Posts by dubstepped

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

dubstepped

Hey Blackwolf, here's a thread on the generation scriptures that offered a point I found to be one of the best yet for shutting down their idiotic interpretation:

http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/topic/478180001/how-did-matthew-use-word-generation

When describing the new understanding, they alluded to a muddied scripture in Exodus to explain what a generation is. However, if they looked right there in Matthew at the beginning of the book, generations are listed, and it isn't difficult to understand what one is.

13

1st Year not attending RC

by BeautifulMind in

jw
friends

i feel relieved to spend that time doing anything else but sitting in a stadium for 8 hours with only an hour break listening to the same talks i've been hearing since i was a child.

not to mention trying to keep my young boys quiet so i wouldnt get the evil looks in my section😂😂.

lot of walking was going on for us to try and tire them out.

dubstepped

Congratulations! That relief you feel is from doing something that isn't cult driven and avoidance of something that you know in your heart isn't your thing.

Our first miss was also our last attended. We went to day one of the international convention in Indianapolis. We had a hotel nearby and left in time to arrive at Friday's session around 8:30, but there was massive traffic that day and it took so long to go a few miles that we were actually LATE. The traffic was the worst I've ever been in. Then we had to park in a JW approved lot, most being a looooong distance from the stadium because they're controlling morons. After walking that looooong distance in dress shoes and clothes we entered the cavernous stadium they have and walked up seemingly endless ramps and hallways to try and find a seat and ended up in the nosebleeds.

The day started off rough and got worse from there. There is no more alone feeling in the world than being in a building with 40,000 of your supposedly closest "friends" and knowing that nobody really gives any care to whether you're there or not. We sat alone, as per usual, watching the program. About 3/4 of the way through the day we were done. My wife was in tears because she had prayed for some reason, ANY reason, to be there. We were trying to hard to be good dubs and finding nothing for us. I was pissed off because I just watched a member of the GB give a talk where he was talking money, something he clearly knows nothing about, and just making up numbers that didn't make one iota of sense to justify leaving a good paying job to pioneer. Somehow in his example the brother made up enough money in tax savings that he actually brought home more money by leaving his six figure job to work part time, which is simply a lie. I had just got through 18 months of hell in paying off back taxes myself because I listened to the poor financial advice from other JW's and the organization for years and made my own bad decisions. So I wanted to throttle that guy for his talk.

We walked out early, made the trek allllllll the way back to our car, beat the traffic out, went to the hotel and packed up, and left, never to attend another JW anything again. No meetings, no second or third day of the convention, nothing. The ride back home for a couple of ours was magic. We both felt such a relief and knew then that we were done. My wife said in the car that she didn't ever want to go back to anything JW. I agreed on a level, though still fought with it internally, though I too felt immense relief. I couldn't believe how good I felt doing the "wrong" thing in JW's eyes.

So good for you! You're making a huge step toward a life where you don't have to feel that pressure ever again if you don't want. It is so freeing!

5

What is the "Social Currency" for witnesses?

by stuckinarut2 in

jw
friends

while flying recently for work, i overheard a conversation about the "social currency" that people in the community or workplace have.. for example, a manager or boss yields more power (obviously) over those below him or her.. but one person observed that other factors have value.

for example a parent may have more value in some circles, while being childless may help in others.. looks or how someone carries themselves may also give value.. so it made me think, what is the social currency amongst witnesses?

what gives them power, status, validation or value?.

dubstepped

I'll take Island Man's response one further......."privileges". Service time is unknown unless you're pioneering, which is one such "privilege". Titles mean a lot, as do connections with those with titles. Just think of the social capital you get if you're buddies with one of the magnificent seven. Of course, you likely need your own titles to get in with them.

16

Try Being Kind...It Actually Feels Good!

by EyesOpenHeartBroken in

jw
friends

let me start by saying that this forum has been helpful to me in many ways.

i haven't gotten involved in much commenting and i am not very assertive by nature so i've steered away from participating in debates.

but i have read threads often and had a sense of community.

dubstepped

JWs breed narcissism, a hallmark of which is being unable to accept that others don't think and feel exactly like you do. Every discussion is about winning, and winning is about everyone seeing things as you do. Leaving the Witnesses behind doesn't equate to leaving the narcissism behind. Perspective taking is a beautiful thing. I've had to work hard to leave my own narcissm behind, and I see it on here frequently. Being kind certainly is the better course. Nice post!

26

Now finally Caleb & Sofia Anti-Gay Video going viral in Germany too

by Daniel1555 in

today spiegel online & bento have an article about the anti-gay video.. spiegel is one of the biggest and most serious news media in germany.. they also report and show that youtubers cut the video and changed it in a funny way.

sofia tells her mother that the teacher said it's fine if they live each other.

then sofia's mother says: "thats wonderful.".

dubstepped

Who cares if some people overreact (in your eyes of that of others)? Why does it matter? So long as it throws egg on the face of the Borg I would think any good apostate would rejoice in that.

Yes, fundies hate gays. It isn't unexpected. Putting messages out like this, to kids, while ignoring many other issues shows their preoccupation with this subject. I'm not sure because I don't follow their videos much, but have they produced one exposing the threat of pedophiles yet to protect kids? Just wondering.

I've see the arguments where some can't fathom the outrage over this video. Others like me can't fathom why anyone would want to throw their wet blanket over the egg on the face of the dubs, however warranted it is. It feels a lot like the control and right-fighting engaged in their religion. Not everyone will feel the same, but I would think we have a common goal of seeing the Borg exposed in most ways possible. Why the focus on trying to downplay this to others that are all over it? We stopped having to think and feel the same once we left them behind.

