Sail Away

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Posts by Sail Away

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  16

  My life as a fundamentalist

  by joey jojo in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  as a born-in jw, i never considered myself to be a fundamentalist.

  i always thought we were enlightened, progressive and not 'stuck in darkness' like all the other religions.. i was totally wrong.. as far as fundamentalists go, jw's are probably right up there amongst the front-runners.

  no, they do not stone people to death or go on religion-fuelled violent rampages but that's not what i'm talking about.

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  Sail Away

  http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/s/ref=is_s_ss_i_0_12?k=leaving+the+fold&sprefix=leaving+the+

  I read the book entitled, Leaving the Fold after I walked away. It opened my eyes. Yes, JWs are absolutely fundamentalists.
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  24

  General health after learning TTATT

  by Darkknight757 in

  1. social
  2. physical

  4 months ago i was conducting the watchtower study along with a long list of responsibilities that come with being an elder in a very goofy congregation.

  during this time my health was going down hill.

  i've always had a low blood pressure,(102/65 or abouts) but for the past year it had creeped up to 135/90 range.. so 2 months ago after learning ttatt, i'm still considered an elder because the brothers won't let me step down, but i haven't done anything in that time except comment once at a meeting a few weeks ago.

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  Sail Away

  Decades long severe, recurrent clinical depression, PTSD and panic attacks led to a 6-week intensive out-patient hospitalization during which I was put on a regimen of psych meds that led to an emergency hospitalization for toxicty-- over medicated. My last meeting was three months later. Just walked away.

  Now nearly 5 years later, depression gone, panic attacks gone. PTSD will never be fully resolved, but it is well managed now with no medication-- not one pill.

  I was just accepted into this mindfulness teacher training program:

  http://www.mindfulnesstraininginstitute.com/teacher-training/u-s-training/

  Meditation works, as does tai chi and qigong-- moving meditation. Maybe that is why JW.Borg forbids all of that!

  Diane
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  50

  Our COBE(Coordinator Of Body of Elders) Cried at the Kingdom Hall

  by James Jack in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it was announced recently, that "bro.

  z is no long the coordinator(76 years old), bro y(60) is now the new coordinator of the body of elders".. you see, bro.

  z has been an elder for 43 years and 35 of them as the cobe/po.

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  Sail Away

  Sail away your post is so incredibly sad. He believes he has done the good " Christian" thing all his life, it must make you so angry for your poor kids and grandson though - oh how those GB have a WORLD of suffering to answer for.

  Thank you for your kind words, Diogenesister. My kids were robbed of the experience of loving grandparents. My son was only five years old when he asked me, "Mama, how come Gramma doesn't like little boys?" It broke my heart. In their teens our children each, on their own, decided to stop visiting their grandparents. We supported their decisions. I was still an active JW at the time, but I honestly think my MIL is the most venomous JW woman I have ever known.

  Mostly I have a deep sadness, but sometimes anger does creep in. I feel that they shouldn't have the right to know what is going on in our lives and the lives of our children and grandson. In these moments I remind myself that I choose not to allow anyone's unkind actions define who I am or how I conduct myself. The important thing is we broke the cycle of abuse. We love our children unconditionally, and we adore being grandparents!
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  50

  Our COBE(Coordinator Of Body of Elders) Cried at the Kingdom Hall

  by James Jack in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  it was announced recently, that "bro.

  z is no long the coordinator(76 years old), bro y(60) is now the new coordinator of the body of elders".. you see, bro.

  z has been an elder for 43 years and 35 of them as the cobe/po.

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  Sail Away

  James Jack, I had the same conversation with my FIL over 10 years ago. He had been asked to train younger brothers to do his job on the RBC. They had removed the congregation book study from his home. He had never missed a Saturday leading the group in service, never took a vacation because of his resonsibilities. The last thing to go was his position as presiding overseer. This man dedicated his life to this organization and "his brothers and sisters".

  We had this conversation in private. He never would have discussed such a thing with his own son. He was truly hurt and broken to be set aside after so many years of service. They needed someone who was more accessible. This man still has no cell phone and refuses to have a computer in his home. He believes that computers are from the devil and that they destroyed his son's faith.

  This man was broken. He personally helped many less fortunate ones at the KH. Don't get me wrong; he is still thoroughly deluded and has shunned his son for over 35 years. They only speak about "necessary family business" on the telephone about twice a year. The last time we visited he told my husband, "We are all set. Everything is taken care of. Communication is nice, but not necessary." He would never accept help from us and shuns our children and our grandson.

  There has been a slight softening since Flipper called my FIL pretending to be one of my local elders (There is a thread about this that got quite heated.) and reassured him that I am still a faithful sister. I have compassion for the man, but will never subject myself to his judgement of my family members and his silence toward the vitriol and hate speech of my MIL toward my husband. I don't intend to ever speak to or see either one of them again, but I support my husband's choice to try to maintain contact, and I send photos on his behalf about once a year.

