Hi Jon, welcome back mate, we used to talk on here, both under different names though!
Good to hear from you, sorry about the crappy stuff you've gone through, but doesn't it feel good to reclaim your mind?
i used to be jon preston.
now that i've escaped the watchtower i have much to report on.
in just a year i left the cult, started living, reset my kids' brains, had my spouse cheat, move to a new location, and started a new job.
Hi Jon, welcome back mate, we used to talk on here, both under different names though!
Good to hear from you, sorry about the crappy stuff you've gone through, but doesn't it feel good to reclaim your mind?
this may seem simple to all you young folks(under 50) out there, but this old fart is just wondering, how much can people see on facebook in the way of comments, if you have privacy up and running so that, i thought, only those you have friended can see what you comment ?.
i am not overly bothered, but it occurs to me that since in recent times i have been more active on fb, my outspoken comments against the jw scam may be visible to those who are not actually "friends" ???.
i am just wondering if i should expect (as in monty python) the spanish inquisition ?.
my brother [the elder] often refers to this line as to 'knowing a tree by it;s fruits'.
so,my question is what are the jw fruits?.
just asking....sincerely.
I can only speak from my own standpoint.
I haven't suffered at the hands of the bOrg (except for my lack of education), contrary to that I've seen and experienced plenty of good fruits, companions, kindnesses etc, and would still obliviously be enjoying these things had I not woken up. It's only now, with knowledge that I realise there are plenty of rotten fruits as well.
Of course, this knowledge is forbidden to any good jdub, so I personally don't believe they know better, they're conditioned to never take in information contrary to wt so they genuinely believe they're doing the right thing. I feel sorry for them, for all of us.
my brother [the elder] often refers to this line as to 'knowing a tree by it;s fruits'.
so,my question is what are the jw fruits?.
just asking....sincerely.
Certainly secular laws seem to have little or no effect on those who have a propensity for poor behavior, in fact it rarely even corrects that behavior. What makes you think religious threats or guidance would have a better effect?
Because I know of one example in particular, someone (married) that said if they thought it wasn't 'the truth' then they would be out and about a-fornicatin' galore.
Maybe it was just said for effect, and I hope so, but for individuals that have that mentality, the threat of a vengeful sky daddy keeping them in check is a real and positive effect.
Another positive is the sense of community that some loners and outsiders get that they might not necessarily get elsewhere.
Don't get me wrong, it doesn't make up for the mental and spiritual abuse or the wrecked families, I'm just saying that SOME may well get through an entire life in the bOrg benefited (only because they know no better) and unscathed.
my brother [the elder] often refers to this line as to 'knowing a tree by it;s fruits'.
so,my question is what are the jw fruits?.
just asking....sincerely.
my brother [the elder] often refers to this line as to 'knowing a tree by it;s fruits'.
so,my question is what are the jw fruits?.
just asking....sincerely.
OK, prepare to hit the unlike button.
I've experienced love (conditional), and some charity (generally only for jdubs locally but charitable acts and donations nonetheless), kindness, and other Christan qualities.
I think for SOME people, those individuals who NEED authority to tell them what's right and wrong, it keeps them in line, which is probably a good fruit. I'll qualify this by saying that I don't need to be told that sleeping around would hurt my wife, so I don't do it, (having a face like a bag of spanners has nothing to do with it!) However there are some that need to be told, for them I think religion is probably a good thing.
So, some good fruits, but unfortunately I believe no more than you'd get in your local <insert church/club/support group of choice here>.
Along with an inordinate amount of fear, guilt and obligation. And backstabbery. And gossip. And judgementalism.
i've been lurking for about 3 months now and thought i'd better finally sign up.
you have all been an immense help to me as i have come to realize that this isn't the truth so i want to say a great big thank you!
what a crazy, emotional ride it is to finally face the truth about the doubts that i have carried for many years.
i joined this site 12 years ago and i revisited it yesterday to get some information on coc's status.. .
frankly saying, i've tried to be a complete ex-ex-jw so that ex-jw things would not drive my life mad.
due to my linguistic barrier of writing in a foreign language, 12 years ago, i could not but read and read and read this site.
^^ me too fast jehu , I never ever thought of it so succinctly before.
(Cool name btw. O pencil sharp is an awesome song. If your name isn't linked to a band then that will mean less than nothing to you!!))
not my work, by the way... newton's prisca theologia is the maker of this great video.. http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=okpajgptvyk.
There's a Peter Gabriel song that goes well with this.
I don't remember
I don't recall
I got no memory
Of anything at all.
defender of truth....thank you so much for putting me in touch with a very good expert...we are in touch and she is helping enormously.. don't you dare disappear from this forum...you are the same as all of us...and we all get upset at the things we see as cruel or unjust.
you were very very helpful to me.
all of you were lovely and i am very content inside to know i can speak my mind.