DisArmed

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Posts by DisArmed

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  50

  thinking of leaving

  by justme67 in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i am 46 and have been a jw for only 6 years.

  i was doing ok until about a month ago.

  we were having an international convention and i heard the brother that had to pick up 2 of the members of the governing body had to get a background check done on him and his wife.

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  DisArmed

  Justme67,

  Just walk away....today!

  Welcome
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  43

  When You See A Witness What's Your Reaction?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  is it a feeling of---oh no!!?.

  are you happy to see them?.

  do you have a feeling of consternation?.

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  DisArmed

  For a while, when I recognized a witness, I would always say hello. I wasn't going to play by their rules. I received different reactions. Some wouldn't look me in the eye, others would respond and even further a conversation. I did this for a couple years then decided I didn't want to put them in an awkward situation. But that was my choice, hell I toed the company line sometimes too when I was in. I sort of decide now what to do on a case by case.
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  40

  Athiests: Do you ever wonder... what if?

  by toweragent in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'll start by saying, i'm a ministerial servant who is trapped in the religion.

  my wife is hardcore...but i've slowly been getting her to lighten up, so i'll take it!

  all my friends and family are jw's, and i am employed by a jw (who is actually a great boss).

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  DisArmed

  "I'm just curious to see if the things I worry about during MY transition are normal or not." - toweragent

  Far be it from me to say what is normal, but I think your questions and thoughts are common for anyone transitioning from Wally World. I know I had similar thoughts. I recommend you do your due diligence regarding research on your own. Likely you will come to similar conclusions already written in this thread. One conclusion I reached was that if there is a god after all, even the god of the bible, how could he/she blame me for not believing. When I was first exiting I still firmly believed in a creator and thought those who are atheist chose to be atheist so they could relieve their consciences and not have to be accountable to anyone. Well as time went by I learned that simply is not true. Many hoped to find evidence of a god and as they researched, evidence went the other way. The time will come after you have looked at this from every angle and direction you will be at peace with your findings and can move on.
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  41

  The Memorial- Passing the emblems, a prime display of weirdness

  by Darth Fader The Sequel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  not sure if this bothered other people, but it absolutely drove me crazy!!!!.

  ok, typical annual memorial.

  the emblems are being passed around.

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  DisArmed

  Darth,

  You are crackin' me up. As I stated in another post, I haven't thought about this stuff in years. How awkward that was. I can only imagine what visitors must have been thinking. Probably something like, "wtf was that?!?"
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  50

  Convention Season-"Saving Good Seats" & Other Embarrassing Behavior

  by Darth Fader The Sequel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  since it is the convention season (and i am not attending this year or ever again), and i have been seeing other posts about some of the goings on at the various ic's and rc's, i am reminded of some of the truly embarrassing behavior i have "witnessed" (pun intended) over my lifetime of being a jdub at the various conventions and assemblies.

  probably the most disillusioning experience at a convention that i have ever had was one year when i volunteered to be an attendant.

  all of the volunteers were asked to attend a special meeting a few months beforehand to get instructions for our duties as attendants.

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  DisArmed

  Darth, funny post!

  LisaRose: "...so disgusted at the "running of the bulls" I decided I would never do that again." Good one, Lisa, I haven't thought about this stuff for years. I was always an attendant and witnessed this behavior over and over. Even at the time it turned my stomach. A very small part of the this-can't-be-right attitude I was developing.
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  34

  If You Can Get Out Of The Jehovah's Witness Religion---DO IT!

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i realize some people feel they can't just leave the religion.

  they have family, friends, position.. some elders mistakenly believe that they might be able to reform the cult from within.

  the truth is, the religion is never really going to change.

