3rdgen

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Posts by 3rdgen

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  73

  Everybody loves Raymond

  by Saintbertholdt in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  a while ago the user vinman started a forum thread called: "ray franz was an idiot".

  the reaction to it was quite negative but i have to admit that the title of that thread was intriguing to me.

  by nature i am an iconoclast.

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  3rdgen

  Just a few random thoughts.........

  When hubby (now an avid "Apostate) first was leaving Watchtower he was heavily critical of RF. He thought that Ray didn't push hard enough against his uncle and the others who opposed reform of the WBT$.

  My reply to that was: "What did you expect ONE man to do?" He was outnumbered. Had Ray's ideas of a kinder, more gentle Borg been permanently embraced I'm not sure he or I would have left so I'm glad it went down the way it did. If Ray hadn't been motivated to write COC (regardless of his motives) how many of us would have known about the Mexico/Malawi scandal? That alone was enough for me to realize there was NO Holy Spirit operating on the Borg.

  Another thought regarding RF taking all of the correspondence and docs that he did: I was going through my elderly mothers pictures and keepsakes I found letters form the WTBT$ going back to the year 1941. She saved EVERYTHING with a Watchtower letterhead as it is practically sacred to her. Even when she received an unfavorable (to her) answer from them, she kept it. I think RF may have simply saved all things Watchtower related.

  In any case, I agree with those who think it really doesn't matter what Ray's motives were in writing COC I'm just glad he did. As far as ISOCF goes I have never bothered to read it. The mental freedom I gained from reading his first book led me to do enough research not to want or need the crutch of "belief".
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  7

  Seems like the perfect holiday for j-dubs

  by rebel8 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  if this article is correct, (american) thanksgiving's origins have several things j-dubs love.

  the xian god.

  genocide of nonbelievers that included men, women and children alike.

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  3rdgen

  I agree that the WTBT$ prohibits Thanksgiving in order to keep the RandF separate from their "worldly" families. Even though the excuse they officially give is that it is a political US holiday.

  It is ironic that when most or all of a particular family are JWs they DO get together, give thanks and eat turkey that weekend. Instead of Thursday it is usually on Fri or Sat. Now that hubby and I have faded we are no longer invited to the family psudo-Thanksgiving. I would be lying if I didn't admit I miss the fun I used to have with them.
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  80

  Are there any ex-missionaries here??

  by fulano in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have been a missionary in the dominican republic for almost 10 years and i was wondering if there were any ex-missionaries on this forum.. i am back in my country now for 3 years and totally inactive.. what i noticed in those missionary-years was the lack of spiritual interest among the missionaries.. discussions were about rooms, cars and greater responsibilities, the bad territory.

  and the local c.o.s and d.os.. was this only in the dr or are there other experiences??.

  ere other experiences?

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  3rdgen

  My aunt met her husband while attending the 3rd class of Gilead around 1949 or 50. They were assigned to the Dominican. They weren't there very long before then president Trujillo placed JWs under ban. All the missionaries were sent to Puerto Rico.

  My aunt fell in love with the people and culture of PR. She had a strong extravert personality which appearently was well suited for missionary life. For all I know SHE was the one driving everyone nuts at the missionary home! (she was definitely kooky)

  After about 6 years in the missionary work. My aunt had her first baby. She loved the country so much they stayed a couple more years until she became pregant with her second child. My aunt and uncle settled in Torrance Ca. and joined the Spanish cong. For a brief time while their 3 kids were growing up they went back to English hoping the kids would become better indoctrinated. I don't think the kids cared one way or the other.

  Once the kids were out of HS back to Spanish they went. When her hubby died in the eighties she moved to northern Ca to be closer to her family yet, she never went back to an English cong. She was such an zealous enthusiastic loving person (polar opposite of my mother). At the end of her life she had started so many Bible studies that they formed a Spanish cong in her town which met in her home.

  Such a waste of her life. Her oldest child now in late 50's has never been baptized. the youngest has been Dfed and in and out all her life. The middle child has sorta stayed in but never ever pioneered or been a MS. Private Reproof from time to time. Gotta hand it to my aunt though, she never ever said an unkind or unfavorable remark about her children and NEVER shunned them. :)
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  113

  I just found out that my youngest brother committed suicide

  by SnakesInTheTower in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  my middle brother called me a couple of hours ago.

  our youngest brother, josh, who was 38, was found by his friends in his apartment.

  he hung himself.

