Posts by Panda

8

Underhanded Means and Trickery

by dawn27 in

jw
friends

did the elders ever try to trick you into saying too much or even trick you into having to meet with them after you said that you wouldn't?

here is my dilema: i have been inactive for about 18 mnths and moved out of the area, got a new phone number, ect.

i have had the best of both worlds, a good relationship with my family (because i'm not df'd or da'd) and freedom from the borg.

Panda

You'll do fine sweetie. Afterall, aren't you extremely busy these days? With barely enough time to brush your teeth. Gosh how you'd love to reminisce but you're trying to make a living etc.Oh and don't you really, really want to spend time with your TRUE old friends? Oh and BTW old friends how come you waited more than a year to invite me to lunch? I (you) just figured you'd (they'd) forgotten me.

A similar situation happened to me. Only it was 2 sisters (reg pio and another one who I didn't know) They claimed that they were on their way to Austin (some excuse why this other sis was there) anyway they dove into questions about my semester (college) in Beijing. How did I maintain my spirituality w/o meetings for so long. I said I had no problems, that I spoke to my husband (he's also my best friend) almost daily so anything new he'd tell me. Well, they asked, how was my relationship to Jehovah (they asked this question in several different ways none of which I cared to answer.)

My hair was standing up on my neck. My blood turned cold. I could not believe that one of my dearest friends (we'd been friends before we were jws) was trying to trip me up and get me to say I questioned my faith (which I did but I hadn't told anyone). It was devastating and if you can avoid this evil use of "friendship" definitely avoid it. I am sorry you are dealing with this part of leaving right now. JWs will try to hurt you. I think that to some extent they are jealous of your freedom, and you must be punished.

Don't play their game. Don't give them the ball (negative info on yourself) and they'll go away.

Panda

13

Odd, Rocky Mountain-type JWs in the News

by Funchback in

don't know if this was posted or not but after reading this story the moral is that we should always have a chaperone with us wherever we go!

http://www.trib.com/ap/wire_detail.php?wire_num=176272 and.

http://rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,drmn_15_2226589,00.html.

Panda

Well ... after the first clammy seduction ummm" into the cave entrance" Mr said to Mrs well now we've done it. How can we cover our tracks (ie.,sins)? Mrs said to Mr,"we'll just have to wait until the posse comes a'lookin' fer us. We'll say we were lost and our flashlights ran out. Mr queries Mrs, "Both of 'em?" Mrs answers "Of course my brawny stud muffin, now come over here for s'more spelunking." Days pass. Passionate heat passes. Mrs asks, "Where the hell are they?" Another Day and they're alternately blaming one another, and weeping tearlessly about dying together. Finally the "rescue," now they berate the sh'r'ff for takin' his dad gum time before ~~catching them inflagrante~~ finding them.

I think everyone knew where they was a goin'. And the family decided to let ~~Delilah~~ Mrs work her magic to get Mr to remarry her. IMO

17

A Confession to My Politically Conservative Friends

by Robdar in

i have officially become a member of the left wing, liberal press.

i have accepted a music director, ops/man position with a public radio station here, in kc.

i intend to become your worst nightmare but remember that i still love you.

Panda

Congrats on your new job . Just don't start dressing like those 2 ladies on SNL who talked real low and laughed at inane remarks ... only it wasn't a real laugh it was like heh heh heh.

24

two deaths and no calls...

by detective in

well, my disfellowshipped friend was seeking out an older, non-jw relative who he had wanted to invite to a monumental event in his life.

he wasn't able to reach her at her home so he eventually gave up and sought out his jw parents.

in doing so, he learned that the elderly relative had died a little less than a year earlier (a few months after he had been disfellowshipped).

Panda

I am so afraid this will happen to us. We had some really good friends who I hope we'll know if they die. We had a shock when we saw an older couple (who were really nice) die on a TV program. It was awful. Another friend died just after I DA'd and I wish I had had time to say goodbye to her. So I hope that in the future some who have recently faded and keep in touch w/us will keep us informed.

I feel for your friend.

217

US anti-abortionist faces execution

by ignored_one in

us anti-abortionist faces execution

the first man to face the death penalty in the united states for killing a doctor who performed abortions is to be executed on wednesday.

paul hill, 49, is due to die by lethal injection in northern florida, following his conviction of the murder of two people outside an abortion clinic in 1994. .

Panda

A few thoughts on these issues.

First, I am glad that Hall was put to sleep last evening at about 6:30pm. What he did was wrong. He was judged guilty and has now paid the penalty of which he was fully aware before the crimes commission.

Second, the right to Choice is part of our US Constitution

Third, Nationalism and Propaganda are 2 different things. For instance propaganda for a cause you believe in may not be a lie however the information is given a spin so people will come to the conclusion you desire. That's not bad, not even negative. Nationalism is really believing your always right. So much so that you'll imprison those who don't agree with you. McCarthyism was Nationalism. Nazism was Nationalism. Mussollini's Fascism was Nationalism. Chile's coup (the one w/ US help) was Nationalism....the list goes on and on...

