Posts by Oubliette

18

The monthly broadcast as an opportunity to wake up

by paradisebeauty in

i was thinking that maybe the monthly broadcasts are a occasion for some jw's to wake up.

before those broadcasts they probably imagined that the gobgoverning y members are some very special peopleand that you see in their behavior and words that they are "chosen".

but now all jw's can see them for who they really are: average men, some full of themselves, some ridiculous, some just normal men with nothing special.

Oubliette

PB, But now all jw's can see them for who they really are: average men, some full of themselves, some ridiculous, some just normal men with nothing special.

Great point! I've heard quite a few rumblings as a result of these broadcasts, and these comments are from people that usually never say anything negative about the WT leadership.

The only thing I'd disagree with is your comment that these are "average men." From everything I can tell, they are as a group below average in many significant ways: education, intelligence, real-life experience, compassion and empathy.

Stephen Lett is clearly far below average in intelligence. Anthony Morris is a conceited, arrogant bigot.

Add to these facts the additional problem that they are all paranoid, delusional people and it's not at all surprising that they have completely lost the thread. They are completely detached from reality.

What is hard to understand is why anyone would follow them, but then--as you said--perhaps that will change as more people see them for who and what they really are and are not!

42

I need help with this one. What do you think I should do?

by Quarterback in

jw
friends

my wife is pleasant and easy to get along with.

she is also helpful to many.

lately, however, there is a jw sister who some are curious about has befreinded my wife.

Oubliette

QB: She (the JW sister) looks like a Lesbian

What does a lesbian look like?

14

Are they banning college again?

by thedepressedsoul in

i wasn't alive for this but my parents and many old timers told me that at one point it was pretty much a rule that you couldn't go to college.

some of you may remember that from that time.

over time they relaxed that rule to that you did what you had to do in order to provide for yourself.

Oubliette

XBEHERE: Social pressure from other members is the true cornerstone of this religion.

This is so true. Obviously all of us here know it, but clearly people outside of the religion do not. I'm not convinced the average R&F JW is consciously aware of it either even though the majority clearly succumb to it.

It's very devious because it gives the WT leadership plausible deniability while simultaneously exerting significant manipulation and control.

Let's review: It's a cult!

14

Are they banning college again?

by thedepressedsoul in

i wasn't alive for this but my parents and many old timers told me that at one point it was pretty much a rule that you couldn't go to college.

some of you may remember that from that time.

over time they relaxed that rule to that you did what you had to do in order to provide for yourself.

Oubliette

In the late '80s - mid 2000s it was "a conscience matter." But we all know what that means: anyone that went to college was viewed with suspicion.

I was actually serving as an elder when the WTBTS sent a letter out changing the policy. I'm pretty sure this was the summer of 2006 or early fall of that year, I'm not sure what month. But the letter stated that anyone that pursued higher education (HE) would not qualify for "privileges." If an "appointed man's" children pursed HE, his "qualifications" would be called into question.

I distinctly remember the letter because I had been attending university at the time on the downlow and felt very upset because of this policy change with no justification and explanation. I also felt upset because now something that had been "a conscience matter" was now to be viewed as being disloyal to Jehovah. I had just finished my degree a month or so before the letter was received by and read among the elder body.

I remember thinking: If this letter had come just a couple of months earlier, I would have been faced with the decision of abandoning my degree weeks before graduating or resigning as an elder.

40

Canada Branch Finances - What's Going On?

by berrygerry in

an update on the canada branch hasn't been made (i think).. year-over-year, canada's equity decreased by 11 million in 2012, 17 million in 2013.. however, the 2014 report shows a huge increase (20 million) in the cost of "purchased supplies.

" with the shrinkage of the mags, and the push to online, how the heck did this go from 39 million to 58 million?.

even with this number, the equity in 2014 went down by a staggering 56 million.. what the heck is going on?.

Oubliette

Interesting.

What is the source for these figures?

90

After 2 years my parents make contact. The end result is that I promise them to cryogenically preserve ONLY their heads

by paulmolark in

it has been 2 and a half years since my departure from the religion.

i was told by my parents from the start that i would never speak to them until i returned to jehovah dog.

a few months later they told people they hoped i died before the end came, then all of this culminating in them telling my inactive / fading sister that they don't consider me a child anymore and they have given me up to satan.

