Posts by anglise

15

Leaving without losing

by somebody in

jw
friends

good afternoon all,.

after reading so many stories about people separating from their husbands/wives once the one of them stops attending meetings, i was wondering how someone could tell their spouse when they first starting learning the truth about the truth.

i know there are couples who got out together on this board.

anglise

Hi everyone

We came into the org together 20 years ago. We had been married 7 years and had 3 young children.
We have always discussed everything even before we were married and so when the cracks began to show in the WTBTS it was normal for us to talk about it without feeling guilty or frightened. Other half was an elder for many years but always tried to keep the loving view in perspective and so the society rules and regs did not overawe us or our children.
For the last 18 months we have spent hours researching all aspects of the WTBTS and the bible and have talked into the early hours on countless occasions trying to make sure that there is nothing we have overlooked and that they still just might be right!!!
For the last year we have begun to share this with our children and they too are withdrawing from the snares of the WTBTS cult.
The society is right on just one thing you need good communication to hold a family together, but then any good family councellor will tell you this without enslaving you to there particular ethos.
We did openly discuss it as a family when others left the org or were disfellowshipped in the past so leaving wasnt a taboo subject.

Maybe we're right, maybe we're wrong, time will tell, we can only work with what we know now.

5

Need Some Help!!!

by Moridin in

jw
friends

i recently heard that the elders have a book written by the wtbts that is given to a parent who has a spouse who left the org or to grandparents who have children that left the org.

the book is designed to help you turn the children against the unbelievers so that you can get custody of them.

if there is anyone with any info on this please either post here or send me an email.

anglise

Hi Moridin

check your e-mail I think I have sent you what you want. It was from Randall Watters at freeminds.org

Edited by - anglise on 4 March 2001 18:30:37

5

DO THE GB HAVE A CONSCIENCE?

by anglise in

jw
friends

as you read of all the "flip-flops" and the cover ups and even blatent lies that the gb has published throughout the years doesnt it make you wonder how they can do it.. if they really believe there is an all powerful being whom they represent how can they actively be so misleading and dishonest in full knowledge that he sees and knows what they are doing.. "9 for, as regards jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.

you have acted foolishly respecting this, for from now on there will exist wars against you.

" 2 chron 16v9.

anglise

As you read of all the "flip-flops" and the cover ups and even blatent lies that the GB has published throughout the years doesnt it make you wonder how they can do it.

If they really believe there is an all powerful being whom they represent how can they actively be so misleading and dishonest in full knowledge that He sees and knows what they are doing.

"9 For, as regards Jehovah, his eyes are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him. You have acted foolishly respecting this, for from now on there will exist wars against you." 2 Chron 16v9

Or are they so deluded that they think they have special dispensation from on high and that He turns a blind eye to all their readjusments and distortions of 'truth'?

"16 There are six things that Jehovah does hate; yes, seven are things detestable to his soul: 17 lofty eyes, a false tongue, and hands that are shedding innocent blood, 18 a heart fabricating hurtful schemes, feet that are in a hurry to run to badness, 19 a false witness that launches forth lies, and anyone sending forth contentions among brothers." Prov 6 16-19

Or do they not believe any of it anyway and are merely in it to climb the corporate ladder and wield power over others?

9

The Internet Saves

by anglise in

jw
friends

replying to a thread lower down made me wonder how did those who left the org years ago cope.. today we have access to virtually all the information in the world via the internet, so its not hard to find others who have had the same experiences that you have and to learn from them.. but even just a few years ago this was almost impossible.. when we came into the org in the early 1980's we did reseach as far as we were able but didnt find much in our local library.. so we were caught!!!.

those leaving the org back then must have felt isolated and even more frustrated then we do today.. i can remember being told about protesters outside conventions etc and that you musnt read their placards or take their tracts, but obviously it was the only way they had to try and help those inside the org see the real truth.. surely the thought of such an isolated existence kept many from taking the final steps to freeing themselves.. can any here relate to that.. .

edited by - anglise on 27 february 2001 17:58:22

anglise

Mea culpa focus

You read it while I was changing it.

Please dont make me read the nag mags again.

9

The Internet Saves

by anglise in

jw
friends

replying to a thread lower down made me wonder how did those who left the org years ago cope.. today we have access to virtually all the information in the world via the internet, so its not hard to find others who have had the same experiences that you have and to learn from them.. but even just a few years ago this was almost impossible.. when we came into the org in the early 1980's we did reseach as far as we were able but didnt find much in our local library.. so we were caught!!!.

those leaving the org back then must have felt isolated and even more frustrated then we do today.. i can remember being told about protesters outside conventions etc and that you musnt read their placards or take their tracts, but obviously it was the only way they had to try and help those inside the org see the real truth.. surely the thought of such an isolated existence kept many from taking the final steps to freeing themselves.. can any here relate to that.. .

edited by - anglise on 27 february 2001 17:58:22

anglise

Replying to a thread lower down made me wonder how did those who left the org years ago cope.

