GrandmaJones

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Posts by GrandmaJones

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  18

  Calling All Birds!!!

  by snowbird in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  littlebird.. tweetiebird.. any other birds?.

  please flock hither!

  syl.

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  GrandmaJones

  Snowbirds....I like to go somewhere south in the winter. It's too cold for us older ones where I live.
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  30

  How many have you gotten out of the Borg?

  by TweetieBird in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'll start -.

  i have officially gotten 2 out so far, which is more than i ever got into it, with the exception of my son that i begged not to get baptized.

  he, however, is disfellowshipped now and wants nothing to do with the organization.

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  GrandmaJones

  This is encouraging. I think for sure one, and two more are showing signs of doubts. I am hoping to get most of them. I don't think my one son and his wife will ever come out. He is an elder, and he and his wife both pioneer. He was at Bethel for a little while for a special project and roomed with another guy in the same situation. He came back and raved about the experience. He has made several more applications to go while still single, and even now, he and his wife want to sell their house and go do missionary work.

  As far as the rest of my children go, I am hopeful. My family has always said what they think, and I know for absolute fact that they differ in thought about certain things than the WT. I have one sibling who I think will come out. The others live so far away that I doubt I can reach them.

  If I can get out my husband, the other children, grandchildren, and my one sibling close by, I will be happy that I have done as much as possible. After that, it'll be all gravy....

  My husband will be a piece of cake. But he has such a big mouth, and can never contain himself on ANY subject. He has to be last. He'll try to convert the whole congregation within a week. We will both be disfellowshipped immediately.

  I plan to get books on cults today and Ray's Freedom book. If I can get them, even one today, I will go off the board for whatever time it takes to read them all, because after all, the Watchtower has taught me to "prepare".
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  64

  Do you feel sorry for the family members who shun you?

  by SweetBabyCheezits in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as each instance of shunning happens to me, it seems even more ridiculous than the last.. this weekend i took our kids to the park - wife opted out, understandably - and we let our daughter call my parents to inform them we'd be there.

  this was my first time in the presence of my parents since our df announcement two weeks ago.. my mom and dad were 10-20 feet away much of the time and yet they never said a greeting or.. well anything.

  at one point my daughter, who is aware of the shunning, mistakenly thought my mom called my name and shouted excitedly, "mawmaw, were you talking to daddy??

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  GrandmaJones

  I am quite sure that your mom's heart is breaking. It must be killing her to do something that gives you both such pain. I have never known anyone with a disfellowshipped family member that it wasn't killing inside. A couple of months ago a sister was crying in the bathroom over her daughter. What's so sad is the tears, and her resolve to "do as jehovah says".
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  24

  Who can I count on during the tribulation?

  by GrandmaJones in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tonight it occurred to me that i really don't have any friends.

  i have people i am acquainted with, people who i really only know slightly.

  in the past few weeks, i know more about lady lee, brotherdan, leolaia (even if i can't spell it!

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  GrandmaJones

  I think I will read that along with Steve's cult books. Can't get enough information right now. I have to reprogram. Input!

  Thanks for the warm words y'all. Much appreciated.

  P.S. I always have room for more grandchildren!
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  1

  Myths and Facts About Cult Involvement

  by Dogpatch in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  reprint from the sep/oct 1995 free minds journal .

  myths and facts about cult involvement.

  by randall watters.

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  GrandmaJones

  btt

  I think it's time to read the books on cults. Checking the library out tomorrow.
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  45

  Did born-in's have the capacity to "test their faith"?

  by sabastious in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  2 corinthians 13: 5a - 5 examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves.. this verse just comes at me like a locomotive.. to examine something is to truly use my mental capacities and to look at something objectively.. how do i accomplish this, even now?.

  i was raised in an organization that controlled my information and used fear of rejection as well as my need for approval to "inculcate" the "truth" into me.. by that right, i (and all born-ins) do not have the ability to examine our faith (as a jw).. there will always be an artificial pull either for or against the society (whether we are aware of it or not).. free will has been comprimised; therefore our "faith to our creator" has been tainted and cannot be judged as worthy or unworthy.. of course many of us have regained our ability to discern and look at things objectively.. but i believe that we will never be able to truly look at the watchtower organization without a slant.. not to say the conclusions we come to regards to the organization are not valid (because they are and have been validated).

  my point is that the organization has no right to judge and ostracize any born-in for leaving and even for speaking out.. they broke us, and now they are demonizing us for the things we did in that broken state.

