Thanks for the years of putting up with all the arguments, trolls, and all around childishness that often times accompany an Internet forum board.... especially one frequented by ex-cult members.
undercover
JoinedPosts by undercover
-
68
15 Years of Jehovahs-Witness.com
by Simon inyes, today is the forum's 15th birthday!.
i never thought for one moment that it would survive this long or have so many people post so many great subjects over the years.. it is still humbling when i get pm's or emails from people expressing how the site has helped them and of course thanks goes to all the posters who have shared their experiences and make helpful and supportive comments to others who are in the sometimes difficult process of learning the real truth about 'the truth'.. the site has gone through several different incarnations over the last 15 years running on different platforms, different databases and different hosts but we've been able to keep all the old topics.
the current site is still being developed and i'm hoping to push another major upgrade soon.. i also may have some other news to share soon about the future of the site so stay posted.. until then, here's the the next 15 years!
-
-
-
15
Breaking cognitive dissonance - or - how to get Bill Cosby to help a dub see the light
by undercover inlet me preface this by saying, i don't know if mr. cosby is guilty of all that he's being accused of.
the number of women coming out against him is pretty damning, but no real proof has been offered (that i'm aware of anyway).
and it is this circumstantial, hearsay evidence that can actually play into the hands of someone trying to get a jw to grasp the seriousness of the child abuse claims in the jw religion.. how so?.
-
-
undercover
Let me preface this by saying, I don't know if Mr. Cosby is guilty of all that he's being accused of. The number of women coming out against him is pretty damning, but no real proof has been offered (that I'm aware of anyway)
And it is this circumstantial, hearsay evidence that can actually play into the hands of someone trying to get a JW to grasp the seriousness of the child abuse claims in the JW religion.
How so?
Well, in my JW family, the standard reaction to the Cosby mess is one of acceptance of his guilt. Too many accusers, and too many tales from insiders for there to not be some truth to the accusations. They're saddened by it. He was a good TV dad, and seemed like a 'clean' stand up comedian that they could enjoy. But if the accusations are true, then, well, no more Cosby Show reruns, no more stand up records, no more live shows. He is no longer considered suitable entertainment.
Yet, when a (or if) a JW sees news reports and expose stores on child abuse within the WTS/JWs, they stick their head in the sand. Why not the same reaction as to the Cosby revelations? We know the answer to that, but if...IF...you could open dialogue with that JW, who gave up supporting Cosby, yet still defends the WTS, you can ask them to compare the situations.
"You no longer support Cosby, with no absolute proof even, but yet, when JWs are sentenced and imprisoned; when the WTS is found negligent, and ordered to pay millions, how can you continue to support an organization that IS guilty? Without evidence or a court case, you've judged Cosby, yet after many court cases, and judgments against JWs and the WTS leadership, you continue to defend them. How can you do that?"
Would it work? Who knows, depending on the level of cognitive dissonance. Yet, I saw a glimmer of light in one JWs eyes that made the connection. That one little doubt could lead to more doubts and questions. In time, with critical thinking skills, it could lead to a JW to judge the WTS guilty, and walk away from ever supporting them again.
-
14
Current U.S Federal Judge is a Jehovah Witness... How does this guy not get forced to quit his job and not get in trouble?
by paulmolark incurrent u.s. federal judge is one of jehovah's witnesses - see more at: http://www.jw-archive.org/post/114109639783/current-u-s-federal-judge-is-one-of-jehovahs#sthash.pz6qywnk.dpuf.
-
-
undercover
JWs don't vote, don't get involved in politics, don't join the military, don't pledge allegiance to the flag...
but they can be US federal judges.
If an active JW went around promoting doing any of the aforementioned things, he'd be hauled in front of a JC faster'n you can say UN NGO.
But having a US federal judge might come in handy to the ole corporation. So, after prayerful consideration, tis okay by the leaders in their ivory tower.
Bastards.
-
64
POLL: Will You Be Attending The Memorial & If You Are---Why?
by minimus ini was just invited.
i thanked my old elder friend and he left.
(i'm not going).
-
-
undercover
Just saw from Blues Brother when it is. Not sure if I'm going or not. I posted part of this on another thread:
Some years I've gone, some I haven't. ...
As much as I'm forever out of their control, I really don't have a problem with going to the memorial, if it makes elderly parents happy. It's one hour a year. Big deal. No different than a name only Catholic showing up for xmas mass once a year. I don't like going to cheap cafeteria style restaurants either, but the old folks like it, so that's where I take em to eat. Their time is limited. Let em enjoy it, even if it isn't my thing.
-
27
Has anybody been guilted/emotionally blackmailed into attending the 2015 Memorial?
by Bucholz inhello everybody, i was wondering if anyone has been guilted or emotionally blackmailed into attending the memorial this year.
something along the lines of "if you loved your family you would at least attend the memorial".
i myself haven't attended in 5 years.
-
-
undercover
Some years I've gone, some I haven't. I don't even know when it is this year. Suppose I'll find out the week of, when well-meaning, but clueless JW family invite me.
As much as I'm forever out of their control, I really don't have a problem with going to the memorial, if it makes elderly parents happy. It's one hour a year. Big deal. No different than a name only Catholic showing up for xmas mass once a year. I don't like going to cheap cafeteria style restaurants either, but the old folks like it, so that's where I take em to eat. Their time is limited. Let em enjoy it, even if it isn't my thing.
