Posts by Smoldering Wick

50

Nicholas Berg's Beheading

by Elmer J. Fudd in

i downloaded the beheading of nicholas berg and watched the video over and over.

my opinion is that the video was edited to the max and berg was already dead when they cut his head off.

no blood, no convulsions.

Smoldering Wick

The word ?Halleluiah? was used twice in the video, doesn?t seem to me that "Islamic Terrorists" would use that word. -Elmer J. Fudd

Probably because the guy who killed Nicholas was a Jordanian terrorist named Sheikh Abu Musab al-Zarqawi or someone linked to him.

If you are squeamish...don't read on.

I didn't intend to watch the video. Now I've watched it twice. I have questions. Something is doctored...of course these are insane terrorists who are full of rage and hate for America-the personification of Satan...why wouldn't something be wrong with it?

Was Nicholas drugged? Was he involved someway with that group? Did he think he was being Martyred? Why did he look peaceful when he was about to be murdered?

I ask this not to be anti-american or to deminish the horror of the act in anyway. But, if I were about to be slaughtered in the name of war/religion/freedom/crazy middle east people? I would have definately been screaming...or crying...or begging...shouting out that I loved my family or America ...or something! He sat there, calm. His face looked almost peaceful before it happened. Not fearing death, no dread. Of course the video is such a poor quality that it leaves many things unanswered. He was passive in dying, almost as if it was his duty. Yes, I did hear gurgling...whether the audio was in sync with the video or not...I heard it. I may have noticed movement. I did not see blood dripping from the head, I did see blood spewed out of the corpse. I don't know why there is time missing on the video. I also wondered why they used such a dull instrument to do the job.

I don't intend on focusing any more attention to this subject. Both sides feel they are justified in their actions by their "God." To me, hatred and bloodshed are the opposite of peace. Many will disagree as they feel it is the only way to make peace. (like the only way for me to love you is to hate you first...or to appreciate color is to go blind? Ridiculous!)

I wouldn't want to follow either of these people's religions. They are both in-humane.

~wick

(I never did understand all the blood shed in the bible -in the name of god)

7

Did You Ever Get Into A Fight In Your Dub Days?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

i did, several times.. once on a bus to an assembly, a bro took a swing at me and hit me on the cheek.

we'd be sharing baby-minding duties at the assembly and he thought that i wasn't doing my share.

in the ministry work, one time, some thugs decided to harass myself and a pioneer lad.

Smoldering Wick

OK, I admit it, I threw the first punch. Luckily (or rather because of Jehovah's Spirit) an elder caught my fist before it hit the sister's face.

I was 28, she was probably 35. We were both pioneering...this happened one morning in the Kingdom Hall parking lot right after the meeting for service.

I had know idea how much she hated me. (lol I thought I was the sweetest thang.)

We had made plans to work with each other that morning. She stopped by my house before she went to the Kingdom Hall to tell me she changed her mind. She said she couldn't stand me...and was tired of pretending. LOL! I asked her what I had done to make her so mad. She said she was pissed off because I had "hesitated" one time when she asked for a ride to the district convention.

Guess what? I pissed her off even more...when I told her I didn't even remember taking her to the convention! LOL (I've gone to assemblies since I was a baby and they all kinda run together)

I asked her when it was that we took her. She said "10 years ago".

This woman had been mad at me for TEN YEARS!! and I had no clue.

I explained that the reason I hesitated was that I was eighteen years old and eight months pregnant. I had a two door nissan, luggage and a cooler, a husband who would say no...and she had two kids. I didn't think she'd be comfortable!! ...anyway I begged my husband to take her because I was embarrassed to tell her no.

Well, now this lady is standing in my kitchen telling me that I had made her trip to the assembly miserable....because she was cramped and didn't have room. LOL

We both went to the meeting for service steaming. She couldn't believe that I didn't even remember something that had been stewing in her brain for 10 years.

To make a long story longer...the elder leading the group paired us up to work together. haha On the way to the car she starts yelling at me. Loud enough that the others came out of the Kingdom Hall...just in time to watch me throw a punch. LOL!

