Posts by Dagney

24

What do you think would have happened to you if...

by LevelThePlayingField in

you found out about ttatt way back in the 70's or maybe the 80's (basically before the internet) and you thought that you were all alone in this knowledge?

what do you think would have happened to you?

no jehovahs-witness.com, no john cedars, no arc, no jwfacts.com and no crisis of conscience to fall back on.

Dagney

I was involved with a nonJW in the late 70's, and we had very passionate discussions. He started studying and attending just for me. There was one day, and I remember right where I was on the freeway, where a moment of clarity came over me and I thought, "what if they are wrong?" I talked my self back from the ledge by the thought, "oh...but we have 'the brotherhood'! Nobody else has that." Now we know that is BS. I knew enough that things were messed up, the Ray Franz thing came down, the crazy Revelation book, DF'g, counting time...but I thought I could not make it in the world without my family and friends. So I carried on.

Now I know I would have been just fine. But I didn't know that then, and I thought I wasn't strong enough. Huge regret.

But the same moment of clarity led me out years later...it had nothing to do with the internet, or CoC. I just knew in my heart I didn't belong there, I didn't think like they thought, and they were full of crap. I knew all along if I had not been born in I never would have joined. I'm glad it happened that way for me because I can honestly tell anybody the apostates or the internet had nothing to do with me leaving.

There are millions that have left and gone about their lives before the information era.

19

How successful are others at getting ex-dubs together?

by dubstepped in

jw
friends

for my first shunniversary i reached out to the local ex-dubs that i know.

i invited 11 total to join me in a little get together at a local restaurant, then back to my house to hang out.

one friend asked if he could invite others, and i encouraged him, and all, to do so.

Dagney

Hey Mrs Flipper! I'm working on the hand. It developed fibrosis in the joint that was injured, and I am working on it to straighten as well as bend. And that really hurts, so I don't do what I'm supposed to do as often as I should.

Missed you this year. Hoping for next year!!! xx

10

Jehovah's Love - or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love Death

by undercover in

jw
friends

this idea was inspired by another post i saw (but forget who or where) referencing the mootness of delaying armageddon now that the 1914 generation is gone.

(i just skimmed over the post and thread, and didn't give it much thought until later).

wt doctrine basically says that jehovah, through his undeserved love, allows wickedness so that people can hear, and accept, the 'truth', thus being saved from the destruction of armageddon.

Dagney

That is my thinking. I posted it on here some years ago. There have been multiple predictions for the end times, 1000AD etc. If god REALLY love mankind SOOOO much, why not bring the lesson when fewer lives would be lost? And start the paradise sooner rather than later?

There is no good reason/rationale for this line of thinking.

19

How successful are others at getting ex-dubs together?

by dubstepped in

jw
friends

for my first shunniversary i reached out to the local ex-dubs that i know.

i invited 11 total to join me in a little get together at a local restaurant, then back to my house to hang out.

one friend asked if he could invite others, and i encouraged him, and all, to do so.

Dagney

Yeah, ya know, ya think everybody would be as excited as we are to touch base with someone you knew who was out. But that is our deal. I have reached out to a few on FB who I knew were out, and they flat out ignored me. Some I was very close to years ago, another just last week who was just a nice person in the congregation. I still get surprised but am realizing, it's probably not personal, it's just not something they want to do.

Good on you for traveling and meeting with your wife's friends.

1

Article Telegraph UK - Religious sects

by Dagney in

jw
friends

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11257637/religious-sect-whats-it-like-to-grow-up-in-one.html .

article sent to me by a friend in the uk.. yep..

Dagney

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/womens-life/11257637/Religious-sect-whats-it-like-to-grow-up-in-one.html

Article sent to me by a friend in the UK.

Yep.

19

How successful are others at getting ex-dubs together?

by dubstepped in

jw
friends

for my first shunniversary i reached out to the local ex-dubs that i know.

i invited 11 total to join me in a little get together at a local restaurant, then back to my house to hang out.

one friend asked if he could invite others, and i encouraged him, and all, to do so.

Dagney

It's a bit like herding cats. It just depends on the individuals and their needs, frankly.

