Truth be known: You hit the nail on the head. I remember an elder telling me not to "make a big deal" over a sister shop lifting when were on break while in field service. "It would bring reproach on Jehovah". REALLY??? Well little Miss Sticky Fingers got rapped up in a check fraud ring several years ago involving not hundreds of dollars, not thousands of dollars but hundreds of thousands of dollars, and imagine this... she also got side ways in a drug sting as well. Last I heard she got 5 ot 25 and is still in prision. Now how is that for not bringing reproach on Jehovah???????
harleybear
JoinedPosts by harleybear
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Problematic JWs
by Celestial indid you ever have a problem with one of jehovah's witnesses?.
i always got along with everyone very well except for a couple of people.
this experience was partly my fault.
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"Oh say can you see?"
by HintOfLime injust a curious question.... how many ex-jw's here have yet to perform a pledge of alliegance or sing the national anthem?
now that i think about it... after years of 'standing firm' and refusing to these things as a 'brainwashed babe' - even in my wiser years i haven't done them.. do you feel any reistance toward doing so?
are you proud of your country?
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harleybear
I have no problem with either the pledge or the anthem. As a born in they were a big no no, but now that I am out I do both. One nation under God really should be one universe under God but I get the reason for the American pledge. The anthem is inspiring in spite of the fact the tune came from an old English pub tone. My vote for our nations anthem would have been American the Beautiful as it was written by an American and describes our country. I do consider myself patriotic but only in the sense that I have received many benifits and liberties being in this county and I am grateful.. I find it ironic that JW's bitch about the government, have their elite attitudes about patriotic issues and neutral matters, don't vote etc... and yet are the first in line to have their hand out for government provided services. ie. the freedom to go from door to door and not be hassled, law enforcement to keep them safe, firefighter who risk their lives to keep their silly little KH from burning down, good roads, clean water, welfare, food stamps, FREE schools, ......... and the list goes on and on. You bet I say the pledge and sing the anthem case I choose to be a part of the solution and not the problem. harley bear and ridin FREE!!!!
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It was "evidence" of holy spirit that got me
by irondork inwhen i got disfellowshipped at age 19 for alcohol and sex with, uhm... several others, i deserved it.
after that i took a nose dive into drugs and alcohol and the whole nightclub party scene in wash. d.c.. it didnt take long for my life to start falling apart.. .
eveidence that leaving jehovahs organization was the wrong thing to do.. .
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harleybear
Irondork: Congrad on your sobriety. I too am recovering and AA is working for me but I will be the first to say it is not the end all be all. What I am enjoying as you are also is a realignment with God. To give yourself over to Gods will or Higher Power has nothing to do with buildings, duties, or an organization. It comes from the heart. When I was baptized in 1969 the 2nd question of the baptizum talk was not as it is now. In no way would I today submit to the 2nd question as it appears now regarding the organization. You have made a brave and spitual journey and you should be very proud of yourself. God is smiling with you in your sucess. Way to go Harleybear Ridin Free
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Wow, not seen this before....
by snare&racket inwow, not seen this before...... http://www.watchtower.org/e/jt/article_08.htm#only.
how openly ignorant and distasteful.
talking down cancer sufferers and alcohol addicts as wanting wickedness!.
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harleybear
Wow what a crock. I too had not seen that article in the WT. As a recovering alcoholic I can tell you that I did want wickedness to end. I no more wanted my condition than to see children molested, wives beaten, women raped, ETC. That line of thinking is just S**T. Are we to assume that the nice family going to the meeting and is killed in a tragic car wreck wanted wickedness? That the failthful sister who was beated to death with a hammer wanted wickedness? That the elders son who was sodomized by fellow classmates in the locker room at school wanted wickedness? REALLY??? Did I miss somthing or was there not a loving provision for the ransom sacrifice for ALL MANKIND??? Or did the GB miss that class? How utterly pathetic. I thank our loving God Jehovah every day that I am out of that horrible place and that I know my Higher Powers love and mercy.
