.
i had my third jwd-anniversary on august 5th and now turned a jedi.. and nobody noticed!
.
Happy Anniversary, guy !
It is bad how we get ignored sometimes, hell...I am still writing invisible posts, (crying softly ) sometimes, lol.
Seriously, we all need a pat on the back for just being here.
If I ever get back to my ancesteral homeland, I'll look you up in Germany.
many jehovah's witnesses believe what they've been told about ex-witnesses.
they say that exjws simply want to live an immoral life.
they say that exjws cannot live up to "jehovah's standards".
Frannie
If "Jehovah's standards" were indicating that we should be a hate-mongering, lying, suspicious, greedy, control-freaking and judgMENTAL, no-life borganization, then.....NO! I can't live up to those standards.
Cheers!
Good post !
As Jimmy Carter confessed, "Ah...have lusted...in my heart..." that was the extent of my so-called "immorality" before my leaving the troof. I confessed, too and it cost me very dearly.
After my 'exit'... and years alone and 'chaste', I did like a lot of X-JW's, I started making up my own mind about 'morality'. Terry...put it down very well. Like so many of us, I am on a "learning curve", I likely have made mistakes, but, ya' know...? They will be MY DAMN MISTAKES. I think I'm a reasonably intelligent person, I can look around and see what hurts people and learn from that example. I don't have to act stupidly first...just to learn a good lesson.
That is true freedom...when you really act on what you believe in your heart and especially not what any religion DECIDES what is best for you.
let's assume that there is a creator of life who gots things started eons ago.
that's my persuasion, although i am not actively religious.. one major problem with belief in a creator is that he/she/it is supposed to be benevolent, loving and caring.
many evangelical christians feel he has helped them personally in various ways, emotionally, even financially.
Terry...
Wow. As I was reading thru the last part of your post...it felt like a wind going thru my brain...blowing away dead leaves and trash that's been hiding my ground -- my foundation.
We do assume a lot don't we...? Our world, in our mind is purdy small. We only know what we know thru contact and education and experience.
All the rest, like faith is what WE would want to believe about things. For instance, I know I want to believe in a Supreme Creator, but, I don't know what he wants from us -- I can only assume benevolence, because we are here at all...I want to believe he is 'similar' in personality. I know, I know...all assumption.
However, I like what Craig said, too:
Which begs the question: Does God need, or want, to help anybody? What if it's all as simple as "Here's your life, live it, and see what happens next"?
What it boils down to with me is this: I am simply glad to have had the opportunity to BE here. No matter the pain, agony...whatever bad things that's happened in my life (and everyone else's) I've had some great times...I've loved and been loved, I've 'helped' create 3 lives, I've been happy...these things are not assumptions...they are as real as it gets.
Terry...again thank you for relating that mind blowing conversation, I'll be thinking about that one for a very long time. (I have a small hard-drive...eh, above the shoulders of course...)
Rabbit...of the Never Surrender class.
some time ago i asked how many of you have divorced to get the idea if x-jws posters have a higher or a lower divorce rate than the general population.
of those who responded 86% have been divorced.
studies show inactive and x- witnesses, not only have a considerable higher rate of divorce than current members, but even higher than of the general population.
Joker,
Just another observation to add to the list of "variables" that can skew statistics:
It's a biggie:
Think about the "pool" of prospective mates we had to choose from as JW's...I was 24 before getting married. We were constantly pushed and shoved to find the "scripturally strong" types -- as the MOST IMPORTANT THING on our list of things we looked for in a mate. I was a good "pioneer brother" for years, that narrowed down my prospects, lol, cause as we all knew...a lot of the 'hottie' sisters back then (and now) were not interested in somebody too 'scriptural' !
Other skews: How you you factor in 'unscriptural divorces' like mine ?
How about NOT being able to re-marry BECAUSE of that ?
Over all tho'...I think it was a good question that sparked some interest. I don't know you, I hope you were not commenting about leaving the Org, as somehow causing more divorcing...?
