Posts by Save My Soul

31

Define your spiritual side

by JH in

although i don't go to meetings anymore, i'm inactive, never was disfellowshipped, i still have a "spiritual side to me", something that is deeply rooted in.

on one side, i see errors the watchtower makes, and on the other side i take what's good about them, and that's why i don't fit in with them.

i don't meet their standards, nor do they meet mine.

Save My Soul

Most believe that when you stop attending meeting, you are cast off as a sinner in the world. Drug user or fornicator.

I have not went to the KH in a while, but I pray to god constantly, 5 or 6 times daily. I read the bible daily. I study with my children and we pray everynight. Just because I am not a witness, does not mean I have left God. I have never fornicated or used drugs. I am not mechanical anymore, but I am closer to God.

I occassionally listen to Fred Price on the TV, his message is similar to the org., but he is christian. It is important to edify my soul with something spiritual.

5

Did you know any "ambitious" JW's?

by JH in

jw
friends

i remember when the elders told us that it's not ok for a jw to be too ambitious.. wanting to have a big job, big house, lots of money, was not good at all.

.

prior to that, i always thought that being "ambitious" was something very good.

Save My Soul

As a teenager, I was told that I was building treasures in this system. The end was close and I would miss out with my ambitious desires. Now, I am blessed with accomplishing many of my goals, while that body of elders are in their 70's and 80's with poor health. They speak to me but I can tell the You A$$Ho^% look that they give me, proving that I was right not to keep pioneering and quit my job as suggested.

16

First time back in a Kingdom Hall in over 25 years

by I quit! in

jw
friends

yesterday was the first time i stepped into a kingdom hall in over twenty- five years.

i went there to attend my sister-in-law's funeral.

on the program they had a picture of her as a pretty young woman about the time i met her and my wife.

Save My Soul

It was heartbreaking watching my Dad and caring for him during his final illness. He was SO frightened and amazed that he was dying. To comfort him in those last hours I told him not to be frightened--he was going to soon see his daughter again and I think it helped but inwardly I was raging at that stupid cult and all of his wasted years.

I was his hospice caregiver and it was mind-boggling ................... I think that is when it was truly hammered home to me that this is a sick and twisted religion.

Witness funerals are the worst. I have asked my wife not to give me a KH funeral. I want a private event at the grave site, if that. Certain things I am desensitized to after being a witness.

It is sad that people who are your friends for decades forget who you are if you stop spending your Saturdays knocking on strangers door. It tells me that a witness will never be a true friend. My best associates are people that I work with. When I use the word friend, when talking about workmates, it angers the elders. I say, Bob at work sacrafices his life for me everyday, while Brother X never says hello, who is my friend. Even used the analogy with the CO on a sheperding call.

These people will all find out how cold and cruel the org is when the tables turn. They will see the light, even if it is on their deathbed.

I shared your same feelings with the death of my dad 5 years ago. He told me as he lapsed into a coma (after having a stroke), "This is the end.......the end of this system of things". Those were his last audible words. In his eyes he knew he was dying, but could not believe it. As a child he always told me, "We will walk into the new world as in the LF book on the narrow road". What a dream.

Unfortunately, there is no accountability on the part of the WTS. The web of lies continue with NEW LIGHT.

48

Update- My fade and the elders inaction

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

here's the story in a nutshell.

i stepped aside as elder in a foreign language congregation with a resignation letter in august.. i cited doubts in doctrine concerning "this generation" and 1975, and also said i don't "know".

the governing body well enough to teach their doctrine.

Save My Soul

Great JOB!!

I do not think the org. will have anyone intelligent people left. Unlike Mormons, baptist, ect, they want educated people. The witnesses want dumb janitors that will do as they are told. Do you know of any others that have left because of doctrine? The assumption is always immorality in my area. Those that leave for doctrine disappear. You never hear about it.

Congrats again!!!

60

WERE THERE ANY BIZARRE ELDERS IN YOUR CONGREGATION?

by badboy in

jw
friends

any takers?

Save My Soul

Pac-Man had ghost so it was demonized. Dream girls had gross immorality. Jah's clean people would not do either. Many gods in some congregations are on power trips.

