Posts by PoppyR

34

Are You Truly "HAPPY" Now That You're Out Of The Organization?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i've seen how some (not me) are still bewildered and still searching for "the truth" and are unhappy.

what's your status?

?

PoppyR

I am much happier. I so enjoy all my free time, I love my Sunday mornings in bed with my book and cuppa (hey I'm single!)

Love the fact I dont have to find out where my work colleagues live so I dont call on them..lol

I hated being a witness, maybe I wasn't a very good one, but I hated it all, and now I can see so much goodness in the world, and actually DO something about the bad stuff instead of going round knocking on empty houses.

And you know what.. I find so many good people out here, their fun, honest, genuine and I just wish I'd got out sooner. Every time I see any of the brothers they look weighed down and pressured, and I remember how that never being good enough felt.

Also dont have to hide my tattoos any longer

Poppy xxxxxxx

54

Are Circuit Overseers Getting Discouraged?

by metatron in

jw
friends

a sister i know went out with the c.o.

's wife in service recently.

sister c.o.

PoppyR

An 'ex' friend of mine went on to become a CO and at the grand age of 41 his wife 'accidentally' got pregnant (I personally think she'd just had enough!!) The sad thing is they were left totally penniless, no house, no income, no qualifications. And now my mother goes on and on about how Jehovah has blessed them because they've been given so much.

As far as I can see, being 41, living in a council house in one of the worst areas because that's all they could get, and having a dead end job and a new baby.. .oh yes so blessed. Think she probably means they've been passed down lots of second hand furniture and are expected to be grateful, and sadly, probably are because at least it's their own.

Sad thing is this guy is amazingly smart, could have gone on to do anything he wanted. Even sadder, what he wanted was to be a CO.

Poppy

37

JW's ruin my dinner.

by moshe in

i took my family to red lobster tonight and shortly after we were seated ( it was about 5 pm- early) a large party came in and took up two tables next to us.

one young woman had a very loud laugh and because of that i kept looking at their table.

then i noticed a young black couple with a toddler- then i noticed all the men had suits and ties- then i noticed three single men were sitting together and three single women next to them- and finally one young couple that i decided were married.

PoppyR

We may not all be in the same boat, but when I was a dub I BELIEVED it!! That is I'd proudly walk past the apostates at assemblies and wonder What in the hell makes them do that?? Because in my own mind controlled brain.. I could not see the wood for the trees, so someone walking up to me and trying to convince me I was wrong.. just proved to me more and more how right I was.

I honestly feel nobody leaves the organisation until they are ready, and a word spoken at the proper time.. ie when they are already weak, might help.

A colleague who was an ex witness waited for 3 years before she brought up to me the 607 thing, if she had spoken to me about it at the beginning when I was heavily involved I probably would never have discussed religion with her again, because I wasn't ready. As it was, she timed it perfectly, asked me if I was still going to meetings and then BAM!

I treat witnesses with respect, I feel sorry for them, and hope in time they will see what I can now see is a blinding light! I remember how I felt to be a witness, I hated going to restaurants looking so obviously different, I wanted to fit in, and I'm sure most of those do too. But I am starting to feel the heart thumping, dry mouth reaction when a dub walks towards me on the street, are they or aren't they going to talk to me! I find it so weird that I am not D'Ad or Dfed yet many turn their heads away. Truly an organisation that has love as it's second command??

Poppy xxxx

11

How Long Did it Take You

by XBEHERE in

jw
friends

i just looked at my avatar after i made my 500th post here and realized that i have officially signed up on this forum 3 1/2 yrs ago but was lurking for several months prior to that.

now 500 posts isnt that much for over 3 yrs and i am still a jw in "good" standing while so many of you have come here, left, and moved on already.

so how long did it take you to leave after coming here?

PoppyR

I read posts here from people that are elders, pioneers etc, and just dont know how they do it! And that's not a criticism, each to their own, but once I realised what a lie I'd been fed I just could not stop myself from speaking about it.

For myself I came here after a work colleauge pointed out the 607 thing, i was immediately so impressed by every comment that was made being backed up by evidence and very quickly realised I had been blinded for so long.

The initial couple of months was highs and lows, I felt angry at everything I'd given up, then low because I wondered what the point in life was, then ecstatic because I realised i could do all the things I wanted and not feel guilty (I'm not talking immorality here! Just career, education etc)

I've recently worked out I've just become 'inactive' as in I haven't put in a report or attended a meeting in 6 months. I think I'm about a quarter of the way to a sucessful fade, but dont count my chickens and know I could be dfed at any time. I am now completely and utterly convinved the 'truth' is anything but. I have had one elder came to call, I think now it must have been when I became inactive. I actually felt sorry for him, I dont think he wanted to be here, and I didn't want him to be here, and he quickly left no doubt feeling he'd done his duty.

