Posts by sweetone2377

25

Do Your Witness Relatives Want You To Be Happy?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

or do they want the world to fall in around your ears so that you might "turn back to jehovah"?.

do they think that if you had less happiness in life you would be driven back?.

my mum once exclaimed very bitterly that i had "landed on my feet" too many times and that i would probably have been back at the kh if things hadn't gone so well in my life.. englishman.

sweetone2377

I only skimmed some of the reply posts...still trying to gain patience in my life but I refuse to ask God for it. He'll make me work for it.

Anyhow, we all land on our feet eventually. Even those of us who may be currently having a really hard time dealing with the loss of parents, friends, siblings, and just life. Life that we've known. It is a loss and we all go through a mourning process. Sometimes I think that I have healed remarkably well, and fast. Then something will happen and the emotion of it all will try to come back. I've been saved for 8 months now, and it is easier now. Last night God spoke to a friend, that I am very special to Him and He just wants to embrace me. And we all are special to God. I've gone from being very bitter and angry at the JWs for how much I suffered because of them to now, just being saddened by how blind they are, by how heavy their chains are. I intercede often for them, to just be freed from the bondages that these men have placed them in.

My family want me to continue to suffer. But I am so happy, not that I'm always smiling and laughing ( only most of the time), but I am truely happy.

I had heard from the Lord at the beginning of the year, that I needed to get in touch with my mom. That even though I was not at fault for the break in our relationship, one of us had to make the first step. One of us had to make ourself available for healing and restoration. So I sent her a card to thank her for my piano lessons (I now play in church). I sent her photos and updates of my kids that she hasn't even seen in almost 3 years (my ds is 5 and my dd is 4). I recieved a letter back from her, which suprised me. She admitted to being the one who called social services last summer. She says, "In the Bible, God's spirit inspired word, you will be accountable to Jehovah the true God for not only yourselves and those you speak with but also and very importantly your children. You know this. Therefore this I gratefully leave in Jehovah's hands." That was because I had mentioned that we were very happy in our church. She claims that I am using my children as weapons against them, etc, because I left the borg. Puuuuuleeezzzzz! Gimme a break! Then she makes a snotty comment about praying "(or whatever it is you do)" she says.

Yes, my family wants me to be absolutely miserable without the WTS. And it's killing them that I am so just.....purely happy without them. And when she sends me these letters like this, now instead of being angry or hurt, I ache because of how blinded she is, how bound she is to such religious dictatorship. I want for my family to have the same freedome and the same happiness that I have found. So, am I unhappy? Not at all. But my heart does go out to the rank and file who are still being blinded and seduced by Satan inside that organization.

19

Take back the Kingdom Halls? What do you think?

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

.. this letter was sent to me last week.

sounds kinda implausible, especially from a legal angle, but jim is asking your opinion.

what do you think about this proposal?.

sweetone2377

First of all, I am very glad not to ever sit in another KH again. Although, the thought has crossed my mind to go in, sit in the front and pretend to be a JW from out of town, then just as I'm leaving let the cat out of the bag and say that I'm disassociated and watch the jaws drop.

Another point, congregations are funded by the WTS but, the loans are repaid to the WTS by the individual congregation (at least that's how it was being done when I left in 98). So they are technically owned by the congregation. Another point is that, we would never make it into the hall and get to stay long enough to cause a scene of any kind. And they most definately are not going to allow us to use their Hall for "apostate" services (and why would I want to anyhow, I enjoy sunlight and comfortable chairs).

I have in the past considered sueing my former congregation (to sue the WTS is suicide for such a matter) for mental whatever. The thought crossed my mind tonight, which is why I'm here right now on this site (I am not a regular like I use to be). But even that would be fruitless since the congregation is soo poor, sending all their money to the WTS to pay for the GB's nice new suits they need so they can read their index cards at conventions.

A solution though, for all those who are all for this "take over the KH" idea is this.....meeting times really haven't changed much. And if they have, they're not hard to figure out. Be there in the parking lot after Sunday morning service, in a group. Stand on the sidewalk with your signs, peacefully. They cannot have you removed from the public sidewalk, your tax dollars paid for it. For those of us who grew up in congregations in the back woods, stand on the other side of the ditch. Very simple. It is protected by the Bill of Rights. It is peacefully assembling together for a united cause. You simply hold your sign, speak to those who stand and look at you long enough to read the sign. Do this over and over, week after week. Some will get very curious, the new ones, disgruntled ones. Eventually people will leave.

