Posts by outnfree

71

When and where baptized

by drahcir yarrum in

jw
friends

i thought it might be interesting to see how many here remember where and when they were baptised into the borg.

for some the memory may be too painful, but i'm curious.. me.

it was 1966 in vancouver, bc.

I invited my non-JW husband and he wouldn't come. I was upset because my kids (5, 3, & 1) didn't actually see me get dunked, either, because the sisters taking care of them didn't get close enough to the pool. I expected to feel 'different' somehow, too, once that holy spirit descended, Joelbear & Jim, but didn't. THAT was a disappointment.

My best friend, who had been baptized years before at the Monroe, NY Assy Hall, said she felt "different" after being dunked. (I remember how the Hasidim HATED that the Assembly Hall was in their midst -- cars driving through the neighborhood on shabbas!!! Didn't know it was sold, though. Good for them!)

outnfree

99

Australian Nazi regime?

by Norm in

jw
friends

what kind of complete bastard regime do they have in australia?.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/asia-pacific/newsid_1511000/1511903.stm.

norm

outnfree

Ok, maybe it's my Viking blood, but I hope rather it's my highly refined sense of justice when I come down on the side of the Norwegians [and certain enlightened Australians].

It seems to me that because the Australian government requested the Tampa to take aboard these refugees the Australian government has an obligation to take these refugees ashore and process them.

It has [b]NOTHING[b] to do with immigration and everything to do with humanitarian aide. (As Abaddon has kindly pointed out, immigration and refugee policies are two different animals.)

Why bother asking the Norwegian ship to save these people if the Australian government were not interested in actually saving these people?

Australia is definitely getting an international black eye from its handling of this situation.

The Norwegian captain and his crew are being punished for doing a good deed, taking aboard many more people than logistically fit to handle, and the subsequent boarding of the ship by Australian SAS troops was QUITE heavy-handed and morally repugnant.

I'm just waiting now for the inevitable attack on this American's lack of understanding of Australian politics. However, to me the issue is NOT one of politics (although I understand it may be being played out that way in Oz) but one of common decency. Or lack thereof.

Sorely disappointed,
outnfree

15

Am I the only chicken ....

by BobsGirl in

jw
friends

i am having a really tough time with fear.

mine is one of the stories on bill bowen's silentlambs site.

i have survived more than 14 years of abuse, left the "borg", married a man that is amazingly supportive and not a jw, sought counseling and recovery, given birth to a newborn baby boy ...... every one of which has required courage and intestinal fortitude.

outnfree

Oh, BobsGirl,

I don't want to sue and find out for sure which side my family will chose to support. I don't want to know for sure that their loyalties lie with this group and not me. Deep down, I know that their love is conditional, I just don't want to force them to prove it.

This is just the reason why I hold that the Watchtower Society is not only WRONG, it is EVIL. Supporting pedophiles rather than their victims is wrong, wrong, wrong -- morally bankrupt. That a victim need ALSO worry that his/her family will not back them up in exposing this wrong because of having been indoctrinated to put the Society's reputation ahead of NORMAL FILIAL TIES is just EVIL.

Thank you for telling your story at silentlambs. That, in itself, was quite courageous!

outnfree

174

get a life -- 10 facts

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting for people to just post a few things about themselves so we can get to know each other just a bit.. try posting 10 facts about your life.. joel.

1. i was born and raised in south georgia.. 2. my favorite subject in school was math.. 3. i was in the fulltime service (bethel and pioneer) for 4 years.. 4. my favorite color is blue.. 5. mitch and i have been together over 12 years.. 6. we live in a suburb of atlanta georgia.. 7. we love to eat out and have friends over for dinner and board games.. 8. the only sport i was ever any good at is tennis.. 9. my favorite tv show of all time is the simpsons.. 10. we are both naturists and wish we could lay on the beach naked every day.

outnfree

Eating this up!!!!

1. I am a Christmas baby. Giving up my birthday for religion wasn't that difficult because being a Christmas baby just .... sucks!!!!
But now anyone who is actually posting here on Christmas as opposed to using their post-JW freedom to celebrate FAMILY may wish me a Happy Birthday on Dec. 25 and I will not even get a "puss" on my face.
2. Married 23 years, 4 kids (3 mine, 1 borrowed), husband is 9-1/2 years older than me. Eldest is 17, female and a high school senior.
Then 15, female, Sophomore, 13, male, 8th grader, 12-this-weekend, female, 6th grader. (OH! I am also "wicked" step mom to a 30 year old. My step son is an American living in Canada and my son is a Canadian living in America.)
3. GONE WITH THE WIND is my all-time favorite movie and LITTLE WOMEN my favorite book. And in case Ginny wants to know, I always WISHED I could be Melly - kind and gracious - but the realist in me knew I never would be. Just as I thought Beth quietly lovely, and yet I was more like Jo! (Which actually wasn't too bad in my opinion. I would have singed my gloves, and I also have my rare hair-cropping moments in life when I please myself with unexpected Melly-like-ness!)
4. I have owned four cats in my life and I think I'm done. The first was hit by a car and so was the last one. Both right outside my home.
Missy was just killed last week, so I'm in mourning.
5. I am right-handed with one left-handed daughter. [-handedness being a big thing on this thread for some reason.)
6. My children have all attended parochial school (hubby is non-practicing Roman Catholic) which made for some interesting conflicts during my 11 years as a baptized witness.
7. I love learning! Read a LOT! Even my kids' summer reading assignments!
8. I speak French and a Spanish Catalonian dialect - Mallorquin. At one time wanted to major in Foreign Languages. Instead, I married a Spaniard.
9. Who else was it here that liked Billy Joel? Me, too! And Sting the Beatles, Simon&Garfunkel, and Creed, Good Charlotte, and Alabama & Shania Twain. I like live orchestral music, because I enjoy watching the musicians and how all the parts come together, but I don't like listening to it half as well. Eclectic? Detest opera.
10. I like Vincent VanGogh and irises.

