Posts by Faithful Witness

8

My JW mom is coming for her 2nd visit this year!

by Faithful Witness in

my kids are so excited to see grandma again, after just a month.

she canceled her visit scheduled for 2 weeks ago, when she realized it was the weekend of the circuit assembly.

(they drive 75 miles, to go to the assembly hall, which is 3 miles from my house... we still wonder if they take the long way, or just hold their breath as they go driving by our property unnoticed).

Faithful Witness

My kids are so excited to see Grandma again, after just a month. She canceled her visit scheduled for 2 weeks ago, when she realized it was the weekend of the circuit assembly. (They drive 75 miles, to go to the assembly hall, which is 3 miles from my house... We still wonder if they take the long way, or just hold their breath as they go driving by our property unnoticed).

My husband and I are going out for a rare evening together without the kids. The kids will have fun with her in charge, and they have been fully armed against JW indoctrination. They can't wait to play Mario Kart, make homemade pizza and have a fun time with the real Grandma.

At her last visit, she promised to bring me some magazines. I have not had a chance to do my homework, as I really am focusing more on real life and my own family. We will see how it goes. It won't be the focus of our time together, but I'm sure some JW issues will come up. I do plan to address the situation with my sister again, as I know it really bothers her.

I hope she has a good time away from her usual Saturday drudgery, and we can create some more fun memories. Since I have agreed to accept her magazines, I can remind her that she can count her time here.

Here's hoping for a fun time! She will be sleeping here for the night... first time in over a year. Yay! Maybe I have not completely lost her after all.

30

100 Years of Rule and the 1/15 WT

by Bob_NC in

first, i cannot believe how dumbed-down and simplistic the writing is now.

we used to have study articles with substance.

the writing style now is for people with slow minds or at the level of junior high students with learning disabilities.

Faithful Witness

The Searcher: "Can any fellow Witness explain to me how we end up having THREE kings ruling over us at the same time????????"

Great question, Searcher! I like your references.

Maybe they are about to adjust their understanding.

9

Do you know the difference between the words of GOD vs the GB?

by bruh2012 in

circuit overseer said to the congregation last night:.

some are having problems going to detroit for the convention- some say it's too far, some say it's dangerous, some say i never been there before- why are you disobeying jehovah since "he said" you should go to detroit to worship me!!

huh!!!

Faithful Witness

My parents are going to Detroit for the "International Convention." My mom was very excited to tell me about it.

I think she said it is the weekend of June 7-8.

30

100 Years of Rule and the 1/15 WT

by Bob_NC in

first, i cannot believe how dumbed-down and simplistic the writing is now.

we used to have study articles with substance.

the writing style now is for people with slow minds or at the level of junior high students with learning disabilities.

Faithful Witness

Bob: Was your grandmother a JW her whole life?

4

Makes me sad :(

by elder-schmelder in

jw
friends

what do you think of this picture?

a friend of mine posted this on her facebook page.

she is not a jw and has never been one.

Faithful Witness

Most churches have separate programs for kids that are this age, and a lot of kids really think it is fun. My daughter used to love her Sunday School class when she was that little.

I would actually be asking questions about who is tending the children while I'm in church service. They could just have a mean teacher, or there could be a bully in class. My son freaked out about his Sunday School class once, and we figured out it was because he was just scared of his teacher. She was very big and even though she really is a kind and loving lady, she intimidated him.

I was pretty worried when he had this reaction about going to his class. (WHAT are they doing to him???) He and I went to talk in private, and were able to let the other teacher know about his worries. "She's just so BIG!!" (I was so embarrassed but also wanted to laugh out loud from relief).

About this drawing: Who is Bibi & why is Bibi crying? Could the child just be sad to leave a friend?

14

Subliminal Messages Dispensed Through Memes and Imagery

by Faithful Witness in

this might sound like an abstract idea, but i would love to hear your thoughts.

there seem to be so many questions that can not be answered in their literature and research materials.

there are things they just "know," even though they are often unable to find where it was published in printed material.. how many of their beliefs are being changed, shifted and spread throughout the congregation, through use of comments alone?

Faithful Witness

tornapart: If those around them believe it and repeat it enough, they might come around.

