Posts by SummerAngel

31

Oh this stoopid shunning thing!!

by Unstuck in

warning - vent ahead....... so, my father (still very much in jw but who has at least had the decency to still keep in contact with me and hubby and to show interest in why we aren't attending and respect where we are at) is in intensive care at a local hospital and is intubated and sedated with some serious health issues.

i'm next of kin so i get all the phone calls from the hospital.. so, the rest of the "family" has cut me off because we are inactive and because the ever-active jw gossip grapevine has rumoured with a sibilant slithy hissy voice: "apossstassssy" is the cause of our inactivity.. whatever.. but now i've had to contact said "family" with the news about my father and what is going on....... so, dad's sisters answer my calls and manage to act and conduct themselves with a degree of decorum.. my sister on the other hand - well, she doesn't deign to answer my calls and texts for most of the day.

i push the issue tonight and insist on speaking to her when my brother-in-law answers the call.

SummerAngel

Hi unstuck, not sure what part of the world you live in but I deal with this type of thing in my professional life in UK and also had personal experience of similar a couple of years ago for different reasons.

Firstly be a visible presence on the ward, ask DRs and nurses yourself for updates and ensure they and any social workers involved have your details. Make them aware of the issues and stress you want to be involved in any case meetings. In UK you could ask for an advocate for your father to ensure his wishes are heard neutrally on the basis that you are a family in conflict. If your father has any form of dementia or similar the Hosp /social care should be holding a meeting with wider family to support best way forward. To be invited to these they need to be aware of you. Avoid speaking to awkward other relatives, deal directly with your father and medical/social team.

At the end of the day you can't force a person not to shun you. Its a bike doctrine and a bike organization try and protect your own emotions at the moment you have enough on your plate.

46

Do You Think Jehovah's Witnesses Are Typically Ignorant People?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think most witnesses are simple minded.many are ignorant.

there are a lot of basically "good people "in the religion but i believe many are kind of dumb, including many elders.

do you agree with my thoughts??

SummerAngel

Just to add uneducated does not necessarily mean ignorant.

Main thing I wanted to say which is really another thread entirely is the recent and I believe very worrying trend in UK for JWs to home educate their kids.

This means children already isolated from most other children and certainly anyone who thinks differently to them will have almost no contact with diversity and normality. They are dependant on their parents usually mums who have very little education. Don't forget a few men may have slipped through the net to get a basic trade but if you are female your destination is baby maker or pioneer. Personally I don't get think home education should be allowed.

46

Do You Think Jehovah's Witnesses Are Typically Ignorant People?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i think most witnesses are simple minded.many are ignorant.

there are a lot of basically "good people "in the religion but i believe many are kind of dumb, including many elders.

do you agree with my thoughts??

SummerAngel

There is nothing wrong with lack of education that's to do with life chances and can be changed at any age. Many I'll educated people are remarkably spiritual and insightful. The difference with ignorance is that a lot of JWs are also unteachable, smug, arrogant and downright hateful to anyone or anything that sits outside their organizations narrow list of OKs. I bucked the trend I was a born in who did get a degree back 30 yes ago. It showed me that life outside 'the village" was not full of monsters but full of wonderful stuff as well. It wasn't the education that got me out by that stage I was desperate to leave anyway.

Ignorance is telling me what my church is like without ever going there.

Ignorance is telling me what my university was like without ever going there.

Yes people are captive however at some point they made a conscious decision to move from uneducated to ignorant and chose to take on the mantle of the WTS.

7

Romans 4:5

by NJ501 in

romans 4:5new international version (niv).

5 however, to the one who does not work but trusts god who justifies the ungodly, their faith is credited as righteousness.. .

i need help to understand this scripture.

SummerAngel

Yep JWs got this wrong too. It is belief not faith that saves. Proof- conversation between Jesus and the thief when both were being crucified. Jesus assumes the thief that he will be in heaven. In other words a deathbed conversion, there are many of these. If salvation was just through works these wouldn't count.

This doctrine allows WTS to have a band of unpaid willing workers flogging their literature.

36

Why the vitriolic hate?

by stuckinarut2 in

i am sure we have all thought of this before, but it struck me again today:.

why does the society promote such vitriolic hate toward, and about those who have left "the truth" ?.

surely it is obvious that such critical attitudes towards ones like us who have left, only serves to proove that they do not have "the truth"?.

