Posts by Diamonds

13

Scientology really is a lot like the JW's

by dissed in

jw
friends

at the edge of arid foothills far outside los angeles, hundreds of scientology followers live on a gated, 500-acre campus and work long hours for almost no pay reproducing the works of founder l. ron hubbard and creating the church's teaching and promotional materials.. the church says its 5,000 so-called sea organization members are religious devotees akin to monks who are exempt from wage requirements and overtime.

but two lawsuits filed by two former sea org members, as they are known, allege the workers are little more than slave laborers, forced to work 100-hour weeks for pennies and threatened with manual labor if they cause trouble.. i don't feel the wt's bethel is quite this bad,...... but it's not far from it.

(as one who used to work there says) lol.

Diamonds

This is very interesting - thanks for the info. Funnily enough I was walking along Tottenham Court Road in London yesterday, and on one side of the street there was a Scientology church which was open and some members were attempting to engage (recruit) passers by to do one of their tests, and on the other side on the street, there were 2 anti-Scientology blokes, one with a loudspeaker warning people against the church, and another wearing a mask handing out leaflets. I wanted to stop and speak to them (the protesters) and make a comparison with my experience but I didn't, maybe I will next time.

They gave me a leaflet to read which had this website on: www.whyweprotest.net so I checked it out and it explains why they wear masks. The reason follows.

Why do we wear masks?

People have asked, and continue to ask, why we wear masks. The primary reason for the masks is the protection of our identities. After all, how anonymous would we be if we exposed our faces to the world? A second reason is the protection of our lives and livelihood. Due to Scientology's Fair Game policy, we put ourselves at risk socially, politically, and financially when we speak out against this dangerous cult. This is a cult that has a well earned reputation for harassing critics and openly critical ex-scientologists at their homes and workplaces. Taking measures to protect your privacy and anonymity when confronted by an aggressively litigious cult - a cult whose mantra is "Never Defend, Always Attack!" - is a matter of common sense.

An in-depth article on the Fair Game policy can be found at Operation Clambake. A quick summary would state that any person declared Fair Game by Scientology may be attacked by legal or illegal means, and the Scientologist who commits this act may not be punished by the cult for it. While Scientology claims to have ended the policy several decades ago, they did so only in name. The cult continues to practice this policy to this day.

I wasn't aware of this! Flipper i think you're right when you say they are worse than JWs - much worse! The indoctrination process is very similar but they are definitely more extreme.

D.

7

Do JWs believe in the Pangea?

by Diamonds in

jw
friends

sorry this might be a really stupid question, but it's been so long since i've read any jw material, been in contact with them that i don't remember!

i know they believe the earth to be billions of years old, but wasn't sure about whether they 'agree' with the pangea.. thanks.

.

Diamonds

I would say that continental drift is pretty irrefutable. The reason I posted this question is in relation to the 'increase in earthquakes' falacy that is currently getting the JWs so excited.

If they accept the Pangeae as the supercontinent which then separated into the current tectonic plates, then they have to accept that massive, major earthquakes and related phenemona are something that have occured for billions of years and will continue to occur for billions of years as the plates continue to move around, bump into each other and cause mayhem.

Earthquakes are not limited to our time and the 4 devasting ones we have had so far this year are in no way an indication that 'the end is nigh'.

Why would God have created a world where earthquakes were already occuring for Adam and Eve if they were meant to live in a paradise? It would make more sense for JWs to believe in fundamentalist creationism which states the world is only 6000 years old.

I hope this makes sense - I've had a couple of glasses of wine tonight so i'm probably talking a load of crap.

D.

7

Do JWs believe in the Pangea?

by Diamonds in

jw
friends

sorry this might be a really stupid question, but it's been so long since i've read any jw material, been in contact with them that i don't remember!

i know they believe the earth to be billions of years old, but wasn't sure about whether they 'agree' with the pangea.. thanks.

.

Diamonds

Sorry this might be a really stupid question, but it's been so long since i've read any JW material, been in contact with them that I don't remember! I know they believe the earth to be billions of years old, but wasn't sure about whether they 'agree' with the Pangea.