I am very interested to see if I am 'invited' to the memorial, I haven't missed one in my 37 years.. but have decided I am not going off my own back, if my family really want me to go then I shall put in a token appearance, but that will be weird!!

It's a long slow road, you have years probably of this mental conditioning, allow yourself time, space and come here and find yourself among a strange group of people who know exactly how you feel!

Thinking of you

Poppy xxx

31

Just checking in: Life is GREAT and I'm SO HAPPY

by berylblue in

jw
friends

as an ex-jw.. for those of you who are wondering if there is life beyond the wtbts -.

yes, there is.. a very fulfilling, exciting, satisfying life.. i am now a store manager candidate for a national pharmacy chain - will have my own store within 6 months - .

my grandson is beautiful and both my children are in constant contact.. i will be getting married to a wonderful man in a few months - and.

PoppyR

I'm so pleased for you! the dubs see the world in such a horrible light, every issue of the wt goes on and on about the misery and torture, I am amazed every day by how the vast majority of people are nice, good, decent and caring and there is so much goodness in the world. I also am grateful every day that I 'saw the light' and can enjoy my life!

Poppy xx

18

Did you know any JW's elder that committed Aldutery and was not removed?

by booker-t in

jw
friends

do you know of any jw's elder that committed adultery but still remained as an elder?

do you think that the other elders swept it under the carpet?

PoppyR

I have close experience of an elder who while serving was found out to be visiting prostitutes, this he admitted to and the other elders felt so sorry for him they did not DF or reprove him, removed him but made no announcement and when his poor wife divorced him she was villified because he was clearly so bereft. She was so loyal she never told anyone the truth and just moved away. He was soon reappointed, remarried and the golden boy once again and she was left to serve as a single sister 'tarred' with gossip. A CO actually had the guts to phone her up and ask could she not 'find it in her heart' to forgive him. Totally ignoring any scriptural advice!! I somehow doubt if she had been the one to be unfaithful to such a massive degree she would have been treated quite so gently.

poppy

48

The GREATEST IRONY of Shunning and Disfellowshiping

by Trojan in

i have lately started to think many things over.

as i adquire more knowledge, or other kind of knowledge, i see things more and more in another light.

it's a strange and thrilling experience i'm going through.

PoppyR

In my last meeting I asked one of the elders how the reinstatement process.. the person has to come to meetings and be ignored for 6 months before they are allowed back.. fits in with the prodigal son.. where the father ran down to meet him, welcomed him straight back in and threw a party.. He COULD NOT ANSWER MY my question with any conviction, because it clearly does not marry. It takes massive commitment for for someone who is already low, to come to meetings and be ignored by everyone, how did I ever think this was the truth????

Poppy

27

HOW MANY OF YOU REPORTED FAKE HOURS LAST YEAR?

by badboy in

jw
friends

any takers?

PoppyR

I did! And thought I was the only one, when I was a good dub how i struggled to get my pioneer hours in! But towards the end of this service year I started putting about 4 a month, but hadn't actually been out for months. I stopped pretending around October, so I wont be on next years report either! And in 2 months time I'll stop being irregular and be officially inactive!! Woo Hoo.

Poppy

16

oostattoos

by jaada in

hi everyone, i have a question about tattoos.

i was told by a jw that getting a tattoo was going against jehovah, and that he forbid them is that true?

is it wrong?

PoppyR

The tattoo thing in the mosaic law times was all about religious tattoos of other gods,

Also if we were under the mosaic law there's lots of other things we should be doing, ie washing up to the elbows, observing the sabbath..

It's still considered to be a conscience matter.. but you certainly wouldnt be considered 'spiritual' if it became known you had one done, and if you were a brother your privileges would be removed..

I had my first tattoo aged 30 when I was still a good dub. Now I have 4, my favourite one being on my lower back, I used to love to bend over and search through my bag and flash it..

Guess we had to make our own fun at the meetings!!

127

ok why havent we got the truth?

by PMJ in

ok as you have gathered im a wittness and i for one beleave we have the truth.not saying every thing is or has all ways been right because we live in a imperfect world with imperfect people.but as far as jehovah being god and jesus being his son.and the coming war of arrmegeddon.i would say we have the truth.i no about all the mistakes and misunderstandings we have had in the past.but i feel that is past and we have moved on.and abandoned i no what you all say about the year 607 being wrong but that date all deapends on it desolation was 70 years or not.so im just trying to understand how some of you say you lernt you was being lied to?

PoppyR

I'm so bored with your posts!!! You just post to stir things up and it always works, if YOU believed you had the truth you would not be here!! You just like controversy. The GREAT thing about you being here is some of the replies to your posts have really proved to me that the JWs are whitewashed graves, rotten to the core. So keep posting, you are a fab apostate,

Poppy