Posts by saki2fifty

18

STOPPED BY THE KH IN ROCK HILL SC

by Undecided in

jw
friends

i went down to help my daughter move back here and while there i stopped by the kh.

they were cleaning up the lawn and parking lot.

another car drove up beside me about the time i got out.

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

Well, just thought I'd browse around a bit during lunch and I've found this site to be very informative. I picked a topic, the topic of 607BCE, which im sure everyone is tired of. After reading a simple comment from one of the posters to this board (attached below), he mentions that this topic has been covered in 1000+ pages... over and over again, which I've seen in the short time being browsing. After going through that thread, it appears that JW's have their stance, and the ex-JW's have their stance on the matter... all of which has not been resolved... as noted below.

So, a quick question. Can you honestly say that you have "learned the truth" about the non-truth of the 607bce issue when even both sides cannot prove their point?

http://www.jehovahsjudgment.co.uk/607/default.html
http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/10/117647/1.ashx

VM44 Re: For those not sick to death of talking about this...607 BCE

Post 2409 of 2436
since 01-Jul-01

The topic of 607 vs 587 has become ridiculous!
Why? Because just here at JWD there are about a THOUSAND pages concerning this topic...and the discussion still goes on!
Can this question ever be answered once and for all?
--VM44

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

You know, I was thinking...

DAD, AM I GONNA BUMP INTO YOU ON THIS THING?

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

jgnat... thanks for responding. I wish that I could respond to your comments, and even eager to... but that dang work thing is holding me back. Wait.. supervisor just walked in... :)

Its weird to hear familiar terminology...

Went to all the meetings, assemblies, quickbuilds.

and then to hear...

But...
Dismembered

Found myself rereading Lady Liberty's... very much appreicated... but sad.

4

So what is a "dub" or "jdub"?

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i know, showing my ignorance here.

michael

saki2fifty

I know, showing my ignorance here. Michael

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

Lady Liberty, i'm not sure what to think. Yes, the points that you have brought out... I have heard. That is why I'm afraid of losing what I have because I know there is some truth to it. It's amazing to see how many others share similiar experiences with your's being almost identical. 607BCE.. man. I used to use that as the foundation to prove that we are in the last days... so sure that this was the proof that we are the one and only true religeon. I too have found out what you have, and the disbelief that I had, and still do, is hard to get over. I've read some of the other posts and it appears as though this board does not tailor to just JW's, which I was unaware of, so my apologies if I offended you with some of my comments. I guess for those who are not witnesses, or once were, having just studied who we are and what we are about, then you can never know how painful it is to have your whole world crumble in an evening. You will never know how much of your life is based on our teachings. I'm stuborn though, and I will continue to justify my relationship with the organization even if it means living a lie. Because where do you go once leaving? Lady Liberty, whats next for you? Do you go out and find another so called true religeon? Do you just look within yourself and try to interpret the complex bible and apply it to your life as best as you can? I say or ask that because thats what my Dad tells me... look within, have joy and peace within yourself for thats what he has found. But what does that mean? What about doing what God demands? In the year that you have left have you found that happiness that everyone else here displays? Once a witness, I dont see how you can...

Sorry, wish I had time to respond to everyones comments, which in time I'm sure I will.. and plan on it, but I'm currently writing up from work. Afraid to research at home, for I dont want to mislead my family.

Thank you all...

30

Coffee time with the dubs - Where did you go?

by truthseeker in

jw
friends

to name a few that are popular with my old congregation.... .

dunkin' donuts.

quik chek.

saki2fifty

Re: Coffee time with the dubs - Where did you go?

Whats a "dub"? or "jdub"?

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

Hmm... looks like a recieved more responses than I knew about since I wrote the above.

Very interesting comments.

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

Thank you all for responding. It's very emotional for me to hear each of you respond in the way you have. Were you all not brothers and sisters at one time or what the society calls them? At one time im sure each of you enjoyed socializing and even enjoyed making the meetings and possibly enjoyed the fact that you were pleasing Jehovah so its hard for me to fathom how someone can leave something like that behind. Now of course I researched a bit, so I know some of the reasons, but coming from a simple minded witness, me, its hard to see. I'm afraid of losing Jehovah, such as everyone on this board did. I love God. I want to please him. I have sincerely prayed and prayed and prayed to help guide me to what is right. I cannot leave him for I will have felt as though I have betrayed him. I hate this place called earth and just about have a hatred for people. I hate to have worked so hard to be told that what I've learned is wrong and fulls of lies.

I'm still with them, and I will always defend them and Jehovah God as I know it.

But maybe this is the wrong place to do it... please let me know if thats the case.

