Hey Josh, welcome to the forum. Very well written post. Am I detecting a little nostalgic tone? Just remember the constant changes and "new light" are proof of this cult not being anything close to the truth and that it is, well, a cult. Like you, I am so far removed that it didn't dawn on me till well into the year that this marked 100 years since the famed 1914. I rarely give the religion any thought or energy and certainly don't regret leaving. This Saturday morning I can't imagine trudging door to door instead of doing what I now do on Saturday mornings, watch College Game Day!
DisArmed
JoinedPosts by DisArmed
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69
What Happened to the Religion I Left in 1995?
by JoshJeffries injosh here, new to the board.
glad to know this site is here.. i would not be writing this if it were not 2014. i was a ministerial servant and regular pioneer who left the jehovahs witnesses back in 1995/96, around that time.
i left suddenly, didnt fade away, just left when something clicked one day in my head during the morning shower and made me realize this religion wasnt true.
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My Story: from JW Elder to Born Again Christian to Agnostic
by passwordprotected ini 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.
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DisArmed
Thanks, PWP
Excellent! Welcome to life after Wally World. Grand peace of mind isn't it?
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HOW TO AVOID THE A-HOLE SPIRIT OF SOME HERE...
by DATA-DOG in1) take meds for your megalomania and delusions of grandeur.. .
suggestions welcome.. .
dd.
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DisArmed
"The only time I have had any issue with atheists is when they try to pressure others to be atheists." - FHN
Interesting, I've known a lot of atheists including my best friend and have never been pressured to be atheist.
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50
thinking of leaving
by justme67 ini 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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When You See A Witness What's Your Reaction?
by minimus inis 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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Athiests: Do you ever wonder... what if?
by toweragent ini'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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The Memorial- Passing the emblems, a prime display of weirdness
by Darth Fader The Sequel innot 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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Convention Season-"Saving Good Seats" & Other Embarrassing Behavior
by Darth Fader The Sequel insince 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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If You Can Get Out Of The Jehovah's Witness Religion---DO IT!
by minimus ini 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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Losing Faith in Faith..
by Dis-Member ini 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!