Posts by Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

51

Don't even try it!

by JTrottigy in

jw
friends

there are many here who think they can infiltrate my web-site.

be warned that we administrators of jwtalk call the listed congregation on your application for membership in our site to verify if they know you!.

some of you have slipped through the cracks and got into our site, but rest assured, we will find you out and ban you!.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

@JTrottigy: "We are engaged in a spiritual warfare against you mentally diseased apostates, and WE WILL WIN!"

This can't be real. Someone on this forum has to be goofing around on us by using this JTrottigy persona. Not even the most bona fide Witness sounds THIS demented.

But if you are serious, @JTrottigy, would you mind PMing me your own personal congregation and name? In the same vein you like to call congregations to check up on others, I'd like to call Bethel with your details and check up on you. I'm very disturbed by your online antics, brother - both here on an "apostate" site, and on your own self-run, unaurtorized Jehovah's Witness discussion board.

48

Healing & Rebuilding Your Life - Feedback Wanted

by jp1692 in

i have been invited to speak at an international cultic studies association workshop this fall.

i could use your help in focusing on my presentation subject.. these workshops are for former members of any cult or other high-control, authoritarian group, not just jehovah's witnesses.

last year, i spoke at one of their larger conferences in europe.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

Discovering Your Authentic Self - (personal identity)
Dealing With Isolation and Loneliness (shunning)
The Five Stages of Grief/loss (Kübler-Ross model)
Examining Our Beliefs: Identifying the false and harmful (dysfunctional) core beliefs which are the root cause of our on-going difficulties after leaving
Treatments & Interventions - seeking treatments from working with mental health professionals to self-help
Psychoeducation - this is closely related to #4 above, but is frankly more technical

I'm with @Flipper and @Reopened Mind with what I'd rank as number one. There is just something so crucial about uncovering the authentic self in order for the rest of the recovery to fall into place.

In my opinion, your recovery is futile if you've only worked hard on healing the cult persona. It's quite tragic when you have ex-Witnesses who carry their WT narrow-mindedness, prejudices and paranoias with them in all the other areas of their lives. Relationships suffer, friendships are slippery and escapism is a more viable solution than rationally going head-to-head with the issues at hand (how simple it is to substitute a Watchtower with a drink, or a three day convention with a bender). Self-loathing is a key ingredient in WT's toxic cocktail, and it can remain in one's system for life if unaddressed.

Providing people with the right tools (or even questions they need to ask themselves) for uncovering their authentic selves can empower them to deal with the knock-on effects of leaving a cult, such as the strength to deal with the loneliness. One is never truly lonely if they've discovered and befriended the stranger that's been inside them their whole life.

32

Apostate - what does the word mean to you?

by Tallon in

over a period of time i got to thinking - what does the word 'apostate' mean to me.

having given it some thought, this is my view;.

the org has given the word its own definition and basically use it to demonise people and consider them pariahs.. however, the jw meaning of 'apostate' is a mere word and only has power if recognised as such.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

When I was in the organization, I always understood that apostates were those who messed up and got disfellowshipped for selfish and pig-headed reasons (because, hey, the elders are merciful and disfellowshipping is a LAST resort). And then, after committing the crime and unwilling to do the time, these people come up with malicious lies to besmirch the organization in a bid to get "even". They seemed like the ultimate pussies to me because they couldn't handle the consequences of their actions which ultimately led to their own disfellowshipping.

How wrong I was.

Now, I wear the term Apostate like a badge of honor. It means - to me, at least - that someone went against the grain to stand up for what's right. I call myself an apostate casually when talking to still-in Witnesses just to juxtapose the knowledge they have of me as a person with that specific term. I don't fit the crazed, disfellowshipped, morally bankrupt idea they have for what apostates should be like.

At the end of the day, I cannot identify myself FURTHER AWAY from what that disgusting cult stands for. And if "apostate" is the definition of someone who has defected from WT's ugliness, then make that my middle name.

