No offense but how much of a friend were the JWs to you anyway? I know they were barely friends to me? The friendships were very shallow. Families tend to stick together and maybe a few friends, but I have found most congregations to be sadly lacking in overall hospitality. How many times do you hear these talks? How many times I have seen them struggle to get enough meals for a C/O. When I stopped going to the hall, other than a few elders stopping by, no one called. After all the complements I would get on my family and talks, no one called. So, really...are they such great friends? I have seen people in the world have better, more lasting friendships than I after spending nearly 40 years wtih what is suppose to be the most loving loyal organization on earth?? really????
Posts by red21
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15No part of the world
by irondork inbe no part of the world.
friendship with the world is enmity with god.. perhaps it is some lingering indoctrination talking, but i dont want to be friends with most everyone i meet out there.
granted i work in a rough-neck environment and it is mostly through my employment that i come in contact with others, but im not like them and i cant see myself hanging out in their living rooms and i don't want their filthy mouths in mine.. i dont smoke, i dont cuss, i dont talk about pussy all the time (actually, none of the time).
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You're not supposed to contact Ex-JWs children at all?
by Hairyhegoat inthe society has been cracking down hard on parents having contact with children who have left.
for a long time, it was kind of a "wink-wink" thing with the "necessary family business" loophole, and a lot of families found some relief with that.. but in the latest magazines and assembly parts, they're making it crystal-clear that pretty much nothing except a death in the family counts as "necessary family business".
and even then, you probably wouldn't be invited to the funeral.. the key is, they don't actually define what "necessary family business" is in the article.
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red21
I was at a funeral about a year ago, maybe this was before this new light! The entire family is very self-righteous and the father that died was an elder. They had a son that and grandson that were DF'd. They were allowed to come to the funeral at the KH but not the after service dinner wake. Interestingly, the entire family laughed and joke with them as you would expect...no indication of any concern about his DF'ing. They came over to our room later and we all hung out and had drinks...even other family members! So, I found it really strange but I was so glad to spend time with them and we had a great time. They all live in different parts of the country, so once he went home, any general association was over but for a few days, it was nice to see everyone ACT like family!!!!
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Book study potlucks/treat-nights/ice cream soicals, etc.
by Joliette indid any of you guys have these at your book study?.
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red21
Since I was a kid in the 70s, treats after the BS was the main event! We always had sisters who loved to bake and other would bring stuff. On BS I attended many years later only did this once each month....everyone would bring food, sandwhiches, meatballs, all kinds of stuff, not just deserts. Sometimes a sister would have to jump up at the end to get something started, cooking, or baking. It was definately the best part of the time!!!
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Reference Needed - WT instruction in regard to medical privacy
by donuthole ini need help with a reference.
there was a watchtower article (or km?
) that talked about how a christian working for a hospital should act if they found out that another christian in the congregation had questionable medical treatment (an abortion?).
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red21
Must be interesting that the elders fall back on privacy laws regarding conversations with members such as during a judicial hearing or pedophile but then encourage others to break their oaths about stuff they have nothing to do with. I hope a few Dr. offices get sued if this happens for having employees that would divuldge private information!
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How many of you haven't fared too well since your exit?
by i_drank_the_wine ini know that i've had a hard time piecing things back together after losing my wife and family a couple years ago and haven't really gotten the ball rolling to say the least.
just curious to hear if anyone else is in the same boat, or was in the same boat and how long it took them to get a "new life" figured out and going..
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red21
For me, my life is far less stressful. I sleep in on Saturday mornings. I don't feel I have to rush to FS in the morn. We often had elders of BS that did not show up and more than once I would be the only one to show up and he would tell me that he had other things to take care of and take off. So, why go out after that? No more talks to prepare and I was doing Sunday talks at one point. No more making excuses for anything or when my wife didn't want to do a family part because she hated them. I have a good relationship with my kids and grandkids even though one daughter is DF'd, I DON'T CARE...she is my daughter. I don't like everything she does, but that shouldn't change me loving her. My brother won't have anything to do with me, but that was no loss anyway given that I never liked him for many reasons...so this just solidified it for me. I have been to a few furnals and stuff, and the repetition of their talks just rushed back in....blah blah blah....same blah blah blah all over again and again. So, I do more for myself and enjoy doing things without any constant guilt if I am doing something wrong or that might stumble or be viewed wrong. But that is just me.
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Overlapping generation segment on the new Circuit Assembly program
by traveb inso there i was at the circuit assembly sunday morning with my eyes glazed over as usual when all of a sudden, bam!
a demo with two brothers talking about the new overlapping generation teaching.
the reason it took me by surprise was because it occured during the second talk of the sunday morning symposium, "sanctify god's name by your speech".
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red21
I was bugged by canceling the BS arrangment. It was one of our five fingers for holding on and the only source of meeting in the future during persecution. They fully admit they are not inspired but they act like they are. It is shame so many mistakes have been made...but I would mind the mistakes as much if they could simply admit it, appologize and move on...but always it is new light...and even if someone realized the new light well ahead of them...makes no difference, they are apostate or unfaithful. Just a strange situation they create.
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Nov.15th WT - Quotes Dissing - Internet, Higher Education, Earning a Living
by flipper inas most of us here are aware the wt society is using the " kool-aid " , or witness only version as i call it - to indoctrinate and intimidate jw members through fear and guilt to avoid anything that takes their devotion and attention away from allegiance to the wt society's ambitions.
so the wt society is amping up it's control methods once again in various articles in this issue as well.. first off - notice this quote from page 14 , paragraph 16 , regarding how " dangerous " allegedly the internet is.
it states, " these desires ( of the world ) involve such things as promiscuity, prominence , and possessions.
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red21
In the 1970s they discourage it just as much. In fact, one elder harrassed me for going, always making fun of me. However, my father who was a hard worker all his life told me that I could make my living sitting down or standing up...and he adivised sitting down. He encouraged me to go despire what WT said. As a result, I have been able to care for my family for many years. Higher ed is not just for prestige but gives you a leg up over others...it is indespensible when available. I have seen many without it struggle much harder over the years to the detriment of their very health. So, this is terrible advice on their part.
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New Strategy?? Any thoughts?
by El Nunya inrecently i have received notes/letters with tracts enclosed from jw's.
they are coming from a kingdom hall i wasn't affiliated with, and from people i don't know.
i have been disassociated since 1996. but these letters are addressed to me (name spelled correctly with current address).
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red21
They are shining new light on your address!
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Witnesses Ban gambling using no Scriptures only stupid logic...it's greedy! What?
by Witness 007 inthere is no scripture that ever said "thou shall not gamble.
" the bible never mentions gambling.
yet it's a disfellowshiping sin.
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red21
I knew a sister that would gamble but she thoroughly enjoyed the fact that her non-Witness husband HAD won some lottery money. I guess she had an out and could say it wasn't her money. Now and days, I buy lottery tickets all the time and have won $1,200 and I am sure I have won more than I have lost. However, I am old enough and responsible enough to only play with what I can afford to lose.
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Well the dirty piece of trash got off.
by sooner7nc inhttp://news.yahoo.com/casey-anthony-acquitted-killing-young-daughter-191600480.html .
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red21
Well, she probably got a more impartial hearing than any judicial committee! The problem is that she may be guilty and probably is of either killing her daughter or covering up someone elses murder or accidental death. But, I can see where jurors have to act on the facts...none of us would want to be judged on emotions. Too many people let emotions get in the way of what the law IS or IS NOT. It is done. I am sure we may hear more from the family in the future. For now, I am tired of continuous coverage!