Anyways, enough of that ... to respond to some of your comments:

(Because I'm at work, the below has been typed off an on in my spare time, so if it appears to be insensitive or rude, that was not the intention. Just typing here and there as I find the time. So my apologies if taken otherwise)

As for your story, you may have had a great upbringing that involved the jdubs. But let me ask you the question? If you were never a witness would it have been so horrible?

Of course not. As a matter of fact, I would assume that life itself would be a bit more enjoyable. But the difference in being a witness and one who is not, is that most people who know nothing about jehovah and his organization live their life day by day, possibly going to church every now and then, then turning 70 or 80 years old, dying and thats it... whereas a witness feels as though (as I have) their life has purpose and that they have found God. If you look at the basic beliefs and doctines (not all), but they are pretty solid. Those who just go to church (again, one who has not known "the truth") just to go, which is practially the majority, dont have that feeling of purpose.

One word of advice, People that are born in the "truth" never have to seek truth for themselves. You have think outside the box until you can determine if you have found truth.

You're right, but have you found the truth? Not the truth about the truths of JW's, but after leaving, have you found the truth about God and his requirements itself?

All I ask is that when the time comes, you allow your children that same choice.

As I begin to learn more about the truth as the days pass, I have learnt that this is very important. I would much rather them know for sure instead of finding out when they are 30, wasting their life away. But hopefully, the truth as they know it will be their foundation.

Not everything the JW's teach is bad. We have even had several threads on the good side of the JW lifestyle. I was glad to have morals growing up. I never did drugs, smoked, and was a virgin when I got married. I appreciate those things. What I didn't appreciate was not being able to hang with my friends at school, not being given the OPTION of college, not being allowed to play sports (practice was sometimes on meeting nights) and so on.

Same thing with me. I never associated with the other kids, no sports, college (but later on I did), etc. I hated it. I hated making friends, then having to explain why I couldn't. Day after day. But wasn't that for the benefit of our good? You cant hold the society at fault for recommendations to help protect. But the society has learned from this and has changed accordingly. Even the WTS has to live and learn.

ARE the JW's really that bad? Well lets see if you joined before 1965 (somewhere in there), it would have been against your religion to get vaccinations. When they changed that in the SMALLEST paragraph ever in 65 would you have left if your child had small pox or polio due to the non vaccination rule that was obviously not God inspired? That is up to you. Transplants were considered cannibalism for years until that changed about 20 years ago. If your child needed a transplant and being a good witness, you didn't allow it and they died, how would you feel when the Organization said it was a conscience matter the next year? Was that one of Gods laws? No. If you had allowed a transplant you would have been disfellowshipped. Do you think they would have called you later when it was suddenly a conscience matter and said our bad, you are reinstated? I personally cannot follow an organization blindly that has been wrong so many times. Whether or not you think that is "BAD" enough to leave is up to you.

I disagree. I wasn't aware of that the vaccinations thing, but noone knows why the organization made those "rules". Agreed? With Jehovah's Witnesses being a fairly young organization, maybe they made those rules/guidlines for they were sure if this violated God's laws. I dont see how that could have benefited them at all by making those rules, so then you would have to conclude that they did it to ensure Gods laws weren't violated... just precautions. Then I would assume that they reevaluted those "rules", changed it because they saw no issues with it. Again, its relatively young. And no, I dont think a religeon can be classified as "bad" just because of this.

Many people who belong to other religions have exactly the same experiences as you. They feel surrounded by love, they had ideal childhoods, they are taught to lead clean, moral lives. Does that mean they have the truth? Or would you feel compelled in your ministry to help them leave all of that because it is actually false religion (according to the Society)? Don't you think that it is important for people to know the whole story about where their belief system originated and what its leaders have said and done in the past? Maybe it wouldn't matter to you, but it matters to some of us.

If this is the case, then wouldn't we not use some of God's faithful servants of old as examples? Most of them had very dishonerable pasts. Or would this only be applied to religeous organizations?

Forgot: YES I AM HAPPY!!! I feel as if a huge rock has been lifted from my chest since nullifying my baptism.

Yes, I have doubts. I admit that. But, I still believe there is a God. A true God. One God. A God with requirements. If JW's are not the true religeon, then, since nullifying your baptism, how have you found happiness... how are you living up to Gods standards and requirements? And is it that, where you have found happiness? Or happiness not having to deal with JW's?

