Posts by problemaddict 2

37

Grocery Store conversation with an elder

by problemaddict 2 in

i'm inactive here to the local jw's as i have faded.

i've been slandered and all that, shunned by some but not all, but the elders basically leave me alone.

i still run into to people all over though.

problemaddict 2

I'll be honest......it was gratifying.

So of course my son did not hear me. I teach him to respect everyone, especially the mentally ill. (little joke there)

In his defense, he is a young elder, and we knew each other for years. But he is also very by the book.....he once asked me why I don't just DA myself.

He.....and everybody......know I am not attending, and will not attend. My "inactive" status is really just a technicality that allows me to still openly speak with others. As a result.....I have been able to help some start their own journey out.

Of course I am celebrating my sons birthday......but I'll be damned if I will tell him that. That was sort of the entire point. He didn't get an answer he could use, and if i run into him or any of them.....they will think twice before prying. Its all about getting them to not think of me as a lost sheep....but as a grown ass man just like all of the rest of them that they run into.....and don't ask prying questions of.

37

Grocery Store conversation with an elder

by problemaddict 2 in

i'm inactive here to the local jw's as i have faded.

i've been slandered and all that, shunned by some but not all, but the elders basically leave me alone.

i still run into to people all over though.

problemaddict 2

I'm inactive here to the local JW's as I have faded. I've been slandered and all that, shunned by some but not all, but the elders basically leave me alone. I still run into to people all over though. Lots of JW's in Cali. I ran into one young, now elder, in the local grocery store. I have known him for years.

Me - Hey Frank (name isn't Frank). How are you?

Frank - PA oh just busy doing well thank you.

(small talk....weather...work...bananas)

My kid - Did you know my birthday is in 1 week? I'm turning 5. **runs to get me potatoes**

Frank - Do you guys celebrate his birthday?

Me - Do you continue to masturbate while now serving the congregation?

Frank - WHAT!?!?

Me - Oh......I just thought we were trading questions that were none of the other persons business. My bad. Alright bud....good luck with those green bananas being ripe by tomorrow. **Pats on shoulder.

That felt good. Just kind of happened.

114

JW Stumper Questions - List You Best Here

by pale.emperor in

hi guys.

sooner or later we're going to get a jw knocking on our door.

just like when we were jw's doing the knocking, it's good to have a question prepared to get them thinking about their own beliefs.

problemaddict 2

A lot of great ones here. I wonder like Cofey though if any of these would really wake someone up? Some of these I would have eaten alive in my JW apologist years. What might get people to think?

I liked this one.

Do you believe in freedom of religion?"
(yes of course)
"Then why do you not speak to people when they quit your religion?"

Simple and puts them on the spot. They will either have to lie, write you off, or be uncomfortable. If you do it with kindness and sincerity....could have an effect?

23

BREAKING NEWS out of Canada

by Newly Enlightened in

jwvictims.org has another breaking news article out of canada: https://jwvictims.org/2017/10/02/breaking-news-66-million-class-action-suit-request-filed-against-jws-in-canada/.

problemaddict 2

Interesting. 66M for ALL abuse victims in all of Canada seems a bit on the light side. I would expect them to offer a bargain and in the end feel like they saved some money. This comment from the article was odd.

The suit also notes the prohibition against group therapy or counseling, to protect the confidentiality of others in the congregation.

Technically there is NO prohibition on counsel. Maybe some nuddging against it (as we all know is part of the culture), but nothing overt.

51

The boys in Pennsylvania- The real power behind Watchtower

by UnshackleTheChains in

i am quite interested in something mike and kim said in their video when talking about why their you tube videos are being taken down.

in their video below, at around 35 seconds.

mike say's that he has being trying to tell people that the boys in pennsylvania are the real power behind watchtower - not the governing body?.

problemaddict 2

So here is a thought. This is kind of a nothing-burger. Here is why. The way corporations work in the USA this makes perfect sense. So they have removed the "religious leaders" so to speak from the corporate board, which requires votes, meeting on minutes, and prone to audit, etc.... (which takes time and is really just mostly nonsense), and placed people charged with handling that burden or corporate leadership for their 501C3.