Thanks

12

Why is it that abuse is so prevalent among the religious?

by dgp in

i'm not trying to sling mud at anyone, but, while i am aware that pedophiles are to be found in all walks of society, why would it be that they seem to be so many among the religious?

as a former catholic, i often heard people say that priests would abuse children because a) they couldn't have a woman themselves (an outright lie) or b) because the catholic church gave them an "honorable" way to stay single and be in the company of many men and children.

but then the jw's don't have such restrictions, and abuse still happens.

Diamonds

Jordan, I'm just curious, why would you want to read and post on a website like this? You seem to spend a lot of time posting comments here - what would the elders in your cong. think?

D.

18

Cadellin Gets Confronted by Parents

by Cadellin in

well, i knew it was only a matter of time before my parents confronted me on my "loss of spirituality" (their term).

i love them dearly and would rather cut off an arm than hurt them, so i was hoping (naively) that my so far successful fade might escape their notice.

we live about an hour apart so my lack of theocratic activity would go unnoticed.

Diamonds

Cadelline, thanks for sharing, i hope you take note of all the good advice given here and remember that many of us have been through what you are experiencing right now so can empathise totally. I hope you keep posting and telling us what's going on for you and how you are feeling - you might find that doing so can help considerably.

Much love

D.

52

Will you sink or swim with Jehovah's Organization? June 15, 2010 study article

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

hence, many people feel.

of the psalmist?

there they will feel.

Diamonds

This article reminds me of the time my JW mother told me with the upmost concern and sincerity that she was so glad we were in "the truth" as "the world" would have "eaten me alive" and I "wouldn't have been able to cope".

More than 10 years in "the world" has made me a strong person emotionally and mentally. It has also provided me with the ability to think for myself and I have experienced personal growth through making mistakes and learning from them. Yes, "the world" has made me a better person.

They always use emotionally weak people for this type of article. I'm sure "Tanya" is one of those "woe is me" victims you so frequently encounter these days. Get on with it girl!!

31

My Daughter asked me this question................................

by Terry in

jw
friends

"dad, what do people talk about on that jehovah's witness board?".

i replied:.

"we complain alot.

Diamonds

I love Wobbles' comments

61

What Do You Value in your Life Now that you Exited the Witnesses ?

by flipper in

jw
friends

i was talking with a friend of mine on the board yesterday and the discussion gave me the idea for this thread !

( thanks friend !

) and it seems as we were talking the thought came up that many of us when exiting the mind control of jehovah's witnesses we really come to appreciate the freedom to think how we want and be able to have access to other views which helps us to have a broader scope , or broader world view than just the tunnel vision of the wt society.

Diamonds

Thanks for this topic - it's very positive as it makes us reflect on all the good things we have in our life.

I value knowing that I am a free thinking person who can make my own decisions in every aspect of my life, i value learning how to be less judgemental and more accepting of all people, i value being able to do my volunteer work with children and young people which is something i never would have been able to do as a witness, i value the opportunity to get back onto the original career path i had planned before i was dissuaded to by a pioneer when i was a teenager. As I woman I particularly value not being classed as a subordinate to men (i.e. like a second class citizen). I greatly value having met my lovely husband.

30

"We're not here to convince you this is the truth."

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

those were the words of an elder during my judicial committee.

it's weird that they suddenly came to me, weeks later.

i can't help recalling the disappointment i felt when i heard that.

Diamonds

The elders were willing to spend less time to save one sheep than an average publisher would spend in field service for one month. Or even half a month.

I'd never thought about it like that before, but it's true. Where is the love?

p.s. has anybody watched the judicial committee that was secretly recorded and has been uploaded onto youtube?

30

"We're not here to convince you this is the truth."

by sd-7 in

jw
friends

those were the words of an elder during my judicial committee.

it's weird that they suddenly came to me, weeks later.

i can't help recalling the disappointment i felt when i heard that.

Diamonds

"The elders were willing to spend less time to save one sheep than an average publisher would spend in field service for one month. Or even half a month".

I'd never thought about it like that before, but it's true. Where is the love?

p.s. has anybody watched the judicial committee that was secretly recorded and has been uploaded onto youtube?