Posts by Stephanus

The new priest was so nervous at his first mass that he could hardly
speak. Before his second appearance in the pulpit, he asked the
Monsignor how he could relax.

The Monsignor said, "Next Sunday, it may help if you put some vodka in
the water pitcher. After a few sips everything should go smoothly."

The next Sunday the new priest put the suggestion into practice and was
able to talk up a storm. He felt great! However, upon his returning to
the rectory, he found a note from the Monsignor.

It Read:
1. Next time SIP. don't gulp

2. There are 10 commandments, not 12.

3. There are 12 disciples, not 10.

4. We don't refer to the cross as the "Big T"

5. The recommeded grace before meals is not "Rub-a-dub-dub, thanks for
the grub. Yeah God"

6. David slew Goliath, he didn't "Beat the shit out of him"

7. Don't refer to Jesus Christ and his apostles as "JC and the Boys"

8. It's always "Virgin Mary" not "Mary with a cherry"

9. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost are not "Big Daddy, Junior,
and the Spook"

10. And last but not least, next Wednesday there is a taffy pulling
contest at St Peter's Church, not a peter-pulling contest at St. Taffy's
Church.

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

24

TatooGrrl and Her Tats - A Question

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

the mention by tattoogrrl of her tattoos and the discomfort they seem to produce in the r&f around her prompted these questions:.

*would the tats be considered to be a possible stumbling block to those "weak in the faith"?.

*if she gets baptised, will pressure be put on her to have them removed?.

So in light of this thread and the "ugly clothes" thread, I'll modify the original thrust and what I was trying to get at. TattooGrll, look around at the people in your KH. They may seem like a friendly bunch of eccentrics, but what is the message they're conveying to you? Is it likely that the more time you spend with them, the more subtle pressures will be brought to bear for you to be like them? After all, THEY are all like them! If you continue to do what they want in order for them to accept you, what do you think you will be wearing in, say, three years time? Long dark skirts, long-sleeved, high-necked tops and sensible shoes? As Tergiversator says, will your colourful, cheery tattoos which give you such joy now be a source of shame and regret?

I know I look like I'm just trying to bag the JWs and dig up any negative I can find. I suppose you've been warned that Satan's minions will do whatever they can to prevent you from joining "the Truth". What I'm doing is asking you to wonder if these "free" Bible studies you're doing with the Witnesses come with a hidden price tag, and if, at the end of the day you're willing to pay that price. If, after careful thought and consideration, with your eyes open and fully aware of what's being asked of you, you decide to continue with them, then so be it, and more power to you!

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

24

TatooGrrl and Her Tats - A Question

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

the mention by tattoogrrl of her tattoos and the discomfort they seem to produce in the r&f around her prompted these questions:.

*would the tats be considered to be a possible stumbling block to those "weak in the faith"?.

*if she gets baptised, will pressure be put on her to have them removed?.

Stephanus

That's what I'm getting at - the parochial thing. Some KHs are more conservative than others, as evidenced by the stink the other elder kicked up. What is accepted and even smiled at as being eccentric in one hall may well be condemned in another. Any other experiences in this area, people?

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

12

Dave and Fark

by dunsscot in

jw
friends

duns will holler at you guys later.

fark, keep your eyes open and your mind scopin'.

dave, please guard the bourbon for me.

Stephanus

Hmmmm. You've got to wonder about someone who is trying to bait someone who's already admitted to being under a lot of emotional pressure. You may lose your own father one day, Duns, and not like the lack of sympathy the loving brothers give you...

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

24

TatooGrrl and Her Tats - A Question

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

the mention by tattoogrrl of her tattoos and the discomfort they seem to produce in the r&f around her prompted these questions:.

*would the tats be considered to be a possible stumbling block to those "weak in the faith"?.

*if she gets baptised, will pressure be put on her to have them removed?.

Stephanus

Oh, I know that removal is hard! I also know the authoritarian religious leader psyche - the type who says "Jump!" and expects "How high, Sir?" in return. They're being nice and tolerant towards you now - this is the part of cult conditioning called "love bombing". I'd just like to get some opinions of others, perhaps some of the ex-elders to get an idea of how this scenario might run, once you're safely in their clutches.

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

24

TatooGrrl and Her Tats - A Question

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

the mention by tattoogrrl of her tattoos and the discomfort they seem to produce in the r&f around her prompted these questions:.

*would the tats be considered to be a possible stumbling block to those "weak in the faith"?.

*if she gets baptised, will pressure be put on her to have them removed?.

Stephanus

"Ole Lonesome Polecat Station" doesn't have much of a ring to it at all, I'm afraid!

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

23

What a pretty summer so far!

by Bendrr in

jw
friends

i don't know how the weather is everywhere else, but here in dixie, it's been the first bearable summer in as long as i can remember.. it seems as though mother nature took a rest this year, worn out from her years of relentlessly bombarding us with intense heat.

for so long, it seemed as though the spring and summer months, even october, would bring an onslaught of 100+ degree temperatures with record high humidity and only enough rain to turn our evenings into saunas.. then this year came.

so far, the temperature has topped out in the very low 90's and the humidity just hasn't had the enthusiasm of years past.

Stephanus

I'd gladly swap The Ashes for a warm winter, Pubsinger. Still, since you buggers invented the game, you'd think you'd be better at it...

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

24

TatooGrrl and Her Tats - A Question

by Stephanus in

jw
friends

the mention by tattoogrrl of her tattoos and the discomfort they seem to produce in the r&f around her prompted these questions:.

*would the tats be considered to be a possible stumbling block to those "weak in the faith"?.

*if she gets baptised, will pressure be put on her to have them removed?.

Stephanus

That's entirely what I'm worried about, TattooGrl - that they say now that all you need to do is cover them. But, I've been in authoritarian religious circles before and know that the first conversation on something that bothers someone in leadership is never the last. They don't control you now, but with enough teaching and convincing that they have "the Truth (tm)" they might eventually, and the removal, no matter how hard, painful and costly it may be, may become the only focus of the "relationship" between you and them.

And Pubsinger, sorry for making you snap to attention like that!

I meant to write "Tattoos" in the Subject line specifically to avoid such confusion - I didn't want to trivialise what I see as being an important issue.

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.

23

What a pretty summer so far!

by Bendrr in

jw
friends

i don't know how the weather is everywhere else, but here in dixie, it's been the first bearable summer in as long as i can remember.. it seems as though mother nature took a rest this year, worn out from her years of relentlessly bombarding us with intense heat.

for so long, it seemed as though the spring and summer months, even october, would bring an onslaught of 100+ degree temperatures with record high humidity and only enough rain to turn our evenings into saunas.. then this year came.

so far, the temperature has topped out in the very low 90's and the humidity just hasn't had the enthusiasm of years past.

Stephanus

Er Pubsinger, you won't get us complaining about the heat; it's been the most consistently cold and annoying winter I remember! It'd freeze the walls off a grass humpy, so to speak. I can't wait till the equinox...

Q: How do you know a Dub loyal to "Jehovah's Organisation" is lying?
A: Their lips are moving.