Posts by Nellie

9

The story of my life (part 14- Reinstated)

by onacruse in

jw
friends

as i said, the elders were very happy to accept my request for reinstatement.

i was almost like the proverbial prodigal son, having learned his lesson, and now finally coming back to the family, properly contrite and apologetic.. in a way i was, and in a way i wasn't.. i couldn't totally let go of the convictions i had about the wts being wrong about 1975. but i also couldn't let go of the fundamental and needful reality of my life that this was the only way of life i had ever known!...and i had never developed any social skills to expand beyond the boundaries within which i had been raised: in fact, i was utterly scared of trying to do that, and had been more than a little (the "shyster" episode) convinced that worldly people were simply not to be trusted.. so, the elders' first question was "have you stopped smoking?

" yes, i had.. good enough.. the next, and most pertinent question was: "do you now feel that the faithful and discreet slave is the appointed servant of jehovah?".

Nellie

Boy do I remember those announcements, the applause and the congratulatory hugs and kisses! I've seen TONS of them! I can picture it well.

6

CoC Review - "Power Corrupts, Ultimate Power Corrupts Ultimately"

by Nellie in

i just finished reading crisis of conscience.

i don't know if it was a record or anything, but i just received it the other day and i'm finished!

my criticisms - surely brother franz knows who spearheaded the attacks he so eloquently discusses in his book, both the witchhunt against him personally and those he witnessed during the years.

Nellie

As I was posting my questions, I knew the probable answers and comments - but that doesn't stop me from wanting to know! You're right, if Franz had specifically said who was behind the witchhunt, he would probably have been sued for slander. I'm sure his editors and lawyers helped him frame the material in such a way as to protect him from harm.

Our loss, perhaps you know though - what does the next book address?

Blues: It's hell and heaven and everything in between!

15

A brief History of Me...

by Truth.Seeker in

i was studying with jehovah's witnesses during my college years.

i found that they somehow was able to make me understand many of the meanings from the bible that i had never understood before.

i had a clearer sight of what it was to walk as a christian.

Nellie

Welcome. Although we all live different lives, I believe we all (or most of us) have been exactly where you are standing. In some respects it appears we have some things in common - I didn't come to this site looking for dirt or with an "apostate" heart. I have been in the Truth for 35 years, and during that time always wanted more info about the history/past of the organization. I loved the Kingdom Proclaimers book and wanted more. THAT was my motivation.

Honestly, two, five, ten years ago - I wouldn't have had the guts to come to a site like this. But life happens and my personal maturity allowed me to exercise the God given freedom to find the courage to look. Needless to say, I didn't expect to find out all that I did. I was encouraged by many to read the book by Ray Franz, Crisis of Conscience - I completed it just hours ago. Suffice to say, if you accept his account as factual (and let's face it, it all comes down to what you believe is true - since none of us were there), then reading this book will lead you to the conclusion that although the 6 million or so followers of the organization are probably motivated by a desire to serve God through Christ - the leaders of the organization (the GB) are not spirit directed.

IF you are ready to accept this as a possibility, read this book! WHEN, you are ready to accept this possibility, read this book! You don't say how long you've been reading here at this site, but look around, explore all the areas and the links - I'm sorry you were disheartened - so was I - so were many others - this forum is a giant group session - it helps. You're not alone.

69

I've been debating on whether or not to share this...but here goes

by findingmyway in

for those of you who will be disgusted that i even attended the meeting, let alone allow my son to give his first public talk tonight, please, spare me the shouting messages.

i take full responsibility for what i experienced this evening.

yet, i feel the need to share this experience that has me enraged.

Nellie

FMW - Welcome to the Board (I love LL too!)

You've received some good advice here. You haven't really addressed your relationship with your parents. Do you live with them? Are you dependent upon them? Can you pull your son away from the organization and yet not pull him away from your parents? Can you speak with your parents directly? Will they respect your wishes not to study with him (because even if he isn't at the meetings, I'm sure they'll talk to him about the Truth when you're not around)?

Leave the Truth - YUP - Leave the Organization - ABSOLUTELY - Leave the FAMILY - ONLY AS A LAST RESORT

6

CoC Review - "Power Corrupts, Ultimate Power Corrupts Ultimately"

by Nellie in

i just finished reading crisis of conscience.

i don't know if it was a record or anything, but i just received it the other day and i'm finished!

my criticisms - surely brother franz knows who spearheaded the attacks he so eloquently discusses in his book, both the witchhunt against him personally and those he witnessed during the years.

Nellie

I just finished reading Crisis of Conscience. I don't know if it was a record or anything, but I just received it the other day and I'm finished! (Obviously, not much else got done!)

My criticisms - surely Brother Franz KNOWS who spearheaded the attacks he so eloquently discusses in his book, both the witchhunt against him personally and those he witnessed during the years. Not only does he know who instigated the attacks, but I'm sure he also knows WHY they did ... and yet, he doesn't really come clean with all the details. He lumps them all together as a "body" when it comes to really laying blame. And, although he mentions who likely voted with whom, he doesn't share the "motivation" behind the story.

