Posts by Swan

45

Humourous DA letter

by besty in

jw
friends

right- we've been thinking about this.. .

it seems that most da letters are: doctrinal, personal, emotional or or major issues such un etc .

and completely understandably so..but.. .

I recently had a discussion with a householder in the field service who asked me several questions I could not answer. After returning home and doing some diligent research, I found contradictory statements in the Watchtower publications supporting his position. I must therefore renounce my beliefs in your religion so that I may seek the Truth elsewhere.

I know that this will be a subject of much gossip in the congregation in the weeks ahead. To set the record straight, even though the householder I met is a Smurf, his nationality has nothing to do with my leaving. Also, we never had sex under his Christmas tree; it was in front of his fireplace where his Christmas stockings were hanging. Additionally, his relationship with Smurfette had already ended when I called at his door.

Tammy

117

NEW policy! NO LIT for EX-JWs!

by MinisterAmos in

it's official; they read the letter tonight that puts forth the new procedure.

if you find an expelled person in the field or are studying with one, you are no longer permitted to give them lit.

presumably the elders make a decision if an expelled one is regularly attending meetings, but only they can give them lit.

Swan

Ooooh! I like it!

I guess we must be hitting them where it hurts if they want to cut us off from their printed ~~lies~~ words so badly. But they will never plug all of their leaks. We see literature before it is even released. What makes them think they can stop us from getting it and putting it on the internet? Fools! But I like that they try. It shows that we are irritating them.

Muhaahaahaahaaa!

Tammy

38

If someone told you they would give you $10 M,,,,,, if you,,,,,,

by AK - Jeff in

just closed your eyes, threw a dart at the world map, and would have to take the 10 million, get on a plane within the hour, move to that location, and never look back, contact your friends or relatives again.

no rule changes.

you can take your mate and/or minor children, but can tell no one else.

Swan

Hell, yes!

Is this for real? Where can I sign up?

Family and friends are highly overated. They will drop you like a hot potato at the drop of a hat for some screwed up religious BS. So why not drop them for $10M reasons far more important that the words of a dozen old men in a 2-bit magazine.

Tammy

32

Lurkers! How do you put up with it?

by PopeOfEruke in

i just cannot understand how any one in their right mind can read the experiences here concerning the wachtower society's false claims, lies, trickery and deceit, and the example shown by the so-called "elders" in treating the flock with disdain and cruelty, and still stay a jehovah's witness.. lurkers, how can you do that?

do you simply dismiss all the evidence?

have any of you experienced such evil acts personally and still stay connected to the jw's?.

Swan

I saw a documentary on Jonestown recently. Many people there were "lurkers" too. They figured out that they were in a cult, and that something was drastically wrong, but escape was difficult and very dangerous. Some took a big risk in contacting Congressman Ryan and his entourage, and unfortunately it led to the Congressman and several others being gunned down. Some fled into the jungle to escape the fruit punch incident, but others could not get away and were apparently "strongly advised" to take the punch.

It's a f***ing cult, and if you have to, you will do anything you need to to survive. But the important thing is to be realistic about surviving and hold your cards close to your vest until the time is right to show your hand.

Tammy

12

I just read CoC

by bluebell in

i borrowed it from my local library, it was very interesting.

the one i read was written in 1983, has any updated copy been released at all?

Swan

I found the most amazing thing to me was that the Governing Body acted more like the Board Members of a company I used to work for. I had always been taught from the earliest age that these "anointed men" were pouring through the scriptures and praying for God's direction to make the right decisions based on the "accurate knowledge" found in the Bible. I thought of them more like monks studiously laboring over manuscripts and tomes for the insightful truths to lead Jah's people down the true path. I thought that once a truth was revealed, and prayed about, these men would reach a unanimous consensus.

Instead, this book described very political boardroom-like meetings with some decisions being made without much deliberation or afterthought, such as the question of oral and anal sex between marriage partners. Other decisions were made based on a two thirds vote, and some decisions were hotly debated and just barely passed. Factions existed, with many of the more passive members currying favor by voting for the same things Nathan Knorr or Freddy Franz were voting for. Some of the GB sounded like real control freaks, seeking glory for themselves, rather than glory for God. It also reinforced my view of Knorr as a real asshole, which I had held ever since I met him at an Anchorage assembly when I was a little kid.

It was a very eye-opening book, and reaffirmed my instincts years ago that something was very wrong with the organizational direction we were receiving and the adoration, reverence, and idolatry practiced by many rank-and-file toward those men.

Tammy

14

Unscriptural

by RollerDave in

just had a lovely chat with my mom today.. after hashing out a bunch of other business, she asked what we were up to this monday.

of course i told her we were going out to see dad.. this gave her pause because she is well aware that dad is rather deceased.

she sputters 'you mean... his grave?

Swan

Just off the top of my head, didn't Jesus visit Lazarus' grave?

Tammy

44

my "father" decided to send me an email!

by theinfamousone in

before we even begin, if you have not read my story, you may not understand why this is such a big deal to me... this is a part of my story and it can be found at: http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/7/101870/1.ashx.

and here we go... my "father", an abusive bastard of a jw, recently sent me an email that put me in a tizzy!

it was late friday night, i had just gotten home from a shift at a local bar where i bartend on occasion!

