Posts by NameWithheld

42

Studying

by tattoogrl333 in

jw
friends

i flat out asked the jw i'm studying with what she would do if someone was disfellowshipped and she was honest and said she wouldn't talk to them since they wouldn't be good examples of jehovah witness.

then we started talking about appearances and tattoos, and about my pink hair :) and she said it didn't matter.

i am enjoying reading and visiting this web site but i am just not seeing the same things you guys have.

NameWithheld

I thought from reading posts that they never told you that if you were disfellowshipped you would be treated differently. She pointed out in the bible today that Jehovah must come first before family and friends, I take it that is why they have this postition.

Well, they cannot deny it if you ask them point blank, but trust me it's not something they will proudly announce to a new person either. I think it secretly ashames most of the honest/good hearted JW's and in fact know MANY JW's who break the 'talking to DF'ed' people rule IF THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH IT. Kind of like children hiding candy from mom and dad ...

And as far as the bible's saying to put God/Jesus before family, that doesn't mean to cut family off either!

Name,
as for my tats I have a dragon on my right upper arm, geisha in front of waves on my left arm, dragon on my wrist, dragon on my upper back, sun on my lower back, and one on my ankle. They are very large and colorful so if they think I can get them removed they are crazy.

Sounds very cool! No, they'd probably not require to to remove them, since they are 'pre-existing' but they could possibly 'encourage' you to dress in clothing that would hide many/most or them when at meetings/preaching/etc.

42

Studying

by tattoogrl333 in

jw
friends

i flat out asked the jw i'm studying with what she would do if someone was disfellowshipped and she was honest and said she wouldn't talk to them since they wouldn't be good examples of jehovah witness.

then we started talking about appearances and tattoos, and about my pink hair :) and she said it didn't matter.

i am enjoying reading and visiting this web site but i am just not seeing the same things you guys have.

NameWithheld

Here's one more thing:

If you are attracted to the social aspect try and say you don't want to study anymore but would like to keep associated with them (her and her daughter?). She what happens. You are still you (same person) but they will want nothing to do with if you don't constantly progress towards joining the religion.

42

Studying

by tattoogrl333 in

jw
friends

i flat out asked the jw i'm studying with what she would do if someone was disfellowshipped and she was honest and said she wouldn't talk to them since they wouldn't be good examples of jehovah witness.

then we started talking about appearances and tattoos, and about my pink hair :) and she said it didn't matter.

i am enjoying reading and visiting this web site but i am just not seeing the same things you guys have.

NameWithheld

As far as this woman's daughter getting a tatto, I can almost gaurantee it's going to be in a place/size that's not noticable or can be hidden by most clothing, cause if it was visible in normal clothing the elders would be all over her in a heartbeat. Of course, it's not a 'disfellowshipping' offense (though I wouldn't be shocked to hear of someone being DF'ed for it either!) but if the elders take issue with it this woman's daughter will not get any 'privileges' in the cong. Of course, the poor girl may not WANT any of those 'privileges' :D She may (probably) just wants to live her life - but that option is not open to her while she lives with JW parents.

42

Studying

by tattoogrl333 in

jw
friends

i flat out asked the jw i'm studying with what she would do if someone was disfellowshipped and she was honest and said she wouldn't talk to them since they wouldn't be good examples of jehovah witness.

then we started talking about appearances and tattoos, and about my pink hair :) and she said it didn't matter.

i am enjoying reading and visiting this web site but i am just not seeing the same things you guys have.

NameWithheld

Tattogirl: BTW, what are the tattos?

Please do take JeffT's offer. Look over his material - it's all reprints from Watchtower publications. The problem is that it's so convoluted and conterdictory that current JW's are embarrased or ashamed of it. They will NOT want to talk about it, and if you insist on showing it to them they will more than likely leave (never to come back).

JW's have a LONG history of failed end of the world predictions and flip-flopping teachings and rules. When you show it to them they will try and explain it away with the old "we got NEW LIGHT on that matter and no longer beleive that way" as if that makes everything OK.

How does that explain for example that they taught that if a woman was raped and did NOT scream for help she was gulity of fornication, then changed their minds to say that she was NOT guilty, then changed again to say she WAS, then NOT, then WAS, then NOT. This went on for years. That's NEW LIGHT? Sounds more like a strobe light to me.

Same applies to their teaching on if the people of Sodom and Gommorah would be resurrected or not. That changed many times, YES, NO, YES, NO.

Those are just a couple of examples. There are more. 1975 was a big one, they allowed a big fevor to build in the people (even suggesting that people should sell homes, forfeit jobs, etc to go full time preaching) that 1975 was going to be armagedon, then when it didn't happen, blamed the people for "getting carried away!"

For details on these just search these forums, you will find LOTs of proof via quotes from the older JW publications that they did indeed teach these things. Even though the JWs now try and pretend that never happend.

This is NOT just another 'nice' religion. If you join, prepare to give your life away to pleasing the local elders and preaching (selling mags/books on your own dime). To leave the religion will be an emotionally devistating challenge. Just look at hom many here are still suffering sometimes MANY years after leaving.

42

Studying

by tattoogrl333 in

jw
friends

i flat out asked the jw i'm studying with what she would do if someone was disfellowshipped and she was honest and said she wouldn't talk to them since they wouldn't be good examples of jehovah witness.

then we started talking about appearances and tattoos, and about my pink hair :) and she said it didn't matter.

i am enjoying reading and visiting this web site but i am just not seeing the same things you guys have.

NameWithheld

Number one: When they are studying with a 'new' person, that new person is a potential convert to the religion. No matter what they say, THAT is the real reason they are knocking on doors. To convert people to JW religion. So they will gloss over the bad points (rules) until your are more firmly in their grasp.

