Posts by scratchme1010

49

Motherly Love, that "Unbreakable Bond"

by Simon in

my father died a couple of months ago.

he'd been ill for some time and had many health scares and heart troubles over the years but always managed to keep on going.

then one time he didn't.. i'm glad i got to know him again and spend some more time with him after so many years missed because of the wts but those years will always be lost forever.

scratchme1010

I'm glad I went. I'm really glad I got to attend my brothers wedding. I'm really glad and thankful that we left that shitty little cult because it really does make people sick to behave in such an unnatural way, especially when I know she wouldn't even be able to defend or explain why beyond a lame "the governing body said so" reason. Pathetic.
So, with the WTS you're sometimes only allowed one parent at a time and now I have none as far as I'm concerned because shunning works both ways - I won't be bothering to attend the next funeral.

Thank you so much for sharing this. It really is like you describe it, a tragic comedy. You cry about it, you laugh about it.

A lot of us know well what it means skipping the funeral of a JW loved one. No matter what our paths are, and how different we are as people, this JW nonsense that we have in common really connects us (like it or not).

Thanks again.

20

Dog peeing on a literature cart

by Bad_Wolf in

look at the dogs face, i can't stop laughing at this!!

and he's peeing right into the holder part of the literature, so they are going to have manually wash that out haha.

.

scratchme1010

I swear, I have nothing to do with it.

31

Atheists - How Did You Become An Atheist After Waking Up?

by pale.emperor in

i consider myself an atheist.

and right now i'm reading a lot on atheism in general (books written to answer creationists).. i'd be interested in knowing how you became an atheist after leaving the jws and how long did it take?

was it instant or did your belief in a deity gradually decline?.

scratchme1010

I'd be interested in knowing how you became an atheist after leaving the JWs and how long did it take? Was it instant or did your belief in a deity gradually decline?

Interesting post. First I just want to make sure that non-atheist people understand that atheism is not to be treated as a religious organization. Once doesn't study it, not all atheists believe the same thing, atheist are not united, nor are they organized, there isn't such thing as an atheist temple, nor do we get any endorsement or certification from any entity.

I say all this since a lot of believers judge atheism for what they know, and sometimes is hard for them to understand that comparing their religious believes with atheism is far from a perfect comparison.

That said, I have called myself an atheist, but that doesn't really quite define my complete stance on the subject of God and related stuff.

I neither believe nor don't believe. I don't read anything to support either side, and the topic of god's existence is not something I have any interest in; it's just not part of my life.

I have my own spirituality and I'm quite happy with the way it is, the rest, honestly, is completely irrelevant to me. If that's atheism, then I am an atheist. Otherwise, I really can't care less one way or another.

21

Things you didn't expect to like...

by sparrowdown in

jw
friends

stuff you never expected you would do or enjoy doing as a non-witness.... researching - always thought i hated study and reading turns out it was just wt literature i hated studying and reading.

having political opinions and just having opinons and beliefs that are not set in stone and that i am free to assess, review and adjust as i become more aware of imformation .

droping the f-bomb every now and again to make a point feels surprisingly good but that may just be post-religious rebellion that wears off... eventually.

scratchme1010

What's so unusual about being in HS at 14, that's the age I started HS also and graduated at 17, is that not the norm anymore (reason being for me by birthday is at the end of the year in December)

In my locality it wasn't. And that was not when I started HS. I started HS at 13, I was in 11th grade at 14. Graduated at 16.

13

Fading with Confidence

by gone for good in

abandoning a damaging cult is not a crime, in fact it might be viewed as a moral imperative given the levels of abuse awaiting those surrendering to its teachings and worse –its "ecclesiastic authority".. it has always seemed counter productive to inform potential enemies when your life´s goals now conflict with their rigid agendas.

disassociation letters and manifestos may be cathartic in the writing, but the outcome is a 100% certainty because of the inflexibility and lack of caring by the very group it is delivered to.. .

