i am 20 minutes away from a sheparding call........ (page 5)

lonestar63

Oompa,

I can't imagine ever going back after i found out the real "truth".

After reading your post, i was darn near overwhelmed with the sacrifice you would be willing to make for your wife, and that i understand completely.

I was at that crossroads last year, and was determined to keep on going and never turn back. Luckily for me, my wife took my hand and started that journey with me. If she hadn't, i may have lingered, but not for long i don't believe. Hard for a man to be something he's not.

In your case, doing it for your wife, and your marriage, i respect that very much, and wish you well.

rebel8

oompa, tell them you're anointed now, you're sure of it, and you're using your time to privately study and receive God's wisdom--he is guiding you to do this. Ask if they would like any spiritual guidance from you.

OnTheWayOut

Before we decide for Oompa what he should do, this is really an exercise of philosophy, Matrix style.

The blue pill will leave us as we are, in a life consisting of habit, of things we believe we know. We are comfortable, we do not need truth to live. We just want acceptance from some people that have been in our lives. Reaching out and promoting the religion won't necessarily be part of the life with the blue pill, but the life outside of this delusion will still nag at the blue pill taker.

The red pill is an unknown quantity. We are told that it can help us to find the real truth. We don't know what that truth is, or even that the pill will actually help us to find it. The red pill symbolises risk, doubt and questioning. You must give up the delusion in order to face the reality of the red pill and the reality may be a life of depression or anguish or loneliness. Taking the red pill, you might feel that you will be miserable while looking at the delusion you gave up. Not taking the red pill, you will wonder where your reality might have taken you.

Even in such a bleak narrative, I choose the reality. But I don't blame anyone who stays in the delusion. You can try. You can always put the red pill in your pocket and take it later. That's the thing in my matrix that doesn't fit the movie. The reality is always there for you. Still, I couldn't stay in the delusion.

wobble

Reb I like it! I may use that one if the opportunity presents itself,no way they can do anything about that one, Tee Hee.

love

Wobble

Snoozy

OOmpa, lots of catholic husbands go to church for their wives..some even go for business contacts..many go for their own reasons..some even go because they believe it. It just can't all be cut and dried. I made the choice that I felt was right for me at the time..hubby was getting stronger in the faith as I was getting "weaker". I just couldn't carry on a lie. But that was me. I had to leave. Ask me now that he is gone if I would do the same thing?..no way. I would have went with him..maybe just on Sundays.. But you know with them it's either all or nothing. They can't accept part time witnesses in their social life..so if you go back it will have to be all the way. Or you will be as disfellowshipped or bad association to them.

And funny you keep talking about "Losing your faith"..I hear that a lot from witnesses that have left. I don't think it is their leaving that causes that .I think it is staying in that religion that causes that. They (WTBTS ) ruin all religions for us and paint such a morbid picture of god that we can no longer believe in him..

We lost our faith during the time that we were Jehovah's witnesses....I can't see getting it back by rejoining them. Just a deeper depression listening to them talk about the worlds destruction and how happy they will all be then.

If you can block that all out..if you can keep it from making you more depressed..if you can even make yourself once again believe that they just may be right..then go back..but if not....just remember..for some the grass will always look greener on the other side of the fence...that doesn't mean it is.

Best of luck whichever you decide..

Snoozy..who went through the same pain..

flipper

OOMPA- I don't think you understood what I was getting at in my reply to you. I know YOU would never go back - but what I meant is I don't really believe you totally understand why your wife STAYS in the cult. What I was saying is if you just read Steve Hassan's books - you would have more understanding of what keeps your wife hooked inside the witness cult. And you will understand yourself better too

i am 20 minutes away from a sheparding call........