LeslieV

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Posts by LeslieV

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  26

  Sexual Abuse of wives in the Borg

  by Lady Lee in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  and justly so.

  when it came out, the elders and my mother chose to put me in foster care and keep the abuser in the home and congregation - supposedly to keep me safe.. i believed that at the time.

  my step-father who had abused me was no longer around so it was "safe" for me to come home from the foster home (more than 500 km away).

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  LeslieV

  Dear Lady Lee;
  This is the part of domestic violence that is often not given any attention. Society understands physical, verbal, emotional abuse but rarely do we talk about sexual abuse. Usually in domestic violence all of these abuses are used to gain power and control over you. That is what your ex-husband was after. He got off on controlling you, and because of his religious belief felt he was justified in his behavior. Obviously JW religion allows him to continue to perpetrate on others since he was never even disciplined for his actions. Marital rape is a crime!!!!!!!!!

  Be proud of yourself that you freed yourself from his abuse. You have set the example for your children that this type of behavior is not acceptable.

  Marital rape is the least reported of all crimes and the most difficult to prosecute. I believe this happens to women in many different religions that are male dominate like the JW's.
  Happy mother's day!!!!
  Leslie
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  9

  JW needs another disaster!

  by astroboy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm a new poster and i know this subject has been touched on many times before after 911, but its amazing that a terrorist act that killed so many seemed to inject a little spark in many jws.

  my jw brother (mini-servant) called the morning of the disaster and his first words to me was "i'm glad i'm on jehovah's side!

  "...duh what does jehovah got to do with that!

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  LeslieV

  What I found extraordinary when I worked for two weeks at ground zero the total lack of JW's anywhere near the tragedy. I have to say that I saw thousands and spoke to hundreds in that time period..every religion you can think under the stars but no JW's in sight.

  They were so busy preaching the end away from the actual event they took no time to help in anyway those directly effected by what had transpired. Total lack of disregard for others. What kills me is my JW family think they are totally loving and caring. PUKE!! YUCK!!
  Leslie
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  24

  Getting my feet wet

  by Soledad in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been lurking here for about 3 months or so, and i guess i finally decided today to jump on in and join the board.

  i dont want to make this post too long, but just to give you all a background......i was born in 1975 to a jw mother and non believing father.

  i have one younger brother.

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  LeslieV

  Welcome, Welcome, Welcome Soledad;
  Just like you I am new too. Thanks for posting, looking forward to the next installment of your story.
  Leslie
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  28

  After 70 years of sacred service........

  by Makena1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  for a privileged few, you get an article with your lifes story published in the wt.

  most at least receive a grand send off with a kh memorial service.. my father passed away a couple of weeks ago.

  he was just shy of his 89th birthday.

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  LeslieV

  Dear Mak;
  My heart truly goes out to you for all your loss!!!!!

  To think that the org. puts such pressure on people to be perfect and it is not possible. Because of this many people suffer from low self-esteem and self-worth. The feeling of inadequacy, not being spiritual enough yadda yadda yadda leads to depression and mental health issues. The pain your daughter was in..and the pain that was inflicted upon her makes my want to puke!!!!

  I was soooooooooooo impressed with the way that you interacted with that elder. You are the one that showed human compassion and kindness to him..what a wonderful example of a man you are!!!!
  My thoughts are with you and your family.
  Leslie
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  17

  Very difficult position - Please help

  by Elsewhere in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i've found myself in a very difficult position.

  with the .com bust and the recession i am having a very difficult time finding work.

  i have lived on savings and unemployment insurance for quite some time now, but im going to run out of savings at the end of this month.

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  LeslieV

  Have you looked into your local YMCA? They usually have a room to rent that is based on your income. At least, in our area they do. Also homeless shelters do not charge anything. I work for the Salvation Army and we put up people all the time. Please call your local SA and they will give you referrals.