Ya' gotta remember this...the lives of JW's are controlled, meaning contrived...therefore, imo, artificial.
hi folks.. i have been lurking on and off for about 2 years now and before i did post a couple threads under my old alias but it wont accept it for some reason so i had to re-join.. anyway there was a singles site called jwsingles.net by a nice fellow who wanted to help other lonely jw single folks meet but he is about to shut it down despite some success stories which i guess makes the elders upset.. i had joined two years ago and was on the mailing list(i,ve been inactive for about 5 years now)thats the short version,anyway,i got this e-mail from him the other day and it really infuriated me because he did nothing wrong but again the organization wants to control every aspect of their lives,including not letting jw,s put up harmless websites for singles to meet.after all in many many congregations there is a severe shortage of available singles right?and,if they dont even want you to look for a mate in their own organization (on the net) then they will look outside of the organization but i guess they are too dense to understand that.. his letter wreaks of guilt and he hangs his head in shame at congregations.i fail to see how he has stumbled others here.its none of others business what adult jw,s want to meet someone.. i understand the heartache of being all alone for many many years with no one and no suitable mates there as they were too stuffy and i felt like i could never match up no matter how hard i tried.i shed too many tears to count as im sure many here have as well.. anyway here is the e-mail.. greetings friends.. this will most likely be the last message you recieve from jw singles.net.. the site has been running for several years now with its main goal to help those of like faith find and if they wish contact each other.we,ve met that goal with several success stories.im very glad to say that an old friend of mine from a congregation in maryland met a wonderful sister from california.after months of phone calls and trips and bible studies over the phone,they were married.both are extremely happy with their new mates.. there are other stories the friends have shared when asking to have their profiles removed.. however i cannot continue to justify the site against the councel of the wbt society.i am tired of sinking in my seat at assemblies and conventions when they mention websites to avoid.it is also not my place to second guess the faithful and discreet salve and the connection they have with jehovahs spirit in guiding the organization in these last days.while i believe that with proper theocratic guidelines this site can be used ,like many have demonstrated to a good cause,i will not possibly stumble my brothers and sisters.. i have thought of selling the site to help recoup the expenses i incurred while developing and running the site ,but again i dont want the responsibility of passing it off to someone else,possibly a wordly company or person.. after the last paying members subscription has run out,i will open the full site with access to every member .this will be the last chance to try and contact some of the 2000 members we have.right now im targeting september as the final month the site will run.our information on the site will be deleted as the database of users is erased.if you care to make a donation of any size while the site is still open to everyone our paypal address is _________ or contact me for a mailing address.. thanks to all those who have tried to help and build the idea i had into a functioning and useful program.i wish you all well and continued strenght in this time of the end.all of the friends are tired and are struggling just to make it to meetings instead of staying home with a headache or working a little late.be upbuilding to each other ,help to show love amongst ourselves and continue to walk with god until the end.. agape.
brian.
jw singles.net'.
Ann,
Anyway sorry for rambling.
You have nothing to apologize about, lol, all I do IS ramble.
i lost someone very special to me.
my cat.. she was 12 years old.
she was the friendliest, most loving, cat i had ever owned.
Tashaa,
Pets do wonderful things for us "higher forms of life" don't they? I've read that when people have pets -- it affects their health in a very positive manner, well...there are allergies sometimes. But, they help lower our stress and blood pressure, our mental health is better, too. They are not judgemental little critters and that's purdy nice, too.
I lost my Shelty last year and over the years, you can add, cats, dogs, hampsters, gerbils, parakeets, horses, pet ducks & chickens, rabbits, pot belly pigs and lot of not so warm critters like tropical fish, turtles, even a few special spiders. I am a much richer person for having the experience, knowledge and love for these 'mere' animals. I am glad I met e'm.
I have a 14 y/o Cat in very good health, I would hate to think of her being gone, too.
I think it's good advice, when you're ready..., go save a kitty or puppy at the shelter. I remember when one of my girls, when she was around 12 y/o, had lost another pet...she declared she "...NEVER wanted to have any more pets...cause everyone she loved always seem to die eventually...". It is a real lesson in the reality of death...and life.
