Who all here was personally helped by JWD (page 5)

anewme

I have only known this site for a week and I have been helped so much. I havent laughed so hard for years!!! That has been great medicine. Through your writings I have been helped to see WHY I was so unhappy in the Dubs. I couldnt verbalize it myself! I am so grateful. This last weekend was the best because my heart is freer.

Thankyou one and all!!!!!

Ticker

was considering going back

You know a several years ago I almost considered doing this myself, as I was an inactive walk away believer that always envisoned that someday I would have to return to the JW's. At the time even though inactive for a few years I still considered them the truth. I knew thier was issues with the org., but I just couldn't quite put my fingers on them until I began to do some serious research on the JW history and doctrines. Like I said before I had frequented some sites in ' 98 but still had programmed fear, so my investigations were minimal and held to personal experiences. No real questionings of doctrine. I kept getting nagging guilt and feelings of doom, not all the time but once in awhile, fear of armagedon. It bothered me and I knew I couldn't go back after how myself and my family were treated, so my brother in law first helped me by talking with me. He had been associated at one time and knew what they really were, a false money grabbing religion.

He explained how the Witness organization is a publishing empire and nothing more. He said why would God need money? This made sence and snapped me out of feelings I was struggling with. Then I seriously started looking on web sites, more serious then before as I lost some fear of the Orgs. threats, a little fearful at first but I prayed to God that if this was the truth about the Org. then let me continue my search, otherwise let me stop. Well my hunger to search grew much stronger over the following months and soon my eyes were opened. I was duped by an org..

After that the rest was history and so was my days in the org., or even holding any beliefs in the org.. He also lent me two videos, "A Witness Goes Out" and "Jehovah's Witnesses". The first was a nice real life example setting of a couple coming to the realization after many years that the Watchtower was false and misleading. The second was a hard hitting history of their dirty past. Both were excellent and I could relate to the experiences felt by the people in them. Im so happy I got out, and now I am truly blessed with freedom.

Ticker

Im still confused as to exactly what to believe since I thought I had the answers and really had none, at the time I had a strong belief in God. Now im not so sure anymore. I don't think their truly is anyone with the answers and we are all just trying to survive. Seems to me if you try to figure out all the answers it only leads to trouble and misery, just as the Watchtower has created. I like to still think I firmly believe in Christ and his Father but sometimes I wonder if their truly is a God or not. I hope someday I will figure out my belief system, but until I do I just take life one day at a time and enjoy being just a normal human being.

Ticker

jst2laws

Hello Momofmany,

Oh so many people helped me, reading the posts when I was too tired or worn out to post. Just to read and not feel so alone any more.

Somehow we have not communicated although you have been here a while. It was either me or your being "too tired or worn out to post". But I like your comment "Just to read and not feel so alone any more." I figure it sums it for many. This is a great thread, bring out many new posters. Keep sharing and remember it is not YOU that has a problem, it is the Watchtower Society. As Momofmany says, there is no reason for you to "feel so alone any more."

It is only sad how much pain we went through before we found a place like JWD.

Steve

out of the box

Just found this site one day. I put it in Favorites and visited here and there. Then one day a little while ago, I was organizing My Favorites on my computer and decided to see if the link still worked. This time I saw a few posts that interested me and sounded like me. So, I decided to give it a try and joined.

Thank you so much for this soap box opportunity to think and express what I had inside about JWs. I do not think of them any more. When I drive by a KH it does not look so special, infact the properties look a little let go to me. There is NOTHING inviting about the place. I don't even shutter like I used to.

I was not DF that I know of, I was one of those 'inactive' status for a long time so I could pop in and go to a meeting and some people would rush to talk to me even after 5 yrs or more. I only went to a meeting twice in 20 and some odd years. And, I could not see the value of it. So, I had a way back if I wanted it. But, I stayed away and had no desire for that life again. And being married to a worldly man now and living with him for 5 years before marriage (was petrified of marriage) should qualify me now for DF don't you think?

I think the worst part was the constant talking about being tortured for the truth. They would say to expect that we will be tortured by Satan. I used to have nightmares. It was like you had this great Eternal life to look forward to, but you must go through the hell fire first. So, I could not relax but had to keep 'awake' and ready for suffering that could happen anytime!

Thank you again. I do not know who started this board and who monitors it, but I do appreciate their efforts tremendously! There is more Christian love on this board (that I have seen and felt for only a couple of weeks) than I EVER saw as a JW for 9 years! I am humbled.

out of the box

wanderlustguy

Definitely helped me...and still helps.

Nothing can really explain the good that support like is found on the forum here does when we are going through hard times. As for me, I travel extensively and work constantly (doing better lately, though). When things get bad, I just sit down, read and/or type for a while, and I feel less alone.

Good Stuff.

WLG

JustTickledPink

definitely. It cleared up a lot of questions and lingering thoughts that had been rolling around my brain but not really dealt with.

Although I have been super busy with work and school and haven't had any time lately to spend here.

Etude

It had been more than 20 years since I had started drifting from the WTS (I think I was DFd in 1982 or 83) and I only joined the forum in 2003. So, I had to face the long road back all by myself, even to the point of deciding whether or not I still believed in God. The loneliness was crushing, the guilt too much to bear and the separation from family and friends devastating. I came to terms with all that before finding this forum. Take Solis, Ticker, about being confused. Listen to your inner voice and trust your feelings. Be open-minded and scrutinize everything. Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. You'll find an answer. Even if the answer is: "I don't know" or "I'm not sure", you can have some comfort in that you've explored the avenues available to you.

So, my ideas and opinions were already formed when I came to this forum. But, YES, I was helped here. First of all, it felt good to be reassured that I was not alone. Even if I've dealt with my issues regarding the WTS, I couldn't speak to anyone I know about what it was like, not even to my wife. It just didn't feel satisfactory trying to explain what I went through to someone who has no clue of the inner workings of the Jehovah's Witnesses. Here, I have found a sense of acceptance by virtue of our common experience. I've also learned a lot. I have found topics that I didn't care to examine before, which are now important to me because they have cemented in fact the deviousness of the cult that is the Jehovah's Witnesses, in doctrine, but in particular in emotional ruthlessness.

I've been touched by your stories and by your kind comments of support. I haven't made any friends yet, but look forward to it. I stopped posting for about a year (this is a very time-consuming endeavor for me), but hope I will always be in some sort of contact with this forum as long as it's available. I don't know who maintains it, but I do know that it must be laborious task. My hat is off to you people. This forum could be a giant, evolving time-capsule. Thirty or even fifty years from now, even if the WTBTS is no longer around (who knows), I hope this forum is still available to everyone and anyone to look back on and get a sense of how people felt and to read the plethora of individual stories, vignettes of totally different lives with one common thread. Come to think of it, it could make one hell of a book!

I've laughed my ass off; I've been angy at reading the injustices committed toward individuals; I've been saddened by the pain some of you have suffered. I don't know too many other places where such a thing can occur all at the same time. Thank you all and thank you Ticker for bringing it up.

Etude.

Sassy

so many of us (if here for sincere reasons) have gained help here.. whether it be from knowledge gaines by posts or links about the real WTS, or by friendships gained (after we lost all we had with those conditional friends) or just support as we dealt with our exit issues..

there isn't a thanks large enough to really capture how much we really are thankful for what JWD has given us

Pistoff

ME.

Tons of help, great people who can speak their mind. People who are accepting, who don't judge.

And of course, the comic relief: Scholar.

p

Who all here was personally helped by JWD

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