adjusted knowledge

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Posts by adjusted knowledge

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  33

  Losing Faith

  by cappytan in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i've always been a "spiritual" person.

  i've been an avid bible reader since as early as i can remember.

  i read the bible cover to cover for the first time when i was about 17 years old and have read it at least twice more since then.

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  adjusted knowledge

  Thanks for your post.  So many here can relate.  Every one here is at different stage in regards to their faith.  You are at the beginning and most difficult stage.  You will receive a lot of opinions, but it is YOU that has to deal with the consequences of those decisions.  Take your time and be careful.  I wish you good luck.
  
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  5

  "Islam does not mean peace it means submission", Anjem Choudary

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was watching the news and came upon an interview with brigitte gabriel on muslim extremists.

  what caught my attention was the above quote.

  the reason is, it brought back what an elder recently told me about our faith in the governing body.. i will paraphrase what he told me below:.

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  adjusted knowledge

  I was watching the news and came upon an interview with Brigitte Gabriel on Muslim extremists.  What caught my attention was the above quote.  The reason is, it brought back what an elder recently told me about our faith in the Governing Body.

  I will paraphrase what he told me below:

  "Obedience is easy.  Being obedient to our parents, government official, or the direction the governing body give us, is easy enough to accomplish.  What is hard and difficult is our submission.  We need to be submissive to the governing  body as they are the agents of Jehovah. By being submissive it will remove all doubts and strengthen our faith."

  To me the direction of The Watchtower is more extreme with each year passing.  They don't want obedience they want submissive servants.
  
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  5

  What was your experience in school as a Jehovah's Witness youth? What were some of your regrets and how did your peers treat you?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was in the first month of kindergarten on the night my parents had their first bible study with the jehovahs witnesses.

  it was around october and would be my last halloween, christmas, and birthday.

  i cherished those last memories though i cant really recall my last birthday celebration as a child.

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  adjusted knowledge

  I was in the first month of kindergarten on the night my parents had their first bible study with the Jehovah’s Witnesses.  It was around October and would be my last Halloween, Christmas, and Birthday.  I cherished those last memories though I can’t really recall my last birthday celebration as a child. Others on this site had regrets as a witness, such as loss opportunities, education, and the pursuit of a career, I have been able to break free at a young age to accomplish those tasks.  What I can’t get back is the loss friendships from people I went to school with for 13 years.

  I went to a very small school system as a child.  My senior graduating class numbered around 43.  Most of these students I started school with at age 5.  I was never allowed to participate in any after school activities, even though elder’s children did band.  I was a pariah from the beginning.  I wouldn’t salute the flag or say the pledge of allegiance.  I was made fun of by teachers and made an example of.  This only solidifies the contempt my fellow students had for me.  I would be sent to the library for birthdays and holiday celebration.  I was a very skinny boy and had limited sports ability, but I could run and had great endurance.  I would’ve liked to join the track program, but my non-witness father wouldn’t budge.  He stated, “It’s too late because I didn’t allow your older sister or older brother do those things when I was studying, and it wouldn’t be fair to allow you”.

    In high school I was just treated as non-existence.  It is sad that being treated that way was an improvement.   During graduation I listen to the Valedictorian speak about how great it was for us to live in a small town and know each other and develop lifetime friendships.  I looked around to the 43 students on the stage and other than their name I knew very little about them and them the same about me.  The saddest part is I was patted on the back by a few of the girls in class that night and wished me well.  These were girls I sat by for 13 years and we never talked because they were taught by teachers, parents, and pastors I belonged to a cult.  It wasn’t until three years later I realized they were right!  
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  76

  What is the biggest regret or source of resentment because of being a Jehovahs Witness?

  by stuckinarut2 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'm sure we could all write long paragraphs about this question, but in a few words, what is your biggest regret, or frustration in life due to being a witness?.

  what missed opportunities did it cost you?

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  adjusted knowledge

    Not getting an education.

  My biggest regret/resentment was not going on to College . I was an honor role student all through High School , and my Grandfather even offered to help me pay for College

  took Geology in high school and did well enough in it to get a schoolarship. However my dad told me: "No no no. Jws don't travel over the world and miss meetings." So I never did it.

  Education. I wasn't a JW through High School and I partied for a couple of years before taking ahold of "the truth" before I fell off the deep end. But the discipline of getting an education would have been just as good for rescuing me from my self-destruct and it would have opened doors for my career

  I would say the biggest regret is that I NEVER pursued any of my interests or talents because they were "bad" and the end was so close. Now my youth is gone.

  I was not allowed to get a college education even though I had a very good grade point average in high school

  Not going to college when I was young. 1967 Awake killed that.

  
  

  So many wish they got their education.  It's not too late.  Your youth may be gone but not your opportunity. 
  

