Posts by Thirdson

26

jw marriages age differences

by invisible in

jw
friends

of 3 that straightaway spring to mind:.

dg (m) 64 e (f) 27. bm (m) 49 d (f) 18. pl (m) 43 e (f) 18.

2 of the above were also 'arranged' marriages, do you know of any other instances of extremes in jw marriage age ranges?

Confession time: When I married the first time as a JW I was 24 and my bride was nearly 19. We dated for 6 months, got engaged and married within 6 months. She later felt that she was forced in to marriage as the thing to do and we divorced 13 years later.

I met the future Mrs. Thirdson four years ago. We began dating a few months later. After a year of dating I proposed and we spent a year planning our wedding. I am, uh hum! 16 years older. I never expected this. I didn't think she would go out with me. I didn't think she would want to be a step mom. But you can't predict an outcome when it comes to affairs of the heart.

Despite our age difference, my wife's parents were welcoming and hospitable to me. I joke that meeting her dad was like the meeting in the movie "Meet the Parents." However, Mrs. Thirdson says I was her first boyfriend who wasn't intimidated by her school teacher father, but then again he couldn't ask what I intended to do with my life when I had already achieved many of career goals and was making a decent income as a consultant for a software company. On the other hand, my parents were totally against our dating. While many would be pleased with me dating a woman who double majored in college, speaks a second language, is gifted musically, has spiritual/religious convictions, is gainfully employed, supports herself and has no debt--my parents were dead against our relationship because she wasn't a JW. (It didn't seem to matter that I wasn't a JW any longer either.) Our age difference seemed to be their least concern but unfortunately their attitude soured relationships and they have never gotten to know my wife, which is sad in a way. She used to lament that I didn't have a "normal" family, but my being part of hers now has made up for some of the disappointment.

Thirdson

Leicester/Nottingham Area (UK) News?

by Thirdson in

jw
friends

this is addressed to my uk based friends:.

i am deeply saddened to learn that a former school friend and jw is in intensive care following an assault by a gang of men.

i don't where this took place and i have searched local newspapers looking for any report of the incident to no avail.

Thirdson

This is addressed to my UK based friends:

I am deeply saddened to learn that a former school friend and JW is in intensive care following an assault by a gang of men. I don't where this took place and I have searched local newspapers looking for any report of the incident to no avail. I guess it happened shortly after June 20th while at or after attending the DC in Nottingham. This person (aged 41) lived or lives in the Loughborough area. He recently was separated/divorced.

If anyone has any information or news about M. please post it here or e-mail me.

Thanks,

Thirdson

4

WIlliams Sisters Wimbleton final!

by Rihannsu in

.

another amazing double standard by the society, the william sisters (serena, venus) are allowed to take part in competitive sports while we are told to not do so, and are encouraged not to take part in school activities soccer, football, tennis etc.... its very funny here we are seing venus waiving the american flag during the olympics and we are told not to be nationalistic and not to cheer for a nation over another nation.. the society is double faced and i will be sending a letter to them in the near future about this issues above, i am an active witness (barely) still although im ashamed to be one.

Thirdson

Rihannsu,

I guess it's been posted already but Serena thanked her God Jehovah for the great win (not to mention the prize money, and the additional endorsement contracts). Perhaps she and Venus can become the new model JWs...ones who balance a life of acheivement and hard work with minimal legalistic rules and little "holier than thou" attitudes, sporadic meeting attendance, no door to door magazine selling and plenty of post tournament parties. I hope they continue to proclaim their God and wave their country's banner (tribal division). Young JW kids might try to emulate them.

Thirdson

7

Another Religion Scandal - Newsweek Letter

by Thirdson in

this was in the letters section of july 8, 2002 newsweek (page 16) following their article on jws.

another religion faces scandal

thank you for your coverage of the sex-abuse scandal taking place within the watchtower bible and tract society ("witness to shame," june 24).

Thirdson

This was in the letters section of July 8, 2002 Newsweek (Page 16) following their article on JWs.

Another Religion Faces Scandal

THANK YOU FOR YOUR COVERAGE of the sex-abuse scandal taking place within the WatchtowerBible and Tract Society ("Witness to Shame," June 24). I have been an active Jehovah's Witness for 30 years. I have suffered the overbearing control of the elders for many years. While I still believe in the theology, I seriously question the God-anointed authority of the ones in power now. This needs to be exposed so that members are protected.

loris matheny

Tampa, Florida

I don't share Loris' belief in Watchtower theology but I do agree that the leadership's authority needs serious questioning and that the issue needs to be exposed.

