Posts by flipper

66

Do you think the general public cares about former Jehovah's witnesses?

by Christian Gutierrez in

jw
friends

i was wondering if you guys think if the general public cares about our stories or if they even care what the watchtower does to people??

?.

flipper

The thing that can be annoying to me is when I hear people in the business world I deal in say " oh, we have JW's do work for us and they are so upstanding, such honest people " - going on and on about their " great " qualities due to being a JW. People in the real world just see these allegedly " innocent looking " shiny , happy people knocking on their doors or standing by a cart in their town and look at them as harmless, but weird. They'd rather them NOT call on their doors on Saturday morning. JW's are looked at as an annoying gnat that keeps landing on you when you're hot and sweaty.

To offset this fake " JW's are so good " complex in some non-JW's heads- what I've done is share with them the news reports of child abuse going on within the WT organization explaining how awful the child abuse policies are, I'll talk about the shunning of inactive or dfed relatives or friends, and how they won't give their minor children blood transfusions letting them die. I also mention how they won't let their kids go to college. By sharing any number of these WT atrocities with them , I've been able to put some REAL into non-JW's reality about things they were totally unaware of in the WT organization or JW world. It's worked pretty good actually- people respond and say , " Really ? I didn't realize JW's did that ! " So it's a matter of informing them - in my opinion. They won't hear of it otherwise , unless they research on the Internet. But a conversation exposing JW's faulty policies can spark a curiosity in them to check the Internet and then - boom ! - reality sets in. This isn't an innocent organization

9

Witnesses Agree That Institutions That Don’t Report Child Abuse Should Be Fined

by cha ching in

today my husband was on his way to meet a friend.

the purpose of the meeting was to discuss how to have a bill introduced into congress, which would require non-profit institutions to report child abuse to the authorities.

the penalty for not reporting would be a fine.. one of the motives behind this effort, is to raise awareness about child sex abuse.

flipper

Cha Ching- Great thread, thanks for posting . Your hubby did a really good job of making these JW's think. The using of the Catholic church comparison is a fantastic way to make their cognizant dissonance " alarms " start going off in their JW brains. Your husband did a great job of re-directing the conversation and adapting his tactics when initially the JW man said " no comment .

Hell- if this was the former JW " Theocratic Ministry School " your husband would get a 'G' for good in overcoming objections ! LOL . But fortunately for us- this is real life- much more important than a fantasy " ministry school " . Your husband may have made that JW man think outside the WT box for the first time in his life. Great job Mr. Cha Ching

33

Wanting Less Involvement (long newbie story)

by DepthsResounding in

i was raised a jw and am currently pioneer in a foreign language congregation.

i have been unhappy on and off with my involvement in this religion and am ready to step back again.

growing up i was always active but extremely reserved and a low hour publisher.

flipper

Just wanted to bump up this newer members introduction thread in case any one missed it

34

Finally ready to join the crowd.

by Silent Knight in

jw
friends

hello, all you damn dirty apostates!

please, allow me to join this community of diseased minds.

i have been lurking here for over 2 years and tonight i decided it's time to come out of the shadows.

flipper

Welcome Silent Knight ! Nice to have you here. Congratulations on gaining your freedom of mind and peace of mind. We are here as a support to you and I offer my friendship to you as well. I exited the JW's at age 44 over 13 years ago- and it's been the most peace I've ever experienced in my life. When I got out- it was like a ton of bricks was lifted off of my shoulders. I can sense you might feel that similar feeling.

But like yourself- I do have extended JW family still in the cult - so it makes it a challenge having to be careful of what I say - or don't say. Welcome to freedom of expression here- and if you ever need any assistance at all - please feel free to ask any of us here. Peace to you my friend, Peace out, Mr. Flipper

23

Will there ever be an apology from GB for going beyond what's written ?

by Chook in

just a simple " we are sorry " .

.

flipper

Never. GB and WT leaders just rationalize and make excuses for their ever changing beliefs, doctrines, and policies. Even if said policies break the law. They " think " they are appointed by " Jesus " himself- so they are legends in their own minds. It's beneath them to apologize. They see no need for it as they are most probably- at least some of them - narcissistic sociopaths. In their own eyes they are right- the rest of the " world " is wrong - end of story

33

Wanting Less Involvement (long newbie story)

by DepthsResounding in

i was raised a jw and am currently pioneer in a foreign language congregation.

i have been unhappy on and off with my involvement in this religion and am ready to step back again.

growing up i was always active but extremely reserved and a low hour publisher.

flipper

DEPTHS RESOUNDING- Hey, welcome to the forum ! I know how you feel as I was raised inside the Jehovah's Witness religion from birth and didn't stop attending fully until age 44 back in 2003. The pressure and high control the organization puts on us DOES make us feel like running away- so I totally get that.

We are here as a support for you so keep opening up about your experience you are going through and many of us here who have been where you are at will be more than willing to share experiences we have had in either fading away from meetings and how to handle JW family members still in. It is a challenge. Just be cautious about talking openly about your doubts with active JW family members or others in your congregation or other fellow JW friends you have will use your doubts against you by talking to elders about it- and since you are still living with your parents- they could make your life more difficult than it is already. Keep your counsel to yourself.

Please - if you have any questions at all - or are curious how we exited gracefully by staying off the radar- please feel free to ask anybody here how they accomplished it. And continue to educate yourself by researching the Internet about the power of mind control in high control religious organizations. Steve Hassan has some good books about tactics religions use to control members. And by researching the Internet you will prove to yourself that there isn't much difference in the Jehovah's Witnesses from other apocalyptic religions that have put forth false hopes to it's members - and delivers nothing in return except disappointment.

