Posts by Alive!

66

New Light: Clap when it is given a Reinstatement ad

by TheTruthBR in

jw
friends

a new letter was posted in jw.org to the elders who are under the brazilian branch:.

january 25, 2016to all bodies of eldersref .

: clap when given a readmission addear brothers:we would like to inform you about a recent adjustment.

Alive!

Reading this leaves me shaking my head - such micro management! Always written in a soft, reasonable way - but with a no compromise allowed until 'we say so' !

Watchtower explains why we don't - and now, clapping is acceptable.

Absurd isn't it? What a good topic for the door to door ministry.

'Good morning, in these trouble times have you ever considered if it is appropriate to clap in positive response on hearing at a congregational meeting that a disfellowshipped Christian has been welcomed back into the church? May I show you this interesting Watchtower article?'

26

My Story "Act 2"

by MarkofCane in

“it has been said, 'time heals all wounds.

' i do not agree.

the wounds remain.

Alive!

The walking dead.....

Yes, funny but I've heard that expression re spiritually weak or inactive.

There was an abundance of 'in-house' jokes of a callous and cynical nature.

Another one I heard was when referring to fellow non- witness diners by a career pioneer who was highly respected - 'look at them all - scoffers in the past days'.

All these things over the years kept drilling into me, worms of discomfort in my gut.

26

My Story "Act 2"

by MarkofCane in

“it has been said, 'time heals all wounds.

' i do not agree.

the wounds remain.

Alive!

MarkofCane,

Thank you again for a well written OP.

It's incredible how all our stories seem to reflect each other's.

The hard part for us, has been the managing of life on a day to day basis post WTBTS.

A whole structure has evaporated, and I'm not the sort to just 'be carefree' and live it up - (not that I don't know how to have a great time!) I do care, I do strive to get a sense of it all....and whilst I don't have a succinct WT illustrated life picture, with all the judgemental characteristics that follow - I do find a bigger picture settling into place....I'm going with my heart and gut and it's Good.

I tend to self blame a lot and take responsibility for stuff - and can be very unbalanced in this. Rejection hurts me like a twisting knife - the being viewed as undesirable associates (as a couple) started about a couple of years before we woke up - my husband had never reached out and eventually this left us a bit high and dry.

His good qualities that were part of his make up were trashed by the org's male corporate structure - to survive, I noticed his personality over the years changed from gentle and humble, to swaggering and over jocular. He found it hard to be himself amongst such 'false' identities - and I guess both of us grew a false personality.

Lot of damage done.

We are in repair mode.

All is not lost....we have non-JW friends and family who have come back into our lives - and have made a couple of new meaningful friends, a very slow process....but it's going to be OK.

Stay strong friend!

61

New here

by MarkofCane in

hello and thanks to everyone for participating on this forum it has really been of much value, for those of you that post here know that your words are not lost you never know who is reading your expressions, lives are being changed and nonsense challenged.

i’m not much of a writer so excuse my untrained writing style and grammar but i want to share my story to help anyone who is visiting here to see that we are real people, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have come here for answers, there is no agenda, just searching for truth.

i hope my story will help others as so many here have helped me..

Alive!

We stood as little more than hypocrites when we criticized the members of the churches of Christendom for lazily leaving matters of docttine in the hands of their leaders when we as Witness were the same.
So true. It's the criticising of other 'Christians' and their churches on a wholesale basis that gets me these days - what hypocrites we were.

61

New here

by MarkofCane in

hello and thanks to everyone for participating on this forum it has really been of much value, for those of you that post here know that your words are not lost you never know who is reading your expressions, lives are being changed and nonsense challenged.

i’m not much of a writer so excuse my untrained writing style and grammar but i want to share my story to help anyone who is visiting here to see that we are real people, fathers, mothers, sons and daughters who have come here for answers, there is no agenda, just searching for truth.

i hope my story will help others as so many here have helped me..

Alive!

Thank you so much for your well written story.

Realising that Russell had heavily drawn on his numerology style prophetic 'utterances' from pyramids etc was a shake up.

Wouldn't that be consulting with demons, I asked as I read the accounts.

And how did Rutherford manage to divine from scripture a resurrection of the old prophets in the 1920s, to live in a luxury mansion built for that purpose? With Rutherford caretaking until they 'arrived'? Surely that could only be demon inspired?