Thirdson

Edited by - thirdson on 3 July 2002 0:3:2

Edited by - thirdson on 3 July 2002 0:4:29

27

Two file sex abuse suit against Jehovah's Witnesse

by TexSham in

i looked and didn't see this posted, so here goes:.

http://www.twincities.com/mld/pioneerpress/3588212.htm.

posted on tue, jul.

Thirdson

This story was reported on Minnesota Public Radio this evening as well. It is getting well deserved coverage.

Thirdson

22

Concluding talk at the Coventry Assembly

by Jim Dee in

jw
friends

the bad note taker strikes again!!

jim .

concluding talk at the coventry assembly.

Thirdson

Thanks Jim,

I spent many hours at Coventry, the earliest being the mid to late 60s...never saw a ball kicked there, how sad!

A 2% increase in publishers only resulted in 19 being baptized. The last time I was at Coventry, early 90s the attendance was 15,000 on the Sunday, about 130 congregations. 19 is not a very praiseworthy number.

I guess I know where my parents were at the weekend, chatting and napping in the luxury boxes.

Thirdson

10

Habitat for Humanity?

by og in

jw
friends

does anyone know anything about this organization, aside from the fact that jimmy carter is somehow associated with them?

i'm considering doing some volunteer work for them, but don't know really know much about them.

i believe they are "faith-based", which i'm not necessarily keen on, but they get people into houses and bypass government red tape, which i do like.

Thirdson

OG,

I have done various volunteer activities with various "faith-based" groups including H4H. In my experience, there is no pressure of religion and no discrimination based on religion. I work with one church, part of a consortium of different down-town church denominations that provide free meals to the homeless. The only religious aspect is a prayer said by a volunteer before the guests are invited in. There is no preaching, no converting and no pressure to join applied to either the volunteers and especially not the homeless people. The only literature distributed is a list of places to sleep and get meals at. If you turn up in rags or turn up in a suit you get a free meal no questions asked.

Mrs Thirdson and myself donated our state tax rebate to Habitat for Humantity last year as part of a drive to raise funds for a grant matching offer. Religious and non-religious people donanted knowing that H4H provides affordable housing to those in need regardless of their religious affliations. A $ million was raised last fall in Minneapolis for an Habitat project.

Regards,

Thirdson

25

Will the Wt Split?

by Satanus in

based on the pressure that is building both within the rank and file and in the top management, i was wondering about the possibility of the wt fracturing into 2 groups: fundamentalist and liberal.

the gb has recently taken a back seat to 3 new corporations.

these were added to the multitude of corps they already have.

Thirdson

Angry,

The corporations and their D&Os (whether GB or non-anointed as current) are controlled by the "members", whose loyalty to the GB has always been assured.

Maybe so, but, the corporations control what goes in the magazines and the new CCJW corporation writes the letters so how are the decrepid old men going to manipulate the "members" to their advantage? I think the GB is a powerless figurehead only. "New Light" I am sure will be able to explain how the Earthly organization can be led by non-annointed after all the "genuine" annointed are dead.

Thirdson

23

My Original Identity?

by Cassiline in

i just purchased, combatting cult mind control by steven hassan.. while reading i came across this comment,.

usually i am able to assist a person in making a dramatic recovery to his original identity.. -steven hassan.

i reread that statement over and over.

Thirdson

Cassi,

I know where you are coming from. Those of us raised as JWs don't have an original identity. We are stunted by being raised in the microscopic world of Watchtowerdom with all its limitations.

Don't be too upset with one person's statement that doesn't apply to us. We still have a chance to make an impact, to do some good, to become the people we want to be. Its our choice now because we are free. Don't let the cage limit your view. You are outside now and the world outside is rather large and sometimes rather scary. Welcome to the real world and real freedom make the most of it.

Thirdson

27

Well done Silent Lambs & Dateline

by Kismet in

this was prepared and presented far better than i could have ever imagined.. to all you individuals that stood up to goliath.

i am so proud to be in assoication with such strong people.. thank you bill for your efforts and willingness to put a name and face in front of the cameras spearheading this effort.. thank you dateline.

is it too early to look for a sequel?

Thirdson

Well done everyone involved.

I watched the program twice. My never-was-a-JW wife (Mrs. Thirdson)watched with me as did my son. I know other friends were planning to watch as well.

Not only was it damning but the Watchtower only added to the condemnation by submitting their own staged interview, by taking 6 months to respond to a Dateline request and then failing to show how straight and tough they claim they are by not providing clear evidence.

After the long, long period of anticipation the wait was worth it.

Thirdson

PS I liked the pictures from Watchtower books of all non-JWs dying at Armageddon too.