Posts by Bells

99

Welcome Newbies & New Posters ! How has this Board Assisted You ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

it's nice to have you here !

i found that this board was very supportive when i first got on it over 4 years ago .

i still find it supportive !

Bells

This board has been so fantastic for me - and I'm not even (nor was I ever) a Witness! My other half's family are all witnesses. When we first got together, 12 years ago, I thought it was all pretty full on - however, I am a firm believer in 'each to their own' and was determined to be open-minded and respectful. Fast forward 12 years, I am so worn down by how I have been treated over those 12 years, when I have only ever been respectful to them and their beliefs, I am finally allowing myself to form an honest opinion on the whole religion. As a result of these people being in this particular religion, I have basically been treated like a 2nd class citizen and my self-esteem has been damaged - not to mention the huge impact that it's had on my relationship with my bf.

I got to a stage where for some reason, I wanted to know the in's and out's of these beliefs, find out what makes them 'tick' - and by tick, I mean treat me how they do. I've found that by finding so many answers here, I'm more comfortable in how I feel around them. I still believe ' each to their own' however I'm able to not let all the little negative comments towards me affect me so badly, therefore leaving my self-esteem in tact. Nowadays, I'm able to hear a comment or remark that would have once upon a time really upset me, and take it with a grain of salt, rolling my eyes on the inside - because really, these people are kinda crazy... I mean - the whole demon thing!!?? I've actually heard someone describe a 'demon attack' before... I sat there quietly but felt like screaming "love - what you're describing is an anxiety attack, not a demon attack!!!"

As someone on the 'outside' this board has helped me so much in gaining an understanding of what my bf was involved in growing up, and helping him (hopefully) to get over some of the little hang ups that are still ingrained - despite being 'out' for 11 years. It's helped me also to form a strong opinion in regards to what sort of influence the grandparents will have once we have children.

This board has been a fantastic source of information - and advice (I'm currently halfway through Steve Hassans "Combatting Cult Mind Control") - thank you for the suggestion

21

"Will The New System Be A Paradise" - The Thread That Got Me Banned From JwTalk.net

by Philadelphia Ponos in

jw
friends

i joined jwtalk.net posing as an unbaptized publisher.

there was a lot of talk on the forum about how there will be death in the new system so i decided to ask some questions concerning that logic.

here is what i wrote:.

Bells

For Witness 007 and bigmouth:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/members/adult/217165/1/Oral-Sex-Mutual-Masterbation-etc

23

I'm growing a beard

by MrFreeze in

jw
friends

so i decided the other day, i'm tired of shaving.

so i've started growing a beard for the first time.

ever since i started shaving, i've never gone two days without shaving.

Bells

I have never understood why beards are so considered so 'bad' - even though Jesus had a beard!?

8

Who's Cult is it Anyway...???

by Bells in

firstly - i am not, and never have been a witness.

my bf's family are all witnesses and i have been looking into the religion lately to try to get a better understanding of where they're coming from.

(btw, my bf is not a witness - he was thankfully never baptised and he just walked away from it about 13 years ago).

Bells

Hi!

Firstly - I am not, and never have been a Witness. My bf's family are all Witnesses and I have been looking into the religion lately to try to get a better understanding of where they're coming from. (Btw, my bf is not a Witness - he was thankfully never baptised and he just walked away from it about 13 years ago). I've spent many hours reading the various information that's out there today, including older Awake and WT mags as well as the many forums. From what I can see, this is one very mind-controlling organisation!

I have been advised by some of the lovely people on this board to read Hassan's "Combatting Cult Mind Control" - which I have ordered and am waiting on (it should be in the mail) in order to get a better understanding of cults and the people in them, though even with my very limited knowledge in regards to cults, it seems so very obvious to be that that's exactly what the Witnesses are! My bf and I have been together for 12 years now, and I've always known that they had a fair few 'rules', though it's only recently that I've become aware of how much control is involved within the organisation.

Anyway - my point is - what's the point!? I mean, the WT have printed a hell of a lot of lies, false preditions as well as racist and sexist material - I'm pretty sure we can safely assume that this is NOT God's organisation. So what's it all for? Who 'profits' from recruiting more people and growing the organisation. I believe that the Witnesses themselves are often reasonably honest, kind-hearted people, I see them as victims more than anything. So what's the point in running this cult and who is really behind it? Do the Elders get anything out of it? Or is it the GB who are the real bastards? And if so, what do they get out of it? Is there money involved (I'm assuming there has to be - but how does it work when they teach against materialism and financial success?). Or do you think that the GB really do believe that they are 'annointed' and in direct communication with God and do they really just get off that much on their own spiritual superiority...???

