Any postive feedbacks from congregational people.

by spiritmama2004 26 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  FairMind

  Like Ezekial3, I'm also an active JW. I echo all most every thing he said except I was not born a JW. The benefits I received from the organization could have been acquired through many other avenues. The difference is that when I became a JW I would never have had the motivation to use the other avenues. A lot of what the organization expects you to learn can be applied to a person's positive benefit. I acquired a very organized approach to everything I do in life and this has benefited me both professionally and personally. This was not the intent of the organization but it is what happened. Many of the speaking and teaching skills learned in the Ministry School are transferable to one's secular life as well.

  Down through the years, there has been a lot of speculation taught as fact by the WTBTS and sad-to-say the enforcement of these speculations on the Rank & File has resulted in irreparable harm to many. The organization is accountable to God for their error (and in many cases should be accountable to Caesar). Contrary to the opinion of some, not everything taught by the organization is false. However in all fairness so much of what they claim and teach AND EXPECT YOU TO SWOLLOW - HOOK, LINE, AND SINKER, is ridiculously wrong.

  While it is true that the WTBTS is a high control organization, it is also true that you can avoid much of this control although not all of it by simply keeping your doubts to yourself. If you are a person who thinks for his/her self you probably will not like being a JW.
• 

  spiritmama2004

  I know everyone has their stories good & bad in their opinoins. I guess I wanted both sides. I know pleanty of people in all differnet faiths that are happy where they're at because they are getting what they need. I will research more into it, & see for myself. I already accepted Jesus as my saviour, I just don't like judging other sects.w/o being there first handed, & even then it is up to God to judge in the end,not us.
• 

  Oroborus21

  You know I was just talking with a close friend the other day who lives in Florida and she was telling me about some of the good things they are doing to help out the friends there and others. This friend and her husband herself took coffee and breakfast around to a number of elderly who were shut-in there by the Hurricanes.

  I provide the above to you just to say that within the Organization there are a lot of good and decent people and of course some of the opposite too. The majority of "good experiences" or good stories to relate will generally arise out of these kinds of individual circumstances.

  At the organizational level, you have to stretch a bit further to find good Christian works and good deeds done by the Org as a whole but there are some.

  You have posted to this forum which if you want to use political terms, I would categorize the vast majority of persons here to be "extremist." With the majority of those being to the extreme of being against or anti-JW and maybe a handful of extremist posters and lurkers who are pro-JW.

  Frankly I have found very few "moderates" like myself within this forum but that is ok. Just know what sort of responses you will get to a post such as yours from the outset and also have that understanding as you review everything to be found here.

  -Eduardo
• 

  BONEZZ

  Hi,

  Just curious about your moniker, "spiritmama2004"...are you one of the annointed?

  -BONEZZ
• 

  Nosferatu

  Apparently, I had a really good time out in Field Service. That's what I was told anyway. For some reason, I can't remember having a good time going door to door.

  I've also been told that the physical abuse from my mother didn't matter because she was spiritually strong.

  Also, I got beat up every day at school. I was taught not to defend myself, but leave everything in Jehovah's hands and pray whenever I needed help. I truly loved Jehovah and prayed many times a day. I wonder why I developed PTSD.

  Those are the happiest stories I can think of. If you want more negative ones, just give me a PM.
• 

  Valis

  I do like the fact that they are very biblical in the since of studying all the time.

  THAT my friends is what dilutes the family unit. Drilling that crap into children's heads for hours at a time IS NOT Christian nor is it even something a responsible parent would do. So many other things to do and experience with your kids besides the boring old business of "being ready" when meeting rolled around. Hell, it was easier to just say"Jehovah" as every answer and call it good. At least the kids used to get applause for it anyway..

  Sincerely,

  District Overbeer
• 

  CeriseRose

  Oroborus21 said: "You have posted to this forum which if you want to use political terms, I would categorize the vast majority of persons here to be "extremist." With the majority of those being to the extreme of being against or anti-JW and maybe a handful of extremist posters and lurkers who are pro-JW.
  Frankly I have found very few "moderates" like myself within this forum but that is ok. Just know what sort of responses you will get to a post such as yours from the outset and also have that understanding as you review everything to be found here."
  
  
  I'd just like to comment on this. There are many "moderates" here...I've spoken to many and actually consider myself one. The problem is, in a group of thousands, the "moderates" aren't the squeakiest wheels around here. Just the way of the world, right? You may not hear from 'us' (I really hate labels) but there are many here who don't have any particular axe to grind and no violent hatred for TPTB, and I can say for myself, I'm just looking for a stopover while I recover from my experience with others who have been in similar straits.
  
  As for the conversation going on about positive experiences, I had a few as a JW, just like I had a few prior to becoming one. Unfortunately for me, the negative experiences while in JWs and the repurcussions of leaving JWs, far outweigh the positives. I do, however, acknowledge that that is MY experience and that MY experience is unique to me.
  
  That being said, there are many things about my experience that are similar to others', and in many cases others' experiences are much much more heartbreaking than mine.
  
  I'm human; some days I'm bitter and some days angry. Some days I brush it off and don't worry so much about it. And some days I'm just happy I'm out, free to worship or not worship God without the rules and regulations imposed by men.
  
  Spiritmama2004, you mention that you don't like judging other sects. I don't like judging others either. One of the biggest things that is part of the JW culture that went so contrary to my personal ethic is that of judging others. Oh, you'll be told that it doesn't happen, and you won't see it while you are studying...it is carefully concealed. You'll be told that it is God who judges, but I've been judged by the individual JWs from almost the time I became a JW (in matters of everything from tone of voice to clothes, to telling me to wear makeup, to what I should do with my holidays, my time, etc.), and am still being judged by 'them' even though I've been gone for over 6 months (I left because I was treated badly and didn't want to be anymore...I didn't feel the love of the congregation that I should have...and left quietly, just wanting to be left alone...I didn't make a big deal of doctrine, nor did I treat anyone with malice). It's not really the individual's fault...they are only showing the fruitage of the spirit they're learning.
  
  If I could tell you anything, it would be to echo what others have said...to research the WT publications, even the really old ones, research on the internet (and they'll warn you from that), and use secular reference materials as well. When something doesn't jive between them, there's a reason. And take it from me (for what it's worth), the answer "God will let us know in time" or "God gave us new light and changed his mind" is NOT an acceptable argument to "explain" the facts you'll come across.
  
  Best of luck to you.