Posts by Band on the Run

11

Currently going to an accelerated college...and its bringing me back down to earth!

by Joliette in

jw
friends

i am currently going to school for criminal justice with a administration in human services...and boy oh boy!

you think you know it all, you been to college before and this teacher can't tell you nothing that you dont already know.

man, was i wrong (smh).

Band on the Run

It sounds terrible. I was fortunate to go the old-fashioned way. Scientific studies show you can only absorb so much at a time. I passed the NY bar exam yet i'm having trouble with a fast paced powerpoint class. I majored in humanities and law school involved reading cases that always have a story. This is more rote in nature. I fade after 1 and half hours. I need to see a tutor for the first time in my life.

It strikes me that the school may not be interested in good teaching as much as making a profit. What kind of prof teaches this way? Maybe I've just been away from a class room. I've taken continuing legal education courses but there are no exams.

I miss the collegiate environment. My only living responsibility was a dorm room. I did not cook or do dishes. Clothing maintenance was minimal. There were fewer distractions. I lived on campus and the library was packed. The common suffering was good for me. When I felt like going home, I could see others staying and studying. I knew I was competing against them.

Maybe I'm just old.

14

Fading vs. D'F'd

by Band on the Run in

i don't know the details.

is it true that if you slowly withdraw, you are free to go but if you are active and do an offense, you are shunned.

is their principle whether you are appropriating and blemishing the name vs. severity of the actual offense.

Band on the Run

I don't know the details. Is it true that if you slowly withdraw, you are free to go but if you are active and do an offense, you are shunned. Is their principle whether you are appropriating and blemishing the name vs. severity of the actual offense. It does not sound logical...duh

9

Great and appropriate lines from movies

by Mad Sweeney in

jw
friends

kid's watching wall-e right now.. i love the part when the gb, er, borg, er, auto pilot is telling the captain that staying on the ship means surviving and the captain says:.

"i don't want to survive, i want to live!

".

Band on the Run

Frankly Scarlet, I don't give a damn!

Rick's speech in Casablance about their problems not amounting to a hill of beans......... Claude Rains to Bogey about Free French.

I'm blanking.

Now is the winter of our discontent. Richard III? Not sure

To be or not to be....Hamlet

Neither a begger, nor a lender be......

The first thing we'll do is kill all the lawyers. One of the Henry plays.

......Agincourt. Henry IV- Olivier.

Hal's speech in 2010, a space odyssey.

Robert Redford, I don't know how to swim. Paul Newman. Are you crazy? We'll die. Butch Cassidy.

Rosebud - Citizen Kane.

32

Watch "Dr. Phil" on Wednesday

by JimmyPage in

jw
friends

subject of the show: "is this a cult?".

i hope they do a good job, my wife watches him every day.. hope steve hassan is a guest..

Band on the Run

Dr. Phil is as far from real as one can get. The show is clearly marked as enterntaiment. Real change involves a lot more than an one hour show. His self adulation is creepy. Still, his show is watched by many people. Hopefully, he will focus on the features that apply to all cults. I wish someone would rename cults. Its perjorative aspect makes many people wary. I know the Witnesses are definitely a cult but I don't like using the term.

I'm certain it hurts active Witnesses to hear the word cult used. It must turn people off who would otherwise be receptive. Dr. Phil focuses on sensational aspects. If he doesn't focus on this one group, the show might be educational. Denial is a very strong force. I know I am in denial about some aspects of my life. Even when you know you are denying, it remains a powerful force.

17

MY DAD IS SHUNNING ME!

by Hairyhegoat in

jw
friends

well this was no surprise to me that my dad was doing this.

m df brother went round last night to borrow some tools and my dad just had to mention that he was dissapointed with the family and how we don't go to the meetings anymore.

he told my brother that he could not have a proper farther son relationship as he does not share the same faith and hope for the future as him, and if an emergencey situation was to present it'self then he would be their for him.

Band on the Run

Shunning grandchildren and hoping they will die at Armageddon for your shortcomings is sick. It must hurt like hell. Living with conditional love is rough. My brother was in a cult -not JW. It helped me to realize that my brother lost his mind. He was no longer himself. The cult had control. Over decades, he managed to leave.

Did Jesus teach this? He taught about love, about the shepherd searching for the lost sheep, go and sin no more - but he healed the person despite the status, respect for familial relationships.

Jesus' examples shone through to me even as a child. The WTBTS on one side and Jesus on the other. Ii choose to worship Jesus. Witnesses don't quite believe in Jesus. Judaism taught the same values. Jesus wasn't that much of a revolutionary. Every major religion teaches these pieties. Hopefully, something will trigger your father to re-evaluate his beliefs. We waited decades for my brother.

The sad part is there is nothing to do. People who think JWs are good citizens show know this side of the story.

22

JWs and Counseling/Psychologists/Therapists

by Had To Go in

jw
friends

hello - i am hoping that some born-ins, still-ins, elders (ex), ms, etc.

can help me with a question i have.

what is the typical jw thought on seeking counseling via a licensed therapist or psychologist?

Band on the Run

When I was growing up (a while ago), I heard that psychiatrists could sap your will. I've seen plenty b/c of my Witness family and not one has sapped my will. They were akin to voodoo practicioners. Attending meetings should be enough to cure biological problems. Dragging someone to therapy against their will will not work. Would a divorce be a better option for him? My father would beat my mom and read scripture about how she had to submit. Horrible memories.

I've seen the quote from the elders manual before on this site. It puzzles me. What do they mean about confidentiality? How can it be abridged? The contents of the session are not discussed. The shrink won't compromise the matter. It seems that they are worried about something else. If I were a Witness, "a personal decision" technicality would not sink in. The culture is so ingrained.

