We (myself and my 3 siblings) were raised as JWs. Not that I wouldn't change a lot of things (mostly the JW stuff), but, with the exception of the sporadic spanking for not giving witness at school and having to cope with feeling like a freakaziod, I had a pretty nice childhood. Our parents tried very hard to make sure that we were a close-knit family. I applaud their efforts. We were sheltered and our world was very small, but they did the best they knew how.
findingmyway
JoinedPosts by findingmyway
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13
Good Childhood or Bad Childhood?
by weinermcgee inah i pressed tab this time instead of enter!.
i am allowed one more topic today so i thought i'd make it interesting.. i'd have to say that i had an awesome jw childhood i had lots of kids to play with, my cong always held special things to make all the children happy such as renting space to have parties or watching disney movies at someones house, movie theatre parties.
sliding parties (you know sleds on hills, no gt sno racers back then), all kinds of things that prevented us from getting worldly friends.
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I am not alone!!!!!
by Krisiva10 init took me a bit of reading through some posts to realize that this site is exactly what i have been looking for, for such a long time!!
people to share my blown away realization i experienced after i quit going to the meetings and went against my mother!
it feels great to see people who have gone through and felt the same as i and who have taken the steps to change their life.
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findingmyway
I tried as much as possible to do that and always wondered what was wrong with me
Same here...I prayed incessently for the "pioneer spirit" because I knew I'd never be able to make the necessary sacrifices to actually be a pioneer, so I prayed that I could think and act like one. Thankfully, my prayers were NEVER answered.
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The story of my life (part 5- Bethel, the first shock)
by onacruse inabout 2 months after i arrived at bethel (late spring), i took my place at the breakfast table...awakened, as usual, by the 6 a.m. bell, a quick shower, and arriving with great anticipation for the 7 a.m. daily comments, with a few words from the "head of the table" (usually knorr, but they had recently started a weekly "cycling" of governing body members; part of the impending organizational elders restructuring).
the norm was to start eating at 7:30 a.m. (read "scoop the bowl and wolf it down"), and on the clock by 8 a.m.. but, on this day, something completely beyond my anticipation.
knorr starts off by saying that we should be prepared to sit for a while, as he proceeds, for 3 hours, to outline how a homosexuality "ring" has been operating at bethel for some time, including some gileadites.
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findingmyway
Onacruse, this is THE story that I heard about. I never was able to get the details, but my cousin told me about this story. I wasn't sure how much, if any, of it was true.
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Likening my exit from the JWs to a bad divorce
by findingmyway inunlike those of you who made the choice to drift or fade away, i was df'd a few years ago and, at the time, i thought i would return.
with the passing of time, i am realizing that going back for the sake of mending family bonds is not a good enough reason to go back.
but my family has been holding out the hope that i will return.
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findingmyway
Cordelia,
I've been df'd 4 times... I know, TMI. With the exception of this last time, each time I submitted a letter for reinstatement it was for my family. This last time, I did submit a letter - 2 actually - because I really felt that I was ready to "walk the walk" and my plea was rejected twice because of "my past." That would be my final attempt to return. I am a single parent now and therefore have a family of my own. I no longer think in terms of what my family (mother, father, siblings, etc.) wants, rather what my family (my son & myself) needs.
I've come a long way -- I can even track my progress, but I have an even longer way to go. I take it one step at a time. Looking back, I know that even if they had reinstated me that last time, it was never and never will be in my heart to be a JW. I would never "make the truth my own."
My best to you!
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Likening my exit from the JWs to a bad divorce
by findingmyway inunlike those of you who made the choice to drift or fade away, i was df'd a few years ago and, at the time, i thought i would return.
with the passing of time, i am realizing that going back for the sake of mending family bonds is not a good enough reason to go back.
but my family has been holding out the hope that i will return.
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findingmyway
My friend says that ex-JW's are some of the bravest people on earth.
Brave, huh? I don't know how brave I feel, but I certainly do experience moments of insanity...especially after discussing the topic at nausea.