You don't think the Disfellowshipping is a bad pratice? Wait until ALL your friend and family are JWs and you cross an elder (for ANY reason) and find yourself DF'd. Now you cannot talk to ANYONE of your freinds or family for 6 months to 3 years, depending on how long the local elders decide to 'punish' you. Can you take it? Emotionally? And don't think that you can just go make non-JW freinds while your are DF'd, cause if you do, they will take that as a sign of wordly behaviour and not reinstate (un-disfellowship) you.

Basically once you join the group, you MUST abide by ALL the rules if you want to retain any social structure. For the most part the local elders set the rules - what cloths are ok, hair styles, movies, books, drinking, etc, etc. And if you offend someone with your actions(and you WILL offend someone eventually no matter how careful you are) you may get branded as 'spirtually weak', and even if you are not DF'ed find that no-one will associate with you.

Many of us here were 'born' into the religion and had no choice. And we have for the most part sacrificed 'normal' relationships with childhood freinds and family to get out. If you cannot see the bad in that then please proceed with your study. Just don't be shocked later when the rules start coming down.

Think your pink hair will stay? Think again. Not if you want to 'go in service' or 'give talks', etc. And you WILL be expected to do all those things. I bet you will have to make sure no one can see the tattos either, which are taboo. Or have them removed. If they are telling you that you will not have to do these things, then that is a flat out lie.

Right now you are in the 'love bomb' stage of recruitment, they will love you to death right now. Once the claws are sunk in though that love disappears faster than you can ever believe.

5

And This Afternoons Speaker Is: (Drum Roll).....

by Englishman in

jw
friends

come on, you extrovert guys, be honest now.. wasn't giving a public talk a heady experience?.

didn't you get a real buzz just from being able to keep your audiences eyes riveted on your every gesture?.

did you get a high from suddenly pausing and making your listeners wait in breathless anticiption for your next word?.

NameWithheld

Yup, I got a big kick out of Public talks - some from regular Thursday parts, but those 45 min talks were like a total power trip, then you got to hear all the 'nice talk' compliments after. It was a kick in the backside to 'lose' such 'privileges' <shudder> Wouldn't want to do it now though ...

Funny thing is, we were basically reading manuscripts even though they were 'outline' based.

16

ARENT WE ALL A BIT BITTER?

by josephus in

jw
friends

i cant help but think some of you guys are just tooooo angry for your past hurts.. weve all got terrible stories which can make us cry, but whats the motivation for such bitterness ?.

some people search out pervets, seemingly to lay these scumbags and their faults at the societys door.. others try to use thier bad times as an excuse to rubbish the entire religion.. i am not saying that jws are great, or that the society is perfect or undeserving of punishment.. but why are we not trying to even up the good points of the religion.. no smoking, no drugs, no abortion, on and on, and on.. and then try to remember the good times you all had at the meetings.

the laughs and the help you gave, and received.

NameWithheld

but why are we not trying to even up the GOOD POINTS of the religion.
NO SMOKING, NO DRUGS, NO ABORTION, ON AND ON, AND ON.
and then try to remember the GOOD times you all had at the meetings. the laughs and the help you gave, and received
from others.

I'm not sure what rock you were hiding under, but every hall I went too had more than it's share of all of the above. People are people, no matter what label they put on, and people do the above things. Some get caught, some don't. Some who are caught are given the beatings - while others 'get away' with it. All depends on who you 'know'. "NO DRUGS" ha ha ha ha ha ha - there was more drug/alcahol abuse amongst the young JW's I knew than you could shake a stick at.

Now as to the 'good times' - they were never at the meetings. They were always socializing away from meetings and usually involved 'pleasures of the flesh' as it were, eating, drinking, etc. During younger days it also involved getting as close to the members of the female species as often as possible too. Meetings were simply tolterated since if you missed them you fell 'out of the loop' and began not to be invited to all those wonderful 'bring a dish' social events. Let's not even get into the barely bearable 'spiritual food' being dispensed. Ugg. Boring even before I knew it was total BS.

ALL of the 'good' things about this 'religion' are present in people all over the place - because people are people, and some are good/pleasant, some are not. I enjoy the same things in life now as I did then, I just don't have to tolerate conditional 'love' and boring meetings to impress my 'friends'. Now I can be freinds with people simply for the fact that we enjoy similar activities.

27

Part II of Survey! Please Respond Again.Thank's.

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

the first survey i asked how you were brought into the non-truth.

my next survey is along the same line, however what i would like to find out is on the average how many hours you spent in the field service and were you ever able to bring anyone into the non-truth via field service or via incidental witnessing.. and how long you were associated with the borg?.

thank you in advance for your input.

NameWithheld

Raised in it, out completly by age 26. Before that pioneered for 4 years - so averaged 90 hours at that time. Before/after pioneering was probably safe to say I was 'average' at 10-12 hours/month. Except for last two years was more like 0-2

Big fat zero 'converts'

90

POLL - Elders vs Molesters

by Amazing in

i wish to conduct a legitimate poll, or at least as legitimate as it can get on this forum.

unless you are or were a jw, please do not respond or make comments.

please simply give an answer, without extended comments.

NameWithheld

Just one (or 2 since both fleshly brothers did it?) - and this was hearsay, but being close to/knowing those involved I have no doubt it happened.

9

JW Conventions vs BRCI Conferences

by Amazing in

jw
friends

jw convention exhortations: brothers, please be at your seats, the program is about to begin.

you should have already eaten and gone to the bathroom by now.

it is time to take your seats and enjoy the fine spiritual feast that comes from the loving provision of gods organization.

NameWithheld

Francoise: I sure wanted to get laid - but was of the 'too shy' class. Didn't stop me from having one thing on my mind during those wonderful conventions though! Ah those wonderful memories of 'cruising' the halls ...