booby - yeah, in looking at that picutre, it sure does seem a little too posed, huh?
"Look kids: DEVASTATION AND DESTRUCTION. Big smiles, now!" Ugh, it's enough to make you want to pour (more) Kahlua in your coffee
ReallyTrulyAthena
JoinedPosts by ReallyTrulyAthena
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33
Were you ever embarrassed or somewhat ashamed when the WT patted themselves on the back in their own articles?
by miseryloveselders ini was browsing through the december 2010 awake, and noticed an article on the earthquake that happened in haiti earlier this year.
it didn't take long for the article to disturb me.
the third paragraph initiated the sanctimonious tone that is present througout the article.
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Today I seized the day...and disassociated myself
by carpediem inand i feel good!
it was a long time coming.
i stopped going to meetings june 09. the reason i left it so long is because my husband is still in and for this reason i see witnesses from time to time.
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ReallyTrulyAthena
Blessed freedom...hurray and huzzah, carpediem! I admire your spirit
Congrats.
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33
Were you ever embarrassed or somewhat ashamed when the WT patted themselves on the back in their own articles?
by miseryloveselders ini was browsing through the december 2010 awake, and noticed an article on the earthquake that happened in haiti earlier this year.
it didn't take long for the article to disturb me.
the third paragraph initiated the sanctimonious tone that is present througout the article.
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ReallyTrulyAthena
I think you've asked a fair question. And I'm loving the great freedom to be able to "think critically" here as opposed to the "one-mind/don't-ask-questions/cult-speak" we once were part of.
As they have done in the past, I do believe that the WTBTS is savvy to have placed this particular article in an Awake magazine and not WT, particularly since it's the more "public face" of the two magazines. I think they continuing to feel the heat of being in the public eye for the various scandals within, so this is a way for them to combat it. When all else fails, bring in the spinmeisters!
After all these years of being DF'd, I will admit to still finding myself mildly irritated by the pandering commentaries they churn out such as this one. The condescending, puffed-up, strutting-about tone is off-putting.
I concur with your thoughts. I think it's great to help others in need but 1. one doesn't have to make a big deal out of it (actions speak louder than words) and 2. why isn't the WTBTS helping out folks in their own congregations - the sick, the elderly, the struggling? Not saying that when a big catastrophe happens, help shouldn't be extended there as well, but if they don't take care of the "basics" in-house, how can they truly take care of the "big things" out there?
The real answer is they can't, but that won't stop them from trying.
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121
Broken Heart...
by brotherdan insome of you have read what i wrote on this thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/200211/1/never-wake-up.
here's the final email my wife just sent me 1 minute ago:.
[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-us</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="--" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!
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ReallyTrulyAthena
You're welcome, it's the least I can do at this moment and "over the ether", you know? Oh, and a newborn at that! Sorry for my oversight. What a neat thing to do, to have their names tattoed on your back!
I'm sure you did absolutely everything right...for them and to meet the rules and procedures of the JWs. You have sacrificed; you have supported her; you have given and not much has come back. That's the utter sadness to this (amongst other sadnesses). I'm not trying to bash her, but while I hear her broken-heart, I don't hear her listening to you anymore and that's not good. Perhaps I'm misreading things and really, I just want to be supportive. I fear the path that you are being sent on may not be pretty. This was not your choice. And yes - losing them to a cult is a possibility, but being an optimist at heart, perhaps not. At least you recognize it as a cult and have been trying to 'do the right thing' by getting them out. (Ugh, RTA - again with the trite words. It's times like these that I wish I had a magic wand to make things all better) :(
I can only hope and pray that one day she will "see"...
Please take care; we're all here for you.
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Broken Heart...
by brotherdan insome of you have read what i wrote on this thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/200211/1/never-wake-up.
here's the final email my wife just sent me 1 minute ago:.
