how often does that thought cross your mind?.
it played on mine yesterday.
ive got a very expansive view across the melbourne flatlands and yesterday i looked out the back window and saw this dark grey storm wall coming in with rain so heavy that it was like a solid sheet of grey, swallowing the land.
While I was a witness, yes, I thought many times to myself "this must be Armageddon".
But ever since I got out, no, actually I don't. I can't remember one incident in which I thought that. Don't know why. Probably because with my lost faith in the organisation, my image of God has also died.
Viv.
that's right, what class of apostate do you fit into?
personally, i'm of the faithless (i'm close to being an athiest) and indiscreet (no explanation needed) class.. are you of the enviable smurf apostate class?
or perhaps even the haunted second-hand furniture apostate class?
Dutchie, don't know if this will be of any help to you.
My committee meeting was started by the elders asking me if I pleaded guilty to the charges (okay, that was not exactly how they put it). My response back was "Just tell me, what exactly do you want to know? what I did, or didn't do wrong? Or are you, as elders and servants of your God, interested in my doubts of beliefs?" Ha, that shut them up for a minute, then they stammered that off course they wanted to know about my doubts etc. However, I was disfellowshipped within five minutes, so I wouldn't recommend this if you wanted to stay in.
Good luck! SYN is right, they only have power over you, if you allow it.
Viv.
that's right, what class of apostate do you fit into?
personally, i'm of the faithless (i'm close to being an athiest) and indiscreet (no explanation needed) class.. are you of the enviable smurf apostate class?
or perhaps even the haunted second-hand furniture apostate class?
I am a "angry as hell and smart enough to use it to my benefit and your destruction" class.
And I am in agreement with Francois, Yeah! us, boo them.
Viv.
this is a rather sweet story, and i love telling it.
january this year was the time when i decided for sure that i would leave the witnesses.
i had made up my mind, had told the elders that my faith had died, and so i had made the ball for my df rolling.
SYN, my primary language is Dutch. I just use a lot of spelling checks and dictionaries for my English...
Yes, my family is great, they were very supportive. Especially the first few weeks, someone would call me every day. I was invited to have dinner, somewhere, every day and so on. They kept me from going crazy at times, and listened when I needed to vent, or cry. I could never thank them enough for that.
I can't imagine what it must be like to leave the Borg, and not have anyone to support you. But I have the deepest respect for you who did.
Viv.
as i was growing up,i noticed the dubs at assemblys would clap at the slightest provocation.it looked like a beach full of seals.as soon as a few started,the rest would join in.for some it looked like they just woke up and figured they should start clapping so no one would know they fell asleep.most just looked like seals clapping for a fish.kids notice funny things.did any of you notice dub mass behaviour you found funny...outlaw .
edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:51:40edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:59:1.
I remember one applause that was like mania. It was at the districts-convention of 1998, and there was this resolution passed. There were seven points, and after every point the entire audience would start clapping. The next point would draw even more applause and so on. Finally the question was asked to say a "yes" when you would agree. Naturally all said "yes" and everyone stood up and applauded for at least ten minutes straight. I don't think anyone even knew to what they had said "yes". Mindless...
SYN, I am afraid you're right, I am hooked!
Viv.
i just felt like posting an email i received recently which i got a kick out of.
here is the email; my response follows on the next post.return-path: <[email protected]>.
delivered-to: jehovahswitnesses.com%[email protected].
Your reply! ... LOL
But, if he would have been more associated with the organisation, wouldn't he have spelled the name correctly? On the other hand, there are a lot of spelling mistakes in that e-mail, mmm...
Viv.
watchtower magazine of october 1st, 1986 criticized that many organizations have high administrative and distribution costs so that only a fragment of the donations serves their goal:.
what does your money accomplish?.
prospective donors to worthy causes have reason to ask: 'just how much of my contribution will directly benefit the people it is designed to help?
Uhm, right Why, as a witness, would you want to know what other organisations do with their donations? It would seem more logical for the WT organisation to publish something like this
What Does Your Money Accomplish?
Donations: xxx Billion
Expenses to etc
Oh No Wait!! That would not be logical at all! Heavens forbid any rank and file member knowing where his donations were going.
Viv.
among catholics, confession has changed dramatically over the centuries.
in the early years of the catholic church, confession and penance were required only for serious sins.
concerning this, the book religion in the medieval west says: "until the late sixth century the penitential system was very harsh: the sacrament could be administered only once in a lifetime, confession was public, the penance was long and severe.".
Man-made. Or so my conclusion would be. Jesus may have taught that we should confess to each other so that you would be helped. The Gestapo ways of telltale with the JW are completely man-made.
Viv.
i don't get to check this board as often as i'd like, but i have noticed that there seems to be a huge number of new posters here.
every day that i get to check out a few posts, i notice new names.. so, just a polite request.
if you've just started posting here in the last few months, would you mind posting a quick note on this thread?
Well, I am new too. Registered only yesterday and I am absolutely loving this forum!
I have been a witness for almost seven years, from age 17 to 23. I got out only five months ago, was difellowshipped on last Valentines day. (So please, please sent me a lot of cards next year!...) Three months ago I celebrated my 24th birthday with vigour, it was a wonderful party with all of my family members and the few "worldly" friends I still had.
Both my mother and grandmother are still witnesses, but you could call them fringe JW, as they socialize with me just like before. Whatever rule they do not like, they ignore.
Good to be free!
Viv.
as i was growing up,i noticed the dubs at assemblys would clap at the slightest provocation.it looked like a beach full of seals.as soon as a few started,the rest would join in.for some it looked like they just woke up and figured they should start clapping so no one would know they fell asleep.most just looked like seals clapping for a fish.kids notice funny things.did any of you notice dub mass behaviour you found funny...outlaw .
edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:51:40edited by - outlaw on 20 july 2002 2:59:1.
Hey Francois, yes I am new, signed in yesterday and to my surprise I just graduated to junior member... this forum is wonderful, you'll have to drag me away from my computer right now.
Yes, I am out. I was officially disfellowshipped on last Valentines day! So, that day will have an extra meaning for me from now on.
The last straw? All of a sudden I just realised that there was no real truth in the truth. Insight came to me like a lightning bolt, and I decided to get out. I was disfellowshipped three weeks later. Me openly criticising and questioning the truth, did not fall well with the elders. They don't like people who do not clap....
Viv.
