dannyboy

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Posts by dannyboy

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  27

  Is there life AFTER leaving?!!??!

  by Perfection Seeker in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  my name is melissa.

  i am 33 years old.

  my parents started studying when i was 5. i am trying to leave the orgainization, but keep getting pulled back in.

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  dannyboy

  Melissa-

  Yes, for sure there's a life after leaving. For me, it has been difficult, but things are getting better.

  Early on, I read about the benefit of keeping a record of my thoughts and feelings, so I got a journal and made entries when I felt like it. Sometimes I'd record things every day for a week, then nothing for a couple of months. I tried hard to be candid with what I wrote. Now, when I get that journal out and read how I was feeling, it reminds me of how far I've come. My early entries clearly show I was not at all sure of what I was doing (ie the leaving), and I can see the doubts and guilt, guilt, guilt, and more guilt. So, for what it's worth, I recommend keeping a private journal, for two benefits: First, just putting into words feelings can be theraputic, and secondly, looking back on these days from some future point will remind you of how much progress you've made.

  I also agree with others that talking with a counselor/professional is very helpful, too.

  It's only been less than three years for me, and I still struggle with the guilt, and have to make effort to keep changing my thinking. Today, I'm happier than I've ever been, but look forward to growing still.

  Hang in there. It will get better. You may feel like you've done the wrong thing more than once, and seeing former Witness friends will feel strange for a long time. But that, too, will pass.

  Best wishes,

  ---Dan
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  70

  Are you socially retarded? - For the newbies

  by Billygoat in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  don't let this title startle you.

  i'm not starting a flame war.

  this is something that i've thought a lot about since i have two dogs.

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  dannyboy

  Andi,

  My two cents: I, too can identify very much with your posts. It's comforting to be reminded that others experienced much the same kind of upbringing and pains.

  I lurk a lot around here, and seldom have anything to add, but this thread really moved me.

  Oh, to be able to start my life over again.

  Instinctively I know I should forgive (my parents) and move-on, but as others have said far better than me, it's not always quite so simple. I have resentment over missing out on a normal childhood, especially. I know I'm socially inept and backward, but I'm trying hard to figure it all out. Did they intentionally set out to make my childhood a living hell? Well, they were doing what they thought God wanted (weren't we all), but it would be easier perhaps to accept if they now acknowledged the mistakes/misguided way things were done.

  A friend has told me I need to "mourn" a while longer for what I feel I've missed or lost out on, then I will be more inclined to do the forgiving. I hope this will happen.

  Thanks so much for starting this thread.

  Dan
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  13

  Secretive "Judicial" Hearings Are Tel...

  by Marvin Shilmer in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  secretive "judicial" hearings are telling .

  watchtower literature depicts the jewish model of judicial hearings as one that involved public hearings.

  insight on the scriptures volume 1 page 475 under the subject city states[1]:.

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  dannyboy

  Marvin,

  Your post makes a lot of sense. The general thought about how modern-day JW Judicial hearings are really different from the Scriptural pattern has crossed my mind, but your post really got me to thinking about it.

  Making these "judicial" hearings public also would tend to reinforce the concept of the community/congregation using THINKING and REASONING ability to reflect on the matter brought out publicly, instead of just acquiesing to a decision made behind closed doors.

  The Watchtower Machine, however is obsessed with their "appearance" to the "world", and twists and contorts Biblical concepts to promote their self-image. God forbid anyone should know there is adultery, fornication, embezzlement, or drunkeness in the congregation, let alone child molesters. They are every bit as hyprocitical and self-serving as the other religious organizations they loudly denounce.

  --Dan
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  25

  Suggestion re: Attacks on Bill Bowen

  by Kismet in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems that we have many new aliases popping up right now.

  all posting attacks against bill bowen personally.. note they cannot argue the facts of abuse occuring but decide to go after one of the faces that represent the whole issue at hand, bill bowen.. it just goes to show how desperate some people become trying to protect their high control religion regardless the cost to children and adult children of past abuse.. i would like to suggest that we adopt the same advice our parent's gave us while growing up as dubs.

  just ignore the taunts, the insults.

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  dannyboy

  bttt

  --Dan
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  2

  Yahoo! News - New Jersey couple excommunicated

  by BoozeRunner in

  1. social
  2. current

  heres an ap/yahoo!

  follow-up after last nights jc decision concernining the pandelos:.

  yahoo!

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  dannyboy

  It's referenced on the DRUDGE REPORT, also, as of 9:00 AM PST.

  URL: www.drudgereport.com

  --Dan
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  87

  We got DF'd/ Assoc. Press called

  by ARoarer in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  well we got the phone call from the elder to let us know of the decision to disfellowship us.

  the one elder called while the other sat on the phone as a "witness".

  the second elder was once a close friend.