Sorry for your loss
hi folks.. i have been lurking on and off for about 2 years now and before i did post a couple threads under my old alias but it wont accept it for some reason so i had to re-join.. anyway there was a singles site called jwsingles.net by a nice fellow who wanted to help other lonely jw single folks meet but he is about to shut it down despite some success stories which i guess makes the elders upset.. i had joined two years ago and was on the mailing list(i,ve been inactive for about 5 years now)thats the short version,anyway,i got this e-mail from him the other day and it really infuriated me because he did nothing wrong but again the organization wants to control every aspect of their lives,including not letting jw,s put up harmless websites for singles to meet.after all in many many congregations there is a severe shortage of available singles right?and,if they dont even want you to look for a mate in their own organization (on the net) then they will look outside of the organization but i guess they are too dense to understand that.. his letter wreaks of guilt and he hangs his head in shame at congregations.i fail to see how he has stumbled others here.its none of others business what adult jw,s want to meet someone.. i understand the heartache of being all alone for many many years with no one and no suitable mates there as they were too stuffy and i felt like i could never match up no matter how hard i tried.i shed too many tears to count as im sure many here have as well.. anyway here is the e-mail.. greetings friends.. this will most likely be the last message you recieve from jw singles.net.. the site has been running for several years now with its main goal to help those of like faith find and if they wish contact each other.we,ve met that goal with several success stories.im very glad to say that an old friend of mine from a congregation in maryland met a wonderful sister from california.after months of phone calls and trips and bible studies over the phone,they were married.both are extremely happy with their new mates.. there are other stories the friends have shared when asking to have their profiles removed.. however i cannot continue to justify the site against the councel of the wbt society.i am tired of sinking in my seat at assemblies and conventions when they mention websites to avoid.it is also not my place to second guess the faithful and discreet salve and the connection they have with jehovahs spirit in guiding the organization in these last days.while i believe that with proper theocratic guidelines this site can be used ,like many have demonstrated to a good cause,i will not possibly stumble my brothers and sisters.. i have thought of selling the site to help recoup the expenses i incurred while developing and running the site ,but again i dont want the responsibility of passing it off to someone else,possibly a wordly company or person.. after the last paying members subscription has run out,i will open the full site with access to every member .this will be the last chance to try and contact some of the 2000 members we have.right now im targeting september as the final month the site will run.our information on the site will be deleted as the database of users is erased.if you care to make a donation of any size while the site is still open to everyone our paypal address is _________ or contact me for a mailing address.. thanks to all those who have tried to help and build the idea i had into a functioning and useful program.i wish you all well and continued strenght in this time of the end.all of the friends are tired and are struggling just to make it to meetings instead of staying home with a headache or working a little late.be upbuilding to each other ,help to show love amongst ourselves and continue to walk with god until the end.. agape.
brian.
jw singles.net'.
JWS:
She said she was new here in one post, but earlier said she was lurking here for 2 years and that only the alias is new. It has a bearing. Because she was not new, I was assuming she was somewhat anti-JW, as most are on this board. If so, I was wondering why an anti-JW person would want to go on a JW singles board to meet other JWs. If she were completely new, I wouldn't have any hints as to what her feelings towards JWs were.
Again...I fail to see the reasoning behind some of your points. I 'lurked' for a few months -- so what ? Probably...a lot of people do. Why ? You ought to know...they may be scared of the WT, they may still be on the road 'out', they may have relatives and friends they may not want to lose...etc, etc...eh ?
I simply think you are 'assuming' too much...and are missing the real point: She IS here ! She could be disfellowshipped for "associating with us unclean Apostates". That's a purdy big damn step ! Congratulate her and anyone else here... even if you think they are 'still loyal' to the WT, cause if they are HERE -- they have already crossed a very definitive "line in the sand."
If they do come to do battle here...they will get their wish ! Even in doing that, they are being disloyal to the WT laws and edicts for even coming here ! I believe those types have their JW doubts and come here for a debate, because it helps THEM to get another viewpoint to HELP THEMSELVES prove or disprove in their own minds -- what they really believe. More power to 'em !
Survivor is doing what she must and can do...right now. We, imo, should give her that time and support.
yesterday i tuned into espn sports radio and listened to a semi-political debate on several issues.
when "same sex" marriage came up one of the talking heads refrained that "all marriages are same sex.
" you get married and have the "same sex" over and over again!
Ahhmmm...confused. I HAD a "same sex" marriage for 25 years, I got remarried and now have a different sex marriage.
Much better !
What's all the fuss ?
