happy@last

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Posts by happy@last

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  32

  How would you respond to this defense made on behalf of The Watchtower's Child Abuse lawsuits?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  details of the society's child abuse policies have been published in jehovah's witnesses' publications, although more specific guidelines are only made available to elders, or on request.

  press releases issued by the watch tower society's office of public information confirm that if a person accused of molestation repeatedly denies the charges of his victim, and there is no other witness to the incident, "the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time", but would report to authorities if required by local laws.

  our families jehovahs witnesses and child protection.

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  happy@last

  For a start this is absurd:

  When any one of Jehovah’s Witnesses is accused of an act of child abuse, the local congregation elders are expected to investigate. Two elders meet separately with the accused and the accuser to see what each says on the matter. If the accused denies the charge, the two elders may arrange for him and the victim to restate their position in each other’s presence, with elders also there. If during that meeting the accused still denies the charges and there are no others who can substantiate them, the elders cannot take action within the congregation at that time

  Why are the elders expected to investigate a criminal act? Why then ask the child to tell the elders what took place in front of them and the abuser. Is this not further abuse!? A frightened child who has been overpowered by a person that may well have groomed them and possibly told them their family will suffer if the child tells of 'their secret' needs a lot of strength to do this in front of their abuser. And then as if that is not bad enough, the abuser denies it and is free to carry on as if nothing ever happened. Meantime the child is left traumatised and at no point has any police been contacted.

  I would like to know what evidence do they need before reporting it to the authorities?
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  11

  A fourth generation JW on the way

  by Xanthippe in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  to my nephew,.

  your other aunt phoned my non-jw cousin, so i know your wife is expecting a baby in the new year.

  congratulations!

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  happy@last

  Xanthippe's nephew, please listen to your aunt who is speaking with a free mind and no hidden agenda, who appears to be governed by love and not rules. Many of us here know how hard it is mentally once you have peered beneath the veneer and are happy to help any who need support in thinking freely for themselves.
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  39

  What Made You Finally Wake Up?

  by Tenacious in

  1. social
  2. current

  hello to all.

  i've been on this site for a couple of weeks now posting here and there but have not had the opportunity to read about many of the regular members and what led up to their leaving the wt.. i understand that some of you (i'm part of this club) may not be able to disclose many details and i can appreciate that.. i'd love to hear what was it that finally made you renounce what is and hopefully soon to be "was" the wt.. i truly look forward to having good discussions.. thank you to all for your kind participation.. .

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  happy@last

  The signs for me were always there, but cognitive dissonance and the control of the cult stopped me from breaking free, until I was truly at breaking point.

  At around the year 2000 my abuser was reinstated without my knowledge, I heard about it from my sister who called very upset at him stalking her at her assembly! I wrote to the elders asking how they came to this decision, what repentance did they see, to date I have never had a response to the letter. It was this same year I was appointed an elder myself and I have always wanted to help people. I saw this as an opportunity to do that. What I then saw was so much hypocrisy, I truly had believed the elders were trying to minister to everyone, what I witnessed was not the case, and directions from Bethel were so unloving that I couldn't cope.

  In 2003 I became suicidal, mostly due to the abuse I suffered as a child. I went to a psychologist every week for 6 months which helped greatly, but something still wasn't right. Around 2010 I was talking to a CO and told him I had seen a psychologist and a number of other health professionals. He said "Could you not have just got help from Watchtower articles?" That was the comment that made me realise it was so wrong.

  I have a good friend who has never been a JW, we had endless debates about JW beliefs and what she was saying was always logical, far more so than what WT was saying. She helped me realise I could have a life without the influence of WT.

  The cognitive dissonance hurt so bad, I knew what I had to do but knew it would be tough. I had a mental breakdown, this was my excuse to fade overnight. Then 3 years later the elders started hassling me, so I DA'd. I am so much better for it, and happier. I do not have any mental turmoil and see life is for living, not for waiting on everyone else to die at the hands of a so called loving god.
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  7

  What do you have to be thankful for?

  by NewYork44M in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  given the recent holiday, i can't help but reflect that this has been a very good year and my life is pretty damn good.

  there was a lot of hard work, but i get a sense that i am finally reaping the benefits of years of effort.. what do you have to be thankful for and has 2014 been a good year?.

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  happy@last

  This has been a bad year in many ways, my dad's girlfriend died suddenly, my best friends mum died of cancer, and a member of my staff died from cancer also. My JW family have begun shunning me, I am dead to them.

  However I have been lucky enough to find and receive real love from friends, I have 2 healthy children who are slowly coming out of JWisms despite them living most of the time with their JW mum and I have a place to truly call home. I started a new side to my business which I am enjoying and am putting together plans to help as many people as I can who have been shackled to a cult.
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  4

  They didn't get away with this one

  by berrygerry in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  at least they didn't get away with this one.. he was convicted, despite wts extreme efforts to quash a search warrant.. (a pity that the us has crazy "religious privilege" rules - canada is far more sensible)/.

  http://www.canlii.org/en/bc/bcsc/doc/2007/2007bcsc1455/2007bcsc1455.html?searchurlhash=aaaaaqahamvob3zhaaaaaaab.

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  happy@last

  They must have hoped it would set a precedent that their confidential letters cannot be opened to the authorities. It's odd that the meeting that night had been cancelled. I wonder what excuse was given to the rank and file?
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  38

  2 Faced JWs and Thanksgiving

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many jws enjoy turkey on thanksgiving day and are often discreet about their indulgences.

  why be two faced?

  why try to excuse it?.

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  happy@last

  My kids are coming to me for Christmas - yay. They tell me their mum is going to be giving them 'winter' presents when they return!
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  20

  Two pet peeves of mine

  by Sour Grapes in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  there are two things that just drive me crazy.

  one is that the art work in the watchtower is treated like they are actual still photo's taken thousands of years ago.

  your will hear comments about look at the smiles on their faces or the sadnees or happiness in their eyes, or notice the reaction of the crowd, etc.

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  happy@last

  And why have bowls of fruit as if bought from the local store? Can't you just pick your own and eat when you are hungry?

  Guess what?!? I have taken to wearing headbands now, lol, and I love them! Bwhahahaha!!

  So long as they are not red, they are the worst kind
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  6

  It's a Happy Anniversary.

  by quellycatface in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  exactly a year ago today, i made my first post on jw net.. this then prompted me to disassociate from the jw cult and get my life back.. it's been a rollercoaster year but i can honestly say, after 12 months, i am in a much better place than i was a year ago.. it was the best thing i ever did.

  no regrets.

  life is hard but good too!!.

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  happy@last

  - life is so much better when you can think for yourself, congratulations, have fun
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  19

  I need a good cry but I can't. Please help?

  by ohnightdivine in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  besides being overworked and overstressed almost everyday in the past few months,.

  i've had to deal with a 'broken heart', insecurities with my physical appearance (gained a lot of weight),.

  and being lonely because i started distancing myself from the 'congregation', i just want to cry, sob, and bawl out here in my bedroom.

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  happy@last

  I couldn't cry either, for years. My psychologist said it was fine and that one day I would. Years later I was able to, now any soppy film or sad story will set me off. Don't worry if you can't, it might just be a safety mechanism, why not try a sad film?
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  3

  Who's lying to whom---JWB

  by Brainfloss in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  this is a great collection of watchtower quotes that contradict themselves.. probably been posted before but worth a look!.

  http://smmcroberts.net/blog/a-jehovahs-witness-dilemma-part-three#fnote1.

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  happy@last

  Some good research and well compiled