Posts by scratchme1010

17

Did you ever think about being persecuted?

by Funchback in

i was introduced to the jw religion at the age of 7. i can't recall when i was taught about having to suffer persecution in the so-called last days, but i do remember thinking that i would crumble under pressure.. as i entered my young adult years, i imagined how governments would persecute us.

i had thoughts of being tortured for information and then how i would say anything to the torturer just to stop the pain and then be labeled a modern-day judas, missing out on everlasting life.. the jw way of life and expectations are both scary and unrealistic.. i am glad i have canceled armageddon.

also, if i should ever be tortured for some belief or principle, i shall remain strong until the end.

scratchme1010

I can't recall when I was taught about having to suffer persecution in the so-called last days, but I do remember thinking that I would crumble under pressure.

I grew up with a lot of ideas about what that means. Now I think that that's a way for the WT to divert attention from the real persecution. In school and by the community I grew up in, I was quite persecuted for being a JW. There was so much bullying and disrespect from teachers and pretty much anyone who wanted to say something.

Yet, that's never addressed in congregations, other than indoctrinate you to believe that those things are good and a sign that the end is near.

31

Lunch today with.. JW step father....

by raven in

it has been a while since i've posted, i think its because i have finally gotten some peace and quiet as far as harassment from the jw elders.. my step father, the one who reported me to the elder police for a sinful act invited me to lunch today.. it has been almost a year since the incident, we have talked here and there, it has been just casual though.

he says he is in town for work and asked if i would like to meet up for lunch, i couldn't think of any excuses so i agreed.. i hope it goes well, hope that we don't go into the jw nonsense.

hope he doesn't bring elders with him, am i paranoid or what?

scratchme1010

I just got back from lunch with step father.. I have to say, all of my speculations, paranoia ideas were put to rest.. We talked about generic topics, weather, work, cars, family etc.. He did try to drop a couple of JW points in there, he told me that two people I knew got reinstated.. He also said during our subject of cars, that he wants to trade in his car for a bigger one so that he can always use it for service. I was friendly about it, but I didn't ask questions. Anyways, so it went well, maybe more lunch meet ups in the future?

Good to hear that you didn't feel uncomfortable. Maybe I too am paranoid, but I sort of smell a hidden agenda here. The JW thing here and there may have been him testing the waters to see how receptive you are to their nonsense. Brainwashed doesn't mean stupid. Chances are he knows that he cannot come full throttle with the JW nonsense to you, but he may want to get a sense of what to expect if he tries to talk JW trash.

Glad that it didn't bother you, but I'd still be vigilant in the next lunch. I hope to be wrong.

24

Poopie has a thought what do you think child molestation

by poopie in

jw
friends

so here's my thought what should be done to an elder that is accused of molesting a child and there no 2 witnesses ?

1. the elder should immediately step down or be removed.2.

the child should be protected.

scratchme1010

So here's my thought what should be done to an elder that is accused of molesting a child and there no 2 witnesses ? 1. the elder should immediately step down or be removed.2
The child should be protected. 3. he should be removed minimum 1 year until he is proven innocent. why because he is no no longer irreprehensible or blameless even though he may be in fact be innocent.Since he's an elder and should be an example of humility he should be willing to step down. what do you think ?

OR, the mother fucker elder can get arrested, go to jail if found guilty, and become a registered sex offender for the rest of his life, so he can't get anywhere near children.

If he's proven innocent, the accuser, if it's the child, should get psychological help, and if it's an adult, the mother fucker should get arrested and in jail for malicious prosecution, and sued for slandering and damages.

Either way, the WT should stay the fuck away from making decision around child abuse.

27

Angry and scared

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i feel like everything that comes out of my mothers mouth is something negative and cringe worthy.

all she seems to talk about with me is how terrible and demonic our disfellowshipped relatives are, how horrible the world and holidays are, or how she is so much better and "holier than thou".

it really makes me sick sometimes.

scratchme1010

So sorry you're going through that. You don't deserve to be scared in the home that is supposed to be your nurturing refuge, leave alone by your own mother.

My mother was always raging and looking for something bad to say about everything and everyone. It's no fun to have a person like that as your mom, trust me, I know.

Just know that you're not alone, and that you have your life ahead of you. The right time to face life as an adult will come, and also the opportunities to start forging the life that you want for yourself. Hopefully you may not have to choose between her and your life.

I don't know the particulars of your story, but with my mom I had no choice but to learn to set boundaries with her. She wouldn't just quit. So little by little I started pointing to her how angry, bitter and argumentative she was all the time, and that "paradise" isn't exactly the word that came to mind when I saw her or hear her talking so badly about others. Notice that I didn't have to defend any of the shunned ones; I only pointed out her behavior, regardless of who she was ranting about.

That helped me some times, but sometimes she would just explode in anger and would start throwing things.

So yes, I wish I could say that things can get better, they never did with my mom, although later in her life she learned to behave better as she saw that as an adult I became quite happy and successful, while all she was still doing was ranting, arguing, yelling and preaching.

