First of all, welcome.
18 or so months ago I was in a similar position. Baptized at 17, married to a JW who was happy in the religion. An entire family of JW's. I was an MS and an example in the congregation.
I left the JW's after about a month of deep research. It was obvious to me they didn't have 'the truth', something I think you have seen for yourself.
I divorced my wife, left my family, left my friends behind. It was difficult, but the best decision I ever made.
My only advice for you would be to continue your research and follow your heart. Only you can know what is right for you. Feel free to ask for help if you need it.
Posts by mavie
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30
I think I am an Atheist (current JW)
by Robert7 ini am writing this group to discuss a topic that as you can imagine i really cannot discuss with too many people, at least as of now.
i am a married male jw, married to a another jw, and she's content with being a witness, and in fact, i don't want to change that if she's happy.. for a very brief history, i was baptized at 19, and have been a jw for 10 years.
fact is, i 'believed' in everything in as much as a lot of it 'made sense' and i was wrapped up in the whole thing.
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mavie
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A fair and reasonable question for Jehovah's Witnesses
by Gregor inyour organization has always been intently focused on "witnessing" and this includes going right up to strangers homes, knocking on their door attempting to engage them in a discussion of their beliefs.
you come prepared to point out the error of whatever faith they hold.
doctrines such as immortality of the soul, the trinity and eternal torment in hell you declare as false teachings and can back up your assertions with scriptures and skilled argument.
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mavie
Welcome yourmomma!
I was an active MS until 18 months ago. A series of realizations about the WT Society led me to leave the religion. I now consider myself an atheist, one who doesn't believe in a God but is willing to change that belief if given sufficient evidence.
I began to question the Society after missing field service for an entire month due to my wife becoming severely depressed. I was told to 'never do that again' by an Elder. The Elder body knew my situation at home and continued to pressure me to keep up appearances. That was the spark that led me to investigate all the cognitive dissonance rattling around in my head.
I began to question why a 9 year old in my hall could get baptized without fully understanding the importance of the decision. A 9 year old could make a decision more important than any other in his life with the approval of the elder body yet would not be allowed to marry, get a job, etc. After voicing my concern I was told that 'kids in Romania mature faster these days' and that 'we can't stop someone if they want to'. Well, actually you can.
I began to wonder why a registered sex offender was allowed to go out in service with young children and their families or friends with the parents oblivious to the fact he was a convicted sex offender. The elders told the ministerial servants about his status, but the servants couldn't tell anyone else as that would amount to 'slander' according to the elder body.
I began to wonder why no other peer reviewed work lists the date for the fall of Jerusalem to 607 bce. A big one.
I began to wonder why the Society was intellectually dishonest in many of their publications. Taking quotes from prominent scientists out of context to support their position. The first one I noticed was from the Life: Evolution/Creation book from 1986. There are many quotes taken out of context in this work.
I left the faith and everything else behind to move on with my life. It's the best decision I ever made. -
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My New Ink
by mavie in.
it took many months and lots of money.
ever since i left the dubs i wanted to get a phoenix to symbolize my 'rebirth' into the world..
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mavie
It took many months and lots of money. Ever since I left the dubs I wanted to get a Phoenix to symbolize my 'rebirth' into the world.
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What do I look like?
by Princess Daisy Boo inso i read everyone's posts and get to know the screen names of all of you on jwd and have this picture in my head of what those of you who dont have real photos of yourselves as avatars, and i wonder how wrong i would be if i were to meet any of you in person... so my question is this - what do you think i look like?
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mavie
A devil worshiping apostate!
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mavie
source?
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For something a little lighter
by mavie inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wgoi1msgu64 .
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flight of the conchords
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mavie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WGoi1MSGu64
Flight of the Conchords -
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MORE Radio discussion of Dennis Lindberg: His Dad speaks up!
by Nathan Natas intoday seattle talk radio host mr. dori monson had an interview with dennis lindberg senior - the father of the 14 year old jw who elected to die rather than take a blood transfusion to help cure his leukemia.. one call that stood out to me was from a jw who called and said that in his 40 years as a jw, he never knew of anyone who was da's or df'd for taking a blood transfusion.
he got real evasive when the host tried to clarify the point.
what is immediately obvious to us is that the jw did not say he knew anyone who had taken a blood transfusion; only that he did not know any who were da'd or df'd for taking a transfusion.
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mavie
Thank you.
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Remembering our Absent Apostate Friends
by wanderlustguy ini had thought of doing this for a while, and a good friend of mine had the same idea not too long ago, so here we go.. i've been here long enough to see some good friends leave us, some just move on and some have gone on to the next life, whatever that is.
i don't think it's so important to say how they left us, but just the fact that they were here and they had something to say, and they were/are good people.
just like us, some were tormented and made a choice to go, and some were shown the door by their choices.
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mavie
thebiggestlie
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They want to make me an elder :-O
by outofthebox inthis is the third elder that tells me that the body of elders will recommend me as an elder in the next visit of the co.. what do you think i should do?
some facts:.
i am still 'in' because of my family.i am ms.i am doing 10+ fake hours (well, some months it is fake), so they see my "spiritual" progress.-ootb.
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mavie
It's a personal choice and one that only you can decide. No one here can tell you if it's right or wrong. You have to live it.
Good luck.