i have held off posting here for a long time, i have read this board from nearly its begining, and have been tempted to post before, but haven't.
i am a life long witness, and so is my spouse.
several years ago i began reading various internet sites about the history of the orginazation and came to the horrifing conclusion that some things are just not right.
Welcome, seek2find!!!!
I'm a lifelong JW also, so is my husband. I am leaving, but my husband is an elder with no intention of leaving.
This site is great on so many levels, as I'm sure you've noticed. Not the least of which is the fact that it gives people like us hope that maybe we can get our spouses out, too.... other people have been successful, why not me??
So keep reading, keep posting, and enjoy!!
GGG
i have never heard of this before, but i think it is worth knowing.
i have come across a rather strange story.
yes it is legitimate and some details are left out to protect this persons identity.
Good grief, I've missed all you guys!! I'm laughing hysterically here.... must compose myself, gotta go make dinner.......
GGG
ive been twice to hurricane rebuilds.
i helped with hurricane andrew and maryland.
yes, its true that 98 percent of the people we helped were mostly the jw's.
WTS depends on the hard work and man power of the KHs. WTS contributes nothing as far as I can see.
Exactly!!
And on another note, the elders in the congregation affected have a lot of the responsibility for organizing the work. The elders higher up on the totem pole assign those lower down on the totem pole to do whatever the Society (or CO, or whoever) wants done. Doesn't matter if they have families that need attention, small children, wives that have had more than enough dealing with the tragedy, etc..... Excuse me, that's not what I call 'volunteer work'. And it's not performed by the WTS.
GGG
my children are shunning me because the dubs told them too.
the scriptural reason they gave my children is that you're supposed to love jehovah above all else.
and the one about not speaking to a man who has turned from the road of righteousness (sp?)..
Garybuss... that post is priceless. I'm going to save it and reread it every time I feel a weak and weepy moment coming on... no matter what the situation!
GGG
i just want to send my thoughts and well wishes to ggg.
i was in touch with her until the time of the florida hurricane and she was in a very close path of the worst of it.
i haven't seen her online since and sincerely hope all is well with her and her loved ones.. please join me in sending good thoughts her way and having a warm welcome ready when she returns to us.
AAAAAAWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!
You guys are so sweet!! I'm touched!
We're fine.. the phone is back now, power is back as of last nite (yippee!!!), but still no running water or cable (thus dial up internet, and I can't get online much yet). The KH is running on a generator, but they had the meeting tonite!!! There are still a lot of people with no power, including half my neighborhood, so I feel kind of bad for them.
There is a LOT of damage around here, but newer houses are built to strict hurricane codes and fared very well. There are downed trees absolutely everywhere, though. They say that about 50% of the trees in the county are gone. 30-40% of the mobile homes in the county are destroyed. Lots of roofs are missing shingles, a tree fell on a neighbor's car and crushed it, but people are cleaning up and moving on. I do miss running water, though.... we've been showering at friends' houses.
Thanks for the pm's and all the concern! I'll be back more regularly when I get my regular internet back again.
GGG (of the Windblown But Otherwise Fine Class)
you've probably heard sentences that stuck with you.
quotes, one-liners.
you hear them and they make so much sense or touch you so personally at the time that they become part of you.
It depends on the individual JW.
I completely agree.
My son almost died, and we refused to authorize a blood transfusion, even though he would have received one if it became a matter of life or death (court order). A few months after his recovery, I was in service, and the woman at the door brought up JWs and the blood issue. She had several young children wandering around and so she said that she didn't really want to discuss it in depth because of that. The 'sister' I was with mentioned that my son had nearly died but had ultimately not needed blood, even though the doctors said he would. The woman at the door looked at us, silent for a moment, then said, I'm sorry, but that's absurd.
As soon as the words left her lips, I knew that I agreed with her 1000%, and could never, ever return to the WT. Even though I went in service after that, I never spoke at a door again. It was the true beginning of my exit.
GGG
i am forcing myself to do this - i feel nauseated, depressed... my hands are shaking.
i know many of you see this and laugh.
but for those of you who arn't, you know how hard it is for me to do this.
daniel_p
Welcome!!
Congratulations on taking that first step..... It's terrifying. The feelings you describe are exactly what I felt for a long time. I have no problems with the JW people themselves, I have lots of friends, I grew up as a JW, pioneered, knew nothing else. When I left, it was over doctrinal issues. I found JWD a long time before I began posting here... I started reading another, more doctorine-oriented exJW forum first, because I was more interested in finding out answers to my religious questions and not ready to deal with the practical problems yet. I had to know what God wanted of me, what he wanted me to do. I knew what I didn't believe, but had no idea what I did believe. But I was absolutely sure that God was not using the WTS.
Once I worked through the 'spiritual' issues I had, I was faced with a huge mess. All my friends are JWs. My husband is an elder. I can't stand hypocracy, and yet there I was, sitting through meetings and listening to things I didn't believe. Just know that it's a process, and each step has it's own challenges, and there is no set exit-recipie. You need to do what is right for you.
The people on this site are great... So supportive!! You need support to get through this, so don't be afraid to ask for it!
GGG
It's Wednesday, April 12th.
GGG
i know i did.. we had a young fellow who used to live at my grandmother's place.
in may ways he was like family.
after he moved out of my grandmother's place i saw him frequently.
((((((((((((((((((((((misspeaches)))))))))))))))))))))))
GGG
i thought i would share an experience from the congregation i was assosiated with in utah.
about 17 years ago i caught my 15-year-old stepson molesting my 3-year-old daughter.
of course, the first action taken was to call the elders.
I am going to work through it though!
You go girl!
GGG
