Posts by troubled mind

18

"Are you old in this system?" Feb 2015 broadcast video. Must watch

by stuckinarut2 in

if you have not already watched the feb 2015 broadcast, go to approx.

it has an elderly sister talking about being old in this world...a long time pioneer who probably thought the end would have come years ago...as the society told her many times.. now she is told to be on a mission to get young ones to also pioneer, and watch for the not so subtle condemntion of higher education!.

sickening stuff........ they missed the obvious elephant in the room.... a life wasted on nothing...now she has no money, and lived waiting for a fairy tale!

troubled mind

That video makes me feel sad ,and angry . I have an elderly JW Aunt ,and Uncle that have sacrificed their whole married lives to the JW organization . Now they are elderly ,and infirm ,and poor. I received a letter from my Aunt last week with the new JW.org tract tucked inside . She raved about how wonderful the new website is ....but then she lamented that she ,and my Uncle can't afford all the new techno gadgets .They do not have a computer or internet ,she mentioned how left out they feel when others at the hall are clicking away on their fancy phones or tablets . They too never thought they would see old age in the system of things .

12

Oh the joy of freedom..... to be just me.

by franticfran in

finally after five years i have finally shut the door very firmly on the witnesses.

i have had this "sister" calling for over the last six months clearly trying to reactivate me,but never mentioning the reason why me and my family left the forfar congregation two years ago.

it was always any subject but the " elephant in the room" well today was the finale.

troubled mind

It is an amazing feeling when you finally realize they no longer have power over your life ! No more looking over your shoulder or tip toeing around their feelings. Freedom to live your own life your way ...priceless !

21

JW's NOT identified by a symbol!!

by The Searcher in

*** km 9/74 p. 8 question box ***as jehovahs servants we.....................do not want to give others the impression that the tetragrammaton is the symbol of jehovahs witnesses as a whole.

we have no organizational symbol to identify ourselves but show that we are jehovahs christian witnesses by living in harmony with gods will.john 13:35.. don't you just love those "old" lights?.

troubled mind

Today I must have made some JWs mad, and was blocked from a site because of my comment about their new buttons . This site kept popping up on my facebook account that was selling JW.org buttons ,so today I clicked on it . They were all gushing about how to get these beautiful pins.One poster actually said at her hall there was a talk about not buying these buttons from outside sources (making someone worldly rich ) So I posted and said ,"I think these buttons are ridiculous .How come ten or fifteen yrs ago the internet was bad and now you are buying buttons to promote it ? What happened to being no part of the world ? The JW.org buttons remind me of the Mormons, and their Elder badges . Now I am blocked ....guess they didn't like my opinion .

43

Dear typer-ers, you're doing it wrong!

by Simon in

there are many things wrong with the world, many injustices and crimes committed.

what if we could stop one of them?

wouldn't it make the world a slightly better place?

troubled mind

I am an old fart ! Deal with it ,and all my typo's ,and indented paragraphs . Too bad for all of you ,and my son ,who continually tells me I type horribly . (imagine an expletive right here > <)

28

1st POST: A romance with a JW

by myangelface in

i am not a jw ...however i began having bible studies (i d call them watchtower studies).

i was beginning to get lured in and brainwashed into accepting the religion as the true religion...but something inside of me told me there was something odd.

some time passes and i was invited to a meeting and i accepted.

troubled mind

Real love is much more than seducing someone with good looks .

You are tempting him to go against everything he wholeheartedly believes in ,and eventually he will hate you for it .It seems to me that this relationship is not based on mutual common interests,openness, honesty, trust ?? why not ......Maybe because he is involved in something a whole lot bigger and complicated than you can imagine. You say he is intelligent ,why not approach this in a more honest way ...such as telling him your insights of his religion .Can he have an open honest discussion about these matters ? If not ,why would you really want to waste your time ? You can not change another person ,they have to want to do that themselves .

You need to forget him ,and move on to someone you have more in common with than desire.

40

First Time Post - Long time reader

by Samaritan At the Well in

today is my first post on jwd, i was one of jehovahs witness for almost 50 years of my life, i was born into the religion.

i was baptized at a young age and once i got married i was a very spiritual woman as they would call me.

my husband and i served as full time pioneers, we traveled abroad and went to international conventions, did some special pioneer service in other states in the us.

troubled mind

I too laughed when you described looking over your shoulder at the bookstore ! Because I did the same thing . The fear you described is so real at the time ,and so sad when I think back on it . I just read your account to my husband ,and told him how I hid my internet searches from him ,afraid he would turn me into the Elders .

Welcome to you and your husband . I think it is interesting and encouraging to see others like us (born in and in our 50's) awakening and finding freedom from the Watchtowers hold.

