Posts by Stirred

49

My Story: from JW Elder to Born Again Christian to Agnostic

by passwordprotected in

i first posted here on 3rd june 2008. at the time i was an elder, appointed the previous october, i was 36 and i was a born-in.

at the time i'd become disillusioned with the society due to the governing body's letter explaining why the book study in private homes was being abolished.

april 2008 saw me start questioning this decision, privately of course, and this eventually led me to this site, to jwfacts and to many youtube videos, all of which began to errode my faith in the leaders of the organisation.. in july 2008, having discussed my doubts with my wife, i attended the district convention, deciding to give the society one last chance to convince me it was the truth.

Stirred

Thank you for your post. Very interestIng. I used to do yoga before my JW life though I would sometimes practice during....just too busy really. I am definitely going to add that component back into my routinenow. I eally like what you said about peace in not knowing....

i am sorry about your marriage not working out after 20 years and hope the kids are adjusting. That is a big adjustment for all of you. Glad you have a positice attitude. As a child of divorce and having gone through it myself long ago, I know it is tough and even tougher to deal with step families/parents later on.

159

An important message from a PRACTICING Jehovah's witness

by Sparks in

jw
friends

hi, i am also a practicing jehovah's witness and very proud of it,to say the very-very least..!

i am a middle-aged man with many decades of being a witness of jehovah god in england.. this important letter is personally to you, just as many of the bible's 88 letters are to be taken personal by you the reader.

i am writing to you to urge you to take stock of your life, think what your future holds for you.

Stirred

Dear Humble and Inspired Bro -

i appreciate your intention. I'd like to point out that you come off as very judgemental. It appears evident from your opening that any who will not read or respond the way you want them to are losers to you and to Jehovah in your inspired undersatanding.

I couldn't get past your second paragraph before feeling way to annoyed to continue. I'll give it another crack later. Meanwhile, I'd like to remind you of the saying, "you catch more bees with honey than with vinegar."

77

Give me a reason not to go back

by chukky 594 in

jw
friends

been out now for 10 yrs but life is a mess.

starting to think its because i have no spiritual compass.

why shouldn't i consider going back?.

Stirred

The Searcher.....I am feeling your way but haven't been able to get myself back to any meeting now for several weeks. When long time friend basically said not to call her unless I was going in service and other long-tome associates I hadnt seen were only interested ingossip opfodder or my balance sheet, it left a sour taste....

77

Give me a reason not to go back

by chukky 594 in

jw
friends

been out now for 10 yrs but life is a mess.

starting to think its because i have no spiritual compass.

why shouldn't i consider going back?.

Stirred

Thank you for posting that video Watchtower-Free.

9

Is the ice bucket challenge for true christians?

by hoser in

jw
friends

http://www.jw-archive.org/post/96026163083/would-taking-the-ice-bucket-challenge-raising-monee.

Stirred

Yes, this whole buckets of wasting water to avoid donating scheme was not surprising for my non-JW contacts but what surprised me was that many JWs on my FB got on the whole wagon. It does some enormous good to have an advocate when there are nearly none for this disease. it is disturbing to see such high salaries for a charity.

I have not agreed to participate or support it to date though I'm considering All sides. I said to FB-JW "friend,"my conscience would not let me participate as I was still looking into this org and that so far I learned that one area of ALS research involves embryonic stem cells"...

NEVER did I think I would see JWs promoting this. I think she was offended I was not supporting her video with a like though I tried to support her being involved in a charity and having fun with it. She promptly started posting about service, convention pics, JW.org logo.

In some way I'd like to post some of this data but I don't want to be the spoiler either. It's just not something I'll support. There are charities I have long supported .....and maybe that's another reason I'm here. I just don't fit.

53

Sept 1 service meeting mystery revealed

by Saltheart Foamfollower in

the letter has appeared at last - just for uk.

it is a money grab for the new bethel which has been approved.

there is a video to be shown - just watched it - brief summary of uk bethels, why current one is too small, why we need money to build a new one.

Stirred

If you know you will give nothing or are not sure, then I'd. go with $0 backed up with quotes from old WT about no soliciting and a Bible verse for good measure.

tw, is this anonymous slips or are the putting you each on the spot directly. Even so, I'd do same only maybe I'd remove WT quote.

104

How to Avoid the Faithless Spirit of most here-

by DocHouse in

1- pray to god (whomever you may imagine him to be) asking for understanding.

2- study the background about the bible (from non-religious sources) to see where it came from.

3- discard (or at least set aside) chuyrch claims and dogma.. 4- read it, looking up archaeological/historical sources about the places and peoples referred to.

Stirred

I sure am trying....in my opinion.....

but in this stressful world with sooooo many sects, faiths, religions, philosophies.....most of us should be given a "pass" just for surviving this mess without losing our sanity and trying to do the best we can to "play nice."

BTW, I personally don't think someone who calls others "clowns" for stating a different opinion to yours is "playing nice." You are coming off as antagonistic. Other threads have examples that are hard to swallow in the Bible.

I'd be interested in your explanation of Numbers 31. I hate reading that account.

16

New Bethel Conspiracy Theory

by kneehighmiah in

jw
friends

i know someone who has been at bethel 2.5 years as a temporary worker.

he recently recieved a 3 year extension through 2017. i read his letter.

he is being extended as a 3-year temporary worker, even though he's already been there nearly 3 years already!

Stirred

They likely already determined how many to fill for permanent jobs after 2017. Any excess of forecast are unnecessary. He should know unless there is big change in attrition rate or departures, his chance of permanent slot is low...IMHO.

19

Hello, semi long intro!

by Moses Joe in

jw
friends

i was raised as a jehovahs witness.

currently i still am part of a congregation, which i gather is also the case for many who come here.

i no longer consider them god's chosen people.

Stirred

Hi MJ - I enjoyed reading your intro. I gather you have family still in? The longer I've been here and studying, I find it harder to keep myself from reacting or saying something at hall or with friends. Be careful for now. Restraint where it matters and find healthy ways to vent and care for yourself.

16

IMPORTANT things for you to think about

by Terry in

things ex-jw's need to know in order to heal and move on.. ***.

1.you cannot change what you refuse to confront.. look at how you are feeling most of the time.

that sense of going nowhere and feeling down is not because you aren't spritual enough.

Stirred

Doc, it was stated as things to think about and I didn't read that anywhere stated it was to be an exhaustive list or that it was ranked in order of importance. I realized right away on this site that you take from it what helps and if it doesn't fit you now or ever, leave it alone.

I can still believe in God and Christ yet am able to read a list like this and glean much food for thought about what I've been through in this organization that I've been caught up in for over two decades. No one is attacking you or your faith so why take it personally?

Your point could still be made with less aggression. Many things listed could hold true while still believing in God and your point is well taken. But remember, who interprets whether you are showing/demonstrating/proving/ living by faith in God and Christ? Only God and Christ can really say.

Faith in man has generally led to disappointment. Right now I'm not so sure if my faith in God has led me there also. I hope in God for sure. I don't want all that I've hoped and believed to be for nothing.