my friend marion has just arrived at my home, and she certainly has had an interesting few days!
she hasn't been attending meetings lately, and on saturday the po from her hall phoned to ask why.
actually, he had phoned several times before, and left messages, but she hasn't been replying and, in his own words, he is very concerned as to what, if anything, is wrong.. she remembers the conversation fairly well (pity she couldn't record it), and it went like this:.
Your friend Marion sounds like a smart gal and handled the PO perfectly, however, he doesn't sound like the kind of guy that's going to give-up easy. From my experience, these guys just don't like it when you don't play 'right', that is, recognize that THEY'RE suppose to be in control, not you.
But, sometimes they get busy and just go away. My kids faded 3 years ago and they never hear a thing from any JW. GYMBB
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i found the dc very interesting this year do to my reading of this site.
i took note that the danger of the internet was menitioned no less than three times, once with a demonstration showing a brother who found a site by a innocent search of the web on a jw subject to the very last talk, concluding remarks and final "resolution" that consisted of 10 items with number 10 staying away from dangerous sites and chat rooms.. makes you wonder what the real story is behind that much attention being given to this problem iof theirs.. oc
One of the real problems I saw with the organization (in the magazines or in the talks) was that it needs to 'put-up or shut-up', it NEVER comes out and says, "This is what apostates are saying, and THIS is why it's false...." The reason why they don't, is because they CAN'T! They're trying to defend a position that's undefendable, and it's the bases for making the DA rule. Hell, they don't even try to defend it with the scriptures. Just, "DON'T READ APOSTATE LITERATURE OR TALK TO THEM".
It's like some little guy who always comes down to the local basketball court talking about how he can beat anybody one-on-one, but he NEVER DOES! he just keeps saying he can, and eventially, nobody pays attention to him anymore.
If you got game Brooklyn, BRING IT! (Let's TALK about it!) Otherwise shut-up and stay on the porch. GYMBB
Athanasius: Good job! Too funny also! I was thinking of a response like that...something like, "Oh, I go down to the local Neighborhood Church, that's where I go to meet with my spiritual brother's and sister's now.....I love it!" What are they going to say, "no you REALLY don't?" GYMBB
no, i don't have this article yet, it will appear in the sep 1, 2006 wt.
it may even be a wt study article.. in the august 15 watchtower, the box "in our next issue" has three forthcoming articles, and one of them is "when a loved one leaves jehovah".
of interest, it's not when a loved one leaves the society, it's jehovah.. will keep you posted.
This article should no doubt have some unbelievable scripture twists, along with alot of BS to make any loyal dub feel real guilty if they ever miss, or want to talk to a friend or relative who just couldn't buy into it anymore. Can you imagine HOW MANY PEOPLE THIS WILL HIT REAL CLOSE TO HOME WITH? Sad to say...most will accept it. GYMBB
in case you missed it, blondie has more posts than anyone on jwd now.
i believe her watchtower summary is one of the best weekly items we look for.
plus she's one of the sharpest persons on the board.
Blondie,
You're the best.....Quality AND quantity! Thanks for always being there, GYMBB
i've been reading you all for a couple years now, it's about time i post.. the first thing i would like to say is....thank you.
without this forum, who knows what my life would be like.
you all have been such a big help to me since i left the witnesses about 4 years ago, and i'm very grateful to you all!.
Desertrat: C of C made a big impact on me as well. When Startingover first showed it to me I didn't want to TOUCH IT! (you know...fingerprints) I was such a dope......
Quandry: The reply I got from Brooklyn about the UN scandel was just the standard form letter explaining the Library card excuse. I just could not believe they could REALLY join the UN for ANY reason what-so-ever, and then just admit to it like it was no big deal. When I showed the letter to my wife (then), she took it over to one of the elders homes to see what he had to say.......the elder said it was from apostates since they would NEVER respond to someone who was DA'd (I wasn't just yet at the time I wrote them) and that even if they did join the UN there would be nothing wrong with that, something like a contractor joining a union. (?)
