I had to DF my brother a few days ago! I'm REALLY depressed now! You don't know how much! I just wanted to visit him and my family late December. Anyway, he said, "WE DON?T WANT YOU HERE!" I asked, "WHY," and he said, "because you have negative feelings toward the organization!"
Well, I told him, "if this is the way you fell about me, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, EVER, CALL ME AGAIN!" Then, I hung up the phone! Oh yea, just before I hung-up, he wanted further proof as to why I was so unhappy; so I mentioned that the Society had previously joined the UN for 10 years!" He asked, "Are you listening to apostates NOW?" I answered, "NO, but there's a few 'apostates' in Brooklyn, I'd like to tell you about!" "If you don't believe me, then call the UN yourself, CALL THE UN, CALL THE UN! Then, call the Service Department! I'll give you the numbers if you wish!"
Well, I think this was a bit of a shock to him. Furthermore, I mentioned I had sent, some time ago, a letter to XXX XXXXX (GB-member)! And that the Society's position was/is, that they joined to get a "library card." Well, he was speechless (yes, I've never mentioned this to him in the past. I'm usually mute when it comes to my feelings about Watchtower, at least around family).
Actually, I believe his current position is a result of my last visit. When I visited last, he extensively poked, prodded, harassed, and harangued me (in private... I never initiated such a discussion) to ask me why I was so unhappy, knowing full-well, that I had some ill-feelings toward "The Watchtower..." organization (I did tell him I have few complaints about the local congregation of JW's, but have grave-concerns about "headquarters" -- ok, I'm an "old timer").
Part of our conversation centered on the "governing body" and how they were appointed. He said, "they were appointed DIRECTLY by Christ Jesus!" I asked him, "where did you see that?" He said, "The Watchtower?" Of course, he was right, "The Watchtower?" did say that the GB is DIRECTLY appointed by Christ! So I then asked him, "HOW were they appointed? WHEN were they appointed? WHERE were they appointed?" "Did Christ materialize a body, appear to them, then appoint them in-person?" "Or rather, perhaps it was by a vision!" "Or maybe he walked through a wall, appeared in the GB-meeting-room in Brooklyn!" "Shouldn't they have at least called CBS, NBC, ABC, and CNN when it happened? Surely they would want everyone to know about their appointment."
Anyway, you get the point! Well, my brother didn't know how to answer, DUH! Yet, he's now going to judge me based on my concerns! Anyway, I'm a bit depressed right now. I wasn't expecting to loose my brother, at least at this point, over all this crap! But maybe in the long run, this is the best thing that could have happened! Now I can move beyond the "Watchtower?" realizing that I don't have to please my brother, his wife and kids.
An (almost-X)JW-friend called me today (a very dear friend of mine), wanting to make sure I wasn?t going to hang myself. I talked previously with him about what had happened. I told him I had thought about hanging myself, but that I haven't gotten to that point (yet)! Besides, MY BROTHER is the one that is taking this ridiculous position, NOT ME! He's just ass-kissing "The Watchtower?" his GOD (THE WATCHTOWER-GOD, WATCHTOWER?BAAL), the book publishing corporation (or rather isn?t it the 8+ corporations?at least, one incarnation is: "Christian Congregation, INC!" ? gag-me!).
Anyway, my dear friends, I?m a bit depressed! Please give me a little support here, a little comfort, perhaps a little consolation! I need it now!
In advance, I thank everyone here! Simon, THANKS for this board! It's been a real support!
Cyberguy!
