I had no choice, as my mom studied when I was quite young. But yes, there were issues for her that made the WTS seem attractive to her. I think that is the case with just about everyone who is an adult and makes the decision to become a witness. May be different reasons for everyone, but something is missing, and they are trying to fill in that hole.
freedom96
JoinedPosts by freedom96
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22
Looking Back, Were You Easy Prey For The Witnesses
by minimus inbased upon your life and circumstances, were you easy prey for witnesses to get to you with their message?
were you going thru some trauma or bad times?
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15
So why us?
by scaredyetresolved inhow did it come about that we realized something wasn't right and others don't?
what makes us so special?
lol i have felt it for a good 10+ years but hung in there for my husband and children.
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freedom96
There are many who take it literally when the WTS says to not question them. It is a scary thing when lives are so controlled by an organization like the WTS, and fear will not allow people to think rationally about what they are doing.
Fear of the unknown is a scary thing. People are afraid of change.
An example might be that of a woman who gets beaten by her husband. Everyone else sees it, she doesn't like it, but she is scared to take a stand for fear of what may happen. There finally becomes a breaking point, where the pain of staying is worse than the pain of leaving. It is then that real growth and self worth happen.
Patience is what we need with our loved ones who are still witnesses.
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My dilemma
by eyeslice ini have been associated with the jws all my life, recently turning 50 years old.
i was a true believer, a hard working elder, very zealous for the truth, a pillar in the congregation, and a fine speaker and teacher.
i even served in an extremely difficult foreign land for a while with my family.. i always knew we had our problems, but felt that it was my responsibility to effect change from within.
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freedom96
I think you nailed it when you said that you were realizing the importance of Christ, and that relationship is between you and him. As long as you have that, that is what matters.
As far as fading, or leaving, being df'd, etc, that is a tough one. With your family still involved, it may take time for them to understand your point of view, and maybe fading is the best way. People will always be more receptive to listening, if time is given a chance. An arupt leaving of the witnesses, and no one will listen.
Best wishes to you.
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New Religion or Fix it
by JH indo you figure that the watchtower only needs a bit of fine tuning, small minor ajustments, or do you believe that they are completely off the track as far as biblical knowledge is concerned?
i ask this question since many don't seem to find any other religion to replace this one.
so maybe this religion only needs fine tuning, or many small minor ajustments that would solve most of their problems.
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freedom96
I think that most people leaving the witnesses are disgusted with the idea of religion, and that is why they don't find another church. For those seeking more knowledge and faith in God, I think many have found that in other churches, or have come to understand that a personal relationship with God works best for them.
As far as the WTS, I think they are way off on bible teaching. Their whole belief system is based on paradise on earth with only witnesses surviving. Nowhere does the bible teach that man will live on earth forever, and certainly the bible does not say that the WTS is the one true religion. It goes as far to say to look for the fruits of what a religion does, and you will know if it is right or wrong.
So, when the WTS is off on the big teachings, I find it hard to believe much of anything they teach, unless the bible clearly states something that all can understand. For an example, I think they have the flood in Noah's time pretty wired down.
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Do you still know your bible?
by JH in.
how many here can still take the bible and find any verse like before, without searching through the bible and the index?
edited by - jh on 20 december 2002 19:45:56.
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freedom96
To answer the changed topic, I was suprised the few times I have attended church since leaving, and it comes right back. Changed bibles of course, but still brought back some wierd feelings. Still can find all the scriptures, but now I feel I have a better understanding of the bible.
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Do you still know your bible?
by JH in.
how many here can still take the bible and find any verse like before, without searching through the bible and the index?
edited by - jh on 20 december 2002 19:45:56.
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freedom96
I do not believe that there is one religion that in itself is the true religion. I think that there are many religions on the right path.
For me, going to a non-denominational church is the closest I will come to joining another religion.
I think the answer lies in having a relationship with God and his son, and that is about it.
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Do not blame the workers in the field
by whyhideit inoften when discussing with jehovah's witnesses the problems of the organization, it is common for them to say they think you are lying.
they may feel in some way or another that you have fallen away from the pure light, and have become blinded to jehovah, and opened your eyes to satan's false teaching.
these words, and the thinking i have expressed, should sound very familiar to any reader who has spent time in the organization.
