

jw
friends

since the internet has been available to people all over the earth, their has been an explosion of information going out that is unprecedented in the history of the world .. and one , just one of the beneficiaries of this knowedge are victims of cults who can relate to people who have undergone similar experiences and can offer help and encouragement to other victims .and this is done on a global scale .with what we are witnessing on this site with newbies joining on an almost daily basis , i live in hope that the writing is indeed on the wall for cults of all sorts.

do you agree ?.

smiddy.

ambersun

Since the internet has been available to people all over the earth, their has been an explosion of information going out that is unprecedented in the history of the world .

This is exactly what I was discussing with none JW relatives the other day, Smiddy!

These days we only have to google any topic to find a wealth of information that was not available back in the 1960s when my parents were studying. If only they had all this information at their fingertips back then. The research about Russell, Rutherford, not to mention the constantly changing doctrines and how 'old light' is swept under the carpet so to speak.

I have been amazed by what I have read online over the last few years. I think our lives would have taken a very different course if my dad had the internet back then. He used to have an open mind and a thirst for knowledge and in the early days of study he wouldn't have been afraid to look at 'apostate' sites just because someone told him not to. In fact, I feel sure he would have questioned why they felt so threatened by them, because surely the truth could stand up to any scrutiny??!

Also, with support sites such as this, it must be making life much easier for those who have seen the truth about the truth and are trying to fade. If only the internet had been around when we were struggling to leave back in the 1980s. We did not have contact with any other ex JWs and although we had the support of none JW relatives, there was nobody we could turn to for advice who really understood what we were going through.

So yes Smiddy, I for one also feel the writing is on the wall for cults of all sorts.

55

Imagine if the GB called you in for questioning

by nolongerconfused in

what would you tell or ask these group of men if they called you in for a meeting?.

.

ambersun

I would take a STACK of Watchtower and Awakes from the 1960s that directly affected my life and the lives of my peers, by instructing our parents to put pressure on us to forget about higher education or getting a career and just go out knocking doors, because armageddon was coming soooo soon that anything other than full time pioneering was a complete waste of time. No iffs or buts about it. We were told this as FACT and our parents were constantly being told to put pressure on us to do what was expected of us. Whatever they may say, it was NOT a matter of personal choice!!

I would point out to the GB that we are all old aged pensioners now, and armageddon did not come as promised. Therefore, will they please explain to us how they have the audacity to call their organisation "The Truth" as this was quite clearly a blatant, deceiptful lie in order to ensure they had another generation of young willing free labourers peddling their literature at no expense to themselves.

I would also draw their attention to articles in the magazines and recordings of talks during the 1960s and early 70s creating hysteria among the rank and file, resulting in many of them selling their homes and giving up jobs, using the money to live off as they spent 'the remainder of this system' preaching full time. Years later these same families were struggling to cope when the system had not ended and their savings had run out. I knew several of these couples or families personally. Many are now dead.

The GB may say that these brothers were 'running ahead of the organisation' and they were not encouraged to do this, yet the cleverly worded articles and talks aimed at instilling fear and urgency into these vulnerable and brain washed people more than suggest otherwise. The GB of the time knew exactly what was going on yet did nothing to stop it! They must have been laughing all the way to the bank with all that additional free labour.

That would just be for starters

25

Why should this annoy me?

by punkofnice in

long story short.

i left the wbt$ and was forcibly da'd for attending a church.. wifey says she 'chooses' not to talk to me about 'spiritual'(tm) matters.

i told wifey that she didn't 'choose' but was told not to talk to me about such matters by some men in brooklyn.

ambersun

lol at cobaltcupcake . I never ceased to be amazed at some of the stories circulating about me and hubby after we left. One wierd one was that hubby had banned me from going to the meetings, even though it was ME who had stopped going to meetings several months BEFORE HE DID!! I only found out about this little gem of falsehood when I bumped into a sister who looked really concerned and asked if there was any way I could persuade hubby to let me go back!??! I quickly put her straight that he would never stop me if I actually wanted to go, and she looked quite shocked and amazed that I was not being stopped against my will. Very strange! At the end of the day, they all too often believe exactly what they want to believe even if it flies in the face of the actual facts.

62

My apologies to everyone on this board (please read).

by Joliette in

jw
friends

about a month ago, i wrote a post about a sister that keeps coming to my apartment giving me watchtowers.

i called her an older sister.

she is in her late 50's.

ambersun

Joliette you are, indeed, a sweetheart .