I must have really been mad...cuz I was such a geeky witness who would never stand up for myself.

~wick (of the don't get me mad class)

34

Jehovah's Witness Accidentally Eats Candy Cane

by drwtsn32 in

saw this on another site... way too funny not to post here!

http://www.onthejohnnews.com/2004/001/witness.htm.

jehovah's witness accidentally eats candy cane.

Smoldering Wick

I thought all Holiday candy was ok to eat...as long as it was 75% off.

48

What was the silliest thing they told you NOT to do?

by goddess_baal in

there was some really piddily-crap that i remember.. for instance, when i was about 17 toe-rings became popular, and one of the sisters bought one....wore it to the kh during the summer with her sandals.

my best friend in the hall wanted one, which of course caused this huge debate about whether it would be okay 'in jehovah's eyes', and didn't it go against the scripture that counsels women against "bodily adornment", blah-blah-blah.

toe rings??!

Smoldering Wick

...not to make more money than my husband.

...not to correct him (or any other man) in public.

...not to show too much leg during the meeting. (it was distracting)

oh...and to immediately destroy the box of lucky charms I had on my fridge.

~wick (of the magically delicious class)

57

This site has been the most incredible help to me-UNTIL TODAY

by ohiocowboy in

reading through some of the recent posts, ie; the topic of lazarus and the gay issue, i was flabbergasted at what i was reading.

i can't believe-well maybe i can, that some people on this site are calling gay people "faggots", and telling that person that they are going to get "what sodom and gomorrah got".. this site has been a godsend to me, and have been telling my friends how nice it is to be in with a group of people who can relate to my life, my feelings, my insecurities, and my fears relating to the org.

and not being a part of it anymore.

Smoldering Wick

Hi Cowboy...very nice to meet you.

I haven't posted in quite some time...but, after reading your thread I felt the urge to respond.

I've always admired those few people who don't care what others think of them. How wonderful it would be to just not care. Life would be easier.

I'm not sure if wanting to be liked by everyone is just my nature or if I was conditioned to be like that by the JWs. Walking around trying to be perfect, saying, doing, wearing (etc.) exactly the right things so you won't get frowned upon.

I'm a pleaser. I want everyone to like me....when they don't, I can't understand it. I have to figure out why they don't like me and try to fix it.

I stopped posting on this board because of one person who got under my skin. (that rarely happens...but, it did here) That person had no idea how he made me feel by his comments and attitude, and I'm sure he could care less. I was the one who lost out because I cared what someone else (a stranger at that) thought of me.

I read something that made me think a little...

"Imagine for a moment that you were liked by everyone. This would most certainly mean that you?re doing something wrong. Why? Because it would be impossible to please everyone. If everyone liked and agreed with you, then it would mean you?re trying to be what another person wants--situation by situation--and that you had no consistent self. It would mean that you?re trying to clone yourself into whomever you happen to be with in the moment. It would mean you lack integrity." Trying to Please Everyone by Michael J. Hurd (you can read this in context at: http://www.capmag.com/article.asp?ID=2809)

I hope in time I can accept the fact that not everyone will like what I say, who I am, how I act, the way I look. It has to be easier for me to change myself than it is to try to convince others to change.

Thinking of you...

~wick

90

What Is The Stupidest Rule You've Encountered As a Witness?

by minimus in

jw
friends

one rule that i never could understand is that if you were studying with an unbelieving husband, you could associate with him, even as couples, but if a person was considered a "weak" witness, it was best to avoid any association until that person changed......what dumb rule or belief comes to your mind??

?

Smoldering Wick

I don't think wearing a McDonald's napkin on my head made me any more able to conduct a bible study with a guy or lead the group in field service.

I really wonder if Jehovah considers a dirty doily as a sign of humility?

...let us pray.

