Posts by Cicatrix

50

What did you hope for just to avoid Saturday witnessing?

by BLISSISIGNORANCE in

last night we had a hell of a storm here.

there was thunder, lightning, pouring rain and wind.

personally i love stormy nights, cuddled up to hubby in a warm bed.

Cicatrix

I always hoped to be assigned to the car group of a certain brother who hated kids. When he was assigned to take my brood of kids and me out, he would just go home. Then we could, too:)

I also liked getting assigned with the brother who took seriously the admonition to make service fun for kids. He would take out territories at the edge of our area and drive nice and slow to get there.One time, his wife decided that the kids needed a break. She bought them chocolate ice cream cones. It was ninety degrees, and you would be amazed how far a four year old and a six year old can spread chocolate ice cream. We were all coated and had to quit early so they could change before afternoon service. Her husband wouldn't hesitate to stop and watch any wildlife we came across, and if there was a trout stream in the territory, we would of course have to stop there so he could test it out with the pole that he always kept in the trunk.They are in the circuit work now:)

38

Do You Enjoy Being "Part of the World"???

by minimus in

jw
friends

since before a witness gets baptized, they are told to "be no part of this world".

that is beaten into everyone's head.

now that you're not a jw or are on the way out, how does being part of the "world" feel?

Cicatrix

Yes, I very much enjoy being worldly-wise. I feel as if I am looking at the world through the eyes of a child, and since I started studying with the JWs and was baptised in my teens, I probably am.

Setfreefinally,

I've thought about your question myself. In the Gospels, Jesus goes to neighborhood wedding celebrations, eats with sinners, and staunchly defends his understanding of his faith, among other activities. If you consider the text to be no part of the world, and the fact that his followers are commanded to follow his steps closely, the WT admonition to be no part of the world seems to go beyond what is written. Yes, they reason that JWs can't partake in the things that Jesus did because we aren't perfect like him. But, why then do the scriptures say to follow Jesus' steps closely and mention all of these activities that he partook of?

When Jesus' disciples asked him about some things that they couldn't understand, Jesus just told them that it wasn't time for them to come to an understanding. He didn't go through a long explanation of information that they didn't need. So why would the Gospels include Jesus' interaction with non-Christians if his followers were forbidden from partaking in the same activites.

In Webster's dictionary, the number one definition for worldly is "of or limited to this world; temporal or secular." Perhaps Jesus was warning his followers not to get so wrapped up in day-to-day activities that they neglect their spirituality.

88

I am so angry I am sick to my stomach!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

by Ravyn in

jw
friends

i just had a jw come to my door and i had to threaten her to get her to leave!

i told the woman right off i was 'apostate' and had no intention of changing it.

she kept asking me personal questions which i told her were none of her business and she said she would have the elders come by and i told her that if they came by the better be wearing bullet proof vests!

Cicatrix

{{{{Ravyn}}}}

I hear what you're feeling. The elder that started a witch hunt against me- who presided over the trial by which it was determined that my not being a submissive enough wife was the cause of my husband hitting me, and who, I suspect, due to some delicately placed questions, has recently told unbelieving family members of his who my family is friends with, about the abuse (they, fortunately,are not under the dub spell to believe everything that comes out of the mouth of an elder as being gospel. In fact, they seem to have made it a point to socialize with us even more)-now arrives at my door on a regular basis to peddle his magazines and schmuck it up with the unbaptised members of my household.He must case the place first, because he always comes when I'm not home. This guy wouldn't give my family members so much as the time of day before I left, even when I asked that someone take my kids under their "spiritual wing"-GAG GAG. I can't believe I ever thought that way!!!

The kids just stare at him dumbly, then throw the offers in the trash. One less set of magazines out there to screw with anyone else's heads. And they do a great job of educating their friends at school about what really goes on behind the tower, lol.I believe they refer to dubs as Shirt Nazis.

There are days when I'd like to shoot Sanctimonious Elder, too. But he isn't worth spending the rest of my life in prison over. I just put all that venom into writing stories starring him as the evil protagonist. My writing teachers at school just love those stories, and it gives me such satisfaction to know that all that venom is being put to good use-hehe.

