Posts by Scully

85

From Pioneer to Professor: My Story

by laverite in

jw
friends

i wanted to say hello.

i knew i was gay.

i wanted to study and learn about everything i could.

Scully

Hi La Vérité

Thanks for bumping your story so I could enjoy it all over again.

I wonder - given that your area of expertise is psychology - if you'd ever be inclined to write a book about how cults and other manipulative, exploitive groups, organizations or individuals operate in order to seduce people into being exploited. I'd certainly read it, because I have my own theories based in social psychology. Perhaps, too, it would be a way to incorporate your JW past into your present.

It was embarrassing for me, too, when I left the JWs in my 30s and started my nursing courses in college. I didn't want anyone to know about my JW past; so much so that I decided to use my middle and maiden names professionally, rather than the name I was known by to most JWs. It was hard to disclose because I didn't want to be perceived as weak-minded (how could anyone be so dumb to join a cult?), but it was a very pleasant surprise to me how well the information was received by my colleagues. I still use my "nom de plume" so to speak, but now that I have shared my JW past with colleagues, it is as an expert, not as a "victim" or "survivor". They come to me with questions on how to discuss certain issues with JW patients, and it has been quite successful.

4

What kind of meals do you like to fix for a company?

by Iamallcool in

jw
friends

.

Scully

It all depends on who the company is and whether I like them or not.

If I like you, then I make a big lasagna with garlic bread and salad. My go-to dessert recipe is apple strudel squares. I can make these a bit ahead of time so there's less clean up after dinner.

33

GAME OF THRONES (Season 3)

by SophieG in

ok i cannot believe that no one has mentioned this series.

does anyone watch?

did you see sundays masterpiece and have you read the books?

Scully

Simon wrote:

I shouted at the TV and then cried .

Awww... I always knew you were a softie....

dough boy

24

Help me in my quest to free my sister

by Ed Daly in

jw
friends

hi there everyone, looking for some advice on helping my sister who is studying the bible with a jehovahs witnesses to escape.

shes been studying for over a year now and attends meetings occasionally.

i have been looking for a way to help her for a while now and the answer fell into my lap last week, during her study last week she mentioned that her son was going to a birthday party.

Scully

Show her the scripture in Romans 14:5,6

One man considers one day more sacred than another; another man considers every day alike. Each one should be fully convinced in his own mind. He who regards one day as special, does so to the Lord.

6

Is The Current Watchtower Governing Body Guilty Of Child Abuse In Some Of Its Many Forms?

by frankiespeakin in

1. child labor laws, by making parent force their children out in corporation sponsored advertising campaigns and indoctination meetings.

2. making children subject to corporation sponsored disciplining and shunning.

3. allowing child molester's to go out on corporation sponsored advertising campaigns with unsuspecting parents and children putting them in harms way.

Scully

@hoser

That's exactly my point. They should not be hearing about sexual... ANYTHING at "CHURCH". It's totally inappropriate.

Personally, I think it's part of the package that appeals to molesters - children are exposed to words and discussion in an environment that is deemed to be generally "safe". It might pique their curiosity and they might research things on their own... and then all of a sudden there's a Brother™ who is interested in that kind of conversation.

My little sister was 16 when an Elder™ was partnered with her in Field Service™. While they were walking in a fairly remote area, out of earshot of everyone else, he proceeded to tell her how it was important to know how to put a condom on a guy and gave her instructions on how to do it correctly. He also said it was important to learn how to do oral sex correctly.

IN FREAKING FIELD SERVICE™!!!! It creeped her right out. However, because of the conditioning at the KH, where they give public talks about fornication, adultery and homosexuality, it didn't occur to her until later that he was totally out of line.

BTW, at some later point in time, this guy did make advances on my sister, and when she told my parents about it, they brushed it off as "Oh that's just so-and-so - he's harmless." Just like when another adult made an advance on me when I was around the same age.

It made me LIVID.

6

Is The Current Watchtower Governing Body Guilty Of Child Abuse In Some Of Its Many Forms?

by frankiespeakin in

1. child labor laws, by making parent force their children out in corporation sponsored advertising campaigns and indoctination meetings.