I WANT DETAILS . . . I want to know WHY those who voted to allow the Mexican brothers to bribe the officials felt they merited that consideration over those brothers in Malawi who were raped, beaten and killed. What was the motivation, money, property, race? He has to know more - what did they say? What were the deciding factors?

He doesn't really say who led the attack on him during his sabbatical - just weeks after he went away! He got calls - he knows who was behind it and WHY. I wanna know - what's a tell all, without the TELL ALL?

My accolades - I don't know if I could have gone through his experiences and not be more bitter. Yet, I've told you all that my 35 years in service to this organization have not left me angry and bitter, I haven't experienced the pain and attacks that he did and I'm honest enough to admit that I just don't know if I'd be where he is if I was where he was. I just don't know.

Brother Franz, if you're reading this . . . know this . . . I'm one of those who you address in the beginning of the book as "confused" and was looking for insights into the organization, probably to help me mentally reach the conclusions that my heart had already reached. And I thank you, I wanted to know about what you talked about. And having heard it, my mind has joined my heart and they have become solidified in their decision to move on . . . away from this organization, though not away from God and Christ.

To use another quote: "The truth has set me free!"

12

IT'S HERE!

by Nellie in

i finally got my copy of coc.

i guess i'll be busy for a while - i didn't realize it was quite so big!

i can't wait to get started - i guess this means i'll be away for a while .

Nellie

Forsharry - I couldn't have said it better. I guess my gut knew that this book would be the icing on the cake as far as cementing my decision - I think I took so long to read it, because I wanted to make sure that the decision I made was based on MY heart, on MY experience and not on (once again) what somebody told me. Once I had reached the conclusion that there really was something very wrong with our teachings and that I couldn't in my heart continue, then I was ready to hear what he had to say.

It's wonderful to know I finally got it right.

9

New Light and Sports

by pratt1 in

.

although i am pleased when i hear about children of dubs who are pursuing sports at the high school, college and professionally level, it also disturbs me that so many of us in the past lost out on these opportunities because of the rigid views of the dubdum.. a friend of mine that is still active says that many of these changes or new light occurrs because thinking dubs stand up to the elders and make these personal decisions for their family without the advice of elders.. do you ever feel that you should/could stand up for your beliefs even when they are against the advice of elders, eventually you could inspire change within the religion?.

i ask because through out history change has ocurred because of standing up to those in authority.. examples, gandi, martin luther king, susan b. anthony to name just a few.. what are your thoughts?.

Nellie

My oldest son was 13, overweight and depressed. I was looking for a way to build his self-esteem and I made the decision (although I knew it was against the recommendation of the congregation) to put him in a football league. IT WAS ABSOLUTELY THE BEST THING I COULD HAVE DONE!

Looking back, I can honestly say, it was also the beginning of the end for me. NOT because of the association or the sport, but because I was making a stand to do something that I KNEW was for the betterment of my child - regardless of the stand of the congregation! I didn't hide what I was doing, nor could I because my children (all 3 boys were playing) frequently made the local papers (pictures and all) with highlights of their accomplishments!

Making that stand was the beginning of me taking my life back!

12

IT'S HERE!

by Nellie in

i finally got my copy of coc.

i guess i'll be busy for a while - i didn't realize it was quite so big!

i can't wait to get started - i guess this means i'll be away for a while .

Nellie

WOW! I'm on page 160 - Yes, I'm a fast reader and all I can say is

FINALLY I'm getting answers to questions I always had. I ALWAYS wanted to know about the history of the WBTS - about Russell, Rutherford, Knorr and Franz - I always wanted to know when and how they were anointed - what gave them the "God-given" right to the position and power they had. I wanted to know (for myself) how they KNEW what they KNEW and how they KNEW it was RIGHT.

Without those answers, I could NEVER put away my doubts fully!

There are now a few more things I KNOW - I KNOW I'll be ordering the second book & I KNOW if I ever doubted my decision to leave, I KNOW I'LL NEVER BE GOING BACK!

The truth CAN set you FREE!

25

Yes, a Bethelite Woman Provided "Spiritual Food" to Jehovahs Witnesses

by Dogpatch in

october 8, 1986 awake!

i did all of the research for awake!

editor and senior writer, harry peloyan, for the 1993 booklet, "what is the purpose of life?

Nellie

MINDBLOWING - absolutely, mindblowing

12

IT'S HERE!

by Nellie in

i finally got my copy of coc.

i guess i'll be busy for a while - i didn't realize it was quite so big!

i can't wait to get started - i guess this means i'll be away for a while .

Nellie

I finally got my copy of CoC. I guess I'll be busy for a while - I didn't realize it was quite so big! I can't wait to get started - I guess this means I'll be away for a while . . .

But I'll be back!