Posts by zophar

44

JW story - "husbands JW beliefs ruining the family" - on Dr. Phil today

by ShirleyW in

jw
friends

"my husbands religious beliefs are ruining our family" is the topic.

i"m not home when it airs on cbs in the afternoon so i watch a rerun on ch 55 here in nyc at 8pm.

i have my cable box all set to switch over at the appropriate time..

zophar

The elders would have contacted the WT legal dept if they were following instructions. The legal department would have been the ones directing the elders to call CPS. Does this mean they are finally getting the point?

Not necessarily. Because of the two witness rule they probably would have felt the testimony of the husband and wife, probably revealed while they were bickering back and forth in front of the elders, would have been all they needed to report.

One thing I don't understand about the two witness rule they insist on using. While they could apply that to congregational judicial procedures, it doesn't have to apply to secular governmental procedures. They could make life so much easier for themselves legally if they just always reported to legal authorities what they hear and let the secular legal system play itself out. That way the congregation would be informed every time of an accusation because of the legal proceedings against the accused. Also, if the accused is innocent, that would be determined through a legal process, not a spiritual judicial process.

38

Will #metoo have an affect on forcing changing attitudes at Watchtower?

by jwfacts in

despite decades of the feminist movement, watchtower's attitude of woman being inferior has changed little, with pauline sexism justified as inspired, on the basis that women are lesser emotionally, intellectually and physically.

jehovah's witnesses seem to accept this with little resistance.

is there anything about the #metoo movement that may wake followers up?

zophar

Phoebe

Quite a story you have to tell. It is exactly people in your position that tell the most compelling stories. A working woman trying to make a living being exposed to lecherous men. What you a disgusting experience to live through.

I hope at the very least the recent exposing of some real asshats who felt entitled will make some difference.

15

Anyone Watch Dr Phil Show today?

by zophar in

are you watching dr phil with the df wife and still in husband?.

zophar

Thanks Morpheus

15

Anyone Watch Dr Phil Show today?

by zophar in

are you watching dr phil with the df wife and still in husband?.

zophar

Are you watching Dr Phil with the DF wife and still in husband?

40

Introduce myself

by dantoole87 in

i'd like share why i went from being a teenager determined to work in full time service for jehovah my entire life, to now being on here commiserating with you all.

i use to be an atheist but i now believe in god.

but i'm not preachy about god.

zophar

We have a marriage full of extreme highs and lows.

Appreciated your story. Because JW's emphasize "works" more than "Grace" one finds their worth associated with Pioneering etc

The fact that your life has so many highs and lows could also be the symptom of a disorder like Bi-Polar Manic Depression. If you find these extreme highs and lows happening with you, you might want to seek help. Of course, I can't diagnose that,it could just be a result of being in a messed up belief system among power hungry elders for so long. But take care of yourself and your baby. You have a lot to live for.

I hope you find happiness.

28

Why do ex-JW's talk so much about being ex-JW's?

by Sour Grapes in

is it because we were in the cult watchtower compound that we talk about being ex-jw's when we stop being active?

i have never heard anyone say that i was an ex-catholic or an ex-lutheran or an ex-baptist.

they just stop going to their church and don't talk about it.. years after not stepping inside a kingdom hell, many of us still have to talk about being ex-jw's.

zophar

charonsdog

I have enjoyed reading your posts. Glad you decided to join the group. It sounds like you have moved on and made a life for yourself.

You are obviously a thinking person who never lost that ability even when in the Org. Thinking people who serve as elders and have a sense of humor are loved by many in the congregation but are constantly counseled by other elders who don't know how to have an independent thought!

Welcome aboard the "The Dirty Apostate" Ship of Free-thinkers

7

Oh Happy Day- Cover - by Gerrit Losch feat. Pissed Samuel Herd

by Ray Frankz in

jw
friends

thats my question.

i mean because here in brazil there's a huge ban in any religious content that doesn't come from the gb, and that includes songs, of course.

thus, it doesn't matter how beautiful or touching a gospel song is, you will never see a brazilian jw singing (not for real, in front of others) or even lesser quoting it.

zophar

Agree, it is his personality. Very dry sense of humor but I think he was just trying to be funny.

