Posts by Sirona

2

Hey Sirona!

by AvailableLight in

jw
friends

i read this in a post you made in a previous thread and i'm interested in what information you presented.

would you share the experience with us?.

as always, it's understood if you can't for some reason.

I would be happy to tell you about some of the things I told them / showed them. In fact, most of the things were contained in my letter to the society, which I will post a copy of if you like. (I can also scan the society's response, when I can get to a scanner).

I cant right now, Im not on my home computer, but I will tonight.

Sirona

PS. Most things were what you will find on many research sites, but some were chosen because of my personal experience and feelings regarding what the WTBTS had published.

48

I Just got OLDER....burfday today :-)

by BoozeRunner in

jw
friends

yikes!!!!

i think i'm an old man, lol.. definitely an excuse to have a few drinks toite.. boozy

Sirona

Happy Birthday,

Librans are lovely

Sirona

83

NEWS: I am publicly reproved over UN situation.

by badwillie in

jw
friends

my wife and i met with 3 elders for a "judicial hearing".. our crime: simply put, was talking.

i showed a friend the un website where the wts was listed as an ngo which then led to a 2 hour discussion of various doubts that we both have had.

my wife also showed a friend the un thing but also discussed with her a first hand account of a pedophile cover-up that we knew about in our former congregation.

Sirona

In a meeting with my elders 18 months ago, I presented information that they could not refute. They were SCARED. Very Scared. It was strange to see two grown men in tatters over questions by a young girl like me!

Unfortunately, this fear makes them react badly - usually with anger and a desire to not have to listen to you anymore. THAT is why they decided to reprove so quickly. Imagine being an elder and listening to evidence that the WT is corrupt! You would want to run away and hide! So rather than reasoning with you about the issues, they decided to reprove you for even daring to question the blessed WTBTS!

It has been my experience that Circuit Overseers are those who *know* the arguments against the society and who *dont really care*. Thats why they can be much less ruffled about it than local elders. If you appealed to a higher level about this, there is a chance they'd reverse the decision (if you acted innocent and kept your mouth shut).

Im a big believer in freedom of speech though. Maybe just let this decision happen, as you say. You will have lots of time to decide what you want to do next.

Thats where I am right now. Im not reproved or DF and Im biding my time. This way, I can give people little snippets of what I know. I did get in hot water myself over the UN thing, but now I've shut up about it (for now!), everything seems ok.

Anyway, hugs,
Sirona

23

Forgiving the Governing Body

by Derrick in

jw
friends

as a baptized jehovah's witness, i have been tested over the years by those very ones who claim they are entrusted with my soul.

i'll digress a moment to state that one strong theory that has deeply troubled me over the years, centers around their transformation over a century into a caricaturistic representation of christendom.

(refer definition of caricature at http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=caricature for clarification.).

Sirona

I suppose we will just have to agree to differ, because you are making too many presumptions for my taste.

That is why I contend that like Jesus knew Judas would betray him, so he also knew his future anointed remnant of brothers would also betray him.

You assume 1. they "were" anointed 2. He knew they would
So why did he anoint them if he knew they'd betray him? That doesnt make any sense.

This is all speculation.

Sirona

8

The Watchtower Ruins Children and Families

by metatron in

jw
friends

i repeat this subject because i see it come up as a defense.

of the organization ("do the math").

it makes my blood boil!.

Sirona

Hi Metatron,

I agree with you. One by one, the teenagers in the local congregation leave.

One I spoke to recently is just waiting to be 18 and is outta there! Another is now lesbian and living with an older woman (she can finally be who she is). The problem is, many of them, once they do leave, are left naive and alone. This is the result, it seems, of such a *great* upbringing!!!

Good points. All of those points affected me as a teenager.

Sirona

23

Forgiving the Governing Body

by Derrick in

jw
friends

as a baptized jehovah's witness, i have been tested over the years by those very ones who claim they are entrusted with my soul.

i'll digress a moment to state that one strong theory that has deeply troubled me over the years, centers around their transformation over a century into a caricaturistic representation of christendom.

(refer definition of caricature at http://www.dictionary.com/cgi-bin/dict.pl?term=caricature for clarification.).

