gingerbread

Joined

• started 21 topics
• posted 633 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by gingerbread

• 
  154

  Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!

  by iamwhoiam in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so does this mean aawa is going to stop shunning?

  are they themselves not guilty of shunning those who shun?

  shunning can never be stopped no matter how bad you want it to.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  Bringing attention of the negative customs of Jehovah's Witnesses is a positive thing - if it's presented with sensitivity and logic. Some who are exiting the organization or have been removed react to the aftermath with anger, hostility, resentment and bitterness. I personally understand that reaction. However, at the early stage of my exit, I didn't want to listen to mudslinging ex-JW's. The videos of "apostafest" picnics were some of the worst. We can exit the JW belief system and still retain the thinking mechanisms. The persecution complex is one of them.

  As a big fan of British punk during my teen years, I realized at some point that a person can remain angry for only so long. These guys soon became stylized caricatures of themselves. It eventually becomes boring.

  I hope AAWA keeps it positive!
• 
  106

  WT SHUNNING POLICY: What has it done, or could it do to you?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hi y'all, this is mrs. flipper.

  please share your experiences with this, or possible consequences of being outed.. this recent controversy and resulting arguments all stem from people being outed - possibly losing friends and family because most jw's will blindly follow the watchtower's rules to shun them.. among people i know and experiences read here, the grief and loss caused by this is terrible, and maybe now is a good time to put up some experiences here, and put the focus on the worst villians of all - wt policymakers..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  We wouldn't be called "faders" if we could just walk away without the destructive consequences. It's the unatural, forced separation from our family that we fear the most. We should be allowed to have a change in our beliefs - and be left alone, understood, loved and respected....

  I have never understood how someone can shun a child or sibling - acting as though they were dead - and yet spend hundreds of hours speaking to complete strangers. When that stranger becomes an "interested one", that JW will bend over backwards and jump through hoops to assist, support and encourage this "new one". How many times have you heard someone introduce the person that studied with them as their "spiritual Mom"... and that "Mom" hasn't talked to her own child for years (or decades) because of the shunning "law"....

  Insane.
• 
  12

  Is the average age of a J.W going up???

  by karter in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as atleast 65% of young ones are dropping out,are the j.w's getting older??.

  in the inner city congro's were it is expensive to live there is not alot of young ones in the congro's there,seems the average in them is going up and up.. karter..

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  The population of 60 and older persons in the US is holding it's own - much better than in decades past. So this will be reflected in the congregation. Your observations about the lack of younger members is spot on. Just scan those in attendance at assemblies - the 20 somethings are virtually non existent. I think that younger people born in the "truth" - in the last 30 years - really pick and choose what they believe. Information is easily available and shared via the web. Unlike my generation, they are not isolated or uninformed.

  The WT's recent push through the website - kids videos, activities, worksheets - attempts to halt the exiting of young adults. The GB wants to indoctrinate (and create an emotional attachment to the org) very young ones as soon as possible.

  Anthony Morris admits that during the introductory part of the Be Jah's Friend video.
• 
  16

  Why so much sickness!

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i never met such a physically and mentally ill group of people outside jws except for at the local hospital or old folks' home.

  from chronic fatigue to fibromyalgia to depression to arthritis to kids lacking lustre to heart problems to cancer, bipolar to every co and his wife having food intolerances.... are jehovah's witnesses the most ailing group?

  what is your observation?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  Julia - it's the same here in the States. And it's most likely the result of so much negativity in our lives. As JW's we are conditioned to be judgemental, suspicious, afraid of criticism or reproof, and competitive. That in itself will make a person neurotic. Add to that list - personal disappointments, fear of displeasing the control group, the persecution complex, and suppression of personal hopes/desires/dreams and people do become ill - on all levels.

  I've noticed that during their transitions out of the congregation, many become involved in positive activities. We begin to exercise, watch our diet, take up some sort of hobby, even change careers or go back to school. Good things!

  At the saying goes...."misery loves company." How true with JW's...
• 
  15

  New Light?

  by Blind_Of_Lies in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  have the faithful followers been informed of the new light yet?

  i know its going to be in the july wt (i think) but i dont remember how far in advance those get released.

  would someone who doesnt read this forum know about it yet?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  I've heard it is the topic being discussed in car groups in service - for a week now.
• 
  46

  Why do JWs get married at a young age?

  by XPeterX in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ages like 20-25 or younger.i mean damn,a 21 year old guy in my congo got baptised a couple weeks back and now his in a relationship with a jw gal and their getting married soon.any thoughts?.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  1) Control : Get the young folks to marry "in the lord" as soon as possible. This begins a new family unit in the congregation that immediately has the WT belief structure imposed upon it - submission/headship. Married couples are ten times more likely to remain in the "truth" compared to a single person.

