Posts by OneEyedJoe

6

Are faded jw;s still counted as members by the sect.?

by atomant in

lm certain the sect would have an accurate figure would be interesting to know how many though.

OneEyedJoe

They're not counted in any official figures (unless they go to the memorial still). I would have to agree that I'd be surprised if they weren't tracking some (unreleased) stats on the number of inactive ones that are out there and what their demographics are. These stats are probably a big part of the recent push to contact inactive/dfed ones. That, and they probably realize that publishers are much more productive at reactivating latent indoctrination in those that left but didn't find TTATT vs trying to convert someone they talk to at the door.

56

Did any of us ever enjoy meetings?

by stephanie61092 in

this is a legitimate question.

did any of us ever find real joy in being at the meetings?

did any of us ever finish a meeting and think "i feel so enriched"?

OneEyedJoe

I did when I was about 12 and could answer up as good as the adults. Made me feel like a grown-up. But that makes sense because the material studied was at roughly a 6th grade level back then (probably 3rd or 4th grade nowadays). After that it was all downhill.

8

"I hope Disfellowshipped ones do not attend the Memorial"

by AFRIKANMAN in

d---head comment ...by someone called jay witness on that forum-.

what a smug bunch of pharisees they breed !

"""it makes me feel odd to invite tons of worldly people who are obviously fornicators and idolaters and then not be able to even show a little love such as a "hello" to a disfellowshipped brother or sister.

OneEyedJoe

I don't know... That post almost seems like a parody/satire to me...

14

The bible teaches that money is the answer for everything!

by EndofMysteries in

contrary to what the wt teaches, they ignore the wise words of ecc 10:19 "ecc 10:19 "a feast is made for laughter, and wine maketh merry: but money answereth all things.

"

OneEyedJoe

Money doesn't guarantee happiness but it definitely enables it. So there'll be plenty of rich, unhappy people, but proportionally fewer than unhappy poor people. A number of studies have shown this to be true.

13

Got my memorial invite yesterday...

by OneEyedJoe in

i wasn't sure how this would be handled since the elders haven't harassed me as much as a lot of others have gotten, plus we live a ways outside of the territory so i figured there was a shot they'd leave me alone since it's inconvenient.

guess not.

two elders showed up unannounced toward the end of their recruiting shift.

OneEyedJoe

Nope, no brochure. It's a shame, too, because I had prepared what my response to that would be.

13

Got my memorial invite yesterday...

by OneEyedJoe in

i wasn't sure how this would be handled since the elders haven't harassed me as much as a lot of others have gotten, plus we live a ways outside of the territory so i figured there was a shot they'd leave me alone since it's inconvenient.

guess not.

two elders showed up unannounced toward the end of their recruiting shift.

OneEyedJoe

" The reason I shall not be coming is because.... IT IS NOT THE TRUTH ! "

Yeah I was ready to go with that, actually, but they never asked why I wasn't at meetings or why I wasn't planning on making the memorial. The impression I got is that they don't care. They're just doing their duty and trying to pressure people to build up the attendance numbers. In fact, I think they specifically don't want to know why I'm not around anymore.

13

Got my memorial invite yesterday...

by OneEyedJoe in

i wasn't sure how this would be handled since the elders haven't harassed me as much as a lot of others have gotten, plus we live a ways outside of the territory so i figured there was a shot they'd leave me alone since it's inconvenient.

guess not.

two elders showed up unannounced toward the end of their recruiting shift.

OneEyedJoe

I wasn't sure how this would be handled since the elders haven't harassed me as much as a lot of others have gotten, plus we live a ways outside of the territory so I figured there was a shot they'd leave me alone since it's inconvenient. Guess not. Two elders showed up unannounced toward the end of their recruiting shift. It was definitely well planned, because it's the only two elders that I actually sorta liked, and they're not in the same service group. Anyway, there were a few points that came out of the ensuing conversation that I thought were worth noting.
Their appeal to me to try to get me to come to memorial was purely personal - no mention of its importance, no mention of god's forgiveness (since I'm sure they assume I'm guilty of some secret sin) nothing more than "I know I would sure love to see you there" said in a few different (and seemingly sincere) ways. How hollow this cult is. In the end it really does boil down to doing crap you don't want to do to please people that have to be given an assignment to seek you out for a conversation.
The other fun point was their first attempt to sell returning to meetings after I told them I wasn't going to be at memorial. "We have a new format now." Seriously? Do they think I'm not there because of the meeting format? He went on to explain with clearly false enthusiasm that "now there's a chairman for the whole program! It's like a convention!" It was really difficult to hold in a sarcastic "holy shit, I'll be at the next meeting now!" But no he continued on explaining that now it's much easier for my father-in-law (former school overseer) and in a moment of unscripted honesty said "I think he's actually the only one that likes the new format."
So there you have it. The best reason they could come up with to convince me to come to memorial was to make them happy. Next best reason to be at meetings is they've changed the talks slightly, and no one likes it. How will I ever live with myself if I don't make it?

4

If the meetings are SO valuable and vital, why do witnesses love having a day off from them?

by stuckinarut2 in

have you noticed how happy witnesses are when they have a change in meeting schedules, so that a meeting is missed?.

eg, the week of an assembly, the midweek meeting is not held, and they all say "oh it will be nice to have a night off".. or if a public speaker doesn't come for the talk, and the meeting has just the wt study, they all enjoy "an early mark".

or if they go on holiday, they say "oh we are on holiday, we won't go to the meeting".

OneEyedJoe

They hate the meetings but feel guilty when they miss them, so they're so relieved when they get a guilt-free day off.

10

I can't just walk away, I need to keep reinforcing what I did was right (Leaving the org)

by pleaseresearch in

when i speak to my mum about things, she says why do you keep looking on the internet and news etc... why don't you just live your life and forget what you learned growing up.. maybe i was so so indoctrinated as a child that even though i have woken up and learnt ttatt, i still need to keep up to date with new findings from ex and fellow brothers and sisters.

listening to their testimony about why they left.. this was to me and all of you i'm sure, the truth.

so to finally wake up is absolutely massive.

OneEyedJoe

I suspect it's a bit like the drive some have to meet their biological parents when they learn they're adopted. So much of who we are has come from the cult influence and, at least for me, there's a drive to understand it so that hopefully I can learn something about myself.
Of course there's also a human need to find understanding from others and it's hard to find someone that can relate to being in a cult anywhere else. And I think most that leave have a natural desire to help others that have been through the same challenge. I've found so much support from this community that I want to repay that where I can.

20

Just threw away...

by stephanie61092 in

so even though i don't drive much because public transit is so good where i live (and parking is a living nightmare), i always had a paper taped onto my glove box that said "no blood transfusions - jehovahs witness.

see legal documentation in wallet.

going through this "wake up" process as been a very crazy, emotional experience.

OneEyedJoe

I remember doing that myself. It's odd how much of a pull that piece of indoctrination has - it took me a week or so after waking up to tear up my card. At that point I was ready to admit to myself that I was an atheist but for some reason I still had some hesitation. Luckily that went away reasonably quickly. No regrets at all on tearing that thing up.

As some have said here, that card was a suicide note that you carried with you. Now that you're not planning to die, it's time to get busy living!