Posts by TweetieBird

28

GOSSIP In the Kingdom Hall

by Sunflower1982 in

jw
friends

the overwhelming amount of gossip that circulated through my kingdom hall was a major factor in my decision to stop attending meetings.

every meeting, every day of field service, and every gathering was plagued with vicious rumors that people told to keep themselves entertained.

surprisingly, the pioneers and elder's wives were the worst of everyone.

I think elders are the worst, especially when it comes to divulging details of judicial committee meetings and other private stuff. I know first-hand. They feel that it's okay to tell another elder, whether it's in the same congregation or not, why someone was reproved or disfellowshipped. It's happened many, many times in my area.

I always thought it was a joke when they would give talks about elders keeping what is said within the 4 walls of the back room. HA! It was always amazing how everyone knew exactly why someone had been disfellowshipped. I can't remember one time hearing about someone getting df'd and not being told the reason. Pretty much the same held true for those that were reproved, but don't even get me started on that one. They give a "local needs" part at the service meeting about the offense. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out who (or is it whom) the talk is about. I would much rather be disfellowshipped than reproved.

29

Circuit Assembly Bklyn NY -Saturday 4/6/02

by worf in

jw
friends

my sister went to the circuit assembly this past weekend here in bklyn ny.. they had a young sister on the platform helping to promote pioneering.the interesting point about this is that this young sister is attending college full time and actually said this in front of the audience.she brought out that she is going to college full-time and that since she "has only one more year left, she will wait to pioneer when she is in her last year of college because maybe then it probably won't be so hard.

" these were her exact words.. i find this to be very interesting.

those of us who have done parts or experiences or talks for circuit assemblies know that each talk and each part is scrutinized in practice sessions prior to the assembly in front of the circuit overseers.

TweetieBird

I remember at our assembly day last month, almost all of the young people interviewed used the term, "2-year college" as opposed to 4-year college or more. It was very obvious, by the context, that a 2-year degree was okay, but a 4-year or more was frowned upon.

51

It hit the fan

by truthseeker1 in

well, to bring you guys up to speed, here is what happend this weekend.

i told my wife how i was feeling and why i didn't believe the wt was not god's org.

it went pretty bad.

TweetieBird

>>": He then asked me is there any other religion or belief that is more accurate. I have studied most of them and I feel that the Witnesses have more truth than others."

This was thrown at me also. I have done searches on the internet and I have found other people (some that are/are not an organized religion) that have a grasp of what the scriptures say. They try to examine the scriptures for the most accurate way to apply it in their lives. They even feel that JW's are wrong for their use of the Divine Name. Do THEY have the truth? Not for me to say, but there are others out there that try to teach what the scriptures say with honesty and sincerity. Do a search on the name YAHWEH and you will find some interesting things.

Of course, in the end, it's all subject to interpretation. To be a JW you HAVE to believe that Jehovah is using the GB as His channel to direct mankind. That's the problem for me. After reading the history of the organization and comparing it to other organizations, i.e. Seventh Day Adventists, Mormons, Church of Scientology, etc. I realized that Charles Russell thought God was using him just like Mary Baker Eddy, Joseph Smith, L.R. Hubbard and many, many others thought. They each interpreted the scriptures in their own unique manner, setting themselves up as God's channel. And each uses scare tactics similar to JW's for those that want to leave. If you ever look at ex-Mormon sites, you will see almost the same thoughts as ex-JW's. That is what really opened my eyes to the truth about "the truth."

Have a great day!

56

BEATING KIDS IN THE WASHROOM

by Rags in

i am 36 yr old female originally from toronto ontario canada.

was raised jw till i was about 14. has anyone else had this happen in their hall?

the mom's (thank god never mine!

TweetieBird

Billygoat,
My heart goes out to you. I can't imagine a father doing that to their child. Thank God I had semi-normal parents. I got spankings, but nothing outrageous. I'm glad you survived and are with us to share your horrible story.

