Posts by Scully

17

why when a person is dis fellowship the elders and others act like all hope is gone and refuse help that person come back to God's Word

by ray83 in

i been married to my husband for almost 9 years.

he's been a witness his whole life but got disfellowship a little over 15 years ago.

before his dis fellowshiping he was very active.

Scully

Most of us would agree that Disfellowshipping™ is an overly harsh punishment.

Even when a criminal is in jail, segregated from the rest of society, the government allows for that person to receive training to allow them the opportunity to return to some kind of normal life when they are released or paroled. When paroled, the person has a support system - he has to check in with his parole officer, he has to report to work, and abide by conditions placed upon him (no drugs, alcohol or weapons, and no contact with former associates). It isn't always successful, but for the person who really wants to reform and change his life for the better, this structure can be helpful.

Being DFd is more like being stuck out in the middle of the ocean without even water wings, and being told they have to swim to shore, through storms, frigid water, and constant struggling. The Elders™ are waiting on shore to make sure that the person dog paddles only - no breast stroke, no butterfly stroke, just dog paddle. The family and friends they had can't help them - they have to wait for the Elders'™ approval of the way they dog paddle to shore. Some people don't make it. They get taken by storms. Some just give up. And some come across kindly strangers who are willing to give them the help they need, that the Elders™ won't allow them to have. People with boats and life preservers and floatation devices, that give them hope and show them that life doesn't have to be like this, there are other options.

46

What comforts you when you no longer believe in a ressurrection ?

by EdenOne in

our family just lost someone dear and very close, a faithful jw.

as we went through the entire funeral services and meeting long time brothers and sisters, who in general have been very kind and warm towards us, we realize that the hope of resurrection is a meaningless utopia for us, like a fairytale for little children.

we don't have faith in it anymore, and serves us of no comfort.

Scully

The thought of a future Resurrection™ can delay the normal grieving process. The WTS uses phrases like "asleep in death" to minimize the reality and finality of death and capitalize on their Resurrection™ doctrine. It keeps so many people entrenched in the belief system: they feel they have to remain faithful in order to realize that promise of seeing loved ones again. They use it as a stick to keep people in line: "What will we tell your grandma and grandpa when they are Resurrected™ in the Paradise™ and you aren't there?"

When I finally let go of the idea of Resurrection™, long-shelved grief over the loss of my grandparents and parents-in-law was overwhelming. I'd never cried over their deaths before then, because they were simply "asleep" until Jehovah's Time™ to bring them back to us. I was angry over the lie plus grief-stricken, and it hit me HARD.

As a measure of comfort, I planted a memory garden - a different rose for each loved one who has died. It's a lovely place to meditate and remember these special people.

13

Notice anything different?

by enigma1863 in

i was flipping through an old publication and noticed the similarities between these two pictures, minus the beard.

Scully

Village Idiot:

money bag on the table looks like a scrotum

Now that you mention it, it looks rather like the entire package of junk, just with coins spilling out of the business end.

20

Special pioneer stipend

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

how much do they get for their 120 hours of door banging?

Scully

If I remember correctly, it was around $90/month 20-25 years ago.

54

Separated from a loveless Marriage

by PLAYGROUND in

i don't know where to start.

i got married a year and half ago.

some months into the marriage things where discovered.

Scully

Compare your situation to these two graphics. One shows a relationship where the partners are equals. The other shows a relationship where one spouse has power and control over their partner. (for better view, you can download the graphic here: http://www.newhopeforwomen.org/documents/wheel_both.pdf)

Note, too, that these behaviours can also apply to group dynamics. Groups that tend toward abuse demonstrate similar behaviours as an abusive domestic situation. Why do you suppose the Elders™ side with your spouse, hmmm?

37

inheritance

by truthseeker100 in

i have a good life and i am now worth around 3 million us.

my two children have their university degrees and a promising future.

what should i do with my money?

Scully

Just for fun, I'd write the WTS a cheque for $1 and ask for a receipt for income tax purposes.

By the time they cash the cheque, prepare your receipt and mail it to you, it will have cost them $2.

54

Separated from a loveless Marriage

by PLAYGROUND in

i don't know where to start.

i got married a year and half ago.

some months into the marriage things where discovered.

Scully

Your marriage was based on a lie.

Legally speaking, that is fraud, and you should be able to terminate the marriage on that basis alone. In a business situation, entering into a contract that is based on false information (fraud) is valid grounds to terminate that contract.

That's the long and short of the matter.

IMO, the WTS's insistence on 'purity' prior to marriage sets people up for marital failure. How can you really know the other person, when your interactions have been chaperoned and monitored? How can you know if there are any behaviours that you might consider to be a deal-breaker if you cannot have intimate (as in living in close quarters, not necessarily sexual intimacy - although I disagree with the wedding night virgins scenario now too) interactions with the potential marriage mate?

Do you think that someone who is prone to committing physical/verbal/mental/sexual abuse is going to subject you to this behaviour when a chaperone is in your space? Do you think you're going to see a person 'warts and all' when they're only trying to impress you and attempt to show themselves at their best in front of you and the person who is your chaperone?

Elders™ have no training in real marital counselling. Their Training™ is geared to enforcing the Scriptural™ edicts of male Headship™ and female Submissiveness™. A woman who disagrees with these Principles™ and wants to exercise her basic human rights is a troublemaker in their world.

Do yourself a favour and seek out a bona fide, credentialed counsellor. You need to build yourself up, because when the $h!t hits the fan, your spouse and the Elders™ will try to rip you to shreds. You deserve better than that lot. You deserve to be happy.

90

Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

by thedepressedsoul in

i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

Scully

Clearly they are looking for ways to liquidate property and bring money in to the coffers.

Consolidating Congregations™ and forcing the sale of Kingdom Halls™ that are ~~outdated or in poor repair~~ not bringing in enough money is a way to get rid of the dead wood and dump the penny pinchers on to wealthier KHs.

It's expensive to maintain a pedophile defense fund these days.

12

If the Watchtower Society was given a cheque for 1 million dollars would they cash it ?

by Esse quam videri in

if the watchtower society received an envelope containing a cheque for 1 million dollars, made out to the society, along with a letter explaining that the money was won from gambling, either casino or lottery, .

1] would they cash it?.

2] if they did not cash it but rather returned to sender, what explanation would they give?.

Scully

They had no qualms about accepting the proceeds of a trust fund that was bequeathed to them, part of which included shares in Phillip Morris - a company that manufactures tobacco products like cigarettes.

See the following thread: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/54708/watchtower-cigarette-company

So to answer your question, I think they'd accept your hypothetical cheque without batting an eye. It costs a ton of money for the upkeep of a Pedophile Defense Funds these days!!

14

w15 04/15- More Shunning!

by wifibandit in

full set : http://imgur.com/a/zubma.

.

Scully

I did a 'rational re-write' of a WT article about shunning several years ago, and shared it here:

When a Loved One Leaves the Watchtower Society - Parody

It seems as though there is nothing new under the sun regarding shunning. Sad really. Think of all those folks who are missing out on their children and grandchildren, parents and grandparents over a stupid rule designed in complete and utter fear that a JW's Faith™ isn't strong enough to discuss the belief system with someone who has become better informed about the WTS's beliefs and history than most JWs are.