Posts by Mum

15

We are going back to the Kingdom Hall.....

by Escargot in

jw
friends

well, after one year of dissociating ourselves, my wife an i are going back to the kingdom hall!

no, we dont want back in.

a very dear friend has passed away (she happened to be the wife of our po).

Mum

I am sorry for your loss. I admire your doing the right thing by your friend as well.

Two years ago, my grandmother died, and my mother (who is a nominal JW) was in charge of the arrangements. One of the JW's I knew 20+ years ago came to the wake, but did not acknowledge me in any way.

Later, when I was among family members, my mom mentioned the consideration of this person in coming to the wake. I said that the "sister" really looked great (one of those people who really do improve with age) but that "her heart was so full of Jesus that she couldn't speak to me." My niece (not a JW) laughed. My mom said nothing; in fact, she looked a bit sheepish.

I am honored to be so dishonored by them. So should you be.

With love and sympathy,
Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

14

Inappropriate behaviour

by Missie Eff in

jw
friends

has anybody ever had any urges to act strangely at the kingdom hall?.

i remember having two very strong urges:.

the first was to stand up while everybody else was quietly listening to the meeting and throw my bible across the hall in a fit of frustration with the intention of hitting someone and waking up.

Mum

I was a model of good behavior both outside and inside the Kingdom Hall until I was in my late 20's and experienced severe depression. I could hardly move. One Sunday during the closing prayer, I kept my seat. I just felt a tremendous heaviness within and without.

After the meeting, my then husband asked me why I didn't stand up during the prayer; his manner and voice were full of self-righteous rage. I realized at that point what a bunch of lies I had been fed. I thought JW's didn't adhere to ritual. I later went to a church that was liturgical and ritualistic, but people stood or sat as they felt moved to do.

Regards,
Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

52

JW couple beats daughter to death

by saltiest in

jw
friends

i just read this article in the chicago sun times.

when i started reading the parents were religious and then saw home-schooling, i had a gut feeling they were jw's.

i read on and found out i was right.

Mum

This is worse than any horror story I've ever heard of.

I know the WT is too severe on children, but I don't think even they advocate beating a child to this extent, "biblical" or not.

Pray for abused children.

Regards,
Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

17

What Should I Do (JW that Mentions Birthday)?

by Free Eagle in

i have become somewhat friendly with a jw lady (i am also a woman and have gotten to know her over the past four years).

i am unsure of her status in the religion.

i am not a jw but have educated myself regarding jw customs, etc.... in conversation we found we were born in the same month, and she told me when her birthday was.

Mum

Just the fact that this woman is friendly with you makes her a marginal JW. As you may know, JW's are not supposed to have friends outside the organization. I have known a few JW women who converted because they married JW men. Could this be the case with your friend?

At any rate, I'm glad she has at least one venue where she can express herself freely. You might ask her if she likes to get birthday presents or some generically phrased question like that. It would be interesting to find out her response.

It would have been wonderful to have a friend like you when I was a JW. Bless you.

Regards,
Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

16

Mining the CD for Gold...Read this!

by slipnslidemaster in

jw
friends

note this gem from the 1999 january kingdom ministry:.

make good use of older books.

1 man has stored away millions of old books in libraries in every corner of the earth.

Mum

My take on this post (Congrats on finding the article!) is that the WT sees potential for a lot of income from those pre-1985 books. The average JW doesn't have time to read them anyway, and the average apathetic householder probably won't take the time. The people most interested in older publications are "apostates."

They should sell them to Randy and let him market them on his site.

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

46

Let's have some honest answers

by chappy in

jw
friends

ok all you ex's, be honest.

do you ever have that little voice pop in your head and say "what if - just what if they're right?".

it happens to me on occasion and i've been totally out for years.

Mum

No, I never have such thoughts. I am one of the lucky people who had a non-JW childhood, so I had a concept of what normal life should be.

I've been free for 22 years, and am happier every day for it!

Regards,
Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

12

Meet Me in WA This Week?

by COMF in

jw
friends

i'm flying into seattle for a week-long visit with my son in bellingham.

my older son, a staunchly loyal jw, is coming with me for our semi-annual father-and-sons reunion.. i'd love to be able to meet any of you who live in the general area, although i don't know for certain that it could be arranged.

my jw son does not shun me or his brother, even though i'm disassociated and the brother disfellowshipped.

Mum

Hi, COMF. I went to Kingston, WA with a friend of mine a couple of years ago to visit her brother. We could walk down the hill, catch a ferry to Edmonds, then take a bus into Seattle. We visited Poulsbo, Port Gamble and several other little towns, too.

You're right. Washington is a scenic wonderland. Have a great time!

If you stop over in Reno on your way home, I'll stop at the airport for a visit.

Regards,
Mum

49

DA'd myself today

by Pierced Angel in

jw
friends

well, i did it.. it's official and i'm relieved.. the elders wanted to try talking to me once again, but after awhile it was obvious that they were only interested in changing my thoughts not answering any questions.

so, i just calmly asked if i could disassociate myself.

they acted stunned and they got tears in their eyes, but i told them that i had already grieved and was ready to move on with life.

Mum

Welcome to freedom. I know it's traumatic because I've been where you are. Every passing year gets better. I have come to know myself and appreciate others for their differences. Its worthwhile, more worthwhile than I can say to take the risk you are taking and to set sail, as it were, on uncharted waters.

We're here for you.

Regards, Mum

Seize the day, and put the least possible trust in tomorrow. - Horace

I have learned to live each day as it comes and not to borrow trouble by dreading tomorrow. - Dorothy Dix

30

Must See Post!

by mommy in

jw
friends

every now and again there is a post that just pulls the rug out from underneath me, and touches a place in my heart.

lauralisa on another thread has accomplished this.

by others who have replied, i can see that they were touched as well.

Mum

Lauralisa's post reminds me of the association I made between the WT organization and the mafia when I was watching one of those films about the mafia. The narrator of the film says something like, "We even went on vacation, all of us together, at the same time. There is no loyalty in either case if anyone gets on the wrong side of the leadership. In either organization the person who "makes waves" is, in effect, "bumped off."

In the film "Goodfellas," Henry Hill brags about how effective the mob is because they are so well "organized."

Scary!!!!

Regards,
Mum

9

Way O/T - Steve Allen's Meeting of Minds

by Makena1 in

jw
friends

does anyone remember seeing steve allens pbs series - meeting of minds?

he brought in actors to play various characters from history all sitting down together to discuss a topic.

people like martin luther, voltaire, marie antonette etc.

Mum

PBS has a catalog of videos. I know I have had it in the past, but I don't have a current one with the address. Did you check their site at pbs.org or use a search engine to find some info?