SummerAngel

Going to be a bit controversial now but err the same reason ISIS puts beheaded corpses on view for all its members to see. Its a deterent

33

Hi from England

by victimofdeceit in

jw
friends

recently quit being a jw because i realised that beyond armageddon i was going to be ruled by people who cover up child abuse, not telling the congregations by their letter where the money they donated in the box is going towards paying compensation for legal battles which they caused, and also i was bullied by elders and discriminated against for being homosexual, even though i am not practicing it.

it wasn't until i threatened legal action for a breach of confidence that the elders were deleted.

so through the media and my own personal experience, i realised that they were no different to corrupt businesses in the world.

SummerAngel

Warm welcome from down south, time to enjoy the rest of your life. Realise you have been a victim of "othering' as demonstrated by the film ' The Village' the world outside isn't actually really scary it's just made up of humans doing their best to negotiate the tricky game of life, not some debauched subspecies fit only for annilation which the WT would have you believe.. As for apostate the WT definition is surprise surprise a false one, they would consider anyone who leaves to have this label its further examples of smoke and mirrors to keep you in. Just brush it off it isn't worth worrying about.

33

What Simple Pleasures Do You Enjoy Since Leaving Watchtower?

by pale.emperor in

what simple pleasures do you enjoy since leaving watchtower?

here's some of mine, in no particular order:.

a cigar: i dont smoke cigarettes at all, but i do enjoy a good cigar from time to time.

SummerAngel

So many its been 30 years but the novelty of some things never goes. I never attempted to play by the rules anyway so I didn't have that now I can drink, shag, do drugs thing.

Mine would be going to church when I want to, wearing shorts, leggings, jeans to church why does everyone in the Borg dress like they're going to a 1980s wedding. I love bunking church just caused a can. I love Saturday mornings to shop and do family stuff. Doing family stuff on Sunday afternoons. The endliss mindliss pharasaic list of stupid rules to keep up with. Celebrating my wonderful kids birthdays making them feel special. I love Christmas, and decorating the tree, choosing the little presents for people. Going to firework displays, having my kids celebrate mothers day.

Feeling good enough. Enjoying grace and tolerance.

And overall a celebration of life and love in all its glorious colours instead of focusing on how terrible the world is and how glad we should be that its all ending.

42

Returning to the truth.

by Justmeok2 in

hi i am just starting to rebuild my relationship with jehovah.

.

i would like to hear from people who may be or have been in similar situations and now want to dedicate their lives to him..

SummerAngel

Should read why they don't exist for other religion's

42

Returning to the truth.

by Justmeok2 in

hi i am just starting to rebuild my relationship with jehovah.

.

i would like to hear from people who may be or have been in similar situations and now want to dedicate their lives to him..

SummerAngel

Just to add you need to ask yourself why these sites don't exist for other religions

42

Returning to the truth.

by Justmeok2 in

hi i am just starting to rebuild my relationship with jehovah.

.

i would like to hear from people who may be or have been in similar situations and now want to dedicate their lives to him..

SummerAngel

Hi, if you are thinking of returning bear in mind a few things, firstly it's almost a 1 way ticket, once back in they will be watching you like a hawk, having almost lost you once the E men will mark your card. There are alternatives to Jesus other than bitterness and disbelief. You will find lots of that on these sites- you need to ask why so many feel this way, why so many who leave want nothing to do with God.

I actually think posting that all region is a farce etc is counterproductive. If you are thinking of studying you still have some residual belief.

Your salvation is not a hobby or a social club it is arguably the most important decision you will make.

Research in books and sites isgood bu there is too much information to do more than get an overview. I would take time to pray and think. I would also suggest visiting a few evangelical Christian churches give a about 3 go's as culturally it will feel odd and different. Look for the gentler more liberal one's the last thing you need is more high control. I would suggest you look at the following and compare with your experience of KH and also what you read in the bible:

Is the leadership gentle, consistent and understanding?

Do they encourage you to read and research for yourself

Does the teaching embraced and forgiveness to all not just their own people?

What is the attitude to kids, old and sick, wider community.?

Are the services run for the convenience of the organization or are the congregation looked after- parking, creche, welcome, plenty of chairs.

Do they serve good cake and coffee- this is the most important one by far

Church isn't perfect its a hospital for the spiritually sick rather than a museum of saints but culturally it's a million miles from KH. I love the informality, consideration towards congregation in loads of little ways ( esp cake), sense of a wider community resource and doctrinal it's so straight forward no stupid numerical lectures and deep heavy applications of revelation.There are people into that stuff and they can get books and research but it isn't essential for salvation just a basic belief . There's no checking up, shunning and confessional the ethos is simply if you want to be here you will be. And guess what do people descend into debauchery without a big JW stick no they actually have higher standards because they are motivated from within not beaten from outside.Apologies for long post .