Posts by truman

35

parental advice needed.......

by scootergirl in

jw
friends

i have a son who is in th 4th grade.

he is a "bigger boy"......his father is 6'2" and i am 5'10".

james is very tall for his age and is also slightly overweight.

Children can be so cruel to each other, and although some kids come throught the fire stronger, others can have their spirits crushed. I was one of those kids who always got teased and it had an effect which lasted long after the events faded into history. I think it is very important, more than anything, that a child feel that his parent understands and supports him, even if the parent is not able to control the problem.

I also went through an experience with one of my sons when he was in junior high school. He became the target of bullying from another student, who tormented him at every opportunity, encouraged others to do it too, and even tried to provoke fistfights. This bully it turned out was the son of one of the psychologists at the school. She and I had a conversation after the fighing incident, and we determined to get together with both the boys, and discuss the problem. Although the bully was far from cooperative, it seemed that just some good did come from the talk with all present, and there was a lessening of the trouble.

You might think about getting together with the other kids and parents to talk, that is if the other parents can do that without trying to invalidate your son's pain and downplay the role of their own offspring. Another thing which might help is to arrange situations in which the boys can have the opportunity to become friends outside of the usual circumstances. Perhaps the bully could be able to see your son as a human being rather than a target.

truman

25

Are you afraid to die?

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

i was about 12 years old when this happened, but i remember it like it was yesterday.

it was a late evening and i was by myself in our home.

i grew up in a country home far from most any thing.

truman

My first conscious realization of my own mortality came upon me around the age of 12 or 13. I was just laying on the couch thinking one day, and the crushing weight of understanding that someday, I would be no more, gone from existence, invaded my thoughts. It changed my whole way of thinking. Combined with the fears of nuclear death, we baby boomers who were kids in the 60's had constantly screened for us at school in the form of filmstrips and instructional videos on gamma rays, radiation burns, and bomb shelters, I had a morbid sort of fascination with and intense desire to find a way to avoid the usual eventuality of death. Then, my mother died suddenly when I was 18, she was 44.

Enter the JWs...with the solution to everything. I could hope to live forever, and if I did die,--a resurrection. Although, even as a witness, I had a strong inner conviction that I would die young, like my mother. When I approached the age she died, it was on my mind a lot. But, it didn't happen. Then, 3 years later a health crisis and cancer scare seemed to be the fulfillment of my fears. I survived! Now, it all seems to be behind me, but I had to give up the JW dream of living forever in paradise.

However, I find that living life as an adventure, instead of putting off my life now in deference to that dream has made me think about death much less. I don't welcome it or invite it, but I don't seem to have too much fear of it. If there is more after death, I will find out, and if there isn't, I won't know the difference. I do wish, that one way or the other, though, I could know how it all turns out here on planet earth over time.

truman

11

Watchtower teaches obese people are less perfect?

by kenpodragon in

jw
friends

in the news a lot lately, are thoughts on how magazines are to blame for young woman dieting to the point of death.

not because they are not beautiful, but because they see these thin woman on the covers and think that is the image they need to be.

what is funny about image though, is depending on the time period in history, you would see a wide variety of images of beauty.

truman

I am not sure that I ever perceived that the WT teaches that overweight people are less perfect or less spiritual. I do think that the attitude of the witnesses, at least in the US, reflects that of the culture at large. Despite the fact that there is a significant portion of the population, both in and out of the org. who are fat, isn't there a general feeling that being fat is a sign of poor self-control. Since control is a JW cornerstone, this could translate to feeling someone is less spiritual I suppose, but on the other hand, there are plenty of fat pioneers and elders, so it does not seem to be a hindrance to getting 'spiritual privileges'. However, I have heard plenty of catty comments about some obese 'sister', out of her hearing, and suitably disguised with surrounding verbiage about being concerned with her health.

