Posts by 3rdgen

37

When "The Persecution" Comes - What a Let Down that turned out to be!

by cofty in

when i was young there was endless speculation about "the persecution".

i have very clear memories as a child sitting in the old kingdom hall in coatbridge hearing it talked about from the platform.

it was a frequent topic at home.. sometimes there was lurid detail about what sort of torture "they" might use against us to make us betray others.

3rdgen

Oh the memories these "persecution" stories produce. Like most of you I was exposed to the sadistic details of the dreaded persecution as a young child. I just can't find any humor in it because it was yet another form of child abuse to be endured or risk being disowned by our parents. I don't think some appreciate the effect these terrifying accounts have on children. Talk about paranoia! You can't trust ANYONE. You can't express fear- without a lecture on your lack of faith. You can't trust the brothers,-they might be tortured and give you up. You can't rely on your parents protection- they might be hauled off to jail or a concentration camp. You can't even trust YOURSELF because you might compromise your faith if the excruciating pain becomes too intense. You can't even trust God because if you waver he'll leave you like the others who ended up "failing the test".= Dead Cofty, this is a great subject because it highlights the anxiety growing up JW produced. No, I was never "let down" by not being physically tortured. But I SURE am trying to recover from the emotional effects.

21

I bet you can't sit still while listening to this

by Hortensia in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aoatqo82k-k.

3rdgen

Hortensia, good music. You have a PM

30

Newspaper Article: Press Telegram-JWS BRING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS TO LONG BEACH - (JW beliefs discussed including date setting)

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

http://www.presstelegram.com/social-affairs/20130829/jehovahs-witnesses-bring-millions-of-dollars-to-long-beach#comments.

go to the website to read the comments by xjws.. jehovahs witnesses bring millions of dollars to long beach.

jehovah's witnesses hold a series of regional conventions in long beach every summer, bringing some 150,000 witnesses from across the southland over the course of 15 weekends.

3rdgen

Thanks for posting this article, Barbara. I can see why there is a mutual admiration society between JWs and Long Beach. Both benefit from the DCs being held there. Some years ago BaalamsAss and I drove to LB to attend the convention because my daughter was being baptized there. I must say it was by FAR the best convention venue we had ever experienced- upscale in every way. The weather is incomparable. The vibe of the town is cool. Even the witnesses were bordering on coolness. Not a polyester suit in sight. The woman were very attractive and actually fashionably dressed. The problem was the pesky religion- but we didn't see that at the time. LOL

10

To all you BRITS who inspire me!

by insearchoftruth4 in

get down!

!.

3rdgen

Insot4, yes I was captured by the "British Invasion" in the mid 60's. First the Beatles (Of course) then the Stones, Kinks, Yardbirds, The Who etc etc etc, Yet the Stones are in a class by themselves. Whenever i feel rebellious they are the go-to group! Also: you have another PM

26

tell me not to cry...

by losingit in

jw
friends

after more than a month of not attending the meetings, my girls will be returning to the meeting tomorrow.

their father is taking them.

i was so happy because my girls were free from the boredom, drudgery and mind control inflicted upon those that attend.

3rdgen

Nathan N, excellent illustration and teaching points!

26

tell me not to cry...

by losingit in

jw
friends

after more than a month of not attending the meetings, my girls will be returning to the meeting tomorrow.

their father is taking them.

i was so happy because my girls were free from the boredom, drudgery and mind control inflicted upon those that attend.

3rdgen

Loosingit, I'm sorry your girls are being manipulated by their fathers religion and his desire to conform to THEIR rules. I believe Jnat said that children have a way of sorting things out in time and I agree. My situation once was the opposite of yours. My 2 teenagers chose to move in with their DFed dad who was living like a rock star and openly Bi-sexual. At the time I was an active Dub remarried to an elder. I was terrified that my kids would "leave the truth" which they did while in his company. Newsflash: kids like having fun better than meetings and crazy rules! When they left his house to attend college they decided to become JWs. I was elated! What I hadn't counted on is that college teaches critical thinking skills and soon after baptism my living child left the Religion for good. Meanwhile, elder hubby and I left JWs and rock star dad died. My point: The father of your kids has some influence on them and so do you. Your girls will probably adapt to their surroundings- when with you they will pick up your beliefs and when with their father, they will do the same. Time and critical thinking skills will help them to sort out their OWN beliefs. By teaching them critical thinking NOW they will be ahead.

33