Posts by LHS123

71

A big hello and thank you

by iwasblind in

i just wanted to introduce myself and say a big hello to all of my mentally diseased friends.. i say friends because i have been lurking for some time so it feels like home (us lurkers are a bit scared and cautious so it takes a while).

i won't bore you with too many details, but i am a born in, currently serving as the cobe of a congregation.

my wife and i have pioneered for the last 10 years and were shaken awake by that ridiculous 15th july 2013 wt about the generation and 1914.. my wife who is much smarter than me has questioned for years.

LHS123

It's so nice to read of active elders here who are waking up to injustices and falsehoods in the organisation (at least they should be kinder on their way out) - but also so refreshing to see that we don't have to let that destroy our faith entirely. I really respect the atheists/agnostics out there, they've done their research and made a conscientious choice, but for me I think I want to continue to believe, basing my faith on the teachings and example of Jesus and not what some humans tell me to do/not to do.

I am very early in my 'doubting', I'm not sure right now where I'll end up - if I'll keep attending in some fashion, for family (husband unfortunately is blind as blind can be) or if I'll go inactive quite quickly. What I do know is that already I am finding such mental relief from the fog clearing and letting go of the guilt, anxiety, and people-pleasing that we are coerced into feeling in this organisation. If I want to say thank you to God/Jesus/Jehovah for a lovely day, a nice meal, or for my family - or if I want to read some verses from the Bible - I'll do so because I want to and in private, I will no longer feel I HAVE to do a certain amount of hours or attend a certain amount of meetings EVER AGAIN! hooray!

42

I asked where is the proof?

by disillusioned 2 in

arguing with my husband again, i asked where is the proof that jesus looked down on earth in 1919 and chose a small group of bible students in america apart from them saying it in their magazines.

also where is the proof that satan and his demons were cast down in 1914 just because first world war started.

neither of these things are in the bible only in their magazines.

LHS123

I share your frustration, mentally I'm still only doubting, I haven't completely rejected the org yet but it drives me crazy that my husband won't even THINK for himself; here's some examples of our recent exchanges;

Me: do you honestly think you could ever shun our daughter? Imagine she was df'd, 18, pregnant, living alone, could you really shun her because we're told to?

Answer: I'd do what's best for Jehovah and our daughter, the only way that ever works is doing things Jehovah's way.

Me: look at these reports of child abuse, even elders have done it, and stayed as elders to abuse more because their weren't 2 witnesses ...etc etc.

answer: what are you reading?, (me: newspapers and court docs) him: we don't know the facts, the media are probably making it up, (me; if it was about the Catholic Church you wouldn't say that. plus there are so many personal accounts online of witnesses who have been abused, they break your heart) him: how do you know it isn't an apostate that makes those stories up?

Me: do you know the 'millions now living will never die' campaign promised Armageddon and the resurrection would happen in 1925? him: I don't think so actually (sarcastic)

Me: people sold their homes and gave up jobs before 1975, the org must have strongly suggested the end was coming then, otherwise they wouldn't have done those things. Him: the WT never said that, people just got over excited.

me: don't you think we should let our kids develop their friendships naturally and be able to socialize with the people they like, otherwise we could stunt their natural social skills and it lead to frustration and rebellion? Him: if that method worked, the org would tell us to do it that way, but they don't, 'bad associations....'

Then if it gets too much: anger and shouting : 'I don't want to hear anything, I mean ANYTHING negative about the faithful and discreet slave, it upsets me, stop talking about it'

who knew to be a JW we had to put our brains on the shelf?

28

Today my son told me that he can't stand this religion

by hardtobeme in

jw
friends

i have talked to him ttat.

and he understands.

he doesn't wanna be a jw.