I have lost over 50 pounds myself since leaving the mind control of the WT. In my case, I think the extra weight was a reflection of the unhappiness I felt inside. I don't know about others. But one could speculate, that eating is one of the very few pleasures a witness can indulge in freely. And a person who fights the battle of the bulge could easily reason that there is no need to put forth the great effort needed to lose weight, because Jehovah will take care of such physical problems in the 'new system', which is just around the corner.

truman

13

How Much to Reveal to JWs?

by patio34 in

i just spoke to an old friend from the jws.

we live in separate states and she does not know that i have left.

i faked it okay, but if she thinks about it, she will sense the subtle differences and my not-so-deft switch of conversation away from jw-type things.

truman

Wow, Pat, can I relate to the situation you have described! I too, have a JW friend of many years in a state far away. Actually, she is the person who initially studied with me when I became a JW, in the early 1970's, so I have known and loved her for a long time.

I have been out of the org. mentally for a little over a year, and quit going to meetings completely about 6 months ago, but am neither df'd nor da'd. I have made the decision that this is information which she does not 'need to know'. It will do very much harm to her, and most certainly ruin our relationship if I were to reveal it to her, and I feel no guilt in keeping it from her. After all, isn't it generally the case that friends may know some of our business, but most do not necessarily know all of our business, especially if it is of a sensitive nature.

I only have limited contact with her due to the distance, and she is very unlikely to learn this information through any means other than my revealing it to her. I see no reason to throw into our relationship, this sack of garbage which the WTS foists upon us walkaways when we have the audacity to leave. She is in her 70's and is a staunch witness who has been abused by the judicial machinery of the org., but has held onto her devotion tenaciously despite that, so I see little benefit in hurting her with the news that I have BECOME AN APOSTATE!!!!!! And of course, that is how she would view the news that I left the org.

So, when I speak to her, I say nothing to give myself away, in fact, when she talks about 'theocratic' things, I participate in the conversation, though making no pronouncenments of my own convictions. It gives me fresh insight into the JW mentality. Last year, I was actually visiting her home on 9/11, and even attended a meeting or two while I was there. It was quite interesting to hear first hand the JW reaction to those events.

Even though I have decided to deal with this situation thusly, and I have made my peace with that, I still feel a deep sadness that I cannot be open with this long time friend, and that this circumstance is basically there for good thanks to the policies of the WTS.

truman

14

How does the WTS define "former member"

by Cappuccino OC in

jw
friends

the wts claims on their web site that they do not shun "former members".

it would be interesting to know exactly how they define "former members".

does anybody else sense that the wts is playing with the lexicon, meaning, of words.

truman

In your parsing of this passage of WTspeak, I think you have pointed out a very "Clintonesque" style of language, ("there IS no relationship", "it depends on how you define 'is'".) The object is to say something, and at the same time, say nothing, or even worse give one message to the uninitiated, and another to those 'in the know'. How ironic it would seem to be that tactics of obfuscation used by a 'worldly' politician should also be used with such facility by "God's organization".

truman

9

Ogden UT or Mesa/Apache Junction Arizona

by reubenfine in

i grew up in ogden, utah, washington terrace cong in the 1960's.

moved to apache junction in 1970. thought i would see if any old friends are around.

new friends are always welcome.

truman

I lived in Mesa, and attended the Apache Junction cong. for around a year in 1978-79.

truman

3

Mormons making movies, how about us?

by truman in

this week's "newsweek", sept. 23, 2002, has a small article about a current series of movies made by mormons skewering their culture.. they're a laugh riot.

mormons, known for their seriousness and sobriety, are letting loose on the silver screen with a spate of small-budget comedies.

.....two brigham young university grads, started the trend with "the singles ward", a campy jab at the mormon singles scene... (a line about divore: "our ancestors were able to handle 4 or 5 wives.

truman

This week's "Newsweek", Sept. 23, 2002, has a small article about a current series of movies made by Mormons skewering their culture.