If anyone has a better understanding on the working's of this organisation, I'd love to hear. It's the final piece of the puzzle for me - I understanding clearly that this is a very controlling cult - though I can't can't really seem to understand who is driving it - and why...

Thanks!

Bells

53

Shocked at what my 3 year old just asked me

by jwfacts in

me - jehovah?

who is jehovah?.

me - oh.. zac - are you happy with me dad for remembering jehovah.

Bells

I'm really interested to hearing the outcome of this... I don't have children as yet, though hope to within the next few years. I'm sure that the in-laws will want to teach 'the truth'. I don't want to be the one to say not to as I want my children to be able to learn everything out there, but having a child dragged into the cult is really one of my worse nightmares! It's a tough one - good luck!

47

Which songs/Albums were considered "Demonic" in your Congregation...did you toss some?

by Witness 007 in

"hotel california" was considered a major demonic song.

ac/dc stood for anti-christ devils children....{not according to the band} kiss stood for knight s in satans service {not according to the band} anyone else have to toss albums?.

Bells

This subject irritates me: I once had a friend who grew up as a Witness, though wasn't baptised and then stopped attending meetings etc. We were only about 18 (I was never a Witness). Anyway, I used to play a lot of TOOL and similar and this friend took a real interest, he really liked the music. Anyway, I gave him a couple of Tool and A Perfect Circle cd's, which he was stoked about.

Fast forward 6 months, he starts going back to meetings, meets a good JW girl and they get engaged. As he is getting ready to be baptised, she talks to him about the demonic Tool cd's - as they have some Tarot symbols or something, and would not make Jehovah happy. That's fine - but what does he do - give them back to me? Of course not, he smashes them apart and tells me about it later!!! I was speechless. How he treated me in this situation in order to please Jehovah surely goes against Christian principles!? That was years ago, and I'm still a little bit pi$$ed! :)

27

Lol at Awake quote about gayz!

by TimothyT in

are you a member of the homosexual community?

) can you say that you have honestly found satisfaction and fulfillment in that way of life?

(being true to myself has brought me great happiness yes.

Bells

Reminds me of a 'discussion' that I had with a young newlywed JW couple several years ago... When the topic of homosexuality came up. They were certainly not backward in coming forward! "It's wrong, it's disgusting and it's something you choose - no one is born gay, they choose to be gay".

I was in a state of shock. My contact with witnesses had not been extensive at this point and I could not believe that in this day and age and of this 'generation' that people could still have this point of view. They had obviously never actually met a gay person before, and had certainly not held their best friend as they confided in them that they're gay, and they wish they weren't, they'd do anything to change it.. (at that stage anyway, since he's come out, and been accepted by his society - aka friends and family, he's happy as ever and certainly less suicidal than ever! Like many gay people, what he hated wanted to change about being gay was simply just what others thought of him'. Luckily for my friend, he wasn't a witness - if he was, I could almost guarentee suicide!).

As for children, I'd rather be brought up in a gay household than a witness house hold any day...

7

Association

by EmptyInside in

jw
friends

i can't stand it,my brother who is an elder is such a company man.

he mentioned how one of his son's friends wasn't doing too well spiritually,and he wished his son wouldn't hang around him anymore.

he really has no say in the matter ,since his son is grown and out of the house.. but,again,it's already shunning the so-called weaker ones.

Bells

I'm a little bit intrigued as to what the policies are in the 'private' elders manual..??

21

I am finally getting my weekends back!

by iclone in

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Bells

I'm curious - your relationship sounds great and you seem really happy - but has you leaving and your wife still 'in' created much of a problem... Either for you as a couple or even just her at the KH? Do they treat her as a bit of a threat or anything now that you are no longer in "the truth" (ahem)

Good luck getting her to see what you see by the way, I hope you get there in the end!!!

xx Bells

32

I must stop playing with the JWs on the independent

by nugget in

i have become seriously addicted and think i may need help.

i keep posting comments on the independent article in response to silly jw comments.

i am surprised by the level of ignorance displayed on the simplest of doctrines and shocked by their passion.

Bells

I'm glad this article has been published in Australia, though I know it will have no impact whatsoever on the people I want it too :(

I've posted a comment, hopefully they will all be published soon... Perhaps a delay because due to no one working on the long weekend..??