Posts by puffthedragon

12

Anyone one recently served in Bethel?

by MC RubberMallet in

i served between brooklyn/wallkill between 2005 - 2012 (including one and two week temping).

it would be great to see if i know/knew anyone here!.

if privacy is your thing, i have no problems exchanging any info, except my name, in pm..

puffthedragon

You came in as I was leaving, MC. Also, I was in Brooklyn.

131

Let's Discuss Ray Franz's Books

by Recovery in

i have been repeatedly pleaded with to read the books of ray franz in my short stay on this board.

apparently these are all the all-powerful, wt crushing arguments, that lead so many to leave jw's and become ruthless opposers of god's people.

we can discuss any claims/statements/scriptural arguments presented in either of his books, as long as it somehow proves jehovah's witnesses are not god's people.

There's an awful lot of rules to your invitation for a discussion. Sounds like someone has control issues. Lets engage in smalltalk about an important subject, but I want a solid, simple answer, about one of the most complex questions on earth, but lets not get detailed and bring facts into the matter. And don't dare use real-life examples, they have no bearing on the "truth".

You may belong to a group that is high-control and discourages independent thinking, but don't ask for evidence and give us a list of do's and don'ts. If you want real honest answers, its going to take time and effort on YOUR part. Very few of us here care to interfere in your life and beliefs. If you are honestly looking for facts, you have to spend time, effort, soul-searching and open-minded research. We are glad to help you on your path, but it doesn't sound like you are ready.

104

Service meeting topic: Masturbation

by perfect1 in

one of my strangest memories of going to the kh was when a young- maybe 18-20, pimply young man got up to talk about jhvhs view of masturbation during a service meeting.. of course, it was impossible to think about him not masturbating.

i was just hitting puberty and found the whole thing very uncomfortable- i think my dad was even critiquing him (what is that called when elder gives the feedback).

looking back now i can see that to publicly condemn masturbation, especially when a young man is delivering this admonition, is- well- hilarious.

puffthedragon

Haha I got assigned that talk and tricked someone into trading it with me. They needed a favor and I said, sure but I need you to cover a talk for me in a few weeks cause I have to work. He agreed without asking the theme. His own fault. He was none too happy.

29

Candace Conti Awarded Millions in Punitive Damages!

by God_Delusion in

righty, i've just been talking to kathleen (candace's mum) and the good news is that the judge has awarded millions in punitive damages!.

read and share the article here - http://www.jehovahswitnessblog.com/jw-lawsuits/candace-conti-beats-the-watchtower-society/.

what a victory for the conti's and for all ex-jehovah's witnesses everywhere!.

puffthedragon

21

Question for ex or current :) bethelites

by EndofMysteries in

if any of you have worked in the mail department or are familiar with how mail is handled.

two questions.

1. if a letter is sent to the main bethel address and the name is "the governing body of jehovah's witnesses", will that letter reach them or is it opened and read by an underling who decides if it works it's way to them.

puffthedragon

Damn I miss CBGB, it was great, never turned me gay. Yeah I remember him saying that.

When Couch was home overseer he did not allow bean bag chairs because someone might masturbate in it. Ewww. Can't make this stuff up.

21

Question for ex or current :) bethelites

by EndofMysteries in

if any of you have worked in the mail department or are familiar with how mail is handled.

two questions.

1. if a letter is sent to the main bethel address and the name is "the governing body of jehovah's witnesses", will that letter reach them or is it opened and read by an underling who decides if it works it's way to them.

puffthedragon

Yes Ron I remember that! They also had a note that if I requested, they could dispose of it for me each year it came! Lol, those were the only ones I saved!

21

Question for ex or current :) bethelites

by EndofMysteries in

if any of you have worked in the mail department or are familiar with how mail is handled.

two questions.

1. if a letter is sent to the main bethel address and the name is "the governing body of jehovah's witnesses", will that letter reach them or is it opened and read by an underling who decides if it works it's way to them.

puffthedragon

When I was there, I worked in one of the departments that handled mail. When mail is sent to bethel, a member of the mail room or shipping signs for it no matter who it is addressed to. Depending on who the sender is, (like if its the IRS or something) at times bethel will open mail even if it addressed to an individual. This is legal, part of the dozens and dozens of forms you fill out authorizes them to act as your agent. (They also make you sign one authorizing body disposal).

If it is addressed to "Governing Body" its going to be a secretary, likely an elder, that opens it. I remember signing for all sorts of weird looking packages, I did not open them, but the handwriting on the outside made it look like something some freak like Ted Kazinzke (sp) would send out. The sort of stuff that gives respectable apostates like most of us a bad name.

If it is addressed to an individual member of the GB, I am not 100% sure but I would imagine they have other people open it just in case it has something harmful in it, that it would take out an easily replaceable secretary instead of the big-wigs. This is pretty common with large corportations, especially since 9/11.

I had to go in a few of the GB's offices for some reason or another at various times, and all the mail in the inbox appeared to have been already opened, so I assumed it was by a secretary vetting legit mail from stuff that could be tossed or handled by other parties.

3

Hypothetical scenario.

by Inisc in

jw
friends

i was just thinking, that the wt firmly believes in demons and demon attacks.. so, what would the elders do if an unmarried sister became pregnant and told the elders that a demon attacked her and got her pregnant?.

i mean, mary got knocked up by some magic sperm so it's not too much of a stretch!.

(ok so i know this is beyond stupid but just throwing it out there).

puffthedragon

Same thing they do if she says a human raped her. Strip her of her dignity and blame her.

75

"8 Ways To Give Us Your Cash" - the desperation in the latest Watchtower is tangible!

by cedars in

i know gayle has already started a thread on the latest november 15th watchtower article that mentions the article on donations, but i thought a thread with a more specific title might be in order just to drive the point home for any lurkers.

i hope gayle doesn't mind!.

i've been banging the drum for a while now about what i view as the obvious signs that the watchtower is in a state of decline.. i have written the following blog articles on the subject.... http://jwsurvey.org/cedars-blog/branch-closures-and-fire-sales-a-growing-trend-for-the-society.