i've been disfellowshipped for about 5 years and extremely happy to be out.
my ex wife is still a regular meeting attender and takes our two young kids with her (8 and 6 years old).
i recently saw some of the caleb and sophia videos on the jw.org website and was completely appalled, i remember what i was taught as a kid growing up in the organization but this seems so much worse and now that i'm out i can plainly see the mind control.
Viviane: "I'm not going anywhere for now, let's deal with that when Armageddon comes."
That's pretty fucking brilliant!
Viviane's strategy of doing fun things with your kids that aren't forbidden by JWs is a really good idea too. While I don't advocate the strategy that many parents adopt of being the "Disneyland Dad/Mom," showing them that you are a completely normal person living a fulfilling life is huge. It just is.
atlantis provided a uk branch letter regarding a 3 levy per publisher to pay for the britain branch c.o.s 85 new cars.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/126700001/2-new-boes-watchtower-begging-money-volunteers.
with approximately 120,000 publishers in the uk, that will rake in 360,000. .
Phizzy: What I do know is that in our Circuit, from time to time, Circuit cars came up for sale, and they always went to gullible JW's for much more than an identical model from the local Car Auction.
This is true in the US as well. About 10-ish years ago, when I was still drinking the Kool-aid, I looked into buying a used car that had previously been used by a CO. All congregations in the United States received a letter about it, misleadingly saying "what a good deal" these cars would be. They directed us to a website that had a variety of cars used by COs across the country. They were all 20-30% over Kelley Blue-book. Every one of them!
That was actually one of the many things that got me to start waking up and realize that this "religion" is a scam. Instead of giving "the brothers" a good deal, they were ripping them off.
I went out and bought a previously leased and very gently, used BMW 5 series instead. It cost a lot less money, drove way better than some bland Buick and was frankly just a whole hell of a lot cooler car.
Let's review: It's a cult!
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atlantis provided a uk branch letter regarding a 3 levy per publisher to pay for the britain branch c.o.s 85 new cars.
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/126700001/2-new-boes-watchtower-begging-money-volunteers.
with approximately 120,000 publishers in the uk, that will rake in 360,000. .
i went to the meeting this morning and we had some guy from overseas bethel give the public talk.
6 countries subsidize the rest.
he said in some countries all the donations that they get from contributions don't even pay the electricity bill for the branch buildings so money has to come in from these 6 richer countries.
Does that mean that God isn't blessing the work in those lands?
i think that since i am the sole wage-earner in our household, i need to make it clear to my wife that i don't want any of my hard-earned wages going to the wt.
i know she makes a monthly contribution to an animal shelter and i am fine with that.
what do you think?
FTB, I think you'll accomplish more with your wife if you calmly and rationally sit down and discuss together why you do not want to contribute to the WTBTS.
Explain your reasons and be sure to state to your wife that, as a couple you understand that she has a right to participate in this decision.
If you just make a unilateral decision it will almost certainly not get you what you want. You may keep a few dollars or złotys or whatever it is where you live out of the hands of the WTBTS, but you may lose your wife in the process.
Oubliette
have lurked here for many, many years.
female, latina, middle-aged, born-in, 3rd generation jw, northeast usa.
my fate is to continue to play the game 'till death do us part because the very strong and tangled web of friends, family, business, etc.
Hi Sofia, welcome!
Please feel free to comment, vent and share your thoughts. It can be healing. We certainly can't do that at the KH or with any of our JW "friends."
friends:.
doug mason needs no introductions here.
we all know him to be an excellent writer, such as: blondie, terry, jwfacts, barbara anderson and countless others on this board.. doug is asking for assistance on a new project he is working on to explain in terms easy to understand, the changes the watchtower now expects jehovah's witnesses and others to believe.. your expert knowledge on these subjects such as: 144,000, great crowd, order of special full time servants, and governing body would be greatly appreciated.
Doug and Atlantis, what's the point. Doctrine is irrelevant. WT "theology" changes constantly. I notion of "having the Truth" is a cultish meme clearly not based in reality and with only the most tenuous Biblical "support."
i've been disfellowshipped for about 5 years and extremely happy to be out.
my ex wife is still a regular meeting attender and takes our two young kids with her (8 and 6 years old).
i recently saw some of the caleb and sophia videos on the jw.org website and was completely appalled, i remember what i was taught as a kid growing up in the organization but this seems so much worse and now that i'm out i can plainly see the mind control.
i am perpetually challenged by the fact that most jws are completely duped by the propaganda pumped out relentlessly by the borg.
even intelligent ones; they unwittingly grovel to the gb decisions and follow the party line.
they do this for a number of reasons..
In reference to Magnum's comments about the naked Emperor, it takes a great deal of personal courage for any individual to speak up against the status quo, especially in the case of a high-control, authoritarian group such as Jehovah's Witnesses where the stakes are high for pointing out any inconsistencies, flaws in doctrines or more egregious errors.
The Asch Conformity Experiment examines behavior under the pressure of social forces. Notice how easily most people conform even when the stakes are very low.
i got one from my mother.
when the hell did they start doing this???.
i'm guessing this is the way they're going to do it eventually.
Blondie, that's "old light" about the logos. The little blue dot is springing up on KHs all through out the land.
