Posts by TheListener

26

When does it end? My marriage is 90% great for the most part, except when it come to this cult

by goingthruthemotions in

i know marriage is tough and it takes work on both parts.

we have been together for 27 years.

the last eight have been involved with this cult.

TheListener

My marriage was really strained while I was forcing myself to attend after I learned the TTATT. Once I stopped it wasn't long before the kids stopped too. Our marriage improved once we both got used to our new situation. It's not perfect and I will come on here and vent from time to time but all in all I'm happy.

My advice, as worthless as it is, would be to stop attending meetings, don't frustrate her with telling her how bad the WTS is and back the kids up in not going as well. I decided very early that if my leaving the witnesses and supporting my kids leaving the witnesses were a marriage-breaker then so be it. In my case my marriage survived, many don't.

13

Has Watchtower financial strategy taken a very dark turn?

by slimboyfat in

as shepherdless pointed out on another thread, the watchtower business model of using free labour to produce and sell books and magazines for profit started to break down when charging for the literature ended in 1990, and has now begun disintegrating completely in the face of the internet and declining donations.

over this same period there has been a noted increase in hardline rhetoric on disfellowshipping and pushing early baptism.

might these hardline trends actually be related to their money woes?

TheListener

Just to add about finances, I had the opportunity to hear various dubs talk this last week. One thing I picked up on is that none of those talking, very faithful dubs, donate for literature anymore since its mostly electronic. They donate some for local building expenses but thats about all they can afford. And they aren't thrilled about basically being pushed into tablet use, although they love the convenience.

26

The Pain of Coming to a Decision

by daniel-p in

jw
friends

it's been at least a couple years since i've posted anything on here, and much longer than that since when i was active.

ten years ago i first came here all in turmoil over my disillusionment of my beliefs.

i've been through lots of ups and downs since then.

TheListener

If it's any consolation I am in a similar situation but just a few years further down the road. My kids are older now and all are jw free, my wife is still a witness. My wife and I stayed together and I put all my energy into my kids and building a strong strong bond with them. Including putting off things I wanted to do for myself or with friends and even my career at times. Even during the rough years with kids I see the benefits of my close relationship with my kids. My wife didn't build a relationship with them, perhaps because they won't survive Armageddon, and it shows as well.

Hang in there Daniel and make sure you take care of your physical health as well as mental health.

26

The Pain of Coming to a Decision

by daniel-p in

jw
friends

it's been at least a couple years since i've posted anything on here, and much longer than that since when i was active.

ten years ago i first came here all in turmoil over my disillusionment of my beliefs.

i've been through lots of ups and downs since then.

TheListener

Daniel-P we joined about the same time 10 or so years ago. I remember your first post. I remember it because it was so raw and emotional - it really captured your feelings and pretty much what I was going through at the time too. I am really sorry you are going through this. As I was looking for your first post I ran across a thread you posted on (maybe even started) about your feelings and your marriage. It was 3 or so years ago. I wish you would take just a few minutes and re-read your posts to that thread. Here is the link: staying-married-jw (i hope the link works).

Hang in there and know that you aren't alone. We are all out here reading, listening and feeling for you. And many of us are in similar situations.

57

Is zeal beginning to vanish?

by Caupon in

jw
friends

it has to be starting to fade somehow.

the very last time i went out in field service, hardly any were out.

maybe just about nine people were out and man if you could just see their faces.

TheListener

wallsofjericho, I totally agree with what you're saying about brothers in their 40s (30s even) who aren't serving in the congregation. I have relatives who fit that description exactly. In the old days (when I was in) they would have been viewed as weak one needing special encouragement but now no one seems to bat an eye. At least that's what I hear from my family I still have contact with.

17

Merry Christmas! Or merry Christmas on the sly! Ho! Ho! Ho!

by purrpurr in

jw
friends

just to say merry christmas and a happy new year!

i hope wherever you are that you have a lovely holiday, even if like me your celebrating on the sly hehe in which case happy christmas on the sly.

xxxxxxxxxx.

TheListener

Merry Christmas to everyone and to all a good night!!!!! and day

11

Hello

by Darryl in

just joining this site i'm not going to give you my personal history because you already know it, you lived it.

anyway been df'd for about 18 years just curious are there any people out there from the richmond va area.

TheListener

Welcome Darryl. Glad you joined. I'm not from your area but I'm sure some on here must be.

43

Beards galore at the Assembly

by Truthexplorer in

ok, at our recent assembly, i noticed that there were quite a lot of brothers wearing beards.

not just the older dudes, but right across a range of ages, young men, middle aged men and older men.

is watchtower beginning to relax this rule at last?

TheListener

I know of two brothers that grew beards in the US. One did it so he wouldn't be used for microphones and other duties. The other already wasn't be used but grew it because he's a hipster.

The scuttlebutt (as related by my wife) was that the congregation felt they were weak and in spiritual trouble. I don't know what eventually happened. Fortunately, my wife didn't see the beards as a big deal.

32

Peer presure to use Ipad

by Gorbatchov in

jw
friends

earlier this season i advised my retired father to ignore the use of a tablet during his kingdom hall congregational visits.

his response was hopefull, but between the lines i could hear he had no choice.. yesterday he showed me his new 600 euro 64 gb ipad air 2. he had no clue what he has to do with it, he told me one of the elders will install the jw.org apps.. so, i feel he had to deal with presure to buy this ipad and i think he is not the only one.. do you recognize this?.

gorby.

TheListener

My wife put off having an ipad for the longest time. She didn't want to change from hardcopies to electronic. She felt forced to do the ipad since she couldn't sing some of the songs,couldn't watch the videos when out with the dubs and felt like a general loser asking for a hardcopy of various publications. She has no idea how to work the device. Same goes for several of my relatives - they didn't want to spend the money, the don't have the money but felt they had to buy a tablet. And now I get to hear how blessed they are that they have tablets and can download Caleb videos. PUKE

57

Is zeal beginning to vanish?

by Caupon in

jw
friends

it has to be starting to fade somehow.

the very last time i went out in field service, hardly any were out.

maybe just about nine people were out and man if you could just see their faces.

TheListener

I wonder if there is a snowball effect on their zeal? I think in the past if you didn't have the zeal you felt you were supposed to you faked it. Maybe so many people were faking it that it's starting to become unavoidable not to let the real lack of zeal leak out. And as that happens more and more feel it's acceptable to let their lack of zeal show - without even realizing what is happening.

This seems like a really hard trend for the organization to stop, maybe impossible. I agree that it's a bigger issue than apostates.