SO true! When I used to go, I found it amazing to hear the elders get up on stage and talk about how it is good for people to question their beliefs when it comes to other religions, but don't dare ask if it pertains to the society's viewpoint.
confuzzlediam
JoinedPosts by confuzzlediam
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31
The WBATS has officially become a Fortune 500 company they are going public Monday buy your shares soon while they LAST!!!
by ADJUSTMENTS inwith the recent leak and viewing of the elders video on the new standard construction kingdumb halls the rank & file brobots have officially become employees of a billion dollar publishing and now real estate company, equipped with 7 ceo's and many businessmen as shrewd and as money hungry as any rival fortune 500 company.. the new kingdumb halls look like (i have to give it to them) expertly designed commercial properties that any major office, restuarant or commercial leasing company would package as a ultra versatile space!!!
the old kingdumb halls where a tough resale to the general public because of the custom designing aspects of the old kingdumb halls.
they have completely done away with that issue with these new versatile properties which can be converted to an office/restaurant/repair garage/clinic.
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Unconditional Love in the organization and congregations...
by ADJUSTMENTS inthis is so true i couldn't have said it better!!!.
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confuzzlediam
I didn't know what unconditional love was until I was disfellowshipped. What I found was anyone who was a so-called friend in the congregation, dropped me quicker than quick. But the friends that I met through my scrapbooking groups (I used to teach scrapbooking!) will remain my friends for a lifetime and they love me for who I am, not for the number of meetings I attended or the number of hours I put in in field service. Even my parents who have been witnesses for years (I was born-in), stood by my side and love me unconditionally because they know that I should have never been disfellowshipped.
Unconditional friendship is just that...unconditional. The witnesses ONLY love you on the conditions set forth from the WT society, which are many!
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Do the Rank & File JW's REALLY read and understand the bible to be able to REALLY start a study with someone???
by ADJUSTMENTS ini believe the average rank & file are illiterate when it come to the bible because they are so used to using the wbats cliff notes... even though i believe the bible is a fiction novel, at least be able to explain a novel you hold is such high regard: i mean jesus!!!
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confuzzlediam
When I would go out in service, I would actually hope that no one would ask me any questions, cuz I wouldn't be able to answer them. That is why I liked the pamphlets where we would hand it to them and leave! lol What is sad about it all is that I was a witness for the first 39 years of my life... -
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The WBATS has officially become a Fortune 500 company they are going public Monday buy your shares soon while they LAST!!!
by ADJUSTMENTS inwith the recent leak and viewing of the elders video on the new standard construction kingdumb halls the rank & file brobots have officially become employees of a billion dollar publishing and now real estate company, equipped with 7 ceo's and many businessmen as shrewd and as money hungry as any rival fortune 500 company.. the new kingdumb halls look like (i have to give it to them) expertly designed commercial properties that any major office, restuarant or commercial leasing company would package as a ultra versatile space!!!
the old kingdumb halls where a tough resale to the general public because of the custom designing aspects of the old kingdumb halls.
they have completely done away with that issue with these new versatile properties which can be converted to an office/restaurant/repair garage/clinic.
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confuzzlediam
Adjustments, I agree that it is not the same as it was 5 years ago. There was a shift especially when they started publishing the WT for public and for publishers. My parents have also noticed the shift and have a hard time with it all. Makes me wonder if there will be more that will start questioning the teachings as things evolve with the society?! -
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The WBATS has officially become a Fortune 500 company they are going public Monday buy your shares soon while they LAST!!!
by ADJUSTMENTS inwith the recent leak and viewing of the elders video on the new standard construction kingdumb halls the rank & file brobots have officially become employees of a billion dollar publishing and now real estate company, equipped with 7 ceo's and many businessmen as shrewd and as money hungry as any rival fortune 500 company.. the new kingdumb halls look like (i have to give it to them) expertly designed commercial properties that any major office, restuarant or commercial leasing company would package as a ultra versatile space!!!
the old kingdumb halls where a tough resale to the general public because of the custom designing aspects of the old kingdumb halls.
they have completely done away with that issue with these new versatile properties which can be converted to an office/restaurant/repair garage/clinic.
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confuzzlediam
The one thing that stood out to me was the drawing of Jesus holding the lamb. Maybe I am not remembering correctly, but I don't believe I have ever been in a KH where there was a rendering of Jesus. Usually the artwork was of paradise. They are really making a move to try to appease to "church" goers by changing their look. As far as the JW.org being on the building with a spotlight on it, that honestly turns my stomach. They are now branding...which to me, takes God out of it and inserts JW group think into it. SO glad I am no longer a part of this cult. WHEW!! -
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talk me off the cliff please
by sowhatnow inmy son, at age 25 finally, was able to get accepted into a community college.
but i dont have words of joy to share with him.
im instead dizzy with fear of possible financial failure.
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confuzzlediam
Community college is a GREAT place to start! My daughter started there and will be transferring to a university in the fall to complete her Bachelor's degree. I started at the same community college in September at the age of 43. It is never too late to start!!
