Posts by AndersonsInfo

29

Steve Hassan Interviews XJW elder, Roberto di Stefano, at ICSA Conference in Italy

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

trieste, italy - icsa conference - july 6, 2013. both roberto di stefano and steve hassan were speakers at the conference.

you can see the hassan interview on his website.

here's the link:http://freedomofmind.com/media/video.php?id=59.

Steve Hassan Interviews XJW elder, Roberto di Stefano, at ICSA Conference in Italy

by AndersonsInfo in

jw
friends

trieste, italy - icsa conference - july 6, 2013. both roberto di stefano and steve hassan were speakers at the conference.

you can see the hassan interview on his website.

here's the link:http://freedomofmind.com/media/video.php?id=59.

AndersonsInfo

Trieste, Italy - ICSA Conference - July 6, 2013. Both Roberto di Stefano and Steve Hassan were speakers at the conference.

You can see the Hassan interview on his website. Here's the link: http://freedomofmind.com/Media/video.php?id=59

183

Article: It's Time to Outlaw Extreme Shunning in Modern Society

by AndersonsInfo in

http://gilmermirror.com/bookmark/23272594/article-extreme%20shunning#.ufwjurllscm.facebook.

extreme shunningthe gilmer mirror.

its time to outlaw extreme shunning in modern society by: richard e. kelly .

Whether some like Richard Kelly’s article or find fault, it has served as a wonderful tool for discussion and I'm pleased to be part of it. Perhaps we can compare the posts on this thread like all of us being in a room brain-storming on what to do about "shunning." The result of such a serious discussion as what I see taking place now on JWN, could be some sort of consensus for what to do and, perhaps, what not to do, about shunning. By educating ourselves first about how to combat this inhumane treatment, done in the name of God, is the key to dealing with it. Maybe there is a way out of this dilemma but without input how can we take on this messy business in a practical way that might lead to success.

Barbara

183

Article: It's Time to Outlaw Extreme Shunning in Modern Society

by AndersonsInfo in

http://gilmermirror.com/bookmark/23272594/article-extreme%20shunning#.ufwjurllscm.facebook.

extreme shunningthe gilmer mirror.

its time to outlaw extreme shunning in modern society by: richard e. kelly .

AndersonsInfo

I sure can bring out the worst in some people. And I'm just the one who posted someone else's article. Imagine if I wrote it, what the reaction would be. However, Band on the Run has a right to her opinion and that's the beauty of discussion boards where we can express ourselves without punishment, unlike being one of Jehovah's Witnesses who would be penalized with shunning for saying anything negative about "Mother." Tomorrow is another day and the board will go on to like or not like someone else's thread.

Strange, I started a few threads and posted my opinion on some threads after an absence of many months on this board, and I've become someone who is too much in the public eye. Hey, I wrote a few essays recently that I'm planning to post on the Internet. Doing this will prove to be interesting, but I can handle criticism and can give as good as I get. Let the games begin!

Barb

98

Another new book: Jehovah's Witnesses - AN EXPOSE, written by a former elder and retired veteran United Airlines pilot

by AndersonsInfo in

a comprehensive new book:.

"the good... the bad... the deceptive.... and worse!

an expose".

AndersonsInfo

If and when I write a book, there’s only one person I want to edit my work – compound complex. And, i nstead of a nearby cublicle once again, I wish he/she lived in a nearby house, or town, so I could avail myself of her/his expertise and humor.

And for what it’s worth, after CC does the editing, I think I’d send the finished manuscript to Oubliette. That way, with CC and Oubliette's input, I’d end up publishing the perfect book! That also would be the way to remove Oubliette from JWN's critic's corner. (Hope you know Obliette that I'm just teasing!)

In a way, the different reactions to Staelens’s book have been a learning experience. I don’t want to stop announcing new books on JWN, so probably will continue to do it, but let the author beware and the chips fall where they may.

Any suggestions from posters on this matter will be considered.

Barb

98

Another new book: Jehovah's Witnesses - AN EXPOSE, written by a former elder and retired veteran United Airlines pilot

by AndersonsInfo in

a comprehensive new book:.

"the good... the bad... the deceptive.... and worse!

an expose".

AndersonsInfo

Oubliette, it's not that I don't know that you have suffered because you are, after all, an XJW. I would guess that you are really a very concerned XJW from what you said in your last post about everyone's work will not have the same impact, merit or worth. Maybe I'm wrong, but that seems to go against your grain because you want XJW books to be above ordinary or maybe above less than ordinary. I really do agree with your point of view if this is the case. It would be wonderful if all the actions and words of XJWs were up to the best of standards, but you know that's impossible. So we take what we can get. Over the years, I have come to the conclusion that the best worded and most factual information about the WT goes over some folks head, but some idea that might be silly or offensive to me, others are impressed with.

