just a quick thought.... we know that the org loves to paint all those who fade or leave as "negative, bitter and unhappy"...because of course "the truth is the happiest way to live".
so, never allow ourselves to be that way when talking with witnesses, or family members still in.. show them that we are happy, our lives are fulfilled and positive.. then they have no ammunition.
also, it helps other doubters to see that there is life in the world beyond the org..
Bumped for a new generation of forum members...
I can attest to the fact that ones I know in the local area cannot understand that my family and I are happy and successful even though we dont attend meetings!
In fact, our lives are far less stressed, and we actually don't have any tension in the home!
As one of our loved forum members has said "the best revenge is to live a happy and successful life"
we have often heard about the need to "put on the 'new personality'" as a jw.... but i have realised something in these last few years of awakening to the ttatt...i dont like what i had become as a 'good' jw!.
i realised that being a 'good' jw made me very:.
critical of my fellow man,.
Bumped for a new "generation" of forum members.
I started this thread 2 years back, and I have to say that the progress I have made in breaking free of the WT inspired personality is so refreshing! Im still the same kind hearted person I always was, but better in so many ways.
It has been a refreshing journey!
they'd be viewed as completely mentally ill and laughed at.. so, how do the governing body get away with it?.
GREAT THREAD!
I remember starting a similar thread as I was first waking up. As with all of the comments above, the very notion of "speaking for God" is one that is tilted in their favour much like the old witch-trials of the middle ages were.
Kind of like: Well we speak as "directed" by God, so you cant question anything we direct or command. If you question anything, then you are questioning God. But if we change our minds with "New Light", then it was because God changed his mind. If you doubt our "spirit direction" then you are to be punished.... and the circular reasoning persists!
today is the day.. i was baptized as one of jehovah's witnesses on march 25th 1989.disfellowshipped for admitted apostasy today, september 10th 2015.. what an amazing story we all share.
how did we get involved with this group and think this was the best way of life?.
i asked my wife to stay home from the meeting tonight and spend the evening with me.she is.... we celebrated our 19th wedding anniversary this past monday.. i must admit, i never saw any of this coming, but it couldn't have come sooner.i'm free of all the fake friendships.
Thanks for reviving this thread Kairos.
Your account helps show others that there is indeed life beyond the cult like society we once thought was the truth. There may be rocky times, but in order to be honest and sincere truth seekers, we must step away from the society once we learn of the many, many disturbing aspects of its history and teachings and practices.
We can all maintain our dignity and self respect as we forge a new life.
Well done!
i would love to compile a list of the education obtained by the governing body members both past and present.
can anyone provide any information to get me started?.
it still amazes me they think they can translate ancient languages with an 8th grade education.
I can't remember which GB member it was (although I think it was ToMo3) who said in a talk that "Jehovah's people are the Thinkingest people on the planet"
Yes, yes he actually said that....so that proves the level of education we are dealing with.....
i'd love to see you're favorite wt illustrations/photo's that they think are fine to print - but are actually kind of creepy/wierd.. .
here's my three fave from my book of bible stories (yes, a book for children!)..
man gets his head nailed into the floor with a tent pin by a good jehovah worshipper:.
Good point paleemperor!
For a God that is supposed to be "loving" and "doesn't desire any to be destroyed" and "doesn't punish eternally or in a cruel manner" like christendom teaches , those scriptures kind of say differently!
it seems like many feel hurt or saddened by the practice of shunning by witnesses.. yes, when ones who we were close to, perhaps family or ones we thought were close friends choose to follow the warped directions of the society, it may seem hurtful.. but really, our reaction is up to us.
the fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never real or genuine.
no, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance.
Snugglebunny: So if you're going to leave the JW's, then you MUST have another social life to fall back on, one that has nothing to do with JW's. Get that organised before the axe falls. Join a club, do voluntary work, go to the gym, anything to get you with people.
if you were part of a judicial committee, and knowing what you know now, what was it like for you to sit on jc’s?
how did you feel if someone was reproved or df’d?
were you ever on a jc and you disagreed with someone being reproved or df’d and were overruled – how did you feel?
I've made it a point to apologise to any who I offended or caused upset to due to my self-righteous attitude I had as an appointed man....
it seems like many feel hurt or saddened by the practice of shunning by witnesses.. yes, when ones who we were close to, perhaps family or ones we thought were close friends choose to follow the warped directions of the society, it may seem hurtful.. but really, our reaction is up to us.
the fact is, these ones have shown that in reality, their love for us was never real or genuine.
no, those relationships were superficial and lacking in substance.
Hi berrygerry, I'm sorry if I offended you or upset you by this thread. That was not my intention. I offer a sincere apology.
i was thinking this morning in context with the shunning practice- which we all know is a degrading and abusive routine carried out among all brainwashed jw's to those who have sinned/left the org etc.. so with that in mind, how does shunning differ from the silent treatment to jw's?
both are similar in definition... silent treatment.
: an act of completely ignoring a person or thing by resort to silence especially as a means of expressing contempt or disapproval.shun, shunning: persistently avoid, ignore, or reject (someone or something) through antipathy or caution.based on jw teachings which i stupidly accepted back when i was asleep and under mind control, i didn't give it two thoughts on how both acts are related.. i do remember an article in a wt which spoke of how the silent treatment is a harsh and abusive form of discipline, but then they twist it back and claim that shunning is a loving provision?
@raven, I believe it was called "beating a bully without using your fists" or something like that?
It was a black and white cartoon drawing video presentation.