  Good luck!!!!
  Leslie
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  38

  The Nephilim - What can I say!

  by Matty in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  im sure nothing surprises the people who regularly post here.

  but what really shocks me now is that as a child i genuinely believed some of the most preposterous, stupid and moronic things ever committed to papyrus.. take the nephilim.

  well they were mutants.

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  LeslieV

  Hmmmmmm when you think about the Nephilim all I can think about is the X-men. I loved that movie!!!!!
  Leslie
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  88

  Will silentlambs Be DF???

  by silentlambs in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well now we have it, what appears to be the pre-emptive strike from wt.. as of this friday three families who appeared on the dateline program have been informed judicial committees have been setup with a one week notice and it is alleged that they have been causing "divisions" within the organization.

  i got my letter today, barbara anderson got hers yesterday and the other family earlier this week.. if you were a pr firm would you think it to be a good idea or a bad idea to df everyone a couple of weeks before the dateline program airs?

  what do you think the american public will think of such a move?.

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  LeslieV

  If they decide to DF any of the families involved..why not bring a civil law suit against the JW organization for pain and suffering that has resulted for bringing the truth out to the public. I say hit them in the pocketbook!!!!!!

  Keep them tied up in court for years..have all the families also bring civil law suits for what they have suffered..no different then what is happening to the Chatholic Church right now.

  For those individuals that do not have money to attain a lawyer I would bet if you called around you would find a lawyer willing to take the case pro bono.
  Leslie
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  11

  Important: The Nocebo Effect

  by metatron in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  can a person make themselves sick by their beliefs?.

  this is called the "nocebo" effect and it's getting some critical.

  attention by researchers.. www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/a2709-2002apr29.html.

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  LeslieV

  I agree with all the postings that stress and feelings of inadequecy leads not only to illness but also depression. Many JW's have signs of mental health issues. Of course, not that most would go to a professional for help, but in my old cong everyone sure talked alot about them.

  It is very difficult to live as a good JW and feel genuine happiness and being carefree. Your every move is monitored. Your thinking, your senses.

  I don't know about anyone else here, but I saw such competition with the "friends." I have to admit that being a pioneer, elders wife, yadda yadda yadda what I put my kids through just to make sure they were setting the right example is enough to make me go into hiding. So many activites were done for show. Add to what you have to tolerate if you are a woman in a male dominated religion. Enough to make anyone sick. Makes me want to heave just thinking about it.
  Leslie
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  36

  How much longer?

  by JeffT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i had this thought while reading the co visit thread, and decided to make it a separate topic.. how much longer can they keep beating the slaves before there is a rebellion?

  it is obvious that the trickle of people that are leaving is growing, and growing enough to make them worried.

  at some point it may become a flood.

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  LeslieV

  I think you will see people come and go. But many will be attracted to the kind of religion that is JWism.

  Some JW's are all about power. If you have a power issue..especially if you are male it feeds this. Not that women don't have power issues but they are subservient to males at the KH.

  This religion also attracks those that have issues or have experienced anykind of abuse in their lives. It sounds wonderful when you first hear it. Also when you first come into a KH you are usually welcomed and given special treatment, it isn't till later that all changes. The belief that some how God looked down from his lofty position and found you with the "right heart condition" makes ones with low self-esteem or self-worth fill privileged.

  What is changing is the ability of some to look up some information on the org. That is why it is so bad to talk to apostates. Not allowed to think for yourself. When you can control through fear and isolation many individual will stay.
  Just my thoughts.
  Leslie
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  14

  "Streetwork" in Rancho Cucamonga

  by r51785 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there they were... three members of jehovah's one true holy earthly organization standing at a deserted corner of the shopping center at the corner of fourth and vineyard.

  fifty feet away was a busy entrance to a ralph's supermarket, but they chose to stand in front of empty store fronts.

  they were busy in conversation -- with each other.

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  LeslieV

  I really do think for most witnesses it is all about the time. I know for myself it was.
  Leslie