Posts by Dagney

59

Counting time

by Emma in

i may not have put this in the correct spot, but i do think it's scandalous the way time gets counted now.

i've seen a cart at the edge of our farmer's market, never anyone close enough to talk.

yesterday was a drizzly day and there were two carts set up, covered in plastic, "witnessing" on their own.

I was told many times by elder "former" friends to count my time when I helped my mom or other needy ones in the hall. It was for them to show more hours and so my low D2D hours wouldn't reflect poorly on me or the congregation, and bring down the congregation average. I never did it though.

I'm still amazed at the cart witnessing. But it makes sense. And I've heard the same thing, those that qualify to get a cart are thrilled with this easy time reporting. There was a couple outside a Trader Joe's. They were sitting on their electric wheel chairs next to the trolleys having the time of their lives.

12

Did your congregation rehearse service meeting parts?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

i was just thinking back to some parts i conducted.

when other publishers were involved in the part, its success often depended on how well rehearsed the participants were.

timing, proper interplay of dialogue, dramatic impact, etc.. as the one giving the part or as one drafted to do a demo, did your elders require rehearsals?.

Dagney

Yep. I remember rehearsing some demos for the "Service Meeting." I remember one about the GT, and disguising yourself, carry a wig and a reversible coat. Actually it was fun at the time, even though you are rehearsing for the end of the world. If that just doesn't mess with your head.

20

Are we victims of abuse? Should we even think of ourselves that way?

by nicolaou in

jw
friends

abuse is such a serious word and i'd hate to use it lightly so if anyone reading this has suffered physical or sexual abuse please know that i absolutely do not equate religious abuse with your suffering.

that being said, many of us were lied to and manipulated for decades.

this cultic 'abuse' has borne fruit in shattered relationships, broken families and estranged children.

Dagney

When you are not free to make your own choices for your own life, it is abuse IMHO. When you can't to college, play a sport, pursue a talent...that's abuse. When you are threatened with losing all you have ever known because you have questions, it's abuse.

Like fmf says, I know we are survivors.

And to be very honest, I could have left earlier. It would have been hard...but I could have done it. The thing is, I didn't think I could have done it so there I wasted 30+ more years. I had fear of losing what I now have lost. But you survive and I would have survived...and had a college education. LOL.

9

My JW mother asks me to be 2nd on her "Medical Directive" card

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

my mother's parents, my grandparents were not jw.

my jw mother had medical power of attorney and her husband (never jw) was secondary on that.

when grandma needed blood, mom let her husband sign off.

Dagney

Interesting. Good on her.

101

Are Gods true worshippers on Earth today? If they are not JWs then who are they?

by Formerbrother in

is there gods true worshipers on earth today as jesus said there would be?

if they are not jws then who are they?.

who else comes close to being gods true followers today?.

Dagney

Actually, from my observation most christian religions, (excluding the wacky), have the same tenets with variation in interpretation of heaven/hell etc. How you are supposed to behave as a Christian do not differ. They differ in how they punish.

Within all religions are people who live their lives as good, honest, productive people. They may be missionaries, or work in local communities and they spread their gospel more than JW's sitting by literature trolleys. That is the honest truth.

If you are truly interested, honest and open minded, Formerbrother, you will see there is much good being done outside the JW organization. If you are like I used to be, I never noticed or cared, so I didn't see it. Just because I believed everybody else was bad didn't make it true. It only made me ignorant.

I wish you strength for the journey.

33

RIP dad, who introduced me to this fairytail of everlastin life and paradise :(

by Frezia in

jw
friends

less than 5 hours ago my great dad fell asleep the last time :( still in a bit of a shock and sad that i will not see him again...i promised myself that once he is here no more, i will somehow make my move out of this organisation who kept us all captive believing in a fantasy of an everlasting life :( i am in a tricky situation, since raised as jw, still in, married to an active jw, and pretty sure that all in my social and family circle will turn their backs on me if i finally say goodbye to a fairytail ;(.

