Hi, I'd like to introduce myself (page 2)

Albert Einstein

Hi dig and welcome,

I am fading after 18 years as JW, being here did help me a lot in dealing with many questions I had during my long fading proces... stay here, ask questions.... live your life and be happy!

Albert

iknowall558

Welcome to the board. Look forward to hearing more about you.

Hi dig692 - welcome. Strange but true the normal activities that can get you d'fd.And, yes,some people getaway far more lightly! You're lucky your own family aren't affiliated with the JWs - it should make cutting the cord a lot less difficult. Hope you husband's able to stay out - family can exert lots of pressure to come back in. You'll notice a wide range of views on this forum. Enjoy your stay! steve2

LUKEWARM

Welcome dig692! - Look forward to reading more of your posts!!

Quirky1

Welcome to the board!!

Heaven

Welcome, dig692!

Have you read "Crisis of Conscience" by Ray Franz? If you haven't you may want to. It's quite an eye opener on the inner workings of the Governing Body that no rank and file JW actually gets to know about while one is 'in'. Steve Hassan has some interesting insight as well because the JWs are really a 'cult' when you look at what a cult truly is. Check out his website at: www.freedomofmind.com.

The www.jwfacts.com site is a good one to check out as well.

I am a great proponent of Stephen Covey's work and highly recommend reading his books "7 Habits Of Highly Effective People" and "First Things First". Spirituality is only one part of the human existence. In my experience, I have found that JWs tend to focus only on this to the exclusion of the other 3 human needs which are Physical, Emotional, and Mental. My father, a MS, has not lead a balanced life ever since joining and it is affecting him now. He has regrets but is too proud to admit it. Many JWs are in denial as they are having a difficult time coming to resolution on the conflict in their minds.

we got caught being naughty, I had to confess to the elders

I hope you don't mind me saying so, but you don't have to confess a darn thing to these guys... or anyone else for that matter! Your forgiveness comes from God and Christ NOT from man. The elders are not God and Christ. Neither is the Governing Body/FDS. Your only requirement is to apologize to people if you have hurt or offended them. God and Christ are the ones you go to for confession and repentance.

Amha·aret

Welcome!

Enjoy the posts. And feel happy with moving on with your life!

dig692

Thanks all for the kind words and support. I can say without a shadow of a doubt that I am truly happier now that I ever was when I was "in". I have the freedom to actually think for myself and reason on what I learn rather than just swallow it down like a mindless zombie. I am no longer under the constant scrunity of the "friends" or surrounded by two-faced, manipulative, holier-than-thou, gossip loving, horrible people. And they say "wordly" people are bad association. HA!

Heaven-I don't mind you saying that at all. I wish I could go back and tell them that my personal business is MY personal business. They made me feel so embarrassed and ashamed and worthless all at the same time and NO ONE should ever have to go through that kind of ordeal. And to know that they probably all told their wives, who told their friends, who were overheard gossiping about it by others, who then told their friends, until finally every JW within a 30 mile radius knew that I had said...it just makes me sick to my stomach.

I haven't read "Crisis of Conscience" yet but I see that many people here have and it really opened their minds so I definitely plan on reading it. I'm interested in seeing how the Governing Body really works and how everything fits in with the org. Thanks for recommending it.

insearchoftruth

Hi dig692, welcome to JWN....in addition to CofC, read Hassan's book Combatting Cult Mind Control, also quite good and eye opening!

Quandry

Hello dig,

Just saw your post and wanted to welcome you to the forum.

Maybe it's a good thing the in-laws shun you-no interfering mother-in-law!

Hi, I'd like to introduce myself

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