hi folks.. i have been lurking on and off for about 2 years now and before i did post a couple threads under my old alias but it wont accept it for some reason so i had to re-join.. anyway there was a singles site called jwsingles.net by a nice fellow who wanted to help other lonely jw single folks meet but he is about to shut it down despite some success stories which i guess makes the elders upset.. i had joined two years ago and was on the mailing list(i,ve been inactive for about 5 years now)thats the short version,anyway,i got this e-mail from him the other day and it really infuriated me because he did nothing wrong but again the organization wants to control every aspect of their lives,including not letting jw,s put up harmless websites for singles to meet.after all in many many congregations there is a severe shortage of available singles right?and,if they dont even want you to look for a mate in their own organization (on the net) then they will look outside of the organization but i guess they are too dense to understand that.. his letter wreaks of guilt and he hangs his head in shame at congregations.i fail to see how he has stumbled others here.its none of others business what adult jw,s want to meet someone.. i understand the heartache of being all alone for many many years with no one and no suitable mates there as they were too stuffy and i felt like i could never match up no matter how hard i tried.i shed too many tears to count as im sure many here have as well.. anyway here is the e-mail.. greetings friends.. this will most likely be the last message you recieve from jw singles.net.. the site has been running for several years now with its main goal to help those of like faith find and if they wish contact each other.we,ve met that goal with several success stories.im very glad to say that an old friend of mine from a congregation in maryland met a wonderful sister from california.after months of phone calls and trips and bible studies over the phone,they were married.both are extremely happy with their new mates.. there are other stories the friends have shared when asking to have their profiles removed.. however i cannot continue to justify the site against the councel of the wbt society.i am tired of sinking in my seat at assemblies and conventions when they mention websites to avoid.it is also not my place to second guess the faithful and discreet salve and the connection they have with jehovahs spirit in guiding the organization in these last days.while i believe that with proper theocratic guidelines this site can be used ,like many have demonstrated to a good cause,i will not possibly stumble my brothers and sisters.. i have thought of selling the site to help recoup the expenses i incurred while developing and running the site ,but again i dont want the responsibility of passing it off to someone else,possibly a wordly company or person.. after the last paying members subscription has run out,i will open the full site with access to every member .this will be the last chance to try and contact some of the 2000 members we have.right now im targeting september as the final month the site will run.our information on the site will be deleted as the database of users is erased.if you care to make a donation of any size while the site is still open to everyone our paypal address is _________ or contact me for a mailing address.. thanks to all those who have tried to help and build the idea i had into a functioning and useful program.i wish you all well and continued strenght in this time of the end.all of the friends are tired and are struggling just to make it to meetings instead of staying home with a headache or working a little late.be upbuilding to each other ,help to show love amongst ourselves and continue to walk with god until the end.. agape.
brian.
jw singles.net'.
JWS...for crying out loud...do ya' just HAVE to stir up suspicion ?? Come on -- be nice, please...?
She's told us enough -- that she's comfortable with. I certainly did and still do hold back. I don't know that much about you, but, I assume you probably 'reserve' that right, too.
She had another alias -- that doesn't work -- she got another -- so what ?
There are times... when I wish I could 're-invent' myself on this board (if that is what you are trying to hint about her) because of how much pain and agony I was in when I first got here. I may have said more -- too much, about my life at that time.
Please chill out and give 'er a chance...she sounds pretty frustrated right now...if she needs encouragement...fine. Most of the people here are here to do just that.
Survivor2004, Welcome to this board.
There's a lot of good people here who've helped me tremendously. I even attended my first "ApostaFest" in Dallas earlier this year...it was my very first time to have EVER met an X-JW in the 8 long lonely years of being inactive, going thru an un-scriptural divorce w/my JW wife. Then a year ago after meeting a fantastic non-JW gal...I re-married and am happier than ever, even tho' I face "un-Official Shunning" from some of my own children and all my JW relatives, too. Why? Because ...I was only supposed to marry ..."...in the Lord." She is considered as "not Christian" and "an UN-CLEAN THING..." according to the WTS. grrrrrrrrrrrr....! I am not DA/DF !
So, please try and ignore or make friends with the few ole' knotheads we do have here, it's not necessarily their fault -- we are all as Ray Franz put it: "Victims of victims..." And we're all at different stages of pain and healing.
i have been reading the thead on jw suicide the last two days and i have to admit, i am boiling mad, angry, and literally have thoughts of wanting to put my hands around some of the jw's who have abused so many......lol!!!!!!!
i realize this is not at all funny, but i do laugh at how i let this get to me to the point of fantazing of slapping some of the "higher than thou" jw's i have ran across in my life and those whom some of you decribed.
i read scully's story and wanted to choak the ones who did not pass her the emblems at the memorial.. i get so mad when i read how some of the jw's want to pass judgement on the one's who have committed suicide , saying they will not be resurrected.
Thanks, Dede and all the rest of you, too.
I am hoping the best for all of us. Thanks for letting me vent a little, this is unusual for me, but I needed it.
Now I have a letter to write her...haven't a clue what to say...something wise and spectacular that I must have missed up to now. lol
I guess I'll end up telling her I'm here for her...and love her like I always have. Yep, that'll do it.
I really do have hope...my oldest has come back to me...maybe age and maturity do go hand in hand sometimes. Everyone 'progressess' at their own rate, even us who are healing OUT of the ORG. It makes me shudder to know how long it took me to "See the Truth?...." about the WT...at MY rate, it will take her 25 - 35 years.
I really believe she's a lot smarter than me.