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  GrandmaJones

  I am dealing with my cult personality every other minute. It's gonna take a while to get this under control. I'm never gonna get over it. I remember when Patty Hearst was abducted and the idea of "Stockholm Syndrome" seemed difficult to swallow at first. That wasn't anything like the identification we make with the Watchtower. Our entire identity is there.

  Sabastious, a very good post. Something to think about tonight....
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  24

  Who can I count on during the tribulation?

  by GrandmaJones in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tonight it occurred to me that i really don't have any friends.

  i have people i am acquainted with, people who i really only know slightly.

  in the past few weeks, i know more about lady lee, brotherdan, leolaia (even if i can't spell it!

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  GrandmaJones

  Ha,ha, that would be another good Minimus thread..... Would you put your life in Minimus' hands?
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  4

  Triggering the Cult Personality - Not necessarily a bad idea

  by Mad Sweeney in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've been thinking about things to say to people lately, since i finished releasing the bonds.

  one thing i've been rolling around in my skull is the idea that it isn't necessarily a bad thing to trigger the cult personality, if you plan to leave it at that for the moment.

  yes, the cult personality is trained to block out any rational criticism of the cult and to demonize anyone who brings up that criticism.

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  GrandmaJones

  "The big downside is that once you have revealed yourself as a critic of the cult, you may be turned off (shunned) for good. So that may be something you have to reserve for your last word." - Mad Sweeney

  I tend to think so.
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  24

  Who can I count on during the tribulation?

  by GrandmaJones in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  tonight it occurred to me that i really don't have any friends.

  i have people i am acquainted with, people who i really only know slightly.

  in the past few weeks, i know more about lady lee, brotherdan, leolaia (even if i can't spell it!

  1. 
  2. 
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  GrandmaJones

  Tonight it occurred to me that I really don't have any friends. I have people I am acquainted with, people who I really only know slightly. In the past few weeks, I know more about Lady Lee, Brotherdan, Leolaia (even if I can't spell it!) Outlaw, etc, etc. I know who has a sense of humor, who had a terrible marriage, who is hurting, worried, in pain.

  I don't know anyone from the hall. If they were married before, I don't know what happened, or what the names of their children are by the first wife. Are they sick? Afraid? Lonely? We only talk about our comments at the meeting, field service experiences, the next assembly. It is very superficial. No one there even knows me. Are these the people I was supposed to count on during the tribulation? Goodness, we never even talk on the phone except to "make arrangements". What was I thinking? How did I convince myself this was even possible? How can a roomful of people believe for a moment that this room of virtual strangers are going to be persons to count on in life and death situations.

  This weekend I pointed out to Brotherdan that over fifteen hundred views were made, watching and worrying for him. I have missed meetings for the last six weeks, and no one even called. It is very sad, itsn't it?
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  108

  I WAS CAUGHT emailing a pdf copy of the New Elders Book

  by Smoky in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i sent a .pdf to a few friends and one of them betrayed me and forward it to a elder i know, along with the emails of the recipients.

  i cant believe i was so naive to think that i can trust someone..stupid.

  i have not talked to the "benedict arnold" yet, but hopefully soon.

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  GrandmaJones

  I found your last topic started. I had read it, but it didn't really sound like it was anything other than an encouragement call to me that day you posted it. Now they will have something to talk about.

  I support you and will worry about you, but I have no experience in this kind of thing. When it comes to this kind of matter, perhaps a current or former elder would have good advice.