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  DisArmed

  Minimus,

  While everyone's circumstances are different, I agree. Get out and let the chips fall where they may. At least you know where you stand and no longer have to play the games. I haven't heard a thing in over a decade from brother (no great loss, always a JW bully) or sister (kinda sad). But, hey, my children eventually followed me out and my life improved in every way. The only games I play are the one I choose. Ha!
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  76

  Losing Faith in Faith..

  by Dis-Member in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i came across this lecture at 3am not being able to sleep by dan baker.

  it details his transition from christian fundamentalist to atheist and the various shades in-between.

  he realises that every denomination of christian can open the bible and prove to you that they have the right interpretation and everyone else is wrong.

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  DisArmed

  Dis-Member,

  I have been exactly where you are. Don't think in terms of, "where do I go from here?" You don't have to go anywhere. You are free now to live your life anyway you choose, without the worries of influence of men or what faith you should have! When I came to this conclusion for myself, it felt as though I was clear headed for the first time in my life and a ton of burden had been lifted. If you have to go somewhere, go enjoy your life! It's not a "dead end" it's the beginning!
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  41

  How to Wear a Pinkie Ring, by Stephen Lett, Governing Body Member

  by Oubliette in

  1. social
  2. humour

  always the fashionista amongst the governing body members, mr. stephen lett recently showed us how even an older man can display a certain swagger, a certain je nesais quoi that says, "i'm one of the anointed, and you're not!".

  he does this in so many ways, but the one i want to draw our attention to is the way he rocked the theocratic fashion world with his wearing of a very manly pinkie ring in a recent wtbts video.. - -.

  stephen lett of the governing body of jehovah's witnesses demonstrating how to wear a pinkie ring.

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  DisArmed

  I'm pretty sure if had been aware of this guy I would have left earlier. Ha!
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  119

  How many of you followed the WTS direction on education years ago and have been screwed by it?

  by Julia Orwell in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i'm really interested in this question because i've heard for years that if you forgo further education and go pioneering, when you have a family down the track you will get a good job because jehovah will provide for you because you pioneered.

  as long as i was a kool-aid drinker, even then, i thought, "how does pioneering pay your bills?

  surely education should come first.

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  DisArmed

  Julia,

  Glad to see this bump. As a newbie and former lurker there are many topics I have read and did not post a reply. I was married very young. My Father-In-Law was a nonJW and a physician. He stressed education and even offered to pay for mine. Being the good JW that I was and convinced the big A was coming soon I turned him down. After all what would be the use in having a degree in the "new world?" Fast Forward 20 years, the first thing I did as I was exiting was enroll at the University. I was 40ish and wondered if it was too late because I would be 45 before I could have a degree. I enrolled in one class just to see how it would go. Next semester I enrolled in two classes. Before long I was working full time and taking full time classes. I figured if all goes well I will be 45 either way. 45 with a degree or 45 without a degree. Receiving my degree was a highlight in my life and it not only opened many doors it was great therapy as I was exiting Wally World. I write this in hopes of encouraging anyone at any age to pursue an education. It will not only open many doors it will open your eyes!
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  52

  reading COC for the first time

  by This is my tigersuit in

  1. jw
  2. experiences
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  DisArmed

  Tigersuit,

  Congratulations on your journey. Reading CoC was a defining moment for me. It helped tip the scales toward leaving Wally World. Like DJS, I shook my head and softly laughed out loud. (I read the entire book in one sitting at a university library) One thing that struck me is how Franz described how many, maybe most, GB meetings were about what should or shouldn't be disfellowshipping offenses. How trivial! In my naïveté I thought these all important meetings would be the GB coming together to intensely pray for wisdom, insight, "new light," and help so they could properly feed the flock. I felt so foolish having had so much trust in these mere men. On the other hand I felt relieved and pursued my new life of freedom. I enrolled at the university, eventually received my degree, moved up the company ladder, traveled, divorced my deeply entrenched-never-will-listen-to-reason-about wally world wife, set an example for my now exited adult children and now I'm living happily ever after. If I have any advice for newly exited ones it would be give yourself a little time to clear your head, don't waste time looking back and pursue the real new world ahead of you!