Posts by Slavenomore

32

How many ways....

by Lady Lee in

... can you name that the wts hurts people?.

two big ones for me:.

it pushes people to the edge and when they commit suicide they say: "well he wasn't really a jw anyways soit has nothing to do with us".. it pushes people so much to do more and more and more that they get depressed, and physically sick.

Slavenomore

I think the elduh arrangement is an insidious hurt. Although there are decent men who are sincere, the simple fact is the fear they often feel by being judged by their fellow eldurs hampers them to speak frankly. Although talking about your problems and or weaknesses can be beneficial the arrangement does many negative things.

1 it can often give a false impression of being helped mentally, emotionally and spiritually, given the fact that the elduhs are simply not trained to spot, identify and help complex human problems. And the solution they offer is often littlebetter than saying a few hail Mary's and our fathers.

2 whereas talking therapy is often done in an attempted non judgmental way. The private meetings with the elduhs are often complicated with the feelings of judgement that happens much of time.

3 honest self evaluation is often curtailed by not wanting to draw unwanted attention and discipline.

52

My latest university experience...

by Billy the Ex-Bethelite in

jw
friends

this isn't a jw experience, but for those of you that have been following my life, i thought i'd have a drink and share this strange event in my post-jw life.. for you wonderful newbies, you can catch up on highlights of my story in the few threads i've started here.

i'm finishing the junior year of my engineering degree and the classes are hard as hell.

i used to be among the smartest students in the room until i hit the 300 level university courses.

Slavenomore

Billy,

Great job, to get a nod like that as an undergrad is a real accomplishment! I wish for you success in the project/s. Iwould research what this professor has published in the past to get to knw his mindset a little more. Im new here so i don't know your story, nor do I know how to look up past threads, but I would like to know how long was your tour of duty?

Slavenomore

55

Moses and his God directed mass genocide.

by AMO in

was wondering what modern day christians take is on the slaughter of hundreds of thousands perhaps millons, on his god directed journey to the promised land.???.

.

amo.

Slavenomore

If YHWH is more than just the tribal god of the Hebrews, As ra was for the egyptians and zeus for the Greeks and If what is referred to as "god" by monotheistic religionists is actually this YHWH then he has some explaining to do in how he led by example. When the religious nutcases (they also worshiped yhwh) came over from the low countries and England and met the "savages" that were the natives of this land they used this Moses story, and gods example as justification to committ a long history of genocide.

Are we not to lead by example? Were not the kings of Israel expected to lead by example? If YHWH is all knowing wouldn't he know that his example would be the basis of much of human conduct in the future? Many blame free will for dark moments of humanhistory saying "you can't blame god for genocide it's just bad people misusing their free will.". But I ask would the israelis be punishing the Palestinians without this and other stories found in their book? In the same token would there be such a thing called Jihad if not for the emphasis placed on such stories in the koran. Could it be said that Moses and Joshua directed a jihad against the idol worshipping pagan cannanites? This story and those of a similar color have been used as justification by conquerors when they conquer.

Or could it be that these are stories of a tribe fighting for survival and then when they win claim their god (insert gods name) was on their side and when they lose it was because they angered their god? stories and myths help people to understand otherwise difficult concepts and actions.

Now examples are important I think we can all agree. So I turn to a man like Gandhi, using nonviolence to solve problems ...and he worshipped brahma and vishnu and kali. Well it can be said gandhis pagan idea, This nonviolence, is a modern thought for a modern age is not applicable to the slave dealing concubine raping, sword weilding genocidal Hebrew culture 3000 years ago and that's true enough. Gandhi walking in israel would have clearly stood out like Jesus of nazareth standing in a kingdom hall.

But if YHWH is timeless and changes not then why did he allow himself to be depicted as an example of violence. People have to die for him and let's not forget the animals nor his son who had to die. Death blood and violence. Then in an amazing example of doublespeak that would make janet napolitano jealous...he inspires a guy to write...god is love. Even though his superlative example of love was sending his son to be executed. Now Jesus is practically an opposite example. And look what that led to...christians killing non christians and christians alike. Why? because the example that YHWH made for himself. I can almost hear Jesus now, " i have a hard enough job as it is, dad, why did you have to be such an intolerant, blood thirsty pyschopath...the sinners are just so confused."

And confused they are, for 2000 years apologists and critics have been hashing it out but only one man figured it out (recently) how to resolve conflict without shedding blood and he was a Hindu! So much for your example YHWH.