That particular buckaroo elder has caused more problems in my family and his own his cong. than is imaginable. He was a real sheperd alright! You know why sheperds take care of sheep? It isn't because they just love the sheep....it's for the FLEECE! And when there's nothing left to fleece, they'll eat you! BWAH HA HA!! GYMBB
i've been reading you all for a couple years now, it's about time i post.. the first thing i would like to say is....thank you.
without this forum, who knows what my life would be like.
you all have been such a big help to me since i left the witnesses about 4 years ago, and i'm very grateful to you all!.
"What made you leave?"
Too many "red flags" over the years just piling up I suppose....in 81' I couldn't have a mustache, in 91' it was the beard I wanted, not big things, but STUPID things that made no sense. Then in the late 90's it was school sports. Both of our kids wanted to skip P.E. classes and get the necessary school credits playing after school Volleyball and Cross-country running. The Bof E made a big deal out of it in the cong. and took our "privledges" away. There were 3 family's involved.
After a couple of years of being treated like crap, we changed congregations to where we'd hoped the elders would be friendly to us. We really all just wanted to be left alone to worship Jehovah, but it made no difference.
About 2001 the JW wife of a ex-jw buddy of mine (Startingover) asked me to talk to him about getting back in "The Truth". I told her, "What he needs is some elders to talk to him", and she said, "NO ELDERS!" (She knew what happens when THAT circus comes to town!) So I went over to his place and started what you all know jw's do, and he asked me some questions i'd NEVER heard before...stuff about 607, the REAL history of the organization, etc.(gotta watch those tricky apostates!). Then when I found out about society being a NGO at the UN, I wrote the headquarters. The reply was, well...surprizing.
I called in sick for a week or so, got online when the family left for the hall, and started researching. It didn't take long before I was in shock....the more I read, the worse it got.
I'll never forget that moment (most of you here know it) when it hits you right between the eyes....I'M IN A CULT.
The family started shunning me as soon as I quit going to the meeting, the ex-wife reported to the elders that I was looking at apostate websites and the elders came a' knockin'! (I swear, any guy who wants to be a elder these days needs to get his head examined, or is on a power trip!) They said they had been "investigating" me and had formed a commitee.
That's a game I decided i'm NOT going to play. I DA'd myself, and the wife of 23 years moved out.
I think we're both happier now............I know I am! Gymbob
just called their media line:.
http://www.jw-media.org/contact.htm.
asked a young man named bryce where is the official press release on the cano pedophile situation.
This is why I love this site! Thanks Lisa!!
i've been reading you all for a couple years now, it's about time i post.. the first thing i would like to say is....thank you.
without this forum, who knows what my life would be like.
you all have been such a big help to me since i left the witnesses about 4 years ago, and i'm very grateful to you all!.
Yep, i'm a newbie, and I plan on sticking around.......I was in that crazy religion long enough to remember when songbooks were green, but nothing compares to the real freedom of being out and away from the witnesses. Of course, that freedom was expensive, it cost me a 23 year marriage and my parents and sisters. My two kids (21 & 25) also left with me and we had our first christmas last year (we're such pagans!).
Someday I might just write a book about this whole adventure, it might not be a "C of C", but it would be fun! I've vacation pioneered, temporary pioneered, regular and special pioneered across this country, spent a few years in Brooklyn too, but now it's time to start living and get on with life. Without meetings and service I feel like i've got two Saturdays every week!
thanks for the "welcomes". Gymbob
i've been reading you all for a couple years now, it's about time i post.. the first thing i would like to say is....thank you.
without this forum, who knows what my life would be like.
you all have been such a big help to me since i left the witnesses about 4 years ago, and i'm very grateful to you all!.
Hi everybody! I've been reading you all for a couple YEARS now, it's about time I post.
The first thing I would like to say is....THANK YOU. Without this forum, who knows what my life would be like. You all have been such a big help to me since I left the witnesses about 4 years ago, and i'm very grateful to you all!
When a person leaves the witnesses, it can be rough! Just finding out there are other folks who have gone thru the same things can be a lifesaver.
You probably won't read much from me, but i'll be here reading you all! Thanks again, Gymbob