  2) Financial : Young people raised in the "truth" often have minimal life skills or education to become financially independent - especially home schooled folks. Getting married allows two single persons to pool their resources.

  3) Perceived Freedom : Get married to get out of the house you were raised in - and from parental control.

  4) Sex : A couple can now "get busy" without the guilt. Often the young couple has been intimate on some level - and kept it to themselves. So they marry out of guilt or obligation. Premarital intimacy can also be used by one of the persons involved to force the marriage i.e. "if we don't get married now, I'm going to confess to the elders."

  It's my guess that these reasons for marriage have produced two results now so common amongst Jehovah's Witnesses : miserable/unhappy/unfullfilled marriages and families .... or divorces - which now happen in my part of the US at rates equal to the general population.
• 
  21

  Those who went to University whilst being a JW

  by MMXIV in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've read a number of posts in the brief couple of years i've been on jwn of those that were brave enough to go to university whilst being a jw.. clearly this is a small fraction of those that wanted to go but couldn't or had the grades to go but accepted pioneering instead.. for those that did go to uni despite all the advice and pressure, why did you go?

  what was the response when you broke the news?

  how did it affect your relationships?

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  My Bachelors degree has opened all the doors for all of my employment. Even though I hold a liberal arts degree, having that piece of paper increases ones hire-ability, will give you a higher income, decreases the chance of becoming unemployed and allows one to work in a field that you naturally enjoy. Statistical evidence shows this to be true.

  I was raised in the "truth" and was encouraged to get a degree. Even though my degree didn't (at the time) seem practical - from a financial point of view, my parents allowed me to pursue what I wanted. I lived at home and commuted - which made great economic sense. My parents took a lot of pressure from a couple of elders and circuit overseers. I lost my high school JW girlfriend - her parents didn't want her supporting me while I was going to college. They thought I should "get a job" and we should get married. Within a year she "bolted", got DF'ed and married a dude from town.

  While I was in school, I was taken off the all the "list" to read during the book study, watchtower, handle the mic or run the sound box. But I was always asked to help with hall repairs or yard/landscape work and maintenance. I took myself off that list during my sophomore year.

  As you get close to graduation day, you will find that almost all of the single sisters (and their mothers) will soon view you as fine marriage material - especially if you've lived at home and have been regular at meetings. Look out!
• 
  58

  WAAWAW - Watching AAWA's Website

  by UsuaIusern@me in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  as on now the awaa website is down for maintenance.

  is was meant to be out for 48hrs.

  it was down over 72 hrs ago and promises to be up in a further 12. .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  1) They have Harold Camping on the phone.

  2) They were using the Mayan calendar.

  or

  3) Their IT guy is still in the bathroom....
• 
  15

  Facebook 101, Help for Faders

  by Gojira_101 in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i know i'm going to get bagged on for this, but i'm really just trying to help those who are fading if they have facebook or are on any social media outlets.. first off let's review.. .com stands for commercial.

  .net stands for network.

  ....etc.. so facebook.com is a commercial site, meaning they are trying to sell you something....or specialized advertising trying to get you to buy something because of your browsing history.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  Great advice, Gojira_101.

  Everything on the internet is there "forever". If we want to remain under the judicial radar, don't comment on, "like" or share anything on social websites or forums. Privacy settings change on Facebook. Your profile can become public or semi-public without notice.

  Never share your doubts with anyone by phone, text or email.
• 
  28

  I want us all to take a step back and BREATHE!

  by NoRegrets in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  ok gang, i love each and every one of you.

  but, it's time to move it along.

  obviously, the aawa blew up before they left the launching pad, but it's over and done.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  gingerbread

  Villagegirl's comparison of exiting the WT to a divorce is excellent. While I think it's important to find support during a life transition, at some point a person has to just let it go. In a healthy transition, some things are accepted as unchangable and then one changes everything (negative) within his power. You must leave the support group at some point.

  Have you ever gone on a date with someone and all they talk about is their ex? That gets really old - really quick!

  An organized effort to expose the WT to the "world" is commendable; albiet naively heroic.

  After 40 + years in this highly controlled religious & social structure, I'm moving on - on my own!

  Develop real friendships. Educate yourself. Be positive. Find happiness.