Posts by LisaRose

162

Do you still believe in God?

by FormerlySandL in

i never thought i would admit it, but i don't.

i might superstitiously have some kind of doubt but digging a bit deeper in my heart i really don't believe in god.

as a human i could never just sit and watch people be tortured, live years of abuse, suffer from illness and disabilities and all the other awful things people have to endure day after day without doing something about it.

LisaRose

onestly, like all other ex-watchtower I understand the horrors of realising that we've been hoodwinked and the feelings that induces - and I can imagine how easy it is to simply discard God to put an end to any chance of touching belief again. But that attitude - and I mean attitude - loses us so much.

Even after realizing the Watchtower was a bunch of lies I wanted to believe in God. I liked the comfort of belief and being part of a religious community. But my need or desire for those things doesn't mean God exists, and I couldn't fool myself that it did.

In a real sense, the watchtower is making people believe even after they've left: they're making them believe that God and the watchtower are somehow genuinely linked, so that they must reject both.

Not really, at least in my case. I could see how the Watchtower has twisted and manipulated the scriptures and that there are other ways a sincere person could interpret the scriptures. I found churches that were acceptable to me and that I felt were compatible with the scriptures. But finding an acceptable church doesn't mean God exists any more than bad churches prove he doesn't.

They're making people believe in no God ever again. Didn't we leave to be free of that influence? why should we have to disbelieve, just because we leave them?

Obviously we don't have to believe or disbelieve because of the Watchtower. But questioning the Watchtower started me on a path at looking at many things in a more critical way. Once I disproved the Watchtower I couldn't just stop there, I had to look at the evidence for belief in God as well. If the facts had supported belief in God I would have been happy to continue believing in him, but they did not. I had to go where the facts took me.

61

The Watchtower Org will die.

by Freeandclear in

jw
friends

i was just reading through some posts and had a startling realization.. the comment that sparked this went something like this: why oh why when i started into this in 1989 did i not research the history of the wtbts?

etc....... i too was studying and moving towards baptism around that same time.

i got dunked in dec of 1990.. my thought.

LisaRose

Access to information only helps when people are willing to look at it. I do believe the internet has caused a slow down in growth and will continue to make it more difficult for the Watchtower to recruit new members, but there are still many areas where the internet is not widely available. Even in areas where the internet is available it's no guarantee, as the Watchtower belief system appeals to people who are struggling with life issues and seeking simplistic answers. If people are desperate for hope they are less likely to question things. Of course once people start a study they are quickly warned about any information critical of the Watchtower, at that point it's usually too late.

144

Got in a bad wreck.....uuugh

by brandnew in

jw
friends

just happy to be alive....can barely move ☺.. a girl who just got her license , and a new suv....thought it might be cool to pass the person in front of her....at a curve......on a two way road!!!!!😠😠😠.

very mad puppy.

LisaRose

I'm sorry this happened to you. Hope you are soon on the mend.

Lisa 🌹

32

Hello Everybody

by Thomas the Bill Engine in

jw
friends

i didn't see an introduction forum anywhere but i thought it would be weird to start posting without first introducing myself so, here we are.

i'm 15, and i've been looking for a place to discuss my thoughts on the religion that i'm pretty much stuck in at the moment.

my mom and dad divorced over their different beliefs over a year ago (my mom is jw and my dad is an very knowledgeable apostate, so you can see how they would fight over it), and since then i've stopped believing altogether.. just thought i'd say hello.

LisaRose

Welcome!

I know it's hard with your mom, but she really is trying to do the right thing in raising you in a religion she believes in, so be patient and respectful.You will be an adult enough and able to live your life on your own terms.

Lisa 🌹

29

Deleware child abuse case major implications

by poopie in

jw
friends

follow case it may change judicial comittees

LisaRose

It's interesting that they disfellowshipped both the abuser and the victim. They don't seem to understand that an adult in this situation has the power and it would be very difficult for a child to say no.

77

Trying To Leave - Im Going Crazy

by pale.emperor in

this is my first post.

i really feel i need to leave the jw's rather than go along pretending everything is perfect etc.

no friends, me at work.

