As a former JW, I can (as others on this board can) testify that we are TAUGHT to answer questions as you described. I know from personal experience the more you can confuse a householder (prospect) the better you are esteemed in the congregation. I was very young when I left the WTS (19) and before that, I was considered to be one of the strongest pioneers on the way to "success". Why? Because through having a slick tongue I could confuse a householder to the point that it was just easier for him to believe than to try and argue or prove me wrong. Before long they really DID believe what I had to say was true. Sad but true. Anybody else out there agree???
i don't mean in general, i mean for exjw's... is there a noticable advantage to pairing with someone with the same background?
i'd like to read your thoughts and experiences on this subject.. i've been romantically involved few times, since "the light got brighter" for me about the organization, with people who didn't know anything about jw's before meeting me.
one of them viewed my exjw activity as a bit obsessive but okay as long as she got to obsess on her favorite obesssions, too.
I didn't realize this was a Personals board too! Ha! :X
I'd love to meet other xJW in the DFW metro area, although I have no desire to date. Nothing personal...I'm already blessed with a fantastic guy in my life! Anyone up for a moment at Starbucks?
Just curious...check the Fort Worth phone number again. I just tried to call it and it's not a working number. If I have time this next week, I'll try to swing by the address and see if it's legit. I'm also curious as to the answer of bigboi's question.
BTW - I love your educational posts. I'm new to this community and yet learning something great everyday. My prayers are now for my family still stuck in the Tower. God be with them!
That's awesome! LOL! I just remember my bible study conductor telling me she thought that was demonic magic making the food appear! Haha! My parents (still active JW to this day) were always big ST fans. I don't remember it being banned in our household like the Smurfs were. But one of my best memories as a child is watching that show with my dad and eating oreos and drinking chocolate milk. :) Sigh...
i really do appreciate all the advice that i received from you all on this matter.. i even appreciate the ones who gave critical advice and downed smoking.. i took all advice that was given and have resolved the problem with your help.. here is where i am at with the issue now; i have been with my wife for almost twenty years now and we have always had a very strong and good relationship especially when it comes to communication.
well to her i betrayed that special bond by not telling her i was smoking.
so in her mind she figured if i would hide this from her what else could or would i hide from her.. so after digesting all the good advice that i have received from you all, i had a long heart to heart talk with her and reasured her that even though i am no longer a witness that i would never do anything to destroy the family that i love.
I'm thrilled to hear that you and your wife are working things out! I won't say "worked" because a good, strong relationship is ongoing work - it doesn't stop.
Know that you are in my prayers - your wife and kids as well!
i don't mean in general, i mean for exjw's... is there a noticable advantage to pairing with someone with the same background?
i'd like to read your thoughts and experiences on this subject.. i've been romantically involved few times, since "the light got brighter" for me about the organization, with people who didn't know anything about jw's before meeting me.
one of them viewed my exjw activity as a bit obsessive but okay as long as she got to obsess on her favorite obesssions, too.
I have never actually met any XJW until recently. The first one in 10 years and he's my partner at work! He won't talk much about his JW life and I don't pry. Since we aren't dating and we haven't had sex I can't say that I think XJW's make better lovers. Sorry! Although the fear of an XJW spouse returning does scare me. Maybe that's why dating an XJW doesn't appeal to me. It would be nice to have someone who automatically understands, but I like the fact that my current boyfriend has a different background than I. He grew up in a family that is loyal, loving, nurturing, and pretty (it's all relative!) healthy. He knows what it takes to have a healthy relationship - he's teaching me all the time! ;)
If XJW's have a healthier than normal sex drive (and I feel I'm one of them!) I DO think it is because we've been so repressed for so many years. But I also agree with Maximus - XJW's may also have a better sex life because it's not just a sexual act (like the WTS teaches). It is an act of full revelation, intimacy, and personal sharing without fear of doing something wrong. It's been years since I've had sex - my boyfriend and I have chosen NOT to until marriage enters into the scene. (Yes, worldly people have moral codes as well! Whodathunked?) But I know that once we get to that point it is going to be fireworks for several reasons - we know each other emotionally inside and out and we've stood by PERSONAL convictions. Not rules set up by a religious entity.
Everyone's comments are great! These are just my two cents,
Just continue your praying relationship with God. I know you're thinking you can't have a relationship with God outside of the WTS, but you can! You will find (in time) that the world is full of people that are loving and want to care for you. You will make new friends and they will be closer to you than family. I promise you...just live one day at a time...pray daily...do good to others as much as possible on a daily basis. You're life will be more rewarding that you ever thought possible. It's okay to be scared. I was petrified! I lost ALL of my family and ALL of my friends. But God continued to take care of me - even when I didn't want Him to. Have faith - God will take care of you too!
You are in my prayers! Keep coming back to this board for healing! There are MANY people that have experienced what you're now experiencing. Let us encourage you and learn from our experiences.
just a note to all of you...i have been following this board for the past several weeks, and indeed it has been a most interesting experience.. i guess when i first came here, i had hopes that this might be a place for support and that maybe i would find some people that were indeed spiritual and were in fact trying to find a way of establishing a relationship with jehovah apart from being part of an organization( yes, take a look at the url for this site)..but, dissapointingly, what i have found is a lot of bitterness, complainiing, ugly name calling, labeling, and even outright hatred towards individuals and an organization that most were once part of....it seems that many are stuck in a very negative place, caught up in the role of "victim" and they are full of regret for wasting so much of their life 'in the truth'.... i guess the reality hit me the other day with a post that clearly stated that there really is no common denominator here other that this is a bunch of ex-jws...this is not necessarily spiritual fellowship..nor does it pretend to be.... know what guys??
?i wish you all the very best in your individual journey.....but i have come to the realization that this board really offers nothing to me..... i'm leaving today on an 11 day journey into the wilderness to take some time for meditation, introspective thinking...and yes...some journaling...and yes..even some praying..... i don't think i'll be back here.. hasta la vista, baby!
I'm sorry this board isn't what you've thought it to be. But unlike you, I've had a great experience because I feel I've MADE it a great experience. I've kept an open mind and let people voice their opinions (even if I disagree with them) and express their emotions (in ways that I may not approve of). Just remember the majority of us came from a very repressed religious environment. It feels good to express emotions and opinions however we feel comfortable doing it. It may offend others - it may offend God. But keep in mind that God probably understands our behavior even if other people don't. Please keep coming back...you can have a good experience if you really want to.
here are some quotes to help know there is no true truth.. (and by the way you could help yourself by losing your anger).
he who begins by loving christianity better than truth, will proceed by loving his own sect or church better than christianity, and end in loving himself better than all.. .
a man must be both stupid and uncharitable who believes there is no virtue or truth but on his own side.. .
