Posts by Roski

12

Seoul court rules against (JW) pacifists who reject draft

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

http://straitstimes.asia1.com.sg/asia/story/0,4386,261720,00.html

july 16, 2004. seoul court rules against pacifists who reject draft.

it says the threat from the north makes it necessary for all south koreans, regardless of religious beliefs, to do military service.

Roski

Actually, there has been quite a bit of debate in South Korea about this very subject, with some JW winning the right to not go to the military and not go to jail. The article you have quoted is the English language version, and not reflective of the whole debate. Also, recently a survey found that a large majority of people between the ages of 25-40 saw the USA as the major enemy and not North Korea. As of this month, South Korea has dropped the title of 'worst enemy' in relation to North Korea. Perhaps you would be surprised at the level of sympathy for the north, which is why this issue with the JW's got so far in the legal system. I'm not defending JW's(although they suffered in jail a lot), just setting the record straight. South Korea has no love of the US and is moving toward recognition of the North's regime at a rapid pace; maybe not by soem academics, but certainly by the younger generation....those with an increasingly large vote.

48

DATING OLDER MEN/WOMEN

by sandy in

what are your thoughts on this?

would you date someone significantly older than yourself?

have you done so in the past?

Roski

Haven't posted for a long time, but will reply to this...

My husband is 18 years younger than myself and from a different ethnic background. We have been together for 10 years. It was the marriage that would never work. I have kids but 'we' don't, although he comes from an asian culture than sees kids as a necessity. He told me that before we married he wanted to break it off - due to intense family pressure- but he couldn't control himself - he wanted to marry. Some of his friends, and family have experienced divorce and marriage problems, but we are fine. I once told him after a lot of family pressure that he could go if he wished, as I would not like to keep someone under force. He said "you are the best thing that has ever happened to me, how can I live without you....when you get old we will jump off a building together..." So there you go.....and..he is very good looking (as I am told constantly by females of either ethnic group). Maybe I was just lucky....

102

JW Urban Legends

by Azalo in

jw
friends

did any of you hear any of the urban legends that jw's used to scare people into being deathly afraid of demons?

for example i remeber hearing that a child brough a smurf doll to a meeting and upon hearing the name jehovah uttered it got up and walked out.

got any j-dub urban legends?

Roski

Blood in everything -dark chocolate, soft ice-cream, and for the disbelievers - tomato soup.

This doesn't count as an urban legend but it does show a level of intelligence.....A sister (pioneer, whose son resided in bethel-USA) told me that she would not go to a Chinese opera because the music was 'chaotic' and Satan was the god of confusion, therefore the music was demonized.

35

Difference of age

by JH in

jw
friends

so many times in the jw, i saw couples getting married.

but what struck me so often was the difference in age between the man and wife.

often the man was 15-25 years older than the woman.

Roski

Most of these responses sound like the JW 'can't think outside the box' syndrome. I think that some of the most fulfilled people are those that have broken boundaries, and then realize why those boundaries (social controls) were in place. Of course there are the failures - which are what most people focus on when confronted with the boundaries.

From a very satisfied boundary-breaker.

42

Are You Ashamed Of The Way That You Disciplined Your Child?

by minimus in

jw
friends

most articles in the publications recommended physical punishment, (corporal) when disciplining children.

the scripture says that "he will not die" if you beat him.

so many parents literally beat their children.

