Posts by Steve Lowry

5

Why?

by Undecided in

jw
friends

almost all my memories are connected to the jws in some way.

if i go down an old road i haven't driven on in many years almost all the memories are about some bible study there, some store that i ate dinner in when in service, some place where we met for meetings, a home that some jw lived in back when i was a kid.

i get sort of melancholy remembering my parents and cousins who are all dead now.

Steve Lowry

I'm of an age, that my parent?s generation?s memory of their childhood was that of the Great Depression. Folks like my dad for instance, shared with me many times as I was growing up, "We didn?t know we were poor". Meaning, that even though with all of the hardships that were going on around him, the Depression happened at such an early age for him (it began when he was about four years old) that they (his family) was so busy pulling together just to survive life?s hardships that all he remembers now is the warmth and love he experienced with his family through those difficult times. Of course, now he realizes they were poor because everything is relative and he now has things and money in the bank and an easy life. And while he still cherishes his memories of growing up with his family through the Depression, he worked very hard at being a provider for us while grew up so we would have plenty. He wanted better for his children than he had; yet he wouldn't think of trading his memories of his youth.

I think many former JW?s may feel this way about their childhood and growing up as a JW. You can as a parent today want your children not growing up under an all or nothing, black or white headset, extremely demanding unforgiving religion. Yet somehow your memory growing up under it, is still something you cherish because your family ?made? it a good memory. It makes sense when you think about it.

Steve

19

Ways to motivate the Witnesses

by RR in

jw
friends

okay, so if you were running the watchtower and noticed a slump in its activities, what would you do, how would you improve it or motivate the dubs?

i'll start.

1. issue a watchtower visa/mastercard.

Steve Lowry

Well, first I'd make up some kind of time tracking form that the JW could fill out and feel real proud of, for how much time he or she were giving the organization, uh, I mean God.

Then, to create a special elitism within the group, I'd create a special class, maybe something like 'Pioneer'. This way, those who spend more time and make more sacrifices could feel real special and above the rest. And others would want that special recognition and aspire to be ?Pioneers? too.

Next, I would try and place subliminal messages in their magazines for them to read that would make them feel guilty for not selling more of the, uh I mean, not ?placing? more of the product, uh I mean literature.

I?d create a sense of urgency with more messages in the magazines they read, maybe something like how the end of the world was coming and how they would need to make great sacrifices to spend as much time placing as much literature as possible before the end. Maybe even give some examples about how some faithful followers sold their homes and gave up careers to further the cause.

I would also put some really cool stories in the magazines about those faithful followers who have been placing the literature. Some bad stories about how some would experience difficult situations but how they overcame and were "blessed" for their efforts. And some really nice stories about how sweet and rosey and beautiful the experience could be selling the stuff.

Lastly, I?d let them know through more subliminal messages in the magazines that they could never really do enough to please God, but selling more and more literature just may offset any "sins" in their lives come judgement day.

I dunno, but I think if the Watchtower Society were to ever pick up on any of these tactics and were to put them in to use, that?s probably all it would ever need to successfully motivate its followers. Lets? hope they never figure it out!

Steve

37

Second question: If you weren't roped into this religion by your parents...

by 2good2bad in

jw
friends

would you have chosen this faith on your own?

is it too hard to live righteously?

do you really bel i eve it's a cult?

Steve Lowry

Anyone who would (as an adult) willingly submit to Watchtower rule over their life (albeit a subtle process) is in my opinion the type of person looking to be controlled. I truly think there are these kinds of people who feel the need to be controlled by others. So, as an adult, no I couldn?t fall for such crap. I make my own way in this world.

As for your theory about JW?s being God fearing people based on the premise that they lead dedicated lives so as to "please" God. Remember, those who flew planes into the World Trade Center also thought they were pleasing God by their sacrifices. Nah, dedication does not a true believer make.

21

Confused JW sends email to me -- response suggestions?

by Quotes in

jw
friends

another email from a very confused jw: .

date: mon, 05 apr 2004 18:55:00 +0200 .

from: "gideon blankenaar" .

Steve Lowry

You come to an XJW site and ask for suggestions on how to make improvements to a Watchtower "tract", to another JW? You're kiddin' right?

