Posts by Band on the Run

11

WT Men as Squegee Men - Is it true?

by Band on the Run in

i know that since the witnesses don't like education b/c one might learn to think, members are consigned to certain jobs.

brothers held jobs as cheap soe salesman, that type of thing.

some security without a gun.

Band on the Run

I know that since the Witnesses don't like education b/c one might learn to think, members are consigned to certain jobs. Brothers held jobs as cheap soe salesman, that type of thing. Some security without a gun. Since coming here I keep coming across references to window cleaners. Is it that dominant a job for current Witnesses? There is nothing wrong with honest work. I found it repulsive that able bodied Witnesses would collect disability benefits for which all taxpayers are charged but these crippled, mangled consumptives could be special pioneers. If it happened today, I'd pick up the phone and report them. They broke the law and should have been charged.

I say that but I knocked myself almost to death to get a college degree. It was my ticket out to a better world -sans Witnesses. Once you start social climbing and join the rat race, a Witness cannot be found for continents.

Lying is all right if it suits them. I'm sorry I know I am off-topic. My parents worked so hard. My father was very abusive but to his merit, he did heavy physical labor. They got glory for pioneering. Of course, he labored hard b/c his young years were spent at Bethel as a bodyguard to Rutherford and Knorr.

66

Heads up! Jesus is angry at the churches for their hospitals and feeding the poor......

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

next week's congregation bible study will explain and illustrate why christendom is toast, and how we can contribute to the joy of christ by supporting "the faithful and discreet slave.".

the anger and the joy of the messianic king.

10. like his father, our master is by nature happy.

Band on the Run

Benjamin Franklin was instrumental in setting up private mutual benefit associations. He started the library by pooling books with friends so that everyone had more access to books they could afford. Fire fighters are another example. Churches are mutual benefits groups. Jesus was very concrete in what he directed. He provided details.

All major religions offer a social safety net. It is one think to say blessed are the poor. Jesus did not say the WT would reprint feed the poor. He said to feed the poor. It is a dangerous cult.

66

Heads up! Jesus is angry at the churches for their hospitals and feeding the poor......

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

next week's congregation bible study will explain and illustrate why christendom is toast, and how we can contribute to the joy of christ by supporting "the faithful and discreet slave.".

the anger and the joy of the messianic king.

10. like his father, our master is by nature happy.

Band on the Run

Benjamin Franklin was instrumental in setting up private mutual benefit associations. He started the library by pooling books with friends so that everyone had more access to books they could afford. Fire fighters are another example. Churches are mutual benefits groups. Jesus was very concrete in what he directed. He provided details.

All major religions offer a social safety net. It is one think to say blessed are the poor. Jesus did not say the WT would reprint feed the poor. He said to feed the poor. It is a dangerous cult.

40

My article on Russia's ban of JW's

by honorsthesis in

i am a columinst for cornell university's "the diplomacist".

i recently wrote an article on the various troubles jehovah's witnesses are facing in russia.

i try to make the point that, even if you do not support the witnesses (and most don't) you should support freedom of thought, expression and religion.. if you are interested in checking it out, here it is: "snuffing out religious freedom in russia".

Band on the Run

I agree that persecution for the Witness is akin to receiving a blood transfusion. Internal criticism is one thing, criticism by outsiders tends to bring cohesion. The ACLU was almost destroyed when it representated the principles of politcal speech under the 1st Amendment. Nazis announced they would hold a large demonstration in Skokie, Illinois, a town with an unusally large concentration of concentration camp victims. Jewish supporters and others cut off their funding of the ACLU. The lawyer bringing the case may have vomitted. Principles need to be upheld. Skokie residents formed all sorts of action groups to fight the Nazis. The emotional drain was enormous. Violence was promised. Jewish residents and even residents of Israel prepared for a rumble. The ACLU won at a very high loss for other causes. Once granted the right, the Nazis acknowledged no one wouldl show up. They did it to push buttons.

The Society is similar. Persecution enhances the Society's image. Ignoring the Witnesses is the best way to deal with them.

66

Heads up! Jesus is angry at the churches for their hospitals and feeding the poor......

by miseryloveselders in

jw
friends

next week's congregation bible study will explain and illustrate why christendom is toast, and how we can contribute to the joy of christ by supporting "the faithful and discreet slave.".

the anger and the joy of the messianic king.

10. like his father, our master is by nature happy.

Band on the Run

What you do for the least of these, you do for me is a celebrated Jesus quote that sums up his gospel. Love one another as I have loved you." I can choose to endeavor to do what Jesus commanded or be a robot in a dangerous cult. Perhaps I am weird and crazy but I choose Jesus.

Blessed are the meek, Blessed are the poor. -The Beatitudes.