"Dear Jehovah God Almighty in Heaven...Thank you for the opportunity this morning to stand up and pray (i said "pray") like a man. (Although I remain seated) Forgive all the brothers who decided to sleep in on Saturday Morning while us sisters had to "render them their due", make breakfast, get all the crying children dressed & rush to the hall on an empty tank. Jehovah, since I am now wearing this McDonald's napkin on my head...this gives me the opportunity and wonderful power to not work with sister 'know it all' and sister 'will never take a break.' Thank you so much Jehovah. and... Please Jehovah...may this group be guided with the knowledge of knowing that this napkin represents all that we are working this morning for......a HAPPY MEAL!" woohoo

~amen

wick

8

I'm NO Longer a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS?

by Smoldering Wick in

jw
friends

ok....it's been a while since i've posted.

i've been playing it cool...not really thinking about religion, just living life.

got a visit from my older sister & her husband.

Smoldering Wick

Hi Hillary!

Since I haven't posted for a while, this new forum takes a little getting used to. I couldn't even find my post LOL.

Thank you for your suggestion...you're right, I should be a little more cautious. I went to edit my profile...but, this is the message I got: NOTE: The profile edit / update is not yet functioning ... please check for announcements of when it's available.

*sigh* Oh well...too late. lol

Hi Craig!

Thanks for the reference. I guess as long as someone doesn't spot me going into a church...(or posting on this site!) I'll be OK.

Hi LauraLisa!

Good questions. I'm not really sure if any action taken by the elders would change my lifestyle...I'm pretty much a hermit as it is. I sort of DF'd myself socially when I left anyway.

Thanks for your kind words!

Hi Stephanus!

no-one can leave gracefully

Isn't that the truth! Even though I have seemingly "slipped through the system," my leaving was not without rumors, suspicion & gossip.

Hi Bradley!

Thanks!

8

I'm NO Longer a JEHOVAH'S WITNESS?

by Smoldering Wick in

jw
friends

ok....it's been a while since i've posted.

i've been playing it cool...not really thinking about religion, just living life.

got a visit from my older sister & her husband.

Smoldering Wick

Ok....it's been a while since I've posted. (Hello! to Everyone!!!)

I've been playing it cool...not really thinking about religion, just living life. Got a visit from my older Sister & her husband. (both JWs) They attended the meeting at my old Kingdom Hall while they were down here...and guess what? It prompted a call from an elder informing us we were getting a visit from them.

This has happened more than once, I see a trend here.

Well, my husband politely said that I wasn't home and he couldn't really speak for me as to when I'd be available for the visit. (good going hun!) Both my husband and I have been baptized since 1974...but, the elders have always focused on me. They said... they thought if I returned, he would follow.

Next thing I hear, my brother informs me that the elders told him they were taking me off of their records. That they would no longer be "bothering" me. I asked him what that meant. Was I now considered Disassociated? My brother said he figured they just didn't want thier numbers to look bad when the CO visited.

It's been four years since my last meeting. I've never been Disfellowshipped nor have I officially Disassociated myself. I still have Witness friends and family who 'speak' to me.

So, my question to you all is..........am I NO Longer a Jehovah's Witness??

~Smoldering

(of the what the hell am i class)

29

I'm new, too!

by emeril1BAM in

jw
friends

i have never been on a forum before.

i was very happy to find this one while i was doing my research finding out the truth about the religion & just trying to heal from such a damaging religion.

i was raised in it from birth by a devout witness mother.

Smoldering Wick

I tend to find healing/comfort & happiness in metaphysical or body-mind-soul books .-Leah

Hi Leah! Welcome!!

I left the witnesses when I was 33 yrs old. I am not sure why that age seems to be so common for leaving the JWs. Maybe it's because one day you wake up and realize your youth has passed you by. That you gave all your best years to a printing company and have nothing to show for it.

I'm 37 now. Like you, I have been drawn to metaphysical things. I saw an ad in or local paper about a Metaphysical Group meeting. At the time, I had no idea what the term "metaphysical" meant, but I was curious enough to go. It turned out that the president of the group was an x-jw. His parents were close friends with and attended the same Kingdom Hall as my parents. I went to about six meetings and found it interesting, had lots of good conversations. I decided, however, that being part of a group that met at a certain time every week wasn't for me. lol (another side effect of losing my religion)

I still realize that I have a spiritual side and that there are things in this world that cannot be explained through science. Right now, I am content not to have all the answers.

