Posts by Phoebe

36

What phobias do you have?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

so this is just a general question.

call it curiosity.. what sort of phobias do we have?

heights?

The mail man. Seriously. I have had lot of bad news over the years via the mail. So now when the mail man comes I feel incredibly nauseous, to the point I want to be sick. Every single day. I can't break it.

And the worst one of all. Crane Flies. (that's what we call them in the U.K) Long legged flying evil things. When I was in primary school, boys would catch them and shove them down the back of girls dresses. Traumatized me for life. if there is one in the house, I will have a major meltdown. My family think it's hilarious.

11

Hull Purge

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

have you seen this?

sounds like a total witch hunt in hull.

'rose' sounds a nasty piece of work.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux9w652ylyu.

Phoebe

Briefly, people are being hounded by the elders. Two sisters (who have DF husbands) are being hassled by elders to the extent they've had to call the police. Elders are turning up at people's places of work wanting to know stuff about others brothers (who goes to their house etc) This C.O. 'Rose' every congregation he visits someone gets DF.

Two anointed DF recently. Anyone asking a question is DF. One sister, they just sent her a letter saying she was DF.

Rose went to the police about WitnessNomore, said he was stalking him. In fact Witness Nomore has only seen Rose 4 times in 6 months.

When WitnessNomore went to stand outside a K.H one of the brothers said 'we're getting rid of these lunatics (Apostates)

But I think it's the absolutely hounding of people by the elders that is shocking. They seem to be on a massive purge. They have even told people, when trying to get dirt on brothers, you are either for us or against us.

4

Gucci Grace

by zeb in

jw
friends

i recall jw saying with some pride that former president of zimbabwe, mugabe's wife nicknamed "gucci" grace due her spending habits is a jw.

is this correct?.

Phoebe

I've heard that, too. Not sure how true it is.

I also heard Mugabe employed JWs because he could trust them (not to kill him, I guess)

11

Hull Purge

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

have you seen this?

sounds like a total witch hunt in hull.

'rose' sounds a nasty piece of work.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ux9w652ylyu.

Phoebe

Have you seen this? Sounds like a total witch hunt in Hull. This C.O. 'Rose' sounds a nasty piece of work.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uX9W652YLyU

1

11-21-2017 BBC Follow-up Interview with Marc Cora

by Tallon in

came across this youtube video ... the issue of child abuse within the org (uk) is now going to be raised in parliament.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gyloy92e9hq.

Phoebe

It's beginning to blow up over here. I am in my 60s, molested at 6 years old by my much older brother who is an elder, and I was also told 'there wasn't two witnesses to your abuse. Nothing we can do. Live with it.'

19

Bought My First Christmas Tree Last Night

by pale.emperor in

last year i didn't bother with christmas as it still felt like a "nothing" day to me (thanks watchtower!).

this is the 2nd christmas since waking up and leaving the cult and i've finally bought my first christmas tree:).

i have no idea what to do with it though.

Phoebe

I used to sneak my youngest to his non JW grandparents when he was little so he could help dress their tree and put up their decorations. He loved it.

I'm not officially out of WT but I'm buying all my kids a gift, just something small, but the first gift I've ever bought them at Xmas time. I ordered wrapping paper online so no one could see me buying it in the local shops and oh the irony of it, it was delivered (thankfully well wrapped) by a courier who is JW! Must say, I felt total fear she had x-ray eyes and could see through the wrapping paper and would know it was xmas wrap!

52

Are Beards becoming more acceptable due to decline in membership?

by UnshackleTheChains in

i noticed a young brother with a beard being given more privelages within our hall.

when he first grew his beard, he lost his privelages.

but more and more recently he has been helping out a lot more.. the cobe is old school and a stickler for rules, but with the hall becoming more empty these days, and the need for young brothers, he seems to have relaxed on this particular watchtower/man made rule.

Phoebe

nope. A brother in his late 60s popped by to say hello to me yesterday and I said 'wow! you've grown a beard!' and he said 'Yes, but the cobe hates it!'

So here, nothing has changed.

78

Work Christmas functions: Being a Bible Student (unbaptized)

by rulehayl in

jw
friends

hi all,i have been studying with the witnesses for more than 6 months and regularly attend both midweek & weekend meetings, and i am nearly at the end of the "bible teach" book.

my boss is adamant i attend team christmas functions.

she knows about my studying and potential baptism next year, and has suggested that i attend and just not participate in activities like kris kringle.

Phoebe

rulehayl

I feel as if you've already made your mind up to be a JW and I personally, would never try and persuade anyone not to be one. It's your decision.

But please think carefully. This is a life long commitment and every bit of your life will be governed by it. Every single bit. These people of this forum? They've been there, they know what they re talking about. Please listen to them.

As for birthdays. When you have a child it's the most special day of your life and it's awful being told you cannot acknowledge that day. I knew JWs who secretly celebrated their children's birthdays because how can you not be happy and joyous on the day your child came into the world? And I know others who go along with it but don't understand why they can't remember their kids birthdays. Even my mother, a staunch JW if ever there was one, sent me a card on my birthday.

37

My Cognitive Dissonance is Eating Me Alive (Intro Post)

by pometerre21 in

jw
friends

i've been lurking here for a couple of weeks now.

i'm starting to "awaken" and it is all that has been occupying my mind.

i've always, always had doubts, some of which i expressed to family members who always had the same replies:.

Phoebe

pometerre21

hi,

Welcome!

This wonderful forum is full of kind and compassionate people who will help you.

I am in my mid 60s and only stopped attending meetings last May after being baptised 51 years! Discovering this forum was a life saver for me. Everyone was so kind and supportive.

The journey out is often fraught with pain and anguish. Although I always felt something wasn't right, my world still imploded when I started discovering things about the WT like the UN, child abuse etc. The religion I had given my entire life to, had believed in 100%....how could this be happening??

But it does get better. Once the bell has been rung you can't unring it. Be true to yourself. It won't be easy but truly, nothing compares to that feeling of being set free. I feel as if my mind was locked up in a cage, bound with fear and guilt and now the door has been flung open and I see things so clearly. It's an incredible feeling.

Please let us know how you are doing.

14

JW Baptism Anullment

by Farmer Jim1 in

jw
friends

has anyone ever successfully annulled their jw baptism?

especially if they were very young when baptised?.

Phoebe

No, but I do know someone who was baptized TWICE!