Has he thought to look into financial aid? I know quite a few students, young and old, who have applied for assistance and have all of their schooling paid for by the state with NO loans to pay back!! All he has to do is talk to someone in financial aid at the community college to see if he would qualify for any grants...not loans. At least the financial burden would not be as great. Worth checking in to it. FAFSA is a federal aid program. Maybe he could talk to someone at the school about it.
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Is The Borg going back to “Old School” thinking & getting more hardcore?
by thedepressedsoul inim still in and i cant help but feel nervous as more and more changes are coming forward.
i cant help but feel that they are starting to get more hardcore again.
let me explain.
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confuzzlediam
I noticed a big change when the watchtower started the separate study versions for only the witness, not the general public. It felt as if it focused more on conduct by using scriptural accounts to tell us how we should live. It moved away from teaching us the scriptures, bible history. This change was also noticed by my parents who have been witnesses for over 50 years. -
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New to the forum
by Gone and forgotten infirst i want to say that i really appreciate this forum.
most other places i've seen are nothing but filled with spite and hate.
this site is reasonable and supportive...thank you for that!.
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confuzzlediam
Welcome to the group!! Thank you for sharing your story. It about brought me to tears. It's amazing what we put up with for SO long until one day it becomes clear what we need to do. The light bulb went on for me after I read a quote from Albert Einstein saying "The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, expecting different results". So, after a tumultuous weekend with my husband (one of MANY over the years), I left my marriage of 25 years. 22 out of the 25 were toxic. Not sure where we find the strength to keep going at times, must come from being stored in our big toe! lol SO thrilled that you have found someone that you are happy with!! It is refreshing after what you went through for so long.
Peace to you...
Jen
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First Time Post - Long time reader
by Samaritan At the Well intoday is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.
i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.
my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.
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confuzzlediam
Welcome to the group Samaratin At the Well!! Freedom from the organization is a wonderful thing! I was wrongfully disfellowshipped 5 years ago, so leaving was already chosen for me. But it has taken time over the past 5 years to slowly realize that I can't/won't ever go back. I know too much to believe anymore.
For me, not only was the ill treatment from the brothers I received when I was disfellowshipped an eye opener, but it was changing the remaining number of 144,000, thus allowing more to say that they were part of it, that those of the remaining 144,000 who were still alive would be taken up into heaven before Armageddon (essentially the rapture), and learning that the Great Tribulation that we were told had already begun, had not yet begun. I was floored!! I was attempting to get reinstated when most of this information came to light and I remember leaving the hall with a pounding headache, immediately calling my husband who had stayed home that day, telling him of what I had just learned.
I filed for divorce last year after a 25 year marriage, started smoking the day I moved out and went back to school last fall at the ripe old age of 43!! My kids who are 20 and 17 are not witnesses and are full time students at the local community college now, but will apply to go to the University after they get their Associate's Degrees. Life is good...my heart is full!
Look forward to hearing more from you and your husband!!
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Separated from a loveless Marriage
by PLAYGROUND ini don't know where to start.
i got married a year and half ago.
some months into the marriage things where discovered.
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confuzzlediam
I recently left a marriage of 25 years and filed for divorce. My final breaking point was seeing a quote from Albert Einstein that said "The definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over, expecting different results". For me this was HUGE as I had been doing the same thing over and over in my marriage to try to resolve a past indiscretion that had happened 22 years prior on my part, with the same results. Something had to change. I had to change.
I asked myself...do I want to live the next 25 years as I have lived the last? The answer was absolutely NOT! I was emotionally and mentally abused by someone who was loving, giving, charismatic, very successful and manipulative. Was there good times? Yes! Which is why I stayed for so long. But the toxicity of the bad, started outweighing any good. I was constantly being threatened to be divorced or left or being told that I was not meeting needs. But on the other hand, I was told that I was an amazing mom, wife and best friend. It was an extremely difficult decision to make when I walked out the door, especially because I knew it would devastate our 2 children who were almost 17 and 20.
I was already disfellowshipped for 4 years, so I did not worry about any consequences with regards to that. I believe that even if I wasn't, it would have been worth being disfellowshipped over. I needed to do what was best for ME.
You need to do what's best for YOU. No one can make that decision for you. If divorce is not an option, then I agree with the above comments to stay separated, maybe even file for a legal separation. Contact an attorney to make sure you have your rights protected. Seek counsel from a certified therapist. I started seeing one about 5-6 months before I left and have seen him once a week since I left 9 months ago. He has helped me work through the emotions of leaving and helps me focus on my future.
As said earlier, look to see how you envision your life. If you are unhappy now, think of how much worse it will get later. It sounds like you already know what needs to be done in your heart, but you are afraid of displeasing Jehovah and possibly having repercussions in the congregation. Do you think that Jehovah wants to see you in an abusive relationship just for the sake of displeasing him? From what I was taught in the 39 years that I was a witness, I believe that Jehovah wants what is best for you and what hurts you, hurts him. Why would such a loving and forgiving God want you to continue to be abused?
As far as those in the congregation and the elders who you have talked to... They are not in your shoes. They are not the ones being abused. They are not living your life. They have no room to judge. Do what is best for YOU and only YOU.
Feel free to PM me, if you would like to talk.