But personally, I do not want to take back a KH. I'd rather see them all burned to the ground and the GB overthrown.

41

What music are you listening to right now, and where are you?

by Satans little helper in

jw
friends

staind - outside, the original version, i am currently stuck in a hotel room in northern paris

sweetone2377

I'm listening to a group from Singapore ( I do believe that's where) Galvin....the song is "we sing hallelujah" They have some great praise songs, while surfing the net in Central Florida.

31

WT Speaks Out On Apostasy

by stevieb1 in

jw
friends

the following quote is taken from the september 15, 2002 edition of the watchtower, p.16-18:.

"in the first century, such individuals as hymanaeus, alexander, and philetus, were advocating ideas that did not fit "the pattern of healthful words.

" (1 timothy 1:18-20; 2 timothy 2:16,17) how could the early christians avoid being led astray by apostates?

sweetone2377

How could the early Christians avoid being led astray by apostates? By carefully studying the inspired writings and applying them in life.

Shouldn't they have said "the Watchtower" instead of the "inspired writings"? If they studied the Bible, they'd see what a mess they were involved in.

faithful ones were able to recognize and reject anything that did not conform to the pattern of truth they had been taught

Na! They could just call it New Light if it fit into what they wanted to believe.

some evidently preferred falsehoods over the truths of God's Word

So they joined the Jehovah's Witnesses.

So we need to be careful

Yes they do....be careful of big brother up in Brooklyn.

And instead of questioning God's Word, how much wiser it is to have the attitude of the first-century Beroeans who examined the Scriptures closely!

Now, if I was still in the borg...I would never have noticed this contradiction. Light is wonderful.

44

Another NIGERIAN scam me thinks!

by Trotafox in

trot just received this e-mail: .

greetings, i am paul baba, bank manager of orient bank of nigeria, lagos branch.

i have urgent and very .

sweetone2377

LOL...I've gotten 4 of that exact email from this famous Paul Baba whatever dude in the last 2 days! Like I'm really gonna share my personal info with a scam artist. I got better things to do with my time....like hang out here all day!!!!

18

Demons

by disneycuty in

jw
friends

i have a question: as you all know jehovah's witnesses view crystal ball, physics, as demonized or anything that is not suppose to be in the house like tarot cards.

and jehovah's witness believe that the demons would bother them if they do these activities or have them in the house.

do you still believe that or do you think it is the society's way of mind control over their members?

sweetone2377

Anyone remember this one?

IF you meet someone in the ministry who starts to speak in tongues or if you have a demon visitor...all you have to do is say the word "Jehovah" it should just magically disappear or stop. LOL Their magic word....and people say that dubs don't believe in magic!

93

Don't buy into Ray Franz's stumbling block.

by Bleep in

ray franz wrote, "i was baptized a jehovah's witness in 1972 (three years before armageddon came) and served as an elder for a good number of years.

all i can say is put franz book to the test for yourself.

1)he is making money off a dumb idea.. 2)he was expecting 1975 to be armageddon.

sweetone2377

Not read page 5 yet so forgive me if I repeat someone.

Bleep...all the WTS literature is available for free on the internet. I even have a copy of the elder's book in my closet right now because I d/l and printed it a few months ago. Us "apostates" have just as much access to "your" literature as you do.

And as for you saying that little thing about abusive speech...reminds me of my last meeting with my mother. The one in which my mother, the devout spiritually strong elder's wife, disowned me and spat on my husband, calling us names and cussing in my home in front of my toddlers. (She's Hepatitus B BTW...could have sued her for attempted murder) Then she wrote me a letter in which she claimed that it was our abusive speech that caused her to react in such a way. when the only thing that was said to her was thath after such a performance she couldn't take our children out of state to her home for a week that day. Abusive speech my ass!

What if I called you a big fat hyporcrite??? Abusive?? I think not, since your wonderful religion says "NO INTERNET!!! IT'S FROM THE DEVIL!!!" Yet here you are. Not only are on the internet, chatting to others, you h ave chosen a site where 99% of us are XJWs.

Ray Franz's book CofC was wonderful for me. That book helped me to feel that it's ok to believe in God, if I choose. Because after all that these wonderful "Christian" brothers and sisters of yours has done to me in my life, I didn't think that there really was a God. Your religion claims to build up faith in God.....in reality it tears it down and only wants your allegiance to a human organization ran by horny old men.