LisaRose

Welcome, I am sorry you have had to go through this. Most of us here have had similar experiences, a complete lack of love or concern by others in the congregation, especially the elders. Jesus said that the identifying mark of his disciples is that they have love among themselves. They brag about the preaching work but completely miss the one thing that would prove they follow Christ, love.

It's clear that they are not true followers of Christ.

Lisa 🌹

7

Eggs - how would you like them done?

by berrygerry in

post on another forum prompted this one.. wt is flip-flopping on the "no marriage for you" (voice of seinfeld soup nazi) to placate the 50% of jw women who will never marry "in this system.

https://www.jw.org/en/publications/magazines/w20140815/jesus-sadducees-marriage-after-resurrection/.

however, we do know that wt also taught that marriage was for procreation.

LisaRose

I like over easy, but too often they don't cook the whites enough so I order over medium. Even then I often have to send them back because the white is undercooked. There is nothing more gross than uncooked egg white.

81

Your feelings for the former travelling overseers

by Hecce in

during our wt life we met a good number of friends involved in the circuit and district work.

i am sure that we share the same experience and that we remember fondly some that we caring, loving and generally interested in the brothers.

at the same time we might remember others that were arrogant, selfish, abusive and oppressive.

LisaRose

From my reading of many posts over the years, it appears that the higher up you went in the organization the more you were exposed to the scheming, cover ups and manipulations, therefore anyone that high up undoubtedly knew there were hugh problems in the organization, but chose to say nothing, instead contributing to the lies and cover-ups, simply to maintain their status in the organization. How many were unfairly disfellowshipped on their watch? How much child sexual abuse did they cover up? How much were they aware of the suicide risks? What lies did they knowingly tell?

So, no, I do not feel sorry for them.

56

A fresh start

by FormerlySandL in

after the worst introduction i could ever make on the forum i would like to reintroduce myself and make a fresh start on the forum and hopefully over time i will be able to redeem myself.

i have changed my user name which was over dramatic and ridiculous in the cold light of day but for transparency and to show i am not trying to hide anything i have adapted the original name and it now has a more positive feel.

after reading a lot of posts on this forum i am feeling more optimistic about my future.

LisaRose

It's to your credit that you took the criticism well and didn't get defensive or just give up, so good for you. I can understand why some might have been suspicious, but they went too far in my opinion. We do get some trolls and/or nutty people here, so try not to take it personally.

There is life after the Watchtower so never give up. I was 45 when I left and have been out for sixteen years now and have a great life, I am sure you will too.

161

I am leaving the JW's . I am alone and scared. Advice and help needed please

by scared and lonely in

i am sorry that on my first post i am asking for help and advice but i am at my wits end.

i have been brought up a witness all my life and it is all i know.

i am an ex-elder and pioneer and i don't know anybody outside of the congregation.. i have been unhappy for so long and wanted to leave.

LisaRose

I am sorry you are being treated like this. Its very important that you insist you are not an apostate and are not going to disassociate. You need whatever little bit of social contact you can hang onto for now. Push this back on them and tell them they are being unchristian, that having doubts does not make you bad.

Of course this is a short term solution, but if its not too late, then try. You need to start building a new life. I wont lie, its tough, but it can be done. Focus on your job situation for now, keep busy looking for new opportunities. Then you can slowly start building a social life. See if there might be ex JW meet ups in your area. If not, then seek out new friends. Maybe you can join a hiking group or some other interest you might have? There are all kind of on line type things available. You might have to try a few before you find one that works, but dont give up.

It will take time, but you will eventually carve out a new life. The JWs are so ready to throw away questioning members, as if you are disposable. Your life has value and meaning no matter what, dont forget that. You will use your experience and skills you got as a JW to make a life that has meaning and reflects your beliefs, not the forced groupthink mentality of the Watchtower.

Dont be afraid to ask for help and be willing to use whatever resources come your way. We all have been through this, you will get through it too.

Lisa