"fading" from under "high control" seems an oxymoronic risk at best, and currently faders walk on eggshells and look over their shoulders for years during and after the attempt - fearful that the price of their freedom will be the destruction of their friendships and family ties.. perhaps a peculiar additional preparation to a fade can reverse the balance of power – and high control cults are all about power.. .. bear in mind: - .

scratchme1010

"Fading" from under "high control" seems an oxymoronic risk at best, and currently faders walk on eggshells and look over their shoulders for years during and after the attempt - fearful that the price of their freedom will be the destruction of their friendships and family ties.

Thanks for your words, but for the gazillionth time: Where do people get that fading is what you describe?

And please don't forget that your brainwashed still-in JW family will make your life miserable by using any scheme possible to make you stay in a relationship with them (in their terms, of course). Even the best intended, kind hearted JWs still want to have the last word.

Fading is not a graceful process. Your mindset must change, as you describe, but if you only do that you're completely ignoring the main things that makes the WT a cult.

How about in addition to all you write (which has 100% validity, in my opinion), you also educate yourself about what these groups do and how they operate? How about building a true life outside them so you have support, people you can count on, a support system, so they have no ammunition when they shun you?

Confidence can only take you so far. You need support, other people, and accept that your life and your family relationships (with those who remain JWs) will change and/or will never be the same.

If you are a person who was born in that organization, the work is harder since one has to learn a lot more about "the world". There certainly is a lot more to the story.

31

A non-Witnes who accepts 607 BC?

by careful in

an eyebrow raiser to be sure.

i can understand the clergyman being so baptist that he'd still use the name jehovah since it was popular in english and german churches for a long time during and after the reformation, but 607?.

see ¶ 6 under the heading "the historicity of the book of daniel".

scratchme1010

DATA-DOG, I'm with you.

The JWs don't own exclusive rights to bullshit.

21

Things you didn't expect to like...

by sparrowdown in

jw
friends

stuff you never expected you would do or enjoy doing as a non-witness.... researching - always thought i hated study and reading turns out it was just wt literature i hated studying and reading.

having political opinions and just having opinons and beliefs that are not set in stone and that i am free to assess, review and adjust as i become more aware of imformation .

droping the f-bomb every now and again to make a point feels surprisingly good but that may just be post-religious rebellion that wears off... eventually.

scratchme1010

I'm not with you. I loved all those things since way before.

I cannot speak for all the born-ins, but as a born-in, it was never my choice not to like those topics. I was always told not to, and I just didn't listen. I remember at 14 in high school (yes, I was already in high school at 14) talking about politics and voting and social issues with my friends in school (and some of them not liking it at all).

Part of my journey out of the JWs was precisely reclaiming my right to want and like what I choose to like and want.

I guess I was never meant to be a JW.

3

How is watchtower written? Who takes decision for information?

by asp59 in

i wonder about this subject.

if there's a struggle among does in bethel what to write.

cause most times is preach preach.

scratchme1010

Low level literacy nobodies.

28

advice please/data protection

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

i have just received an email from an elder's wife regarding the new data protection laws.

between the lines it sounds like she has been asked to contact me.. she says they 'don't want to leave me out' so they want me to fill out the form as 'i'm still part of the congregation'.

also, my blood card needs updating, apparently.. the elder in charge will be in contact.. obviously, i'm not doing either, but what do i do?

scratchme1010

Can any of you tell me how to handle this, please?

I'd ignore it and if they ask me in person I lie telling that might have gone to the spam folder.

12

Interview with Giordano an Apostate

by Giordano in

tell us a little about yourself and your family.

my mother introduced me to her jw world when i was 12. i had to attend the weekly book study....boring!!!!

plus the disney tv show was on tuesday eve 8 to 9 and once a month they did a space show......no matter how hard i tried couldn’t get out of that bk study.

scratchme1010

Thanks for sharing.