Fourth, You won't be able to pigeon hole me --- I am pro-death penalty AND pro-choice AND I supported President Bush in his decisive action against the Taliban and Iraq.(read behind the burqa) I am pro-NRA AND pro-secularist AND pro-feminist AND anti-gov't involvement in my personal choices (the legal ones anyway) AND pro-drug legalization AND Pro-prostitution legalization (I feel this would benefit the "working girls") AND pro-education (non-institutionalized) AND pro-punctuated equilibria. So as you see I am an incredibly positive pro-person.

And BTW do yah'll know that Barbara Bush (former first lady and present first mother) is pro-choice. A stand which she enlightened reporters to while she still lived in the White House. I love that woman!

24

If You Value Love, NEVER Become a Jehovah's Witness!

by metatron in

i was observing my loyal wife sending out anniversary cards to other witnesses,.

as she has done for many years.

if we were ordinary protestants, we would probably.

Panda

To jws the heart is a muscle in the body. The coldness is the only way to survive in a cult. Lots of Love talk but no action, at least not after you're baptized. When the WTS plans every waking moment of your life meetings, service, assemblies, personal study of WTS literature, ad nauseum... There is no time for "human kindness ...it's overflowin' and I think it's gonna rain today ... lonely, lonely...tin can at my feet, think I'll kick it down the street, that's the way to treat a friend"(Joan Baez)

The coldness allows the R/F to adhere (even if just with lip service) to the WTS. That makes the R/F feel superior and therefore anyone who neglects something like meetings well you've fallen from superior to condemned.

I am sorry for your pain. And while it must've hurt to write that I hope you know how much your words help all of us. We are all survivors with a heart breaking story to tell about parents, spouses, congregations, children and people we should've been friends with but we couldn't.

Panda gives{{{ hugs}}}

26

Some Questions; Civil Answers Please

by Swan in

jw
friends

i am questioning whether the internet is a good place to hang out.

last month i was scammed by an impostor who took advantage of me while i was depressed and vulnerable.

even this discussion board has become very vicious lately.

Panda

Tammy, I understand your depression and suffer from that too. I also did quit , almost right after I'd started posting here because I felt that somehow I should be able to answer every unfair statement. I also especially took offense at NAMBLA being considered a homosexual issue. That's like saying rapists are really into physical relationships... NO not even close, right? So, sometimes it's good to take a break. And you, of course you know you can start posting again or not. No one will DF you or shun you. Everyone has their own way of overcoming their borganization. So check out some new places on the net or maybe write a journal of your own for awhile..no one can be ON all the time.

Big Panda Hugs {{{Swan aka Tammy}}}

19

Baptism 1973 and 1985 Questions hmmmmmmmmmm!

by Beans in

i was doing some research and noticed that the baptism questions were changed several times over the years.

the questions in 1973 were as follows: *** w73 5/1 280 baptizing follows discipling *** if you feel the same about serving jehovah god and taking christs yoke upon you, we suggest that you consider the following two questions, which are asked of candidates for baptism:.

(1) have you repented of your sins and turned around, recognizing yourself before jehovah god as a condemned sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him, the father, through his son jesus christ?

Panda

I knew there was a change but had no idea how strictly legal it was ... So I was baptized in1978, that means I never swore my allegiance to the WTS... So when I DA'd in my letter I said I resigned from the WTS, that means nothing in reference to my baptism "yes, yes" So that means all of my old friends should be talking to me and coming over for my birthday! Panda smiles

13

Hi everyone, just nervous about this whole adoption thing

by neverthere in

jw
friends

hi everyone, i know that i don't post too much but today is a big day for me.

i go to the lawyers office to start the adoption proceedings, my current hubby wants to adopt the kids i had with my ex.

part of what worries me is i have heard that my ex is back in the fold.

Panda

Diana, Good Luck today. Remember that what you are doing is to save your family. I don't know Canadian law but, if he hasn't paid child support for 2 yrs(this shows he has already abandoned them) AND IF the new hubby has been supporting the kids then you shouldn't have a problem. However in the US grandparents now have a say-so with the kids so they may be able to ruffle your feathers, but whatever if you all stick together you will do fine. I think you and your kids and the new Dad will do just fine. {{{hugs from Panda}}}

7

after watching all along the watchtower!

by nelly1 in

i was shocked because i had a similar experience to that blonde women with the jw husband that wouldnt and didnt consumate her marriage.. i really felt like i related to her because similar happened to me.. i left after that id had enough but it was a combination of things... spent the last 2 days watching all the videos and listening to all the radio broadcasts on dirtclod.com.

tears your heart out completely... i can relate..altho my second husband not a witness whom i was with when i became one...raped my kids and he wasnt a witness..they still didnt wanna help me either.

i needed help i had 3 traumatised babies at the time and they didnt wanna know said i made it up and put idea in their heads.. rich aint it?.

Panda

Nelly1, So very glad you are here now. So many people have been abused by the WTS... what love? none in that organization.