LHS123

I liked what Billy said about having to give Your son a bit more freedom so that he doesn't blow. With my son, he was asking for about 2 years from 13 to spend time with school friends, we kept reasoning with him re. Bad associations etc, and my husband especially wouldn't let him go, ever. He didn't have many friends in the cong, although we did everything we could to help him find more and cultivate those he had. He spent a lot of weekends in his room. Then even the few friends he had in the cong. let him down, and excluded him, meanwhile the friends at school were begging him to spend time with them because they got on so well, but we still didn't let him go with them. In the end he blew, started sneaking out at night, having huge rows with his father and made the decision to stop meetings etc, hasn't attended one in a year. He drinks, smokes weed, is basically uncontrollable, doesn't speak to his dad at all, they've come to blows twice. Now he's calming down a little bit but he says (after counseling), 'I just don't want to be controlled ever again, anything that feels like control makes me push back, even if I know it's something good for me'. He has low self esteem and is screwed up, he still won't speak to his father. Feel free to use him as a cautionary tale with your wife, I strongly feel that if we'd relaxed our rules a little then he wouldn't have felt forced to rebel in such an extreme way. But we were just trying to do what the org. Told us to do. When he stopped going 99% of the brothers stopped contact immediately, no attempt to help him or guide him through a very rough emotional time. In the past i had turned my back on my actual family for this JW pseudo 'family' but when my boy had problems, even though he'd been exemplary for 15 years, they dropped him immediately, my real family are the ones who are there for him. This religion damages kids. Im living it, I dread to think how bad it would be if he'd been baptized. I am so glad for your son that you are there for him no matter what he believes and he can really talk to you about his beliefs, desires etc. and get your full support in life.

13

The org, it's money problems ans other stuff!

by username in

hi there, although i have been a lurker here for a while now i've not yet posted a new topic, so here goes nothing lol.. i have been thinking a lot lately on all the changes and the branch visits, specifically the uk branch visit where apparently it has bean mentioned the great tribulation is about to start.. since i've not heard the full talk and only heard certain items from it i got to thinking that maybe this is the org's way of saying the watchtower is about to go down due to all the cover ups and the long list of discrepancies.. maybe i am way off the mark here, what does everone else think?.

LHS123

The UK charities commission is currently investigating the jw org in the UK due to mishandling of child abuse, they're investigating 2 congs and the main org, apparently some individuals have complained to the commission also about the effect of shunning, calling ex members mentally diseased, discouraging members from seeking higher education... Raising these points to question whether this org should really be called a charity. It Will be interesting to see the results. When I called the commission for info they said several different agencies were gathering information for the investigation. This is one of the things that started me doubting. I am not sure how the U.S. And other countries work but you can see its feasible that they might also start to question if this org. can really be viewed as a 'charity'.

62

Hello, just introducing myself

by Miss Behaving in

jw
friends

i've just signed up two days ago, but i've been lurking for about a year and a half.

here's my story if you're interested:.

my parents converted when they were in their first semester of college.

LHS123

Wow, I'm literally moved to tears by your post.

You have been so courageous and have acted in all good conscience. It is so sad that the religion you sacrificed your childhood for then tried to ruin your life because you don't believe it anymore and you want to be true to yourself and your conscience. I'm not sure if you still have a faith but if you do I know Jesus or Jehovah (or whatever you want to call him) would not reject you in this way.

im an active JW but doubting, reading jwfacts and COC at the moment, I am a mum and have a daughter, I wish I could give you a hug, and even a home. I would never reject my kids for believing something different from me, that's one of the reasons I'm drifting away because my son has decided it's not for him and even though he's not baptized, I see the incredibly negative attitudes of the 'brothers' towards youths like him, just when they are at their most vulnerable and need love and support.

there are some really caring people here, and smart and funny. The bitterness does sometimes come out, but I am sure that is only because of what they've given up or had taken away because of man-made rules.

Im in Europe but I am sending lots of love and support across the miles, I'm sure you'll live a happy and fulfilled life and the hurt will become a distant memory...if you ever need to talk to a 'mum' PM me!

42

Why doe New light tick me off???? Next 2 weeks WT Studies

by zophar in

jw
friends

if you have been a jw for 20+ years you may remember that the wt went into great detail on different illustrations that jesus used and the "type/anti-type" ridiculous explanations.

remember the revelation book and how those obscure jw conventions of the past pictured big things in heaven and the opening of seals?

anyway, the wt lessons for the next two weeks do two big things for me.

LHS123

20 minutes! It's only taken me 20 years ! hahaha

42

Why doe New light tick me off???? Next 2 weeks WT Studies

by zophar in

jw
friends

if you have been a jw for 20+ years you may remember that the wt went into great detail on different illustrations that jesus used and the "type/anti-type" ridiculous explanations.

remember the revelation book and how those obscure jw conventions of the past pictured big things in heaven and the opening of seals?

anyway, the wt lessons for the next two weeks do two big things for me.

LHS123

re the 'intelligence/education' remarks - I don't necessarily think it is a lack of education or intelligence (although there are some where it applies!), but the fact that even those who are intelligent and educated have been told for so many years to switch off their natural curiosity and questioning ability and just accept, obey, nod in agreement etc. - it's like you're in a fog and you can't see clearly. That and the high demands on your time and energy and pressure to conform means that it's hard to come up for air...