Yes, deciding on only 10 is difficult!
Thanks, joelbear!

73

Matthew 25

by Farkel in

jw
friends

when did we see you a stranger and receive you hospitably, or naked, and clothe you?

he was talking about food, clothing, shelter and supplication to the least of the brothers.

he could not be talking about anything else and here is why: could any human offer jesus spiritual food?

outnfree

Hi, Farkel! LOVED this post!

I was in Borders [bookstore] over the weekend and picked up a little book, Unearthing the Lost Words of Jesus, by John Dart and Ray Riegert, which includes the Gospel of Thomas.

When I read this quote of Had_Enough's

I feel moved my this because right at this time in my life I'm am happy to be here learning, getting stronger in my convictions even though what I'm learning can cause me upset and turmoil.

I couldn't help but think of something I just read there:

Saying 1: "Whoever finds the interpretation of these sayings will not taste death."

Saying 2: "Let whoever seeks not cease from his seeking until he finds. When he finds, he will be troubled. When he is troubled, he will marvel and will reign over all."

To me, this means that the interpretation spoken of in Saying 1 CAN be found, but the search demands ceaseless effort. The interpretation is troublesome once found. And the finder becomes troubled, but marvels at the troublesome interpretation and that interpretation is elevating and empowering.

Sort of how Farkel's expose of the Watchtower's MISinterpretation of Matthew 25 will feel troublesome to JW lurkers if they have hearts like Had_Enough and he do.

Sort of how the correct interpretation is troublesome to those of us who recognized the MISinterpretation and left the Society in part because of it like bluesapphire, waiting, bboy, JustAThought and others.

Sort of how the correct interpretation is elevating and empowering because if anyone really wants to gain eternal life, according to Christ Jesus, all s/he needs do is be charitable to fellow humans. Who, really cannot accomplish that in some small way as one walks through life?

(ALL fellow humans, You Know! But you, being the Priestly type, can begin with your fellow Witnesses, if helping Samaritans goes against your grain. I just know that helping others materially wasn't done too much at my former Kingdom Hall, despite GREAT need on the part of some.)

And some points about 1 Corinthians 10:3 which in context is talking about how the Chosen People were led out of bondage to Pharoah and were taken care of by Jehovah in the wilderness: (JB)"They were all baptized into Moses in this cloud and in this sea; all ate the same spiritual food and all drank the same spiritual drink, since they all drank from the spiritual rock that followed them as they went, and that rock was Christ. In spite of this, most of them failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert." [Verse 3 in italics]

Here the spiritual food and the spiritual drink are equated with the spiritual rock = Christ Jesus. Be forewarned, YouKnow. If you wish to link the Chosen Ones with the 144,000, be careful to remember that MOST of those united in Christ "failed to please God and their corpses littered the desert." I'd advise making gifts of mercy -- MATERIAL gifts of mercy -- right away. Don't take your "chosen status" as a right rather than a privilege which the Father bestows.
And, if I may ask, how do YOU [b}KNOW[/b] that the wino on the street is NOT one of Christ's brothers? Was Rahab living an ideal life when she charitably hid the spies and lied to the authorities???? hmmmmm?
I think even the Watchtower teaches that only GOD can read hearts. Certainly only God can see the potential in a Rahab or a homeless drunk. We are NOT to be judging others. Jesus said so.

outnfree
(who donated to soup kitchens and clothing drives and disaster relief ALL THE YEARS she was a JW and made no excuses!)

Thanks again, Farkel.

17

risk taking

by joelbear in

jw
friends

well, i'm getting closer and closer to turning my life upside down and breaking away from my 43 years of conservative living.

any risk experiences out there?.

the risk i want to take is leaving banking, living a much more bohemiam life, maybe work as a waiter or bartender or something, go to school, travel, work on my furniture art, write, read, live.. aaaack.

outnfree

Joel,

I'm with the others that risk-taking can be quite worthwhile.

However, I'm gonna ask what nobody else has so far: Where's Mitch in all this? Are you going abroad without him? Is he tied to his job or can/will he come with? (Or did I miss something when I was gone from the board this past week?)

