hello everyone hope there is room for another newbie.. i feel like i know all of you from reading your posts over the last months.. and i must thank you all for your great and very informative posts.
it has really reinforced all the things that i had been feeling for years.
my husband and i were both raised in the "truth".
Welcome.
One of the things that breaks my heart is seeing parents and elders push children to get baptized, then the children get disfellowshipped and their lives are ruined forever. The shunning policy is unloving, the blood doctrine is screwed up, and don't even get me started on the changes to the generation understanding. I had to get out before my brain exploded!
Cate
so after all this what is acceptable and what is not?
acceptable.
not acceptable.
If donating blood is wrong, then accepting a fraction from someone who donated is wrong, because you are creating a market for breaking God's law.
All those dead children make me want to weep. I would like to take that magazine with some of their pictures on the front, attach it to a club and beat certain people over the head until they need a blood transfusion!
Cate
so after all this what is acceptable and what is not?
acceptable.
not acceptable.
If donating blood is wrong, then accepting a fraction from someone who donated is wrong, because you are creating a market for breaking God's law.
All those dead children make me want to weep. I would like to take that magazine with some of their pictures on the front, attach it to a club and beat certain people over the head until they need a blood transfusion!
Cate
i found this to be pretty unsuccessful during my time since i was a jw.
i actually had my interest sparked with the jw's by family members and freinds that were jw's.. were you a statistic of the knock at the door?.
When I was still in, a fellow "publisher" said to me, "Field Service is as much for our benefit as it is for the householders." I think she meant that it kept us strong and focused, but what I thought at the time was, it is nothing more than busy-work--meant to keep us out of "trouble." I've always hated busy-work, and would've quit any real job long ago that required it of me.
There are much more effective ways of reaching people these days, ways that wouldn't annoy people as much as the constantly knocking at their doors, but I don't think that's what it really is about. I think it is about keeping people busy and making them feel like they are part of something important.
Cate
i recognized, when i first started searching the web, that there are tons of information regarding jehovah's witnesses.
most is negative toward the religion.. coming onto jwd/jwn gives one a different perspective.
you get to interact with those thinking about leaving, those who have already left and even some who never were in the cult but are fascinated by the experiences of those that were in the "truth".. when you are on this site, how does it affect you??
first thanks to all for this board and forum and all the stories, information and thoughts that are shared.
i have been a lurker now for almost a year, and now that newbies can get on board, here i am.. here's my story.
baptized at 15 and made ministerial servant by 19. my father, mother, siblings and entire side of my mother's family are jehovah's witnesses.
Very interesting, and thanks for posting your story. It's wonderful that you and your wife got out together!
The changing blood doctrine was a big part of my early doubts too. When it was all or nothing it made sense to me, but when they started accepting parts, I began to have problems with it. And then when I discovered that once upon a time organ transplants weren't allowed, I really started to wonder. Could it be that blood transfusions were like organ transplants? After all, I couldn't sit down and eat someone's kidney, but I could have one transplanted into my body. Perhaps abstaining from blood meant simply the improper use of blood, the disrespectful use of blood. For example, drinking an enemy's blood after a batte. Jesus allowed for "work" on a sabbath to save a life. Perhaps the respectful use of blood (saving a life) was also proper. And how could we use fractions of someone else's blood that they donated (apparently against God's law)? On terms of the law of supply and demand, our use of that blood would be encouraging the breaking of God's law.
Oh dear, better put my soap box away and just say, "Welcome!"
Cate
wow - finally!.
after several months of reading this forum daily, i'm finally registered and able to post!
i know many of you well from reading current threads almost daily since last summer.
Does your wife have doubts too?
The generation change in 1995 was big for me too. Not so much that it happened, it had to, but the way it was handled. Instead of being honest ("Obviously we were wrong") blame it on God (new light).
Cate
i was 19, a pioneer, and a mini-serve.......first literature, then territory, and account servant at 21.....of course a janitor/window washer too (not that there is anything wrong with that!...it paid well!
).....i turned down elder as i am very non-judgemental....but almost did it so i could let everyone off in committees......geeze how i wish i had been in in college gettin laid............oompaundercover inspired this thread btw........
Just guys!? Excuse me...
Baptised at 13, pioneer at 17, pointing "sisters" to the available stall in the restrooms at District Assemblies at 18. That was when I peaked.
PS: For awhile we sisters had a tag under our name tag that said "Attendant." That was changed to "Restroom" when someone pointed out that no one who wasn't a "brother" could have such a "lofty" title.
Why not just say: Cate/Pioneer/X-congregation/toilet monitor!
Cate
his mother passed last month and he is hurting.
i told him our little family here would support him through this.
he will be following this thread.
I lost my mother 10 year ago. I thought it wouldn't keep hurting. It does.
Ironclaw: I wish you good memories. I wish you peace.
Cate
i have been here over 2 years, some of you for many more.
i come and go with postings.
there are so many fighting history with current marriages to jw's, time put in as elders or what ever title you held.. some of us grew up in the worst possible time period,....description is not always possible here.. sometimes i feel we can;'t get beyond it.....we just keep talking about... is that bad or is that ok?.
The longer I am away from the borg, and the more I talk to my new friends who have no knowledge of what being a JW means, the more I am aware of how weird our lives were. That being said, I think we do let go, but little by little, and depending on our personal circumstances. I have some friends who have moved on quickly; perhaps they were never as invested as I was. For myself, it is a slow process.
Cate
