Posts by franklin J

i came to a stark realisation, this week, and it's simply this: i no longer feel any need to use derogatory terms about the wts.. i had closure, from leaving the jws, when i da'ed january 2002. around that time i accepted it as being a "cult", whereas before i used the term "high-control group".

i started using terms such as "borg" and "dub", to describe the wts and jws, and i really do think that helped the process of extracting indoctrinated ideas.. i hate what is being done in the name of that religion, but i see that in other religions, too.

other than the briefest of moments, i've seen fairly clearly that getting angry or obsessive about a corporate entity is a little futile.

franklin J

Ross,

as I look back over the passed 20 odd years I can say that there is no malice in my opinion of the JWs. The years tend to mend your hurt; temper it to the point where you CAN percieve the past for what it was; and make an objective statement based on your experience. This does not mean that I would justify ANY of the JW teachings, simply recognize them for what they actually are; striped of any spiritual manifestations.

Also, I have had so many positive experiences in my life since leaving the JWs; my wife ; my kids and my career; new friends ( stated in order of importance) that I can afford to be objective.

As we move on and move AWAY from the JW experience; we do change; our lives change and we can make a positive difference in our life.

Frank

15

were you more 'materialistic' when you were a witness???

by chuckyy in

it was my experience when a jw that many focussed their lives around...having good holidays...having nice cars (some with private plates)...having perfect houses etc etc.

it all seemed very materialistic to me.

totally the opposite to what was being preached from the platform.

franklin J

I suppose in hindsight my family had more materialistically than most JWs.

My folks were conservative but we had more than the others, much more. My folks personal belief was that if you had more; you gave more. Hence we ( myself and 2 sisters) were full time pioneers. Dad was an elder and mom was the typical JW "wife"

My parents ALWAYS opened our home to the circuit overseers when they visited and always entertained . My father payed for the new sound system in the Congregation when it was installed and contributed heavily to buy a new car for the circuit overseer. They had the money and they contributed when they had to.

What I failed to realize at the time ( as a typical 18 year old) is that it was Dads money that kept me pioneering; payed for my car, gas; insurance; clothes. I was expected to be the good example ; the "leader" for all the young people.

That same car that took me out in field service was always available to pick kids up to go to meetings or out to the movies. When I got a menial job; the pay was merely for playtime money. After we had left the religion; my mother confided in me that she and my father felt that they had cheated me as a child with no birthdays or Xmas and always tried to compensate.

As a grown man with much responsiblity of my own now; I realize that my folks lived quite well; did well for themselves financially and just never made a showy display of it.

78

Do you know of any "baptized" JW's that committed suicide or attempted?

by booker-t in

i remember one of my childhood friends was found dead and the police said he committed suicide.

i just could not believe it because my friend was a "devout" jw almost franatical about it.

now years later since i have seen both sides of the coin i am beginning to wonder if my friend did indeed kill himself.

franklin J

my cousin that I grew up with....he became a "devout" witness just as I was falling away.

He lived on the west coast with his wife and 2 small kids. He left a suicide note and took pills....his very "theocratic" sister went crying to the elders saying he was severly ill with depression ( obviously) and would they pray to jehovah to let him be resurrected into the new world ; as he was not responsible for the suicide...poor lost soul, I actually wanted to comfort her and she wanted nothing to do with me.

Also a younger sister in the congregation I was part of . The elders would not let her mother ( one of the few really kind souls I ever knew in that religion) have a service in the Hall because it was suicide...what unimaginable bastards....

11

Have you purchased your Girl Scout cookies?

by Thechickennest in

jw
friends

even when i was active with the cult i always bought the forbidden cookies....my mother-in-law a lifer in the borg, always forbid my wife to even take a bite of one, let alone purchase them!

my wife works in a small doctors office everyday with two witness gals.

gets real dicey at times with my wife being dissassociated.

franklin J

...my daughters were both girl scouts and it was not uncommon for me to buy several CARTONS of the boxes; this in an atttempt to prevent them going door to door. They still wanted to go door to door and so we let them; accompanied by one of us and only to houses in the neighborhood of friends.

my all time favorite is the Samoa. When a friend asked my little one why her daddy bought so many she repled :

" he likes to have them with his cappucino after dinner. But when my mom gets mad at him she hides the boxes.." isnt that hilarious?

45

How did 1975 affect you?

by AK - Jeff in

jw
friends

i lived thru the 1975 fiasco.

many here did too.. on another board there was discussion about the way the congregations were before 1975. some thought that they were like small country churches in some ways.

we did our own work on repairs at the kingdom hall, like a family.

franklin J

...1975 was the reference point we all looked to....and when it came and went we were all patient...

However in 1977 I turned 21 and wanted to study architecture. My father encouraged me to pursue it. Armegeddon no longer seemed like such a looming event. Big changes came in my life as a result.

When I think back to 1973 and wanting to quit high school because .." Armegeddon was coming!" ...and I wanted to be in the forefront "preaching"....oh man, what a horrific waste of energy; potential, fun and laughter....my father insisted that I finish high school...pioneering could ( and did) wait...thanks Dad, for your forsight

36

The end is near!

by pratt1 in

jw
friends

i went to a funeral this weekend of a much loved older brother.

more about that on another tread.. anyway, some one came up to me and said, that these are "the last of the last days".

i nearly fell off my chair in laughter.. what funny sayings have you heard from dubs, describing the "last days".

franklin J

just2laws,

keep smiling, Steve....

Frank

21

Remember asking to be a part of the Theocratic Ministry School?

by Kimmee in

jw
friends

and giving your first talk?

i found my first talk i gave.

i was so corny and nervous and get graded for your efforts and the rehearsing for sisters with other sisters.

franklin J

yes,, I do rmember. I gave my first talk at 12 years old. I also became good a public speaking and was always asked to do "last minute" talks for those who did not show up. Does anyone still remember the Aid book ( that word has taken on another meaning these days) " Aid to Bible Understanding"

The public speaking part was fun; the subject matter was always dull.

One good thing it did was prepare me for a life in front of an audience. That practice serves me well now when I give presentations to clients.

39

Hi -I'm Jewish

by moshe in

jw
friends

i'm an ex-jw - i converted to judaism .

i just wondered if any ex-jw's like me are now jewish or have questions about judaism.. shalom,.

moshe

franklin J

welcome to the forum, moshe

Frank