Posts by Dagney

30

Experiences After Leaving

by Freeatlast2024 in

i am writing to ask if anyone cares to share their experience and/or offer advice for people leaving.

i was raised in the religion, and both my parents died when i was very young.

i recently stopped associating because my conscience no longer allows me to preach or support the organization.

Dagney

Welcome Freeatlast2024! (Great name BTW!)

Most of us here have been right where you are...our social circles developed over years POOF! are gone. Being raised a JW we were taught to not be a "joiner". I am old and I struggle with that today.

HOWEVER, you are at a very exciting time in your life because of your decision. You can do and be whatever YOU want to be. Not that easy to figure out...but you can do some things that will set you on the journey.

Find a group that interests you and aligns with your values. A place to start is volunteer work in your community, or if that's too close, go to a place close by, food banks etc. Just google and many things pop up.
Check out Meetup. Do you like wine, yoga, book clubs, writing, movies, music...the list of groups is endless. You may not find a match at first, but hanging out with people with similar likes is a good place to start.
Do you like tennis, soccer, softball...do you want to learn? Teams are a good place to find some mates.

Taking the leap to leave is brave and it takes courage. It's a bit scary. I heard a quote recently, "we don't grow in our comfort zone." You have your whole life ahead of you, and the best is really yet to come even though it doesn't feel like it. But you will see that it is.

Good luck on your journey. You got this. If there is anything we can help you with we are here for you.

57

2024 Annual Meeting Doctrinal Change

by Listener in

a change to their doctrine came from jackson.

this isn't a transcript of his whole speech but i thought i would try and get some of his main speech in writing.. at around 1hr26 minutes he starts talking about some dangerous thinking in feeling there is some wiggle room in regards to the schedule for the gt.

but you see, we need to be careful about what we are thinking about the number of anointed ones left on earth.

Dagney

I’m not even hearing this guy speak and his condescending manner of “Watchtower speak” is screaming at me.

What a load of cockamamie word soup bull s**t!!! It is truly laughable, to me.

PS. As a side note/comment. I went to the KH yesterday for a memorial of a distant relative by marriage. I have not seen the deceased in decades but went to support her daughter who is not a JW and was estranged ffor that reason. And I figured I wouldn’t know anybody there except the family, so a little less anxiety.

Two things stood out to me.

The attendance was very small, maybe 20-25 non family. The folks were very sweet, older, very kind…tired. I cannot even imagine these people giving a hoot about these changes. They just want to make it to paradise.

Out of a combined number of this group of family, maybe 30ish still living, only the sister of the deceased and 8 on my side of the family are still JWs. 👋🏻👋🏻👋🏻

Thank you for posting this recap. It reminds me of how grateful I am not to have to depend on the whims of the FDS. 🥂

10

Be Obedient and Submissive to the Faithful Slave. Hmmm...Sounds kinky!!!

by WingCommander in

jw
friends

seriously, how have i never caught on as to how kinky this weird cult language sounds?

"be obedient and submissive to the faithful slave.

"may i have another flogging, mr.

Dagney

Smack (lol) on WC!

The unscriptural evolution from the term of "servant/slave" to overseer/prince/governing body/king-priests etc." is in opposition to the context from which it was taken in Matt.25.

When I am asked if I recognize the FFD/GB as "Jah's channel" or whatever, (and I'm always asked),...I just point them to the verses below and say, " it doesn't matter one tiny bit what I think. It only matters how "they" treat "us," and if God finds it acceptable.

Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
[46] Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
[47] Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
[48] But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
[49] And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
[50] The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
[51] And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

And I don't think this sudden love for "Jeeesuz" came from the GB. I think it came from the business/marketing end of this corporation, as anyone could see this "Christian" organization was anything but that. Many of us saw it for years. Now that recent talks and literature is bringing Christ back, (lol), it looks better to the "world" for reasons they need it to be.

2

Book recommendation about Ancient Rome

by KerryKing in

i've been reading a series of books about ancient rome, written in novel form but based on real people, dates and facts, itvhas been very eye opening as it creates a very real backdrop for the gospels and especially the letters to the congregations.

they're by steven saylor, roma, empire and dominus.. below is a quote from dominus: .

"reason means nothing when the worshippers are completely reliant on the revelations of the prophet.".

Dagney

"Reason means nothing when the worshippers are completely reliant on the revelations of the prophet."

How relevant with the JW cult. Baptism question #2 makes it clear.

Reason means nothing when the worshippers are COMPLETELY reliant on the revelations of the organization.

135

Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat in

say it ain’t so!

.

in one sense it’s a no brainer because the figures just don’t add up any more.. in another (negative) sense it’s a no brainer because it’s been fundamental to jws since year dot and might undermine the whole thing?

Dagney

If Rev. 7:4 is to be taken literally, why not verses 5,6,7,8?

