Posts by Whiskeyjack

i would just like to extend greetings to all those poor souls who had to endure the torturous childhood of growing up in a strict jw lifestyle as i had.

i didn't know that there were such forums on the net, and i was made aware of this by my sister who is also a member here, i believe.. i find this kind of funny really.

Whiskeyjack

Welcome D.Y.,

Looking forward to reading your story.

Dark Uncle,

I agree that there are some organizations and groups that should be combated.The Nazi's provided a great belief system (as long as you were a "pure" German) so "live and let live"? I feel at least some obligation to help in some sort of educational work (at the minimum) particularly for other young people (lots of relatives) though I don't want to do it in a churlish manner which would reduce the impact of my arguments.

That said, I agree (ugh!) with Eduardo in that you shouldn't feel obligated to fight with or castigate your parents at this stage in your life. Continuing displays of love and respect can do a lot more and pave the way for serious discussion in later years as well as disarm them in regards to your "worldy" behaviour. I have a similar dilemma in that regard (just leave'm alone?) to their remaining years on this planet and how much I should attack their belief system. I still not sure what I'll do eventually.

Welcome again!

W.

13

Slainte! God Bless the Irish One and All!!

by ezekiel3 in

jw
friends

.

i wish you all a grand st. padraig?s and may you drown the shamrock tonight!

Whiskeyjack

Let's pause and salute all the poor over worked bouncers who'll have their hands full tonight!

W.

9

Current JW's Compared to 30...20, Even 15 yrs Ago

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

i have read on here over the past few years many threads pertaining to "the fall of the wt" most recently the "divided branch" one and also if jwish will become more mainstream.

i think that jw's today are vastly different than several to a few decades ago.

for instance, i am an active jw and i go through the motions and i can probably acurately assume that i am not alone... in fact there are many like me i am sure.

Whiskeyjack

I'd have to agree with your observations Xbehere.

I still remember the huge guilt trip on youth in regards to education (if I remember correctly, Franz gave such a talk at the '84 Montreal asssembly when I was a high school senior that made me feel like a complete shit!). As for double-lifers, the hardcore component of all halls(people who follow the letter of the JW law with no exceptions) must be shrinking since more people are making their own decisions on what's appropriate behaviour.

I've no idea how the org. will "manage" the current generation (no pun intended!) which is even more independent than ours (internet, chat-lines, etc...) and better informed. Either they "ratchet down" behavioural requirements or develop a "don't ask -don't tell" policy which will prove counter productive in the long run. What's going to happen when our parents' generation passes away? These kids don't have to same "escalation of committment" to overide logic and critical thinking affecting their parents and grandparents.

After the next decade or so, what will happen? The org. seems to be prepared to shrink in their western world "base" and focus on the Third World (see the new OM book thread).

W.

16

am i the only one?

by crizlee in

jw
friends

im 17, havent ever really kissed a girl before or had a real girlfriend, and i have a few close friends.

my days consist of school, work, workout, homework, sleep, shower, repeat.

the weekend is unpredictable, it can be super awesum or just effin depressing.

Whiskeyjack

Hey C,

Please just remember, we're bombarded thru our media on what you have "to have" or "have to be" to be a happy "normal" person. Don't buy in to that. Most of these happy, self-actualizing individuals have their own problems and personal issues which they don't display publicly.

At 17, you've got a "few" miles left in you yet and you're already 4 plus years ahead of the "game" than I was. The best thing I can recommend is to talk and interact with as many people from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds as possible during your school years. While our collective experiences growing up in the org. are unusual, we're not the only ones who've been thrown a "curveball" in life. My high school years were horrid (probably worst than yours) but I had a great university experience!

Your life is just beginning old fella!

W.

25

Hello everyone!

by MissMelly in

jw
friends

hi everyone, my name is melissa.this site is the best!

i used to be a member on this forum a couple years ago, but have since list all my past information.

but alas, i have returned.

Whiskeyjack

Welcome back!

W.

18

JW in Canada wins $30k for not wanting to place Christmas decorations

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

take steps to avoid human rights disasters

in most discrimination cases that go to court, an employee's complaints were ignored: problem may be hidden

marilyn linton

Whiskeyjack

Pierre Trudeau's legacy lives on!

The Canadian Supreme Court's role has indeed changed in the last couple of decades (up here, the judges are just appointed by the party in power at the time with no vetting in regards to their degree of conservatism/liberalism) and Parliamentarians are getting quite annoyed with their interpretations' (pretty "liberal" bunch on the bench right now) effect on existing legistlation.

The Canadian Charter certainly lacks specificity and coupled with a truly multi-cultural reality (half of all Toronto residents weren't born in this country) has led to widespread attempts at social engineering by the federal and some provincial governments (particularly in Liberal dominated legislatures) to "steal a march" on further court decisions. This is probably the best legal system to be a "witness" in right now (even "better than Europe), even in Quebec.

Do we know which court reviewed the case (this sort of thing usually goes to the tribunal system first)?

W.

39

my mom stopped going to meetings today

by dh in

jw
friends

.

i don't talk about my family very much on here, but today i feel i have to, because today after all the years of pushing, finally there is a result.. thanks to life & the universe and everyone on jwd, who by simply existing have helped in a way that i don't know how to write.. today is the day my mom stopped going to meetings.. i won't go into loads of detail at this point because it's very involved, but it's done.

my dad is an elder and is still going, but my mom is out now.. thanks

Whiskeyjack

Congrats! Maybe there's still hope for my folks!

W.

126

I still think it might be the truth - what is wrong with me?

by slimboyfat in

apostate literature - i have read the lot.

you name it - c of c, gentile times reconsidered, thirty tears a watchtower slave, the orwellian world of jehovah's witness, apocalypse delayed, and the freeminds and watchtower observer sites, so on and so on.

and i have been reading the posts on this site regularly pretty much since it started, and hourglass before it.

Whiskeyjack

Hey Slim,

Could you be a little more specific? Are you talking about chronology (and hence the FDS legitimacy?) or other doctrine (two flocks vs. one flock, etc...) or just the org.'s "fruits"?

I'm now agnostic myself (but hopeful!) and it was the dysfunction that I observed as an adolescent that made my mind up. While we like to think all our decisions are based on rational logic, many are based on emotion. This is especially true when religion organized in a complicated social structure is involved (we're all herd animals, sociopaths notwithstanding).

One danger I saw in my one of my siblings was the desire to "go back" to the "herd" but it was an emotional motivation, not the result of logical/thinking in regards to the "facts". Starting over from scratch (philisophical search for meaning in life, etc...) is not fun and one may be searching the rest of one's life.

W.