The idea of the "meme," is that it morphs like a gene, and without conscious effort, a thought becomes "your" thought.

Have there ever been any other "loaded" or over-the-top idea, that they have adopted as their own?

19

As a JW, What statements made you "stop thinking?"

by Faithful Witness in

thought-stopping platitudes, like "we are in the last days!

"jehovah's witnesses are the only ones with the truth...".

what statements or claims did you use, or hear, that made you feel comforted by the fact that you were part of jehovah's organization?.

Faithful Witness

Teach them early and remind them often, not to trust themselves, or to "lean on your own understanding."

As my father repeated to me three times in a recent conversation, "They are smarter than me!"

When we were Bible students, they would encourage us to "do your own research! I did!" The problem with that idea, is that you are only really allowed to look at WTS literature. If you find anything that is not agreement, it is discarded as a lie from Satan's system.

"Keep a waiting attitude."

"We are the only ones following Christ's commands."

19

As a JW, What statements made you "stop thinking?"

by Faithful Witness in

thought-stopping platitudes, like "we are in the last days!

"jehovah's witnesses are the only ones with the truth...".

what statements or claims did you use, or hear, that made you feel comforted by the fact that you were part of jehovah's organization?.

Faithful Witness

Thought-stopping platitudes, like "We are in the last days!"

"Jehovah's Witnesses are the only ones with the Truth..."

What statements or claims did you use, or hear, that made you feel comforted by the fact that you were part of Jehovah's organization?

22

Conversation with elder's wife

by Faithful Witness in

yesterday, i had a chance meeting with an acquaintance from the kh we used to attend.. after being away from the meetings for so long, and really starting to feel like i've almost entirely shed their false teachings, i have somehow lost sight of the fact that there are actually still people who really believe it.

i read the magazines now, and find it virtually impossible to comprehend how anyone can actually swallow those ideas.

it seems so warped and twisted to me now.. i guess the best way i can describe this encounter, was being "cornered" in public.

Faithful Witness

Her decision seemed to be prompted by the fact that I sent gifts to my niece and nephew, but she wrote:

"While I appreciate the thought, please do not send us gifts.
Our kids are not missing out on anything other than things we try to protect them from.
At this time, based on prior encounters and their affect on me emotionally, I think it would be best if we didn't communicate.
I hope you can understand my decision and the fact that it is not meant to offend anyone."

She has not responded, to tell me what specifically I have done to effect her emotions. I think I might make her doubt.

We were never baptized, but when we stopped studying, my brother in law confronted me (alone, without my husband). He accused me of "turning my back on Jehovah." After that day, my sister stopped attending any event at my house. She has never been upfront about her decisions or why she is making them. Her husband has always been in control of the family, and it has grown progressively worse since the JW's have "saved their marriage."

22

Conversation with elder's wife

by Faithful Witness in

yesterday, i had a chance meeting with an acquaintance from the kh we used to attend.. after being away from the meetings for so long, and really starting to feel like i've almost entirely shed their false teachings, i have somehow lost sight of the fact that there are actually still people who really believe it.

i read the magazines now, and find it virtually impossible to comprehend how anyone can actually swallow those ideas.

it seems so warped and twisted to me now.. i guess the best way i can describe this encounter, was being "cornered" in public.

Faithful Witness

Outlaw: Exactly!

problemaddict: What a sad story. I'm so glad I escaped with most of my mind intact. To be totally honest, I don't think they ever would have had enough answers to satisfy my husband, and he would have done whatever was necessary to protect his family. (Even though there was that one time, when the BS teacher cornered him alone, and threatened him, "Are you going to progress here, or are you going to sentence your family to death at Armageddon?"... death threats, really? Didn't have much power over a college educated Gulf War veteran... PULL, don't push, silly JW!).

Robert: What are the 5 most often used WTBS platitudes, and how do I overcome them? I haven't thought of it in these terms before. I'm pretty sure she used at least 2 or 3 on me yesterday, and I didn't challenge her. I don't know her, and really didn't go to the gas station, prepared for battle. ;)

But now I do feel like I definitely should be better prepared, as she has spent many years practicing her techniques.