  
  

  http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/288849/higher-education-some-ideas-those-that-think-too-late

  
  
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  125

  WTS leader rants against higher education

  by hoser in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  on jw tv.

  anthony morris is ranting against higher education.

  he is blaming parents for enrolling their kids in college.

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  adjusted knowledge

  leaving_quietly,

  It was also mentioned in the daily text last year.  I can't remember the exact date.  Also there was a daily text on pursuing careers.
  
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  33

  Higher Education... Some ideas for those that think it is too late

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so many witnesses lost the opportunity to pursue higher education in their youths.

  perhaps it took decades for many here to leave and now feel it is too late.

  degree you will also earn multiple certifications from other agencies:.

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  adjusted knowledge

  "I encourage every young kid in the congregation to get higher education"
  
  

  With the recent special broadcast by Anthony Morris on higher education, I think there will be a bigger push back by the elders and members on the youth.  If I was stuck in the religion, which I'm not, I would easily be able to argue against his absurd points against higher education.  A lot of degrees and skills can be earned/learned online by accredited public colleges.  This would stump the bad association and moving away from parents argument. 
  

  
  

  
  

  On another note, I was accepted into WGU's B.S. Health Informatics program with a start date 2/1.  I also applied to six colleges within an hours drive for nursing school.  Hoping to get accepted into a BSN program and start my career change end of next year. I have a B.S. in business from a traditional college, and with the other two degrees, am hoping to be employed with the VA. 

  Apparently, I'm choosing a degree path acceptable to the GB, "nursing".  I'm sure they will look the other way for those that are educated when it comes to their medical treatment.
  
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  51

  Is this a discussion forum or a debating forum , which is it ?

  by smiddy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  do you get confused sometimes whether this site is a discussion forum or a debating forum ?.

  just asking.

  whats your thoughts.. smiddy.

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  adjusted knowledge

  How the heck would you be able to impose Robert's Rules on a forum like this?  Not needed here anyway. 
  
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  7

  What incident can you recall of been screwed over by a dubbie. My experience.

  by joe134cd in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  the one that i can recall, and although the dollar value wasn't high, it was the thought behind it that counted.

  a person who i thought was a good dubbie friend was a bit down on his luck.

  so i offered to take him out to lunch.

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  adjusted knowledge

  I was 17 years old and gave $2000 to another member who was my age for his car and he stole $500 cash from my bedroom.  It took me a year bagging groceries and pushing carts to earn that money.  His car didn't work after the second day I bought it and he spent the money that was stolen.  His parents made an excuse that he was bi- polar and not his fault.  My non-witness father would've of got involved but the "elders" made sure I didn't push the issue.  Another "brother" in the congregation in his 40's at the time bought the car off me for $200 and resold it that week for $800.  He knew it was a minor carburetor issue.  He also knew the car was not worth $2000 and was there when I paid for it.  I was a naive teenager that was brain wash for more than a decade to trust members to be honest.  I had no real social skills and limited knowledge on market value of items.  I never tell this story to non-jw because they would just think I was an idiot, which I was.

  In the end the teenager is now 37 and in jail for multiple home invasions.  The mechanic "brother" who ripped me off lost his hand while working on a car and is in his 60's with no retirement and a very low social security check.  I feel sorry for the later but nothing for the scoundrel former peer.
  
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  40

  First Time Post - Long time reader

  by Samaritan At the Well in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  today is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.

  i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.

  my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.

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  adjusted knowledge

  Thanks for your story.  It takes a lot of courage to change and face a new reality. 
  

  Whenever I begin to feel sorry for the loss experiences I had in my childhood, these stories are posted.  I had a decent childhood and better than most JW.  I woke up in my late teens and couldn't imagine awakening nearly fifty years in.  Most of the children I grew up with left, but I know of one friend closing in at age 40 still in.  I talked to him recently after nearly 15 years of absence.  And I could tell he didn't believe but was married with children, and had devout parents and siblings.  He was trapped. 
  
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  11

  Will the GB use the on going conflict with Muslim extremists as a sign of the end being near?

  by adjusted knowledge in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't read over much of the recent articles in the last decade from the wt.

  i wonder if they will mention muslim extremists and use that fear as a control mechanism on their members.

  i have a feeling they will resist mentioning islam specifically.

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  adjusted knowledge

  I haven't read over much of the recent articles in the last decade from the WT.  I wonder if they will mention Muslim extremists and use that fear as a control mechanism on their members.  I have a feeling they will resist mentioning Islam specifically.  They have no problem bashing Catholicism or other religions since they don't have to worry about physical retaliation.  I don't think they have the courage to attack Islam.  They know they would be a target like in Paris recently.

  I can remember even in the 90's where they gave a special talk on how to witness to Muslims.  It was a much more tactful approach.  In fact if anyone knows of any articles in the Watchtower or Awake! critical of the Muslim faith I would be interested.  More interested in recent articles in the last 10 years from the organization.

  Its amazing how they like so many other groups are critical of many Faiths but very few will attack Islam.