I heard about a social experiment 'the smoke filled room' where they had a group training session taking place, one person thought he was really there for training and the rest were actors...during the session, smoke started coming into the room from the ventilation shafts, none of the actors responded they all just carried on in the group activity as if nothing was wrong - so the genuine guy didn't do anything either, he just went along with the crowd.

When we are surrounded by people nodding in agreement, accepting and not questioning, oh and we're exhausted - it is very hard to sit up and say, hang on a minute, this is a load of ****!!

42

Why doe New light tick me off???? Next 2 weeks WT Studies

by zophar in

jw
friends

if you have been a jw for 20+ years you may remember that the wt went into great detail on different illustrations that jesus used and the "type/anti-type" ridiculous explanations.

remember the revelation book and how those obscure jw conventions of the past pictured big things in heaven and the opening of seals?

anyway, the wt lessons for the next two weeks do two big things for me.

LHS123

I was planning on going today to support my family but after reading the WT I can't stomach it, the spin they put on getting it all wrong would make the slickest politician cringe.

on the positive side, I ,have been a bit hung up on the 'accurate knowledge' argument, as in jws are the only ones who have it and we have to worship with accurate knowledge. These kind of changes make that whole argument a bit of a joke...I mean which accurate knowledge do I have to have? The accurate knowledge of the previous explanation of these scriptures or the accurate knowledge of the new explanation!!? Does that mean the ones that worshipped in accurate knowledge which turned out to be inaccurate were not acceptable to God?!

160

"The organisation is imperfect, but it doesn't affect my relationship with Jehovah"

by Alive! in

i've noted active, devoted jw's state the above.. and, it's not a problem for me to remain trusting of god, i just don't trust religions or men.. recently, a member of this forum stated that he remains an active jw, in the family of god's people, wanting to encourage and do good - whilst recognising that the pastoral leaders (the gb) have shipwrecked the faith of many, being unsound scripturally etc, etc.. stop and think about this - the bible says to not follow after those who lie and hurt the faith of "little ones".. the pharisees were accused of traversing over lands and expending much energy to make a single convert - only for that convert to end up worse of than he started off with.. it's one thing to not believe this is the 'truth' and feeling the awful pressure of managing ones life, trying not to lose ones family.. it's quite another thing to declare oneself to be a christian believer of god's jw household, and somehow believe the god of love would use corrupt liars to parade as jesus' brothers in the urgency of last days.

really?

and, to then visibly promote faith in corrupt men, and try to bring converts into a place where the rulership is wrong.. some of us are dying from hurt here.......give me a break..

LHS123

I understand both points of view, on the one hand,

some might stay because they feel despite its imperfections and mistakes, this is the closest to the truth that there is, they learned a lot from this org and 'where else' would they go?

On the other hand,

Some might say, in all good conscience I can no longer accept the GB as gods channel, I can no longer recommend this way of life to others, because I see too many grave mistakes, imperfection etc. This feeling becomes especially powerful when you think: if they've got it wrong on blood then thousands have died needlessly, even children. It's quite likely that their incorrect policies have allowed children to be raped and sodomised whilst their abusers were inadvertently sheltered; and unfortunately there are thousands of broken families out there where parents are told they can't associate with their children and vice versa etc etc.

Either way, if we are conscientiously trying to do the right thing for God, ourselves and our families then will Jehovah and Jesus judge us adversely either way?? I know the GB says yes He will of the second group, but having read the gospel of Christ how can anyone believe that could be true?

55

Mays JW TV Broadcast/Your feedback is appreciated

by ToesUp in

jw
friends

i have a pretty good intuition but i have to admit i am going back and forth on the jw tv may broadcast.

i keep asking myself are they really in financial trouble (wishful thinking) or are they just grabbing for more money?.

i always appreciate reading everyone's thoughts and ideas on here.. let me know what you think.

LHS123

I know a lot less than most of you but it appears to me that there is a foreseen cash-flow problem they're trying to preempt.

I'm a recent doubter and whatever the issue is, what they fail to realize is how much of a turn-off this kind of appeal is for many. One of the things that I liked when I came into the truth was we didn't get asked for money, we didn't know who wrote any publications, I didn't even know any of the names of the GB for the last 20 years, the info was available but only really If you went looking for it, I thought the org. stood out as different from Christendom. Now i know all of their names, they're in our faces, making themselves more and more prominent AND asking for money, Yuk! There must be many more like me who feel less inclined to donate than ever before.