i am still on my holiday around the uk and currently am in the midlands if anyone is around i’d love to catch up - hope you are all well xx.
BETTY HUMPTER:
Sorry to disagree, but sometimes things actually WERE better in the ‘old’ days.
PUNKOFNICE:
I visited the UK in the 1970s and it certainly WAS better all around. I even have a photo of the prime minister’s residence (before the days of terrorism and all this other sh#t) when you could actually walk up to the place. There might have been one policeman standing outside but that was it.
this is directed to born-ins.
around age 10 or 12 is when it first hit me.
i started asking questions about how the world worked and i really wanted an honest opinion from my parents.
DAGNEY:
Even though I was ‘grown up’ at the time, that 1995 Generation teaching was the proverbial last straw for me as well.
I remember being at the hall and feeling like somebody punched me in the stomach. I felt they were just stringing people along and insulting their intelligence.
I also didn’t like how the information was presented in the article like it wasn’t so big a deal. But, it was certainly something..I knew in that instant that my time in the Witness religion was over and I planned my ‘Fade’. I’ve been out over 21 years. Should have done it a decade sooner. I despise them.
this is directed to born-ins.
around age 10 or 12 is when it first hit me.
i started asking questions about how the world worked and i really wanted an honest opinion from my parents.
BIAHI:
Wow, I’m sorry you went through that.
I wasn’t raised a JW so I have no idea. I came in a young working adult. It wasn’t all roses not being raised a Witness either no matter what anybody may think and childhood is never easy. But, at least I didn’t have to witness the hypocrisy you did. Children are especially perceptive and I’m sure it was glaringly obvious when they lied because they didn’t want to treat you to lunch that time. And, then when you were in puberty you were singled out because you were ‘too attractive’.😮. I’m glad I was spared this horror because it would have profoundly bothered me and messed up my head even more. Who the hell needs this??
I’m glad you got out of this sick and scarring religion at an early age..and as we discussed once before I’m glad you prepared for your Retirement as well.👍🏻
did you ever refuse to go in service with someone?
i did.... i went to the kh to meet for service and 3 brothers were there.
i told the brother taking the lead, that when he made up the car groups to take note i had a plan of my own -the 3 brothers could go together and i would do my own thing.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:
I believe you about not wanting to go out in service with certain people.
I have been out of the JW religion for over 21 years so this will never be an issue for me ever again. But, so much has happened within the religion in the last several decades that would totally change just WHO I would even bother with - much less ‘going out in service with’, if at all. Sorry if this offends anybody but this is how it is.
As I said, I’m Out so this is hypothetical. I have no desire to even be introduced to anybody’s crazy ‘bible study’. Forget about anybody recruited from prison witnessing. Keep on walking. I’m not interested in making their acquaintance.
At least back when I was in the religion the people were more ‘normal’. I still couldn’t stand being with some of them.. But, I would not now tolerate what has come into the religion and their ‘association’ would not be inflicted on me, regardless of what anybody in the idiot religion would think.. You’re not going to see me confined in the close quarters of a car group or anywhere else for that matter with any of them!.. Nope.
here's some 'spiritual gems' from the latest wt, 11/22.
first up, a bethelite who was kicked out, er, "reassigned":.
"she was reassigned to the field after serving at bethel for more than 23 years.
I’m glad I got out of the JW religion ages ago. Because it really is all about allowing yourself to be victimized in some fashion - and how you are somehow supposed to like and accept it. No complaints, just absorb the problem.
I saw this garbage and wasn’t having any of it. It was either trying to get me to quit my full-time job and pursue poverty in the ministry or doing favors for the Users in the hall. I refused.
When I read of accounts on the forum about the abuses and sacrifices others have made I just feel disgust that anybody could be so stupid to stick with this. I really do feel the intelligent people with functioning brains have already made it out the door or at least heading for it. I’m sorry for those still stuck in for the sake of family. They should be on the fringes and distance themselves as much as possible to minimize the damage!
I really do think when the older people all pass away that this worthless religion will hopefully be on its way out and finally join the list of defunct religions in the USA.
this experience highlights the level of my indoctrination, after 10 years of been a pomo.
a few months back my gf was hinting to me about what we could do for my birthday.
to be honest i just had no idea, that i even had a birthday.
MANDRAKE:
As with the OP, it’s all about what you knew. People also forget that what happens to us in our early childhood sticks with us.
I can relate to your mom because she was not raised a JW and when she left she just was able to resume her life before the Witness religion. That’s what I did as well. While celebrating birthdays isn’t a big deal for me and I can take it or leave it, I do like the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas because I associate them with happy times and non-JW relatives who were the only people who truly cared about me.. I am glad I realized this fact before it was too late 🕰 and that I was able to reconnect with everybody!
As ex-JWs it’s all about making yourself happy and comfortable navigating your way through the world and you can pick and choose what you want. You don’t necessarily have to get all interested in birthdays or holidays just because the religion forbade it. It’s perfectly okay. This would be like adopting a reckless lifestyle just because it’s directly opposite the values of the JWs and other religions.
Do what you are comfortable with.
this one stands out in my mind.
it was reported that 'a brother', unnamed of course, was out in field service and was set upon by a pack of vicious dogs.
he made it back to the car and was injured quite badly with his arms, hands and leg bleeding heavily.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH:
I always felt those convention experiences were either greatly exaggerated or totally made up by people who have no concept of what life is like in the Real world. 🤣
As somebody who actually worked full-time for a secular employer, I can tell you there would be No time to hold down a full-time job, commute, raise five children AND pioneer. There are only twenty four hours in each day and somebody can only physically be in one place at any given time, last I heard.
How could anybody possibly believe these stories?
anyone who is a witness or was previously a witness, is aware of the written & un-written rules concerning association with disfellowshipped family members.. there are a multitude of quotes through out the watchtower publications, but these 2 will suffice.. "are you proving yourself holy by not associating with family members or others who are disfellowshipped?
"the clear instruction in the bible is: avoid them.
that means that we have to stay away from them... the bible says that apostates are mentally diseased and that they use their teachings to make others think like them... what must we do to avoid false teachers?
THOMASMORE:
I also believe that JWs like their disfellowshipping doctrine for the reasons you mention and more.
It is also true they shun people who aren’t disfellowshipped. I can attest to this because I had a full-time job at the time and I experienced this. (I’m ‘Faded’ over 21 years). As you said, they are ‘devouring’ each other and there is no stopping them. They really do push people out.. All this is interesting to observe.
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WING COMMANDER:
I once had an elder admit to me that college educated brothers are harder to counsel.
So, from the get-go, this was all about keeping people in line. All the other bullshit about meeting bad associations and taking courses which will lessen people’s respect for the bible was just icing on the cake.
Never mind that people are forced to get a degree nowadays or they can’t get a job.
The religion doesn’t care if people can’t put food on the table or a roof over their head. Just as long as they are acceptably ignorant enough that they won’t ‘speak up’ about anything and remain passive while they are sitting there in the congregation.
i’ve always had a personal relationship with god that is not affected by any issues or controversies i have with anybody..
BETTY HUMPTER:
My main reason for leaving was the 1995 Generation teaching. When that happened it was truly over.
The other ‘absurdities’ and the way I was treated in general just added to the whole pile of rubbish.
