Posts by bittersweet

7

Need Help and Advise

by In_between_days in

jw
friends

i have an ex jw friend who has been out for about 3 years now, and has since been going to every memorial just to keep her family happy.

she is baptised, and so far has sucessfully done the fade, though she has never actually told her parents that she wants no part of the org.

now the memorial is coming up and her family expects her to go.

This can be a tough situation.I can understand that she doesn't want to make any waves,and risk losing her family.I haven't attended a meeting or a memorial in 4 years,but last year the memorial presented a problem for me.My brother in law (who is a really nice guy regardless of the org)asked me if would attend because it was the first time he was giving the memorial talk.I told him I would have to see.I was so mad at myself for not standing up to him and saying I don't believe it and that it would be hypocritical for me to go.Instead,on the night of the memorial I said I didn't feel well.What a big chicken,eh?

Anyway,your friend needs to do what is right for her,whether that means making an excuse,or telling the truth.None of us live her life,so we can't judge.Hope all turns out well!

37

What Tree are You?

by gsx1138 in

jw
friends

it's been a year since i've done this so i thought i'd do it again.

perhaps it will be a nice break from all of the ranting going on (myself included).. http://www.geocities.com/lavenderwater37/birthdaytrees.htm.

by the way, i'm a weeping willow.

bittersweet

I am a poplar.....which is kinda cool,because that's the type of wood I chose to build my hope chest with when I was 17...lol

38

JW Wife Tells DFed Husband "You've killed us all."

by Swan in

this was posted just minutes ago:.

http://katu.com/news/story.asp?id=55999.

katu 2 news - portland, oregon.

bittersweet

Does it really matter if he killed one of his children or all three?He deserves to rot in jail for the rest of his life.If he noticed the little girl took a breath,why on earth did he not call 911?Why?Because he was too worried about saving his own ass instead of saving the life of his little girl.This story has made me ill.

16

(Post has been corrected!) Suppose you don't WANT a JW funeral?!?

by razorMind in

jw
friends

i have been to a couple of funerals recently (both of relatives who've never been jw's; however married to jw spouses) and have been appalled, absolutely appalled at how the wishes of the deceased have been ignored and horned in on by jw drivel/dogma.. .

the most recent funeral was for a relative who didn't even believe in god (was never a jw), but the jw spiel droned on for so long that the deceased's own "worldly" siblings were glancing at their watches in disbelief.

one of the siblings had a speech at the funeral ceremony, and was very touching and heartfelt in talking about the deceased's life, but then a jw relative had a speaking part too, and lost everyone from that point on.

bittersweet

It's so funny that this topic has been brought up.It is actually something I've worried about too.Not that I need to worry,I'm only 33,but one never can predict the future.My husband is still an active witness,and I'm afraid he'd want a memorial at the hall.Most of my family is active too,so I'm sure they would push this.I gess I should look into drafting a will.Maybe I will have a worldly friend as executer to make sure my wishes are fulfilled.Now wouldn't that put my family in an uproar!

17

The WatchTower and Higher Education

by Maverick in

jw
friends

runningman's post on the fallacies of the watchtower reasonings started me thinking on the gb's stand on higher education.

i am impressed with the superb thinking ability of many who post here.

unclebruce, stephanus, victor_e, gamaliel, blondie, undisfellowshipped, and machislopp to name just a few.

bittersweet

I think nowisee is my long lost twin. I wanted to go to college so bad.When I was in 8th grade,I delighted in selecting my high school college prep courses.Ok, I was a bit of an academic nerd.After choosing my courses, my mother informs me that I have to go to the Vocational School ( in those days the kids called it the "vacational" school )and learn a trade. She wanted me to be able to have a job fresh out of high school so I could support myself and regular pioneer. So after many arguments with my guidance counselor ( who said I was Harvard material and should not be going to a tech school ),my mom got her way and off I went to Vocational school. I gave up on any kind of further education, and got married at 18 and started having kids. I still have a lot of resentment over this, but I am planning to go to college some day. I figure I'll go when my kids go.....maybe we'll qualify for more financial aid that way! I remember being so mad when the society changed its policy on higher education.I also think it's hypocritical for the wtbs to have professional brothers ( like doctors or lawyers )working for them.How come they have a right to have a college education,but it's not ok for a regular jw to?

