Great letter, I am in the process myself of organizing research I have done for the past year and a half. Boy I can relate SO MUCH to you. I as well have so much paperwork I have dld and books I have read, that I too am trying to shorting things up. Its funny we both took the same path. I initially had questions about beards of all things. This led me to where I am today. I too started reading the NT starting with John, the Matthew to Rev. Funny, Russell said we could't understand the bible on our own.Yet I came to many of the same conclusions you did. Seriously, Must be the Holy Spirit that I asked God to help me find truth as you did ( Tear coming to my eye ). Reading your letter I though I was reading my life story for the past year as many here can probably put themselves in your place as well. Just change the names around and any of us can be there. Some day I too hope to post my letter unless they can me first. Take care, IronClaw
Here it is: my da letter
by BlackSwan of Memphis 45 Replies latest jw experiences
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AuldSoul
Meagan,
That letter was wonderful. Have they announced you yet? All the best in your future endeavors. Hopefully you helped some to think. I like your tracts idea.
Respectfully,
AuldSoul -
ferret
Meagan I loved your letter thats enough to even get the BOE thinking. It's a gem worth keeping
All the best to you. You'll find lots of love and support here.
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YoursChelbie
People want to know what happened, why I ended up where I am. I said this to mom and I will say it again… What happened is, I read the Bible
This introduction is powerful.
I 'd like to copy some of the fine points you made and use them to try to get thru to some people if that is ok.
YC
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bythesea
Black Swan...what a great letter! Very articulate and said with much conviction and sincerity.
I'd also like to borrow some of those thoughts, if that's ok....I've been working on how to talk about some of this with my husband and this is laid out so nicely...I have most of those same notes, but this saves me some time in putting it in a good order!!
Well done!! And have a great rest of your life!!!
Bythesea
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TMS
Black Swan,
Well done. Your carefully distilled JW history, contradictions and failures contained not one unnecessary word. Unfortunately, the typical witness would mentally shut down twenty words in. A witness mom or dad might gloss over the entire letter looking for the faintest hope of your "return."
Your profile indicates you are in your thirties. If so, you have an opportunity to steer your life more productively. Although my wife and I are enjoying retirement, we would trade chronological places with you in a heartbeat and do so many things differently.
tms
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BlackSwan of Memphis
Hey thank you for the response! I fell asleep on the couch before I could even get back to the computer to see if anyone had posted.
A witness mom or dad might gloss over the entire letter looking for the faintest hope of your "return."
What was your mother's reaction?
My mom and I had had a conversation about this about a month before. The day she got her letter, but Before she got it, she got into it with my husband over the phone, accusing him of controlling me and taking me away from Jehovah. I think by the time she got the letter later that day, it was pretty clear, that this was coming from me. I know she was probably devastated, but I also know my mom to be complicated. When we had that conversation, she asked me some pointed questions and when she didn’t like my answer, she would get annoyed with me.
I think what I might do is post everything that has happened in the last year. It would really help explain a lot of things.
I will say, that I haven’t talked to my family since then. I have tried calling one sister and emailing her, no response.
I have learned so much from this forum and others like it, that
I certainly don’t mind you guys using anything !!! I can’t take a lot of credit for this. You guys, the best of on this forum has been a HUGE help to me, all the thoughts that come from the posters here and the other forums and sites, each one serves a different purpose and I have learned so much from each one. I have met awesome, brilliant people. I never would have known where to look for stuff if it wasn’t for the community of ex witnesses that have pulled together with the common goal of helping others. It seems like every time I turn around I learn something new.
If it helps to cut and paste any of this, go for it.The illustration about being led astray in the WTC is by far one of the best I have ever read.
Thank you. I keep asking myself, how many times will they let someone say, “oops, we made a mistake”?
That was incredible. I don't know how anyone in your congregation could read such logical information and still believe it is the Truff.
The elder I sent it to, sent me a card requesting that I meet with him and another elder. I wrote him a letter, I’ll post that. I really, really hope it makes him think.
Great letter, I am in the process myself of organizing research I have done for the past year and a half. Boy I can relate SO MUCH to you. I as well have so much paperwork I have dld and books I have read, that I too am trying to shorting things up. Its funny we both took the same path. I initially had questions about beards of all things. This led me to where I am today. I too started reading the NT starting with John, the Matthew to Rev. Funny, Russell said we could't understand the bible on our own.Yet I came to many of the same conclusions you did. Seriously, Must be the Holy Spirit that I asked God to help me find truth as you did ( Tear coming to my eye ). Reading your letter I though I was reading my life story for the past year as many here can probably put themselves in your place as well. Just change the names around and any of us can be there. Some day I too hope to post my letter unless they can me first.