Your point about singing "Oh Happy Day!" is right on. That would have been seriously taboo back when it was popular. According to Wikipedia: "Therecording was made at Hawkin's church, the Ephesian Church of God in Christ in Berkeley, California.["

30

Well...It's 2018 and still no ''Armageddon''

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

1972 : we started studying with the jehovah's witnesses when my uncle became an elder and put fear into our family that armageddon was close.

1974 : my mom, my brother and i were all baptized after all the convention talks and watchtower magazine articles that 1975 would likely end this system of things.

1999 : being told that the year 2000 was going to mark the 6 thousand years of mans existence and that the 1000 year kingdom in the new paradisewould come in the year 2000.

zophar

Wolfman: Thanks for that comparison from the 1/1//89 WT. It was one of the most eye-opening things for me. To think they would actually re-write their own magazine really amazed me. Stand up and admit your mistake or if you are not going to acknowledge your history at least don't re-write it!

I had always given them credit as being sincere and honestly mistaken and then I saw this and forgot about crediting them with any honesty. And how sincere does that make one.

52

US violent crimes and murders rose in 2016, the FBI says

by Simon in

i can't remember the exact topic but i think a few people predicted the same thing - that the blm movement would cause an increase in violent deaths of young black men, ultimately doing more harm than good.. and so it has: http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41391333.

an 8.6% rise in the homicide rate is pretty appalling by any standard unless it started at very low levels, which we know it didn't.. this is why i object to movements based on false premises and invented media lies / selective coverage.

the people who suffer the most are not the ones marching in the streets.

zophar

Well, I work for a living and because of a pre-existing health condition had a terrible time trying to start a business independent of Employer Group Insurance. My wife had health insurance, that I had to pay for, it wasn't free because of a provision of ObamaCare or more Properly the Affordable Care Act.

I don't think he was an effective president. I can't stand Hillary and I don't like Trump as a person. I don't know enough about foreign policy to know if his tweets to other world leaders have a good or bad effect, but it looks bad to me.

It gets back to a broken system. Republicans and Democrats won't work together for anything other than their own benefit and getting elected again.

I mainly agree with Simon when it comes to the whole BLM program. I knew some wonderful people among JW's who live in the ghettos and tried to work hard. Some of them had the cleanest homes you could want even in the poorest conditions which just shows that it comes back to whether you are willing to help yourself or not. I too think the welfare mentality went way up the last few years. I also believe that President Trump is a dangerous person.

Let the stoning commence. After all that is what we like to do to one another!

16

Intro

by jc1985 in

jw
friends

hello all, many years i have been lurking on this site.

gradually i’ve learned the real truth, gone from serving as a servant and at bethel to inactive for almost a year, barely ever wasting time going to meetings.

my family is large and very active and so is my wife’s so leaving altogether is difficult.. though it seems now that everything is about to change.

zophar

Love the John Lennon quote about life! Remember that song fondly, as I age myself.

My work keeps me in touch with the public and it really helps. I was happily surprised to find an abundance of really wonderful people out there. It is a lot easier once you quit viewing them as worldly or future bird food. There is a large non-denominational church in this area and I have met a number of people that attend there. They all have been very kind even after I mention that I was "raised" as a JW. They are very involved in the community and doing good works and I really admire them for it. That alone has been very eye opening for me, a born in JW baptized in the 60's.

Another eye opener for me was when I first started to listening to other Bible scholars and ministers. I was under the impression that all non-JW's don't read their Bible or use it in Church. Definitely not the truth.

The thing is once you see the crack or allow that first doubt to materialize, you suddenly see a whole new world. I like Leonard Cohen's line, "There is a crack in everything, that's how the light gets in."

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

And the light of free thought does indeed get brighter! In fact, I believe that is the meaning of Proverbs 4:18 "But the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light that grows brighter and brighter until full daylight." -NWT.

That Proverb is discussing the experience of a person, NOT a spirit directed organization! In that setting it is certainly true. We grow as people, opening our minds and thinking for one's self will lead to a brighter and happier life. May that be your experience JC1985. Wishing you a bright happy future starting today.