What really matters is what you think. When I read your post it seems you have held back from baptism for some reason. Perhaps it is because you do not believe all of the aspects of the Truth? Most that I know who attend but do not commit, want to be a part of the social structure that you find comfortable for yourself and your family. I can see that, we need structure in our lives. Certainly a family does.
The fact that you posted here and have been reading this site shows you wonder what's going on out here in the non JW world. Why would anyone leave so safe a place with so safe a feeling? I'm sure your father's words about Silentlambs has made you aware of the sharks that troll the Kingdom Hall waters. It may not be as safe for your family as you think.
You sound like a caring and attentive parent so its a hurdle you can surmount. If you are truly happy there, why set a half-assed example for your kids? I never understood that. If this is the "Truth" and thier everlasting life is involved, why wouldn't you become more than a bystander?

I have held back baptism for the simple reason that the organization has a strict and tough requirements to follow, and being the person that I am, not very outgoing, it is extremely hard for me. I couldn't have done like everyone else and got baptized early on, which would have been easy, but I guess one of the other reasons is that I wanted to make sure I was ready. And because my attendance was off and on, never felt like I was.

And yes, I do wonder about whats going on out there. I am looking and searching, and even learning about some of the "apparent" falsehoods, but will never take it as it is unless there is hard evidence. And yes, he was the one who has introduced me to many of the false doctrines, but again, I cant take it unless I have hard eveidence. Up to this point, its all heresay (from what my Dad has showed me), which includes some of the things i've read here. But, im sure I'll be bombarded with those facts soon.

I dont understand it myself. Its tough being a witness, really tough. But a bystander by no means. The only thing lacking is the official public dedication.

148

A bit reluctant

by saki2fifty in

jw
friends

i'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for i dont feel i should be here.

even a bit nervous... .

i've never officially dedicated myself to jehovah, but i was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day i still attend.

saki2fifty

I'm a bit reluctant in writing this post, for I dont feel I should be here. Even a bit nervous...

I've never officially dedicated myself to Jehovah, but I was brought up in the truth, very strong, and at times when getting older, there were lulls in my attendance... yet to this day I still attend. I'm now married, 35 years old, and have 3 wonderful kids. I still have a great love for the organization. My wife however is baptized and guess the reason that I haven't dedicated myself is due to the fact that I'm just not a people person... not very open, borderline shy. I do know that being open, being able to speak with others and sharing in the ministry that this is a prerequisite, but I do my best in asserting myself. I know that by coming to this board it is assumed that I now have questions regarding the organization, which I do, but after stumbling on this forum, I have more questions for you all than I do for myself. When growing up as a kid, which im sure each and every one of you can attest to (or most of you), I remember my parents taking me and my brothers and sisters to the meetings and I remember the security, joy and true happiness I had when going. I may not have understood everything at the time, but Jehovah's organization was built into us (which will be likened to robots im sure by you all). I would not have traded my childhood in for anything. As a teenager my very, very close brother developed a brain tumor and died... wasn't baptized but strong in the truth... he was 19, and I was 18. My Dad was critized by the elders for not doing his utmost in ensuring a spiritual foundation for his kids by way of baptism, and feel that contributed to my families downfall. For years after his death, we missed a lot, then it picked back up and doing great. I guess it was eating at my Dad as how the elders treated him, for he just recently turned Lutheran, which my heart still aches over, now my younger brother has left the truth and doesn't want anything to do with it, 3 of my sisters are gone, and my last remaining sister still attends. My Dad is a frequent visitor of SilentLambs and is pretty much an ex-jw... matter of fact, he is an ex-jw... and has developed a Hatred for the organization. There's more to the story, but he basically feels opposition to the truth because of how Elders treat their flock. I still go with my family, my wife and kids, and to me, which im sure all of you will disagree, make fun of, insult or whatever... but to me, there is no greater feeling. My kids love going, enjoy it tremendously and show pure love... a pure and true love of Jehovah himself that each of you criticize and will continue to criticize. Now I know you need to look deeper into the teachings, which I have and fully aware of the topics up for debate, but overall, when you look at the organization itself, are they really the deceitful, lying and cheating body that you all make it out to be?

I do have issues with certain things, but for me, the good outweighs the bad. For the most part, and I would say upwards of 90% of what is taught and excercised is good.... is good spiritually, good for bonding families, good molding morals, and good at doing what is most important... strengthening your relationship with God. Have you all had betters lives now that you have left? I just dont understand why so many ex-jw's visit sites like these and congregate when the organization is so despised by you all. Nothing but negativity.

I'm sorry if I appear to be ignorant on some of the matters that each of you take seriously. I guess most of my life and been centered around JW's, and that love that I had as a kid has not faded.

Cant pinpoint it, but my heart aches now that I've started reading posts that are against what I hold close ... even saddened. The day that I turn away, which im sure will surely happen now that I've started process by visiting this site... will be the day I've given up life itself.

(writing this from work, so im sure a lot of typo's)

You all have a great day.