As far as JW coming and going as they please......BULLSHIT!! Boy have they got those blinders on you, real tight.

This is my first and my last post on this thread........not into feeding the trolls.....they bite and I'd like to keep my hand.

Edited by - sweetone2377 on 4 August 2002 17:28:53

49

What is a JW childhood like?

by knighthawk1981 in

jw
friends

i was wondering what it is like to experience childhood in the org.

i am an aspiring writer ad the org has always interested me...not in the sense that i'd like to join.

please send me some replies.

sweetone2377

Being a child in the organization is a horrible experience. You're pressured from all corners to thrive and to do well in the religion, even as young as preschool age. Your associates are chosen for you, and how you spend your time with them. Your clothing and your hobbies are chosen for you. Hang out at the mall?? Forget it. You are constantly living with the guilt that you haven't done all you could to save the eternal life of another. If you attend a public school (as opposed to home schooling) you are ridiculed by classmates that you are not allowed to associate with. If you have dreams of what you would like to do with your future, career wise, you are made to feel ashamed. You are taught to be ashamed of your body, of your mind, and of your very spirit. As a female, the only real goal set before you is to become a regular pioneer, and marry an elder or a ministerial servant at a young age. As a child, or young adult, it your responsiblity to take care of older ones, bathroom duty at the KH, and to teach other children that it's ok for them to go against their parents if they want to come to the KH and become a JW. All the while, teaching them that they must obey their parents as you obey yours. Many times, children are treated horribly by others, being abused in all sorts of ways and must bear the guilt of being told that it their fault and that if they don't turn around and change, they will be punished by being killed at Armaggeddon and will never see their parents again. Children have no voice in the organization. You are cut off with all famly members who are not believers. And you are taught that if you are looked down upon and hated by those around you, that you are doing something right. And if you are not in line with the others, you can be disposed of easily. Children are deprived of self-esteem, self-confindence, & true love.

What really bothered me was sitting in the Hall, watching the PO and his wife constantly taking their 2 year old daughter to the back room for her beating. They expected her to sit straight up in her chair, no figeting, and to pay attention to the entire meeting. She spent around 10 hours a day in a carseat. Then once home, had to sit through endless family studies, then off to the meetings. The only play time she had was after the Sunday meeting, before afternoon service. What kind of life is that for a child?? Her first word was "happy", an answer to a WT study question. If she didn't raise her hand and say it, she was punished. This was right after her 1st birthday.

In_Between I completely understand about the demons. Yard sales were out for us. Not only did I sleep with a light on at the ripe age of 19, I also use to jump from the hall into my bed (a pretty big leap but fear kept me flying). I was afraid that I would be grabbed by a demon and sucked under the bed. I also had a fear of using toilets, even at home. I remember that every time one of us would have a nightmare or we would hear a noise in the house, we would spend hours searching every inch of the house, including the basement, attic, and the g arage for anything that could be linked to demons. Talk about all the sleep I missed while a JW kid!

Edited by - sweetone2377 on 4 August 2002 14:9:24

Edited by - sweetone2377 on 4 August 2002 14:14:38

22

Do You Like This Place?

by ISP in

jw
friends

there are criticisms from time to time......like er....fluff!

not enough wt/jw attacking stuff.

(yawn) i don't quite see it that way.

sweetone2377

I think this is a great place. It's true, if we were constantly tearing down the dubs...it would show that we haven't overcome our past. Sure, we all need to blow off steam from time and time. And there are very interesting things that come to light over time. But this, so called, fluff posting can be most enjoyable and can give us a break from dwelling on our past, and help us to move on in life, realizing that there is more to life than the borg.

19

Rejection

by dsgal in

jw
friends

i faithfully attended all the meetings at the local kingdom hall...someone was studying with me...i went out in field service.but i never got invited to any of their social events.this hurt me so bad i stopped going to meetings.just curious,anyone else ever experience shunning?

sweetone2377

I wasn't excluded from gatherings untill my now dh started to go to the meetings. He was always invited everywhere, even my mother's house, while I was told to stay home and to not call while he was around. From his first visit to the Hall when I simply said hello and we exchanged names, they were determined to keep us apart. Guess it didn't work too well!