I waved goodbye to my 50s a couple of years ago, and although I don't FEEL particularly old, I am under no illusions that I have well and truly joined the ranks of Old Fart whether I like it or not .

Even in my 50s I would have no problem with young people thinking I was ancient, because there was a time when I also used to think anyone over 50 was really old. That's life!!

I am sure we are all touched by your concern, but please don't worry about it.

Take care, love and hugs,

Amber the Ancient

65

Here is the funeral talk outline. VERY discraceful.

by stillstuckcruz in

this is truly terrible.

i just love the statement "instead of eulogizing the deceased, use the material in this outline to give a fine witness concerning the truth.

" in other words, utterly disregard the deceased.

ambersun

My mil was a very interesting, dynamic personality with many interests and talents and she lived life to the full. She was far from being dull or boring and although she had spent most of her life as a faithful JW she still made time for other interests including writing beautiful poetry! The elder who gave her funeral talk was a close friend who had known her for over 40 years and had so many personal memories of times spent in her company both at the meetings and at congregation get togethers that he could have talked for hours about her as a person. But no, he kept strictly to the WT outline, just talking about her devotion to the 'Truth', knocking doors and all the bible studies she had brought into the 'Truth'. Absolutely nothing about her as an individual other than being a wife and mother. Nothing else seemed to be worth mentioning apparently.

It was interesting to note he left out the part about her becoming disillusioned and bitter during her final years as she never thought she was going to grow old and die in this system.

10

What do you think about new jw.org section for children:

by Nebeska Nada in

ambersun

Just watched the video. Oh dear . As if the poor kids haven't got enough to contend with every day. They have already been made to throw away any toys their paranoid parents consider to be 'evil', because they 'make Jehovah sad', they are in fear of their schoolfriends offering them a birthday cupcake, as that will also 'make Jehovah sad', now they are being told to bow their heads and pray about everything they see or do throughout the day!! The poor little mites will be guilt tripped all day long, fretting over not remembering to pray every time they see a butterfly incase they have 'made Jehovah sad' again! I agree with what xanthippie said. It is indeed chilling!!!

38

How long did it take you to prepare for talks or parts in the KM school?

by OneDayillBeFree in

several years ago, whenever i got a talk slip i would get really nervous but accept it and work on it almost immediately.

of course that was way back when i still believed it all.. now they gave me a #3 talk out of the blue about a month ago and i had forgotten all about it till the meeting night.

i really thought about not showing up at all but at the last minute, i decided to go.. so when i got there the meeting had already started and so i just stayed in the back looked at the info, found 2 scriptures and then without any notes i went up and gave the stupid talk!.

ambersun

It all depended on who they gave me as a householder. If only we could choose our own it would have made life much simpler! Occasionaly I was put with an experienced sister and it was a joy as I could just write a talk, (which usually took me about half an hour), give her the outline and get up on the platform and do it. No problems.

However, I was usually given the new sisters or ones who were like timid little mice who hardly opened their mouths at the meetings and were quite often absolutely terrified. I was constantly having to re-write my talks in order to accommodate them so they had as little as possible to say. I had them dry up on me on more than one occasion just nodding or uttering monosyllabic replies so I had to improvise like mad.

I really envied the brothers who could just write their assignments then get up and give their talks without having to do those silly little plays with someone who could hardly speak.

68

My Mother Passed

by Roberta804 in

thank you for all of your support durning the two difficult weeks my mother was on her death bed.

last night at 10:30pm she breath her last with my sister and i by her side.

this is a real end of an era for me as i have known little these past 8 years other than taking care of my parents.

ambersun

Sincerest condolences. I was with my dad when he died after a long illness. My heart goes out to you at this very sad time

23

Please help !!!!!!

by mouthy in

jw
friends

i have just had a very long phone call from a wonderful sounding person ( jw).

she has tried to post on here(simon or angie please read this ).

she called herself bootlicker...why cant she get on.. come on kids tell grannie .

ambersun

Welcome

6

Starry, starry night...

by LoisLane looking for Superman in

jw
friends

tonight, in the north pacific, the stars are so bright.

not even twinkly.

just full out diamonds in the sky.

ambersun

Hi Just Lois, thank you for sharing your lovely experience with us.

Here in the UK the skies are laden with snow at the moment so all I can see is a very watery sun occasionally trying to show its face, but the scenery is magical, the surrounding fields are crisp and white and the trees all heavily dusted with sugar frosting. I keep thinking I should wrap up warm and go out for a walk and take some photos.