Posts by vinman

41

The elders of the 1980s are now in their 60s and 70s

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

having just come back from the uk and spoke with some witnesses to find out how my old congregation is doing, i realized i am now the age that my elders were when i was a kid.

and i wonder what the elders who are now in their 60s and 70s are thinking when they look in the mirror and an old face looks back at them.

many of the elders in my old hall are now retired.

vinman

I think of this all the time. All your comments are spot on. A lot does have to do with age. Being forty five, I realised I had to act swiftly and not ignore reality. I still have a lot if energy. It is sooo depressing to contemplate this subject.

17

" See ourselfs as others see us"

by The Rebel in

jw
friends

the membership rule is simple, you join the organisation for life and undertake to serve for life.. my o.p is based on the poet robert burns who talked about the gift to " see ourselfs as others see us".

i think maybe the hardest thing for me to leave, the jehovers witness " organisation" was to accept how my family and friends will now "see" me.. so my questions are how difficult was it to leave:-.

a) knowing the reaction of friends and family?.

vinman

I understand how a person feels this way. I currently have been avoiding the thought. But I must admit, their are maybe a few individuals and one family I do care how they view me. I just wish they would listen to me and at least acknowledge why I left. Right now, I haven't seen a witness come near my house in months. I am like a barrel of toxic waste that no one wants to disturb.

2

Introducing Myself

by Peony in

i've finally got round to joining the site (after over 2 years lurking!

i was born into jws, pioneered for 10 years (met my husband at pioneer school).

had health issues that saw me catapulted away from 'the centre of the cong' and wow what a different place that was!

vinman

Like everyone, I welcome you as well. You mention panic attacks. The same happened with me. I had to get to my car to feel safe. Isn't it strange that once you know TTATT, the bigger picture unfolds. It is actually terrifying. The KH becomes this creepy place due to mind control.

I'm happy for your escape!

12

How are you spreading TTATT?

by vinman in

just wondering if anyone has used any underhanded ways of spreading ttatt.

i mean, has anyone made up business cards or tracts and spread them far and wide?

i would love to engage in this "alternative witnessing".

vinman

Just wondering if anyone has used any underhanded ways of spreading TTATT. I mean, has anyone made up business cards or tracts and spread them far and wide? I would love to engage in this "alternative witnessing".

91

Setback

by EdenOne in

i saw this coming since my mother-in-law's funeral .... the congregation's "love-bombing" over my wife had its impact.

i watched her drawing closer and closer to her friends in the congregation.

then she decided she would attend the memorial.

vinman

I know this sounds strange. But try to see the positive. Don't talk about the organization in a negative light unless you have to make a particular point. My wife knows exactly how I feel and why. I can't convince her. She earlier had said to me to not talk to her about this anymore. So what I do is "show interest". I ask how many were at the hall. Or, did you have support for field service? Any type of generic question works. Even though I absolutely despise the organization, at least my wifes behavior is predictable. Life isn't really that bad. However, even if my wife accepted TTATT, not all do as well with it. Things can turn out bad for her. People need the organization for different reasons. I, early on, knew my wife could not cope without it. I shut up quickly. It is like being weaned from drugs. Cold turkey can kill people. Same is true with TTATT.

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

vinman

JWdaughter

Use it as a reference anytime. I also mentioned in a later comment that I attached several pages of Jackson's transcript where he lies about disassociation and how they don't police people. 😊

69

Why Me?

by John Aquila in

do you ever wonder why out of all the witnesses, you are the one that woke up?

i wonder many times why me.

i know many men and women that are much, much better persons than me; either they are much smarter, more humble, kinder, more successful, or just better persons all around.

vinman

John Aquila10 hours ago

Yea, I do, I really don't have any answers. Everyone here so far makes a point I can't refute. I almost have my second degree and read tons of books on different subjects and I'm still as lost as ever. So I decided to just admit I don't know and probably won't before the final breath. And I'm not really ok with it but what else can I do? Nothing but try to enjoy the last few moments of life I do have.