Dagney

So sorry for your loss Frezia.

I wish you comfort and strength for the journey.

17

"Coping with Shunning" by Barbara Anderson

by AndersonsInfo in

http://watchtowerdocuments.org/coping-with-shunning/.

by barbara anderson.

when my husband and i left the religion of jehovah’s witnesses (jws), we, like countless others, lost family members and friends because of the witnesses shunning doctrine.

Dagney

Good article Barbara, thank you for writing it. So true...sigh.

This past Friday and Saturday, I went to a viewing/funeral of a co-worker. I spent time with a relative and another nice lady who were chatting about their religious experiences through the years, Catholic, evangelical, Episcopalian, etc. One knew I was raised a JW and had left, the relative I knew had a daughter that was a JW and a former missionary. When I was asked what does a JW do when they leave the church, I paused for a few moments to gather my thoughts. The relative looked at me and said, "are you shunned?" I said yes. This started a good discussion exposing this despicable practice by JW's. I love that...I love the exposure of this seemingly harmless and "nice" organization/people of their hateful actions. There is nothing loving about it. A two year old can see that.

13

From Bob Hope Theater to JW Assembly Hall

by Hecce in

just a remembrance of the woodland hills, ca assembly hall.

i am enclosing a partial copy of a wikipedia article covering the purchase and subsequent sale of the facility by the jw.

i am enclosing the link and please pay attention to the bold portion of the document.. the theater project was backed by entertainers bob hope and art linkletter, along with cy warner.. the 2865-seat facility opened july 6, 1964 with the sound of music.

Dagney

DNC, thanks for sharing that about Drew. I did not know that. He's wonderful artist.

29

dealing with religion after leaving the witnesses

by joker in

i’ve noticed many people posting on this site seem to have completely given up on religion/spirituality.. but some have attended services at another religion, or just follow their own heart regarding what to believe.. my question is how does anyone deal after leaving with all of the witness crap that we believed about babylon the great, the great harlot, spiritual prostitute, etc., etc.

i’m finding out that i seem to have built myself a pretty solid wall regarding religion.. some people can just chuck all beliefs into one basket saying that they are all basically garbage,,, and that is ok, no problem i respect that.. but for myself there is a certain part of my personality that needs a spiritual belief not like the witnesses in any way, but something to meditate on, and contemplate.. being a witness taught me how bad it is to actually think of god in any other way besides what the jw’s believe.

and now when i attend any other service, the dark jw side seems to pop out and seriously makes me believe that everything i see/do/say is wrong.

Dagney

When I left I took the time to research things I never had time to study before. The cross, salvation, kurios...several subjects. My gut feeling all along as a JW was they were making it up as they went along. I found out they didn't really come up with anything new...their doctrines were based on teachings that already existed. So no magic for me in the JW.

I listened to xtian radio on my commute for a while, and lo and behold, they sounded just like JW's with just a slight tweak in destinations. When I thought about going to church, I just felt I had enough religion for a lifetime. I wasn't going to learn anything new after years of defending my faith and bible study. I didn't really "need" religion like I thought I did.

So I did the work for my own "spirituality," and was able to sort out what was best for me. I recommend taking time to do the same, and not make decisions based on what others think you should do. Your feelings will sort themselves out accordingly. Good luck.

27

DEATH: How have you prepared? Funeral, cremation, donate body to Science?

by TerryWalstrom in

jw
friends

well, hell!.

i had dizzy spells and near-fainting and nausea for a few days, so why wouldn't i start thinking about death, ya know?.

am i just very lax in my responsibilities in having no plans at all?isn't that irresponsible?

Dagney

NN, there is a specific organization that my cousin was affiliated with. He was an oncologist and sadly passed from cancer. I just don't remember the name at the moment.

If that doesn't work out I will glad give my body to a giant squid. I love those things!

Actually, I have thought if at some point I was facing a sure death for some reason, I would consider a "one last cruise" (wink wink wink) if you know what I mean.