Posts by purplesofa

43

Would You Picket A Kingdom Hall?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i know some zealots that have carried signs and peacefully picketed kingdom halls, especially on the memorial.. what do you think about that?.

purplesofa

NO,

However, I think picketing can raise awareness. Years ago when I was a furniture buyer working at the International Furniture Market there was some picketing against cutting down the mahogany trees from the rain forests for making furniture. They were screaming at us with signs as we crossed the street to our next vendor. It made an impression on me and I questioned the source of the wood furniture we bought from the less known vendors. Not that it made much of a difference in what we bought for our store, but I have never forgotten the experience and did cause me to do a bit of research. On rain forests and the different trees we cut from them and how that effects the ecology.

purps

26

Dub Neighbor

by Farkel in

i have a neighbor who is a dub.

she is elderly and bound to a wheelchair.

i haven't told her i was once braindead, too.

purplesofa

One of the things that got me looking more doubtfully at the JW's was the older ones (esp single sisters) that had been in the organization for very long time and had no contact with anyone other than JW's, going to the meetings and reading the literature. They had successfully done pretty much everything the society had suggested they do over the years until they had no life other than total association with the organization. They discarded unbelieving family members and everyone pretty much. It scared the hell out of me and really got me thinking. I really did not want to be in paradise earth with them.

12

anyone heard from Black Sheep?

by talesin in

jw
friends

i don't get on the forum often, but haven't heard from my e-buddy, black sheep, for a while.

any news?.

hope you all are well.

purplesofa

I know, I thought that was weird too!

Hey you two, good to see you both,

purps

64

Hello..this is my story..

by Lozhasleft in

jw
friends

i'm pleased to have found this site...i've browsed a little ...read quite a lot and gasped at some stories, giggled at the one liners and nodded in recognition of others' strong opinions and can relate to a great deal.. i'll try and keep my intro as brief as possible for anyone kind enough to listen.. i got involved with the witnesses in the late 70's in the uk.

i was in my early 20s and had had a love and fascination for the bible since my difficult childhood.

i soon brought my life into 'line' although it took a long time for me to pack up the smoking which didnt go down well in those days when 6 months of study should have been enough and if you hadnt cracked it then it was suggested that you were some kind of loser.... i reared my 4 children in the 'truth' as well as i could but i cant claim that we were a 'strong' family in their terms...just muddled along really..my husband at the time was a very difficult and abusive man and home life wasnt easy for any of us with his anger, jealousy and violence.

purplesofa

PURPLESOFA Hi interesting questions...when I had this 'spiritual experience' because I was a witness at the time, that was the environment in which I related to it..however, its such a very personal event and I now believe that the JWs dont have exclusivity to it. It was my own relationship with God and the scriptures which was completely changed & strengthened. I also felt from then that my relationship with Jesus had indeed become different in that I definitely now felt 'related' to him completely, just like close family. Nothing has changed for me ...I still feel the same. It was the lack of love in the congregations that prompted my fears about the WBTS and looking back I remember that as time went on and in the years between my 'experience' in 1992 and my disfellowshipping..as the society focused more and more on their own literature and less and less on scripture..I found that so very draining on me...leaving me feeling 'flat' and 'disatisfied' spiritually...and that is pretty significant for me now..

Thank-you for your response,

purps

136

Memorial 2010 Your Experiences

by scotinsw in

just got back from memorial.

only went so that i could say to my parents that i had gone and to remind myself why i left.. oh my word!!!

it was sooooo painful.. got there a bit late - it was a couple of minutes into the talk.

purplesofa

I have not been to a Memorial in 4 or five years, but for some reason not going this year bothered me a bit more than other years.

I think because I had some invites to go and by not going it shows my disinterest, disrespect, How more spiritually sick I must appear and/or apostate to my witness "friends"

It broadens the gap even farther between us.

I thought of the Memorials I did attend and realized I felt no emotional attachments to them whatsoever. It was just another meeting and depending on what day it fell on was a mad rush to get there after a day at work and hurry home to get ready for next days work. Quite possibly I never had the proper attitude towards this celebration or quite possibly, because I was raised Catholic and had quite another experience. Easter was a bit different in that we went to Church that day because we wanted to and it did mean something to me with my relationship with Jesus. I did not go out of fear or guilt from the prodding of others. It strengthened my bond with whatever I had going with God and Jesus at the time.

Last night I thought about all the people on the planet that have this relationship with Jesus, and how it effects their lives either positively or negatively. I have broken that contract/agreement so it has no value to me any longer. Briefly I felt fearful that I had done that, what if it all were really true, all the symbolism, sacrifice, beliefs and agreements?

I realize I killed my belief system in a savior and that whole thought process.

So although I did not observe the Memorial last night as the witnesses do, the night brought on many thoughts and feelings this year.

purps

64

Hello..this is my story..

by Lozhasleft in

jw
friends

i'm pleased to have found this site...i've browsed a little ...read quite a lot and gasped at some stories, giggled at the one liners and nodded in recognition of others' strong opinions and can relate to a great deal.. i'll try and keep my intro as brief as possible for anyone kind enough to listen.. i got involved with the witnesses in the late 70's in the uk.

i was in my early 20s and had had a love and fascination for the bible since my difficult childhood.

i soon brought my life into 'line' although it took a long time for me to pack up the smoking which didnt go down well in those days when 6 months of study should have been enough and if you hadnt cracked it then it was suggested that you were some kind of loser.... i reared my 4 children in the 'truth' as well as i could but i cant claim that we were a 'strong' family in their terms...just muddled along really..my husband at the time was a very difficult and abusive man and home life wasnt easy for any of us with his anger, jealousy and violence.

purplesofa

Thank-you for sharing your experience.

I am curious, Since you felt this super spiritual experience it motivated you to serve as a Witness even more.

And then you left the Witness religion, yet still felt of the anointed, what purpose did that spiritual

enlightenment have~~~ in that you worked harder for a false religion?

When you were enlightened, why weren't you enlightened to leave at that time?

Or are you saying the anointment was something that did not happen?

I'm a little confused. Just trying to understand.

Welcome to the Board,

purps

57

Is anyone on this board going tonight........

by cantleave in

jw
friends

and partaking of the emblems?.

purplesofa

I would go but I don't have a thing to wear.

24

Help - Need Some Tough Questions...

by Clam in

i used to post a lot on here but rarely do these days.

i was asked by a friend today to give her some questions for a dub she's meeting tomorrow.

he's an arrogant one who says he can answer any question she has and consequently (haha) demonstrate that it's the truth.

purplesofa

7

Helium Cats

by VM44 in

purplesofa

It's kinda strange how long I found myself to keep looking at that picture.

Like you could just keep staring and staring.

LOL,

purps

15

Two Church Services Set In Arkansas~Which Would You Attend?

by TMS in

jw
friends

cowboy church sets anniversarythe bar none cowboy church second anniversary and dedication of its new facility is set sunday one mile down county road 15, north of midway.

the day begins with regular service at 9 a.m., followed by music and food preparation and a 11 a.m. potluck.. from noon to 2 p.m., there will be barrel racing, poles, flags race, stick horse race, mutton bustin' and goat tieing for youth and adults.

a dedication service is set for 2 p.m., including the bar none cowboy church band.. there will be refreshments 1-2 p.m. and at 3 p.m.. .

purplesofa

I sent you pm about someone that you many know that passed away.

purps