i have been lurking for quite a few months.
i have been trying to get up enough nerve to tell you my whole story but am finding it painful and scary to write about.
so here's the shorter version until i get brave enough to spill all the details.
Welcome, Evita! I am so sorry to hear about your mom, and I do know how hard certain family relationships suffer when we "fade" or "leave". You will find a wonderful support group here, as you seem to already know. I have been visiting this site for over 4 years and it has helped me in my transition (believer >>>>> unbeliever) immensely. Take care and feel free to talk about how you REALLY feel anytime. There are always some people here who understand and can help.
Warmly,
Trudy
ish.
i've been lurking sorta kinda and in the chat a bit, but anyways, i thought i'd formally introduce myself.
not really, but i'm paranoid, so you can call me 'thy.
Welcome, Thy, it is great to have you here. Since the teens in my family no longer talk to me, it is great to get the "younger" view on things. You are smart and you are brave and your power of reason is well-developed. Your mom has done a great job in raising you, even though you disagree (in itself a sign that you think for YOURself!).
Trudy
i've just learned from a trusted contact at thewatchtower.org 'norris', that the society intend to put a resolution to the congregations shortly - though definately not at the 'special talk' meeting next month.. here's the scary bit.
this resolution needs to be responded to by all baptized jehovah's witnesses.
we have not been able to get hold of the wording but have been informed it is intended to provide the brotherhood with the opportunity to affirm their loyalty to jehovah and his organization.
...some things are just not nice...
will avoid this poster's postings post this post which nearly sent me postal..........amen
hello all, hope everyone is well,.
as i read many posts there seems to be many that "closet" read and it isnt till many months or even years that they actually post something.
was just wondering how long it took other people to post and did they feel guilty?.
No, I did not feel guilty when I made my first post.
However, I "lurked" for four years before I posted. I WAS terrified during the first few months that someone somehow was gonna track me down by my IP address.
More than the TMS ever did, this forum is helping me learn how to express what I believe and how I feel and how to have an open mind toward those with whom I disagree.
trudy
for those of you who met with a judicial committee and were subsequently da'd or df'd, was it worth the time and effort?
did the elders let you speak your piece, or were they only interested in hearing that key word or phrase that would allow them to act?
was there genuine interest shown, proboing questions asked, did they really want to know how you felt?
Walter - You're too much! Where did you learn to rationalize like that? hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm...............
trudy
apostate literature - i have read the lot.
you name it - c of c, gentile times reconsidered, thirty tears a watchtower slave, the orwellian world of jehovah's witness, apocalypse delayed, and the freeminds and watchtower observer sites, so on and so on.
and i have been reading the posts on this site regularly pretty much since it started, and hourglass before it.
Valis - Obtuse - one of my favorite words. It sounds just like it means.
hi all.. many of you have probably seen my posts on here before, but if you haven't let me reinterate my story in short for you.. i am currently dating a wonderful guy, but the problem is he has been considering becoming a jw.
he has studdied with them for about a year.
because of me has agreed to do some religion searching and figure out what he really believes.
yup - have him ask his instructor - what's up with that?
.
if you had the power to make one new law up in your community or country, what would it be??
?
BEHAVE!
.
i don't talk about my family very much on here, but today i feel i have to, because today after all the years of pushing, finally there is a result.. thanks to life & the universe and everyone on jwd, who by simply existing have helped in a way that i don't know how to write.. today is the day my mom stopped going to meetings.. i won't go into loads of detail at this point because it's very involved, but it's done.
my dad is an elder and is still going, but my mom is out now.. thanks
dh - you must have the biggest smile on your face right now!
....so do I......good work!
trudy
the quote below was part of a talk in the 90's.
i heard this as a child and thought to myself, how can any woman accept such a draconian veiw?
i was not sure if i had understood correctly so, i brought it up to my bible study conductor maggie, i was appalled that she agreed with this veiw, we debated it back and forth, until i got the upper hand, then she told me that i was to "rebellious and strong willed", and that i "should never get married", that i way i would not have to submit to male "headshit" "headship".
I finally felt bad enough to leave - OMG, what a wonderful world awaited me! The clarity that comes with asking questions and getting answers.
One event I will never forget: Circuit assembly at an outdoor arena of some sort. I prefer pants and a blouse for business attire, but wore a "dress" and feminine"open-toed" shoes (which I hated) with nylons (in the 70s). I was going to get on the escalator and the brother said "I'm sorry, sister, but you can't ride the escalator with those shoes - too dangerous." I got so hot inside I thought I was going to burst. What a *%#@ catch 22. I wore that stupid outfit because I was told to and now I was being penalized for wearing "vulnerable" attire. I left the assembly that day and am sorry to say that it took another 20 years for me to leave altogether.
Trudy