[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:trackmoves /> <w:trackformatting /> <w:punctuationkerning /> <w:validateagainstschemas /> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:saveifxmlinvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:ignoremixedcontent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext> <w:donotpromoteqf /> <w:lidthemeother>en-us</w:lidthemeother> <w:lidthemeasian>x-none</w:lidthemeasian> <w:lidthemecomplexscript>x-none</w:lidthemecomplexscript> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> <w:dontgrowautofit /> <w:splitpgbreakandparamark /> <w:dontvertaligncellwithsp /> <w:dontbreakconstrainedforcedtables /> <w:dontvertalignintxbx /> <w:word11kerningpairs /> <w:cachedcolbalance /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> <m:mathpr> <m:mathfont m:val="cambria math" /> <m:brkbin m:val="before" /> <m:brkbinsub m:val="--" /> <m:smallfrac m:val="off" /> <m:dispdef /> <m:lmargin m:val="0" /> <m:rmargin m:val="0" /> <m:defjc m:val="centergroup" /> <m:wrapindent m:val="1440" /> <m:intlim m:val="subsup" /> <m:narylim m:val="undovr" /> </m:mathpr></w:worddocument> </xml><!
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ReallyTrulyAthena
brotherdan, I'm new to this board, but have lurked on and off for a while. I've read your posts with interest over the past few months and while I was never in your shoes (I'm DF'd/divorced BUT no kids), I'm sorry to hear this is happening and that it has come to this crucible-like situation. Waking up and breaking the chains is one thing, but with a child involved? My heart goes out to you, and to her as well. It's a loss all the way around and for all parties concerned.
Sorry for such trite words, I wish I could come up with something better. My thoughts & prayers during this difficult time as you find your footing.
RTA
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My memory of the 1975 fiasco (born in 1970)
by Lady Zombie indrew sagan posted this fine thread http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/160876/1.ashx in which a few people remarked that hardly anyone under the age of 40 even knows about the 1975 failed prediction.. i was born in 1970 and i do remember the 1975 fiasco.
for what it's worth, here are my memories and how it was explained to me.. late in 1968 my parents decided to have me because, like many other jws, they thought that i would never have to deal with the world or go to school.
they carefully planned to have me during the year of 1970 because they didn't want to go through armagedon with an infant, so they figured if i was 5 years old, i would be old enough to run, feed myself, and at least know enough to take shelter from the elements or hide.
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ReallyTrulyAthena
I heard of a CO who told a congregation, "Remember how you wanted to stay alive until '75? Well, you DID! So what are you complaining about?"
Oh, wow - SERIOUSLY, he said that? That takes some BIG nerves of steel.
Actually, if you're a JW there's only one thing you have to live by: "Whatever the WTBTS says is truth... until they change it."
Agreed, Ding. Oh, and all under the guise of "New Light". That catch-phrase of theirs is a CATCH-ALL for them, huh?
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ReallyTrulyAthena
I Should Have Known Better Simply From.....
...the fact that my brain could not get around how come we could celebrate people's wedding anniversaries, but not birthdays?
...how I had to give back the Barbie Doll that some kindly "wordly girl" gave me in 5th grade. She felt sorry for me as I had to sit in the classroom all by myself during the Christmas celebrations down in the gym where everyone else was. There was a big holiday sale going on and she bought it for me out of her own money. I will never forget her kind, caring face as she gave me the doll. I'll also never forget Dad's wrath at me even taking the doll in the first place and him ordering me to give it back the very next day. I did, tears streaming down my reddened face. I couldn't ever look that girl in the eye ever again, I felt so dirty and ashamed and embarrassed.
The WT society claiming that there is no marriage in the resurrection. If your mate died in this system before Armageddon - you wouldn't be allowed to welcome her back and be man & wife again. Yet we were told that Jehovah would take away any feelings in both mates so as to be able to cope with the pain of not being together. Yet we would be happy to welcome back a mate in the resurrection ?
