Posts by Alive!

11

You are a Jehovah’s Witness or you are nothing at all…

by silentbuddha in

this morning i got a call from a friend of mine who i was actually roommates with at bethel in the 1990’s.

he left that organization about 3 years ago.

he was crushed because it was the 10 year anniversary (for lack of a better term) of the day that his brother took his life after being disfellowshipped many moons ago and not being reinstated.

Alive!

I am now 60 years old and first truly faced the truth about my religion some 4 - 5 years ago.

Haven't been to a meeting since 2012 I guess, after over two decades of true dedication.

It's been a journey I can tell you...losing your community and your closest friendships at a late stage in life.

You don't build such "bonds" overnight of long term history, trust ....but particularly history and memories that bring friendships especial joy in later life.

But, it's OK.

Well, no...it's not OK.....but really, life keeps opening up new growth and emotional richness.

The former JW life that was compromising my conscience and making me feel slightly insane was simply not an option.

Keep your eyes wide open and see the divine illuminating through the darker spaces of this world.

Have hope.

👍

31

Why I get out of bed every morning.

by compound complex in

jw
friends

because someone needs my help.. as a jw -- you can relate -- i truly believed that what everyone really needed was the kingdom hope and its eventual reality.

you know, the hope that does not lead to disappointment.

of course, if anyone needed practical help with a task or getting through some difficulty, most of us realized that was part of being a helpful and caring friend (or family member).. at nearly seventy years of age -- no, i didn't enter the promised kingdom in my healthful and vibrant youth -- my getting out of bed isn't so bad.

Alive!

I love this. ❤️

25

Stupid, stupid nonsense in the October JW broadcast

by sir82 in

so in the october jw broadcast, there is a "morning worship" segment in which g. jackson goes to great lengths to explain how the term "those taking the lead" are not "leaders".. the terms are exactly equivalent, of course, but jackson, with a wink & smirk, pats himself on the back for his own cleverness on how different they really are.it's just so bizarrely absurd.. imagine if such tortured reasoning were applied to other areas..... -------------------------------------.

restaurant manager: i'm sorry, the only position we have open is for dishwasher.

applicant: that's insulting!

Alive!

Sounds like a distancing job....putting back responsibility on the R and F for following 'those taking the lead'

Great - If those taking the lead are not "leaders" then JWs can look forward to a democratically 'led' theocracy and being consulted on every twist and turn on doctrinal interpretation.

Could someone give me the heads up when the first 'referendum' is floated by those taking the lead who are not leaders, but who are really just 'one of us'.

30

Do not think the end will come?

by Akid48 in

thats somthing i see thats asked in my kingdom hall if you want to go get more than 2 years in collage.thing in some one asking that to me or etc i cant say any thing or that would show that i dont believe.. i hate when some one askes me that when i try to plan ahead when it comes to what job i want.what job would help me hold my own but no god will give if you put him first.i dont believe in god even when i did i never buyed into that.. it seems you cant get away from the question im only 13 and i get that question theres no getting away from it..

Alive!

Point out the GB has always planned well ahead, building for the future.

They have consistently approved various building plans around the world that were two to three years or more in the future.

Say you looked at them and saw their wisdom in living as if the end isn't coming too soon, whilst keeping in expectation.

21

"The battle for your mind" july 17 WT

by Bad_Wolf in

this is such a strange article.

https://wol.jw.org/en/wol/d/r1/lp-e/2017488.

notice the parts about one won't get truth if it's spoon fed.

Alive!

I suggest this is clever manipulation aimed at reshaping ones true experience.

That is, 'we can't possibly be trying to control your mind, otherwise why would we write so honestly about the risks?'

They do this A LOT.

61

Saying hello for first time

by pimojw in

i have been sneakily looking at this forum, almost every day, ever since it began!

it has taken me till now to actually register and contribute.

(actually i did register with a different name in the beginning but never commented).. i am a pimo elder with a fairly long history of senior "positions" in the organization.

Alive!

Hi

I can't imagine how hard it is to be an elder, to have all your lovely family "in" and knowing you have to hide until ....well, who knows when?

I was 'a jewel' of a find as one elder told me...I'm just an ordinary woman who had been 'honest-hearted' and 'hungry for truth' and 'humble' enough to see that the WT was God's true organisation, the truth faith.....until...

