Posts by OnTheWayOut

28

Is there anyway anyone can deny all religion is nothing more than guesses?

by The Dragon in

jw
friends

see it all the time...and children even talking about it!.

is there any evidence that can prove all religions are nothing more than other mens guesses into the intentions and plans of god?.

we cannot even discern each others intentions or thoughts...how can someone claim to know god's?

OnTheWayOut

There have been many confessions to hoaxes, even that doesn't prevent people from believing.

Example- Loch Ness monster- The 1934 photo which made it famous was an admitted hoax,
the photographer said so on his deathbed. People just reverted back to the claimed sightings
before that, saying it must be real.

Point- Even though there may be overwhelming archaeological or historic evidence that something
is wrong with a religion, even if there are admitted hoaxes, cons, schemes within- someone
else will dispute the evidence.

My spiritual journey has shown me that much, if not all, of the bible was not derived by the claimed
methods, science and historians agree, yet you cannot get people to believe it.
One of the most difficult aspects to overcome is faith- faith that long dead people did and said and
wrote things that evidence (virtually) proves they did not. As long as I can insert VIRTUALLY, some-
body will say, "You don't 100% know."

61

New here

by Chameleon in

jw
friends

hello everyone.. i'm an "active" jw and have been for...13 years but my faith in the jw org died about 5 years ago.. so, i've been doing the jw thing for 5 years now without believing in it.

i might be an ms soon, unfortunately.. i tried telling my parents about it but they said apostates are good with twisting words and whatnot.. they wouldn't even let me show them evidence of wt hypocrisy; however, my mother did say she found it odd that every once in a while, there's that publisher resolution of donating a certain amount a year.

there might be hope for her yet.

OnTheWayOut

Hey, you got some well-rounded advice here.

It sounds like you've determined to fade, taking as much as 2 years to move out and into your own situation. That's great.
As long as you turn down the MS assignment, you could fade as slow or as fast as you dare. You don't have to go
straight to totally inactive in field service. If you are dragged out of bed by parents to do stuff, you decide how much you
are willing to do. Even slipping to 5 hours a month should be reason enough to say you are not ready for more
responsibility.

The recommendations that you be careful what you say- important to listen. I am very much in love with my wife of nearly
20 years, but she just might turn me in to the elders for apostasy if I am not careful. Same for my mother (I doubt it fully in
her case, but what if I am wrong?) I have left some hints around for my wife to find- news articles reprinted from the internet
about the UN, and I told my wife that I have google alerts about JW news items (usually funeral notices and ocassionally a wierd
story about people leaving the cult) but I do not talk about such issues to her. I wait for her to ask about them. So far, she has
not asked about the UN. (If you don't know what we are talking about, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jehovah's_Witnesses_and_the_United_Nations would be one place to look)

Again, welcome to the JWD. You can read great information here, learn alot. Feel free to add questions or comments as you do.

61

New here

by Chameleon in

jw
friends

hello everyone.. i'm an "active" jw and have been for...13 years but my faith in the jw org died about 5 years ago.. so, i've been doing the jw thing for 5 years now without believing in it.

i might be an ms soon, unfortunately.. i tried telling my parents about it but they said apostates are good with twisting words and whatnot.. they wouldn't even let me show them evidence of wt hypocrisy; however, my mother did say she found it odd that every once in a while, there's that publisher resolution of donating a certain amount a year.

there might be hope for her yet.

OnTheWayOut

I would really like to stay and read more with you, but my wife is coming home, she doesn't know I am on the JWD. So imagine that, twice your age, and still hiding where I go on the internet. Some things take time. I will check back, tomorrow. I suggest you do the same thing (tomorrow or when you can). Don't make any rash decisions without thinking them thru. But sabatoge your MS appointment, or at least say NO, I need to get a job, or I just started this job. I need to save up for a car, rent. I need to deal with depression. Dad might hide what he knows from the elders or he might turn you in, be careful and low key until you are ready to scream your decisions.

61

New here

by Chameleon in

jw
friends

hello everyone.. i'm an "active" jw and have been for...13 years but my faith in the jw org died about 5 years ago.. so, i've been doing the jw thing for 5 years now without believing in it.

i might be an ms soon, unfortunately.. i tried telling my parents about it but they said apostates are good with twisting words and whatnot.. they wouldn't even let me show them evidence of wt hypocrisy; however, my mother did say she found it odd that every once in a while, there's that publisher resolution of donating a certain amount a year.

there might be hope for her yet.

OnTheWayOut

You asked what kind of JW family I have. No kids, but a wife of many years (met in the congregation) and a mother who are JW. Mom was DF'ed after 1975, and later went back to JW. I am more than twice your age. I keep my identity a secret, also, because I don't want to get DF'ed.

