Posts by Phoebe

20

Have you noticed this trend on social media amongst witnesses...?

by stuckinarut2 in

it seems that every 2nd witness often posts pictures of themselves at conventions, or out in 'service'.

but i have noticed that they never seem to post anything about the actual "spiritual content" of their activity!

instead, it is pictures of them with their witness "friends", along with some contrite comment like #bestlifeever (arrghhh).

Phoebe

jookbeard

Instagram seems to be the one. I hardly know any JWs that are on Facebook unless it is for business. But they post endless IG photos -- protecting their privacy, of course. So not everyone can see.

68

Over 300 DFed apparently went to a northern U.K R.C!

by Isambard Crater in

that's what i've been told by a family member (elder) who went to one of the regional conventions in the north of the u.k lately, who told me the 300 or more disfellowshipped who returned to jehovah by attending show that the end is so close, just like the final talk says..

Phoebe

darkspliver

It was Liverpool!

Security, I'm told, was tight, with big bully brothers in different coloured jackets.

One higher up brother from the branch apparently did a 'do you know who I am?' when a security brother asked him for his convention badge.

I can't see a DF person being able to just show up alone and get in. Unless pale.emperor did manage it.

68

Over 300 DFed apparently went to a northern U.K R.C!

by Isambard Crater in

that's what i've been told by a family member (elder) who went to one of the regional conventions in the north of the u.k lately, who told me the 300 or more disfellowshipped who returned to jehovah by attending show that the end is so close, just like the final talk says..

Phoebe

My friend went to one of the conventions in the N/W of England. He said the society had 'lovingly allowed' the DF to sit with everyone else and with their families if they had them. He said wasn't that wonderful? Allowing the DF to sit with the masses.

He also said you couldn't get in without a badge and a bag search, so maybe that's how they knew the number? By checking badges. (Would the DF have a badge even???)

I can't think of any other way they would know if they were allowed to sit with everyone.

61

Set the record straight!

by Colinconfused in

i would like to state publicly, on this forum, i no longer hold the views i had a year ago.. with much thought, research, study and logical examination i have come to a better understanding of my beliefs and where i stand on all these issues.. i'm very happy to announce i have returned to healthful teaching of the holy scriptures and i firmly believe that the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is the faithful slave.. sorry if i have contibuted to any kind of stumbling and know that if i can turn things around then there's hope for all who come to there sence.. phill4:6,7.

Phoebe

cobweb

I'm retirement age and I've just left. I hated finding out TTATT. I was distraught. Some people will just want to return to their comfort zone even if it means returning to something that isn't the truth. You can reason with yourself so many ways. Perhaps it really is God's organization and all these terrible things are just Satan infiltrating it? Perhaps this is a real test of faith? Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. You can see how people justify going back.

As Deegee says people are frightened. Heck, I'm frightened. I'm frightened every day.

Hopefully your relatives won't go back. You are perfectly right - research is the key.

But it's always going to be a battle and people can get talked back into it so easily because we want it all to be true, don't we?

61

Set the record straight!

by Colinconfused in

i would like to state publicly, on this forum, i no longer hold the views i had a year ago.. with much thought, research, study and logical examination i have come to a better understanding of my beliefs and where i stand on all these issues.. i'm very happy to announce i have returned to healthful teaching of the holy scriptures and i firmly believe that the governing body of jehovah's witnesses is the faithful slave.. sorry if i have contibuted to any kind of stumbling and know that if i can turn things around then there's hope for all who come to there sence.. phill4:6,7.

Phoebe

Wow, two going back! But if they are happy in what they wish to do and it gives them peace of mind, then be happy for them - I guess. Maybe they are fortunate enough to have nice JW friends/family and a warm and loving congregation to cosset them.

To me the very thought of going back to a cold congregation full of cliques and an over-bearing, pedantic COBE and his yes men, is the last place I'd want to return to.

I honestly don't see how you can 'unring the bell' once you know what this organization is really all about. I really don't. You have to be honest with yourself.

Just the handling of child abuse alone should make someone realise God isn't behind this organization.

28

"Only Witnesses demonstrate Christian Love"

by Jules Saturn in

so a couple of nights ago i was speaking with a relative and we began talking about the organization.

i had to asked her "why do you believe that this religion is the correct one?

" they stood quiet for a second but then said that they view and feel genuine christian love, a type of love that is spoken about in the bible.

Phoebe

Hi Diogenesister,

Sure. I saw it under a video the other night. I can't remember which one but it really stayed with me.

28

"Only Witnesses demonstrate Christian Love"

by Jules Saturn in

so a couple of nights ago i was speaking with a relative and we began talking about the organization.

i had to asked her "why do you believe that this religion is the correct one?

" they stood quiet for a second but then said that they view and feel genuine christian love, a type of love that is spoken about in the bible.

Phoebe

I saw a comment under a YouTube video. It has really stayed with me.

It's about an unbaptized mum with two little ones, JW husband had died. She had stood up to an elder because he was doing something she disagreed with and so she got 'marked' and became the victim of elders wives gossip.

Convention timed rolled around. She bought an old car. No one would go with her. No one. Guess they thought she was bad association. So she travels 3 hrs with her babies. One of her little ones traps his finger in a seat. First Aid said it was fine. She nurses this crying baby all through the day. Can you imagine her stress?

On the way home someone stops her to say she has a problem with her brake lights. She stops in a service station. Smells burning. Goes to get out the baby's buggy to take them to the toilet. Her bag has melted into a brake light cable (previous owner had added extra brake lights)

Gang of Hells Angels see her. Long beards/tattoos. They come over. One is a mechanic. He fixes her brake lights and checks her car all over to make sure it's safe. They offer to escort her home. She declines but asks if they can take her to the right road. They do and see her safely on her way.