Oubliette

GreatTeacher: I think on some level they know that they have issues. So they like to surround themselves with people that tell them how wonderful they are. They're like good mirrors. Then, when you call them out on their bad behavior, you become the bad mirror, reflecting back to them their own brokenness. And they can't stand it and they lash out.

Great point.

Leaving the religion doesn't necessarily mean overcoming our "issues." In fact, there is no reason to believe that we would--without a great deal of careful introspection and hard work--overcome those issues. Even this it is hard slogging.

People generally continue to act as they were raised. It's classic operant conditioning and behaviorism.

90

After 2 years my parents make contact. The end result is that I promise them to cryogenically preserve ONLY their heads

by paulmolark in

it has been 2 and a half years since my departure from the religion.

i was told by my parents from the start that i would never speak to them until i returned to jehovah dog.

a few months later they told people they hoped i died before the end came, then all of this culminating in them telling my inactive / fading sister that they don't consider me a child anymore and they have given me up to satan.

Oubliette

POM, I'm sorry I even bothered to offer advice to you. Clearly, you don't take any criticism well.

Self-indulgent fantasies of revenge may seem cathartic, but they don't help a person grow. I'll admit, the sci-fi twist on torture you wish upon your mother is creative, but it really is just a high-tech version of hell.

The eternal punishment and humiliation you describe betrays a mindset that is no different from the vicious desert god, Jehovah, which you claim to hate.

That you would devote so much vitriol against me merely because I described your version of justice and retribution as "mean," tells much about you.

You have taken offense to my personal opinion about one aspect of your OP and made that the sole focus of your comments directed at me. Yet you have failed to respond to any of my comments intended to be constructive and helpful.

I'm glad you were able to "save" your family from the cult.

Your mean-spirited comments about my children are very unkind and hurtful. But I guess that's just who you are.

Oubliette

90

After 2 years my parents make contact. The end result is that I promise them to cryogenically preserve ONLY their heads

by paulmolark in

it has been 2 and a half years since my departure from the religion.

i was told by my parents from the start that i would never speak to them until i returned to jehovah dog.

a few months later they told people they hoped i died before the end came, then all of this culminating in them telling my inactive / fading sister that they don't consider me a child anymore and they have given me up to satan.

Oubliette

Paul, no one needs any special training to know that you are responding in kind to your mother.

You need to let it go if you are ever going to move forward. The way you are now, you are just being like her.

Attacking me changes nothing. It actually proves that you know I'm right.

I hope you get better.

90

After 2 years my parents make contact. The end result is that I promise them to cryogenically preserve ONLY their heads

by paulmolark in

it has been 2 and a half years since my departure from the religion.

i was told by my parents from the start that i would never speak to them until i returned to jehovah dog.

a few months later they told people they hoped i died before the end came, then all of this culminating in them telling my inactive / fading sister that they don't consider me a child anymore and they have given me up to satan.

Oubliette

POM,

You obviously have a lot of anger as do I.

I do think the WT leaders are fuckers and need to be held accountable for their actions. I thought that then and I still think that now. I also think your mother should be held accountable for her actions.

I also know that holding on to anger is not good for us. I speak from experience. I'm not judging you and so there is no need to be defensive.

My degrees are in business, music and education. I have a masters in education and teach science at the high school level: biology, chemistry and physics. Although I do not have a degree in psychology, my training as a scientist has helped me to approach a study of subjects outside of my academic study with the same methodology and rigor as those I studied in university.

Psychology is a subject that I have studied extensively for many decade, particularly in reference to how a person can fall victim to manipulation in interpersonal relationships and religious organizations.

I am only trying to be helpful. Your defensive responses suggest I hit a nerve.

Oubliette

90

After 2 years my parents make contact. The end result is that I promise them to cryogenically preserve ONLY their heads

by paulmolark in

it has been 2 and a half years since my departure from the religion.

i was told by my parents from the start that i would never speak to them until i returned to jehovah dog.

a few months later they told people they hoped i died before the end came, then all of this culminating in them telling my inactive / fading sister that they don't consider me a child anymore and they have given me up to satan.

Oubliette

POM: You go right ahead and keep loving that type of person if you want.

I didn't say you should love her or even forgive her or keep her in your life. I said your response was mean.

We can't heal if we allow abusers to remain in our life. Toxic relationships need to end.

I'm encouraging you to not respond in kind. Clearly you are not ready to get there, but given the abuse you've received that is not surprising.

Oubliette