Posts by problemaddict

62

The Lawsuit Landslide: Irwin Zalkin representing ELEVEN child abuse victims against Watchtower

by cedars in

many of you will be interested to know that irwin zalkin now has 11 lawsuits against watchtower at various stages.. these can be summarized as follows.... j.l.

shocked by the lack of action, the victims mother immediately left the congregation with her son.

by this stage campos was a known predator with complaints having been made to the elders at linda vista spanish, playa pacifica spanish and the watchtower dating back to 1982.elizabeth mcfarland ohio a former ministerial servant named scott silvasy sexually molested elizabeth when she was a child through her early teens.

problemaddict

When he was here in San Diego for the screening of truth be told, he told us of an interesting case that they are considering. The question came up (as it always does), as to why shunning and the games associated with it are legal. He explained its all first ammendment and the branch uses it as both a sheild and a sword whenever they need to.

However there is a case in antoher state (I'm in Cali) that could breech that a bit. A person in the hall took a young girl and raped her. He recorded the rape because he was especially sick. He got caught and went to jail, but the elders on the judicial comitee sat there with the yound girl and the parents and listened to the tape with them, asking the girl to explain what was happening as they went through it piece by piece with pauses so she could explain what was happening.

Really? Imagine now how those parents must feel shame for not standing up, slapping those guys three stooges style and just walking out of the room.

So they are now suing, basically claiming intentional infliction of distress or something to that effect. I am seriously planning on following that case if and when it goes anywhere.

38

Update on my fade

by wizzstick in

it's been over 3 months since i first posted after years of lurking:.

http://www.jehovahs-witness.net/jw/friends/253883/1/my-story-a-kinda-newbie-from-the-uk#.ukhopt-yza8.

and what a 3 months it's been.

problemaddict

Wow man. Great job on being patient with your wife. Reassure her of your love, and get a plan together.

62

I'am in the Penalty Box! I asked the Circuit Overseer "Who Donates Blood For Jehovah's Witnesses Blood Fragments".

by AuntConnie in

told my husband to put a muzzle on my mouth over the blood dogma.

we all were driving around in field service when the topic of "which fragments would you take if you were in a car accident or cut yourself badly".

said his choice is a personal one, another sister with chronic health problems said she had no problem with the governing body's new light on taking various fragments.

problemaddict

Good job Connie.

Boy.....it sure gets quiet fast. I mean in what part of the world can you not even have a simple conversation about a core belief? Its so abnormal, but yet when you are there it seems completely normal.

Crazy man.

62

Discussion w/ Wife: I Welcome Your Suggestions

by breakfast of champions in

so these last few wts have definitely eroded my wife's faith in the org.

she is definitely seeing the bs, and i even overheard her talking openly about it to a family member.

good for her!.

problemaddict

There is a lot of good suggestions thus far. I would say that redvip200 and backseat devil had some nice points as well as many others. I don't have much to add but here is where i got somewhere with my wife.

1) There are many people that don't go to war. Most in fact. Individuals are judged by God, not groups (anymore) right? So what are you talking about.

2) So there is preaching and prostletizing, but there is no charity and giving. The catholic church in the united states is the single largest provider of social services other than the government. So can't you imagine a Catholic having doubts saying "well look at how much we try to take care of others, we are the only ones doing it!', and justifying false beliefs?

She is currently not attending meetings.

21

How did I get here? From Bible student to baby missionary

by Faithful Witness in

jw
friends

my name is valerie.

i thought i would add my story to the archives, in case anyone else can relate.. i am a homeschooling mom of 2 young children, ages 7 & 5. i was "saved" (overused expression) when i was a child, attended awana until middle school, and then led a basic, worldy life as a "good person.".

one day, during a short separation from my husband, the doorbell rang.

problemaddict

Hey FW,

Ok so lay off with the "apostate literature". If there was one sure fire way to get me to clamp up my mind, it was a vicerol response to that kind of literature.

If I was you, I would ASK QUESTIONS. You know the things to ask. Ask them to explain some things to you. Feign some interest, and wanting to know why they think certain things. Keep it light and friendly, and when you see the cognative dissonance, don't pounce.

28

Too many changes mean more changes to come

by Verenda in

i just joined this site after researching the recent 'new light" my daughter is an unbaptized witness, as well as her husband and my grandchildren.

i was baptized in the 80s but i am inactive for years now because of changes and inconsintancies etc.. .

if the sheep and the goats teaching has been changed to happen after the great tribultaion, or after armageddon then this would mean that everyone would not be seperated or judged until after armageddon has occured.

problemaddict

Oh yeah......don't let them get baptized, and give her some questions to take to the elders. Just make sure on your end when you send her off with a question, that you have done the research and have the articles and paper neccesary. It is more than the elders will do, and when she explains they just brushed it off with a "we never taught that" or some other BS, you can be the one on the right side of the line of truth.

28

Too many changes mean more changes to come

by Verenda in

i just joined this site after researching the recent 'new light" my daughter is an unbaptized witness, as well as her husband and my grandchildren.

i was baptized in the 80s but i am inactive for years now because of changes and inconsintancies etc.. .

if the sheep and the goats teaching has been changed to happen after the great tribultaion, or after armageddon then this would mean that everyone would not be seperated or judged until after armageddon has occured.

problemaddict

Hello Verenda,

I know someone already said it, but you are among friends. people here think differently and coexist for the sake of support and learning. And isn't that all just kind of the point really?