In the meantime, thanks for reminding me about pioneer zealotry. I was contacted by an old Jw friend who doesn't have a clue I disassociated myself. She wrote this nice chatty letter saying that she just took up the full time pioneer work again. Your experience reminded me what she used to be like at the doors. I am so NOT going to write her, lol.Although I may do what one poster suggested and send her a Ouija board:)

74

So, will you be voting for Bush next time?

by czarofmischief in

.

when the election rolls around, will you be pulling the lever for w?

i will, unless somebody comes along with the offer of free supermodels for me.. czar

Cicatrix

Nonwithstanding issues brought up regarding disrespect for the environment, a shitty economy, implementation of "faith-based" initiatives despite the clear and concise speech in the Constitution outlining seperation of church and state, allowing his personal belief in Jeezus Khrist to guide him when making decisions banning potentially radical research such as stem-cells, and a war waged under false pretenses with bad intelligence presented as fact to incite support for a war where WMD are not found and US troops are killed...

Here, here, Reborn. I second you on that. And my family is staunch Republican. But one of my relatives is in military intelligence...

I registered to vote just to vote Bush OUT.

My vote may not count, but it sure will make me feel better:)

13

Today's policy on being DF'ed

by PointBlank in

jw
friends

would someone be so kind as to catch me up on the current disfellowship policy?

how exactly are the rank and file being instructed to treat family members who are df'ed?

i know it changes with the wind.

Cicatrix

Interestingly, the current hard line stance seems to be applied to unbaptised persons as well. When I vountarily left last year, giving no reason for doing so, my mother was told by an elder that she would "Never" be baptised if she associated with me.

5

My Sister With Four Kids Is Losing Her Home-Any Advice??

by Cicatrix in

i'm just kind of throwing this out there, because i'm at wits end.. my sister is about to be put on the street because she can't make her house payments.

the poor woman works like a dog, goes to college full time (the college has no student housing), and takes care of four kids on her own.

the kid's father (whom she divorced for cheating and saddling her with all his debts) moved to the other side of the country, supposedly to obtain work and send her back some money .

Cicatrix

Thanks, Cassiline,

She was able to obtain medicaid when she got pregnant with the twins. A sympathetic caseworker helped her obtain a court ruling that staid the state from kicking her off medicaid, due to her dire need for her medication, but that's all the aid she's been allowed besides her $ for school.

At least she has that.

I'll keep working on the rest.

Thanks for your suggestions

Cicatrix

22

Let the shunning begin!

by Cicatrix in

boy, this has just been my lucky week.

twice in one week i was the recipient of "active shunning" by former congregation members.. scene one-the local discount food place where all the blue collar folks (and a few smart upper crust ones) buy their food.

i'm busy grocery shopping and sister zealous comes marching down the other side of the aisle, dutifully studying the cans on said shelf.

Cicatrix

{{{{Rebel}}}} I can't even imagine what it is like to face what you face each day. My thoughts are with you.

Onacrus-You betcha:) Rebelrouser to the core now!

Fokus-Welcome. The last time I stepped foot in a Kingdom Hall was the Memorial of 2002. Like you, I had a panic attack. A REALLY bad one. I decided I'd rather be dead than live an eternity with people who made me feel like that. Then I heard about Silentlambs from a friend who attended my congregation, and that was it for me! I wouldn't bear the name of an organisation that refuses to protect its most innocent members! All of the rest of the deprogramming came as a result of the folks on this board. Thanks all:)

Yesterday's Child-Bully for your Mom!

Rocketman- I went out and bought two more blue dresses this week. It's my new favorite color-hehe.

5

My Sister With Four Kids Is Losing Her Home-Any Advice??

by Cicatrix in

i'm just kind of throwing this out there, because i'm at wits end.. my sister is about to be put on the street because she can't make her house payments.

the poor woman works like a dog, goes to college full time (the college has no student housing), and takes care of four kids on her own.

the kid's father (whom she divorced for cheating and saddling her with all his debts) moved to the other side of the country, supposedly to obtain work and send her back some money .

Cicatrix

Hi All,

I'm just kind of throwing this out there, because I'm at wits end.

My sister is about to be put on the street because she can't make her house payments. The poor woman works like a dog, goes to college full time (the college has no student housing), and takes care of four kids on her own. The kid's father (whom she divorced for cheating and saddling her with all his debts) moved to the other side of the country, supposedly to obtain work and send her back some money . He says he is working, but has not sent her a single penny.

Oh, did I mention she has a chronic disease that requires medication just to keep her alive? Or that she has to have surgery right now, too?

I've told her she and the children can come stay with us until she can figure out what to do. I have no savings to help her, though. I had some money coming in from another relative who was graciously helping me with my schooling, and I already arranged to have that sent to her awhile back, but it is only a pittance, compared to what she owes.

