by keyser soze 40 Replies latest watchtower beliefs
Berean: thats correct! First years of my slowing down I had to cope with the feeling "What if it is somehow right and I might loose the chance to live forever ..." Now I feel the same way: I better live 10 years in freedom than everlasting life in a world ruled by hippocrites...
Albert
Donny, you must be joking!!!
Albert
I wish I was my friend. That definitley began the sprial down from which I would never recover.
Don
Wow! I really enjoyed reading this thread!! I don't really know what pushed me over the edge. There were many factors. I didn't take too kindy to the elders & CO's trying to control or manipulate your life was one. But, I really didn't like hearing the guilt & scare tactics being preached from the platform.
I also remember while I was doing sound, which I did a lot and is probably the main reason for leaving since it gave my head a break and I wouldn't pay attention to the shit being preached. Anyway, I started just watching peoples actions during the meetings and I noticed how mesmerized these people were. It was like they were being hyptonized. When the speaker would mention something and the audience agreed they would all nod their heads in agreement. It was like a mule eating a carrot.
With my doubts set in motion I began doing research about the religion, read CofC, then landed at Randy's site then here. Soon resigned as MS then within a few weeks just left.
Wow! What a relief!!
This is a superb thread!
Sylvia
Geeze Donny, whatever happened with that "sister" at work?
I was never the same and I understood how much control they had over me.
Yes!! That's how it feels.
1) Subjugation and inequitable treatment of women.
2) The fact that my parents' marriage wasn't going well even though they espoused the JW religion (they weren't baptized then).
3) My Mom saying that, after 16 years of denying evolution, there may be something to it afterall.
During a bible study, I told the sister I was studying w/that I planned on putting my daughter in gymnastics to see if she liked it. My daughter has a gift in this area, and I knew she would do well. I"m also a health and fitness oriented type of person, so I do attend the gym at least three to four times a week. The sister made the comment that Satan would always put the gym in front of me to take time away from Jehovah, and that Angelia's gymnastics would take even more time away from Jehovah. When she said that to me, something inside of me wanted to scream and I haven't had a bible study nor been back to the KH since. I don't believe God created me to just work at some job until armagedon arrives, and to sit by and watch my daughter waste a talent, that there is no doubt God gave her this talent! I'm so grateful to have found this site, and to have support from so many others!!!
There were several things that pushed me over:
-The worship of the "organization". The "organization" was everything. It was a living, breathing entity that could spew fire and crush any who got in the way. Something always seemed fishy... Then I read COC and I understood everything.
-The way Judicial Committee's are held, in secret and without forgiveness. It never made sense that you had to confess your sins, anything and everything, to a bunch of men. Isn't that what the Catholics do? Don't JW's condemn the Catholics for that very same practice?
-The history of lies. Once I discovered their old books and magazines, it was only a matter of time before I unraveled it all. Their own literature condemned them, over and over. I became disillusioned because it was all right there. Then the denial of 1975. The Generation of 1914 that wouldn't pass away... It was all too much! How could I stay and support a religion that upholds lies?
-It also bothered me that "only JW's" were going to be saved. Deep down in my heart, I knew that there were good people out there. I found it hard to accept that because they didn't become JW's, they wouldn't be saved. It seemed cruel and heartless.
Welcome angleyes!! I'm sorry for ever putting my kids life second to everything else JW. I cannot apologize to them enough.
Geeze Donny, whatever happened with that "sister" at work?
I worked there for six more months and then the operation folded and I was laid off. Despite my best effort, I was never able to figure out who it was for sure although I narrowed it down to 2 or 3 viable suspects. Isn't it strange that you could have another brother or sister working for you and you never knew it. They went to extremes to remain covert which added to the creepiness.
Don
