Posts by pale.emperor

30

Unprivileged

something just dawned on me today as i processed my assimilation into the real world (thanks to our new poster, @jester, giving me a major throwback to my first post).. when you're a jehovah's witness, you really are in some sort of la la land.

things which are perfectly normal are acts of eating from the table of the demons.

things which are horribly grotesque and extremely unjust are branded as "righteousness".

pale.emperor

This is a wonderful post. I never looked at it like that before.

I always likened it to North Korea. Even haircuts are monitored.

25

Work Colleague Went To a JW Funeral - His Experience

by pale.emperor in

so the guy in my office on the desk next to me has just got back from the funeral of his wifes sister.

this was his first time in a kh and full on exposure to jwdom.. bit of background: the deceased jw was not a born in, she was a convert when she was in her teens.

she died last week at the age of 82. the poor old dear was still zealously knocking on doors while in ill health.

pale.emperor

Pale - what state was that in?

ttdtt - Me and Paley are in the UK. I would image it'll probably be in up north part of the UK.

The funeral would have been in the Formby area of the UK.

25

Work Colleague Went To a JW Funeral - His Experience

by pale.emperor in

so the guy in my office on the desk next to me has just got back from the funeral of his wifes sister.

this was his first time in a kh and full on exposure to jwdom.. bit of background: the deceased jw was not a born in, she was a convert when she was in her teens.

she died last week at the age of 82. the poor old dear was still zealously knocking on doors while in ill health.

pale.emperor

So the guy in my office on the desk next to me has just got back from the funeral of his wifes sister. This was his first time in a KH and full on exposure to JWdom.

Bit of background: the deceased JW was not a born in, she was a convert when she was in her teens. She died last week at the age of 82. The poor old dear was still zealously knocking on doors while in ill health. I wont disrespect the poor woman, she was a victim of a vile cult that taken so many precious years from her, not to mention her time and energy when she should have been taking it easy in her old age.

Anyway, so my colleague tells me, her will stated that she be buried rather than cremated due to "the resurrection". This is new to me, I was born in and never heard of this being a JW teaching.

My colleague went to the KH and said:

"I was surprised. It was more like a conference hall, i was expecting them to put a powerpoint presentation on the wall or something. They talked about her for about 5 minutes but even then it was about her being a JW. They didnt mention anything about her. The rest of it was talking about resurrection and loyalty. Which didn't seem to make sense. Loyalty?"

Then he said the speaker said something shocking then quickly moved on. I asked what it was, he said "that her soul is dead now?". I explained about the JWs not believing in an immortal soul. Apparently this shocked/upset some of her never-JW relatives who's only comfort was that she was in a better place. Anyway, the elder quickly moved on.

Back to the womans house for tea and buffet. He said he couldn't discern who the JWs were because he hadn't met most of her family before. Their introductions were very formal but they seemed nice enough. "However..." he laughed "...they did like to give me literature. I just took it to be polite".

Then he takes from his pocket 5 JW.borg business cards, 2 leaflets about life after death and the latest Watchtower magazine.

Really? At a funeral? Who brings literature to a funeral?

28

So here is my long winded story....

by GTSfromSY in

thanks for the warm greetings all.

wow!

i am very moved, really.

pale.emperor

I too had no JW friends despite being born in. Also, not close to my family so i didnt really lose anything or anyone when i left.

I like your writing style. Great story Gabe.

Are you in the UK?

18

little acts of kindness.

by zeb in

jw
friends

just had a coffee on way home when two young mums with babys in strollers came in with the usual bags and stuff for the little ones needs.

i recall our days of little ones and the times we rarely went out.. i bought a coffee voucher for each mum and gave them my best wishes.

i delight in doing random acts of kindness.. i wish everyone here as well a safe and happy christmas/ new year time.

pale.emperor

My daughter and I have personally been on the receiving end of Zeb's kindness all the way from Oz! So thanks again Zeb. Her toy Koala is still pride of place (she actually put it on the Christmas tree a few days ago instead of a bauble).

Just reading here on this forum, I've noticed that ex JWs seem to be more giving than when they were in as well as current jws. I've noticed a pull in this direction for myself as well. Any ideas or theories as to why exciting the bORG seems to make people more giving?

I find myself a lot more outgoing and friendly. I cant believe i used to look down on these people and see them as not real people. I think in all cases, as soon as one group dehumanizes another group it makes it easier to treat them with disrespect, easier to not empathize with them and easier to think of them being destroyed without a care.

The Nazi's did it with the Jews.

The Japanese did it with the Chinese.

And Jehovah's Witnesses to it to everybody else.