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I don't agree with that evidence, so I'll just ignore it. . .
by Flat_Accent injust a little experience i had a while back.
thought it was funny so here we go.
(there's also a couple of links you might want to use for your own reference).
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harleybear
Flat- Your experience is typical. As a 5th generation born-in I have heard this all my life. My Grandmother who was baptized in 1914 was sure she would see the fulfillment of the last days in her lifetime. She died in 1983. The GB is so desperate to hang on to that scare tactic to keep the "flock" in check. Your research was wonderful and I appreciate your hard work. What I find also interesting is that while the GB hangs onto the last days as a "soon" conceptapplicable in our day, it completely ignores the words in Rev 1: 1-3. Vs 1 refers to "things that must shortly take place. Vs 3 refers to "the words of this prophecy, and who observe the things written in it, for the appointed time is near " NWT Now that amazes me. ..... but then not really. To put any kind of validity that the prophecy in Revelation could have ...dare I say it??? been fulfilled in 70, would really upset the apple cart. Again the fear factor that the GB uses. By proclaiming that the Revelation account is applicable in our day again keeps the "flock" in check. But does this surprise anyone? HB
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Beards
by snare&racket ini am sure this has been posted a million times and said by most jw's, but it is an important point..... beards.. .
beards being forbidden is something we just all accepted.
how dumb and stupid were we !
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harleybear
snare&racket: Oh yeah I forgot about denim being a big no no. By chance was that sis in Colorado. If so I bet the elder was my uncle.
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BEARDS: Why JW men don't have them
by 00DAD ini know this has been dished over before, but when i was doing some research i discovered a couple of interesting points.
as far as i can find, there is only one wt article that implies that jw men should not have beards.
*** w75 8/15 pp.
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harleybear
Sizmik you are priceless. Would have loved to be a fly on the wall for that one
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Beards
by snare&racket ini am sure this has been posted a million times and said by most jw's, but it is an important point..... beards.. .
beards being forbidden is something we just all accepted.
how dumb and stupid were we !
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harleybear
I weighed in on the original thread about beards. As a born in woman the cong elders had us gals come up on the stage, drop to our knees to be sure our skirts touched the floor. That was 1971. Around that time the WTS was out of control . Any facial hair, long side burns, short skirts and yes colored dress shirts for the bro's was a big no no. I remember my great aunt having a fit about sisters wearing "granny dresses and wigs". I got ripped for colored eye shadow and call a Jezebel. Brothers were told that they could not wear cowboy boots to the meeting. ( that went over well in Montana) Cong members could not fish or hunt ( again won lots of points in Montana) and finally I was told I was not being theocratic because I owned a Harley. Mess with my bike and you will have a problem. Yicks the micro brain drain from those people is nuts. So glad to be out. Harleybear ridin free Makes ya want to grow a beard
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BEARDS: Why JW men don't have them
by 00DAD ini know this has been dished over before, but when i was doing some research i discovered a couple of interesting points.
as far as i can find, there is only one wt article that implies that jw men should not have beards.
*** w75 8/15 pp.
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harleybear
Okay, I'm going to weigh in on this one even if I am a chick. As a "sister" those of us gals in the cong had to go up on the stage, drop to our knees and have an elder make sure our skirts touched the floor. If I'm lyin I'm dyin. YICKS Although not done during the meeting it was in plain view after the meeting. When I complained I was told I was not being in supmission. Talk about "assume the position"
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Gay and proud for a year
by TimothyT inwow... i cant believe it has now been a year since i accepted that im gay.
it has been the best year of my life for so many reasons.
i have met my boyfriend who i adore, i have stopped lying to myself, my family and my friends, i am doing really well financially and spiritually, and of course, i am no longer a part of a deluded and oppressive religion.. it feels so good to be free!
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harleybear
Tim: So glad that you have such peace. Good for you. I am a straight female X-JW married to a never ever never JW man who is my best friend in the whole world. We have several gay friends many X J Dubs who are very important to us. Your courage and convictions is awesome.