63

BROTHERS & SISTERS - READ THE BROCHURE!

by The Searcher in

jesus always used illustrations to help people reason on the import of what he was saying.

here is an illustration followed by a reality;.

imagine that your heart went out to all those poor people who suffered when fukushima blew up, so much so, that when an internationally renowned charity asked for donations to help those in need, you donated $5000 to the cause.

Slavenomore

CCC,

That little detail about compensating for the magazine discount is a detail that I think you left out of your story, but I think it's important. I remember an account in the bible about the Pharisees and the super righteous tithing off there amount for the dill and mint. And something about straining the gnat and swallowing the camel. Something about go back and read and find out what mercy is. Anyway, what a perfect example of the nickle and dime mindset of the WTB$. It makes me think of all those talks and articles about giving up the riches and focusing on the spiritual blessings. How about forgiving the debts of others?

ADCMS,

I think the proof of the scummy nature of the repairs was the insured properties were done first, and at least with my experience many of them did not need a tear off and reroof. On our last couple days we went to a house, really run down and no home insurance. It was stressed not to spend too much time. ther was so much to do...and these folks were still living in the house whereas most were vacant. If anyone was down there there would know what a mess it was, the areas we worked in we're very quiet often we were the only ones. We ended up replacing a door, which a member of the crew or perhaps us don't quite recall, paid foThey of course had no insurance...and they had little funds, basic national geographic style American poverty. My wife and I and others asked what we could do and they just asked for the door to be fixed. The point is...these folks were living in this mess and they were not priority, but the roofs on vacant homes...ie easy insurance billing and easy enough work with donated roofing...number one goal...so was it it people we helped...on looking back to that week now I think the jury would consider reasonable doubt.

Balaam,

Total fraud. No way it can be defined as other. Because what no one has mentioned yet is the fact that no claim should have bEen made. The WTB$ was doing its in house charity program easing the burden on government agency's and yes those insurance company's who mind you raised the premiums on all policies. If the materials, labor were donated then it's a wash. The homeowner in good conscience could say, we don't need the money for the roof or the mold abatement because it was done for us for free(which it was for all parties) but we need a check for abc etc. then the WTB$ would come out of this smelling like a rose. Instead of asking for the insurance money or part of it they should have said, brother...you know we fixed your house, so it could be seen as fraud if you billed the insurance company for this work, as it was done for you by your loving brothers, and we the mythical god of the Hebrews sees all so just be forewarned we don't want you to be missing at the after armeddegon party." But instead of being concerned about stumbling the little one or the weak they asked for there cut and now they come out smelling like dead presidents.

An illustration to this point would be this: you have your car fixed by a friend after a fender bender for free, he was just doing the generous and kind thing. The insurance company settles for the damages they asses it would cost if brought to a shop. A shop that pays workmanship comp, pays rent and labor and all the overhead. The cost of an average fender bender is around 1500-3000. The check arrives in the mail and you cash the check an take the family on a cruise. Most of us would cash the check without a second thought and head to an e coli infested overt crowded ship that loses engine power and...I digress. No one would know the difference. But we are talking about the claimed GODs organization who does everything scriptural and morally right, right? And everyone involved down there had the opportunity to learn of this scam first hand if they asked or were listening, as I and others including ADCMS did. Did the society care about stumbling us? Did they set the proper example for us to imitate...you remember imitate those taking the lead? Then a simple question is: what would Jesus do? would he shake down the homeowner, inflate the numbers so as to shake down state farm?

Slavenomore

34

My quick introduction

by Adam Believed in

hi, all.. ive been lurking and reading for many months now.

i have been an active member of jwrecovery for sometime now.

its iphone friendly!

Slavenomore

You sound like a straight shooter Adam, welcome aboard, I am also new here and enjoy reading peoples viewpoints and stories. Let us know when the elders get around to investigating you and your lovely wife, as you know they will if they here even a whisper of criticism or for daring to think freely and questioning matters that disturb both of you. I remember one sister that i investigated for the body she had her son sit on santas lap. That was it the hounds smelled blood. There is a boatload of advice on how to do it right and how not to. I wish I had learned about this site before I got involved with my JC but hey...

Slavenomore

17

Ciao

by Franco185 in

hello a warm greeting to all, i am writing with google translator, i am a former jehovah's witness, who grew up as a baby in this cult and unfortunately stayed there for many years.

i have my parents still active jw.

now happily out of this organization and are very active in exposing this false religious cult - deceptive trade.

Slavenomore

benvenuto Franco, mantenere il buon lavoro!

Slavenomore

535

AAWA is here!! (The Association of Anti-Watchtower Activists)

by cedars in

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fcic4g5tulw.

http://www.jwactivists.org.

facebook the association of anti-watchtower activists.

