Posts by Sail Away

27

Old Relative Not Happy About Push To Use Ipads Etc

by disillusioned 2 in

i was in a close relatives house yesterday and she was having angry and resentful at the push to use electronic devices at the meetings.

she was talking to another relative of mine who has just got an ipad to use.

this relative of mine is very elderly and obviously prefers to use her bible and other books.

Sail Away

My 90-year-old JW in-laws have long held that computers and TVs are Satan's tools. They have neither in their home. My FIL was an elder for over 50 years. His "privileges" were gradually taken away because the younger elders couldn't reach him by cell phone or email. My FIL was tremendously saddened by this, and he still refuses to get these devices, stating they are not for them, but for the young.

Funny thing-- we hear the elders are trying to set up a shepherding call to share a video about not being prideful and stubborn and accepting help in your old age. Don't think that's going to fly! So far they have not invited the elders in when they show up. They just say it's not a good time.

My husband has spoken to his dad several times recently and believes he is fully competent and of sound mind despite the money-grubbing elders' claims to the contrary.

28

I'm getting disfellowshipped

by raven in

hi everyone, a bit of an update here on my continuing disaster of a situation.. (refer to my previous posts for the full story) my mom met with me yesterday for dinner, it was nice.. however, she brought up the fact that because i live with my boyfriend and how everything has gone down, i will be disfellowshipped.. i think the elders basically have enough proof of this.. due to the anonymous tipper (still have no clue who it was, i live in another town 100's of miles away from my old congregation territory), and my mom telling them.

i'm not sure when they will announce it, or if they will contact me prior.. at this point i feel so emotionally dead i don't care- on the other hand, i don't want to be disfellowshipped because i do not want to loose a relationship with my mom.

that is the whole reason i tried fading out.. .

Sail Away

And you never know; this may be the thing that causes your mom and family to re-think the shunning policy and all things borg. Let's hope. --DJS

My son's getting disfellowshipped was my tipping point. I had long-standing doctrinal issues, but that was the last straw. There was no way I was going to shun my son. I was in for 42 years and had raised my kids as JWs. Shunning can wake people out of the JW trance. I do so hope that happens for you, Raven.

45

Died Due To Refusing Blood Transfusion

by rrb2016 in

well, last monday my mother, a jehovah's witness since her baptism in 1968 died last week because she would not accept a blood transfusion.

she was 76 and had lung and skin cancer.

i know that the cancer would have gotten her anyway, but she was bleeding internally, and was told that she needs a blood transfusion, as her blood count went all the way down to 3.2 (should be 12-14.

Sail Away

I am so sorry. May you know peace.

53

"The Bunker" WT Conventions 2016 (Gag Me)

by Poztate in

in the very near future the gang will be down in a bunker,cellar awaiting the police,military to break in and take them away to camps or executions .

(paranoid much) this is the foretold "prophecy" of the governments turning on religion and saving them for last.since the couple portrayed as simplifying their life by getting rid of a lot of material things is shown to be (about) the same age in the bunker we know it must be any minute now that it will happen.

i have been out for over 35 years and things seem to be getting more bizarre each year.. when did this doctrine really become main stream?

Sail Away

Poztate
I recall in the late 1960's early 70's there was almost an obsession about torture, persecution and what that might involve. It seemed to be a morbid fascination at the time

Absolutely, I was 10 in 1968. There were the Babylon The Great and Finished Mystery book studies, threats of persecution, rape and mayhem in Nazi concentration camps and later in Malawi, not to mention the whole 'Stay Alive 'til 75' craze. I had horrific nightmares into my mid-thirties and now have PTSD.

This IS outright child abuse, and my heart breaks for the children still in. The bunker mentality is deeply disturbing.

Diane

70

Someone anonymously tipped the elders?

by raven in

so here an update on my current situation, in a nutshell i've been trying to quietly fade for the past 5 months.. well, my mom somehow found out that i am currently fading and that i live with my boyfriend (for more info on this check my previous posts) i told her yes i live with him and yes i no longer want to be a jw.

anyways, yesterday she met my boyfriend.. awkward.

and after lunch she pulled me aside to tell me that the po came up to her (he was part of my jc when i was reproved) he said to her "someone came to me and said - i cannot say who so they will remain anonymous- but that your daughter is living with someone" my mom confirmed and apparently he told her that i have one week to confess this, and if i don't my parents are obligated to tell them everything.. what kind of nonsense is that?

