Posts by little witch

30

Isn't the Power of Prayer Just a Myth?????

by Balsam in

1. isn't the power of prayer just a myth?

if a child asks a parent for help in an emergency and the parent does not respond we'd call it child-abuse.

if a friend asks a friend for help and they were immobile and silent we'd call that betrayal.

little witch

(((((Balsam)))) I am so very sorry you lost your son. I dont have words to express it...

I dont personally view god as an oppresser or a mean old man who seeks to destroy and hurt. I dont know why some prayers are "answered" and some are not. I just know that bad things often happen to good people. I know that it is a great comfort for me to have others share my grief and pain. It lightens my load and helps me to feel comfort that at the time of need others are helping to carry my load.

I cannot answer if god is real or not. It is something that I struggle with myself. Many times I have shook my fist at heaven and cursed because I was so alone and in pain and no comfort came.

I can only say that by allowing ourselves to ask for thoughts or prayers that we will get comfort and not feel so small.

For example, my daughter (12) attends a non denominational church and they just got a new pastor who is also our neighbor. He came by just to meet us and chat a while. He ended his visit by asking if it was ok if he said a prayer for us. I said "of course it is ok".

He just asked god to bless us and watch over us, to keep us safe and help us wherever we might need him to. I felt such a peace come over us after he left. It was just emotionally soothing.

Whenever someone starts to tell me that they are "attuned" to the supernatural or devine I get nervous. Red flags start popping up. But when a person says to me "let me care using my faith" I am comforted.

12

Encouraging thoughts of former J.W. Elder

by lawrence in

these thoughts were emailed to me by an old friend, who was a j.w.

elder, and left the wts.

hope others might find something of value:

little witch

Lawrence,

Your friend put it most eloquently. It speaks in pictures how juvenile the technique used by the society to "get members in", and why rejection and irrelevance get us out... Very nice.

Apad,

Oddly it is you that sounds bitter and stuck in the harbor. I wish you well.

30

Isn't the Power of Prayer Just a Myth?????

by Balsam in

1. isn't the power of prayer just a myth?

if a child asks a parent for help in an emergency and the parent does not respond we'd call it child-abuse.

if a friend asks a friend for help and they were immobile and silent we'd call that betrayal.

little witch

I dont believe so. I believe there is power in prayer, in having others share your troubles, in showing fellow friends and family support by way of positive thought, meditation, prayer.

To know that others are aware of your pain or trouble and that they are taking active steps to show concern is healing and benificial. It helps to know that others are thinking of you and that they care.

Science has shown that prayer and meditation is healing as well. It evidently lowers blood pressure, and gives a feeling of well being.

25

Watchtower Business Model

by little witch in

jw
friends

did you ever wonder why the watchtower fusses over such silly and minute rules?

things like smoking, dress, music, dance, movies, language, what company you keep, what and how you celebrate?

let's consider a few factors.

little witch

Thanks Danny,

Not only for your compliment, but for all the hard work you do on jw issues. You are to be commended. I had reservations about posting my thoughts on this issue. But I need to make sense of it. I needed to come to terms with some deep guilt and shame over how our family treated people back then. Of course I was a child and knew something was amiss, but I also remember feeling some perverse sense of pride that we were just a little bit better than the next family....

I knew that there was a pecking order and was taught in essence that if we focused on the human misery of others, the elders would turn their attention elsewhere.

We didnt make the rules, we lived by them though. Terrible rules and regulations that were reiderated again and again from NYC. And I never understood why. In contrast, my beloved Grandma was a strong christian woman who seldom attended church, but was the most loving and charitable person I was ever blessed to know. She would give anything to anybody just for the asking. She was a powerful influence on me and I miss her so much. I know she is with the Lord now, church attendance be damned. I remember my Step mom doing her duty and taking jw lit to her (of course grandma had no interest in such nonsense), but she would leave it on the coffee table and "dog ear" the pages in order to make s.m. feel that she took her seriously. In other words, to show her respect. In contrast, SM held Grandmother in contempt and saw her as bird food....

So anyway, I am trying to make sense of why the g.b. puts such emphasis on flat out meaness. This thread is my take on why. $$$$$$$$ Jgnat said that it wasnt about efficiency at all (and I do see her point) But on the other hand we have to remember that the jw's cannot do things the same as the "evil christendom". They must be different and stand apart. I believe that is central to their control and keeping members jw's. No choice can be given in the matter. The more unique they are, the more members will be retained. (where would we go)?

At the end of the day 950 million bucks a year in profit and assets. They must be doing something "right"

As in most businesses, "brand loyalty" is everything.

