by stillAwitness 57 Replies latest jw experiences
Serendipity: Does it get tough having to still keep up appearance like that? What do you tell your kids? Just curious
troubled mind: Ha! A young sister tonight gave the Profanity talk and used the lazy "talking to a bible student" setting. Sounds good to me!
prophecor: WoW! Its already summertinme in Australia???? You're kidding! Krimineys! (Did I say that right?)
atypical: So you say you're wife still regualry attends? Does she have any idea about your new beliefs concerning the FDS?
Hi Stillawitness-
Yes, she does have a pretty good idea of how I feel, but whenever we start talking about it she shuts down. Her defense mechanism is that she thinks I am just mad so I see things in a certain way. If I start to criticize the FDS at all, I can see the change in her expression, and the conversation is over. She has no problem saying that people have different situations, and only Jehovah can judge, but she does not let herself criticize the organization itself. She is very, very involved in the congregation. I don't know why, but she has been even more active since I quit going. It kind of hurts, but I try to let it go because she has not criticized me for not going.
Hi stilla,
My daughter is glad to miss the meetings. She's bored with them and says the speakers are condescending, especially to younger ones. She's used the words judgmental and propaganda to describe the talks and literature. However, she is the one to prod me when we miss more than two Sundays in a row, though. My challenge now is to help her develop a love for God and the Bible, apart from the WTS. I hope I'm not too late.
"We have TMS/KM tomorrow night. I have the talk on "Profanity" , anyone want to help me write it?"
Holy Crap! Feels kinda weird to meet someone who's still doing the talks and shit. Here's your opening statement:"What the [beep] am I still doing here?" Have the sound brother do the beep at the right moment, and then you built on that.
serendipity: WOW! How old is your daughter!? She sounds like quite the little Einstein. Interesting how she makes such statements and yet will still prod you when you guys miss a meeting. Quite perculiar of her aint it? Perhaps she's just so used to going I guess
atypical: I hope this isn't prodding too much but what kind of effect does this have on one's marriage? I know a lot of people on here have mates that are still on the "other side" of reality and I always wonder what it would be like to be married to someone whose views are so much different from mine esp. a fanatical witness kind of mate. Has it put a strain on the marriage at all? Inquiring minds would like to know!
fsmonster: LOL! That would of been a funny way to start the talk but I don't think the more stiffer ones in the audience would think it was very funny.
Guaranteed to keep 100% of the elders and 95% of the congregation away from me.
Might not you know. I remember when I was at a meeting the Elder gave a talk on how brothers that were looking for wives could get to know the single mothers with kids---- that way they could kill two birds with one stone- get a wife & make some new little JWs in her kids!!! So beware of the wolf in sheeps clothing gal...
If you don't want to go to the meeting then don't go. Its about time to just say NO!
Hi stillAwitness,
To answer your question, yes, it has put some strain into the marriage. My wife does not complain about going to meetings and service by herself, but she gets frustrated if I complain when I am treated badly by witnesses. She will often say that since I have made my decision (by stopping meeting attendance) then I shouldn't dwell on it or try to bring up things that I think are wrong at the hall or in the organization. I then say that it is very tough to move on when she is completely immersed in activity with the org, when I get many phone calls from the elders, when I have to work with other witnesses who are nosy, etc. I have been badmouthed very much in this area by witnesses, and don't feel I am out of line for being upset about it.
so that's pretty much the conversation we have over and over. That, and also, sometimes she comes home from the meeting upset because she gets hounded with questions about where I am, who I am associating with, etc.
On the other hand, in one way it did help our marriage for me to become inactive, because it took a huge stress out of my life. I was very unhappy feeling like I did not fit in and could not ever really speak my mind on anything. I always felt like the square peg and it really ate at me. I guess I wouldn't even mind her being so active, if I didn't constantly have to worry about the witnesses gossiping, or the elders harassing me.
Hi mouthy,
Your comment:
Might not you know. I remember when I was at a meeting the Elder gave a talk on how brothers that were looking for wives could get to know the single mothers with kids---- that way they could kill two birds with one stone- get a wife & make some new little JWs in her kids!!! So beware of the wolf in sheeps clothing gal...
The younger JW men don't seem to be interested in me. The older ones know they don't have a chance. Besides, I'm "spiritually weak" so that gives them a reason not to pursue me. Now if I were beautiful, some would probably try to "rescue" me.
Thanks for your concern.
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For the profanity talk:
<div>How about:
<br></br><br></br> "It's a sign of spiritual weakness when a christian starts imitating worldly people and their behavior in the way the act and speak. Jehovah's people are clean people, of mind, body, spirit and mouth. So, stop f*cking swearing when you're out of the hall. God dam*it - you better stop that bullsh*t now or your asses are gonna be f*cked up in Armaggedon".</div>
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