wasasister

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Posts by wasasister

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  54

  Some Musings

  by Farkel in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i sent it to kent.

  the only thing that kept me going was the thought of what my suicide would do to my children for the rest of their lives.

  i finally got the courage to seek help for that depression, and im fine now.. alanf and gedanken (two of my good friends) helped me out, and i am most grateful for that.

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  wasasister

  (((((((Fark))))))))

  Send me your new phone number, please. Or your address. I still cook.
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  32

  My Story Of Abuse

  by Jacinta in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  i'm new to this board and just wanted to share my story with everyone here.

  i used to live in arizona.

  i was very shy and quiet when i was younger.

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  wasasister

  I am so terribly sorry for what you suffered. I hope you find the peace and justice you deserve.

  By the way, I was hoping you could help me out with one part of your account. I have never, in all my 30+ years as a Dub, heard of a JW school. Where was that? And was it a prototype of some kind?

  Your sister, Wasasister
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  7

  OK, psych, let's talk about blood

  by wasasister in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  in reply to a previous post, psych said:.

  there is an area where jehovah's witnesses fail to protect their.

  children - blood transfusions.

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  wasasister

  In reply to a previous post, Psych said:
  

  There is an area where Jehovah's Witnesses fail to protect their
  children - blood transfusions. This IS a horrible situation. This
  is where the Watchtower is REALLY vulnerable because they are the
  only religion with this bizarre interpretation of the scriptures.
  The child molestation thing is a convenient distraction.

  I'll ignore the use of the term "convenient distraction" for a moment, but I think it could go both ways.

  Psych, if you feel so strongly about this issue, what are you willing to do about it? Would you move against "Jehovah's Chosen Ones"?

  Also, let's talk about numbers in this situation, shall we? How many faithful adult and minor JW's have died as a direct result of following an incomprehensible policy on blood? I doubt this number can be accurately determined, but what does it matter?

  What if only one died? A dozen? Hundreds? Thousands? More than a comparable proportion in the rest of society who die following "bizarre interpretation of the scriptures"?

  If you stand by and do nothing while people needlessly die, what share of culpability falls to you? Or, do you feel this also is an area where the entire burden falls on parents and family? Are parents able to make an informed decision on whether or not to allow their children to accept a life-saving blood transfusion, if they are taught the GB speaks for God?

  If you would answer even one of these sincere questions, it would help me understand where you are coming from on the Abuse Issue.

  Thank you in advance for your response,
  Wasa

  PS: as a Witness parent, I was careful to protect my children from predators. Thus, I would not allow them to attend an over-night party at the home of a "brother" known to me to have a past history of fondling children. Because my children were thought of as "good examples" in the congregation, other parents approached me and asked if there was any reason their children should not attend. I was warned - by elders who had direct knowledge of the brother's prior acts of molestation - that if I said one word to anyone, it would be slander and I would be subject to disiplinary action. As as result of my following those orders, some of my daughters' friends were victims of the man at that very event. How can parents protect their children if important information is withheld from them?
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  51

  Barb Anderson--Front Page of the Tenn. paper

  by VeniceIT in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.tennessean.com/local/archives/02/05/17418642.shtml?element_id=17418642 .

  here is her front page article, luv the kh sign in the background!!!.

  ven

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  wasasister

  I have not read the board for a very long time, but my attention was drawn when the triple-disfellowship threat was brought to my attention. Two things jumped out at me, and I wonder if anyone else has noticed:

  1. Several apparently active JW's have begun posting to this board. That means they are reading. Who knows what their initial motivation is, but once here, can they really go back to JW land without at least some nagging doubts about the miscarriage of justice?

  2. Barbara Anderson's letter which appeared here some time ago was used against her at her JC hearing. By doing this, isn't the door opened for anyone's post on an "Ex-Jehovah's Witness run" web site to be used against them as a charge of apostacy??

  Let me take this opportunity to voice my support for all the families involved. There is no way an ojbective observer can see Jehovah's Spirit operating with this judicial action. Those JW's who have posted here trying to convince that Bowen etal are sinning because they did not let Jehovah handle the pedophile issue are obviously not familiar with Bible history. For every scriptural example of faithful waiting for Jehovah Himself to correct a problem in His visible organization, there is another where an individual acted against the organization.

  If Jehovah's Witnesses truly ARE the earthly manifestation of Jehovah's Organization, what would they have to fear from Bowen/Anderson/Pandelo??

  Wasasister/waiting for the Committee to call, now that she's posted again. You know where I live, guys.
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  16

  The Osbournes. Anyone else watching?

  by BeautifulGarbage in

  1. social
  2. entertainment

  the season finale is on tonight.

  mtv at 10:30pm.. i didn't catch the first few epidsodes, but i have to admit, i find the show hilarious.

  i'm hooked.

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  wasasister

  God, YES! It's my new guilty pleasure. I honestly think it's the funniest thing to come on TV in ages. Just trying to figure out what Ozzie is saying is worth the watch. The scene where he fell backwards out of the director's chair makes me laugh no matter how many times I see it. I've got them all on tape.

  Best thing since BBC TV adapted Douglas Adams' radio play of Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (now available on DVD with hours of additional fun stuff on a second disk).
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  2

  explaining JW suicide to an outsider

  by wasasister in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  a good friend living in oregon wrote to me about the mcminnville suicide/murder.

  i thought i'd share with you my response.

  an interesting question to be sure.

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  wasasister

  A good friend living in Oregon wrote to me about the McMinnville suicide/murder. I thought I'd share with you my response. It's so hard to explain the mind-set:

  ********************************************
  An interesting question to be sure. Certainly, all groups experience depression to one degree or another. Some communities seem to be disproportionately affected, but that could be due to the fact that the stigma attached to this affliction may discourage honest reports.
  