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Singer finds her voice after leaving JW's
by Gopher ingood story about rene marie.
she speaks frankly about a good effect she found by joining the jw's, and how and why she left never to look back.
http://www.pacpub.com/site/myzwire.cfm?newsid=15292956&brd=1091&pag=461&dept_id=343157&rfi=6
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findingmyway
I wonder what positive impact it would have on the WTBTS if they abandoned the cruel shunning policy?
Because my entire immediate family are all JWs, I know that I would still be attached to the religion on some level. However, in spite of the shunning, there are still major flaws in the doctrines that are taught. So I would suspect that they would keep people around a little longer or their membership may even increase. But for those who conduct their own research in their quest for truth, they may not hold on to them for long.
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Likening my exit from the JWs to a bad divorce
by findingmyway inunlike those of you who made the choice to drift or fade away, i was df'd a few years ago and, at the time, i thought i would return.
with the passing of time, i am realizing that going back for the sake of mending family bonds is not a good enough reason to go back.
but my family has been holding out the hope that i will return.
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findingmyway
Unlike those of you who made the choice to drift or fade away, I was df'd a few years ago and, at the time, I thought I would return. With the passing of time, I am realizing that going back for the sake of mending family bonds is not a good enough reason to go back. But my family has been holding out the hope that I will return. I liken my experience to a wife separated from her husband who is realizing that she doesn't want to reconcile, but the husband doesn't want to let go. Right now, I can't bring myself to tell my family that I never want to be reinstated. So I am contributing to the hopes that they are holding onto by not being clear about that.
I don't know where I'm heading yet, but I know I won't ever go back. I hope one day soon, I'll find the strength to tell my family that I do not want to return to the organization.
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Don't you sometimes just want to STOP talking about it?
by nicolaou inthere's some real nasty stuff going on in my family right now - many of my worst fears about being shunned are coming true and i fear for my mum's health because of all the stress she's under - seriously!.
but i just cannot bring myself to discuss it.
i'm just so sick and tired of the whole thing...
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findingmyway
Hi Nic,
I am sorry for what you are going through right now, but I understand exactly what you mean. It can be more than a drag at times. My entire immediate family (parents & siblings) are all baptized JWs, and so are most of my extended family on my mother's side. No matter how much I try to run from this, like Blondie said, it will always be a part of me. I personally find it difficult because I feel like I can't escape the organization because (1) my parents live a block away and (2) because my boyfriend wants to know all the details so that he can support me. Like you, I hate talking about it. Hopefully, I'll get to a point when it will have less of a hold on my life. Unfortunately, I think that will mean me moving away frm my family and starting my life completely over.
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E-mail from a Former JW Friend
by findingmyway inhey sweets:.
hope all is well.
it is not a day that goes by that i don't think about you and wonder will i ever get the chance to be with you again.
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findingmyway
How's this?
Hey there! I'm sorry to just get back to you, but I've been crazy busy planning this conference for my firm's diversity committee (www.2005DiversitySummit.com). I'm glad it's finally over because that was my life for the past 6 months. Anyway, I'm so happy to hear from you and to hear that life is good for you. I bet Miss [her daughter's name here] is just a perfect little independent lady much these days. 2nd grade! It seems like just yesterday that [my son's name here] was in the 2nd grade. He's in the 4th now. It seems like the older they get the closer they become in age. I guess 2 years isn't a lot. Life is going well for me also. Like I said I've been working hard too. Balancing mommyhood, school and career gets a little bit overwhelming at times, but overall everything is great! I love you too! Kiss Bri for me. Take care, Nikki
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E-mail from a Former JW Friend
by findingmyway inhey sweets:.
hope all is well.
it is not a day that goes by that i don't think about you and wonder will i ever get the chance to be with you again.
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findingmyway
I was df'd about 4 years ago (I think...I really can't remember exactly) and she's been pleading for me to return to the organization. When I was first df'd I thought I wanted to go back, but over the past year, I realized that, for numerous reasons, I just don't want to be one of Jehovah's Witnesses. It started when I lost my fear of Armageddon and death. We were close, but that was years ago and I've outgrown all the JWs that I once had close relationships with. I simply cannot relate to them.