13

My brother is a JW, and I love him.

by earpick18 in

jw
friends

my name is sara, and my older brother is a jehovah's witness.

i stumbled this website when i was feeling upset about my brother's association with jws.

i just wanted to thank you so much for creating a website like this.

Steve Lowry

You be very careful about saying negative things about the Watchtower Society to your brother. This is just what the Organization will use against those who try to reach out to the JW, by claiming persecution of the "Truth". Ever see a movie called, Alien? This creature attaches itself to the victim?s face and wraps its tail around the victim?s neck. As the doctor tries to pull the tail away from the neck, the tail just tightens even more.

Just be very careful how you go about ?pulling the tail?, as it were. Try to keep it generic. I like your idea about mentioning JW?s making the news with the UN. That?s good I think. You have to be crafty like a fox but remain innocent like a dove, or the ?tail? will tighten. He?s gonna be bombarded several times a week by Watchtower ideology. So, keep in mind it will be hard for him to hear your ?voice?. You could just try not mentioning anything about his religion and see how that goes. But then you?ll probably blame yourself for not trying to do something. In all actuality though, sadly, there is very little you can do. Becoming a JW is a bit like getting to close to a whirlpool. The pull inward starts gradually in beginning, but very soon the force of it overwhelms and the victim is pulled completely in. And very often there is little to do to save them.

I wish I could be more encouraging but my experience (and that of many others that I have seen in very similar situations) tells me that the odds are against you if you are planning on getting your brother out of the group. Just let him know how much you love him and by all means let him know about your successes in life. JW?s don?t like to think that other?s besides them are successful life or are truly happy. They ?want? to think that they are the only truly happy successful people on the earth. So, use this to your advantage. If you believe God has blessed you in some way, then share that with him. If he suggests to you that that wasn?t God, don?t argue. Just smile and say you believe it was and give him another example of His provision(s). But don?t do it in an argumentative way. Just state the facts, as you believe them to be.

Good luck.

Steve

23

Louisiana cops can come right in without a warrant!

by Yizuman in

jw
friends

link: http://www.theneworleanschannel.com/news/2953483/detail.html.

court opens door to searches without warrants .

posted: 3:55 pm cst march 26, 2004updated: 4:36 pm cst march 26, 2004. new orleans -- it's a groundbreaking court decision that legal experts say will affect everyone: police officers in louisiana no longer need a search or arrest warrant to conduct a brief search of your home or business.

Steve Lowry

Just last night a cop came to my door and asks where my wife was. (Really I?m not kidding.) She had just stepped out to get us some burgers for dinner when he knocked on my door. When I told him of her where abouts, he said she had called the police because we had had a fight. To which I said, no fight had taken place. He asked me if my address was "####"? I said it was but no fight or problems existed. To which he said, "Don?t tell me there?s no problem, I got your address on my computer!" About this time some lady came running down the street shouting her address which was just two digits off from mine. Instead of this guy apologizing, he looked back at me and said, he that he was just about to go into my home and look for my wife, and then he left. He was a power hungry nazi little prick and it showed in the way he handled himself. Well, I got fking pissed and I called the police department and raised hell. Five minutes later a Sargent knocks on my door. I told him about the situation and he apologized, but defended the cop?s behavior. To which I said, you always have to behave professional and this clearly was unacceptable behavior. He reluctantly agreed and apologized again and said he would 'talk? to the officer. He also told me they had had an officer stabbed in the line of duty that evening during a domestic violence call, so everyone was a bit on edge. Sure I understand that but that doesn?t give the guy the right to act like an asshole at my door just cuz he?s a cop and he's a bit on edge.

I guess if that woman hadn't of come down the street shouting when she did, I would have had a cop forcefully entering my home without my permission and scaring my little girl half to death.

17

Check this illusion out...

by getting it in

jw
friends

or click this link... http://www.tekzoned.com/weird/weirdo.html

Steve Lowry

When I was a kid my cousin and I would lie in bed and close our eyes and imagine a bright light (like a light bulb for instance). After doing that for a while (maybe like for a minute or so), we would open our eyes and see a kind of illusion like you would if you were to really look at a light for a few moments and then look away. It was a lot of fun, until I told my (JW) mom about it. She said it was demonic and we shouldn't do that. Yea, everything's demonic to the JW.