Sail Away

I am one of those who sent a letter through my attorney threatening legal action if they announced my name from the platform. As a matter of conscience, I wanted no further connection with the organizaton. I had been out for over four years by then though. Also, they had no information about my personal life or beliefs other than the fact that I was unwilling to shun my son and wasn't going to be a hypocrite and pretend I was. If they wanted to believe I was depressed or stumbled, I didn't argue. I ignored all forms of contact from all JWs except two doorstep "shepherding calls" in two years. I was pleasent, but didn't let them in and gave them nothing actionable. You don't owe them anything. Using your own mom against you is dispicable.

I still have occaisional contact with rank and file members I may see in town. They don't shun me, so I'm guessing my letter worked. I seem to be on the "do not call" list though, because they do skip my house when they are working my street.

Don't give them any information to use against you. As others have said, they may not even have their "two witnesses".

Wishing you all the best,

Diane

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/436340001/matter-conscience-am-resigning-from-christian-congregation-jehovahs-witnesses

13

Who is your " I am" that your voice should be heard?

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i was recently thinking before i became " mike" i was an innocent baby, then as the days passed slowly by, i developed a sence of " iam".

as the days moved forward my body, slowly developed a a "sex organ" whilst my mind took on a sence of " emotional" and " intellectual" i am" .

this allowed me to become my current " i am?.

Sail Away

The Rebel, I'm totally with you with regard to a total aversion to all things religious. A good Buddhist teacher will tell you to only believe that which you have experienced personally. Don't beleive anything anyone else says is true. That feels like a safe approach to any spiritual leanings we may have.

I like your version of The Four Noble Truths. I read a book entitled, The Four Agreements years ago. It's not Buddhist Psychology specifically, but dovetails with it well. One of the "Agreements" is: "Don't take anything personally." It's easier to do without a rigid, fixed sense of self. The book may be of interest to you.

Diane

PS for onlookers-- My favorite book on Buddhist Psychology is The Wise Heart by Jack Kornfield.

13

Who is your " I am" that your voice should be heard?

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

i was recently thinking before i became " mike" i was an innocent baby, then as the days passed slowly by, i developed a sence of " iam".

as the days moved forward my body, slowly developed a a "sex organ" whilst my mind took on a sence of " emotional" and " intellectual" i am" .

this allowed me to become my current " i am?.

Sail Away

The Rebel, this topic of self, no self or sense of self is of interest to me. I don't have any answers for you. I do think our sense of self, that is sense of a separate "I"/"me" starts when we learn our name and perceive ourseves to be a separate being. Here is an article about Neuroscience and Buddusim that may help you:

http://qz.com/506229/neuroscience-backs-up-the-buddhist-belief-that-the-self-isnt-constant-but-ever-changing/

It sounds like you are doing some meditation. This question of just who are we refering to when we say/think "I am" is central to the path of spiritual awakening in Buddhism. I find a teacher named Adyashanti to be quite understandable from a Western perspective. Don't let his references to Christian mystics throw you-- he has a lot to offer.

adyashanti.org

PM me if you like, Diane

33

78 to go and hopefully something good comes of it. Please do your part and sign up. Thanks

by Tenacious in

only 78 signatures are needed in order to send the request to the irs that they revoke or at the very least investigate the borg.

come'on guys, support it.. click here to support and sign up!.

Sail Away

Just signed

35

What should I visit while in New York

by wannaexit in

jw
friends

i am planning a trip to new york and trying to develop an itinerary.

t will be my first time.

what do you suggest i see?

Sail Away

Nathan Natas nailed it! Check to see if the cat's eye chrysoberyl is still at the Museum of Natural History. Bring a small flashlight ;)

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

Sail Away

Black Wolf, I am so relieved that you have decided that you are not going to get baptized! I understand that your mom and dad are not treating you in line with your rights as a human being, but for me, it was so very important to start seeing things differently than the way I was raised and the way I raised my kids. We do have the right to change our minds, to say no and make decisions for ourselves, even if that makes others unhappy or uncomfortable. That's on them. The whole "Let your Yes mean Yes" mentality just doesn't work in the real world. Things change. Things are not black and white. As ex-JWs we need to learn a whole new way of thinking and being which includes taking responsibility for our own life and decisions, to go and to work toward living a life of freedom from control and judgement, including our own judgmental thoughts and behaviors. Try not to be hard on yourself. You are doing the best you can. Hang in there and breathe. You can do this!

Hugs,

Diane