Once you're out and see the world as a wonderful, exciting place you appreciate it more because you've missed so much. So you jump in with both feet and want to get involved.

That's my take on it anyway.

19

Greetings everyone! Newly signed up but not new to the site.

by GTSfromSY in

my (very fake) name is gabriel syme or gabe for short.

i have been lurking in the shadows for many years and i want to give all here a heartfelt thank you for all your indirect support.

this website, as well as youtube, and eventually reddit, were all key in me finally accepting the “truth” being not that at all.

pale.emperor

Welcome Gabe

I kinda wish i picked a better name now after seeing yours.

I look forward to reading your future posts.

178

Charging $150 To Tell Your Stories

by Bangalore in

jw
friends

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/how-to-escape-from-jehovah-s-witnesses-religion#/.

for $150: collaboration with the backer so that their story of successfully escaping an abusive belief system (300 words max) features along with others in the final pages of how to escape from jehovah's witnesses.

the text will be written by the author but will include a minimum of one quote worded by the backer.

pale.emperor

I thought about writing a book on how to leave too but then i didn't because you can sum it up in 19 words:

Stop attending meetings. Don't talk to elders. If they question you about religion say it's a personal matter. Repeat.

You only need to visit this forum and tell your story and we'll all advise on how to leave FOR FREE, but it's basically the above advice.

I don't mind his videos at all, i have no personal beef with him but this is just shameful.

38

How do I handle this?

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

a little advice please.. it's now 7 months since i stopped going to meetings.

we still get regular calls by elders - at least every 2 weeks.

i can handle them.

pale.emperor

Did it read something like this?:

A letter that was posted through my letter box by an anonymous "sister" in my old congregation. There are nice people out there, regardless of the cult they're involved in.

Why not surround the happiness that it brings to be part of the huge JW family? If you have faith in Jehovah, he will listen to your prayers so as to help you out. I have actually been witness of his ‘grandeur’. He is a God of love and compassion. Actually, i am only 18 years old and i have known enough to be able to talk about the Jehovah’s Witnesses. James 1:13 says that if you are experiencing some difficulties, it is not Jehovah who is testing you because he can’t even do that to his witness. This is why in the bible it is said not to fraternize with ‘The World’ because such as 1 John 5:19 say ‘ We know that we originate with God, but the whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. ’ They are using temptation to tear us apart from what is really good. 1 John 5:3–4 shows us how Jehovah loves his witnesses and with our faith we can follow the path he’s showing us. Nothing is difficult when you believe in Jehovah.
I hope that someday you will see how the world is full of cruelty and that you come back amongst us. Remember 1 day for Jehovah is 1000 years for us, the end is near. Just take your bible for only a few minutes and read verses that you know and appreciate. This will be a great help.

33

For ELDERS: Kingdom Ministry School for the 2018 Service Year (Picture)

by pixel in

i know wifibandit will post the pdf soon, this is just a snack for you guys and girls.... .

pale.emperor

15 min breaks?

45 min talks, 55 min talks, MORE 55 min talks then just a 15 min break?

From the conventions we all remember our attention drifting after 30mins. The brain needs 5 - 10 min breaks every 20 mins in order to learn and retain information.

55

Very Lost

by Jrjw in

hi i've been a jw for 12 years and got married 2 years ago.

i'm now separated.

my husband hid from me that he suffered from depression, extreme anxiety issues and a personality disorder.

pale.emperor

Hi Jrjw

Lets get something very clear... you're describing an abusive relationship.

This man is abusing you, maybe not physically, but mentally and emotionally. A marriage, or even a partnership, is two people respecting each other and taking their needs into account. He isn't doing that. He's looking for a woman, a person to have sex with, an emotional punchbag - and to top it all you're both in a religion that lives by ancient Hebrew laws that are stacked in the mans favor. How dare he say you cant separate because you have no grounds!

You are a woman. You are strong, capable and intelligent - dont let any man or organization tell you you're anything less.

Unfortunately you're experiencing first hand that Jehovah's Witnesses wont even entertain the idea of divorce unless one of you commit adultery.

I know exactly what you're going through. My ex-wife has severe OCD and she hid it until we married. My 8 years of marriage was a living hell. Very much like what you've described here. The congregation would assume i was treating her bad when in fact i couldn't have been any kinder. I was being used and my kindness taken advantage of.

I'll PM you. But first things first, realize that his behavior is unacceptable, and if it's affecting your daughters mental health too then do you really want to raise her around such a person? Mental/emotional abuse is grounds for separation. And if you get professionals involved like a woman's shelter or therapists the Watchtower Society will likely back off from any judicial action.