who is who on here?? (page 3)

upside/down

I was a flamin, hard-core, die-hard, tough as nails,ready to die for my ~~nation~~ "God" JW. But I wasn't one of those mean, bully type, unloving Dubs.

I was the JW poster child. Held up as an "example" of what the "truth" could do for a person! Converted at 19 from Catholicism right before I was to ship off to the Air Force Academy to pursue my dreams of flying F-15's and being a photojournalist for National Geographic.

I was one of the stupid ones that thought all Dubs actually were obediant to the direction of the FDS. So I servered all my worldly (and potentially profitable) ties, immersed mysself in the meetings and my ministry. I set my goal on Gilead and/or Bethel. Immediately started pioneering (for the right reasons and from the heart) moved to "where the great are needed". Got all the priveleges you could shake a stick at (pagan reference) and swallowed "crap" for 20 years. Only to realize later that the average "elder types" only paid lip service to the talks and counsel they gave and while espousing a simple life of "service" with one side of their mouth they were padding their bank accounts and living the good life with the other- Hell and why not? With dipshits like me more than willing to do all the work and make them look so good!

I finally drew the line when I ended up with an adulterous wife and the elders started doing "stuff" with my kids behind closed doors. When I tried to submissively assert my rights, I found out what these people are made of. They are a mean and spiteful bunch and definitely only love their own (conditionally of course). This lack of love is the idntifying mark of them not being "right". Paul (whom many here don't like) said that ALL things (positive) are trumped by a lack of love. There are too many details to my sitch to even begin to list here- you'll have to wait for my multi-volume book. LOL! The whole "shunning" bit was new to me too as I had never practiced this.

Now I'm 40 and pretty much adrift till I found this forum. There is life after the WTS- a "real" life. I'm just an innocent victim of WT "justice".

Never Again,

u/d

IP_SEC

Holly,

I neither believe its the truth or trust the org in any way. I still go to all the meetings, still deliver all my parts, love and feel a sense of responsiblity to all my local bros and sis.

I am not an athiest, but am struggling with the concept of the bible and judeo/christian god/belief/way of life.

I'm sure I will never go to another formal religious institution, but my new concepts about life, death, and the nature of reality are still forming. Kinda sad for a 90somthing year old guy to be re-thinking his view of life.

:)

IPSec

Puternut

Over the years I was raised 'around' the 'truth'. I was baptized at age 23, was in the borg for 24 year and an elder for 18 out of those years.

Got out after I found the ugliness within the borg.

Not seeking a religion anymore. Personally, I feel that religions are merely a stepping stone. A buddist monk told me some time ago, once you have found god or love, you no longer have need for religion. God is Love, so no matter which course you take in life, you will find either one. Which either one are the same thing.

Live your life, don't live in fear or guilt. Life is not a rehearsal. God wants you to be yourself, he made you this way, don't battle it.

Puternut

Doubtfully Yours

I'm still a JW. Viewed by most as 'spiritually weak'. I seldom attend meetings, only the important events.

I must remain inside just to keep the communication lines open between my relatives, whom I love dearly, and I.

It's a terrible situation to live this double life, but I must for now.

DY

Effervescent

I was raised as a witness and both sides of my family were heavily involved. My father started really working his way up in the congregation when I was in elementary school and by the time I was in junior high he was an elder. I came to the conclusion in my senior year of high school that I was bad at heart and I couldnt change myself (I had really tried) so if I was going to die at Armageddon I might as well have some fun before I get there. I left to live with my Mom in Alaska and its taken years to "deprogram". For years I still thought I was "bad". A few years after that I decided to attend a church where I was living. It opened to my eyes as to what I always felt Christianity should be about. Since then Ive gone to a few different churches due to moving, and they have all been head and shoulders above the witnesses in their love and compassion and Godly teachings. My personal feeling in finding a church is that I never blamed God for the witnesses denial of reality. I never lost my belief in Him, just in myself.

holly

thanks for your replies everyone - i really appreciate all of them.

is it really so hard to leave once youve been a jw? for those that have lost heart but still go to the meetings - what keeps you there. friends? family? the thought that if you leave god will disown you? just wondering thats all bec i left the church after a lifetime as a born again christian - i did it with ease. i was so sick to death of being told to have faith and let gods spirit lead me - that i did - i let his spirit lead me right out of there. i didnt get df'd - that doesnt happen in church, but believe me - its much the same. many of my friends disowned me - i was a trouble maker asking too many questions - proving i didnt have faith. you question the churches doctrine and you get given an answer that doesnt make sense, then you question the answer, you are soon labelled a trouble maker. the trouble is - i wasnt - i really did want to know the truth. when you ask how god can send everyone that isnt born again to hell - a place of everlasting torture - and you get told 'we dont need to know the answers to everything, we just need to know jesus died to save us from sin' - how does that make you a trouble maker when its not a good enough answer.

sorry feeling down - religion has a lot to answer for.

holly

lonelysheep

I was studying with them for four years and just stopped this past September. I lived at home with my father and stepmom, who was almost baptized at that point. My daughter, 4 months at the time, was well after almost dying at birth. The trauma had a tremendous effect on me for quite some time. Me, being in my most vulnerable mental state ever, heard something in one of stepmom's study that sparked an interest in god again, and decided to have a study of my own.

At that time, I wanted answers and didn't have the mental capacity to think of questioning those answers and researching anything on my own, and outside of WT literature. I took it all as face value and truly felt everything having to do with them came from God. I defended their stances to family (who'd always been against them) not realizing how much of an azz I really must've been.

The last year of my studying, I decided I really wanted to get baptized. So I attended meetings more (with my 2 small kids) as well as studying from the Insight and worship books. The more I studied, the less sense it all made! I did not agree with many doctrines and realized how much control they are really all about.

franklin J

no longer a JW, although raised in it and pioneered full time for four (4) years. Faded away in late 70s when I started attending college. Left for good in the early 80s after a nasty battle with the local elders for their attempted disfellowshipping of me for no apparent reason; other than their own ignorance.

The battle ended abruptly when I called in a lawyer to personally sue the elders for harassment and slander. They backed off quickly; and thereafter left me alone.

It is true; the elders are bullies and will only respond to a "bigger stick".

It has been a long time and no one from Watchtower bothers me anymore.....good riddance!

adelmaal

Raised in "the world". Parents were mortified when I started studying at 17 years old. Baptized by 18. Started Regular Auxiliary Pioneering right after baptism. Started Regular Pioneering 1 year after baptism (pioneered about 3 1/2 years). Skipped the whole college thing (what was I thinking!). Had assembly parts, at one time had 8 Bible studies, completely believed it was the truth, married too young, got divorced, got disfellowshipped, got married again, got reinstated a few years later and then faded a year or so after that. All in all I was a JW for about 10 years and I no longer consider myself one (faded about 6 years ago). I don't believe it's "the truth" I believe the truth is found in the Bible through personal study, a relationship with God through Jesus and an appreciation for his great sacrifice. I do not plan to be part of any organized religion.

holly:

I've kind of gotten to the point where I realize I will never know the correct answers to all my Bible questions and at the same time I am not going to settle for inaccurate answers coming from some religion. I am going to study and research and hopefully be satisfied with my best guesses based on that study and research.

Qcmbr

I'm LDS. My church is way cool:)

who is who on here??

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