i was 13yo and largely clueless to what was going on.
i think i remember hearing something about an apostate being weeded out of bethel but really couldn't have cared less.
i didn't start getting zealous until a couple of years later.. .
I was 8 as well and never heard anything about it until I found Freeminds on the Internet in my 20s. And what a very juicy story it was indeed!
Reading CoC shortly after changed my life forever.
I was too young to understand the KM announcement and don't remember any discussion around it in my family or JW friends. I think I was just sheltered from such things, if they did occur.
Phae
what are the positives in your life since leaving jws?
mine would be a healthier lifestyle mentally and physically.
i'm free to do what i want and can make my own decisions, is this good for me will it help me or could it hurt someone else?
what are the positives in your life since leaving JWs?
That's just a few off the top of my head.
Phae
why are jws so afraid of apostates?
their view of apostates seems to be out of the realm of the ordinary, the natural.
its as if the words of apostates are supernatual or spiritistic as if apostates are some kind of jedi knights who can slightly wave their hands or twitch their eyes and bring one under a spell.
as if apostates are some kind of Jedi Knights who can slightly wave their hands or twitch their eyes and bring one under a spell. There really is some kind of spooky, demonic, supernatural connotation to the word among JWs. I guess the org has created that connotation purposefully.
As a virtually born-in, and highly sensitive and suggestible person, much of the internalized fear I had about "apostates" due to JW programming was irrational, exaggerated and overblown. Apostates are categorically viewed as much worse than "worldlings" and even DF'd ones that may come back to the fold and often tools of Satan, who most likely has possessed such ones.
When I first faded in my 20s, I made email contact with a well-known xjw on the other side of the world known for going on TV to talk about JWs as a "cult", shaking in my boots as I hit the send button. The deep ingrained fear I felt made me feel vulnerable and unprotected should the ex decide to *do something* (I don't know what, but the fear was palpable, and it was only after a few email exchanges that I realized this "horrible" person was as normal as my next door neighbor).
I felt the same fear on meeting with an ex-JW, former bethelite woman in-person for the first who ran a xjw support group - who was swept out of bethel around the Ray Franz fiasco. We had a good chat for a couple of hours and I felt a whole new shift in perspective.
Nothing bad happened to me in either case (why should it?), except that I learned my first real-life lessons about people, life, and the myopic view the JW ORG has programmed into the unfortunate children in its culture who have no other choice but to accept what is told to them by the adults in charge.
I don't know why I suddenly grew the courage to question things, but I'm glad I did. So many others cannot even go there in their own minds. I broke out of the JW box and can never go back in.
Phae
ever since reading about dmt and hearing people discuss it, my new post-jw open mind wants to experience it.
anyone here tried it or feels the same?.
http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=ciqzhzax4ro.
Always curious.
Phae
i was thinking today about how i no longer have to fear the attack of satan against the jws.
i used to fear being rounded up and beaten by mobs.
seeing my family tortured.
Re: Anyone Here Used to Fear Persecution?
Yes, for being a JW ... when the great tribulation hit... or before. Everytime they'd discuss WWII or Malawi or Rawanda I feared being murdered for my faith.
When I was a child in the 70s, I sat at the KH as they read and discussed what was going on in Malawi, encouraging the letter writing campaign.
Nice thoughts for an 8 year old. No wonder I have JWPSTD.
Phae
was just wondering how many gay exjw's were on this site, and how did you deal with being in this organization?
and also, how did you end up leaving?.
Would bi-curious count?
not looking for another religion as i'm completely atheist at this point, but the uu's do seem to have a community spirit about them and don't seem to be so cultish.
i lived across from one of their churches (before my recent move) and went to one of their services.
it didn't have the rigidity of the dubs, and seemed to be somewhat open minded.
I attended a few services at the UU in town recently, and appreciate what they do in the community, and their welcoming attitude to all peoples, no matter what orientation they have in life, belief, or otherwise.
I have a very good friend who introduced me to their principles years ago on a little card she carries in her wallet. I read them and thought, "Wow, I already embrace those ideals!" Basic laws of living and cooperation, IMHO.
Last November they had a Thanksgiving dinner for those without family, older couples, and whoever wanted to attend for whatever reason, etc. As a holiday loner, I attended the dinner and had a grand time meeting new people (like a Dutch couple in their mid-80s) and feeling like part of something that day; something I haven't experienced my entire life. One void filled — check! I plan to go back this year.
The services are diverse and interesting. I haven't gone enough to figure out what kind of a spiritual connection I have there, other than just being around a group of open-minded people who can help me expand my horizons and help me drop some of the JW baggage I carry. I always feel funny when churches have the few minutes of "say hello and shake your neighbor's hand" thing... because of my introversion and it feels forced. Anyway, different strokes...
As I grow I'm becoming more open to these experiences. I'll enjoy attending again... it's hard getting out of bed on a Sunday morning when you *don't have to*. 25 years of mandatory 3 meetings a week as a JW will do that to you.
You can always visit just to check it out. YMMV.
Phae
i have watched the movie divergent.. wow what an amazing film that highlights the value of not just conforming or accepting what is put in front of us!.
the parallels to "the truth" are amazing!.
thoughts anyone?.
I haven't, but I'll put it on my watch list.
Phae
i did not know anything about ttatt while attending the meetings.. .
ttatt=the truth about the truth..
At least 10 years. I kept going back to see if I could reason it all out.
I couldn't.
Phae
one of my best friend's, who is an ex elder had two elders visit him at his home yesterday to invite him to the memorial.
he was cordial to them because they were'nt over the top.. so far, i have had no invites, thank god..
Heard the doorbell ring this morning. JW hubby answered ~
I asked, "did you get an invitation?" They were working our neighborhood.
Phae