Social Services won't help, because they say she is too far in debt. When she asked for help early on, they told her she wasn't in dire enough straits then, and to come back when things got worse!!!!

As if that weren't bad enough, she can't get a rent controlled apartment, because she has one child too many to qualify for the units that are available (and for those of you who are thinking she shouldn't have had so many kids-she was told that the medication she was on had rendered her sterile, that she would not become pregnant while she was on the meds and she probably would be infertile for the rest of her life. Then she got pregnant with TWINS while on the meds and had to endure a high risk pregnancy!! ).

This woman is not your stereotypical welfare mom (and I'm not just saying that cause she's my sis). She works as full time as the economy will let her, is eligible for Phi Theta Kappa at college, but can't afford the freaking dues. Plus, she's dealt nearly her whole life with her illness with more grace than I've ever seen anyone have!! She puts my whiny little self to shame, and I'm angry because I can't help her any more than keeping a temporary roof over her head!!!

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks,

Cicatrix

21

Who's responsibility is it to tell other JW's you're disfellowshipped?

by what-now? in

jw
friends

Cicatrix

Please don't be offended by my stating that I was not DA'd for any sin per se (although there was one elder in particular who was working hard to find a sin-hehe. He is the same one that went directly to my mother's house after our final meeting and told her that if she continued to talk to me, she would NEVER be baptised-surprise, surprise). I was making no judgement against you. I was trying to point out the fact that I am being shunned simply because I left the organisation, and for no other reason.

I personally think that whatever you do is your business and no one elses.

You hit the nail on the head when you said you shouldn't have to confess over and over again. I was expected to confess to a sin I never comitted, based on the unfounded rumors of an unbelieving relative, who, it turns out, is simply pissed off because they wanted to buy the house that we bought!!!! And yes, elders can use information from "unbelievers" against you, according to the sheperding book.

Regards,

Cicatrix

21

Who's responsibility is it to tell other JW's you're disfellowshipped?

by what-now? in

jw
friends

Cicatrix

Welcome What-Now,

I understand the concern you feel about raising your children to be spiritual persons. That's what kept me unhappily in the Jehovah's Witness organization for years after I knew that everything was not what it was supposed to be in the "spiritual paradise." Ultimately, a couple of my children quit attending meetings before I did. They told me they just couldn't live the Witness brand of spirituality. I later learned that one of my children was so unhappy because of the religion, they considered suicide!!

Please stop and think for a minute. The Witnesses say over and over that it is manifest that they are the "only true religion" because "by their fruits you will know them." Okay, think of how you've been treated when you've made an effort to go back. Does this apply to you? Read again the experiences of others on this board. Does this apply to them? Look up the characterisitcs of high control religions on the net. Do any apply to the Watchtower Bible and Tract Society?

And ask yourself-Am I truly, truly going to be able to live this life?

There is a huge difference between following the tenants of a religion and being spiritual. Not one single person on this earth has the right to tell you that God has given up on you just because you don't choose to worship their way!!

I highly recommend the book "The New Revelation" (although I can't remember who the author is).

As regards to your kids, have you spoken to them about how they really feel? When I did, I was quite surprised.

Since we left, we are much closer as a family. My kids have not abandoned their values. It doesn't take five meetings a week for me to get through to them what decency is all about. They are happier and more cooperative. Life is good again:)

As far as whether you should let Witnesses know you are disfellowshipped or not, well, that's got to be your call. If you really want to get reinstated, you are expected to follow the Watchtower Society's rules. It's a requirement of membership. If you are caught by an "inquiring" JW, there will no doubt be consequences for you.

I personally have left for good on my own terms. I am labeled by them "an apostate", simply because I chose not to practice their religion anymore, not for any sin mentioned in the Bible. I left with the full knowlege that I would be shunned by most. I believe in freedom of religion. If a Jehovah's Witness chooses to shun me by not talking to me and/or looking the other way when they see me in public, so be it. But, if they attempt to play mind control games by making a display of ignoring me and engaging my children in conversation (there were always reasons why they couldn't be baptised while we were attending), I will speak to them. By initiating contact and then making a show of shunning me, they have broken the rules. They have established a contact. Therefore, I exercise my right to acknowledge their presence. If they choose to run off when I speak to them, that is their right, but I WILL explain to any bystanders EXACTLY what is going on.

Best wishes for whatever you decide

Cicatrix