ARIE

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Posts by ARIE

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  13

  I gave blood for the first time, yesterday.

  by jschwehm in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  many of you may know that i teach at a small christian liberal arts college in nebraska now.

  my pre-med students sponsored a blood drive yesterday and asked me to donate.

  so, i donated blood for the first time.

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  ARIE

  I never signed mine ever. My mother filled it out but I always destroyed it right away.
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  18

  "The stones would cry out"

  by sleepy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i remmeber it being said at mettings that if we didn't do the preaching work then the "stones would cry out".. carn't rememeber where it's from or whether it's a society teaching.. any one remember?

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  ARIE

  I remember something about the stones. I should have just let the stones go door to door.
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  9

  Survey

  by YYHWH in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  how long were you a witness?.

  were you raised in it?.

  did you ever study with and have someone become a witness?.

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  ARIE

  I was a witness for 12 or 13 years. My mother started studying when i was 1 or 2. I think I was in from when I was 3 until I was 15 maybe. I was DF'd then.
  I didn't ever bring anyone in though. Usually after a while I turned the "studies" over to someone more qualified. Or at least someone who showed a little enthusiasm.

  I am not sure about the numbers from kids. Although it did seem all teens were urged to become baptized. Some by force like myself.
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  32

  To Mr. Bowen aka Silentlambs

  by YoYoMama in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  having a hard time with dateline eh?.

  i admire what you are trying to do in behalf of all those that have been sexually abused, but i believe you are going about it in the wrong way.. you have taken up a fight against jehovah himself and this is futile.

  the organization has some flaws, as is expected of any imperfect organization.

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  ARIE

  When I was a JW they absolutely discouraged higher education in our Cong.So my question is, where do find lawyers? Are there some kind of elite members who are permitted to educate themselves while the masses are only permitted minimal education?
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  28

  Funny Shunning....

  by Scully in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  we were shopping yesterday when i noticed a jw woman from our old congregation in one of the aisles.

  normally i would go up and say hello, because i'm neither dfd or dad, but we were in a bit of a hurry, and i didn't want to spend much time in frivolous small talk.

  a little background on her: when we knew her she was a pioneer, and could very well still be one; her mother is a pioneer; her twin sister is a pioneer, etc.... you get the idea.

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  ARIE

  Thai happened a few years back. I happened to see my old best friend who happens to be married now (I was DF'd when I was 14 or 15)with his wife. They noticed me and quickly looked away, and he quickly moves to the other side of her, so that he is between her and I. He is looking at me like I am some kind of rapistm or something. Like I am going to attack her or something. Now bear in mind I am a police officer, and I was on duty. What is up with them?
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  36

  Hi - I'm New!

  by Aunty in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  just wanted to say hello - i've been lurking here for about a month and decided to join.

  i was raised a witness, but have been out for almost 10 years.

  i just faded out - it was easy since i moved to california from ohio.

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  ARIE

  I am new also. Kind of stumbled across this site by accident. I like it so far.
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  22

  Do you celebrate Holidays after you leave?

  by Lalis in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  hi everyone im new in here i was just curios does anyone here after leaving the j.w.

  organization celebrate any holidays without a problem?

  or attend birthday parties and stuff like that without it bothering you?i know i dont have a problem with it.i dont celebrate any major holidays but thats because after so many years not doing it i would feel weird doing it now but i dont have a problem being invited to a gathering that has to do with any of the above.

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  ARIE

  I have to admit when I first started celebrating holidays, it dii feel a little weird. I guess growing up as as a JW still affects me a little. I don't have the extreme excitement about christmas etc like my wife does. Every year it is easier to celebrate. I am still learning christmas songs and whatnot. It was difficult at first because I wasn't sure how I was supposed to feel.
  All in all I do love the holidays.
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  38

  JW's Offer Me A Plea Bargain.

  by Englishman in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i havent mentioned this before because, when it happened i was quite rattled.. there was a knock at the door a little while back, and who should be stood there but john dayment, the fella who used to be my dads assistant when he was po of weston super mare, back in the 60s.. he had with him another chappy, i think that his name was rod something, and they both launched into how good it would be to see me make my way back.

  apparently they were both elders, and this was my once a year visit.

  i was disinclined to be rude because my mum is still in contact with john hey, for all i know he might be my step-father one day!

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  ARIE

  My mother has also left the JWs, kind of ducked out of site and moved out of state. My sister who also left has told me that some of the elders have cornered her a few times trying to get my mothers phone number or address.
  It is amusing, I actually helped them build their KH and they had all these pictures of me for their slide show. They actually had to throw out half their slides because I was in them.
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  25

  Knock Knock...

  by KistByQpid in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i'd be interested in hearing some of the exjw's door-to-door experiences.

  i've probably had the saturday morning door knocking...maybe 6-8 times.

  i've never been "rude" except for once...when i had a particularly aggressive pair who wouldn't take "no thank you" for an answer.

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  ARIE

  I remeber one Saturday AM knocking on a door with an older elder. A ver attractive woman answered the door, she had a robe on, and you could see her left breast. I fould myself staring and staring. Lucky for me the elder was one of those long winded types.
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  19

  Was leaving easy for you?

  by Preston in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i was contemplating today on how easy it was for me to leave the congregation compared to what many people here had to deal with.

  i mean, all the letters, judicial committees, family breakdowns were not really something i had to deal with.

  the worst thing i had to deal with was when a couple of elders inquired if i ever "acted on" my being gay.

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  ARIE

  It wasn't easy for me to leave. I was raised as a JW from the time I was 3 until I finally left at 15. I wanted to leave but my mother wouldn't allow it, neither would the Elders. Finally after a lot of "acting up on my part" i was finally DF'd.
  Truthfully, I was finally happy. Very lonely at first, because of being isolated from others my own age in school. It was difficult to go through the i thought you were a JW questions from teachers and students. Over time I made a few friends, although my mother wouldn't let me do anything on the weekends.Finally, after getting a weekend job I was able to have a social life.
  It was very lonely at first though and a very difficult time for me. I didn't like be shunned by life long friends. I would smile(trying to be friendly) and they would look away. Over time(18 years) I have healed I guess.
  I did leave home right after graduation from high school, as I had nothing I joined the military. Best thing I could have done.
  Ironically, my mother is no longer a JW either. She moved away and dropped out of their radar. She also seems much happier.