33

New England Apostafest

by beckyboop in

last year on memorial day a group of about 14 east coast ex-jw's met together in providence ri.

i had the pleasure of being able to have most of them back to our apartment for dessert, and thoroughly enjoyed meeting local people with a similar background.

i was able to meet zev, somebody, red horse woman, scumrat, sister act, doc bob & his wife, as well as others whom i can't remember their online names.. this year, i would like to get another group together on memorial day again, and hopefully we'll get even more of a response this year.

bittersweet

I would love to come if I can swing it.Maybe sisteract would let me hitch a ride with her.:) I'm a little shy,but I think it would be fun.

14

I'm coming to London

by Mum in

jw
friends

are there any english apostates who could meet me in london or a mutually convenient location.

i'm arriving late tuesday night, so from wednesday forward i am amenable to being reached.

i am at an internet cafe in new york now.

bittersweet

Hi mum,

I hope you have a great trip! I just got back from London myself a couple weeks ago. I had a great time! Make sure you see a show when you're there,there are so many available! Have fun!

35

New England or Better Yet Western Mass.

by FlowerPower in

hey out there in cyber world, are there any exjw's from my neck of the woods?

would love to chat with you about our different experiences with the borg.

maybe we know some of the same people, same elders.

bittersweet

Hey FlowerPower, That is so cool that you get to babysit your granddaughter today.I bet she gets super spoiled since you guys only have boys!I have 3 kids,all boys,and my older sister has only boys too.My mom would be in her glory if one of us had a girl...lol.She's not too keen on boys.I wish my mom would offer to babysit my kids! I am in chat smetimes.I'd love to chat with you.You can feel free to e-mail me anytime.My e-mail is [email protected] love making new friends,especially xjw's who know what it's like to have gone through that hurtful religion.People on the outside really have no clue. Anyway,you take care,and have fun babysitting!!!!

35

New England or Better Yet Western Mass.

by FlowerPower in

hey out there in cyber world, are there any exjw's from my neck of the woods?

would love to chat with you about our different experiences with the borg.

maybe we know some of the same people, same elders.

bittersweet

Wow FlowerPower,that's quite a story.I am so happy for you that you were finally true to yourself.I am very sad for you that 2 of you and your partners 6 kids don't have much to do with you.What a hateful religion that tears families apart like that. My little sister went through a really hard time when she was a teenager...depression,anorexia,bulemia(plus she already had a bone disease to add insult to injury).She finally got a little better and went away to college.Then she informed me she was a lesbian(which wasn't really a big surprise).Let me tell you my mother(quite the judgemental witness)didn't take this news too well.But my mother finally got over it,and now accepts it.At first my mother said my sister and her (then) girlfriend couldn't come stay at her house,but as time went by,and my mom got used to the situation,she changed her mind.The one thing that saved my sister in this situation was that she never got baptised(smart girl).Once you're baptised and turn away,they never want to forgive you.I am just so happy for my sister that she was able to get away at such a young age,and live her life the way it was meant to be.And I am happy for you and your partner(though sad that some of your relatives still shun you)that you got away,and finally love yourself for who you are.

28

Dinah: what bad association?

by acsot in

okay, so i was at the ministry school/service meeting last night (as to why and all that see my answer to blondies watchtower review this week), which actually was not totally horrendous since i brought some essay questions to work on for a university class im taking.

i probably looked so theocratic (hehehe).

so during the service meeting theres a part on bad association, being careful at school, at work, blah blah blah.

bittersweet

gosh....I never even thought about all that.I do remember thinking Dinah's brothers were a little crazy. I used to say that was my favorite bible story when I was a kid.That one and Jezebel.How pathetically sad.I did always wonder what the heck dinah was doing at Schecem's house if he had raped her.As time goes on,I see more and more twisted truths from the jw organization.