No one can possibly know how much error is out there written by XJWs about the WT as I do. At one time, it got under my skin, but not anymore. Eventually, it all comes out in the wash. For a fact, I'm seeing fiction being replaced by solid facts about the WT dug up by serious researchers.

Personally, I think that Jim Staelens book will be enjoyed by XJW men who are interested in his career as a pilot. I know that Joe sure is enjoying it even if it might have a few warts. In our opinion, "Different strokes for different folks" can be applied to what we want from Staelen's book. And I'd like to leave it at that.

Nice to get to know you a little better from your latest posts.

Barbara

98

Another new book: Jehovah's Witnesses - AN EXPOSE, written by a former elder and retired veteran United Airlines pilot

by AndersonsInfo in

a comprehensive new book:.

"the good... the bad... the deceptive.... and worse!

an expose".

AndersonsInfo

Oubliette: Please understand that I'm not defending my writing; I'm defending all former JWs right to write whether they are professional or not. I believe what they say should be our first consideration, not how they say it unless they are really ignorant, unethical, etc. I feel that the professionalism of a book cover is not as big a deal as many do, but what's inside that book is to be treasured because it represents what those in our community have gone through in the WT organization. When I read their words, I feel their tears and frustrations because I walked in their shoes although our stories might have been somewhat different. XJWs will always be my "brothers and sisters." We are from the same community and most of us will in some way or the other carry the baggage of sadness to our graves because of what we have lost. That's who I am and that's why I have a hard time understanding why we are so hard on one another. I have heard the cries from thousands during the past 20 years and those voices have made me what I am today. Maybe I'm quaint and don't fit into this day and age, but appreciation and kindness expressed towards me goes a long way, and I want to show that I have that same feeling for what others do to expose the WT's oppression too.

Less I forget, I really do appreciate your kind words about my presentation of factual info regarding the WT. It's like getting more wind for my sails!

Barbara

98

Another new book: Jehovah's Witnesses - AN EXPOSE, written by a former elder and retired veteran United Airlines pilot

by AndersonsInfo in

a comprehensive new book:.

"the good... the bad... the deceptive.... and worse!

an expose".

AndersonsInfo

I guess my husband, Joe, loves “bad” writing, Oubliette, because he's had his head in Staelens’s book all day. He finally came up for air to eat lunch, but right now he's back in his chair reading. During lunch Joe told me a little bit about what he read, and, I must say, it sounds to me that the author led an interesting life as a pilot, and as a JW. In the Press Release, Staelens writes that his book “…contains information from airline procedures, accidents, tragedies and events that readers will find both riveting and very relevant to this expose’.” Well, Joe said that’s exactly what is keeping him glued to the book.

In addition, although Joe is a Humanist in outlook and is not particularly interested anymore in examining scriptures to make a point, Staelens, Joe said, does a competent job in using the scriptures to reveal WT’s misuse of the scriptures, but that’s just Joe’s opinion; you might think otherwise.

I have not read JEHOVAH’S Witnesses – AN EXPOSE,’ but until I do, I am reserving judgment now. Moreover, when I do read the book, I won’t share my opinion on the board because I don’t want to influence anybody in their decision-making whether to buy the book of not. We’re all so different that what I might like to read, someone else might not like to read because “Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.”

However, I can tell you this – I’m not hearing from Joe that Staelens claims to be a professional writer; he does, however, claim to be a professional pilot.

Oh, by the way, as you can tell from my writing, I’m not a professional writer, far from it. (Actually, I’m not a professional anything.) But, I’ve heard tell that many people find my “testimony” about what I saw and experienced as a JW and Bethelite interesting and informative! Each of us have a story to tell and if there was a rule that to share our story we would have to be a professional writer, no former JW would write a book, and, to me, what a loss that would be.

From what I've observed, most professional airline pilots do come off as self-assured, but they better be because of all the lives they hold in their hands. I never cared too much for “arrogant” elders, though, "PaintedToeNail." We hope to meet Captain Staelens and his wife soon (They moved to Tennessee a few years back), and perhaps we’ll discuss the assertions made here on JWN by you. I sure hope Jim Staelens, Sr. has a good sense of humor. Maybe he’ll remember you! I'm just saying...

Barbara

183

Article: It's Time to Outlaw Extreme Shunning in Modern Society

by AndersonsInfo in

http://gilmermirror.com/bookmark/23272594/article-extreme%20shunning#.ufwjurllscm.facebook.

extreme shunningthe gilmer mirror.

its time to outlaw extreme shunning in modern society by: richard e. kelly .

