by onacruse 35 Replies latest jw friends
Do you see JWD as a half-way house?
My opinion: if it's not, then we've done nothing other than join another religion (the "anti-WTS-ism" church just around the corner, praise God).
If it is a half-way house, then there comes a time when we must move on...
or are there other good and sufficient reasons to 'stick with it'?
Your thoughts?
Craig
Do you see JWD as a half-way house?
I myself don't see it that way. I don't see JWD as a religion either.
When I left the troof, I lost all my "friends" and part of my family.
I spent years alone trying to cope. When I stumbled onto this site
I finally found some comfort. I got my life back together and am having
fun again. This board to me is a place where I find new friends; real friends.
Hope to meet you one day too.
I hope that this site stays around forever as a place to get together even
after the WT is gone.
That's my opinion.
Andy
Andy, one side of me wants to agree with you, and the other side says "no way."
Friends of a common bond? Like Veterans? I've known many, who continued haunted, decades after their wars.
Is it really in our own personal interests to continue the "battle" if the "battle" is over?
Or, is the WTS-type-of-mentality, instead of a war, rather an addiction! that we can never escape?
Thus my comparison to a half-way house.
For me, it is a coffee shop (or sometimes a pub) where I like to hang out. My 'Cheers', so to speak. There's a whole bunch of folks here. Some I can relate to, some not. But there is always an interesting conversation going on at one of the tables. At times I will join in the conversation, other times I will just listen.
What draws me to this coffee shop/pub? Well, the safe atmosphere, and the people, of course. You see, we all have a common bond.
We all had our spirits raped by the WTBTS. It's not something you get over. It stays with you, because it is a part of you. But the key is, how you deal with it.
All my life, I have been 'different' from my friends, because they did not grow up in a cult. Although they empathize, they cannot completely understand what it did to me. Now, I have found my 'tribe'.
The sharing of experiences is a healing thing. I learn so much from the folks at JWD. And hopefully, I make a contribution as well. Sticking around here does not mean that I am stuck. It just means (to me) that I finally have a place to go, where others understand the hell I have been through. And we are helping each other to deal with that special hell, and create some meaning out of our collective experience.
There will be a time when I don't come to the coffee shop/pub as often, but I will always drop in to say hi. And the friendships I am making here, are real connections that I hope will be with me forever.
talesin
What's with the obsession over church and religion?
JWD is mainly a group of people who have a common experience, enjoying each others company and acceptance. It's a very human preoccupation.
In addition it provides a resource to ease hurt, and a meeting point for enquirers.
I would suggest not trying to pigeon-hole it's usefullness so tightly.
I'm all the way out. It may be a halfway house for some, but there are more counselors than patients. We all have something very, very deep and special in common. What common bond, besides family, could be deeper? Just because someone has fully recovered doesn't mean he will want to stop coming here. We are a family, and it's great to look back on our JW days and laugh or cry or whatever. Remembering what it was like to be a JW always reminds me of how far I've come, and I like that. It just feels good to come here.
I learn so much from the folks at JWD. And hopefully, I make a contribution as well. Sticking around here does not mean that I am stuck. It just means (to me) that I finally have a place to go, where others understand the hell I have been through.
What Talesin said above speaks for me as well. I think JWD is many things to many people, but I think that changes all of the time, at least it does for me. When I first came here my fingers couldn't stop. I had waited 7 years to say some of the things that I have said here because I didn't know places like this existed when I left the Org. Now I come in frequently to read and to catch up, but I don't always post, or sometimes I will post just one or two things. I like the pub analogy, I think that explains it really well.
exjdub
new light:
It just feels good to come here.
Couldnt have put it better myself!!
I think this is an excellent place to heal, rant, and plain old just have fun!! Now I've taken the plunge and joined the site, I can't see any reason why I'd want to leave.
I'm addicted already!!
Bull!
JWD is mainly a group of people who have a common experience, enjoying each others company and acceptance. It's a very human preoccupation. In addition it provides a resource to ease hurt, and a meeting point for enquirers
Yep!
However, it seems to me that it could easily be a 'stop off' place that becomes a permanent residence!
Well you could look at JWD as a cyber-Starbucks, or a a Leigon Hall for exJW veterans. Couldn't be a religion, too many opposing viewpoints, which is good imo.