22

1st christmas ever

by notalone in

jw
friends

so, i am around 50,4th gen born in- christmas.

strange thing this christmas thing.

i've been watching people this year, really watching them.

scratchme1010

Well, congratulations on your first Christmas. Sorry you still have to hide things. Not to worry, though. Leaving is a process and things are not going to go perfectly or as wanted, especially if you're fourth generation born in (Oh, my!).

Anyway, I agree that a nice Christmas celebration with loved ones and good friends is a lot if fun. However, the JWs do capitalize in the fact that there are in fact, people who are not fond of Christmas. I'm in NYC and during this time counselors, psychologists and support groups get very busy with people who have rather traumatic experiences with Christmas.

However, that's not the majority of people. It really is what you make of it.

I can't quite point at my first Christmas per se since I celebrated it a couple of times when I was still in. Again, not the perfect circumstances to share the joy with loved ones, but the part I was able to enjoy was great.

Congratulations and Merry Christmas!

10

I just want to say thank you

by Sevan in

jw
friends

i've been gone for a while doing other research, checking out other forums.. this forum is the first place i went when i very first started waking up and i just want to say thank you.

from the bottom of my heart thank you.. you guys were so helpful, so kind and so supportive.

you guys got me and were there for me when my whole world was crashing in on me.

scratchme1010

Anyway, I don't really want to get into a debate about religion or lack thereof. I just wanted to say thank you to everyone and let y'all know where I'm at. You do make a difference.

Welcome back, and I'm glad to hear that you are in a better place in your spirituality. I do know that there have been debates and heated discussions about the theist/atheist thing. However, if you look at many other posts, they are about a large number of different topics.

Reading your post helps me remember that once upon a time I was in a similar bad place; sometimes I forget that when some people who are starting to search for information come around.

There's no need to get into a debate. Unlike the WT and any JW congregation, you are free to feel and believe whatever you want. That includes not answering questions you don't feel comfortable with if you feel it will take you to a "debate". No one here has to justify what they choose to believe, even when their believes are challenged.

31

Living with Your Parents Well Into Adulthood the Norm?

by Sorry in

i don't want to seem like a jerk.

i know full well economic times are not the greatest.

there's no shame in struggling and staying with your family until you're back on your feet.

scratchme1010

I personally believe you should stay with your parents until you're financially stable. Not the best idea to move out barely graduated from high school with little money resources. However, staying with your parents into your 30s and 40s isn't right either, especially if you're not even willing to obtain employment. I pray that is only my area and personal experience and not everywhere JW. Seems you never leave your parents unless you get married or they die. If you willingly leave on your own and get a job, you're the crazy one.

They keep talking about "millennials" as if that generation is made of these exotic beings that are out of this planet. I mention this because every time someone talks about the younger generation, they come up with something along the lines of "this is the millennial generation", as if that explains everything, as if they are talking about a completely different breed.

Yes, I notice that maybe due to both the culture of complacency and an unstable economy, more young adults are living with their parents with no real plans of leaving.

However, although I agree that yes, people should make the move when they are somewhat solid about it, I don't think that should be the case all the time. In my messed up family, where my JW father was kicking me out every day and reminding me that nothing in that place was mine, that when my mom wasn't yelling at something or someone or having some kind of argument or tantrum, forced to go to the KH and preach, not to mention the difficult childhood I had thanks to them, the rest of the family, the JWs and the mediocre public school system I had to deal with, I think it was quite a good idea to leave as soon as possible and think about financial stability later.

The reality is that home is not necessarily a refuge or a safe place for everyone. And that goes beyond social status.

I agree with you, but only in those homes where people feel welcome, nurtured and safe.

1

If preachers were serious and open-minded

by anointed1 in

if preachers were serious and open-minded, they could have seen themselves as the object of mathew 7:22-23 “many will say to me on that day, ‘lord, lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ then i will tell them plainly, ‘i never knew you.

away from me, you men of lawlessness!”.

people who operate in the name of jesus doing things such as preaching, casting out demons, or performing many miracles are called “men of lawlessness” (or “evildoers” in other translations) by jesus himself.

scratchme1010

If preachers were serious and open-minded, they wouldn't be preachers.

34

The December Broadcast... OMG- what the heck was that?

by Sliced in

"of course not- we want to eat from clean dishes!

dishes that have been cleaned thoroughly inside and out.

" we have to be sure the things entering our minds are clean... rejecting exciting fun stuff that features sex.

scratchme1010

Slice, I meant it as a dirty joke.

7

El General on the December Broadcast

by Sliced in

please see google article on the brother franco who just pleaded to all young ones to stay close to jehovah and learn from his past mistakes on the december broadcast to see the real reason he left the music industry.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/el_general.

later career[edit].

scratchme1010

I don't think that celebrities are very good at using their status to bring in more people to the WT. The WT as an entity is quite self-centered, making a big point that nobody but them should have the spotlight.

Good luck to "El General", whatever, dude.