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  dannyboy

  Barbara (and family),

  I feel for the pain you and your family have endured and are continuing to experience. Hang in there. I'm blown away by your insight into the "real" picture here, and how clearly you see the Watchtower Society for what it really is.

  You have done the right thing, and continue to do right and good.

  Like many others here, I hope that press coverage of your family's situation and that of others will be help sincere, concientious, but sadly mis-guided Witnesses to see that they've been misled by "the organization". An organization that we trusted so completely and so faithfully that we feel torn in pieces when we finally see it for what it really is. The Watchtower Society is guilty of betrayal, hipocrisy, half-truths, lies, and other smelly characteristics, which of course it itself proclaims to abhor, and condemns other religous organizations for.

  Most of us here have experienced the pain of losing "friends" as you have. May I add my voice to those that are reminding you that it will get better, and as the scripture says: "better is the end of a matter than the beginning".

  --Dan
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  23

  Homepage Now up

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  hello all: okay, its time to start coming out of the closet.

  my homepage is now up.

  you can click on the little blue globe with the red arrow, in the upper left corner, in my profile.

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  dannyboy

  Amazing,

  Congrats on both your "anniversary" and getting your webpage up.

  Like others here abouts, eagerly awaiting the "coming soon" stuff.

  Dan
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  11

  Anointed Experience #3 - He Just Can't Be!

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the society literature has given mixed messages, but older literature tended to lay the basis closer to the bible that those 'anointed' are not chosen according to position, age, or experience, but according to god's will.

  as the decades of the 40s and 50s passed, the subsequent decades brought in the view that those chosen to be 'anointed' would be chronologically older, many years as very active jws, likely serving in some position such as pioneer for sisters and elder for men.. the reason for the changed view: given that the society stated that the "general' call to heaven ended in 1935, then only a few replacements would be needed to fill vacancies by 'anointed' who died unfaithful to jehovah.

  to the society it stood to reason that jehovah would only call 'mature' individuals with much experience as very faithful jws ... but ... they never made this a hard and fast rule, so at times, some jws would feel they wanted to go to heaven, and managed somehow to overcome the cultural fear of being different by making such a profession of faith.. nevertheless, as jws of the other sheep aged in the 1980s and 1990s, the view toward younger, newer 'anointed' became more and more jaundiced.

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  dannyboy

  Amazing,

  Thanks for expanding on that issue.

  I am intrigued by the process most of us go/are going through, as we re-gain control of our lives, the beliefs we retain (or adjust), the things we discard, for example.

  I can identify with your comments about the God of the Hebrew Scriptures....heck, I can identify with almost all of your comments!

  This board is scrolling so fast these days that I can't keep up, but I enjoy your posts and your way of expressing yourself.

  --Dan
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  11

  Anointed Experience #3 - He Just Can't Be!

  by Amazing in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  the society literature has given mixed messages, but older literature tended to lay the basis closer to the bible that those 'anointed' are not chosen according to position, age, or experience, but according to god's will.

  as the decades of the 40s and 50s passed, the subsequent decades brought in the view that those chosen to be 'anointed' would be chronologically older, many years as very active jws, likely serving in some position such as pioneer for sisters and elder for men.. the reason for the changed view: given that the society stated that the "general' call to heaven ended in 1935, then only a few replacements would be needed to fill vacancies by 'anointed' who died unfaithful to jehovah.

  to the society it stood to reason that jehovah would only call 'mature' individuals with much experience as very faithful jws ... but ... they never made this a hard and fast rule, so at times, some jws would feel they wanted to go to heaven, and managed somehow to overcome the cultural fear of being different by making such a profession of faith.. nevertheless, as jws of the other sheep aged in the 1980s and 1990s, the view toward younger, newer 'anointed' became more and more jaundiced.

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  dannyboy

  Amazing,

  Your description of the typical Witness's reaction to someone "professing" who didn't fit their own personal picture is very much on the mark. So typical, so typical.

  I may have overlooked or missed something here, but are you saying that you received a genuine "call" as it were while a witness, which calling remains today?

  I've tried to read all of your accounts and find them very interesting and parallel some of my own experiences while a concientous elder and loyal dub, (though my pub card always said "OS"). It is somewhat comforting to read through your comments, and be reminded of so many various things that, now, looking back fill me with regret, though I was doing what I thought was proper, correct, and God-blessed at the time.

  Dan
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  21

  Zev's UN/WTS Scandal Web Site

  by hawkaw in

  1. watchtower
  2. scandals

  zev's internet site is up and running at:.

  ( http://www.geocities.com/plowbitch69/.

  zev's site will have a few more features added to it by next week.

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  dannyboy

  Nice work.

  ---Danny

  PS: How 'bout a less inflammantory URL??