Oh, that old chestnut! I totally agree, Mr. Flipper. My father re-married another JW very quickly after my Mom passed on. Off and on over the 15 years she has been gone, he used the "don't you want to see your mother again in the resurrection?" line on me. And I shake my head in bewilderment at his utter lack of...what? Cluelessness? Or is it heartlessness? Mr. Clean's Magical Emotion Eraser or no, this is just insane thinking.
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My memory of the 1975 fiasco (born in 1970)
by Lady Zombie indrew sagan posted this fine thread http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/12/160876/1.ashx in which a few people remarked that hardly anyone under the age of 40 even knows about the 1975 failed prediction.. i was born in 1970 and i do remember the 1975 fiasco.
for what it's worth, here are my memories and how it was explained to me.. late in 1968 my parents decided to have me because, like many other jws, they thought that i would never have to deal with the world or go to school.
they carefully planned to have me during the year of 1970 because they didn't want to go through armagedon with an infant, so they figured if i was 5 years old, i would be old enough to run, feed myself, and at least know enough to take shelter from the elements or hide.
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ReallyTrulyAthena
Thanks for the thread bump...:)
Hi & welcome, d!
Several comments really hit me from LZ's original post:
We thought for sure that you'd never have to go to school or deal with the world. Well, it's our fault for being too eager and over anticipating Jehovah!
I was only 7 years old when 1975 came and went (and that year, the parents then doubling down on their shots of the proverbial Kool-Aid - although I seem to remember my mom & dad getting into a LOT of fights around this time). But I totally recall having thoughts back in those years like, "Thank goodness I won't have to go to middle/high school!" and "I'll get to pet the lions!" and many other naive, programmed responses. All escapism from reality and yet another reason why it probably took me (and many others, I'm sure) a long time to reallllly learn what the world was all about, once we were "out" of the JWs; it felt like a bucket of cold water was dumped on you. It's a tough adjustment when you come out from behind the curtain and into reality, but it's worth it.
Still stinging from 1975, in the early 1980's, COs and DOs would scold the congregations in talks about not being patient with Jehovah, grieving Jehovah's spirit, and mummering. They were warned nebulously about "apostacy" and the term "sifting" was used frequently. 1975 suddenly wasn't discussed at all anymore, especially now that the date "1975" and "apostacy" began being linked together.
I remember the scolding talks, the lectures from the platform, the rebukes to the rank and file about their murmuring and also the "wondering and gossiping" that went on after someone was DF'd around this time. "Do you think it was because they are an APOSTATE???" ((cue Twilight Zone music))
'Spiritually weak', 'sifting', etc. - the loaded language this religion has used/still uses continues to amaze me (and sometimes me) down to this day.
RTA
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How to set up a Watchower cultlike following !!!
by foreverme in1. keep it vague; keep it simple.
use ambiguous and obscure words, but keep it simple or lose your credibility.. .
2. emphasize the visual and the sensual over the intellectual.
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ReallyTrulyAthena
When the proverbial you-know-what goes wrong with your teachings: shift the blame to the rank and file, all while claiming to still be God's mouthpiece. Wielding fear and awe in the name of an almighty power are powerful tactics, donthcha know.
Welcome, foreverme
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THERE ARE NO WORDS TO DESCRIBE THIS!!!!!.....
by Nick! inhi xxxx,.
to tell you the truth, i feel very deceived from the way the organization has been acting in the last years.. .
----- original message ----- from: xxxxxsent: wednesday, august 18, 2010 1:04 amsubject: fw: there are no words to describe this!!!!!......
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ReallyTrulyAthena
Welcome, LaGere!
Wow, Nick. The arrogance displayed by his comments is just...unbelievable. Thank you for sharing your experience. Like troubled mind, I'm bookmarking this for later reference as well.
This really bothers me a lot, and how many JWs in times past and today lose sight of "the basics" in loving & caring for one another and especially those who need our help the most.
Twice in its lifetime, Jehovah’s Organization, Israel, was condemned and destroyed by its very own God, because it had forgotten the basic of the worship, love, humility, caring for the poor, the widows and the orphans.