i'm new to this site, found it whilst looking at panarama web site.
are there many here from uk, even lancashire?
if so, please let me know as it would be nice to speak to some ex-witnesses in uk.
Hi Michelleatkin,
I am an ex-pat Brit which sort of discounts me. But anyway, welcome to the board.
I noticed from Valis' map there are still some Brits mising. Also, there are very few posters from the West-Midlands (like zero). Birmingham and the surrounding area has loads of JW congregations and thus loads of ex-JWs; so where are you?
Thirdson
(formerly of Worcestershire No. 1 Circuit, and longtime attendee of the Dudley Assembly Hall.)
i'm sure someone else has already thought of this but i wanted to see what discussion came from this.
i was raised as a jw and left at the age of 35. i still do the dance to keep from being disfellowshiped so that i don't lose all contact with my family.
the thought just came to me that as i went through my life my religious freedom was being denied by coersion.
tyydyy,
I feel the same as you. I have used the fundamental human right to freedom of religion and worship and the right to change one's religion with my parents. Since they expressed the view (from the Awake) of supporting these rights, I used it to my advantage with some success. More recently, I have pushed the envelope by being highly critical of the Watchtower's policies on child abuse and the absurd doctrine on partial blood banning; maybe a little too far.
I don't know if anyone has challenged the Watchtower, but to me, a religion that uses leadership enforced public shunning of ex-members who choose a different belief system is violating basic human rights. It only shows how hypocritical the Watchtower cult is.
Thirdson
http://community.webshots.com/photo/44722558/44722772xoorvs
http://community.webshots.com/photo/44722558/44722843mbprwy
http://community.webshots.com/photo/44722558/44723017nebyfw
Bill,
If they do decide to DF you then your appeal hearing will be interesting. I am assuming that they will notify you of their decision and offer you the opportunity to appeal. However, since they appear not to follow the guidelines in the flock book who's to stay what procedure they intend to follow.
I think they should be afraid!
Thirdson
i don't have a clue how a computer works.
i just turn it on and point and click and i am able to do what i need to do, unless of course something goes wrong, or in the worst case scenario if my little machine experiences the dreaded blue-screen crash, then i am really in a mess.
that is the way the financial system is for most people.
Oh Goody I can't wait.
It's been pretty boring (as you imply) reading all the failed predictions of impending doom. Wake me up when it gets interesting, otherwise, I'll be sleeping through to 2014.
Goodnight, sleep tight,
Thirdson
how often does that thought cross your mind?.
it played on mine yesterday.
ive got a very expansive view across the melbourne flatlands and yesterday i looked out the back window and saw this dark grey storm wall coming in with rain so heavy that it was like a solid sheet of grey, swallowing the land.
Refiners fire,
I used to have fears of Armageddon as kid. I can't say that I have had feelings of impending doom (or joy, as a good JW) that armageddon was coming in a storm during the past past 30 years. In the last 7 years I have gotten used to severe storm warnings and periodically retreating to the basement during the summer storm season, but I haven't felt these were that worrying. The worst a storm has done is cut power for 3 days and taken down a tree in my yard.
However, flying has often made me feel that this might be my last few moments. I particularly hate flying on aircraft that can't start engines in cold weather or planes that get de-iced three times before even reaching the end of the runway. I don't like "puddle-jumpers" and I don't like Chicago, Midway airport. I made multiple parachute jumps as a young man but the older I get the less I like to fly. Armageddon is one thing but dying on twin-turboprop with iced up wings seems much more likely and induces far more fear.
Thirdson
i have felt drawn back to the place i was born for the last year or two.
i would be interested if others feel a connection w the area where they were born or grew up.
is it home??
SS,
I moved far away from my roots and will never go back. I could possibly return to the country of my birth but that is unlikely. To me, my place of birth is forever tied to my former life. Even when I returned to visit I continually bumped in to the people I left to get away from. I have built a new life; have new family and friends and lots to tie me to where I call home now. On top of that I feel disenfranchised from the country of my citizenship. (I have no representation, cannot vote as an absentee and am unlikely to qualify for any state pension. Thus, I am working my way to US citizenship.)
That is the biggest difference between us. I moved 4000 miles to escape, not to further Watchtower interests. It is important; you have to do what whatever will provide contentment and happiness.
Thirdson
PS I thought the topic was about something else. ROOTS! I like to shop at their stores whenever I visit Canada.
Edited by - thirdson on 21 July 2002 1:7:19
yep......it was announced at the hall.
i got told by someone who still goes.
i had not attended for 2yrs but i thought they might have informed me!
ISP,
I guess after failing to turn up to do the "announcements" on the Service Meeting as assigned to you, every 3rd Thursday in the month, the PO got a tad tired of covering for you. Besides no one had emptied the contribution boxes in two years and they were nearly full. So what did you expect?
Oh, and by the way, everyone went home early from the meeting last Sunday because you forgot you were giving the Public Talk. What you didn't know? It's been on the notice board for the past 11 months, didn't you read it?
Thirdson
i recieved an e-mail from a "thurdson", titled review of crisis of concience.
it came into my hotmail box, showed to be 127k, and seemed to not have anything in the body.. also, something from a "jcmachisslop" titled w32.elkern virus remover, with a link to mcaffee supposedly pointing me to a tool to get rid of said virus.. i did not get an immediate virus notification, but i am curious, perhaps someone trying to "ping' me?.
thirdson, machislopp, this isn't you guys, is it?
Six,
I delete on average two e-mails each day that contain a large attachment that comes from multiple sources including, apparently, "Simon", and "Admin" at JW.com. I used to use Outlook Express to open my hotmail but because of virus infected attachments being automatically downloaded I just use Hotmail on-line and delete all 127K e-mails without opening them.
I thought this was malicious at first but I think there is someone who frequents this board whose PC is infected and Outlook sends e-mail to everyone in their address book, using different headers, and always including an infected file.
Make sure your virus checker is updated regularly and try not to use Outlook if possible. I hope this helps and please be wary of large e-mail from supposedly known sources.
Thirdson
PS If anyone wishes to e-mail me please do not include attachments as I delete all e-mail larger than 50k without reading it.
Edited by - thirdson on 20 July 2002 21:44:58
new hampshire public radio broadcast another scathing report on the witnesses' pedophile problem early this morning on a program called reporting religion.
i think the show is a bbc program, and may be somewhat connected to the panorama broadcast.
i would imagine the program was or will be aired on any number of npr stations across the country this weekend, so check it out.. .
Hi Seeker,
Five years ago I felt that the Internet would be the most powerful tool in the demise of the WTS, and I feel that now more strongly than ever. We're watching it happen before our very eyes.
I agree. When I was a JW I would occasionally hear of problems, news reports and splits. There was never enough information to make a meaningful impact and no way of reading, yet alone, watching reports from other countries. Now we have the ability to get information almost immediately and watch programs from around the world. I get the best from the Kingdom Ministry far earlier than I did when I was in and know of the "changes" well before my JW parents do. I think what irks them the most is that I have the ability to read or get sent the supposedly, for-JWs-only, letters that the Watchtower sends. With the wealth of information, the news reporting and the availability of letters between elders and the "acused" (e.g. Silent Lambs) the whole religion is exposed to the public. No wonder the religion is declining, who'd want to join knowing the true policies of the leadership.
Thirdson
.
every time i see a picture of ct russell i think man he looks just like a leprechaun.. .
edited by - d wiltshire on 19 july 2002 1:54:20.
William,
The crock of gold is buried under his pyramid. I know it's true because a freemason told me.
Thirdson