Some comments mention that 'once-a-year' attendees are looked down on by the rest of the JWs. That doesn't bother me a bit. I'm already looked down on. My being there or not being there isn't going to change that. If I decide to go, I wear my independence from their control on my sleeve. No tie, no suit jacket, beard in place. Be confident, don't shirk from talking to anyone, let em know that being away from religious fanaticism has done you well.
-
27
Why do people "come back"?
by kairos ini know of several examples of ones that "left the truth" for up to 20 years, only to suffer through the reinstatement process and feel like they are finally back on track.. how does this happen?.
i personally know of one example where a father of three, leaves jws, abandons wife and family, lives as a gay man then comes back 20 years later as a partaking member of the anointed..
-
-
undercover
People who leave, become 'inactive', but at some point come back, really never left. Sure, they didn't go to meetings, or go out in service, or attend the conventions, but the prior mind control was still there in some small way. Enough so that when things in life took a turn that caused them to question either themselves or the world they live in, they came back.
A friend of mine, DFd, has been away for decades. Lived his life away from any JW contact, not attended any meetings for years and years. He has not lived an exemplary lifestyle in this time, but he does attempt to avoid holidays, politics, and supports the blood transfusion ban.
At one point, I thought he might be finally freeing his mind of the JW mess, but he told that he thinks the JWs are right. He's just not strong enough, worthy enough to join back. So this guy is living his entire life with a guilt complex that he's not good enough for a religious cult.
He may never go back and be an active member, but the WTS controls him every bit as much as they control the active JWs.
If that's not a cult, I don't know what is
-
49
Hasta la Vista,.. I'm outta here
by insidetheKH inthe time has come to leave this forum.
this is my last post.
mission completed.
-
-
undercover
Heck with the JW troll....
I need to know - is that a real screen shot from JW.org, with a GB member and CGI cartoon characters?
Seriously, has the WTS fallen to such a state that they have to use fictional characters to try to keep people interested in their brand of cult? Oh wait... that's what all religions do...nevermind
-
14
God's supposedly chosen earthly organization (WTS/JWS) doesn't pronounce or spell god's name correctly !!!
by Finkelstein inthis came up on terry walstrom thread topic recently and i thought it would be good to explore this further.
the jws are quite boisterous and arrogant that they use the proper name of jehovah as the divine name of god.
but a little investigation discovers something quite different.
-
-
undercover
The definition of irony:
Name a brochure about God's name, "The Divine Name that Will Endure Forever", and then admit in said brochure that no one really knows the pronunciation of God's name.
-
29
Is there a Child Molester on the Governing Body?
by TTATTelder ingreat report by abc on the abuses in jw-dot-org land.... i hope it opens a "floodgate" of future news reports and exposes.
if you ask yourself, "why hasn't the watchtower leadership changed their policy on the 2 witness rule?
if one or more persons on the gb has victims out there that can't come forward because of the 2 witness rule, then that would explain the permanent road block to policy change that is obviously in place.
-
-
undercover
Google Ewart Chitty and Leo Greenlees
The rumors about those two can't be substantiated, but if true you can rest assured that if there was ever another current member to be accused or found out to be an abuser, the public, and especially the JW followers, would never, ever hear of it.
-
6
The Walking Dead cocktail party reminds me of... me
by undercover inas fans of the walking dead know, our heros have found sanctuary (or have they) at alexandria, a seemingly normal safe zone from the walkers/rotters/etc.
this past episode had rick's 'family' invited to a 'welcome to the community' cocktail party, hosted by deanna, the leader of the community.. having entered alexandria, we're starting to see the different levels of ptsd in our little group.
rick, carol, and daryl trust no one.
-
-
undercover
As fans of The Walking Dead know, our heros have found sanctuary (or have they) at Alexandria, a seemingly normal safe zone from the walkers/rotters/etc. This past episode had Rick's 'family' invited to a 'welcome to the community' cocktail party, hosted by Deanna, the leader of the community.
Having entered Alexandria, we're starting to see the different levels of PTSD in our little group. Rick, Carol, and Daryl trust no one. Others want to trust, but are wary. At the party, Rick initially refuses an alcoholic beverage, while Abraham finds courage in the available beer. Daryl doesn't even go in the front door, and Sasha goes off on a well-meaning villager who wanted to know her favorite dish.
I know that the horrors of a TV zombie apocalypse are not comparable to being raised in a cult-like religion, but watching this episode, especially how Rick's crew were trying to feel at home, or accept that this party was somehow normal, I could especially relate as someone who feared, and avoided the 'world' growing up. Everything 'worldly' was like a walker coming to try to eat me, and I avoided it as such. But upon learning TTATT, and realizing that the 'world' wasn't the evil, demon possessed people I was led to believe for so long. But even as I realized that the things learned as a JW were incorrect, and I started to move out into the real world, I felt a lot like Rick's people, as they tried to fit in to what to everyone else is a normal situation. They were uncomfortable, slow to let their guard down. Just like I was when I first started making friends on the 'outside'.
The only real difference between us and Rick's group is that they fear being inside the group, while we first feared leaving the confines of the group we were in. But for me, it did get better, but there is a lingering feeling of not always fitting in, even today, several years later.
Hopefully for us, we fare better than our WD friends have so far. And hopefully Daryl takes a shower, Rick doesn't kill Jessie's husband, Carol doesn't tie the kid to the tree for the walkers, and Abraham doesn't have a hangover.