Jesus' call was a radical one. Turn the other cheek. Mother Theresa vs. the Borg. It is so sad. I was enraged to read this statement by the Society. First, we don't have a record of every single reaction of Jesus. Perhaps Jesus was very rude to Mary and Joseph. We don't know. The gospels focus on his public ministry, not his private life (with the exception of Magdalene and John, the beloved disciple). Jesus was human - the Witnesses demote him greatly.

Jesus did not teach a prosperity gospel. Turn the other cheek. He did not mean to be a good neighbor, State Farm is there.

They are outrageous but zombies fall for it. So sad. Grace is present now through Christ our Lord. His ministers are supposed to be servants, not leaders.

I love art. See the Sistine Chapel with God creating Adam, the Last Judgement or DaVinci's Last Supper. I wept with the awe that God gave us such creativity to trasncend our llimitations and peek at the eternal. Compare with Watchtower illustrations. Listen to Bach, Handel, Beethoven, Mozart and listen to Kingdom songs. Which group is flowing with the Holy Spirit?

40

My article on Russia's ban of JW's

by honorsthesis in

i am a columinst for cornell university's "the diplomacist".

i recently wrote an article on the various troubles jehovah's witnesses are facing in russia.

i try to make the point that, even if you do not support the witnesses (and most don't) you should support freedom of thought, expression and religion.. if you are interested in checking it out, here it is: "snuffing out religious freedom in russia".

Band on the Run

I don't think this world is ungodly. In fact, the Bible says God is the creator of this world. Of course, most of the world differs from that view. How could God create a vile, ungodly place? God also is said to have created humans in his image. All this creative energy and wonder beyond our comprehension was negated by the Fall, when a weak man was duped by his wife to want Knowledge. The two ideas don't balance each other.

Gnostics believe creation is bad and traps us in physicality. OUr true spirit resides elsewhere and secret knowledge can free our spirit. So the Witnesses may be a heretical form of Christianity. Not everyone shares your world view.

35

Needs help telling my mom that I dont want to be apart of her religion

by LovelyEunie in

i really don't know how to just tell my mom that i dont want to do be a jw, i mean i really shouldn't have to tell her if she'd actually pay attention to my attitude everytime she goes on a religious rant, but she chooses to stay blind and keeps making me go to that place and sit through meetings that i don't agree with on most occasions...i think that she thinks that if she keeps making me go then i'll miraculously have a change of heart and want to stay in (which will never happen).

i don't want to be disrepectful about it but since she obviously doesn't care about my feelings towards it, then why should i care if i hurt her feelings in the process, you know?

i just really don't know what to do, everytime i go to that place i feel fake because everthing they instruct us not to do, i've pretty much done it or will do it with no remorse, and i don't care either way.

Band on the Run

I am glad for you. Perhaps Jesus led your dad to the computer screen. It reminds me of my own story. I faced horrific abuse from my JW father growing up. I was the oldest and the scapegoat. He despised me. One night when I was thirteen, he beat my brother and sister terribly. I was confused about my inate badness but I was very clear about my brother and sister. Her face was all messed up from the hard slaps. My bro, very he man type, cried. So I wrote to Seventeen, the teen fashion mag. They had an advice column. I sent the letter through a girlfriend.

I looked for a reply in the mag but those letters are created by them, I now know. They sent me a private letter to my friend;s house. It said my situation was sad. I could get help through a local social welfare office. The letter had all the contact info. I ran to a public phone far from home. Every time it rang, I had visions of Jehovah striking me dead with lightning for not being obedient. I was very conflicted. The phone was hung up repeatedly. I crumpled the letter and hid it in my room. If my mother or father knew, I knew I would die. My mom was a famous espionage agent, snooping all the time as she supposedly cleaned. She found the letter and was shocked. When she told me, I thought my life on earth was over. Do you know that she announced that she found it, called the agency, saw the social worker and we would go together for counselling. Jesus delivers or Seventeen delivers!

Best wishes on an exciting, productive and joyful life, free of the Witnesses. Maybe someday you will return. It will be your decision. Personally, I thought people telling you to move out at age eighteen were not realistic. Apartments and freedom require cash. Lots of it and in a consistent fashion. It was great that you reached out here. Keep up that spunk and you will have a good life.

62

Abusive Women and manipulation

by Lady Lee in

the other day we were talking about abusive mothers (toxic relationships).

i was sent this link today and think it is worth sharing.

i think it is an excellent article.

