Posts by franklin J

However, based on MY LIFE EXPERIENCES as a JW ( which profiles the one you described), and the experiences I had ( which were somewhat negative, to say the least) I have to disagree. As for the "one truth"....this seems to be the big human question....in retrospect , after examining many different faiths over the years, it has been my observation that the JWs are really not that much different from any other fundamentalist chiristian faith. Their doctrines and "dogma" may be different, and their view of higher education is very different, but in the end , they tend to have a "wolf pack" mentality; if you are not in agreement with teachings 100% ; or if you can thnk for yourself and reason, you are "outside" the pack. They make you give up friends and family to join their insulated group; insuring the groups survival. Once you give up that outside support network of friends and non believers, it is very difficult to leave. Some would call this Fascism. Others call it "protecting their spirituality". Fortunately, we live in a free society ( secular, that is) where one can REALLY choose what they want to believe.

Frank

48

How would you prefer the JWs to think of you, A, B, or C ?

by logansrun in

jw
friends

i ran into my df'd, trying to get back into the dubs, uncle and my jw cousin the other day.

i was coming out of a movie theatre with my "worldly" girlfriend.

after a couple pleasantries we departed and they finished cleaning the theatre's windows .

franklin J

They definitly view me as "C" :Apostate trash.

As the good book says " You will learn the Truth; and the Truth will set you free". Well, I am free....

There is nothing they can do to me once I became independent from them, and I do not care what they think or do.

Fortunately we live in a free country where we can make a choice... and all walks of life and beliefs can coexist. ( JWs have not realized that yet)

Frank

12

CALGARY COURT CASE

by SHUNNED FATHER in

jw
friends

hi lee,.

it was over last friday.

the judge made an interesting comment in her decision.

franklin J

hey lawrence,

My thoughts are with you....

Frank

21

need to worship?

by franklin J in

jw
friends

as a former jehovahs witness, one who was raised in the faith, and eventually became a pioneer and ms; i left 20 years ago and at this juncture in my do not feel the need to join any other religion.

it is not that i still believe any of the jw teachings, i just do not believe any organized religion, not christianity, judaism or muslim.

i feel that i am a deeply spiritual person; agnostic, but because of my "jw adventure" , i not longer feel the need to worship.. i am curious to know how the rest of you feel after leaving that faith...is there still a need to worship, or has that feeling also passed with you?.

franklin J

As a former Jehovahs Witness, one who was raised in the faith, and eventually became a pioneer and MS; I left 20 years ago and at this juncture in my do not feel the need to join any other religion. It is not that I still believe any of the JW teachings, I just DO NOT BELIEVE any organized religion, not Christianity, Judaism or Muslim. I feel that I am a deeply spiritual person; agnostic, but because of my "JW Adventure" , I not longer feel the need to worship.

I am curious to know how the rest of you feel after leaving that faith...Is there still a need to worship, or has that feeling also passed with you?

Frank

30

Unitarian Universalists

by SpunkyChick in

jw
friends

i just visited a unitarian universalist church today for the first time.

i enjoyed it!

the reverend was a female and she gave a sermon about mystics.

franklin J

yes,

I attended a service yeas ago, out of interest( obviously after my JW life) They were all very friendly, and came up to introduce themselves to me after the service. The song played was " How are things in Glockamora", which I think is from the the Rogers & Hammerstein operetta, "The Mikado". But what I remember most is that there were eerily no children anywhere. My current neighbors are members of the Unitarian church and are nice people and good neighbors.

Frank

22

Almost Made Me Puke ...

by ESTEE in

.

http://partnersinthetruth.com/ .

estee

franklin J

this web site brought back a lot of "theocratic" thoughts.....NO THANK YOU

...I enjoyed sinning far too much to even THINK of going back to that lifestyle

( that website was good for a laugh though)

11

What Birds Taught Me About Watchtower Dishonesty

by metatron in

i have a bird feeder outside my window.

it attracts warblers, sparrows, blue jays and multicolored finches , amoung others,.

the generation of 1914 is gone.

franklin J

Very good post, Metatron,

I agree with you. And I am in the same boat, in the seat reight behind you.

At this stage, all I can do is look forward, and work at changing my current perspective and my life. It has been an ongoing battle since I left that religion 20 years ago. My biggest consolation has been my wife and kids, ( never had been JWs) who will never know what it was like to be harrassed by school mates as " the kid who does not salute that flag or celebrate xmas, or go door to door". It was a long time ago.

I also take solace in the nature on my property ( on Long Island) , aside from the bluejays, and red breasts who make their home here, we also have wild racoon, legions of squirrels, and just this summer spotted a family of quails.

When I do look back, there is much that could have been different, much hurt that could have been avoided. However, it is all part of who I am and what I have today, and with that knowledge, I would not change my current life at all.

regards,

Frank

25

Wage discrepancies between the lower class with the upper class.

by William Penwell in

jw
friends

i just watched bill moyer's, now on pbs.

i was wondering who else watched the program.

it was dealing with the discrepancies between the lower class workers and the upper class executives.

franklin J

In the USA, especially in the North East; people are talking about approacing "Class wars" ( sounds like it is out of Star Wars)

It appears that the population is slowly polarizing to rich and poor, and the middle class is being squeezed into non existence. On Long Island, New York, where I am posting from, the average home starts at approx $350,000 and up to several million, and one must be earning upwards of $60,000 minimum per household per year to even qualify for a mortgage ( and that will require 10-15% down payment) And do not forget the land taxes, averaging about $8-$10,000 per year, on top of your mortgage . What inevidably happens is that both parents are working. The cost of living here is so high, I do not know how people can afford to live here. Everyone ( well almost everyone) wants the suburban lifestyle with the excellent public school system for their kids. There is a huge demand and there has been a shortage of any kind of affordable housing and yet people just keep moving here and paying the high cost. And the cost of real estate keeps spiraling up. If you are rich, that is great, you will live very nicely. If you are middle class, you will be squeezed.

It appears to be coming to "the haves and the have nots"

Frank

42

Well here goes nothing........

by What The....... in

jw
friends

i am a jehovah?s witness that has had a lot of doubts the past 5 or 6 months.

i don?t know where to turn or what to do.

i have given my all to jehovah and am scared that if this is not the truth then where will i go.

franklin J

welcome to the board, What the...

It is not easy leaving the Jehovahs Witnesses, but you are among friendly supporters on this website, we have all "been there, done that".

Take your time easing in; move at your own pace to what you feel comfortable with.

regards,

Frank