i was wondering how many of you suffered badly with depression when you were in "the truth" and if you feel your depression was related to being part of the organisation?
are you better now you have left or still have issue's?
whatever your experience's i would be very intrested to know (if you feel you can talk about it.).
You only need to read the forums on JWTalk to see the depression, anguish and upset of those still in.
People crying at the meetings, leaving early, abuse by elders, shunning while not df'd, looking to change congregations, etc. This, on a fiercely 'pro' JW site.
The mental abuse is endemic.
Splash
contains a list of 9 practical steps except they forgot one: 10. do not become a jehovah's witness.. .
1. follow the treatment prescribed.
by qualified mental-health.
For decades they have said it's ok to seek professional help, but it is always with the suggestion that you need to be suspicious of it.
*** w75 4/15 p. 256 Questions From Readers ***
So, while Jehovah’s witnesses do not categorically rule out the possibility of treatment by doctors specializing in emotional or mental problems, if a Witness does consult such he should carefully scrutinize any treatment recommended. He should never forget that keeping Jehovah’s laws works toward his mental health today and everlasting life in the future.
The persistent tone here is that it is permitted "if you really must", but be careful (Why? Of what?) and really, being a good JW should be good enough.
It would have been so much kinder to say "Elders can give only give you so much support. For medical issues you should actively seek assistance from those qualified to do so, including doctors and mental health specialists."
Splash
how many people on here who were or are jws, owned or ran a buisness who would not willingly let people at the k hall know, maybe to avoid feeling like you had to give your fellow brothers and sisters a discount, or free help, or out of fear of being judged.
did you only help out the pioneers?
and not the poor ones?
"Sorry, I only fix stuff for my family nowadays. I found I was spending all my free time doing jobs for others so I just had to stop".
"I'll put you on the list. I have a queue of people asking me and I already have a full schedule."
"Drop it round to mine at the weekend and I'll take a look. I'm afraid I had to start charging though, since I was just spending all my time fixing PC's for people."
"I'm taking a break from fixings PC's. It's all I ever seem to be asked to do."
"I'll have to examine the contents of your hard drive because some of these problems are caused by what we download from the internet".
Splash
it is clear that the leaders of the jehovahs witness religion are rebranding.
so as a strategy they could have both the jw.org signs and kingdom hall signs running at the same time and then in a few years instruct congregations to remove the kingdom hall signs.
this happens all the time with commercial products when there are mergers and company takeovers.. .
joe, sorry, you'll have to eat some humble pie.. .
thank you so much for the poster on extj.com who sent these pics!!
can't have been better!!.
National flags are consistently referred to as idols in WT literature. Putting a flag in a KHall is akin to putting a statue of Buddha in there. They are both viewed as religious icons.
"Flee from idolatry" and "Guard yourselves from idols" are the usual quoted verses.
The WT praise early Christians for not sprinkling incense on an altar for Caesar, but would install the Roman colours in the temple.
Splash
what the hell is going on here?
i drove past the assembly hall today and noticed the square blue jw.org signs on the building.
coupled with the steel gate that keeps worldlings out, it really looks quite cultish.. so is that the new name for the kingdom halls or something?
my wife (a blonde) told this one to our son and i yesterday, knowing we'd find it really funny.. .
a blonde woman was speeding down the road in her little red sports car and was pulled over by a woman police officer who was also a blonde.
the blonde cop asked to see the blonde driver's license.
A blonde goes into an electrical store and points out to the shop assistant which TV she wishes to buy.
"I'm sorry, but we don't sell to blondes."
She goes home, colours her hair red, then goes back to the shop to buy her TV.
"I'm sorry, but we don't sell to blondes."
Amazed, she goes home, colours her hair brown, then goes back to the shop to buy her TV.
"I'm sorry, but we don't sell to blondes."
She says "I've come here as a red head and a brunette. How did you know I was blonde?"
"That's not a TV it's a microwave."
at a recent circuit assembly "business meeting" for elders, a new program was announced: "funds on deposit".. here's how it works:.
each circuit determines a "floor" and a "ceiling" for an amount to hold in their circuit checking account.
when the "ceiling" amount is exceeded, the amount above the threshold is wired to the wts and held by them.. if the circuit checking account drops below the "floor" amount, the circuit can send a request to the wts to request that some of their "funds on deposit" be returned to them so that their checking account resumes a "safe" level.. as explained by the elder explaining the program,, "in other words, the branch is acting exactly like a bank - the circuit will make deposits and withdrawals as needed.
UK congregations have operated this Funds On Deposit Arrangement for a few years now.
The letter instructed them to have 3 months operating cash in the bank, and the rest sent to bethel in this fund.
When the khall accounts are read each month, this figure is included.
How long until a letter asking for these funds to be donated instead?
Splash
sunday sept 21, 2014 , 8:45 pm.. i am interested to see how long it will be available and just who will grab it up.. jw-cult.org.
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i attended the school late last year, and it was an emotional and mental rollercoaster for me.
i was already divided in my heart to say the least.
one of the instructors stayed in my home for the week, and my family genuinely enjoyed his company.
"Old quotes are not relevant."
Define "old".
Teachings are changing so rapidly that even things from 1 or 2 years ago are now out of date, redundant, or 'false'.
When a religion is based on such shifting sands, it has no foundation. Noone knows what to believe anymore. The religion has contradicted itself into incredulity - it no longer can claim any authority since it changes monthly.
What fool would build on sand?
Splash