Band on the Run

I am a proud feminist. Go Alice Paul! The remarks about female supervisors in lowly positions that lack power is cogent. As I said before, some fields are female ghettos. These industries are very low-paying. Women cook for the minimum wage, men become chefs and make vast sums. Remember Julia Child was denied admission to the Cordon Bleu b/c she was female. I don't know how much to generalize from my experience. Social forces are obvious. I would cry so hard in high school b/c I'd be out with female friends who would dump me immediately to go off with any casual male. Advance arrangements could not be planned and made b/c a man might call. They view their time with me as worthless and demeaning. Once I graduated from high school and left my working class ghetto, I made it to the Big Apple and Barnard College, the women's college at Columbia.

Barnard boosted female self image. Margaret Mead was an active alumnae. These young women would never break plans with another woman to date a man. Men had to know their proper place. They felt very worthwhile compared to men. Men were loved passionately but time was made for studies, career and female friends. What a difference! We demonstrated for abortion rights. When abortion was illegal, dorm funds were set up. Everyone would money in a common pot so that an unplanned pregnancy meant either a sympathetic Park Ave. gyn or a trip to Europe. Sometimes I thought I would pulled apart with the contrasts in my life. We made up class conflicts to take courses at Columbia but Columbia men flocked to our side of Broadway, too.

Raised in the Witnesses, it was a marvel to see sexy, smart women practicing their professions. Betty Friedan was a constant as was Bella Abzug. We adored Sylvia Plath and Virginia Wolf. Erica Jong graduated a few years earllier. We were heady with power. I rejoiced. Those Witnesses males could f themselves. Elaine Pagels, the most respecteds scholar on Gnosticism, explained how God always had sons of God in the Bible. Son of Man was the messianic term that Jesus used. When she pointed out that no daughters of God were in the Bible, I said, F. God. and started praying to Our Mother.

This was normal for most of the students. It was good news to me. Of course, we discovered as Margaret Mead predicted that you can't have it all at one time. It must be staggered. Women bear children. Men don't. It is commonplace today. I felt as though as I were in a charmed land. It was precisely what I needed after the long siege of abuse from the Witnesses. Yes, I can study and be loved. Protest was encouraged. Yes! Alleulia. I never had to sit and dumb down. I was worth a female friend not cancelling plans or having an actual tantrum b/c she was with me Most men like brainy women. It is the Witnesses who are abnormal freaks, not me.

Life isn't perfect. If I stayed in the Witnesses, I never would have known happiness. They kill human spirit. Vive human spirit!

21

Heard from the grapevine I am DFd. Here is my letter that did not work!

by hoggieman in

it is ok though...my life had nothing to do with them.

here is my letter: .

xxxx xxxxxx.

Band on the Run

Your letter was well-written but you had no legal ground on which to threaten or sue them and they knew it. People's legal rights are not what they think they should be or what is fair or just. Perhaps if you paid a nominal fee to a well-known local lawyer to use the name and business address and phone number, they may have flinched. It was worse to mention the lawyer than not having any reference.

There have been numerous discussions here on the scope of the First Amendment. Europe has different laws. You had a right to leave at any time. Honestly, they do have a right to define their religion. Shunning hurts. I suffered extreme pain for decades but my pain was not illegal. Rather, celebrate! If they come around, note that they are on private property and to immediately leave and then, instead of arguing with them, call the police immediately.

It is so obvious you are through with them. They seem glad to be rid of you. Do you really want friends who are Witnesses and link you to a cult? Mark this day as your liberation day. It is your Emancipation Proclamation. Newly freed slaves had to learn new skills. It must have been terrifying to make the transition after lifetimes of bondage. But how wondrous the feeling. What sheer joy.

You expressed yourself admirably. The sting will remain forever but lessen over time. I'm very sorry if you have family in the borg.

7

New Watchtower article says don't have internet in your home..

by foolsparadise in

jw
friends

the only thing they are worried about is people stumbling across apostate websites....they could care less about porn!

they have to address the issue of pornography because they wont dare say the real reason...then peoples curiosity would be peaked and theyd go looking up information on the organization only to discover that they have been lied to and no on lives forever... .

the sad thing is the rank and file members who cant think for themselves will then start looking at their mates in a judgmental way wondering if they are secretly involved in pornography..probably will result in divorces.

Band on the Run

Why can't they trust Witnesses not to go to porn or apostate sites? I thought Jehovah gave us free will to resist temptations. Their faith in God must be very weak. I haven't visited a single conservative, right wing site on the Web. My values are clear. I suppose Witnesses are inferior creatures, much like children, and need a blockade like children are blocked.

I have a similar reaction to abortion. Rather than worry about abortion law, why don't the Catholic Church and fundies teach their women abortion is wrong. No one forces anyone to undergo abortion in the States. They use to impose controls they cannot impose on their members.

Cult. Cult. Cult. Cult. Cult. Cult. Cult.