One thing about it- you are young. In your 30's you have the rest of your life to pursue lots of interests and hobbies or pursuits , even college, that will help you in this REAL life we live. This may be all we get 80 years or so- make the best use of those years in a positive way while you have life flowing through your body ! these last 13 years I've been away from the Witnesses have been the most fulfilling, happy years of my life ! Take care friend, and we are with you here as a support all the way ! Peace out, Mr. Flipper

25

Lots of newbies posting! Welcome one and all!

by freddo in

jw
friends

is there something going on in jaydub land that has brought this on?

hope so!.

flipper

Welcome to all the newbies here ! You are among those of us who have been where you are at - exiting a high control organization. We know it's not easy. We are here as a support to you and understand the paradox you are in. Still - freedom of mind is sweet and freedom of movement is priceless so keep on researching the Internet- don't stop . We'll be here for you - remember

14

“Winning the Battle for Your Mind”

by SAHS in

jw
friends

“winning the battle for your mind.” that is the title of an article in the latest watchtower magazine, of july 2017, pages 27-30. wow, how ironic!

here is the direct link:.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2017488.

flipper

I thought that was really interesting that they quoted Noam Chomsky as well.

The quote : " Nobody is going to pour truth into your brain. It's something you have to find out for yourself. "

Interesting because the Witnesses are ALWAYS told to accept whatever the WT leaders and GB are giving them as " food " ( or truth ) at the proper time and to NEVER doubt that it's the " truth " . Even if it makes " no sense to humans " - JW's are still expected to agree WT has " the truth ".

So since JW's are told by WT leaders to NOT look outside the organization for any kind of truth - it's ironic they quote Chomsky saying " It's something you have to find out for yourself. " WT says : " No you don't. WE have the truth- so don't question it ! "

So I wonder if there's a plant at Bethel in the writing committee sneaking subliminal thoughts into these articles to get JW's to think and have cognizant dissonance ? Makes me wonder

29

why does no one ask questions ?

by midnight in

i always felt bad for asking questions , did anyone else ?

what question did you ask or want to ask but feel it was wrong ?

mine was regarding the circuit assembly and the amount defecit anounced .. also 1975 i got a stern reply too when i was studying in the 90,s.

flipper

If a person who is a JW tries to ask questions to elders they are usually judged on the spot as being " weak in the faith " or judged as a person " having doubts " who might be a danger to others in the congregation. The elders won't say this verbally out loud to the person having doubts- but they think it inside their elder trained brains. Almost like this person has to be watched closely and monitored now because of having these doubts.

So because rank & file JW's will get judged or perceived as " weak " if they ask questions- many are scared or in fear to not even ask questions- because the judgment of them will come, not only from elders- but others in the congregation who know this person has doubts. This is what I observed in my many years in the JW cult

36

Crossing the Elders

by Cold Steel in

few things draw my interest as much as people on this board who talk about the elders, the insidious little toadies who lurk around kingdom halls, the proverbial big fish in little ponds.

it amazes me the terror and the veneration they inspire, as well as the occasional ridicule.

it makes me wonder how they're selected and whether most of them come into the position with a sense of power, entitlement, authority and control, or whether many of them are pretty nice people and that i'm just hearing about the bad apples?

flipper

COLD STEEL- Great thread topic- thanks for posting it. Like LONDO stated - EVERY JW is expected to follow the GB's orders and commands because if they don't - they will be deemed as " spiritually weak " or " rebellious " . There is no in-between view of these people from the WT leaders.

Elders are expected to follow the GB's orders to the letter of the law- and if they don't the every 6 month visit of the Circuit Overseers will put them in line to make sure they are observing " the letter of the law " . The elders are essentially an extended arm of control of the GB put into congregations to control and make rank & file JW's " behave " . If rank & file JW's don't " behave " they either get " disciplined " & " counseled " or kicked out of the congregation eventually. Usually sooner rather than later.

When I was in the JW cult the thing that REALLY bothered me was that there was NO check system stopping these men ( elders ) from giving their own opinions as counsel. They could tell a fellow JW anything as " counsel " - and JW's would lap it up as coming from " mother " - or the GB - and not question the validity of the " counsel " at all. Lots of people's lives get wrecked and destroyed that way. They tried messing my life up by giving me their personal opinions as " counsel " . I saw right through it and called them on their shit- and for that I was declared a " rebellious " or in Scientology lingo - a " suppressive person " . A person considered " dangerous " within the organization because I might influence others to " rebel " .

It's all about power & control to the GB and appointed elders. Making sure fellow JW's " obey " the rules- or else off with your spiritual head ! Even when the Circuit Overseers would visit- if these elders were long time elders in positions- even Circuit Overseers would not correct longtime elders for giving " personal opinions " to JW's as counsel- because many Circuit Overseers did the same damn thing !

So check systems failed to prevent abuse of power - whatever real " check systems " were in place which in reality, honestly - there weren't any in place to use on elders abusing their power. I was raised in the cult from birth till age 44 and had an elder dad who was the big shot elder in one city for over 40 years . I saw people, even other elders walk in dread or fear of him. It was ridiculous. He not only was a " legend in his own mind " - but other elders saw him as this " legend " as well. Which helped fuel his narcissistic view of himself. What's the old saying ? Power corrupts ; absolute power corrupts absolutely