I think also this change can happen, with the "we just don't know" or some sort of word soup.

Like most here half my family are JW's. I'm in communication with them regularly, my sibling is up in years and has serious health issues. I think he knows the questionable issues. He's been in that secret international group that discuss all these subjects for decades. That being said, he's got his eyes on the prize during this difficult time.

The other relatives are traveling all over in groups and having a great time. I think it will be discussed in private circles, but they are content with their way of life and have no need to change it. .02

135

Rumour 144,000 literal number teaching to be abandoned at Annual Meeting

by slimboyfat in

say it ain’t so!

.

in one sense it’s a no brainer because the figures just don’t add up any more.. in another (negative) sense it’s a no brainer because it’s been fundamental to jws since year dot and might undermine the whole thing?

Dagney

The math never worked.

Estimated 1st century Christians to about 320AD = 7,000,000

Estimated martyrs during that time = 2,000,000 (due to heavy persecution)

Add the faithful to death in the following 1500 years the estimate is many millions more.

I read Foxe's Book of Martyrs when I left JW. The persecution was cruel and horrendous, nothing like what the JW "faithful slave" has gone through. (My favorite martyr, Perpetua, sniff) Boiling oil thrown on then, skinned alive, fed to wild animals... I knew for sure the JW interpretation of the little flock was BS.

Just do the math with any adjustments to the estimated numbers...the math does not support the JW dogma. And at some point they were going to have to down play the number.

This is just my take on the whole thing.

PS. My brother, elder, kept track on spread sheets the numbers reported in the annual report. There were some years I think in the 70's that the WT did not report the partaking numbers. He knew something was up.

15

A Jehovah's Witness family's excellent Letter of Resignation trending on exjw Reddit today

by Balaamsass2 in

i got an email notice today on this excellent letter of resignation from a german family that is trending on reddit.

i thought i would share it here if anyone is so inclined to write one.

for those with pimi jw family and jw business connections, it may not be wise to share such a letter, but i imagine it must be very freeing to send such a letter.

Dagney

Funny thing is nobody ever asked me directly why I left.. It’s as if they didn’t want to really know.

👋🏻LHG - same, agreed. 🥂

15

A Jehovah's Witness family's excellent Letter of Resignation trending on exjw Reddit today

by Balaamsass2 in

i got an email notice today on this excellent letter of resignation from a german family that is trending on reddit.

i thought i would share it here if anyone is so inclined to write one.

for those with pimi jw family and jw business connections, it may not be wise to share such a letter, but i imagine it must be very freeing to send such a letter.

Dagney

Very good letter. I really like this also. I'm going to try and remember it.

We do not believe that a symbol is more sacred to God than what it stands for. Consequently, blood is not more sacred than the lives of our children. In emergency situations, we therefore follow Jesus' example of mercy (Matt. 12:7-12).

In the beginning I sort of "dreamed" about a letter I would write to my former friends, explaining my departure. In the end nobody gave a s**t, silly me!

16

Begging for accomodations

by road to nowhere in

jw
friends

local announcement has even pimis amused.

wanting rooms for some event or refugees-not clear.

private room with private bath.

Dagney

3rdgen - I remember the “Rooming Work” well! It seems nuts now, but we sure did it, and people open their houses!!!😬

We stayed also in rooms through the Rooming Department when I was a kid. Both in Vancouver Canada and SF.

72

Reddit thread about Bethel Reducing Headcount

by LongHairGal in

jw
friends

apparently, the downsizing is still happening and from what i read those let go are over 50!.

sad because these people expected to be lifers.

now they have to make their way in the world at an advanced age with no education or desirable skill!..

Dagney

I'm sure many on here have listened through the years to the anguish of those older folks in full time service, DO's, CO's, SP's, missionaries etc. who have been sent home or assigned to a congregation with a meager stipend to live out their years. The receiving congregations were to attend to the needs and make up the shortfall of funds, provide living quarters etc. Talk about swinging without a net...no SS was paid into a fund for them for all their years of service.

There was talk years ago of creating a type of retirement home here on the west coast where these folks could live with dignity. Of course, there would be no income from such a caring provision, so that didn't happen. They discovered what a diamond mine they had with real estate and the stock market.

Of course, everybody thought they would be eating grapes from their own vine and petting a panda by now.

I have a faithful relative facing end of life most likely. I heard he mentioned in retrospect that there was so much he didn't do in his life...but looking forward to the "perfect life Jehovah promised". How they can maintain such faith in a ridiculous promise is so sad.

I hope these ones being let go can grab some enjoyment and freedom with the years they have left. Quit giving loyalty to a corporation that doesn't give a f**k about them.

LHG - thanks for posting this. I don't go to Reddit often and it's good to hear about trouble at HQ. xx