  
  To explain Jehovah's Witness mentality to an "outsider" is always difficult. Although many people have a concept of what a strict and closed community is like, unless you have actually lived inside a cult, it is hard to comprehend. I am not familiar with the details of the McMinnville family, but I can comment on the generalities.
  
  (At this point, it may be relevant to point out that this family was living in a trailer in McMinnville. If that isn't cause for psychotic depression, can we really blame the religion?)
  
  Active, that is to say devout practicing JW's, come in two varieties: born into it, or converts. Either way, once a person becomes a solid member, it is extremely difficult to be extracated. A new member is encouraged to give up outside relationships; and in fact, this often happens without any effort on the part of the neophyte. The strange and somewhat alienating beliefs eventually become a barrier to previous relationships. In time, the only close ties are from within the JW community. Of course, a person born into the religion never has a chance to form outside relationships in the first place. Even in school, the JW child is isolated from close association with unbelievers.
  
  This is where the psychological tool of "disfellowshipping" or shunning gains such power. Imagine being suddenly cut off from everyone you've been close to. You'd have no friends, and even your own family would treat you as if you were dead. Why do you think I was so careful not to fall into the elder's traps? If I were to admit to a disfellowshipping offense and be formally shunned, my own daughter would have to make a choice between me, and the religion she has known since birth. While I sincerely hope our relationship is stronger that any cult, the choosing would bring her great pain.
  
  Add to the foregoing the fact that for many years, Witnesses were sadly behind the times in dealing with mental illness. Consulting so-called worldly therapists was frowned upon, although not expressly forbidden. It was hinted that these people did not respect the laws of Jehovah and had, in many cases, recommended a course of action in direct violations of Scriptural principles.
  
  (Mrs. JW, I believe your depression is the direct result of your husband beating the shit out of you every Saturday night. I think you should leave him and get a restraining order.)
  
  Also, it was strongly suggested that with enough Bible study, prayer, and meeting attendance, almost any problem could be solved. Depressed? Go sell more Watchtowers. Broke? Pray harder for a janitorial job which would pay the bills while you sold Watchtowers. Bad marriage? Read the Bible together as a family. Hate your life? Go to more meetings. Blah, blah, blah....
  
  Only recently has such thinking begun to disappear in the leadership, but it will take a while for this enlightenment to trickle down through the ranks...especially in smaller towns and congregations where there is less new blood.
  
  The true psychological impact of shunning, or disfellowshipping, varies for each individual. For this sad (deleted), it may have snapped something deep inside that was close to breaking anyway...who knows? At this point, the media certainly seems to be interested in any contribution his religion may have had in the tragedy. While exploiting the horror does not set well with me, shining a light into the closely protected secrets of this particular cult might be a positive thing. Religions/cults have long depended on the silence of members and even former members to perpetrate their misdeeds.
  
  I'll be keeping an eye on this case...thank you for your interest
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  11

  Question about taxes

  by Patriot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have never written anything off.

  even when i have been aware that certain things that i spend money on are for work.. but thats it!

  this was the last year i do that.. i would like to know from those of you who know, around what percentage can i recover from a business expense of about $7000?.

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  wasasister

  I would think a dog, being a living creature, is a tricky area to the IRS. I have some experience with people who have kennels or stables and have expensed out animals.

  A capital asset is defined as something which contributes to a business income over a period of years. As such, it is not always necessary, or even appropriate, to declare the expense during one accounting period. Depreciation rules were designed for just this accounting situation.

  Just like vehicles and other assets, a dog might be used primarily for business purposes, but might occasionally fall under "personal use." Some test questions:

  What percentage of your income is derived from services performed by the dog?
  What percentage of your annual income is derived from your self-employment?
  Is the cost of training the dog reasonable for your location and specific industry?

  Always good advice: save every receipt or other document pertaining to the use of this animal. If it comes into question, bury the IRS in paperwork. They hate that. Also, NEVER deal in cash. Always leave an audit trail.

  The IRS recognizes and expects legitimate expenses related to earned income. It's almost a red flag if you DON'T declare some expenses...that is if you show an income.

  Good luck!
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  11

  Question about taxes

  by Patriot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have never written anything off.

  even when i have been aware that certain things that i spend money on are for work.. but thats it!

  this was the last year i do that.. i would like to know from those of you who know, around what percentage can i recover from a business expense of about $7000?.

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  wasasister

  BTW, over the period of time I was in the tax business, I had a chance to get to know perhaps a dozen IRS auditors. There are some quirks and tricks I learned from them. If you're interested, contact me and I'll elaborate.
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  11

  Question about taxes

  by Patriot in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have never written anything off.

  even when i have been aware that certain things that i spend money on are for work.. but thats it!

  this was the last year i do that.. i would like to know from those of you who know, around what percentage can i recover from a business expense of about $7000?.

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  wasasister

  Was the $7000 a capital expense,that is one which will become an asset with a life of more than a few years? If so, you have a choice of depreciating the expense over a period of time, or taking a one-time deduction.

  I prepared taxes for a living for a number of years. I would highly recomment a tax professional for business owners who have any complex income or expense issues. It is well worth the cost in taxes saved.
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  3

  Take two of these, and call me in the morning

  by ChuckD in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  http://www.landoverbaptist.org/salvacil.html

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  wasasister

  The pills sound great, Chuck, but I liked the Bible Verse T-shirts even better.

  Thanks for the link. I'll be placing my order early for next Christmas!