THEY'RE A LAUGH RIOT
Mormons, known for their seriousness and sobriety, are letting loose on the silver screen with a spate of small-budget comedies. .....two Brigham Young University grads, started the trend with "The Singles Ward", a campy jab at the Mormon singles scene... (a line about divore: "our ancestors were able to handle 4 or 5 wives. You can't even keep one?" The movie-PG for "automotive mayhem"- has spawned 8 other "Mormon comedies." (Eight!) A few are about the perils of the missionary work, and one's about church basketball leagues. All this has prompted Mormon filmmaker N.S. Jones to make a mockumentary about the quest to become the Mormon Spielberg. (think "Spinal Tap" with Mormons) "This market will be really competitive," Jones says. "I'm mocking it before ot gets out of hand." (by Elsie Christianson)

This sounds like an untapped market for JWs. Are there any budding filmmakers out there among us? I bet we could come up with some story lines to rival the Mormons! I think the JW singles scene must be as filmworthy as any other. Think of the possibilities for hilarity, when cameras follow young people in neverending circles around convention arenas (done ala Blair Witch Project, with the shaky camera), in search of their elusive prey. I bet a good film examining what goes on in service cars groups could be a hit.

truman

21

Question For Ex-JW Sisters

by Larry in

jw
friends

school, got baptized, and started working the midnight shift, i went out in service

everyday with the morning group

i loved it because going out enabled me to get to know the friends

truman

I have always thought that the WTS was wasting some of their best talent by keeping us sisters 'in our place'. As to organizing car groups, the best service group leaders would get out of the way and let the sisters do it, saying that those who needed help should come forward and he would help them. That worked well. I really hated it when the CO would come, and insist on arranging car groups personally. He never knew the personal dynamics of the various people, who preferred to go with whom, who couldn't stand to be in the same group with whom, who wouldn't talk at the door and so had to be placed with someone more outgoing, etc. It invariably created unpleasant situations.

Personally, I never had any desire to have a position of responsibility in the cong. Even the Ministry School was more than I would have done by choice, as I hate being on stage, but I did it because I was supposed to. Still, I think there was always a buried kernel of resentment knowing that I was a second class servant of Jehovah, by virtue of my gender.

For the most part, I and other sisters in our cong, tried to view those young brothers who had to take charge in a motherly fashion, as if we were contributing our part in their development towards their spiritual progress as a man 'reaching out'. My son's were baptized at a very young age, and they went through this. The sisters would just smile and say how well they were doing, while at the same time being glad there was a male of some kind present, so one of them wouldn't have to put a napkin on her head and read the text to the rest of us. Really, any way you look at it, adherence to these silly procedures was ridiculous.

One thing a friend and I used to comfort ourselves with was the idea that if the Bible hadn't said that only the men could have congregational teaching and leadership duties, then most likely, we sisters would have ended up DOING IT ALL, and who wanted that!.

truman

8

JW Amusement Park Rides and Games

by Beans in

how about this scary one, ride the wild beast of revalation.

field service bumper cars, you have to place six mags by the end of the ride.. briefcase merry go round.

pin the tail on the fat elders wife.

truman

The New Light/Old Light SCRAMBLER
(If you weren't confused when you got on, you will be when the ride is over)

WT & AWAKE Shooting Gallery
(No ammunition)

The Ferris Wheel of Disfellowshipping
(Once you get on, the only way off is to jump)

Pioneer Pace Go-Carts
(these are governored at 2 mph, so it is a pretty boring ride)

Judge Rutherford's 80-proof Log Ride
(you'll get soaked on this one)

The Armageddon Choo-Choo Train
Hey, these amusement park trains just go around in circles, don't they)

The Goin' to Heaven Sky Cable Car Ride
(limited availability, must have advance ticket)

Satan's World of Sin Octopus Ride
(It'll reach out and grab you)

9

Dubs, Armageddon, and Signs Of The End

by SYN in

this was just so hilarious that i had to send it to the board.

originally there was a nifty link to an old light website (it's amazing that even some dub websites can now officially be considered "old light", heh!

) given to us by good old jt, and here is a quote from it:.

truman

My captions.....

GOD, I'm famished......gimme something to kill!!

Now we'll see some action on that 'Sigfried & Roy' issue!

After Armageddon, we'll all have our own lions and tigers for pets......uuummmmm, maybe that's not such a good idea after all.

Now listen, all you other heads!! In order to accomplish God's work, we must ge organized! I'll be the governing body, because I'm already on top, and you guys can be the cult members....no, I mean the magazine salesmen.....uummm, I mean the other sheep. (thinking to self, 'my don't these sheep look tasty.)

and finally , my naughty one.....(blush)

When I said I wanted more head, this isn't what I had in mind!

truman