I am glad you are beginning to heal. Talking to others with the same experience has helped me. Over the past four years that I have been away from the witnesses, I have gone through every emotion from grief to anger. That is part of the process. It seems the longer we were in, the more we believed...the harder it is to heal.

How did you escape baptism? I was baptized at nine. (There should be some sort of out-clause for people who got baptized under the age of 18.) Just be thankful you weren't!

Hope to hear lots more from you!

Sincerely,

~wick

23

Did Being JW make YOU a Social Misfit or HERMIT?

by Smoldering Wick in

jw
friends

as i sat quietly in my apartment...staring at the computer screen, i got this overwhelming feeling of being totally alone.

don't get me wrong, i feel comfortable alone.

but, how did i end up this way?

Smoldering Wick

Thank you everyone for your responses. I didn't realize there were so many ways to not fit in.

I have decided the only way is to join some some orgs. but my hubby is resistant-he'd rather live in what i call pergertaroy -Wednesday

Wednesday, I've often referred to life between the JWs and the World as Purgatory. You are so right...I wonder who I have to pay to get out.

Maybe it's just a personality thing. -RubyTuesday

Ruby, that could be...all I know is that my personality was molded by the Watchtower. [;(]

endless conditions and making sure you're saying the right thing all the time, scared of speaking your mind. -acsot

acsot, thanks for reminding me of that. I have always been a little twisted, even during my most 'spiritual' JW periods of pioneering. It was so hard NOT to be myself...I had to bite my tongue quite often. My Mom taught me "if you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all." I guess that's how I got so quiet! lol

I don't even believe I fit in with them too well, since I was never invited to the things the other young people did. Being shunned by my mother doesn't help me feel any better about any of it. -moana

Hi Moana, welcome to the board! Your comments just show how hard this organization can be on young people and their social development. Many had your same experience, including my teenage son. As a good JW, I wanted to do what was right in raising my child, so I didn't allow him to interact with "worldly" boys his age outside of school. (*sigh* I continued the sad cycle) At the kingdom hall, he was right in the middle of a large group of kids that were older than him, and a group that was too young for him. So, he had no one. How cruel it would have been for the only people he had, his family, to shun him. I am so sorry you are going through that with your Mom. I'm glad you have your hubby...and that you had enough courage to join another group!

I felt more like a social misfit when I was a JW,they couldn't accept me for being the quite,shy person I was.I was more alone during the 5 yrs I was a JW,than the yrs before and after. -shera

shera, I didn't look at it that way. It's so sad to think of all those people still inside the organization who are so alone.

Even away from the WTS, I feel we really have to take the initiative to make a life for ourselves and not sit back and wait for life to happen to us. -Blondie

Hi Blondie, very good advice!

the instant friendships at the KH were a big part of what contributed to my bad decision. Not one single person who I was friends with while I was in has attempted to make any contact with me since I left. Some friends. I'm dead to them. -dantheman

dan,

grrrrr!

(I'm not growling at you, I'm growling at how stupid their conditional friendship is!) The witnesses don't use the fear of HELL to keep their converts, they use a bigger fear...how you will be treated once you leave them.

Maybe that's why I was attracted to the 'Truth' in the first place. -rebel

rebel, yep. We were taught that the best time to witness to someone is when their "heart condition" was right. Like when they've just suffered some great loss (losing their job, someone close dying etc.) Basically, when they needed a "friend." I think I'm getting the picture here. Witnesses come to your door when you are most vulnerable. They smile at you and you think "wow, what a nice person...they're so friendly!" [8> ]

Where I lived there was a network of young people who became real friends, lifetime friends. once I left the Witnesses it was next to impossible for me to feel comfortable with anyone in the "world" for quite some time. -IslandWoman

IW, hi! thanks for your response. Well, yes. I thought I had made real friends too. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. How you could know someone and be their "friend" for over 30 years...and then *poof* they don't even notice you as you pass them in the grocery store.