Posts by ambersun

77

The J Dub Culture of Skirt-Wearing

by mummatron in

jw
friends

this is something that has always bothered me.

as a born-in jw i was raised as a little girl wearing skirts and dresses which is clearly quite normal in terms of gender-appropriate clothing.

however, the older i grew, the more i realised that all jw women and girls wore skirts to meetings and when out in fs, but would wear trousers in their everyday life.

ambersun

I got told off on my very first visit to the KH at the age of 14 for wearing my best, smart trousers. Actually, our study conductor took my dad aside and told him in no uncertain terms to make sure I wore a skirt to the next meeting. I was quite shocked to say the least.

I had been attending bible meetings at another church with some friends for several months before this, and we all wore whatever we felt comfortable in, which, considering we were teenagers, was usually slacks and tee shirts. At this church it was our attendance which was considered important, not what we were wearing, and we were all treated equally. Girls were also encouraged to get up and talk to the group with their thoughts and opinions the same as the boys. This was another shock at the Ministry School when I learned we had to write silly plays where we sat on the stage facing another female as we were not allowed to speak directly to men from the platform.

I got pneumonia from pioneering in freezing conditions wearing the compulsory skirt and thin tights which, even though I put several pairs on top of each other, did nothing to protect me from the biting winter winds. I'm sure householders were more concerned about my frozen appearance than the fact I was wearing a modest, gender appropriate skirt. Oh happy days

I have mentioned to my JW family how off putting it is for people to see groups of witnesses out in FS looking dressed for a funeral, when they would probably do much better if they dressed casually and looked less threatening.

40

How can you spot an über-Witness?

by dgp in

is there anything that would let you know, right away, that you're dealing with someone extremely witness?.

thanks..

ambersun

A young JW couple arriving on their honeymoon and making it a priority to search for the local Kingdom Hall so they won't have to miss any meetings while they are away from home.

I kid you not, this happens

5

I don't know the date of the DA......

by cantleave in

or what book is being studied......... or the way magazines are distributed at the hall......... it's bloody brilliant!!!!!!

!.

ambersun

I know just how you feel

15

You also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him

by jean-luc picard in

you also must be ready, because the son of man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

( luke 12:40. new international version).

so logically, if jws expect him soooooon, thats proof that he's not coming soon..

ambersun

So logically, if JWs expect him soooooon, thats proof that he's not coming soon.

That is exactly what I thought during all the mayem and hysteria in the late 1960s/early 70s when the r&f were selling their homes and giving up good jobs to pioneer. Oh how I wish I had listened to the voice of reason in my head and carried on with my education and got a good career instead of allowing myself to be talked into spending my 'remaining time in this system' pioneering. Sigh

51

This past weekend I lost my mom

by lola28 in

jw
friends

the cancer finally got to her and now my sisters and i are left without our mother.

we take comfort only in knowing that she is no longer in pain.

how do people move on from such a massive loss?.

ambersun

(((((((((((((Lola)))))))))))))) my heart goes out to you and your sisters at this really sad time. I lost my lovely dad a few years ago after a long battle with cancer and I know how painful it is. As others have said, go with your feelings and allow yourself the time you need to grieve.

Please be assured that the pain does ease with time.

Deepest condolences and much love to you and your sisters

18

When you were a JW did you dance " provocatively" ?

by highdose in

jw
friends

" provocatively" of course meaning alot.

in my cong it meant moving your body in any way at all.. the spirtual ones of the cong of course would not dance and if they did would do a kinda slow motion running type dance.

totaly embassring to look at.. .

ambersun

When I was a JW the only dances we were allowed to do were the waltz (and any other old time dances that we knew the steps to), the chicken dance and square dancing, at organised JW get togethers. I reckon I would have made myself a laughing stock if I had started dancing provocatively to any of those

37

I had my first encounter with JW's at my door! I was called an apostate!

by Desert Rat in

jw
friends

so, i am getting ready to move across the state.

we bought a home there, and have taken a couple of loads over, with the main move being this next week.

i went over this last week cause i wanted to paint the kitchen and dining room before we moved in (a lot easier to do without grandkids and dogs under foot).. anyway... here i am painting away when there is a knock on the door.

ambersun

Well, considering you were put on the spot I think you handled the situation brilliantly! They certainly made a hasty retreat without asking you how you were so familiar with the organisation and how it operates. The fact they didn't ask out of sheer curiosity if you were DF'd or DA'd or just had relatives in the organisation, says to me that you possibly hit on a nerve with one of those ladies, who might already have a seed of doubt in her mind. You never know!

I will use your response next time they call on me, and see what reaction I get

29

Why are men not allowed to do the bible study parts at the service meeting?

by garbonzo in

jw
friends

i know why they do it, because the women would complain, but it's not logical, the men need to be trained on how to conduct a bible study with a student, also.

if it doesn't matter, why are the sisters doing it?

just to give them something to do?

ambersun

I dropped out because I didn't like the company of these sisters inflicted on me. It was nothing but a nuisance and stress over something I could do without.

Oh how I can relate to that, LongHairGal! It was bad enough having to write a play for two people every time I got an assignment, but my householder was quite often someone I hardly knew and had nothing in common with, who lived so far away from me that it was a nightmare arranging to meet up and practice the talk before the meeting. I had one once who was barely literate and unable to read or understand what I had written for her to say and then became scared speechless as soon as she stepped onto the platform. I lost count of the number of times I had to ad lib on stage to cover for my householders.

I used to envy the brothers who could just write a straight forward talk for themselves alone. At the end of the day, it is all to do with control, the women being given subservient parts to remind them of their place.

158

Can the Bible be proved wrong?

by The Quiet One in

ambersun

For one thing, could anyone from the medical profession say whether or not it is possible for a human being to live for over 900 years? If so, why has there never been any evidence found of ancestors who lived for hundreds of years?

Also, at the time of the flood the entire vegetation of the world was completely covered in salt water for months. The roots would have all rotted and there would be nothing left. How did all the plants grow back? How did all the thousands of species of insects survive on the ark? There was only limited space and surely they would have munched their way through all the fresh vegetation taken on board the ark in no time!

Except for the termites who would have had an adequate supply of food

18

Very interesting article- Jehovah's Witnesses among the lowest earners.

by JWinprotest in

hope this works, i've never posted a link before.

interesting article on religion and personal income, not that any of it comes as much of a surprise.

i apologize if it's already been posted.. http://www.ktxs.com/news/28138610/detail.html.

ambersun

only 9 percent of its members have a college or post graduate degree

We contacted the local kingdom hall of Jehovah's Witnesses for comment but received no response.

I really do hope they persue this right to the top and don't give up until they get an answer, as I would be most interested to hear how they explain why, throughout the whole of the last century up until today, they have always instilled a need for their young ones to devote their youthful energies into peddling WT literature from door to door rather than waste time getting themselves properly educated with decent careers.