Posts by "Heathen" Biker Babe

45

Chaperones

by Gretchen956 in

richie's thread got me wondering what ever happened to the practice of chaperoning???

i mean really, was this just a regional thing where i grew up?

we had to have a chaperone always with the opposite gender even if we were old!

Yes, the 95 year old woman and her 60ish son-in-law would have been quite the scandal even here in Jacksonville, Florida. My friend who was in his late 40's offered to drive an elderly sister in her late 80's down to Miami to check on her property after Hurricane Andrew devastated the area. He was told by the elders that he couldn't take her without a chaperone. Since no one was available (everyone was too bush in field service to look after this sister), she decided to drive herself. When she got down there she was accosted by some soldiers that were there. At least getting accosted was better to the brothers than her being safe but being deemed scandalous because she went off alone with a male.

Thank God I got out of that twisted religion!!!!! The God I serve is not the one they teach.

39

Why did you chose to join a cult?

by Gill in

jw
friends

many of us here were born into the jw cult and so had no real choice in life until we were much older.. however, those of you who actually chose to join the cult and be a jw, can you explain 'why' you wanted to believe 'the troof' that they claimed to have.

didn't it appear too good to be true?.

why would you want to put those kinds of restraints on your life and your mind?

"Heathen" Biker Babe

Even though I am glad to be out, I have no regrets for joining. I was one person who lacked any direction as far as being a Christian despite having gone to the Methodist church as a youth. Studying the bible and learning it was very beneficial to my life. Learning to be a Christian in the utmost sense has been a lesson that is priceless to me. Now, my definition of being a Christian and the JW definition are not one in the same that is why we are no longer together in our way of thinking. We were taught that you would know God's people if they had love among themselves. Sure, they don't kill each other in war but what about how you are treated in the congregation?. If that was what love was all about, I sure didn't want it.

Now I have friends from all walks of life. Unconditional love, now that's what it's all about. I have lesbian friends that I don't judge. That is up to God. All I have to do is show love and that is easy. I don't have to try and be perfect anymore. That is damn liberating!!!!!! A personal relationship with Jesus is what it is all about. I only have to answer to him, not the elder patrol or anyone else.

Dee, who escaped, thank God!!!!!!!

49

How to Deal with Shunners Part I. It Is They Who are Afraid

by jst2laws in

shunners, they are afraid.

how to deal with them.

having been df'd about a year ago for apostasy (the sin of thinking for yourself without disengaging your mouth) i have taken advantage of several opportunities to speak to local jw's.

"Heathen" Biker Babe

I recently experienced my first shunning. In six years I had not run into anyone from the kingdom hall. Then one day I was visiting a friend at the hospital and this woman was heading my way. I recognized her as she approached me but could not remember her name. I was looking at her face but she was staring straight ahead as if she had blinders on. I asked myself "Was I just shunned"? Well, maybe she didn't recognize me. We did go on that cruise together once. She had to know me. I still wasn't sure I was shunned. However, a few weeks ago I saw the same sister in the grocery store. After passing me in the aisle twice I knew I was officially being shunned. I had a big smile on my face as she passed me both times.

Being shunned felt really weird to me. I am not df'd or da'd. I have just been inactive for 6 years. Maybe the word got out that holiday decorations have been seen at my home. How do they know it isn't my worldly husband putting up the decorations? Isn't it wrong to assume wrongdoing on someone's part? I feel sorry for her. She never really got to know me until the cruise. She was surprised at how funny I was and friendly too. Her shunning me felt no different that it did going to the Kingdom Hall each week. I was widowed and did not have any association except for the old maid pioneer that no one else liked. It's amazing. I have loving, "worldly" friends galore. Birds of a feather smell alike. I guess I didn't smell right.

31

You Will Know By The Love They Have Among Themselves

by Corvin in

the organization of jehovah's witnesses boasts of having true brotherly love for one another.

i always believed they did, although i never felt it growing up in it.

i reckoned that there was something wrong with me since i never felt that "joy" and "spirit of love" that supposedly permeated the congregations.

"Heathen" Biker Babe

Hi everyone. I have been a resident lurker for a number of years. I have never posted but I have really enjoyed what I have read here and have come to appreciate all of you (Farkel, you are a mess!!)

Anyway, my husband passed away 12 years ago (he was "worldly"). If it wasn't for my "worldly" neighbors and co-workers, I don't know how I would have gotten through it. Not one invite for anything from a witness. I'd been a witness for years so this was totally expected by me. Just further proof that Jehovah's spirit does not dwell at the kingdom hall. One brother did help me when I was single with 2 kids. He loaned me lunch money for the kids and helped me fix my car. He would have gotten in trouble if the elders had found out that we were hanging out together. This man was also helping a sister with MS who was wheelchair bound. She had no one to take her to doctor appointments or the store, etc. He got called into the back room and told to stop associating with her because it didn't look good. It's funny but the "worldly" people don't give a rat's behind about things like that. You just have to watch out not to cause gossip at the kingdom hall. This really hurt him and the sister as well since no one else in her congregation helped her. Another time a sister who lived in Jacksonville, Florida had a house down in Miami and wanted to go check on it after Hurricane Andrew struck. My friend volunteered to take her. She was in her 80's. The brothers told him it wouldn't look right if he took her alone without a chaperone. Now how laughable is that? She couldn't find anyone else to take her, let alone go along as a chaperone. This man remains my friend even though he knows I no longer believe. He is one of the only true Christians I know in that organization.

The love just isn't happening. I sat back and watched it for years. I really got a kick out of the watchtower lesson that talked about reaching out to others in the congregation. Talk to them when the meetings are over, blah, blah, blah. So when the meeting was over, I stood up and looked around to speak to someone, since I hardly knew that many people and not one soul spoke to me. NOT ONE!!!! I walked out of there with the biggest smile on my face because I absolutely knew this was not the place for me.

They may consider us all apostates but there is more love here than in all the kingdom halls combined. The only thing that matters to the organization is going out in field service. Helping a brother in need is not necessary for eternal life in their opinion. I love being able to give love unconditionally to others and receive it in return. It is a wonderful feeling. I love God and I know he did not intend for others to micro-manage our behavior or consciences. It shows a total lack of love on their part.

Dee the "Heathen" BIker Chik