28

Facing reality about getting older

by JH in

jw
friends

as jw's we weren't supposed to get that old and fall sick, all depending on how old we were when we joined.. but time is passing by and we are getting older, and sicker and uglier....lol.

was it hard for you to accept that you will one day die, after being told that paradise is just around the corner?.

.

Save My Soul

As a small child, I remember praying that my parents could see me graduate from high school. That was in 1976. My parents were in the org. for over 40 years. They died a miserable death. Very Slow in a nursing home, both in a coma. I would think after so many years of faithfulness, God would allow them to go in their sleep. It still disturbs me thinking about their painful reward 5 years ago. Many of my parents friends are in their 70's and 80's, dying slowly. Many of the elders from my youth have told me they never thought they would die in this system. Some have become inactive, smoke and are waiting to die.

I feel that something will happen, not sure what. I have told my children that I and mom will eventually die. I want them to be aware of the eventuality of us all. We will get sick and die. I hope there is something positive after this. I truly believe there is. I hope I can see my children become stable successful adults, financially established. Hopefully in my 80's or so (decent health), with my children, grandchildren and GGC around me, I will pass away to another form of existence, even if it is in God's memory.

I have accepted that Living Forever, may be a dream.

49

Stuck in a dead-end job because of obeying anti-higher education policy?

by nvrgnbk in

jw
friends

did you refrain from obtaining a degree or advanced studies when you had the chance because it wasn't the witness thing to do?

how has this affected your life?

comments, rants, and personal experiences please.

Save My Soul

I started pioneering at the end of 10th grade. College was out of the question, because the end of the world was around the corner. I took the SAT, scored very high and was accepted too several schools. One major university. After high school, I started working in construction. I started missing meetings regularly. Finally, at 20, I became a firefighter. I became successful without a degree earning a great income. I am truly blessed to be successful without a degree. I use my job as an excuse to miss everything, even the memorial.

60

WERE THERE ANY BIZARRE ELDERS IN YOUR CONGREGATION?

by badboy in

jw
friends

any takers?

Save My Soul

One CO said that PAC-Man was demonized. The elders in the circuit said they would disfellowship anyone caught playing. In the same hall, the elders recently said if you went to see the movie "Dreamsgirls" you would get publically reproved. Elders, their wives and pioneers still sneaked out to view the movie.

Serious control freaks, based on their personal opinions.

37

Did you ever falsify your time?

by avidbiblereader in

jw
friends

as a witness/pioneer, did you ever falsify or lie on your time card?.

abr.

Save My Soul

I told the body I was working full time, so I could no longer pioneer. Please take me off of the list. They said OK, just wait a little while. So I turned in 10-15 hours per month. After 6 months, an announcement was made, I was KICKED off of the list for not getting my time. Out of anger, I turned in time of 90 hours per month to make up the lost hours. I said, I had just found it. They had kicked me off for no getting my time, despite my earlier request. I was told that they threw away the extra slips that I turned in. That told me it was all a sham.

12

Not an Oprah fan?

by looking_glass in

jw
friends

join the club.

first of all i am in chicago, so we get tons of stories about the woman.

is she any different from any other wealthy powerful person, probably not, but she certainly is not the golden child she presents herself.. 1) she can be demanding (not any different from many wealthy rich people) and if you do not ask how high when she says jump, you are fired.. 2) she is known to agree to something, disappear for a while and then people get a form letter from "her people" saying that oprah cannot participate in ___[fill in appropriate word here]_____.

Save My Soul

So, ABC t.v. is showing a special w/ how Oprah has raised money for a girls' school in Africa. I don't begrudge them their school. What I would love, would be for people to see Oprah for who she is .... a self absorbed, spoiled t.v. personality.

A bash Oprah thread on a religious board. OK. I like her topics on ocassion. She has some issues that are interesting to me.

Really, how many billionaires are not self absorbed and spoiled. Trump?

I do not care what % of her massive bank roll she gives, it is something, and may make a difference in ONE persons life. I remember Trump gave the subway rescuer $15 or $20k. Not a lot for a billionaire, but it is SOMETHING.