When I started fading, I went bazerk. I reseached everything including evolution and atheism. But after the dust settled, I realised that their are two sides to EVERY story. I went to this website: http://thewatchtowerfiles.com/mystory/

Many articles were encouraging. I came to the realisation that I feel like the author, Doug Shields. The Bible, Yahweh, Yeshua, just feel natural. I also studied many sites about the Bible itself. My favorite is this article written in prior to 1900: http://www.biblebb.com/files/ryle/inspiration.htm

I have found great comfort in this path.

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

vinman

Oh. I forgot one thing. I also sent them 7 pages of Jackson's trial where he talks about disassociating and not having a police system like with 2 elders showing up. Also how he lies about how you can say you are not a Witness and not be disassociated. Blah..blah..blah

41

Ganged up via Telephone

by vinman in

i've been fading for about 9 months.

the elders know exactly why.

i received a phone call a couple of days ago.

vinman

I've been fading for about 9 months. The elders know exactly why. I received a phone call a couple of days ago. Two elders were on the line. They gave me that typical "we care" crap. I could of just said I can't talk. But, I just couldn't control myself. They started asking me if I believe this is God's organization. Do I believe we are in the last days and so on. I simply said "I know what you are up to,

This is a set up". I began to tell them about all the lies I have found in our literature concerning our history, worshipping Jesus till 1954, and so on. I kept telling them I could show them the lies on the videos and in the books. They were so unkind at that point. They said we see what you see and it doesn't bother us. I said it should. I proceeded to ask them why i was in trouble. I did not lie. I found lies. Who should be counseled? Me or the Watchtower? "And what about all that lying from the Watchtower and Geoffrey Jackson to the Royal Commission in Australia? The coverup of 1006 pedophiles. You need to watch the trial or download the transcripts. The Watchtower is embarrassing. And you know that it is a real problem when the entire world can download the entire elders book!! The Watchtower will pay for this! The UK is after them next!"

At that point they just said good bye for the most part. They knew I will not go back. Later I felt like sending a little proof. So i attached an Awake! Watching the World photo shot that stated this:

The “credibility gap” caused by theCatholic Church’s “mismanagement of the clergy sex abuse crisis” has resulted in its “largest institutional crisis in centuries, possibly in church history.”—NATIONAL CATHOLIC REPORTER,U.S.A.

Then i attached the official 1006 pedophile list from Australia. I also sent a photo shot shot of Russell's biography and the Divine Purpose book that says they never did such a thing. I also attached Wt Charter that said they worshipped Jesus. Then I finally attached these quotes: "The Catholic Church occupies a very significant position in the world and claims to be the way of salvation for hundreds of millions of people. Any organization that assumes that position should be willing to submit to scrutiny and criticism." {AWAK Aug 22 1984 28}

"Come to Jehovah's organization for salvation" - Watchtower 1981 Nov 15 p.212

Is This Life Are There Is?" (1974) p46:

“It is obvious that the true God, who is himself ‘the God of truth’ and who hates lies, will not look with favor on persons who cling to organizations that teach falsehood. (Psalm 31:5; Proverbs 6:16-19; Revelation 21:8) And, really, would you want to be even associated with a religion that had not been honest with you?”

Who of us has not said or done something unkind and then later been confronted about it? We likely felt embarrassed or somewhat guilty. Such feelings can lead a person to deny an error or offer some “explanation” that twists the truth in order to excuse the wrong or make it appear correct. Or in an uncomfortable situation, we might be tempted to mention only selected details, editing them to color the facts. Hence, what we say might technically be true yet give a totally different impression. While this may not be flagrant lying, such as is common in the world today, is it really ‘speaking truth each one with his neighbor,’ or brother? (Ephesians 4:15, 25; 1 Timothy 4:1, 2) When a Christian phrases things in such a way that he inwardly knows is leading brothers to a wrong conclusion, to believe something that is really not true, not accurate, how do you think God feels?

- Jehovah's Day Book

Just tell me you are proud of me!