Posts by scratchme1010

8

You Need to Heal

by TheLiberator in

it has been awhile since i posted.

but i wanted to say a few things that may help those recovering from the watchtower, especially if you have just discovered ttatt.

it is with humility that i come here to express these thoughts.

scratchme1010

YOU MUST ALLOW TIME TO PASS IN ORDER TO HEAL.

Thank you so much for your post. I have posted time and time again, especially in this forum, that a lot of ex-JWs and poeple who are questioning their faiths tend to focus too much or exclusively in believes, doctrines and teachings of the WT versus other religions. When you read the posts, almost all use knowledge and not feelings as a way to remove themselves from the WT's negative influence. Your post is very well appreciated.

There was another post that mentions a person that has been out for decades and decided to return to the JWs. I mention that post because that is a good example that although what I quoted from you is on point (I myself took almost two decades to be in a place where I can feel OK with my relationship with the JWs), there more to do, which is something that I feel I need to point out out of concern for others being mislead.

Yes, takes time, but yes, it also takes work on yourself, that is
Understanding that the WT has made a negative impression in your life
Understanding that the negative influence of the WT has affected the way we thing, the way we make decisions
Understanding that the WT's negative effect of the WT makes you doubt yourself, feel bad, even ashamed, of trusting your own instinct.

I mention this because decades can pass and if those things are never addressed, there may not be much or any healing.

I also mention this because in your post you mention that you chose not to seek professional help. I highly recommend seeking professional help from professionals who understand the effects of high controlling, highly demanding groups, such as the WT. That worked for myself really well.

Neither approach is wrong, nor better than the other. I think it's relevant, in the spirit of healing, to know that there are options available out there.

Again, thank you for your post.

9

Can't do toasts

by Xanthippe in

i just phoned my cousin who's never been a jw.

last week she went with her son-in-law and my jw sister for a meal after planting a tree at her daughter's grave.

she said when my sister was dropped off at her house her husband said you do know she can't have toast.

scratchme1010

I think he's being a little childish and disrespectful. At the end of the day, as nonsensical as the JW believes and practices are, they are to be respected. I have no respect for the WT organization and if it was up to me they wouldn't exist, but that behavior does nothing other than make the JW feel bad, as if the WT doesn't already do a great job at it.

That wasn't nice.

28

Did you ever experience true kindness in the Org?

by HereIgo in

i remember when i was about 17, i started shunning an older brother because he was disfellowshipped.

when i graduated high school, he pulled me aside and said " i know you are not supposed to talk to me, but i want you to have this" it was a gift that he had custom made for me.

i was so blown away, we never even had a real conversation before.

scratchme1010

I remember when I was about 17, I started shunning an older brother because he was disfellowshipped. When I graduated high school, he pulled me aside and said " I know you are not supposed to talk to me, but I want you to have this" It was a gift that he had custom made for me. I was so blown away, we never even had a real conversation before. I felt like such an asshole, even back then. It goes to show how corrupt the Org is and how far just simple christian kindness will go.

No, I never experienced true kindness from a JW, or I should clarify, never from a real in JW. There were one or two people who were nice to me and supportive, but they all ended up disfellowshipped, faded or disassociated. Never once, not one active JW in good standing was nice to me, including my own family.

In another post about a defining moment, I talked about this one day when I met this happy Dominican woman. Observing her made me feel inspired and that's when i made the decision of going to college. What I actually realized is that what had a strong impression in me about that person was that it was the first time in my life when i saw a person genuinely, legitimately happy, truly joyful. As a born in, all I grew up seeing were people wearing glazed happy faces, bragging about how better they are for being in their stupid "truth", feeding their ego and feeling superior by it, or people using their Jehovah as a magic cure to all their issues.

I don't remember seeing a JW truly happy, hence, their so-called kindness always had a hidden agenda attached and a there was a catch to it.

15

A Brother refusing to pray?

by HereIgo in

i remember there was a brother in my congregation while i was in who would comment at all meetings but if asked to pray at a meeting or meeting for service he would always politely refuse.

i always found it odd, i assumed as a young bro, that a bro was kind of obligated to pray if asked.

knowing what i know now, it could have been a guilty conscience or maybe he just wanted to be lowkey.

scratchme1010

Has anyone else seen or heard of this?

No, and thought it could be a reprove, it could have also been good old discomfort or shyness.

37

Has the rebranding worked?

by MrTheocratic in

it's been several years since the start of the rebranding of jehovahs witnesses.

i believe it started with the website change.

ever since then the religion has moved in a more modern direction.

scratchme1010

What do you guys think and see? Has the rebranding been a success or bust?

Neither. It's just a smoke cloud. The WT is no longer depending on their people nor in selling literature. They are now in the real estate business. They make money out of real estate, with gazillions of dollars given to them for free as a startup when all the KHs were turned over to them.

20

How many times did you see a JW start a business

by karter in

jw
friends

with the intention of spending less time working and more time in f.s i saw this many times.

an ex c.o started a carpet cleaning business with the charter being spending less time working more time in f.s.

he has long since passed away and the company is now huge being the major player in flood resteration and employing 100's of people one of the owners i spoke to recently was sick due to using to many chemicals but carries on becouse he loves the money even though he's worth millions.

scratchme1010

I've never seen any decision made based on the JW nonsense bear anything good or on the interest of the JWs making it.

27

Do you still go to meetings?

by NikL in

jw
friends

as i was sitting in the meeting last night i thought about this question.. sometimes it feels really lonely because i don't connect with most others in the congregation and i have to be so careful with the ones with whom i do associate.. quick rundown on my life...got baptized at 17...married at 20...became inactive at 28 wife still active though...came back to meetings with her 20 years later just to keep her quiet and see if they had changed (for a while i actually thought they had)...now i am still inactive and haven't gone out in service or anything.

i just go to meetings with my wife who is happy as a lark to have me there with her...just go to meetings and think...and think...and think.... anyway, i just wondered if there are any out there like me who are going to meetings and nothing else?.

scratchme1010

NikL, thanks for clarifying.

46

If You Could Ask the GB Or One Of Its Members...

by Cold Steel in

...one question about anything and get a straight answer, what would it be?

historical, philosophical, theological, eschatological, anything.

.

scratchme1010

...one question about anything and get a straight answer, what would it be? Historical, philosophical, theological, eschatological, anything.

First, what do you mean "if"? You can ask any question to them.

Second, If I could (which I believe I can) I still wouldn't bother. I have more important things to do.

19

When 2 JWs have the same call...

by schnell in

jw
friends

as i was driving past a certain gas station today, i recalled that the family who own it are called on by a friend of mine, and in a territory where it's hard to find interest.

it reminded me of an incident months back when this friend, brother d, discovered that another friend, brother b, was calling on that family too.

hey, gotta make your time.. those two went at it.

scratchme1010

I grew up arguing with my so-called friend John Albert over pretty much everything while preaching. That changed as we grew up because I stopped caring about anything JW. So yes, I have seen/experience tempers flaring over stupid nonsense around JW activities.

33

"It is the victims right to approach authorities" The weak excuse used by the society

by stuckinarut2 in

we have seen that the society falls back on the line "it is the victims right to approach the authorities" during all the abuse claims.. they use this excuse to try and defend the passive lack of action in failing to report suspected cases of abuse.. a comparison came to mind:.

if we came across a person lying in the street who says they were hit by a car, would we say "it is your absolute right to call the paramedics and police"?.

or would we take the initiative and call those authorities ourselves to help the person?.

scratchme1010

The WT cannot care less about the well being of children. That's a well known fact.