  Cult indoctrination destroyed my FIL's humanity and his family, but he still believes he is doing the right thing. What else can he do now but die with a stranglehold on his faith. It is beyond sad.
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  3

  How brave is this lady? Very.....

  by Giordano in

  1. watchtower
  2. child-abuse

  some of us have called umbertoecho a hero for testifying before arc about her own sexual abuse but she says she's no hero.. slidin fast says:.

  umberto, you are a hero to us.

  you are a person who feels ordinary but is doing extraordinary things.

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  Sail Away

  Umbertoecho is an extraordinarily strong, courageous and resilient woman with a beautiful heart. She is a hero in my eyes.

  Diane
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  83

  what buzz word from the jw's do you hate & why?

  by Sabin in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  so my hubby has been on a bit of a roll about the jdubs, we were talking a lot about them & he said the buzz word he hate's the most is "worldly" why?

  because he say's "with that one word they have condemned (according to their believes) a person as being worthy of nothing but death.

  ".

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  Sail Away

  "Striving", as in "striving after the wind"-- makes everything seems absolutely f**king pointless. Close second-- "marriage mate".
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  66

  What's the point?

  by punkofnice in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i mean, i don't want to be miserable or anything, but what's the bloody point of it all?.

  since i left the watchtower cult, i have come to realise that god cannot possibly exist...and if a god exists...god is indifferent to humankind as the least.. in 100 years time i'll be gone.

  kaput.

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  Sail Away

  HI Punk-- sorry you are feeling down and a bit lonely. One of the things that haunted me for decades as a JW was the question, "What is my purpose in life?" We were told that 'vindicating Jehovah's sovereignty and sanctifying His name' was our purpose. I thought, "Maybe that's His purpose, but it's not mine!"

  I think we have to find our own purpose and meaning in our lives. After giving up so many opportunities in life as a JW and having lost so much when we left its tyranny, it's easy to fall into feelings of hopelessness and of having wasted so much of our limited time here.

  For me, it's important to love and be loved and, more importantly, to have broken the multi-generational cycle of abuse in my family that left me vulnerable to cult recruitment. My kids know I love them unconditionally, and I know they love me. When I see how much my daughter loves her little boy, I know I have done my job here on this planet. Everything else is a bonus-- a beautiful sunrise, sunset or moon rise, a beautiful sea breeze to sail by and friends to enjoy it all with.

  Keep looking for ways to connect with and help others, even if it is simply to smile to a stranger. Keep sharing your gift of music if it brings you happiness. This Meh feeling will pass. I know it well. Thoughts are only thoughts, and feelings are only feelings, they come and go, and they don't define who we are.

  I love Terry's post! Listen to his wisdom.

  Diane
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  23

  Saturday Morning Vibes

  by freemindfade in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  its saturday morning here on the east coast of america.

  i haven't been out in service in probably getting close to two years.

  i wake up every saturday extremely happy and thankful im not getting up to go f-ck up my morning and my neighbors morning, not today, not ever again.

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  Sail Away

  Sunday mornings are for pancakes followed by walking on the beach with Mr. Sail Away and Emma (stage left;). Salt, sea and sand are a whole lot better than a lifeless KH any day of the week!
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  23

  Saturday Morning Vibes

  by freemindfade in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  its saturday morning here on the east coast of america.

  i haven't been out in service in probably getting close to two years.

  i wake up every saturday extremely happy and thankful im not getting up to go f-ck up my morning and my neighbors morning, not today, not ever again.

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  Sail Away

  My Saturdays start with a leisurely breakfast with Mr. Sail Away, followed by a yoga class. Five years without field service. I auxiliary pioneered for The Memorial in 2011 as my swan song, had my light bulb moment in May, and sailed away after the District Convention on July 3rd. 42 years of wasted Saturdays was enough.
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  35

  Saturday Let the Games Begin

  by Poztate in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the start of a new memorial season is upon us.

  saturday is the day for the start of the invites to look but not touch the bread and wine.

  the "observer class" is a belief unique to jehovah's witnesses.. along with the invite to the masses a special effort is being made this year by the elders to invite all the df's, da's and faders.. along with the invite a copy of the rtj will be left with them.. naturally we will still be treated as pariah's if we do attend but it is the thought that counts.. i am of the "fader class" as i don't wish to rock the boat with my wife and extended family.

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  Sail Away

  I don't think they will dare to darken my doorstep. I threatened, by certified mail from my attorney, to sue any JW who attempts to contact me in any official organizational capacity. They don't want me back. Trust me.