Whew...what a ride!
Defd,
First off...Welcome! I truly hope you stay around for a while and do as MOST 'newbies' do...they "lurk". I know, it sounds bad doesn't it? But, it's really not, I started posting here about a year ago...I "lurked"...just read and read and read some more. That way I was 'more or less' sure about 'where' I was reading & who all was here.
What I discovered is: There are all kinds of people here...from true, active JW's, ones that have questions about it all, others who have just left for various reasons, others have been disfellowshipped for various reasons, others have been told that they disassociated themselves, still others who voluntarily officially DA'd themselves. There is a pattern here...most people here have either been witnesses or related to them or have been affected by the beliefs of Jehovah's Witnesses...for good or bad.
Many times, teachers who have JW students come here...confused about how they can be fair and show respect for their beliefs. Or lots of boyfriends, girlfriends, aunt, cousins or friends of JW's show up with questions. What's nice about this site is...and this is very, very important...people here will give you their honest opinions (sometimes to a fault) IF...you seem to be open with them. The other thing is possibly, no...MUCH MORE IMPORTANT...if you 'throw out' a subject -- some thing on your mind that you are struggling with -- people here WILL NOT SPEAK WITH A SINGLE VOICE. This way you will get hundreds of smart people looking at what ever you want to talk about...and get hundreds of different, fresh viewpoints. It is of of course, up to you...to decide and pick & choose what advice -- if any you will take or use.
Look at the response to your first post !
Please do NOT look at this board as tho' it is 'one personality'. Nothing could be further from being true. As far as your welcome goes...it seems as tho' you were enjoying the attention, at the same time, you were being defensive and not very outgoing. That is all OK. When I first came here, I was scared to death I was committing some grand sin. You already know why. But, nothing happened. No demons jumped out of my computer screen, none of the dire predictions of doom and gloom, that I had heard of ever happened.
As far me, I was...and technically still am one of Jehovah's Witnesses. I was baptized 32 years ago, I Regular Pioneered pre-1975 for 3 years. We raised all our children to be Witnesses. I've had some very bad experiences with Elders and in my family, because of religion. I've had LOADS of questions that I 'pestered' Elders about, not philosophical, egghead Bible questions. Instead mine were about real life, right now...the way I was treated, I slowly just stopped going to meetings.
4 years ago...the very person who brought me into this world of life and love...left this life. My Mom died, because some unseen, unknown men (who never even sign their names to their own writings, thereby not taking personal responsibility ) live in ivory colored towers in Brooklyn decided she should die. How ? Why ? They told her... Jehovah had told them, a blood transfusion was a bad thing.
My Mom alive was a good thing. Her losing that precious gift for a useless reason...is a bad thing. Doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out THAT one.
Not one Elder has even called or darkened my doorway in 4 years. I haven't moved...they have my tele. # I am not DF or DA, still their deep and abiding Christian love and concern for my family's life continues to amaze me...in odd ways.
So-o...I have questions and believe me I have opinions, too. I would bet you are a lot like me and getting your questions answered will quench that thirst you have.
Knowledge sets you free.
Looking forward to talking to you, Rabbit
