Posts by amarantha

67

What do you feel when you see groups of Jehovah's Witnesses on the street?

by nicolaou in

regret, anger frustration?

how about sadness, sorrow, sympathy, understanding, even yearning!.

it can be quite confusing at times.

amarantha

I feel a little sick to my stomach, anxious, angry, scared (not sure why). I have to bite my tongue and hold myself to an "I'm not interested". I just try to remember that 10 years ago that could have been me. And that most of them probably just feel stuck in the system the way I did.

In the neighborhood I live in in NY, I've started seeing lots of groups out street witnessing now that the weather is nice. I can always spot them a block away. However, I have NEVER seen any of them actually approach anyone. They stand in a group, talking to each other, or just staring at the street, sometimes just sitting on a bench, usually holding a magazine in their hands, but they just watch you walk by. I have seen them in the subway doing the same thing. It just confirms for me that most of them are just "doing time". I saw some wandering around my local park, they finally DID approach some moms at the playground, including me. I gave a VERY polite "not interested" . Inside I was fuming. I've gotten to the point where I feel safe and insulated from them here. Strange as the HQs are just a borough away, but in 4 years of living here, only in the past few months have I really run into any. Nothing makes me feel as trapped and cornered as seeing them on my doorstep. And it was all I could do not to go over to the woman at the park who had taken an Awake from them, and tell her that she didn't want to read that brainwashing trash. I was very conflicted about it, but people have to make their own choices.

53

"This Generation" change -- fallout evidence?

by reagan_oconnor in

i was reading the recent posts on 2034 and was wondering... .

the 1975 debacle left the fds scrambling for explanations for the mass exodus of r&f who were disillusioned by their bs.

the pat answer has always been, "those people didn't keep pace with god's chariot" and they weren't "strong in the truth" and allowed something so "minor" to "stumble" them.

amarantha

The 1995 change was definitely part of the reason I left. My total lack of shock and lack of disappointment when it happened clued me in that I was becoming jaded in regard to the society. I expected this BS from them. I didn't fully extricate myself until 1998, and many other factors played a part in my decision to leave. Would I have left anyway? Yes. No question. But did it influence me? Yes.

25

The JW new world system scum

by greendawn in

we now know that the new system of things as imagined by the jws is a myth, a poison that's meant to seduce the unaware into the org so that they can then be controlled, abused, and exploited.

but during the time when you were taken in by the myth what sort of things were you imagining about this delightful new world and your participation in it?

or perhaps deep down you never really believed it and ignored it.

amarantha

It was pounded into us that it was right around the corner. I was told I wouldn't even graduate high school before the new world came, so no point worrying about what I was going to do afterwards.

I remember being very concerned about all the clean up we were going to have to do. After all, we were going to be responsible for cleaning the whole world and turning it into a paradise. I saw years of gardening & weeding ahead of me (a chore I hated). I also became a fanatic about trying to get my parents to recycle. It never worked, and it frustrated me to no end. I would tell them: "Don't you know you're just going to have to clean it up later?" I don't think they got it. Of course I'm still a recycling nut, but for other reasons. And it still amazes me that very few of my JW relatives care about the amount of trash they generate, and can't be bothered to recycle. I content myself by imagining them in "paradise" sifting through a garbage dump. Makes me wonder how many of them stop to imagine the what the reality would be like if this new world actually came.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Thanks Blondie. I think I understand. It amazes me that I grew up thinking I understood all of this, but really had no clue what it all meant.

Probably no official announcement that I'm an apostate, though people may view me as one. Am I right?

Disassociated and Dangerous. That's me.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Sunspot-

I have to admit, while reading the definition of apostacy I was also thinking: Well, gee, the world is full of apostates. After all, who hasn't left behind a belief, political, religious or otherwise. Don't most people at some point in their lives re-assess what they believe and adjust accordingly? After reading that, it makes me realize I'm still accepting the JW definition, and reacting to the word apostate exactly the way the Society wants me to.

Thank you for your welcome and input.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Blondie- thanks for the input, but I’m a little confused.

In your first post I get the impression joining another religion, and not trying to maintain contact with the congregation would result in an announcement that you are no longer a Jehovah’s Witness, plain and simple. That you would only be an apostate if you tried to “send letters or literature promoting false religion”.

But the second post leads me to believe you would be called an apostate simply by “joining a false religion”.

Which do you think it is?

Also, if I may ask, are you currently a JW? Former JW who still has their books?

Thanks for your response.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Rebel 8-

Yes, you're right. That is exactly how they have dealt with me so far as well... I am just concerned that the status quo will have to change when I once again live in close proximity, and because of my child can't (and won't) hide my celebration of holiday's etc. Surely he will tell them about the great birthday party he had, etc. I will never try to shove it in their face, or even mention it around them. But, what happens when they come to visit and we have a tree up, or something?

Anyway, I'll cross my fingers, and hope things can continue as they have. I just don't believe that they will, and it would almost be a relief for something, anything, to happen. One last, "let's have it out, and make sure everyone knows where everyone stands". I'm a little tired of trying to hide my life to pander to their craziness.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

LouBelle-

I never plan to approach the elders EVER again. Truthfully they would have to drug me, kidnap me, and strap me down to get me to meet with a group of elders ever again. Anything they decide to do to me they wll have to do on their own without getting my input. So, then, even if they got all the facts from my parents, etc, would they DF me or announce me an apostate? I suppose, technically, just admitting my other religious beliefs in front of my father, an elder, would be grounds to label me an apostate, right? (would he need a witness to the conversation?) This is why I have tried so hard to not share any religious beliefs with my family. I just do the silent treatment when the subject of religion comes up. I have been trying so hard to maintain some kind of relationship for them. I guess this may have been ultimately futile.

I have thought about writing a letter to the society asking to be removed as a member. Would I be considered an apostate if I did that?

I guess I resigned myself a long time ago to be DF'd eventually... I just haven't resigned myself to having the A word whispered behind my back by family members. Ugh.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Thank you for all of your responses. I guess I am just in denial (STILL). I moved across the country 4 years ago, but this month am moving back within close proximity of my old congregation. To compound the problem I have extended family through marriage in that congregation. They will most certainly get wind of anything. And as my father is a P.O., he would feel it necessary to cut me off whether or not I was officially Disfellowshipped.

A friend of mind who also left the religion just recently told me he thought they had changed their policies a bit, and didn't bother to disfellowship people, unless they were trying to re-enter the religion. I guess I wanted to believe that was true. As I'll never re-enter, I'd never be disfellowshipped. Sounds great!

The next part of my question is this. Will they just disfellowship me, or will I be declared an apostate?

I am a practicing pagan. At some point I feel my 2 year old is bound to blurt out something to his grandparents. I certainly don't want him to ever feel like it's the big bad secret he can't talk about. So, while I am obviously practicing another religion, one that they would consider tantamount to Satan worship, I don't waste my time picketing assemblies or otherwise trying to debunk JW's. I don't really speak out against them. Isn't that what apostacy in their view is all about? I suppose ultimately it doesn't really make a difference if I am disfellowshipped or also called an apostate. I'd just like to know what to expect, to prepare myself for.

Thanks again, all of you.

40

Current disfellowshipping practices- please help.

by amarantha in

hi, my name is amarantha.

i'm new to the board.

can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are?

amarantha

Hi, my name is Amarantha. I'm new to the board. Can anyone please tell me what the current disfellowshipping standards are? I have been "inactive" for about 6 years. I'm fine with this arrangement as it allows me to maintain contact with my family. I am curious, if my family finds out about my current religious beliefs, will they bother to disfellowship me after all this time? TIA