Sirona

Hi Derrick

It seems noone has any objection to your post. Some of it, I agreed with, and some of it is clearly promoting the idea that the actions of the GB can be attributed to Satan.

I object to this because its convenient to blame Satan, when something is found to be corrupt. This serves no useful purpose, since it removes responsibility from those who are at fault ("satan influenced them to do it"). It also excuses people who want to explain why they were so "duped" by the WTBTS. Many are mislead by the WT, but why does it have to be Satan who orchestrates it?

Also, it sounds too much like a JW reasoning. Anyone considered a liar, or bad, is "under the influence of the Devil". Just like the apostates....?

There are too many fundementalist religions out there who all use similar language when referring to religious groups they dont like. Personally, I dont know if "God" and "Satan" are entities as described in the bible. It is speculated that the whole idea of "good" versus "evil" developed due to a need in humans to have someone to blame for pain /hurt / sorrow. Even if the bible is true, we should be cautious about the language we use when referring to other religious groups, even if we dont agree with them. I can say that the WT have lied, because I can show a proof of a lie they have told. I cant say that they are satan worshippers, because I have no proof. I know your post said "possibly" but lets face it, your whole post was giving so called evidence to support your theory.

The bottomline is that the Watchtower is bearing rotten fruits. The shocking epidemic of child molestation chronicled at Silent Lambs site http://www.silentlambs.org/ and decade-long association with an organization that is condemned in many Watchtower publications, is but two of many examples. Can anyone deny the logic of my suspicions that, possibly, the Watchtower's real intent is to set-up and then knock-down people it recruits?

I agree that they are producing some rotten fruits. Some are good, too. I can deny your logic, because there is absolutely no proof that they are intentionally trying to knock people down! They clearly dont have enough concern for anyone other than themselves, simple as that. There is no excuse for their actions.

At the end of the day, we just dont know what the governing body do behind closed doors. I dont seem to remember Ray Franz talking about satanic rituals though.

Sirona

20

New Here...Am I Apostate???

by Sirona_Celtic in

im 25 years old and from the uk.

i havent attended the hall for a couple of years.

i looked into the jws online because i knew in my heart that the guilt they make you feel and the mass destruction they preach just isnt right.

Sirona

Hi

Im glad your life is good now after 25 years out of the borg. It helps to think that after the initial upset, things can return sort of back to "normal" and I *can* make new friends!

At the moment, things are still a little lonely.

Sirona

8

I'm facing a new dilemma...

by Stash Daytripper in

jw
friends

i have been floating on these boards for close to a week now.

kudos to all you peeps who actively search out the real truth and make it apparent to everyone.

i posted my personal story earlier, hopefully those that read it will understand my dilemma now.... do i try to convert my brother out of the organization?.

Sirona

Hi

My ex-husband is my ex because he couldnt handle leaving JWs. He'd had a bad life, and JWs was all he knew. When I left and discovered the reality of JWs, I told him. He couldnt handle it.

This has led to lots of heartache and pain. Personally, Im glad I left, but I have been astounded to see the massive impact it had on his life.

If he is happy, I'd leave it. He would find it difficult to work in a worldly environment, and as you say, JWs have given him confidence.

Sirona

43

UN vs WT -It doesn't matter

by Dan B in

jw
friends

does anybody honestly think that all this exposure about the wtb&ts and the un really going to matter much in the jw community?

sure, it matters to us, since we already know the truth about the wt.

but it won't even make a dent in the jw population.

Sirona

Joelbear,

Im not sure about your figures, maybe you are being overly pessimistic.

Maybe 1% of witnesses will view this as significant enough to rethink their association, but those same 1% will have already been doing that

Im not sure that this is right, I think that some who were not on their way out might be affected by the UN info.

One member of my family is a faithful dub and has been really bothered by the UN thing. A pioneer I know is also asking me questions, tentatively.

Sirona

20

New Here...Am I Apostate???

by Sirona_Celtic in

im 25 years old and from the uk.

i havent attended the hall for a couple of years.

i looked into the jws online because i knew in my heart that the guilt they make you feel and the mass destruction they preach just isnt right.

Sirona

Just chekkin if my pic appears!