Posts by gingerbread

30

I was a Jehovah's Witness in a different religion

by free2beme in

jw
friends

i recently had a very long conversation with my mother, about what jehovah's witnesses teach and believe now.

while i could gleam ideas and thoughts, that kind of worked with the religion i once called home.

more often then not, i had to come to a extreme conclusion.

gingerbread

Excellent thread and comments!

For those of us that were raised in - during the 60's and 70's - our "religion" has transformed itself during our adulthood. Though most of the core beliefs have stayed the same, the way the religion operates is very different. Our age group can remember studing publications that were indepth analysis of prophesy - remember the Paradise book - Babylon book - Nations Shall Know book .... We really "studied" these books and slogged through miles of scripture.

The GB has kept the tight control on the personal lives of its members - except now it is demanding that all within the congregations police the actions, speech and "attitudes" of each other. Phrases like "it's a gray area", "it's a personal matter", or "its up to your conscience" aren't mentioned anymore. Elders and publishers alike used to use these phrases quite often. Not any more!

The WT society now produces mini-books for study - that focus on rules for daily living. It's really "dumb-downed" the "spiritual food" and treats all members as if they are children. The society - while still a bible study aid publishing house - now prides itself as.......... a construction company.

21

I am what I am

by joe134cd in

jw
friends

i was just thinking today.

i heard the term been frazed as a "neutral witness".

i think that's what best describes me.

gingerbread

Joe - Keep on thinking! I remember your early posts from a few weeks ago - you have some legitimate questions that need answers. Take your time.

As JW's, were are taught that "levels" of goodness exist and this idea is directly related to ones position in the congregation and the organization. Much like being in the army, some people are better at this sort of "rank" structure than others. Some people abuse the structure - use authority to control others, money, rewards, etc.

People in the congregation that are decent folks would be like this whether they were JW's or not. Think about it. Brothers and sisters you know that are kind, considerate, hospitable, forgiving, understanding, supportive...and happy...are like this with or without their JW suit on. They are just good human beings. Period.

22

CANADA | Toronto Star | May 3, 2013 - Jehovah's Witnesses: Kindness is an act of grace - not an obligation

by jwleaks in

jw
friends

who should be responsible for financially supporting jehovah's witnesses, who put misguided faith in the failed 1975 "end-of-the-world" predictions, and went full-time preaching without any consideration for retirement many years later?.

kindness is an act of grace not an obligationare successful brothers ethically required to help aging moneyless sister?

toronto star.

gingerbread

Mr. Gallinger, at the outset, puts the "the JW thing" outside of the scope of his answer. And he responds like any mature adult would to this question.

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to never mature into adulthood.

We were encouraged to put our life's burdens on someone else, to blame others or a "wicked system" for all life's difficulties and to ignore the aging process. JW's should be "simple" and just be concerned with their own little life with little education and a little job. Remember that every single complex issue facing the individual, mankind and the universe can be answered by a little article in a little magazine.

A child expects others to solve his problems and to provide the answer to any question. A good little child is easy to control.

154

Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!

by iamwhoiam in

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.

gingerbread

I couldn't agree more! - Satanus & Las Malvinas

The ongoing "opinion-a-tor" on this thread obviously gets paid by the word at his day job. "A legend in his own mind"

As we say in my part of the country - Arguing with that kinda person is like wrestling a pig. The pig has a blast and you wind up covered with mud and hog sh!t.

154

Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!

by iamwhoiam in

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.

gingerbread

Jehovah's Witnesses are trained to believe that they are always RIGHT. They will do whatever it takes to (especially with creative wordsmithing and circular arguments) to prove their "rightness" and force that opinion on anyone who is foolish enough to disagree.

In my "newby" opinion, all too often those who have left the org carry on with that same attitude.

Be careful, Simon. Perhaps AAWA is needing a martyr (persecution from JWN) from within their leadership to rally support of "their" cause ....

154

Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!

by iamwhoiam in

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.

gingerbread

Thanks for jumping on the Rosa Parks "parallel" - wha happened.

Peaceful demonstrations during the 1950's and '60's against segregation is what Ms. Parks participated in. It was well organized to bring attention - through the media - to the Jim Crow laws. On the surface one might see a parallel between segregation and shunning.

The JW shunning policy is very simple. Issues of segregation were a bit more complex.

I hope AAWA leaders don't see themselves as martyrs to this faith. Nobody's getting imprisoned, shot, burned, strung up, beat or hosed...

154

Thoughts on the new AAWA video and other things!!

by iamwhoiam in

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.

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

jw
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..

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

jw
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..

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

jw
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?.

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...