Even though the society does not advocate beatings in writing, as was mentioned before it does come to the witnesses orally from the CO, DO, assemblies, and talks at the hall. Maybe that too will change someday. It's not as bad as it was 10 or more years ago, but it still goes on. And I'm sure that if not done at the KH, it is definitely a problem at home, behind closed doors.

56

BEATING KIDS IN THE WASHROOM

by Rags in

i am 36 yr old female originally from toronto ontario canada.

was raised jw till i was about 14. has anyone else had this happen in their hall?

the mom's (thank god never mine!

TweetieBird

This subject really gets me going. I remember one year at the Jacksonville assembly, a sister was beating her 2 year old son in the bathroom and then told him not to cry. Everytime he started crying she beat him some more. It upset me so bad that I left the bathroom crying.

I've said this in other posts, but I'll say it again. Silentlambs has raised the awareness to the sexual abuse that takes place in the organization, but the the physical abuse, IMHO, is even more abundant.

51

It hit the fan

by truthseeker1 in

well, to bring you guys up to speed, here is what happend this weekend.

i told my wife how i was feeling and why i didn't believe the wt was not god's org.

it went pretty bad.

TweetieBird

Hi truth,
I know exactly how you feel. I got up the nerve to talk to a family member about my feelings, the UN issue, etc. and it pretty much went the same way. I am not one to verbalize my thoughts clearly and my family member is quite the opposite. I felt at a huge disadvantage.

One good thing did come out of it, I did some deep soul searching and really thought about whether or not I had been duped by Satan or if everything I had read was true. Something this important deserves much scrutiny.

You are the one that has to decide if it's the truth or not. Good luck!

19

Sexual Terrorism

by Amazing in

jw
friends

why call pedophiles "sexual terrorists?

" look into the eyes of a young child who has been a victim and you will see why.

look into the eyes and life of a grown women whose life has been scared from childhood, and hear about the hell she has had to work through.. if you could see my eyes, you would see the eyes of experience - you would see a man who, as a 5 year old boy, watched his sister raped by a pedophile - and who knew the feeling of being totally helpless.

TweetieBird

Thank you Amazing for yet another fine commentary.

60

Who will go to heaven?

by misty in

jw
friends

i know that jw's say only 144,000. however, i just read a book called "as time runs out" by robert jeffress and he claims that all christians who have received jesus will be picked up at the rapture.

but, he says, we will not all have the same rank in heaven.

he claims that different responsibilities will be assigned.

TweetieBird

LyinEyes, you and I are on exactly the same page. I could have written what you wrote word for word.

Misty, try to understand that many on this forum felt they were duped. They gave their heart and soul to a religion that they thought was the "one true faith." Many, like me, were born into the religion. It's takes a long time to get over it and because we were taught that all other belief systems were wrong, it's very hard to be accepting of anything else.

If there is a God in Heaven, I have to believe that he is a very merciful being that understands what it was like to be a witness and will therefore show extra compassion for anyone that was ever sucked into and involved in a cult.

41

REUNION WITH JW SIS AFTER 20 YRS OF SHUNNING

by California Sunshine in

today is mar 25th.

ive decided to write about this and post it when im done.

dont know when that will be.

TweetieBird

I think that most witnesses know, deep-down, that to shun loved ones is wrong. When I was still a believing dub, I could never force myself to shun my "apostate father." At first I limited my contact to him, trying to be obedient to the society, but after a while, love of family won out.

Most family members that SHUN, do it because they feel they are being loyal to Jehovah. After a while, I think some come to realize that "a God of Love" would not require one to turn their back on flesh and blood. After a while, the BS radar kicks in.

41

How Would You Respond?

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

below is an email i received this morning, can you feel the love from the spiritual paradise?

this brings it to a new level of accusations, now i am apparently gay according to the jw gossip mill.

i will have to add that to the list.

TweetieBird

I don't even think the lad has finished grammar school. That is pitiful.

I didn't know Randy from freeminds was gay either. It's funny how whenever someone disassociates themselves from the borg, it is automatically assumed that they are gay. I personally do not care if someone is gay, straight, yellow, purple, etc., it's just funny how they label all apostates as gay. I guess if I'm ever found out they will call me a lesbian...Bring it on!