I don't think any of us however ACTUALLY believe that the GB is not making decisions in the end. Nor do I think its safe to say, that the board acts independantly from the religions leadership. For technical purposes, the greasy guts might be in the corp registered (but not neccesarily physically located) in Penn. However, the power lies with those who control the religion, and set its policies. That is the GB. End of story.

So the "boys in Penn" act on the word of those whom they follow, and are in a leadership role only in as much as they fullfilling the dictates they have received and proven themselves loyal to the religion to be in that position. Anything beyond that kind of just borders on conspiracy theory.

35

Leah Remini Scientology series might tackle Jehovah's Witnesses in season 3

by jp1692 in

i've seen comments by some on leah's expose on scientology: aftermath.

she actually won an emmy for this show.

rumor is that she might take on jehovah's witnesses in season 3. .

problemaddict 2

Well...I hope its done right. Not sensationalized, which is easy to dismiss. For example this quote from the cited article....

The unnamed contact told Remini she should be careful about Jehovah’s Witnesses, however, because “these f—ers are super powerful.”

I call BS on that. Powerful how? Ridiculous.

20

A new step in my exit from the WT

by Skepsis in

jw
friends

if you remember, i've been posting here my subsequent steps from a regular pioneer and ms at the beginning of this year to a rank-and-file publisher after stepping down as ms two months ago.. during these months, i've been through a difficult way.

but after every step, i could feel freer and better.

i've met a person outside the wt that has changed my life forever and i have experienced a freedom of thought and an inner peace like never before.. however, i knew that staying in my hometown would make my fading very difficult.

problemaddict 2

I understand. I think you are doing it the correct way. Go to a few meetings. Do not however give them your cel phone, or address just yet. Just explain you will be getting a new one soon, or that you will be moving intoa new place blah blah. Then once your cards are there.......boom. Fade. Be patient. If you do it right, you will not regret it.

17

Once you've proved the truth to yourself you don't need to keep trying to disprove it...

by cognisonance in

i was told this during my judicial committee (some five years ago) when i brought up concerns i had with the "truth.

" in addition one of the elders (who was an engineer) said once you've accepted a proof of pythagorus' theorem you don't later start doubting that theorem.

i thought that argument was a weak analogy then.

problemaddict 2

Well its a silly analogy because comparing a mathematical formula, with a religious "proof" are simply not in the same universe.

Math can be proven. Religious studies are related to culture, bias, upbringing, pre-concieved ideas, geography, and in the case of JW's, a very specific narrative. Its not apples and oranges, its comparing apples and Subarus.

Also....I recall the bible disagreeing with them?

2 Cor 13:5

James 1:3

1 Thes 5:21

41

My Mothers Ultimate Rejection

by What Now? in

i went into my mother's office to leave her a small note to say that we love and miss her and would love to get together.

i found this on her desk.

this is jehovah's witnesses.

problemaddict 2

Ugh. How horrific. Right when you were leaving a note for her wanting to get together. Sheesh. I am so sorry. Here is the issue I run into. If my mother was to shun me, I don't think I could allow the grandchildren to visit her. First for obvious indoctrination reasons. 2nd, I feel as though i am tacitly teaching them that sort of behavior is ok and excusable on some level......which it is not.

Yet.....I would hate for my little ones to grow up without access to their only grandparents. In the end, I feel like myself and my immediate family are a package deal. I need to teach my kids that loyalty to your blood matters.

Am i reading it right that she is doing this partially on behalf of your sisters? You guys have a bad relationship?

40

Return of the Dub (plus surprise guest)

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

return of the dub (plus surprise guest)dealing with just one frisky, bright-eyed jehovah’s witness is a handful.one on one is manageable.

two jw’s is more like juggling chainsaws or french kissing alligators.i had a return visit the other day and now, the jw was returning the 2nd time, but with another dub.what would my strategy be?

that’s how the day was spent.

problemaddict 2

I enjoyed reading these. I instinctively understand the exhaustion, and the feeling of tenseness in those circumstances. My guess is that Earl would like to hang out again, but that the big dig he brought with him might convince him you are "not rightly disposed".