My JW family was so abusive and chaotic that I fell apart when I left to go to college, which was my life long dream. I did not want to be a cleaning lady. When I was young, I dreamed of a Bethelite husband. Ha! It was very hard seeking help. I did not know anyone besides celebrity NYers who sought help. It was all Elizabeth Taylor or nothing. I could not tolerate the Witnesses. College was so awkward I was certain I would die. I stayed in with help. Law school was pure celebration. I did things I never dreamed of before in the Witnesses. Sometimes I think back and realize the difference in my life. I am moved to give thanks to Christ, the true God for me.

22

How Dare The Organization!!!

by minimus in

jw
friends

how dare these people!.

they pretty much force you to pioneer, not pursue a good education, become a "servant" to their whims!.

they don't want you accepting overtime at work because stupid meetings and door knocking is more important.. they accept pedophiles in their midst more than they accept anyone that questions their authority!.

Band on the Run

I had no choice. Deference to authority is not my strong suit. Yet I tried so hard to fit in all the while never believing in the destruction of Armageddon. I've been out decades. When I was a young child, I was eager for love. Love meant being a JW. If I were a good JW< my monstrous JW father would love me. It never worked. I lost a childhood.

My first real crisis came in 5th grade when my reading comprehension level passed that of the adult brothers. The whole male worship thing was also not me. My father served at Bethel. The stories of deceit and hypocrisy were overhelming. Yet off we marched like good Germans to the KH. Lying was permissible in the service of Jehovah. The double messages enveloped me.

I treasure my education and my worldly experiences. It is my honest belief that if I stayed in I would have killed myself. It was sheer torture. The Catholic kids were tortured too but the world appreciates their suffering.

24

JW FOOL COMMENTS ON WHY I'TS NOT A CULT !

by Hairyhegoat in

this guy must be mad.

please read and take his comments apart.!.

how jehovah's witnesses differ from cultsby john w. scottjohn w. scott.

Band on the Run

I wish there were another word for cult that is not perjortive. Maybe from his viewpoint, he is right. Beauty is the eye of the beholder. From my viewpoint, it is a cult. A dangerous one. It doesn't read as dorky as the WT. He highlights the good parts. Perhaps I emphasize the bad points. I am emphatically not neutral. My vehemence scares me. I feel my vehemence is deserved.

22

Molech and Jehovah

by cameo-d in

on the "word for the day thread" snowbird posted:.

snowbird: "molech was the god of the children of ammon, chemosh, the children of moab, yhwh, the children of israel.. .

i did not want to mess up the thread, so i decided to start a new one.

Band on the Run

Tammy,

If we are talking about a time prior to the commissioning of a Bible and its much later canonization, we don't know what YHWH required. YHWH did not spring up out of the air. The culture had to change from its pre-YHWH state. If all the surroudning cultures practiced human sacrifice, it makes sense that the Jews (maybe before Abraham even) also practiced the human sacrifice. The countries surrounding Israel today are Muslim and while stoning remains a punishment, human sacrifice does not exist. It makes sense that change would be gradual. Social forces had to exist. I doubt that the person sacrificed and the person's family were elated about human sacrifice. Many times the sacrifices are outsiders not considered fully human by the dominant culture.

If all the surrounding cultures evolved, why did not the Jews, too? There are several references to what we incorrectly term pagan religions in the OT. The Samaritans were once Jews. They worship YHWH. Variants of YHWH worship probably existed. I am completely convinced that it is fallacy to read the Bible literally. The contradictions are so apparent. A timeline would help, IMO.

Also, when Abraham has his conversion experience, it does not take years of study to learn YHWH doctrines and rules. I don't know what happened. News reels do not exist and obviously, I was not a witness. The Witnesses have a certain world view. I find complexity much easier on my conscience and gut.

20

So Caitlin isn't ignored as the other kids pass Valentines at school

by cabasilas in

i'm getting my education degree this year and am working in a practicum placement in an elementary classroom (5th grade).

it's a very practical way to see first-hand how teachers teach, discipline and help mold their students.

one student is a jw.

Band on the Run

I am in tears. What a wonderful teacher. I always felt like I was committing a crime or worse yet, a communist when I did not participate. My mom refused to let me miss school days. Illness was the only excuse. Our JW practice was inconsistent. I wish we were another religion. If we had to be JW, I am grateful for the days she looked the other way.

We could show her stuff but my dad would kill us. An outstanding memory occurred when I was five. He yelled at my younger bro and I that there was no Santa Claus. He took a regular white work sock out of the drawer and hung it on a doorknob. Declaring that Santa Claus would not come, we were chastised. It hurt so much. Of course, it was not a stocking and we had no fireplace - essentials for Santa Clause. It was very cruel and over the top, considering our ages. Later in the week, we trotted off to library school which included a trip to the local firehouse. Guess who was there? My brother's eyes popped out. He ran home all the way, screaming to my Mom that we did see Santa Claus! I knew it was a fireman but I chose not to inform him.

The worst Christmas ever was the year we visited a neighbor at the neighbor's insistence. They knew we did not celebrate Christmas. Their kids had a big tree, replete with many gifts. We had almost no toys. My bro and I sat under their tree, holding their toys, and they took photos. After a few minutes, we returned home without toys. Not even underwear or a toothbrush. I hate that family to this very day. The ache remains keen.

A teacher can't know every permutation of a family's belief. She honored it in the broad outline. I don't think it is her duty to ferret out the parent's wishes. My mom was expelled from high school b/c of the flag salute issue. Her mom would have beat her to a pulp if she saluted. The school ousted her. The Supreme Court only ruled that if parents were punished, it was unconst'l. They never addressed the student punishment. It seems that the child is the hostage. So the state will intervene to prevent death but not for an education. What if an Amish child wanted to finish school?