AndersonsInfo

Band on the Run: I admit that you are a knowledgeable person, but you know nothing about the internal happenings within the WT or what's happening in the internal affairs of critics of the WT like me. You only damage your credibility when you say I have "delusions" etc. People on this board know what I'm about and what I've done for years. You don't know me and you sure don't know what I know which I don’t talk about on this board. I wrote what I did from personal knowledge and to give hope to people who feel hopeless because they believe that WT always wins and that they will never see their loved ones again due to shunning. You tear down our work with your comments but you have freedom of speech as I have. Say what you will, but I know that you are wrong and I want the posters and lurkers on the board to know that you are wrong. Just wait a while and you'll see why I say that.

Personally, I don't think you understand what my post was all about. I'm advocating spreading true information to undo false information. Everyone knows the words of Jesus, that "Truth will set you free." Learning the truth about an organization I loved was shocking, but it gave me freedoms that I didn't even know I lost, the freedom of thought and expression. Sure, religion will always be around and I sure don't mind. I don't even care if WT stays around; but I do care that their criminal policies have ruined people's lives. As for me and my view of religion - I don't care if you want to worship your light pole, but when you take that pole out of the ground and beat me over the head with it because I won't worship that pole the way you want me to do, then that's harm and I won't stand for that. The WT never hurt me. Eventually, I lost some of my family because I stood up to the WT, but I didn't enter this fight because of any other reason than of a breaking heart after listening to victims of child abuse. When the WT changes their ways, I'll stop informing people of what they do directly and indirectly to their members in the name of God, if I might point that out.

Have a good day.

Barbara

183

Article: It's Time to Outlaw Extreme Shunning in Modern Society

by AndersonsInfo in

http://gilmermirror.com/bookmark/23272594/article-extreme%20shunning#.ufwjurllscm.facebook.

extreme shunningthe gilmer mirror.

its time to outlaw extreme shunning in modern society by: richard e. kelly .

AndersonsInfo

I'm the first one to agree that banning shunning in the US, Europe, the UK, etc., is next to impossible. Shunning is the result of disfellowshipping. Disfellowshipping is a religious doctrine that secular courts cannot intrude upon. However, I’m delighted with Richard Kelly's article no matter how impossible it appears right now for shunning to be outlawed. Kelly’s article and other similar articles serve to inform, not just to demand. This type of narrative attracts hungry-for-news media. That’s what we want folks – attention from big town press; small town press; local TV; national TV, even from Internet blogs, etc. To my way of thinking Richard’s article informs the public of the ramifications of JWs shunning practice; no matter if the information reaches ten or thousands of people, the efforts to inform will make a difference eventually.

My view is if governments won't do something about this damaging belief (because at this point in time they can't), it will be our public outcry that will change the way people view JWs. Factual, truthful negative information about the JW organization definitely is in order because it causes extreme distaste for the religion which results in fewer converts. No amount of sweet-talking words expressed by JWs or by their media representatives will sway an informed public to let down their guard when encountering JWs when they call, or in business, or play.

We've all seen huge corporations change policy or position when the public avoids their products due to negative media exposure. It works and it will work for us. We have the truth on our side about the harm JWs cause and telling it from the mountains will eventually move mountains. We will win, of this I'm convinced. It was nearly twenty years ago that I learned about the WT's pedophile cover-up. I've seen WT officials unmoved by the cries of victims of JW molesters, not showing interest in changing their outdated harmful religious rules no matter what harm these caused. Looking back, it seemed impossible to do anything about it to many of us; yet, in time, victims and their supporters began to win the battle against the WT and their foolish two-witness stand that they still hang onto.

Talking about WT's pedophile protection policies to the media, attorneys, teachers, politicians, and using every other available way to inform the public has resulted in not a chastened WT, but in a religious organization sliding into oblivion in the Western world, a world that wants nothing to do with the likes of an organization that takes punitive action against their own members who want to be free from their own oppressive religion.

I understand why some posters are not hopeful that anything can be done to dislodge Goliath WT from the control and power they have over members demanding obedience to the shunning rules. Nevertheless, be patient, Rome didn’t fall in a day. As a reminder, it takes time to unseat dictators, but it happens and will happen to the WTS, the “Theocratic” dictator that has cunningly taken away precious freedoms of millions. The outcry towards any dictatorial movement is small in the beginning, but as more and more citizens in a dictatorship see and personally feel the heavy boots of oppression, they join in and the chorus and actions of the many eventually bears fruitage. That’s what’s happening in the WT dictatorship – an increase from within in the numbers of WT disbelievers, detractors, and critics. And on the outside, the voices of many hecklers of the WT movement are using the Internet to shame JWs. Over one-hundred and thirty-three years is enough of WT leaders’ repression, tyranny and coercion. They’ve had their day and now it’s our day to demand justice by using our voices to inform.