26

Now finally Caleb & Sofia Anti-Gay Video going viral in Germany too

by Daniel1555 in

today spiegel online & bento have an article about the anti-gay video.. spiegel is one of the biggest and most serious news media in germany.. they also report and show that youtubers cut the video and changed it in a funny way.

sofia tells her mother that the teacher said it's fine if they live each other.

then sofia's mother says: "thats wonderful.".

dubstepped

Doubtfully Yours - My final words to all non and ex-JWs regarding this and any other doctrines is....
Move forward with your life and let others live theirs. Much happiness and peace comes from minding one's businessonly.
DY🌺

Again I'll point out that you've been on here for 13 years and you tell other people what to think all of the time within your 3200+ posts. You're still trying to defend the cult of Jehovah's Witnesses. Maybe you should move on and leave people alone and follow your own advice instead of trolling the forums.

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

dubstepped

You've already pointed out that there are certain things you have doubts about, and that's good. However, he's going to come full bore with JW reasoning on a bunch of things. In the end, baptism is about head knowledge but also the heart. All he is attempting to address is the head knowledge part. Typical of JW's because nobody can make you feel anything. I think that you are so freaking brave and we're all cheering for you. Do what you can with the advice from others. In the end, you aren't ready in your heart and it isn't a matter of gathering facts and answering questions. You just aren't old enough to make the commitment. You aren't ready maturity wise, as far as they need to know. Some people meet the person they would be great with in a marriage when they're young but they just aren't ready for the commitment. I hope that intellectually you can beat this back, but JW's have answers for everything even if the answer is to "wait on Jehovah" or some similar crap. Keep us posted. We've got your back.

Did your parents become JW's later in life? If so, they had a chance to learn and grow as a person before finding "the Truth", they should understand on some level that being your own person helps you to make mature decisions. Your brain isn't even fully formed until you're in your late twenties. Jesus was baptized at 30. You have to be allowed to do things on your own time. After all, if your parents had been visited with "the Truth" earlier on in life they may not have been ready for it, but you don't just get one chance in life. This isn't your one chance to get baptized. You have many years ahead of you. Maybe you can reason with your parents on this note somewhat. If they were visited by JW's earlier in life and weren't ready, then no amount of pushing would make them ready. In fact, it would have pushed them away and made them less likely to listen when they were ready. All you are doing is asking for the same consideration. Forcing you into something because intellectually you know it is "the Truth" (as far as they're concerned) doesn't make you emotionally ready. A young man or woman can have sex much earlier in life than they're ready. Merely having some part of an equation doesn't make you ready.

27

Hi everyone!

by cognac in

jw
friends

was just listening to a song that made me think of the jws so thought i'd say hi and see how everyone is.

i'm doing ok. kids are fine.

i'm good, making tons of friends, very successful in my career, bla bla bla.

dubstepped

Glad to hear things are going well and that you're adjusting.

We've been focusing on building new relationships and strengthening old ones this year and it has been great. We have more people wanting to do things with us than we have time, and that's such a change from the old JW days. We went camping with some people and that was a first for us, going out camping with "worldly people", even though we've done other things with them before. They were on weed and wine, and one guy brought mushrooms, things that would have made us uncomfortable in the past, but we had fun and they did their thing while we were sober. We played games and laughed until they cried, and it was a good time. It is so nice to have that "live and let live" mentality where everyone can be themselves and do what they want so long as it doesn't hurt anyone else.

My wife is having a first birthday party. I know you and her have texted back and forth before in the past so you know who she is. She is really excited and we're going to rent a place for it this Sunday. It should be a good time and it's so nice to have people to invite that actually want to be there and support her.

Life outside the Borg is so great. We love our new life. I wish the same for everyone that escapes their hold.

29

Our thoughts on the latest JW Broadcast for the month of May

by Christian Gutierrez in

howdy guys!

this is our latest video on the jw broadcast in short form.

we talk about jw marriage challenges.

dubstepped

Doubtfully Yours: They are both young, dumb and full of (edited so this post shows).
Have going for them the wonderful notion that they escaped while their whole life is still ahead of them. SO..... Live!!!
Stop looking in the rear view mirror the WTBTS already.
DY

Says the person that has been on here for 13 years with over 3200 posts that is STILL sticking up for Jehovah's Witnesses. Damn, that's straight up pathetic. You might want to check yourself before trying to tell others what to do.

150

I'm getting baptized

by BlackWolf in

jw
friends

i know i've started similar topics before but this time i'm serious.

my parents have been constantly pressuring me and after yesterday's watchtower study they asked me if i was going to be baptized this summer... and i said yes.

i probably should have thought about it more before making a final decision, but they're pretty much forcing me to do it anyway.

dubstepped

Damn, you're discouraged from telling anyone before making it through the questions first and your mom is already spreading the word. Granny hasn't come yet and will be out nothing if you change your mind now. Your mom is just using that as leverage.

In the end, do what you have to in order to make it through. Your parents will shun you eventually regardless. Like my parents and those of many other JWs, they only love you as a JW. The religion is the basis, the beginning and end. It is always in the middle.

In the end you don't have to get dunked. Nobody can physically force you. It's all a matter of which consequences you want to face. Again, you've been put in an unfair place like so many other young ones.