my girlfriend is saying to me... .
just write a letter of disassociation, and join some other chat group and move on.
she loves you guys, because i often tell her about "what's going on here.
I would say it is obvious you have issues to resolve. I found meetup and met lots of ex-jw who were going through the same thing as I was in my area. It helped talking it out. My husband said said to me time to move on, he let me take it at my own pace. Considering it has been only 3 1/2 years I feel wonderful, all the fears behind me and ready to live a full life.
Balsam
taken from the nov. 2004 aarp bulletin:.
"if you've added your phone numbers to the federal government's do not call registry in the.
past year, chances are you've experienced a blissful treat: the chance for dinnertime .
Have they really done away with the written review? I always thought it was kinda silly. Its funny too because if we knew we were going to have written review that was an night to stay home and watch TV. LOL LOL It is hard to believe the things we did out of fear of the great god jehover.
Ruth
hi everyone, it has been awhile since i have visited and i just wanted to share a few thoughts with you today on the topic of confession of sin.
for those who have never attended a church, i will explain the view of 'christendom" on the matter.
church for most christian denominations is a place of healing and recharging of the spirit.
After leaving the JW and being disfellowshipped. I and my sweety attended a few churches here and there just out curiousity mostly. And we got bored on Sundays and religion interested us in its affects on people lives. So as a research kinda thing we went and observed different Christian Churches.
Well What was mentioned in the first message was true. I saw people come forward in churches confess their sins and the whole church would pray for them to be healed. It was quite powerful and the person left feeling good, in connection with God's love and a loving family all around to embrace them.
Then I thought wow, how much more affective that is than how JW handle sinners. It is cruel, and totally is non healing in any way.
Christian Churches I attended were very forgiving and merciful with those who chose to confess their sins. It wasn't just the Ministers who dealt with it but everyone. I found it quite touching.
Aside from that though I really have no interested in any religion, its foundation is so crumbly and unsound that putting faith in it is not something I want to do. One day the whole foundation of Judaism, Christianity, Islam, will probably crash and burn. Till it does I plan to just stay out of the way. Oh the most interesting one was the Unitarian Universalist, where every kind of spirituality is welcome, even atheism, paganism, Christianity, Judaism, Buddhist, Muslems, all religions have place there. Interesting group of folks. Still attend their religious discussion group but don't bother with Sunday services.
Balsam
in all of my postings i have sounded out a message of warning to all of those that cared to listen.
we are at the point where a warning is in the form of a solemn plea.
i am revealing to you a secret that most everyone has always asked.
Every religion gets started with a prophet doesn't it with them getting a divine message and giving them divine power to suddenly read the bible and fully understand it. CT Russell, gal who started the Adventist religion, Joseph Smith who started Latter Day Saints, Mohammad of the Muslems, Abraham of the Israelites, lord the list goes on and on.
I can't help but wonder why people think God has spoken to them instead of everyone. Don't they realize they are having a psychotic break with reality like those who started religions in the past.
I guess there will always be people who think God has specially spoken to them, I live in the bible belt and hear this nonsense all the time from current day people.
Balsam
did you understand all the questions and answers to all those questions that you were asked?
?
Heck no, and could hardly answer the questions, they passed me anyway. All this during the great influx before 1975. I do remember having a funny feeling though that I was probably having the wool pulled over my eyes, but like sheep lead to slaughter I went willingly. I think I just wanted to be apart of something important.
crooked cult / crooked teeth
danny sez:
i was denied dental braces in childhood by apocalyptic jw cult, cause dad sez: "a pretty smile don't give everlasting life.
You know I had to fight with my JW husband back when I was married to him to provide good dental care for our 3 sons. One required braces and I got them for him but boy did his Dad complain about the cost. Then there was the 6 month cleanings. Cleanings were free through our insurance plan thank goodness. The braces on the teeth though cost over $3,000 back 3 years ago. He kept saying the new system is coming why waste money on teeth. That is why he is my ex-husband now, he was an idiot.
Most of the JW didn't take good care of their teeth. Our course money is a problem too I'm sure with the dead end jobs most of them had to work because no education.
i've been talking to a young man in brussells who is devying the wts.
he has put an open letter on the internet concerning what he has learned about blood and the wts policy on no blood transfusions.
he is facing possible disfellowshipping for his views and efforts.
Thanks JT, and all. I feel as ex-witnesses we can help to minimize the trauma simply by folks being informed who are finally really examining things.
Knowing how the Elders react is a biggy.
Knowing you can lose your loved ones and all your friends. By planning ahead and holding back from staying more than is necessary can lessen blow to them, I think. When he finally makes that decision to leave he can say what he wants, he'll then be prepared. I hope his wife is on his side, if she isn't he is going to have a rough time. I have thought of inviting him here to these discussion, but don't think he is ready for that yet. Sometimes folks can be so harsh here that it isn't a good place for those with any compassionate feelings for the witnesses. It takes time to understand the feeling of those who post here. I'll keep you all informed. My work with AJWRB.org brings lots of people like him though emails my way. His reaction to his research on blood through was very very strong. He is a go getter and he is pretty angry right now.
Balsam
will she have to cut an extra big cheque this month to the society for this boo-boo?.
http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story2&u=/041102/ids_photos_en/r3530771616.jpg&e=2&ncid=1778.
sorry folks you'll have to cut and paste the link as yahoo doesn't support hotlinking.
That girl and her sister sure don't have any modesty at all. I love the bad press for the JW's. LOL
it's a while since i reviewed the publications that dubs use on their "home bible studies", so the release of a new brochure gives us that opportunity again!.
dubs will be using the "keep on the watch!
" brochure to "invite" the lapsed, as well as the recently interested ones to commit themselves to "god's earthly organisation".. the trouble is, that the writing department have used this glossy brochure to misrepresent the 'real' truth.. page 18 shows a picture of a happy social gathering in "the new system".
Under74,
I love your comment: Jehovah is "Willy Wonka of the universe"
I will have to remember that one its perfect.
Balsam
my grandmother hasn't even been put to rest yet and already, my mother starts with "you know that grandma's greatest wish was for you to get reinstated.".
then, one of my siblings tells me that another of my siblings not only said she wouldn't come to grandma's memorial if i went but also that sibling who called me should not still be talking to me; even though i called her to tell her that grandma died.. i am facing the fact that my family may not even give me details of the memorial directly because they won't want me to go.
i don't know if i want to go to another funeral that is really just a commercial for the wts instead of talking about the person who is gone at all.
Funerals are tough. Good for the active witness though who said she would go with you, not that is great someone is not frightened of how others will view them.
As for Grandma always wishing you would be reinstated. Here is the way I look at it now I know that JW do not have the only way to life. Grandma knows now you were not wrong in leaving. If there is an afterlife, it is not as JW say it is.
I lost a son to death who was very faithful to the JW religion just the way we taught him. I left after he died, but I had many dreams after that where he came to me and told me it is ok Mom I understand now. Well it may be only my imagination but I found it comforting anyway. I fell those who have passed are enlightened according to the Buddhist thought on death.
Sorry you lost your Gram, they always love us so much don't they?