And finally,

are you auditioning at a club near me?

outnfree

77

JW Child Abuse: An Insider's Insight

by silentlambs in

i post the following at the request of barbara anderson.. .

as a result of the newspaper report calling attention to my actions i feel compelled to provide further information that has come to light and deserves full exposure.. the society is very much aware of my intentions, because of a private e-mail i innocently wrote someone was forwarded to the society without my permission.

you can read it in its entirety, below.

outnfree

Folks,

It was a great pleasure for me to have met Barb, hear her speak and share a meal (or two) with her as well. I was astounded by her courage and determination and wish to reassure you all that she knows EXACTLY what she's up against and has the personal fortitude to withstand the character asassination that will likely result from exercising her Bible-trained conscience (but prayers can't hurt!).

Barb,

That courage and determination is what motivated me to get in contact with Bill and offer to help where I could in the effort to change the terribly misguided "pedophile protection policy" that revictimizes victims of molestation. I am sorry that your friend declined to help herself and her daughter and I am sorry that your role as smoking gun was "outed" a bit earlier than expected. But I have no doubt that you will deal with this turn of events with aplomb and dignity.

Kudos.

With appreciation and gratitude for your continued work,

outnfree

18

Is this ALL you people do?

by Bibleboy in

jw
friends

bicker and complain all day?

why not try to show some love around here?

just wondering.... with love,

outnfree

LOL@Naeblis!

Blessings on you, Bibleboy!

I will be nothing but positive this evening!

outnfree

Par dessus toutes choses, soyez bons. La bonte est ce qui ressemble le plus a Dieu et ce qui desarme le plus les hommes -- Lacordaire

27

Russell; an unoticed freemason ?

by chasson in

jw
friends

russell an unnoticed freemason ?.

according to the partisans of russell's membership of the freemasonry, the russells, father and son, would have been particularly important masons, proves by the fact that russell would have build an masonic organization to realize the claimed purpose of the the freemasonry: a plot to destroy christianity.. .

obviously in support of their thesis, these partisans do not bring any masonic document proving the membership of the father and the son to the masonry.

outnfree

Hi, larc!

I agree! Chasson's English wasn't so very bad after all, was it?

outnfree

27

Russell; an unoticed freemason ?

by chasson in

jw
friends

russell an unnoticed freemason ?.

according to the partisans of russell's membership of the freemasonry, the russells, father and son, would have been particularly important masons, proves by the fact that russell would have build an masonic organization to realize the claimed purpose of the the freemasonry: a plot to destroy christianity.. .

obviously in support of their thesis, these partisans do not bring any masonic document proving the membership of the father and the son to the masonry.

outnfree

2eme partie/(cont'd):

The book also contains a small error made by Springmeier, amateur conspiracy author, which error’s importance will be explained below:

There is no lodge number 223 in Pittsburgh, although there is one in Allegheny.

At a French Springmeier-like site( http://www.microtec.net/mleblank/occulte/demasquons.html) it says:

“But then, did his father also belong to a lodge? In fact, his father was a master mason of Lodge No. 223 of Pittsburgh, on Jefferson Street, and of the Mizpah Lodge No. 288 in Allegheny. These lodges were in close proximity to his business. And it is likely that it was in one of these lodges that young Charles was “initiated” into that which we would like all to know.”

The Mizpah Lodge seems to have existed by 1913. But in 1897 it was not called Mizpah, but rather Jefferson Lodge at least that’s what one must conclude as there existed a Lodge No. 288. By 1913, Russell had already left Allegheny, and we do not know when Russell’s father died. But if Russell or his father belonged to Lodge 288, it was not called Mizpah.

Here is a complete listing of all the Masonic Lodges in 1897, which you can verify for yourself: http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/pitt/viewitem.stable/00aee6163m/v0000/i000/0162a054.tif?main=http%3a%2f%2fdigital.library.pitt.edu%2fpittsburgh%2f%&cite=%2fcgi-bin#2fpitttext-idx.pl%3fnotisid%3d00aee6163m$26type3dheader&config=pitt&booknotis=00aee

Why is the identification of Lodge 223 so important? Because of
this: ftp://ftp:rootsweb.com/pub/usgenweb/pa/allegheny/xmisc/lodge.txt

This is the list of members of Lodge No. 223 of Allegheny in 1874. At this time, Russell’s father is still alive and is supposed to be an active mason in this same lodge as Mr. Leblanc’s site asserts. But there is no Russell on this list in 1874. And in 1874 young Mr.
Russell does not seem to have been initiated.

This is only a small look at what you can find in all the digitalized City of Pittsburgh archives: http://digital.library.pitt.edu/pittsburgh/mainpage.html

Try a search there for “Joseph Russell,” in two days I did not find anything. And for “Charles Taze Russell?” I haven’t found anything yet, but I’m still searching. Nevertheless by making your own searches, you will find an incalculable number of biographies of prominent people in Pittsburgh and even in all of Allegheny County. In every biography, you will find that the Masonic membership of the person is highlighted as well as the Lodge to which he belonged.

If Russell was a Mason, he was not really recognized by his peers who forgot to mention it. In the same way, in the history of the city and the country, the Russells, father and son, did not stand out.

So, Russell an unnoticed mason? Maybe not a mason at all.