Roski

I have already responded to this thread from the perspective of a parent, but have found the responses from people raised in the 'truth' sadly familiar. In my case although the literal 'rod' was not frequently used (but threatened), however my father (elder etc) had the skill of mind control down to a fine art. His scripture of choice was Eph. 6:4, "....but go on bringing them up in the discipline and mental-regulating of Jehovah." - mental regulate he did! I believe this scripture became quite popular after the idea of 'discipline' not necessarily being the 'literal rod' was introduced. He continued to quote this well into my teens, until one day I quoted him the earlier part of the scripture re 'not irritating'. This happened many years ago, but I remember the incident quite clearly. I literally hated that scripture, and still do. In my earlier post I mentioned the pressure from others in relation to disciplining children. For me this started when my eldest was just a tiny baby. He was a very restless baby, and I can remember after the first few group studies (which I spent in the car) being told by my husband (the study conductor) "How can the brothers respect me if you can't control -your- child." It was down-hill all the way from there! Sadly, I can remember smacking (ocassionally) my children at the hall when they were restless, just to be seen to be doing something (the right thing) by onlookers. I think the behaviour of an individual's children (particularly if that individual is a servant) is often used as a form of control and one-upmanship by others. When my children reached their teenage years I began to 'dig in' and followed my own instincts (fractured as they were) to deal with their issues, but this was not the party line (which I could see would lead to shunning), so my responses finally (a long story) led to the breakdown of the family, partly due to the fact that the role of parenting was virtually a non negotiable issue, both privately and as part of the organization. For this reason I believe this is a highly relevant topic, it involves much more than just whether a person hits their children or not-and the effects a life-long. Enough said!

42

Are You Ashamed Of The Way That You Disciplined Your Child?

by minimus in

jw
friends

most articles in the publications recommended physical punishment, (corporal) when disciplining children.

the scripture says that "he will not die" if you beat him.

so many parents literally beat their children.

Roski

A neighbour from a KH I attended called the Child Protection Agency at one time due to the manner in which a child was frequently being disciplined outside the hall. Personally, yes. There was a lot of pressure from other elders to make our kids 'perfect', hence a lot of trips out the back. Also a lot of pressure from other members of the family (most who didn't raise kids in the org.) to make my kids 'as good as' so-and-so's kids. This is an issue I debate with myself at length. In some ways I feel I was far to strict, and yet in other ways I was much more lenient than others (maybe not easier, just allowed them to do things like music and some sport, and to think for themselves), but that was what finally broke the marriage as I was not a good elders wife and stopped Bro. elder from "progressing in the truth". I'm sure many parents find this a dificult issue - on reflection.

31

Six million people mislead?

by ikhandi in

i have done a little research since joining this board and honestly believe that jehovahs witnesses fit in the cult category.

however what i don't understand if this is not the so called true religion as most of you have expressed how do you figure six million were mislead into believing it is the only true religion?

i mean this is not like the heaven's gate cult or the infamous jonestown cult who had very little followers in comparison with jehovahs witnesses.

Roski

This is a question I also pondered during my early days of inactivity. This is (briefly) the way I thought it through. Although I have not researched the behaviour of cults in any depth, I think to some degree the Western philosophical take on this issue is due to our society's concept of individualism and subsequent distrust of excessive cohesion and control. In other group oriented cultures, strong cohesion is not considered a threat to personal freedom, but security. The goal is to think alike, not differently, and much personal sacrifice will be made in order to achieve this goal. In the past, community survival depended on this way of thinking, so I think this need/desire is ingrained somewhere deep within the human psyche. Humans are social creatures, when all said and done. They generally like to belong, regardless of whether they are from a group oriented or individualistic culture, but the way of development of Western cultures has allowed for greater choice in this matter. Even then, large numbers of people can be swayed very easily by a clever politician or authority figure, if it is perceived to be for the good of the group (eg present world situation). The numbers (6 mill) really don't mean a lot, I decided, when the whole of humankind is taken into consideration.

64

Is it Possible to Love More than One Person?

by Robdar in

i think that love takes on many facets.

i think that admiration is one of these facets.

sexual desire is another.

Roski

Just a comment in response to the poster who compared western culture(s) with other cultures who do not operate within the same familial guidelines. I feel that we often tend to over simplify behaviours that we have not experienced and compare them favourably under certain circumstances. From experience, I would challenge the idea that non monogomous marriages work harmoniously in other cultures. Such cultures (at least the ones I am aware of) are societies where those choices are the choices of the male, and the women are legally and socially unable to resist such behaviour. Many issues other than the concept of a shared marriage (shared love/emotions) come into play, eg the continuation of the family name/line etc.- not to mention money. Within these arrangement there is often much hurt and anger with one woman and her children inevitably being the outcasts. It is usually the women who fight for change to take place as they are the cictims of such social mores. While it may sound good in National Geographic etc, the reality may be very different. I have never yet met a woman who wants it to go back to the way of her grandparents! I will leave the original question to those more qualified to answer:-)

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