Today we have access to virtually all the information in the world via the internet, so its not hard to find others who have had the same experiences that you have and to learn from them.

But even just a few years ago this was almost impossible.
When we came into the org in the early 1980's we did reseach as far as we were able but didnt find much in our local library.
So we were caught!!!

Those leaving the org back then must have felt isolated and even more frustrated then we do today.
I can remember being told about protesters outside conventions etc and that you musnt read their placards or take their tracts, but obviously it was the only way they had to try and help those inside the org see the real truth.

Surely the thought of such an isolated existence kept many from taking the final steps to freeing themselves.

Can any here relate to that.

Edited by - anglise on 27 February 2001 17:58:22

11

What's your ethical guide?

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

on what do you base your moral judgements now that you've left the wts?.

as jw's we used to allow the wt to direct us in any ethical question.

they would give us their opinion (claiming it to be bible-based).

anglise

Hi expatbrit,
Ive thought about this one too and have come to the conclusion that Jesus 2 commands that he gave are the only way to sort that one out.
If you show love and care for your fellow man and treat him as you would want to be treated it generally works.
Also show respect for the planet we're on and the other creatures we share it with.
If along with that you feel there is an ultimate being who is in control so be it.
If not these two principles are enough imho

Edited by - anglise on 27 February 2001 18:18:19

12

KANSAS OR OZ?

by Frenchy in

jw
friends

i mean c'mon people, how long are 'we' going to vent?

i have met people who have been 'out' for well over twenty years, and they still talk about the watchtower as if they never left or as if they left yesterdayrr in a response on the thread: don't you have a single good thing to say?'.

are we perhaps all whistling in the dark?

anglise

Hi everyone,
I agree with the comments regarding others experiences.
I only went on-line after deciding that the org was faulty in a big way, but then reading about others in similar situations and also sites with the WTBTS history fully exposed on them really, confirmed the facts about the lies we had been told to get us into the truth and then keep us there.
Its no small wonder that the org are condemning the internet at every opportunity and warning/threatening the r&f to keep away from it.
I am really grateful to all those who posted on forums and web pages months, maybe years ago so that others could find out the truth about the 'truth'.

16

Question to adult convertees

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

i'm going through the forehead smacking phase of wt recovery.. how could i ever have believed this stuff?

(smack!).

and for so long?

anglise

Hi Latte
thanks for taking the time to read it all. Are you in or out the org?

16

Question to adult convertees

by expatbrit in

jw
friends

i'm going through the forehead smacking phase of wt recovery.. how could i ever have believed this stuff?

(smack!).

and for so long?

anglise

I was called on in the early '80s. I had 3 children under tha age of 5 and was naturally concerned for their future. The world at that time was pretty shaky - The cold war- aids etc- and these people showed me things from the bible that I had never seen and it all hung together or so it seemed. When we heard whispers about 1975 we asked questions but were told that nothing had really been said by the society and we in our ignorance and naiviety trusted them. Other than the usual "dont trust those JW's they dont believe the trinity" arguments nobody told us anything. We came into the truth as a family even though we had questions we were told they would all become clearer as time went on. They didnt. We stayed for 19 years.
Husband became an elder and we were to all intents were totally immersed in it even though we could see the hypocrisy and lack of love with most elders in the local congs. We thought by staying we might get people to change and show real love and care for each other, show that individuals should count more than numbers and hours. It didnt work. We became more and more disillusioned. We saw through time how the WT would contradict itself. You would be schizophrenic trying to follow all their rules, ie quality time and recreation with your family against pioneering, quick builds and can you do more!!!
During the last few years we would spend more and more time just talking to those who had been hurt by unkind and thoughtless elders, the type who give SUITABLE!!?? WT mags to sisters in divided homes who had just missed a very occasional meeting, but were otherwise very loyal. Husband as an elder would talk to fellow elders about such unkind and unnecessary treatment but all to no avail. He even had to persuade a sister whose husband was dying that it was all right that her field service was slipping whilst she nursed him through his final days. Her husband wasnt a JW so to others he didnt count. We are slipping away from the org. We saw its faults hopefully not too late. The internet backed up our feelings and supplied all the evidence we needed to make a well informed and balanced decision about the society. Hope this isnt too long and boring.

20

GOOD AFTERNOON, JEHOVAH!

by Englishman in

jw
friends

isn`t it strange that jw`s have such a problem with ex`s?

try as they might to hang their watchtower labels onto me, i just don`t seem to be the person that they think that i should be!.

i think that i`ve become far more honest than the average jw.

anglise

Hi englishman your last remark hits home. Personally having seen for 19 years how the borg has used God and the scriptures to their own benefit it has left me very sceptical about other religions, even though I was very involved in the church when they contacted me.