I wish you the best on the journey and discovery from here on out. Someone here told me to take it slow ,and remember we may never have all the answers ,and that is OKAY ! Best advice .

So did you and your husband just stop attending or did you DA yourselves ? How has the exit gone for you ? Looking forward to reading more of your story .

27

Memories. .. share the earliest or most favorite childhood memory

by MissFit in

my daughter tells me that experts say children tend to have false memories.

apparently their brain tends to fill things in that may not be totally accurate.. i refuse to believe that my favorite and comforting memory might not be true.

so here is to fond memories real or not.. the earliest memory i have is being put in a crib at a preschool.

troubled mind

My first memory is of going to a circus ,and really wanting a monkey . My Mom bought me a toy monkey on a stick that moved like a marionette .My memories start at about age four. We lived on a Military base and I remember quite a bit about living there . My best memories in early childhood are linked to smells....my Grandfather lived on a dairy farm ,and his wife grew fragrant flowers and herbs along the path from the house to the garage .Marigold ,herbs,evergreens,and ceder smells bring back a wonderful feeling of sunshine and peacefulness.

I am curious about how much we do fill in memories from childhood . My husbands perspective from childhood wildly differs from his sisters,and they are only 2 yrs apart.

23

Do you have someone you trust?

by myjourney in

jw
friends

hi, i'm a newbie around here.

i've been reading the posts, but reluctant to step out of my safe zone.

i definitely see how coming to a safe place to ask questions, vent, etc.

troubled mind

Welcome myjourney ! It was very lonely at first when I began questioning what I had been raised to believe . Family and other JW were so defensive when I raised even innocent questions . I found a friend in someone at work that was a great listener ,but I think the greatest help was coming to this forum for venting ! Any time day or night I could post on here and have almost an immediate response .

Please feel free to vent ,but also realize this is a huge group of personalities and the responses you get may not all be what you expected . Many times in the beginning of posting I was offended by comments ,they felt raw and harsh . Over time though I began to realize that is how real people talk to each other honestly ,no more fake telling you only what you want to hear .

I hope you will find the support you need . Some can come from online ,but it is important to reach out to others for face to face time . Your workmate is a great choice ,also consider local ex-jws you may know but have lost contact with . Join a club or sport related group ,something outside of the religious aspect to broaden your social contact .

24

Christmas Eve Afternoon

by Joe Grundy in

jw
friends

well, it's christmas eve afternoon here now in the uk.. traditionally a time when all the panic shopping is over, what's done is done, what you've forgotten you've forgotten, time to raise a glass (or two) and relax.. so may i wish all members/readers/posters a very happy xmas, whether you celebrate it or not, and extra 'get up and go' for 2015.. best wishes to all.. .

troubled mind

A very Happy Xmas to you too Joe !

My day is just beginning here in the Mid-West of the USA. I will be cooking ,and cleaning this morning ,and afternoon .Two of my sons, and one daughter in law wil be arriving this evening for a family dinner of ham,turkey ,and all the trimmings. We will then skpe with our oldest son and his wife that live out west ,and open our Christmas presents together .After the gift opening we will have a few after dinner drinks and probably watch a movie .

Have a wonderful holiday no matter how you decide to spend it !

16

That's what's missing from our family

by dissonance_resolved in

tonight as i was putting my son to bed, we were looking out his bedroom window from his bed, down upon the neighbors' house across the street.

they have a beautiful, big sparkly christmas tree in their front window and my son gazed at it and said, "that's what's missing from our family.

" talk about daggers through the heart!.

troubled mind

It used to be the policy with the Witnesses that the unbelieving mate had the right to celebrate their beliefs in their own home . I remember a Watchtower saying something about 'allowing" the unbelieving mate one room in the house to decorate . Maybe you could research that and share it with the husband . Or if you are like me ....just do it anyways ....and tell him it is your house too ! He gets to share his beliefs with the children you should be given the same respect .

I understand how shakey it is and you don't want to rock the boat ....I have been there . I started out slow with neutral winter decorations ,snowmen,white lights ,deer. Then it was a very small table top tree (the potted kind you accent next to your door) ,and gradually my husband started coming around until I had the real thing . My situation was a bit different in that he had stopped attending meetings too ,but he was still a believer .

Something I have learned over the years is that all the horrible scenarios I imagined would happen if I did what I really wanted to do ,never really happened .

Life is SHORT enjoy every moment ,make happy memories for your children .You have every right as he does to follow what you believe in ,it is not all about keeping him in some kind of comfort zone .

Be careful of supporting the mind set that the husband is the head of the household and dictator of your life ....it is another lie we were told to believe . Marriage is a partnership with give and take on both sides .

Well that is my 2 cents worth take it or leave it ! But for goodness sakes be happy and enjoy life to the fullest !