Swan

Dear Infamous,

This email was very self centered. It was all about him. "Why are you doing this to me?" It's all from his perspective. "I tried so hard!" It assumes the moral highground. "I did everything right and look how you treat me!"

Sounds like your Dad is someone who never grew up. He's like a spoiled little brat who wants you to make up and play nice on the playground... so he can then borrow your bat and beat up on you up again!

I have a favorite response for emails like these. You can use it if you wish. "I'm sorry, but I think you've confused me with someone who gives a damn."

It also works with telemarketers.

Tammy

30

Was There Something That Ever Bothered U About The "Truth" While U Were In?

by minimus in

jw
friends

when i used to read the prophecies of revelation and see the society's interpetation i often thought to myself, "how could this be"?

i shelved a lot of things, hoping that maybe i'd understand over time or the "light would get brighter".. as an elder, i used to wonder how they (the society) could tell the elders one thing and put into print another thing.

while the rank and file were being told at the watchtower studies how the elders were to not judge unfairly at judicial committees, the elders were told to be safe rather than sorry when it came to "removing the wicked man from our midst".

Swan

The Watchtower Society's claim that they never said 1975; that some rushed to that conclusion. Baloney! Back then when my memory was very sharp (unlike at my current age) I was absolutely certain they had said it. I could even remember where on the page I had seen it! I just couldn't seem to remember which bound volume it was in.

Tammy

25

Word/image Association: What does "Rainbow" make you think of?

by gaiagirl in

jw
friends

a jw who works where i work saw a new age cd with an image of a rainbow on the cover, and immediately said "this is homosexual".

is this a widespread feeling among jw's, or fundamentalists in general?

Swan

In the 1960's club scene in New York, Judy Garland was a celebrity who was very accepting of her gay fans. On the down-low during a period of frequent beatings by police, gay men would often ask other men, "Are you a friend of Dorthy's?" This was an underground code for "Are you homosexual?" that evolved from Judy Garland's role in the Wizard of Oz?

On June 22, 1969, when Judy Garland died, several gay and transgender people gathered in the Stonewall bar in New York City in their grief. The place was raided by the police who once again began beating the crap out of the "queers." This time they had enough and a riot broke out. The Stonewall riot became the birthplace of the modern gay rights movement. Consequently, because of the famous song, "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from Judy Garland's most memorable movie, the rainbow became a symbol for diversity, especially among the gay community. Eventually the words gay and queer were taken over by the GLBT community, as were the pink triangle symbol that they died wearing in Nazi Germany.

Tammy

13

Payback! This time it's for real!

by Swan in

hi folks.

haven't posted in a while, but i wanted to tell you how my bad karma caught up to me this weekend.

i was sleeping in on saturday morning after a bad bout of insomnia.

Swan

Carla,

Thanks for the sign offer, but I don't think I will go that route. My husband suggested something similar, but I told him I want JWs to feel free to come to my door and ask, "What do you know that I don't know?"

Finally Free,

Yes, that's what was so annoying. It was the sheer stupidity of the question. That's why I think it was some line in a rehearsed come back to the Kingdom Hall for the Memorial campaign.

"Let's see, I've been gone so long I don't even know the exact number of years, so how come you think I would feel any differently now?" Gimme a break.

Buttlight,

That's a normal reaction. It's hard to come up with, "I'm sorry you're so stupid to come to the wrong door, but I'm an apostate now and have never been happier!" on the spur of the moment.

VanillaMocha73

Dumb policy. I wonder if they ever call on Ray Franz?

What A Coincidence,

The last visit was a sister, and the visit before that was two sisters, so I suspect that I dropped off their radar for a while. Every time they came around though I made it clear I was an ex-JW and should be on their list. I thinks that's why the suits showed up this time. It's not official until someone with a penis verifies it.

Full of Doubt Now,

Hope they don't bother you, but if they do ask you, you can look at them dumbfounded and say "Why would you ask me a stupid question like that?"

AvidBibleReader,

Yes, it can get pretty silly. I have had them get off the elevator and take the stairs to avoid me.

Greendawn,

Then they take their chances on some elders being swayed by the two thirds of us who are happy with their new lives outside the Watchtower.

Jim,

He said it like some person stumbled me because they didn't say hello to me at the KH. If he ever comes back I will be sure and clear up that misconception and let him know it was because 35 years of lies no longer sounded like the truth to me.

Mia_b,

I just tell them the truth. "I'm no longer a JW. I've been out 10-15 years and I'm very happy that way. Put me on your list. Thanks. Goodbye."

It should be enough to put a seed of doubt in most publishers, especially if you are pleasant. These elder types, though, were almost begging for a stronger response with their stupid, condescending question and comment. I was a bit more curt with them. I let them know I definitely was not nor wanted to be a JW ever again.

SPAZnik

The woman who got off the elevator when I got on was the same way. She was making up an excuse to her little girl about why they were getting off, but it was so obviously a lie made up on the fly. It was very funny. It was hard not to laugh.

Tammy