First, the sheep and goats thing hasn't changed since the 90's. And to clarify what you think they believe (it is a twisted mess so don't feel bad), they still believe once the GT starts, it will be too late to repent, and you will have already been judged. Thats tribulation....not Armagedon.

If I was you, as painful and odd as it may sound, I would get up to date on all of this stuff. Get to the scriptures that basically say truth does not change. On one hand it can seem admirable that the society is willing to change when they are wrong.......but that isn't really what this is. its what everyone THINKS it is, but it isn't really.

The logical inconsistancies are good to be aware of when you hit a brick road like the one you described. Can they change their mind because they are imperfect men? Sure why not. Everyone misunderstands the bible sometimes even the apostles right? She is actually right. What she is not taking into consideration, is that if you do not agree with a "current understanding" or you "question the slave", you can be disfellowshipped. Imagine that, simply for thinking different and talking to maybe a couple friends openly....you could be DF'd.

Blood is a great one. You take Albumin for a medical issue in 1999, you are disfellowshipped unless you repent. A year later, its all good. Do they seek out ones mistreated by "former understandings"? Nope. There is a good one to explain.

Then with the new change, white blood cells are forbidden, and Abumin is "christian to decide". Yes Albumin is 6% of your blood, and white cells are 2.3% (rough). So what made these non-doctor type dudes decide one was a conscience matter, and one was not?

Leave her with questions. You are in a unique situation where you may be able to reach your family, but you need to be very careful and tread lightly.

44

Reno Nevada JW Splinter group??

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

apologies is this has already been discussed.

i came across this website www.

is this a new splinter group among jw's?.

problemaddict

Guys this is just semantics. I understand what Cedar means when he is speaking about the community. A few may know each other, but its not like there is even a loose "group" that speak and communicate to each other beyond a few outliers. Outlaw is stating that the community as a whole (whoever out of the 12 are not deranged....I would submit zero), is what he is talking about and is questioning their own thoughts about the function.

I get it. No reason to argue, its just semantics.

But beyond that to something useful, Maybe one or two people that think they especially are going to heaven and don't like the GB telling them to sit in the back when they have things to say, didn't like that and made it known. That seems plausible enough.

However, the report that the area of Reno was divided into 4 different circuits seems spurious, because there are not enought people in that area for 4 curcuits. Surrounding areas are too far away. I know the geography out there pretty weel. I've even driven across Nevada. So like most things on the internet we are just trying to connect rumor,a nd truth, and figure out what is "most likely", since we cannot know with certainty unless someone has a specific credible source that can be verified......which we rarely do. :)

So I would say there are a couple guys causing a stink. They may have a couple other "annointed" buddies they talk too. Maybe some people in the area they have spoken to have support for them, or a zealous new CO came in and removed their supporters. All of that is plausible. However....the real question is here after this "new light" is discussed, will these rebels be disfellowshipped since they have revealed themselves to the branch. That is all i am really concerned with, because if verifyable this could be a nice feather in the cap for hypocricy should any of us try to be removed for "going against the slave".

16

I need some assistance!

by Kool Jo in

i just found out that a co-worker of mine is a ex-jw....she's being pressured to go back to the khall...she says everytime she goes to visit her family, they're telling her how jehovah still loves her...blah blah blah...thankfully she has her own apartment!.

i do see how her upbringing in the cult has affected her...she's soft and overly kind, but she's a real sweetheart...the down side: people take advantage of her.. should i tell her that i too am a jw and understands what she's going through with her family or should i just tell her that "spirituality is a personal thing and don't feel guilted into doing something you don't want" ect....the thing is, she talks alot and if i tell her that i'm suppose to be a jw, then the entire workplace will know.... what should i do?

my only aim is to have her not feel guilted in going back...she said her family has been trying to get her back in, but she's resisting it...the other issue, her son stays with her jw sister (she didn't disclose why)...and my co-worker tells me that her son is becoming a "jw convert".. please i need some advice!.

problemaddict

I think you may be overestimating your workplace caring about your current/former/ current former religion. :)

Why not invite her out for adrink or a meal, and have a sincere talk with her expressing your empathy and listen to her. seems like the honorable kind thing to do. Good for you!

13

Truth be Told

by witchywoman in

jw
friends

my husband and i had the wonderful opportunity to see this movie in portland oregon.

it is produced by gregorio smith.

he was raised in the jehovah's witness religion, and shows this movie from that point of view.

problemaddict

I saw it in San Diego. I think it is a great START in telling the stories people need to know.

The personal snapshots of peoples experiences will resonate with some, and not with others. I think some of the most compelling stories and information come from the true believers that have left. Most of the people in the movie were never the "good JW's", and some including the director i believe was not baptized.

That is not to say I am critical of the movie. I think Gregario did a great job, and stepped it up to do something that had not been done. Going over doctrine is useless of course. But doing something to show the absurdity and push the illogical twists into the public mind in a way that resonates, entertains, and will expose their beliefs to the worl at large AND JW's individually, still needs to be done.

The first 30 minutes of the movie were about birthdays for goodness sake. That was mad overkill.

With the stories of tragedy and shunning here on this board, and from many others not here, there is so much the ex-JW community has as resources to pull from. I applaud Gregarios work. I don't think it is for a wide audience. I can't see it getting picked up. I think it would be immediately rejected by any JW's simply because it doesn't really speak to them and creates a kind of ominous tone. The only real audience, it seems, are those that used to be JW's, or are affected by JW's in some way. That is just to narrow I think.

Still like I said.....I think it is a great start. We need to think more "Bowling for Columbine" level to be able to make a splash. Maybe just with less of a budget. :)