25

Watchtower Business Model

by little witch in

jw
friends

did you ever wonder why the watchtower fusses over such silly and minute rules?

things like smoking, dress, music, dance, movies, language, what company you keep, what and how you celebrate?

let's consider a few factors.

little witch

((((CS)))

Thankyou for your honesty. I knew many families like that as well. And who doesnt need help from time to time? Stories like this are all too common in the witness community.

In other church communities people care about each other and dont let members suffer. In the jw community we were told to be faithful and all would be provided. giving, sharing and concern were on the back burner. We had families in our congo who literally made their own underwear! (this in the 1980's)! That is how much they cared about the families!

Never once was love and concern shown on a personal or family basis. Just " turn in your time" and "do more"....sigh...

One family in particular suffered so....The Father (my Great Uncle) died after serving the tower for 40 plus years. The memorial service was thirty minutes of the most heartless, chastising BS I have ever heard!

I will never step foot in another Kh for the rest of my life....It was that bad....

So I ask again, why? Why do they do it? Are they just heartless, and evil? No I dont think so. The person who gave the service was a long time aquaintance of the family. I think it was just a cut and paste, cut to the chase escapade. None of the seven children ever went back.....I certainly didnt...

It was cold because flowers cost money. Food costs money. Burials cost money (he was cremated).

The watchtower condones nothing that will syphon money away from their bottom line. They call it "self glorification" etc.... Be it funerals, birthdays, education, or christmas.

It is sort of like Mexicans coming into the US to labor so hard for a few bucks a day....It is terrible working conditions. But nobody complains. Least of all the ones who benifit. Free labor works for the ones who gain the profit.

24

Can You Help Me Identify This Mystery Object?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

this has got me beat.. some weeks ago, my son's fiancee's father (phew!

) gave me this object as a curio to keep on a display shelf.

he said that he hadn't a clue as to what it was.

little witch

I think is in an old thermostat.

It controls both cooling and heat methinks.

31

Writing bad checks on Jehovah's account: the Governing Body

by Terry in

jw
friends

the mouthpiece of jehovah speaks in his name with authority.

the governing body is the only channel of communication with the supreme being.

they identify themselves as the faithful and discreet slave.. if they are faithful, why do they write checks that bounce using jehovah's checking account?

little witch

It is ok to write bad checks....

Just gotta cover your butt before the due date!

25

Watchtower Business Model

by little witch in

jw
friends

did you ever wonder why the watchtower fusses over such silly and minute rules?

things like smoking, dress, music, dance, movies, language, what company you keep, what and how you celebrate?

let's consider a few factors.

little witch

BTTT Because I have questions not answered as to why ordinary members are booted for issues that every human being goes through....

Why do churches truly encourage suffering members while jw's do not?

16

Why my view of the witnesses changed

by nevergotwet in

as i explained in my first thread i left when i was 18, but first started doubting at the age of 11, after a specific incident.

i'd like to tell that story now.

sorry if it seems long-winded, but i've only just been dealing with this one, and i've been carrying it round for 20 years.

little witch

It is such accounts heard and witnessed that I knew something was terribly amiss at an early age. No compassion. Even a child see's it is so.

Welcome to the board, and thanks for sharing your story for us...

25

Watchtower Business Model

by little witch in

jw
friends

did you ever wonder why the watchtower fusses over such silly and minute rules?

things like smoking, dress, music, dance, movies, language, what company you keep, what and how you celebrate?

let's consider a few factors.

little witch

Terry,

Bisous is correct (and I pm'd you since my last writing) It wasnt you who was unclear...was me...sorry bout that.

Jgnat,

Very good points. But really, the watchtower (as compared to many other religions) are not big at all. They are big money wise, but not people wise. They do darn well financially with what few members who actually stay and put up with all the non-sense. I am convinced that only hard core members remain and contribute to the watchtower, and that consist mainly of older members and what family they are able to blackmail emotionally to stay in.

I have to ask myself, " why chase off members when numbers mean so much to the tower"? The only conclusion I come up with is financial. The snooping that goes on into peoples private lives makes no sense to me otherwise, as I just dont believe that elders have an interest in such things. I think they do it because they are forced to. Disfellowshipping members over trivial things doesnt make much sense if a persons spiritual welfare is envolved. That would better be dealt with using patience and forgiveness, counselling and love....

But that is not what happens in a judicial commitee from the accounts I have heard and read. Instead, the elders dig and pick until they come up with a reason to give the member the boot.

I think why they do it is because a person who smokes is wasting money that should be given to the tower.

A woman with marital problems who is on the brink of divorce is facing a financial crises and will have to work full time to support her children, rather than be in service making money for the borg.

A young man who needs to slow down in the door to door work in order to free up some of his time to attend college is a liability for the next four years.

It is obvious to me that the borg is not concerned with the needs of the flock, but strictly to the needs of their financial empire.