2. making children subject to corporation sponsored disciplining and shunning.

3. allowing child molester's to go out on corporation sponsored advertising campaigns with unsuspecting parents and children putting them in harms way.

Scully

Learn-GT-10-1

Learn-GT-10-2

Learn-GT-10-3

Learn-GT-10-4

Learn-GT-10-5

6

Is The Current Watchtower Governing Body Guilty Of Child Abuse In Some Of Its Many Forms?

by frankiespeakin in

1. child labor laws, by making parent force their children out in corporation sponsored advertising campaigns and indoctination meetings.

2. making children subject to corporation sponsored disciplining and shunning.

3. allowing child molester's to go out on corporation sponsored advertising campaigns with unsuspecting parents and children putting them in harms way.

Scully

Consider, too, the way the WTS introduces sexual conversations to children.

The book Learn From The Great Teacher, Lesson 10, talks about how angels desired earthly women, forsook their heavenly place and had "sex relations" with them, producing the Nephilim. It says when the Flood came, these bad angels became Satan's demons. Later in the lesson they talk about how "sex relations" is only proper between a married husband and wife, and how it makes the demons happy when boys and girls play with each other's penis and vulva.

Really.

43

The TOPIC which may never be discussed!

by Terry in

question: how does the leadership of jehovah's witnesses instruct its members to prepare for the eventual elder care of its members?.

answer: it pretends it will never happen!.

is this responsible leadership or some kind of cognitive dissonant malfeasance?.

Scully

I think about that whenever I see my parents.

There are so many JWs unprepared for retirement - no pension, no savings. So many don't even have a house that they could use for a reverse mortgage to help them financially. The WTS expects them to shun family members who leave the JWs, but then think nothing of telling them to expect these same shunned family members to bail them out financially when it becomes necessary.

Oh, and don't forget to leave everything you own to the WTS!!! (hopefully a mountain of debt!!)

33

GAME OF THRONES (Season 3)

by SophieG in

ok i cannot believe that no one has mentioned this series.

does anyone watch?

did you see sundays masterpiece and have you read the books?

Scully

I have all the books in audiobook format - I love listening to it in the car or while I'm doing something else. Episode 9 was so well done - even though I knew what was coming, the scene was more shocking than I could have imagined.

24

CAN YOU BE AN 'APOSTATE' IF YOU WERE NEVER BAPTIZED?

by Mary in

jw
friends

this subject came up with a friend of mine on facebook the other day.

he was never officially baptized as a witness and i believe he is now a born again christian.. does crooklyn consider someone an 'apostate' if you were never actually a full-fledged member but ended up leaving?

or are you just considered 'bad association'??

Scully

The thing is, when I got Baptized™ in 1980, I did NOT make a dedication to an organization. Here is what I said YES to:

(1) Have you recognized yourself before Jehovah God as a sinner who needs salvation, and have you acknowledged to him that this salvation proceeds from him the Father through his Son Jesus Christ?

(2) On the basis of this faith in God and in his provision for salvation, have you dedicated yourself unreservedly to God to do his will henceforth as he reveals it to you through Jesus Christ and through the Bible under the enlightenment of the holy spirit?" ~ Watchtower 1956 Jul 1 p.407

Five years later, they change the rules and try to say that I agreed to this:

The first question is:
On the basis of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, have you repented of your sins and dedicated yourself to Jehovah to do his will?

The second is:
Do you understand that your dedication and baptism identify you as one of Jehovah's Witnesses in association with God's spirit-directed organization? Having answered yes to these questions, candidates are in a right heart condition to undergo Christian baptism." ~ Watchtower 1985 Jun 1 p.30

The problem with this is that they have removed from me the privilege of having "the enlightenment of the holy spirit" or having God's will revealed directly to me through Jesus and through the Bible. Instead, I must be part of an organization that claims to be spirit directed, without having any recourse when they screw up. I can't disagree with them. I can't petition them for clarification. I can't openly refute their teachings. I have to shut my mouth in order to remain in association with the people I care about, in order to maintain a relationship with my family and friends. If I can't do that, I am risking social suicide.