Posts by Muddy Waters

41

Who is your favourite thinker?

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

having recently read orwells 1984, i was impressed with how he understood that both politicians and people abuse language.

this further confirmed to me how the w.t had deceived me by using words to distort reality.

the book 1984, also contains many other great thoughts of george orwell.. of course there have been many other great thinkers, buddah, darwin, freud, einstein and marx come to mind.

Muddy Waters

I am new to reading all these new & fascinating thoughts & "philosophies of men", so I may have a weird list. But some people/authors who have definitely opened my mind have been:

- Christopher Hitchens

- George Orwell

- Leo Tolstoy

- Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn

- Ray Franz :)

- Isaac Asimov

- Oscar Wilde

- D. H. Lawrence

- Bill Watterson (Calvin & Hobbes) heh, why can't you explore new thoughts in cartoon format..? One reason I also liked "Peanuts", Charles Schultz. :)

...

apologies if some of these people may not be considered "great thinkers" - to me they seemed to be, as their words opened up many new thoughts and ideas and insights.

I continue the journey and look forward to reading some of the works mentioned above!

24

David Splane address bethelites

by rosesinbloom in

i did not write this piece.

i enjoyed the simple and understandable reasoning.

hope some of you enjoy it too.

Muddy Waters

Awesome posts, thank you. Although getting through it all did leave me rather dizzy, lol.

Splane is just so creepy. It almost seems like he's the motor behind many of these weirdnesses, but who knows. They are all so alien to me now. It is *all* very alien and spooky! Looking at these people and realizing they are the ones in charge of all the dogma and teachings ....

43

It amazes me...

by punkofnice in

..to think about how the congregations actually function....even down to the individual level.. the biggest bully on the boe (or his wife), controls the show.. ones within the congregation are treated like they're dirt and still they return.

stockholm syndrome?.

i've heard ones say that 'jehovah(tm) will sort it all out.

Muddy Waters

Years ago, when I was a single sister with kids (among the lowest of the low in congregation rank), I remember going up to an elder's wife after the meeting to talk to her. I was all friendly, smiling, hello - how are you - and she POINTED* at me and said in this rude, commanding tone: "IT'S YOUR TURN TO CLEAN THE HALL TONIGHT!! Check the board, it's your book study's turn!"

There was no hello, no how are you, just this finger pointed at me and a command.

I knew then that I could never be friends with her. It was so disheartening, I never forgot the way that made me feel.

...

* ... and when I say she "pointed" her finger at me, I don't mean she just stuck her finger out slightly, it was a full, stick your arm out as far as you can, don't get any closer, invasion of the body snatchers, type of pointing at me. Most disconcerting.

14

My Bethel Experience part 15 Health, Dismemberment, Death (natural and unnatural) murder.

by new boy in

jw
friends

this is the fun one......... .

health, dismemberment, death (natural and unnatural) murder and suicide..

the people at bethel were killing us spiritually.......and sometimes they killed us physically too..

Muddy Waters

"There is nothing hidden that will not be revealed...." (from whatever scripture)

THANK YOU so much for these stories... it is fascinating to see "behind the veil" into the "most holy of holies" (God's house). uh huh.

Simon, maybe we need a new category for the forum, for Bethel experiences...? These are so eye opening and fascinating, not to mention sad, sad, sad beyond reason.

13

A cracking good JC! This is how it's done, folks.

by Island Man in

in this jc the couple accused of apostasy, lay down some inconvenient and incontestable truths about the organization's teachings that leave the elders speechless - as far as them mustering any efforts to refute them.

oh and by the way, do you remember what geoffrey jackson said at the australian royal commission when he was asked about an inactive jw being called to account if the elders stopped by and find him celebrating the holiday?

don't worry if you've forgotten because the couple mentions it to the elders, you know, seeing as it's the very same reason why they're being accused of apostasy, thus proving geoffrey jackson's statements to be false!.

Muddy Waters

I like how the brother stood up to the elders and firmly told them NOT to do anything that would threaten his family relationships.

I think by that point the elders were wishing they'd never started that judicial committee. I sure hope they just leave him and his wife alone.

9

i cant wait for the new system

by stan livedeath in

Muddy Waters

Are they appealing to vanity now? if so, that proverb sure fits - "... All is vanity and a striving after the wind..."

9

i cant wait for the new system

by stan livedeath in

Muddy Waters

Amazing how fast her hair can grow in a month, only to chop it all off a couple months later. Probably hard to find a good shampoo & conditioner in the new system.

32

The disappointed look on a Jehovah's Witness face - that you're living a good and fulfilling life

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

another thread got me thinking of this issue.

i don't think you'll ever come across a set of people with such a skewed and twisted outlook on life.. my memory serves me well when i recall a sort of blood lusting excitement over things like the 9/11 atrocities.

in fact i remember jw's describing the event as 'sad but exciting.

Muddy Waters

You're absolutely right, jambon. All the wars and tragedies are "evidence" that these are the last days.

The first thing JWs ask if there is a disaster or earthquake, flood, etc., is: "Were any JWs hurt or affected?" as if JWs are the only people who matter. All other people are worldly, destined for destruction anyway, and all the better for them if they die now, on "this" side of Armageddon. So JWs are supposed to feel relieved, even happy, at large losses of human life - it means those people will get a chance to live forever, to be resurrected after Armageddon.

I never realized, as a JW, just how skewed and messed up is this mental reasoning or viewpoint -- it makes one have no compassion for humanity or suffering. They erect such a wall between "them and us" - cruel stuff indeed.

...

And you are so right about their interrogations, they have to know your "spiritual status", they will probe to see how much you are one of them or not.

10

Dam it, I missed it!

by DwainBowman in

i missed the jw, history making, all new mid week meeting!

and i am just so torn up over it, i've had a few drinks to drown my deep sorrow in, missing such a once in a lifetime event!.

oh how can i ever get over, such a lost opportunity like that, just don't know if i'll never get over it!.

Muddy Waters

Don't fret yourself too much... There will be another meeting next week... ;)

9

Escape From Paradise - One year anniversary - Thanks everyone!

by Brock Talon in

today marks the 1 year anniversary of the release of my second book, "escape from paradise".

i wanted to take the time to thank everyone here who was supportive of this book and for all the great feedback i received on it.

you guys rock.. of course, not all the feedback was pleasant.

Muddy Waters

Brock, I am sorry you received such a ridiculous review. Sheesh. Some people.

I have both your books, and enjoyed your first book immensely. This second one triggers me like crazy, I have to keep putting it down because I just start crying and crying (despite my user name, I am female, but that's not to say that men don't get emotional too!)

I recently lost my mother, and it has been so difficult for me to come to terms with the way I treated her when I was such a JW idiot (My mom was never a JW, I converted when I was 20, which is over 30 years ago! I finally woke up within the last few years.)

Anyhoo. I do want to finish your book, but it brings up so much personal pain, regret, and sorrow for me..... Your book is raw, it hurts.... It is very well written, but my heart resonates with your words so much, in fact here I am starting to lose it all over again. Gah. Time to have a walk or a shower.

I aim to write you a wonderful review when I can. 💕