I'm not writing about 'Demons' to offend the sensibilities of atheists - but if we are going to be all boots in regarding 'belief' - then there has to be conceded that only 'Demons' would have inspired this abstract idea.

The WT doesn't seem to be at all alarmed by this 'dabbling' by the founders of the religion. But, I'd get disfellowshipped if I stood up and said it kind of points to demonic interference.

I'm not obsessed with 'Demons' by the way - just using the scriptural measuring line for what is Christ inspired and what isn't....

Isnt it all crazy??? :-)

36

First time here

by BarelyThere in

okay so here goes...this is my first time on here.

i'm lost and confused and am feeling very hopeless.

i was dfed in september and i am still wrapping my head around everything.

Alive!

I liked Cofty's thoughts - wise advice.

You probably can't help thinking over the big questions, it's a rare situation where someone can just switch off from believing to 'what now?' as it affects every aspect of our life and importantly, from a mental health aspect, it feels like a lost place as we try to grapple with feeling safe in our own identity.

And add to that the psychological trauma of being shunned by our own.

Nothing can fast forward you out of your current pain - but, if you can keep your discipline of work, self care and taking small steps to build a new life....then you will be your own best friend doing the best you can for the hurting you inside - and that gives you an inner strength that will give you a real future.....

Mop up the pain with distractions, healthy distractions that give you pleasure and some comfort and relief from the tears.

You'll find truckloads of support here from those who experiencing the same anguish.

21

Lurkers: Is it true that no servant of Jehovah in the bible celebrated birthdays?

by juandefiero in

did you know that job's family celebrated birthdays?

the word translated "his own day" at job 1:4 is the same word translated "day of his birth" in job 3:1. .

seems deceptive, does it not, to change that translation.

Alive!

It's deceptive. Who could argue otherwise?

I'm not desperate to celebrate holidays, but I'm no longer in awe of the deceptive and changing tactics the Watchtower uses to play their 'argument'.

The piñata issue absolutely did it for me.

The piñata Is steeped in religious superstition and symbolism involving demons and 'evil spirits' yet apparently it is considered benign and nothing like the wicked Xmas tree, toasting, candles on cakes, wind chimes and all manner of modern day customs that no longer hold spiritistic meaning.

I wonder why?

38

Your Jehovah’s Witness Is Showing

by David_Jay in

since i just signed up and posted a few times without doing this yet, here is my story..

i think that i became a jehovahs witness because of my immaturity.

i had some quirky personality traits, and i joined finding that i fit in because, as i said to myself: these people get me.

Alive!

"You are not big enough to accuse the whole age effectively, but let us say you are in dissent. You are in no position to issue commands, but you can speak words of hope. Shall this be the substance of your message? Be human in this most inhuman of ages; guard the image of man for it is the image of God. –Thomas Merton"

I like it.

Does this quote belong here on this thread?

38

Your Jehovah’s Witness Is Showing

by David_Jay in

since i just signed up and posted a few times without doing this yet, here is my story..

i think that i became a jehovahs witness because of my immaturity.

i had some quirky personality traits, and i joined finding that i fit in because, as i said to myself: these people get me.

Alive!

Lol @ fukitol.

I think I may be stuffed.

35

Dear Jehovah's witnesses, a question....

by punkofnice in

dear jehovah's witnesses and on-the-fencers.. isn't it even a little bit obvious that the watchtower organisation doesn't have jehovah's blessing?.

if it did, why are your leaders, the governing body, asking you for your money and assets?

surely, jehovah would provide for the organisation without having to use your hard earned money and assets?.

Alive!

Old Hippie,

I liked your practical response but here's the thing...

One of the things that made me leap towards the JWs was the lack of money begging, this was back in the late 80s and early 90s.

I boasted to non witness family about the low key voluntary donations , no plates, no tithing......no clergy class constantly guilting the flock into donating.

Come on - you remember? It was a big point of difference - one of our boasts. WE ARE NOT LIKE CHRISTENDOM, the day we ask for money is the day.....well, you must remember the rest....

So what's happened? I'm sure ain't gonna able to impress any newbie study with that little treasure these days......it's clear what's going on.