A couple of times before I sent my letter out, my family had asked me if it was because of the holidays. That was insulting. One night, I was sitting around sorting out all the stuff I had. Stacks of stuff. My husband looked at our living room and said, “You know if they could see this, then they would know. I wish I could show them how much work you have put into this.”
When I read the book of John, and I let it speak for itself, I was absolutely amazed. Romans, Colossians, Hebrews, Revelation etc. I remember reading Romans 6:7 and then when I read it in it’s context, I was floored. I cried. Because I had been so misled. I cried and threw the Bible across the room. How did, do they get away with twisting the Bible so much, and there I sat, eating it up. Since then, my journey with God has taken some really curious twists. At times, I sat there thinking, there is NO GOD! How could He allow people to kill and destroy for Him? Well, it would take a great deal more space to show how I got to where I am now. But too much, way too much has happened in my life, that I can deny we are alone in this world without there being Something, Someone so much bigger then us. Let the HS guide you, and things will be ok. Hang in there.
Did they announce it? I’m almost positive yes. Not long after, the day before Thanksgiving, I saw a family from the other cong at Costco and while I think they would have come up to say hi, they didn’t. I got in touch with a friend from the hall via email, she said she hadn’t heard anything, but that she had been absent from the meeting it likely would have been announced. On top of that, I was getting phone calls from people in the hall, worried about me, all has been silent.
As far as the tract idea goes, I guess I just figure, if they have the right to publish lit that attacks other religions and instigates hatred against those that have left the Org, then those religions and WE have a right to be just as vocal in defending ourselves. WE have a right, a responsibility to tell the World what the WTS really teaches and what they DON’T say in their publications.
Too many people think of the jw’s as a harmless Christian sect. Not true.
Truth be told, I tried not to let it get to this point, but after everyone wanted to know what was up, after already saying little things here and there, I guess I just wanted to be done with it.
I’m really happy that some of you might find this helpful.
I think TMS is right though. The ave witness would not get very far into this, before it becomes trash, or ashes in my case.
(sorry this is so long, I just really wanted to try to respond to everyone as personally as I could, thank you thank you for the responses!)
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YoursChelbie
she got into it with my husband over the phone, accusing him of controlling me and taking me away from Jehovah
I can totally identify. When I was becoming vocal about the way things were not being done according the Bible and became inactive in the WT activities, I was also told that I was being influenced by some of my non-JW relatives!
No one could accept that I decided on my own to investigate the real truth about the Watchtower.
YC
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greendawn
That letter pretty much demolishes them, it's all the points they refuse to face and correct. It will shake any elder that reads it, but of course instead of accepting its points as valid they will shut their critical thinking by saying that it is apostate and not worth considering.
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Slave1111
A Revelation by Jesus Christ:
43 “But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.
There are many hidden truths within the scripture that will soon be revealed by Jesus Christ himself to all inhabitants within the planet we call earth. The W.T.S. claim the authority and responsibility of the faithful and discreet slave but do not hold true to its meaning. The faithful slave is a living sacrifice in lowliness and humility.
It is evident that the W.T.S. has stored for themselves treasures upon the earth in real estate, and have taken part in destroying the land contrary to the teachings of Almighty JAH. Who in fact owns the property upon the earth in Kindom Halls across the land? If it is true that JAH owns the property, then they should immediately sell all property and distribute it to the poor as written.
JAH must hold true to every teaching even if denouncing those that have been found worthy in holding fast to most teachings of Jesus while upon the earth. All those known as the shepards of the flock will be held accountable to Jesus Christ and the Almighty JAH under the Law of the prophets.
Hidden Truths:
43 “But know one thing, that if the householder had known in what watch the thief was coming, he would have kept awake and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 On this account YOU too prove yourselves ready, because at an hour that YOU do not think to be it, the Son of man is coming.
Many followers are taught to approach the householder with a watchtower and awake as thieves to the promises of Abraham. The promises of Abraham belong to BLOOD offspring of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. They have been misled and are misleading those they aproach with their teaching. Those that recognized the untruths about the teaching are labeled as apostates.
The Almighty JAH Himself have found you all worthy by holding fast to what is true, and denouncing that which is false. However, do not be misled further and toss aside the heartfelt love you once had for your Father Jehovah, but wait for the arrival of Jesus Christ out of the East in much love and faith.......AMEN.
The TRUE Faithful and Discreet Slave of JAH and JESUS as BLOOD offspring of Abraham