33

How many child molesters do you personally know of in the J.W's?

by karter in

were are they now and what position are they in.. lets do a running count.. c.o.b.e was interfering with his daughter,d.f,reinstated died in good standing.. branch oveersear multiple young children d.f,reinstated in good standing.. publisher interfeared with small child in the k.h d.f not sure were he is.. publisher sexually abused 3 relatives no action taken in good standing.. current elder raped his sister years ago little action taken was not an elder at the time.. publisher sexualy abused young girl d.f,reinstater now in good standing.. m.s multiple young girls d.f,died trying to get reinstated.. so thats 7.. karter..

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

My Aunt's Ministerial Servant husband was confronted by his two grown worldly daughters for molesting them as children. He served five years in prison. You want to know why these daughters got justice? Because they didn't go through the "theocratic" system and reported it to the police.

He's now back in the congregation with privileges and, from what I last heard, was invited with my Aunt to have a family dinner at my parents' home. Never mind that my parents' house is adorned with photographs of eight little grandchildren on every wall. *shudders*

20

Views on the golden ratio??

by Freedom rocks in

what are your views on the golden ratio or fibonacci sequence?

i know jws and some other groups use this as proof of gods existence.

i'm still looking into the debate but was wondering what others thought.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

@ttdtt: "Did you know that when it comes to Beauty, and this works in all cultures. The people we generally feel are the most beautiful are mathematically the MOST AVERAGE."

Case in point:

20

Views on the golden ratio??

by Freedom rocks in

what are your views on the golden ratio or fibonacci sequence?

i know jws and some other groups use this as proof of gods existence.

i'm still looking into the debate but was wondering what others thought.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

If God is responsible for this "Kreation", show me the doors to hell, please.

21

You are NOT alone !

by stuckinarut2 in

this post is mainly for our new forum visitors and members.

perhaps even those who are just lurking or visiting here but have not yet signed up.

maybe you are in the initial stages of researching and finding out the earthshattering and life changing information about the religion that you once held dear and called “the truth”.. it can be a very stressful period of time as you realise that your whole foundation has changed and that the people in your life that you call friends or family may not take kindly to the things you have discovered.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

Sh*t, I don't know anyone from over there, @LOLS.

Paging all ex-JWs from South Africa!

I do know that @nonjwspouse, @Freedom rocks and @Confusedandangry are similarly facing marriages/households that are divided with a JW spouse. I believe all three women have children in the mix, too, whose upbringing are threatened by the instability of a JW husband. I'll reach out via Private Message to all three this evening to see if they have any good advice for you, hon.

Hold tight. X

56

The Latest Thing Waking People Up...

by pale.emperor in

since i woke up and left i've been contacted by others i knew from my youth who've also left the cult.

also people around the world on facebook adding me out of the blue because we have mutual friends and they occasionally ask me stuff or share their story.. what i've noticed in the vast majority of cases, is that people are waking up not because of the arc or doctrine but apathy.

active jws are becoming less and less interested, less and less bothered.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

@JTrottigy How's this in "plain terms"?

21

You are NOT alone !

by stuckinarut2 in

this post is mainly for our new forum visitors and members.

perhaps even those who are just lurking or visiting here but have not yet signed up.

maybe you are in the initial stages of researching and finding out the earthshattering and life changing information about the religion that you once held dear and called “the truth”.. it can be a very stressful period of time as you realise that your whole foundation has changed and that the people in your life that you call friends or family may not take kindly to the things you have discovered.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

@LOLS Oh sweetie, I am so, so sorry to hear about your family situation! It's so scary how deep the indoctrination runs and its ability to completely change someone's personality. Are you able to say which part of the world you're based in? Just trying to work out if we're anywhere close to one another so I can offer you some help or support of some sort. Are you managing okay with the kids on your own?

7

Finding new friends or a new congregation in Germany

by Gideon90 in

jw
friends

hello dear jw community,.

i'm looking for new friends or a new congregation in the area of germany/berlin.

i grew up in the truth, but some circumstances have made me not taking the faith seriously.

Wake Me Up Before You Jo-Ho

@TD I didn't know you were German! You based in Europe?