Slavenomore

As my lastpost for the day, cedars and all the others who worked together on this , you rock. May I be brazen to suggest a parody of wiki leaks how about witness leaks or witne leaks. I don't know how you find the time? Keep up the great and now truly innovative work.

Slavenomore

63

BROTHERS & SISTERS - READ THE BROCHURE!

by The Searcher in

jesus always used illustrations to help people reason on the import of what he was saying.

here is an illustration followed by a reality;.

imagine that your heart went out to all those poor people who suffered when fukushima blew up, so much so, that when an internationally renowned charity asked for donations to help those in need, you donated $5000 to the cause.

Slavenomore

ADCMS,

Yea I remember those announcements. It never moved me to give one penny...absolutely bogus money grab. It just made me think the TTATT is hidden in plain sight! What about those lunch encroaching stupid elduh meetings at the ass halls, the ones where we agreed to make up the difference for the inevitable shortfall in donations by plying more money from the Congo in an enforced per publisher donation arrangement? I had a few conversations will some younger elduhs about it, it seemed that didn't pass the sniff test for many.

The searcher,

The cost of remodeling and building is so often much more expensive then bringing in a private GC to to the job. In a local hall the brothers went head to head with the RBC about that, since they got an outside quote (totally against theocrapic direction mind you) and the outside quote was 60000$ cheaper. They turned down the request to have their hall remodeled. I guess their old purple wallpaper vrs the new purple wallpaper was not worth the 220000 remodel to them.

44

Differences Between JWs in the US and Europe

by BU2B in

jw
friends

there are many cultural differences between the general population of the us and europe, what about jws?

i have heard about such things as beards being allowed, movies that a jw cant watch in the us or would be frowned upon watching being ok, same with tv shows, and even the way they dress in public.

seems more laid back over there if this is true.. any truth to this?

Slavenomore

Since America was founded essentially by the religious fanatics from England and northern Europe...the puritans annabaptists basic run of the mill zealots and millennialists...these folks were given a one way ticket and a boot in their arse to get here...because of that it can be a function of our culture to be more puritanical in view, perhaps explaining subtle differences with TnA.

I lived in England as a kid, born there actually and visited quite often when I got here in 1979. My family was as non religious as can be. Taboos though amongst the older generation like my grandparents still abide in their social Peergroup... I visited Germany, italy and England later on as a witness. I didnt see much of a difference. At least in Germany I remember having a good time drinking with the friends. But then again we drank and partied here in Binghamton too. When I was in India as a witness(second trip) it was as if I hadn't left America. In fact on the Sunday I showed up at the KH I was asked to help a sister move! A bit of an adventure in Bombay. But still in all it was carrying couches and tvs downstairs and across town and then back up stairs. I didn't see any beards, or notice anything out of the ordinary, in fact it was anther nail in the coffin of my indoctrination...worldwide society BS. Just my 2 cents.

Slavenomore

27

Newbie Here- but I've been here the whole time

by TheDarksideHasCalledMe in

jw
friends

my wife and in-laws are now here and i'm on now.

i'm going to copy and paste my first post from jwstruggle...... my story is, i grew up as a jw.

my parents found out later on and didn't tell anyone.

Slavenomore

The dark side ain't what it used to be,

I read your story. Thanks for expressing yourself...Your wife sounds truly incredible. Slave no more, You are free from the cult and that if anything is reason to stand up, pat yourself on the back and celebrate. Sounds like you have a book in the making with such tragedy to such a transformation. Keep writing. Many people here have had similar experiences in their childhood. But As I was reading I could help but think of this song from staind. To me it seemed relevant, forgive me if it is not.

Song: Outside

Lyrics:

And you
Bring me to my knees
Again
All the times
That I could beg you please
In vain
All the times
That I felt insecure
For you
And I leave
My burdens at the door

But I'm on the outside
I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside your ugly
You're ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you

All the times
That I felt like this won't end
It's for you
And I taste
What I could never have
It was from you
All the times
That I've cried
My intentions
Full of pride
But I waste
More time than anyone

But I'm on the outside
And I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly
You're ugly like me
I can see through you
See to the real you

All the times
That I've cried
All this wasted
It's all inside
And I feel
All this pain
Stuffed it down
It's back again
And I lie
Here in bed
All alone
I can't mend
But I feel
Tomorrow will be OK

But I'm on the outside
And I'm looking in
I can see through you
See your true colors
'Cause inside you're ugly
You're ugly like me
I can see through you

See to the real you