32

A thought experiment

by logansrun in

jw
friends

have you ever stopped to consider that the best thing we can do for ourselves as recovering cultists is simply to move on?

i know that is impossible for some, as they have deep connections with the organization due to family.

but for many the best move is simply to refuse to let the jws occupy much of our time and energy -- mental, physical and emotional.

Steve Lowry

I think that most of us (former JW?s) eventually come to the place, where we ask ourselves if keeping the JW connection in any form is overall beneficial to us in our lives. However I?m not so sure that this in itself is necessarily is a litmus test of personal growth and development or the lack of it. Its just a personal decision based on whether or not you want the JW experience to be an active part of your life anymore, however small a part that that may be. Personally I don?t "need" to frequent a discussion board such as this, but I do enjoy it when I do. Without ever being introduced to the person who is posting or knowing anything about them, I can instantly relate to them and understand their experience(s) as I take in their words. I enjoy having this powerful connection with other people who have also so been associated with the Jehovah?s Witnesses organization/religion. This bond is so strong between former JW?s that it practically knows no prejudice. Political views and other hot button topics can be discussed between former JW?s and even debated, but when all is said and done, we still have that thing in common that holds us together which is stronger than our personal opposing views. There is genuine love and compassion between former JW?s. It?s a family. People seem to bond with each other almost instantly. This love between former JW?s, (even if there?s nothing else) may be the one positive byproduct of being a JW.

I have someone very good friends of mine who are now in their late seventies who were JW?s for twenty years and left the group some thirty years ago. Their whole life is the former-JW ministry. They travel all over, speaking on the subject. Helen literally gets mail from around the globe asking for help and assistance form those hurting and confused by this religion. And Helen and Joe have no intention of quitting. I assure they are quite ?over it?, so to speak. Its just that dealing with former JW?s and staying current with what is going on with the religion is their passion.

For me, I?ve decided to keep my ?hand in?. Sure I could completely extricate the JW experience from my life. And there would be nothing wrong with that. The only negative I find for me by staying connected with it is when I read these heart wrenching stories that people share about the pain of their experiences. I feel anger and frustration when I read their stories because I realize just how unnecessary the pain that they have had to endure is. But such is the product and result of being associated with this cultic religion. Ironically, it is this very same frustration that makes me want to reach out and help by being an encouragement to them. And I guess it?s kind of cathartic for me as well.

Well, good luck to you Bradley in your journey wherever it may take you. And don?t forget you have a family here who loves ya.

Steve

54

Your Tomb Stone... what do you want written on it?

by Elsewhere in

jw
friends

.

i think i would like this on mine:.

you had your chance, but now he's gone.. please keep the line moving..

Steve Lowry

Well, at least I was smart enough not to die a Jehovah's Witness!

22

I am marrying a df JW-

by wtphobic in

jw
friends

i will be marrying a df jw in just 2 months.

it is now really bothering him that his parents won't come to the wedding.

omg- not only is he df, but it's being held in a church!!!

Steve Lowry

You need to understand that as unfair has JWs treatment of df'd ones is, most of them do this out of love, believe it or not. They aren't trying to be mean or cruel, but hoping if they shun them (us) then mabye he (we) will return . . ."

Sassy, I know this prolly isn?t the thread to get into this, but I don?t buy into your point of view in this area. Not completely anyway. The JW is driven by pride and self-righteous piety. They ?need? to feel superior to others (which helps to reinforce they?re right), and it becomes a kind of psychological intoxicating drug for them. It?s more important to the JW to maintain his or her sense of ?elitism? than it is to give that up and take a chance on not being one of the "chosen". They?ll never admit to it, but there?s a kind of satisfaction that comes from shunning those who have left. After all, those who have left (especially those who made the choice and not something that was thrusted upon them) threaten the JW?s sense of "righteousness", and what better way to keep that sense righteousness intact than by shunning. Nah, this isn?t a loving act, not really.

I know the JW can be really ?torn up? about having to shun a former family member (I?ve seen this battle go on in my mother for years), but this pain they endure proves to them they?re "pleasing" God, which is a kind of psychological reward. The pain proves worthiness. The more pain, the more worthy. It?s kind of Pavlovian. It may be painful for them on one level, but still satisfying on another. Don?t give them to much credit in this area. For the JW, the need to feel superior overrides the need to love.

Steve