I passed over and tried to reconcile so many doctrine issues and basic teaching methods over the years, and when I was 'honest-hearted, hungry, humble' enough to say 'hey, this isn't right is it?' over several major doctrine issues....I was relabelled by those I shared with as being 'unappreciative' and in danger of losing my spiritual way.

I could have just finished it all, I felt like it....I was so wretched, frightened and many other emotions. I was going to lose my community if I made a stand for MY conscience, MY journey....MY personal raison d'etre.

But....I'm still standing.

I'm Alive. I mean, really Alive....

And I have deep faith that the purpose of the Universal Creator will be fulfilled, and we will ALL finally 'go home'.

Dont lose heart friend.

🙂

29

"The purpose of reporting field service time is for encouragement"

by HereIgo in

i was told this when i was an aspiring jw, aka unbaptized publisher.

the above explanation didn't make sense to me then and it never did make sense throughout my jw career.

over time, it appeared to me the real purpose of field service time reporting was to gauge one's spirituality and for the ceo *cough* co to make sure the elders were on top of things during his visit..

Alive!

Keeping time, announcing Aux and Reg Pioneers created unneccessary 'ranks' within the ranks....I myself succumbed to the temptation to be one of the 'extra-spiritual' ranks by aux pioneering occassionally. I did do it out if a desire to please God, but I can't help admitting that the external pressure of being 'seen' to be acceptably spiritual was part of the whole thing. We had no choice, it's set up that way.

I came to see this as unhealthy way to be seen as 'spiritual'.

Calling brothers 'pioneers', 'Aux pioneers'...who needs this in an already stressful and competitive world?

23

last psychology session tomorrow

by Phoebe in

jw
friends

so tomorrow is my last appointment with my psychologist.

we are going to commemorate it by giving each other a letter.. sept 2016 i sat, a quivering wreck, in her waiting room.

i was terrified.

Alive!

Look at you ! 💐💐💐

From another 60 odd year old who is also growing anew after many years living an unhealthy mix of low self evaluation coupled with high level anxiety to be 'loved' and accepted 🙂

5

Lott video and " Vanity" of modern JW women

by Diogenesister in

one thing i picked up from the " remember the wife of lott" video was the amount of time the jw women gave over to improving their looks.. in days of old i doubt a jw wife would have been portrayed in a salon having a lot of beauty treatments .. that's not to say it would be looked down on, per sa, i just doubt it would have been portrayed on official propaganda videos as an acceptable way for jw women to spend time that could be otherwise given over to promoting " kingdom interests".

given the way the org uses anything to belittle women i'm surprised they let those scenes fly without negative comment.. just a minor point ....i know the vids have been done to death by now!!

!.

Alive!

The percentage of JW women who are obsessed or over preoccupied with wardrobes, cosmetic (plastic etc) enhancements is an eye opener.

I know a few who had extra bedrooms converted into wardrobe rooms, with bags and shoes and everything itemised, categorised and arranged like one gorgeous, luxurious shop.

What makes this so particularly 'odd' is how it fits in with their full time Christian life.....they belong to a religion that condemns their female counterparts in other Christian faiths (perhaps women who work tirelessly in charities or services to provide for the poor, abused and needy)...and yet cherishes these Botox filled and thoroughly preened from top to toe 'women of God'.

I don't think they really get how the 'world' sees them. Sure, their grooming is admired, but non-witnesses DO NOT see such physical sharpness as a truly Christian quality or sign that this person is a humble Christian.

I remember an extended non-witness family member once laughed out loud at a convention...she said it looked like a day at Ascot rather than a Christian meeting.

i thought it was sour grapes at the time - but on reflection, she just said what she 'saw' and how it looked.

And I honestly don't mean to be sour grapes myself - but it's since withdrawing that I can see how 'silly' it all was...and witnesses love it, it elevates the group, it 'looks' good.

Yet only in a worldly way....People will be attracted for an askewed reason, it seems to me.

Again, I'm not being bitter or snarky - it's just I see the oddness of it all now.

44

Why Do People Become JWs?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i was born in the religion but why on earth do people join this religion?

?.

Alive!

By the way.....back in the 80s it was different.

Full and comprehensive answers were welcomed from the brothers and sisters.....not the pared down sentences lifted up from the publications.

Again....impressive.