Next day takes baby to the doctor, he'd broken his finger. (so much for the First Aid in the convention)

Where was the love shown for this young woman?? No one in the congregation cared. Travelling all alone with two babies.

But the Hell's Angels helped her. They cared.

A Good Samaritan story.

22

Is the End right around the corner or what???

by Lynnie in

interesting observations i've noticed when visiting my uber elder cousin and his wife.

he just inherited a lovely home on the water on puget sound from his non jw dad who passed away earlier this year.

so they have spent many $$$ and months remodeling this house to their standards which are quite expensive tastes.

Phoebe

Over 30 years ago my parents took my uber sister and husband on holiday. As they passed Stonehenge my sister husband said 'that will be on the floor next year' (referring to Armageddon coming and knocking Stonehenge over)

Over 20 years ago a sister in our congregation said she was going to the Chelsea Flower show because she wanted to see it before Armageddon. (She's still here and the Chelsea Flower show is still going strong.)

Over 23 years ago I was told not to bother buying my eldest a school uniform for senior school as Armageddon would be here before he went (He's 35 now and a lawyer)

Over 50 years ago I was told to leave school asap and get pioneering because Armageddon was just around the corner. I'm 64 now.

Long corner, isn't it?

26

Born Ins, How Did Your Parents Get "The Truth™"?

by pale.emperor in

born ins are in a unique position in that we never knew any other way of life.

no birthdays, christmas and overly superstitious family just seemed normal.

when my parents talked about their pre-jw life it seemed like they were talking about completely different people (actually, that's true, the cult had taken their real selves).. so i'd be interested in hearing how your parents were indoctrinated.. my dad.

Phoebe

These are so interesting.

I'll slightly 'doctor' mine so no one knows it's me.

My mum was the eldest in a large family and they were dirt poor. Her mother died when she was a little girl and life was really tough. No food. No clothes. Considering she didn't have a proper mum for guidance most of her life, she was a really good girl. She resisted all the charms of the G.I's with their gifts of nylons and chocolate! She went to church, she was a Sunday school teacher. Very pious.

One day she went to a party and met my dad. My dad fell for her. My dad came from a fairly wealthy family (they had businesses) so I guess my mum, with her impoverished background, thought wow, this man is going to take care of me (and to be fair, financially he really did take care of her)

Within a matter of weeks they were married. But oh, it was not a match made in heaven. My dad was fiery, my mum stubborn. She had a baby pretty soon though and my dad gave her all she needed materially, which during the war was something. Then she gets called on and with her love for the bible already established, she starts a study.

War ends, dad decides he's sick of Britain so they move abroad.

Mum gets contacted again and she gets baptised. Dad is super opposed. SUPER OPPOSED! He does everything to stop her. They had been married quite awhile when I came along, suffice to say my much older brother was not pleased to see me.

Dad decides he's had enough of these witnesses and decides to have it out with them. Long story short, he ends up getting baptised himself!

One day, I'm left in the care of my brother when they go off on a study (I had a baby sister at the time) my brother sees fit to take me from my bed and sexually assault me on at least two occasions. He hated me. He'd say terrible things to me. Tell me no one in the family loved me. I was about 5 or 6. I was scared stiff of him.

Growing up with these parents, life was also fraught with constant rows. I mean they tore into each other regularly. Physically, too. Then off we'd trot to the Kingdom Hall as if nothing was wrong!

We came back to Britain. Dad got made a servant under the old arrangement. He was a good speaker. He was very involved in assemblies..everything. But he was outspoken and that made him unpopular. They never would make him an elder, a bone of contention until he died. He spoke his mind. They didn't like it.

But the whole time, life at home was terrifying. The violent rows were almost daily. I was a scared, timid child and constantly ill. I begged and begged God to make them stop fighting.They never did. My dad was also super strict. Absolutely no mixing with anyone outside the truth. I'd get in big trouble if I didn't answer up at meetings. He kept on and on at me about baptism and practically terrified me into it at just 13. Mum was never there for me. I have no recollection of ever being hugged by her. She was a cold person. She never had to go to work, dad always provided but she had no time for me. Too busy, go away.

I was a pioneer at 14 and regular at 16. The kingdom hall was an escape from my home life and I really enjoyed it all.

But my past kept haunting me. I was so damaged. At 19 I was off pioneering and on Valium. I left home. I tried hard to get away from 'the truth' but I'd been indoctrinated so much, I couldn't get mentally free. I thought I was the worst person on earth. Abuse does that to you. I thought God hated me. I thought everyone hated me. My family certainly did. My brother and I haven't spoken for years. My sister too. She said I wasn't good enough to be a JW.

I did nothing wrong to any of them. I was good to my parents. Kind and generous to my siblings (even my brother) and to this day have no clue why they don't like me.

As for dad...well, he gave up the truth eventually. Called them a bunch of hypocrites.

Mum continued on until she died. Faithful until the end.

As for me, I kept going, kept battling, kept fighting...until last year when a health scare led me to a psychologist and she set me free. You have no idea how good it feels to be free! The scars are still there but they don't hurt me anymore.

10

Chapter 16 New Boy 50 years a Watchtower Slave

by new boy in

jw
friends

chapter 16. the tour .

my three days of housekeeping duty were over and i reported to the bethel office the next morning.

it was customary then get a tour of both the factory and the bethel home.

Phoebe

Really loving reading your story.