I joined here about 10 years ago, and apostafests were happening. There was a large one happening in Toronto, and it worked out I could add the stop to a trip I was planning to visit my elderly mother and "elder" brother and family, yeah...that happened. Anyway, it was huge and people came from all over, probably I was the furthest. About 9 months later Mr Flipper arranged the first Tahoe fest, which I went to as well. I am attached to all the people I have met, our world's collided at a time when we needed something, if just to talk with someone else who understood what we were going through. I'm amazed at the new ones that just show up in Tahoe not knowing anybody. Again, there is a need that motivates the effort.

Oh I just remembered I posted on here that I was visiting Tucson about 8 years ago, and several people responded to meet up, and a handful drove from Phoenix, I was very touched. One made it to the restaurant and got cold feet and was ready to walk out, then somebody called to them and they joined....we are friends to this day. A need again.

Based on the society's reports, there are tens of thousands of exJWs everywhere, and the majority just really do want to leave it behind and handle the issues as they come. And it is a painful memory, the former life as a dub, one you don't wish to keep reliving.

So my point...it really depends on timing and the individuals. It's like making friends...sometimes you hit it off with someone, and sometimes you feel like you are on a desert island. It's a numbers game...you never know when someone will see a meetup posting and want to reach out. Seriously, ya just never really know.

But...come to Tahoe! You can camp or stay in a hotel. I promise, you will not be disappointed. Just wonderful people that survived a cult.

11

fading/holidays

by Drifting Away in

jw
friends

so for those that are fading, i have been fading for almost 6 months now.

havent been to a meeting, assembly, service, etc.

i no longer believe it is the truth.. how long did you wait before celebrating holidays, if in fact you are even celebrating them.

Dagney

I worked into it slowly and it felt weird for a looong time. My birthday here at work still makes me anxious, we are not used to be fussed over. Even though I know it is fun and they like to make a big deal, and I like to do the same for others, Jiminy-christmas...it's hard to accept the attention after how we were raised.

I secretly loved the winter holidays years before I left...I like shiny sparkly things and tink-ly music. I started by buying calendars for the staff probably two years after I left. Now I'm in the full swing of things and have holiday doo dads all around. A day of reckoning will come sometime with my brother who is an COBE/elder. But he lives out of town and what will happen I think is that he will be disappointed. And there is no resolving that...either you get it or you don't.

I was lucky that a few of us who met here on the board about the same time started stumbling together on our first Christmases and holidays. We got to enjoy it and also talk about our feelings. We all like shiny sparkly things. In fact one year, a couple from here, Aude Sapere and I went to a Christmas evening celebration at a Unitarian church...don't even know what it is called. Then we had a late dinner after.

So my suggestion is to do what you like...it is weird at first, but if you enjoy it...it is lovely to celebrate everything. Yes, holidays are commercial, but if you enjoy the process...it doesn't matter. If you are uncomfortable or it's not your thing...just don't worry about it. You are free now.

27

My sources say Jr brown has died

by poopie in

jw
friends

end of era.

Dagney

Not one of my faves. Our hall used to bring him out for memorial talks. He had his own groupies. Our hall had to issue tickets to the congregation so we could attend our own meetings in our own hall because so many groupies followed this guy.

And don't forget his famous response "Jehovah's Witnesses LOOOOVE their country." I don't remember what the question that was put forth to him...but he was a PR tap dancer all the way.

4

Fluff: Any "Mr. Robot" watchers?

by Dagney in

so many good shows these days.

however mr. robot is really well done and interesting.

wondering if anybody else has been watching.

Dagney

It is dark to be sure Anders...but it is quite smart and different from most everything out there. I am the only one in the universe I'm sure who hasn't followed the Walking Dead...at least the only one in my family.

bikerchic...you must see the first season in order to know what the heck is going on. You will be lost otherwise. It is part of Amazon Prime. You can't help but like Elliott.

4

Fluff: Any "Mr. Robot" watchers?

by Dagney in

so many good shows these days.

however mr. robot is really well done and interesting.

wondering if anybody else has been watching.

Dagney

So many good shows these days. However Mr. Robot is really well done and interesting. Wondering if anybody else has been watching.