Ok, Question: Was there a comment made at a meeting that finally convinced. (page 4)

xjw_b12

Hello again NC. Good newbie question.

#1. Didn't convince me, but I never forgot it. Circuit Assembly, spring 1975. C.O. Veenstra. "Brothers. Do you realize how close the end of this wicked system of things is? In God's great scheme of things, within his timetable, we are not talking about years, nor months. Not even hours. We are talking minutes. Yes bothers and sisters we are minutes away from that calamitious event"

I was really upset and remember lying in bed that night, thinking how I'd never get the chance to buy that car I had been saving up for.

abbagail

This really is an excellent thread and topic... amazes me how everyone's memory is so well intact! Unbelievable,, shocking, heart-pinchcing stories, too.

It's been too long, almost 14 years now, so I don't remember any one specific comment during the 11 years I was 'in' as a try-harder-do-gooder, until the last few years before being DF'd when we were studying for the 1st time the newer Revelation Book. Again, I don't remember specifics, all I remember was how it made my gut hurt because it SEEMED to me at the time they were TRYING TOO HARD to bend/twist/FORCE the Revelation scriptures to apply to the FDS and I remember clearly thinking to myself throughout numerous paragraphs, "This just doesn't SEEM right to me, the way they are applying this..." Yet as soon as I would think it, the 'panic' would hit, "Dare I question the FDS? NEVER may that happen!" And I was looking up EVERY scripture and typing out a sheet of every one for each lesson stapling it to the chapter page... exhausting.

During that time I knew I was 'drifting' out to sea in that little boat they used to show in the mags, yet I didn't really know what to do about it, surely one cannot discuss such 'doubts' with anyone! So I continued to try to 'stuff it down' and not think about it, 'wait on Jehovah' and all that... Then along came 'Satan' out of the blue, while in this 'doubting state,' and took care of it all for me, in the form of a cute little sexy ballroom dance instructor, who 'lured me away' from the JWs... ooh la la. And I was gone in a flash after 11 years of try-EVER-MORE-harder-do-gooder, single-sister-in-dubdumb. Otherwise, I'd probably still be sitting there in the twist 'n bend-the-scriptures Kingdumb Hall.

xjw_b12

~~Grits~~ ABBAgail:

Then along came 'Satan' out of the blue, while in this 'doubting state,' and took care of it all for me, in the form of a cute little sexy ballroom dance instructor, who 'lured me away' from the JWs... ooh la la.

You and ESTEE should compare notes. I'm thinking that those dance lessons we had to take in Phys-Ed class wern;t a waste of time after all.

DanTheMan

Great thread!

The last time I attended a meeting, the bro giving the public talk took it upon himself to warn the youths in the congregation about the dangers of taking too much math in school. "How much math do you need? Just the basics" was his counsel. I couldn't help but to sit there shaking my head "no" to where it was probably noticeable. I couldn't believe that this bro was making math a counsel point. This was following a long couple of years in which I had become increasingly cynical about the endless manipulation and counsel coming from the platform and publications.

I was already about 90% gone by that time, that was the straw that broke the horses back.

abbagail

Heehee, xjw_b12, I don't know Estee's story but it must be a good one for you to mention it! ;-) The funny thing was, I had looked into dance lessons 2 years prior but wouldn't sign up because the lessons were on meeting nights. I felt guilty even thinking about WANTING to GO DO SOMETHING (besides meetings), because I NEVER had before, but sheesh, I knew I was increasingly restless and bored (socially). So I carried on a few more years and when they began having an afternoon book study at the KH, I switched to that and signed up for the dance lessons, appeasing my 'conscience' with the 'excuse' that it was 'okay' since I was going on a cruise with a bunch of JWs soon, and there would be dancing on the ship and surely I needed to learn how... And that was the beginning of the end, as it was "love at first sight" the very 1st night of the class. It took him 5 months to finally say "I love you" and within a month I took myself before the elders (couldn't stand to be a hypocrite) telling them I was bye bye, madly in love, etc. They begged, "Don't Ever Believe a Man Over God!" but it was too late, I was a gone'r into stupid-cupidsville. (Mr. Cutie turned out to be a nutty narcissist, but oh well, it got me out of the borg. Like I said, I really don't think I would've ever left otherwise, sad but true, I'm not too bright/deep in the doctrinal/dogma/theology dept.! ;-)
Abbagail

abbagail

DanTheMan wrote:
"..."How much math do you need? Just the basics" was his counsel...."
--------

No wonder I made such a good dub when I was 'in' -- I despised math. LOL.

Seriously, though, that's is a PRETTY BAD shepherd who DISCOURAGES "knowledge" like that. That is what I find so 'refreshing' about the 'worldly christians' -- they ENCOURAGE higher education and careers because the smarter and more successful you are, the MORE you can DO in and FOR God's Kingdom. It's so clear now, don't know how I missed realizing these things during the JW years. Dunce!
Abbagail

gumby

I remember a C.O. making the statement that ...."the world" does NOT KNOW what love is because true love can only be known INSIDE of Jehovah's Organisation".

I remember telling my wife that was a lie and I was going to let him know after his talk. I never did. I was so pissed off that this lying self rightous bastard could actually say that all the mothers and fathers in this world do not REALLY love their children because the worls doesn't know love. I knew that worldly people have love and feelings the same way witnesses do.

I'm STILL pissed about that statement!

Gumby

Gretchen956

One, a conversation that stuck with me in the back of my mind. Two elders talking during field service. One: What ever happened to sister so-and-so? The other: Well she suffered from depression. First: So she's out, then? Second: Yes, depression always leads to an exit from Jehovah's organization.

Two things happened to me to end my involvement. I had an accident, the resulting injury to my back caused bedrest for about 6 months. Where were all the offers to help? I had been in an abusive marriage for years (15) and only stayed in it because I believed it was required to remain married no matter what. So I fell into depression. The last meeting I ever went to, a ministarial servant gave a talk on depression. He said, there are two kinds of depression. Real depression and feeling sorry for yourself depression. The first type is if you lose someone in death, or something equally as horrible. Anything else is just feeling sorry for yourself, get over it, rely on Jehovah, pull yourself up and get back active.

I thought to myself, you ignorant a$$hole, how DARE you peddle such medically inaccurate crap. You, who are supposed to be in charge of the welfare of your "flock" are advising people against getting help and telling them that their malady is ficticious. That was it for me.

I got on Prozac, got a divorce, left the religion, and lived happily ever after. Been 12 years now. woooooooooooohoooooooooooo

Gretchen

gumby

I got on Prozac, got a divorce, left the religion, and lived happily ever after. Been 12 years now. woooooooooooohoooooooooooo
Gretchen

ROTFLMAO!!!!!!!

Gumby

integ

The Revelation book study. It was brought out that the conventions of the 1920's at Cedar Point Ohio, or wherever, and other conventions at that time, were fulfilling the prophecies of the 7 trumpet blasts of Revelation. Even though everything they taught at that time has been changed. Gimme a break.

Integ.

Ok, Question: Was there a comment made at a meeting that finally convinced.

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