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  3rdgen

  Oh Universe, I am SO sorry for your loss. There is NO good way to receive this kind of news. Please know there are people here who feel your pain even though yours is unique.

  Right now you are in shock and you may not remember what we (on the board) have said. When you are ready I (and many others) would be glad to talk to you privately.

  WE would be glad to be your support group.
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  47

  Suicide or Real Freedom? - My Story As One Of Jehovah's Witnesses

  by dubstepped in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  "sometimes i think the only thing i could do that wouldn't upset someone would be to kill myself.".

  those were the frustrated words of my friend as we stood out in his large yard in the country, just about to enjoy a nice bonfire on a beautiful night.

  what was it that could have been a lesser evil than killing himself?

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  3rdgen

  Mike, (glad I can call you Mike) Your post was so moving. You are able to put into words the profound turmoil so many of us have suffered as children born and reared in the JW culture. I also had parents and grandparents who either abused alcohol or prescription meds which adds an additional element of anxiety and fear for children that takes it to the level of trauma.

  You have inspired me to write letters to my closest family members who are shunning me because I no longer am "active". I know it won't change how they treat me but at least they will read my own words as opposed to the BS they have heard through the "Grapevine".
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  31

  heart troubles

  by zeb in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  dear all,.

  my health took a beating over the years with stress from various sources, not a little from the wt; and dangerous areas of work involving fumes and so on.

  the arc also took its toll and i have had recently a heart attack.

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  3rdgen

  Zeb, I am so sorry for your your pain. If you must have surgery I hope it goes perfectly. You have people here who genuinely care. We wish you only the best.
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  12

  New song, "Who We Stoning Today" For my good friend Eric on JWSTRUGGLE.coom

  by Greybeard in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i wrote this song after watching eric's judicial stoning.

  i used the words he spoke at the beginning of his video and added more words... here is to you eric, thank you for all you help at jwstruggle.com .

  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pjkxp1tc4t0.

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  3rdgen

  Greybeard, I enjoyed your performance. You MUST try to make it to Tahoe next year. it turns out that Cha Ching and I were in the same congregation in 1968!!!! we hadn't seen each other since. Yet, it was as if no time had passed. Thanks for the musical reminder- I am trying my best to stop letting fear rule my life.
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  10

  "Attn Lurkers- Terror, fear and your future- How terror groups and JW.org use similar tactics

  by stuckinamovement in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we have nothing to fear but fear itself is a famous line uttered by franklin delano roosevelt during one of the usas most uncertain and scary time periods during the height of ww2..

  fear can immobilize a person, make them afraid to help others in times of critical need.

  fearfulness can change a persons personality forcing them to act in ways that they wouldnt otherwise.

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  3rdgen

  SIAM, Hi! Good to hear from you . As a person who has lived her whole life in fear I GET it , I really get it.
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  35

  Saddest thing about being DFd

  by kairos in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i always enjoyed being kind.

  when someone genuinely needed a hand or what not, it felt good to help family or friends.. i don't really miss them anymore.

  i faded over two years ago, so they long ago shunned me.i think about them less and less and have even forgotten some names.i did enjoy some of the friendships and the association.

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  3rdgen

  Wow, Kairos,

  I got your "inside joke". Is the "loving" elder and wife still driving the BMW? They both have sizable JW families but you came through for them even more than than a literal brother. I think it is also interesting to note that the barn and motor home being used by said loving elder is being provided by a man who is not and never has been a JW. (JW mom)

  Never change your giving nature-it's who you are. The so called friends who have abandoned you are the ones who have lost the most. Besides, you have made some great new ex-JW friends right?
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  50

  Is this a BEAUTIFUL STORY--or what?

  by Terry in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  is this a beautiful story, or what?.

  act one________.

  now in an ordinary romance of the golden hollywood era, the boy goes off to war while the young lady waits nervously for his safe return.in a cary grant, debra kerr movie, the two vow to meet after a certain period of time and tragic circumstances intervene.. in my story, the young man is a conscientious objector who goes to prison instead of off to the vietnam war.

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  3rdgen

  Awwwwwwwwww, Great story Terry. You have found a long lost friend at the least and maybe, just maybe................You know!