You are in your parents house for now, so that's tough on the field service and meetings thing. You can try to skip service and say you have headaches. (You aren't truly lying if field service hurts your mind). Enough headaches and you will need a doctor. Eventually, tell your folks that you think you are depressed because of something- loneliness, or fear of the future, depressed that you don't have a car or license- whatever you can sell to them. (Most of us have some depression that we cope well with, use one that's true.) That would be a reason for poor field service. Don't do it as often for the meetings, but try it. Remember, your depression is an excuse to cut back- don't get all depressed and miss out on life outside the Kingdom Hall. Tell your folks that outdoor stuff helps your depression. If they insist you go to a doctor, and if you trust the doctor, tell him you are depressed because of the religion.

Lighten up on doctrinal discussion with the parents. Dad will deal with it like an elder sooner or later. Just stick to "doubts." That's how I resigned as an elder. I never try to win arguments with the elders. A young person is expected to have doubts and depressions. I don't want to be the only advise here. Others have great ideas. Maybe read alot here before taking a certain path of action.

61

New here

by Chameleon in

jw
friends

hello everyone.. i'm an "active" jw and have been for...13 years but my faith in the jw org died about 5 years ago.. so, i've been doing the jw thing for 5 years now without believing in it.

i might be an ms soon, unfortunately.. i tried telling my parents about it but they said apostates are good with twisting words and whatnot.. they wouldn't even let me show them evidence of wt hypocrisy; however, my mother did say she found it odd that every once in a while, there's that publisher resolution of donating a certain amount a year.

there might be hope for her yet.

OnTheWayOut

If you move, move far enough to get to another congregation. Start off there with missing meetings, not commenting, poor or inactive field service. Whatever you can comfortably get away with.

If Dad is really putting pressure on you, move before the MS thing comes up. Try to go to work more often to pay your rent, car payment, whatever.

61

New here

by Chameleon in

jw
friends

hello everyone.. i'm an "active" jw and have been for...13 years but my faith in the jw org died about 5 years ago.. so, i've been doing the jw thing for 5 years now without believing in it.

i might be an ms soon, unfortunately.. i tried telling my parents about it but they said apostates are good with twisting words and whatnot.. they wouldn't even let me show them evidence of wt hypocrisy; however, my mother did say she found it odd that every once in a while, there's that publisher resolution of donating a certain amount a year.

there might be hope for her yet.

OnTheWayOut

Hello, welcome to the JWD.

I am not in a very similar situation, but I am a JW with family in the organization. I am in the process of fading away. Many here are doing the same. You just become less and less active and never actually leave, just fade away. You can eventually get to the point where you tell your folks you go to meetings sometimes (even the memorial is "sometimes").

IF A FADE WOULD WORK FOR YOU-
My advice, first of all- mess up before you become an MS. Don't get out in service at all during the campaign for the tract or turn in reports of 1 or 2 hours service. If that's not good enough, miss three of the same meeting in a row (prefer the School and Service Meeting). Regardless, even if they offer you a position, tell them "No, my field service was low, I missed many meetings, I gotta improve before I take on more." Then get worse- but slowly if that will work for you.

Your folks know you have doubts. You can talk about them, but be careful. Stick with WT pubs. (Get info from the web or whatever, but keep that to yourself). Don't ever say your doubts as facts. Don't really bother to take them to your own cong. Body of Elders.

8

Very Funny (but true) look at religion

by jwfacts in

check out this link.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xghfq0epsjg.

very funny, but makes belief in one true religion look quite insane.. .

OnTheWayOut

good post. LOL

11

Wouldn't It Be Nice...

by Justice-One in

jw
friends

wouldn't it be nice if we lived in a world were religion/cults did not get in the way of family relations?

i have now gotten the "cold shoulder" for almost two weeks from my wife of almost 28 years.

i'm sure it has something to do with finally telling her the elders can kiss my ass, and that i don't want to be there when the kool-aid comes out.

OnTheWayOut

Don't let victims of the cult change who you are. I will probably be in the same place one day.

I keep saying that I will be a good husband, understanding, forgiving, not too harsh on the cult victim wife.

Otherwise, it's got to be rough man. Stay busy with exercise, work, hobbies, JWS, whatever works.

40

Buddhism, Taoism, Meditation, and any other Non-Christian Journeys...

by exjdub in

jw
friends

there have been a lot of christian threads lately, so i thought that i would open a topic for other journeys.

because there is no way i will ever be a christian again because the curtain has been opened and i can see behind it, however i have an open mind and have started some meditation practices.

i have been thinking about visiting a buddhist temple out of curiosity.

OnTheWayOut

Don't change the thought of the thread, but WTS has made me suspicious of any organized religion. Most of the non-Chirstian Journeys discussed are very noncommittal, open to your own depth of following. Still, I would educate myself at the library and the internet about any belief before I started walking into temples. Try reading appropriate philosophy books for awhile.

34

What is the WT view on Sex After monopause?

by Undecided in

jw
friends

if sex isn't for the pleasure should you do it after you can't have children?.

should old guys like me still try?

my wife said making love to a 70 year old is like playing pool with a rope.. she was just kidding, at least i hope she was.. ken p..

OnTheWayOut

Trevor, I got it. LOL