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freedom96
Interesting thoughts whyhideit. I do believe that the rank and file do not have a clear true picture of what is going on. If they did, I think there would be a mass exedus.
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The "Clean Organization" Myth
by metatron ini just had to laugh.
the old congregation i used to attend now has two young.
unmarried sisters who got knocked up by their 'worldly' boyfriends.
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freedom96
This is a question I have asked myself many times. In the hall I grew up in, none of these type of things happened. It was very strict, and I think people were scared to do much of anything. In the 3 halls I went to since then, they all seemed pretty clean.
I get on this site, and hear all these stories about people having sex, doing drugs, smoking, like it was happening all the time. I really struggle with wondering if in fact the WTS is not as clean as it says it is.
I always thought it was, or at least more so than elsewhere, but I just don't know.
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Update since yesterday...
by scaredyetresolved ini shared the board with my husband last night.
he read my post and the replies.
we both really appreciate all of your words.
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freedom96
Sounds like you have made the best decision for your family. Best wishes to you, and hope that it goes as smoothly as can be. Hopefully family and friends will hear you out beforehand.
I would suggest that you make it well known that you still have your door open to them, if they want to call or visit, that your friendships are that, friendships. And you are not leaving them, just the organization.
Even if they are not ready to take that step yet, one day maybe they will. You just never know.
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Work ethics
by freedom96 ina while back, in one of the businesses i have, i needed to hire a salesman.
i was thinking of running an ad, and then thought to myself, i should give a friend of mine the job.
i have known "john" for over ten years, and he needed to make money bad.
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freedom96
A while back, in one of the businesses I have, I needed to hire a salesman. I was thinking of running an ad, and then thought to myself, I should give a friend of mine the job. I have known "John" for over ten years, and he needed to make money bad.
John would need a little training, but I thought would work out fine. He spoke spanish perfectly, which was needed for the position, and he was completely trustworthy.
John always talks about how successful he is going to be. He wants to be filthy rich one day, and has himself completely convinced that it will happen one day. Which is great, I encourage all who have the desire to go out and do something, go make things happen. He has no capital to start a businesss, and therefore is looking for other ways to make money. Over the last few years, he has spent nearly $50,000 on "get rich quick" books and tapes. You know the ones, on late at night. For only $150 we will show you how to make money at real estate with no money down. He has all those. And more. He has seen several opportunities that will work, but if it is not his style, he won't do it. He must like it. I told him that many successful people do what they do because it makes sense, and it provides their lifestyle. Rarely is it because they like it. So he has passed on several chances to make money.
So, as so wildly ambitious like he says he is, he feels that he must spend every waking minute on the computer, checking out business opportunities. He has spent so much time on the computer, his wife has banned him from even turning it on Sundays. Every morning, he is up looking up sites on the computer, and as soon as he leaves work he goes back on.
But he is so convinced that he will find that opportunity on the computer, his job is suffering. This business here is based on sales. The fact is, that the more time you spend here, the more chances there are that there will be a sale, to make money. There is no guarantee when there will be a sale, but here it usually happens late afternoon/ early evening. He is in bad shape financially. Big time in trouble. One extra sale a month would do wonders for him. But he insisted on hours, which I approved, which means coming in usually a little later in the morning, but yet many days leaves early. Has to have two days off period. If he were to work until 6-7 every night, and work Mondays, which would still give him Sundays off, he would likely make another $1,500 to $2,500 a month on top of what he already makes. It just seems to me, that under his circumstances, he would work whatever hours he needed to in order to have money to support his family and have extra.
What is it with his thinking? Is that normal? Or am I just extra ambitious and willing to do what it takes to support my family without giving up valuable time have with them?
Sorry, just had to vent a little. But really, I am curious. If you needed money bad, would you work the extra hours, trying to get that extra money?
Seems to me he is missing the whole idea. My opinion is this: Those who are successful at their business are usually successful at most of what they do. They do their best at work, at home, whatever.
I have never seen anyone slack off at work, and yet go tear up some other business. Work ethics should be the same.