Posts by OnTheWayOut

19

time to introduce myself

by Sam87 in

jw
friends

ok, ive been posting here for quite a few days and i realised that i havnt actually introduced myself properly.

at the moment i am slowly gathering as much information about what the org has done wrong and i will be putting it into an easy to read (easy enough for jws to read i should say.

later on i would like to go to an assembly and put my new 'tracts' on the seats and under peoples window washers, anywhere where they can be seen, because i view this as my new form of witnessing, and let me tell you its going to be alot more fullfilling than anything ive ever done in the jehovahs witnesses!.

OnTheWayOut

Welcome Sam.

I am so happy to hear that your family got out together. Keep in mind that your anti-JW witnessing
might be as effective as their witnessing (not very) but if it gives you some peace of mind,
power to you.

61

the walk of shame

by nonamegiven in

it all starts after you hear "these things we pray through jesus christ, amen".

i gather my books and the kid's books and put them away.

by that time people are walking over to us and talking to my wife and playing with my kids.

OnTheWayOut

You have to decide what you want Nonamegiven. Your wife did not leave you, so you cut her some slack. Still, if this is not that healthy for you, tell her you will meet at the car or corner or wherever. Take a kid or two with you if that helps. Insist on sitting near the back of the hall if possible. Get near the door during the song, otherwise. Either that, or bring a book, newspaper, or laptop computer with you, sit there in your seat after the meeting and enjoy it.

I do fully agree with Garybuss, but that might not be the case for you and your decisions about how to handle it. But don't let one act of
forgiveness by the wife totally dictate how you will deal with this. That would make her forgiving you into a way of totally controlling you. She might not seem the type, but when it comes to loyalty to the WTS, she might just try to make you feel uncomfortable and use it to get you back in line. She's a victim of a cult, no telling what she will do. Whatever you need to do, do it.

13

Thinking of Visiting Bethel H.Q.

by quixote in

jw
friends

i am planning a trip to nyc mid november and the thought has crossed my mind to visit bethel.

i haven't been there ifn aprox 7 years and i am curious to see if anything has changed.

specially with the layoffs and down sizing.. so, do i tell them i'm da ?

OnTheWayOut

WOW, what a thought. I suppose they have an arrangement to escort DA and DF witnesses. They probably herd them in with the worldly folks. If they refused to be the same with you as with JW's, there could be legal trouble. Answer this thread if you know, folks.

23

Posted Zero hours preaching- Fading faster

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

for the first time in my jw history, i turned in a slip with a big zero written in every column,.

turned it over and wrote "zero tracts" below that, i wrote "stumbled by the co".

( see http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121888/1.ashx if you want to understand the co comment.).

OnTheWayOut

I told my husband that I thought a certain brother in our congreation would choose not to be an elder soon. I have been "observing" him for several months now. Last night, he stepped down.

How do you know, though. In my case, I continued conducting and speaking as if I supported WTS doctrine. I went thru the motions.
My change was sudden and (to them) dramatic.

If you have an elder with observable wavering, he may just be tired. I doubt it was caused by doubt in the doctrine.
Still, he's a good candidate for fader.

16

The Bible, Religion and your point of view

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

the bible, religion and your point of view depending on where you stand regarding this subject there can.

no disputing the influence of the bible in art, literature, and even.

in the influence of the making of common laws.. separating the bible and religion this topic is not focused on discussing the watchtower's viewpoint.

OnTheWayOut

I like AlmostAtheist's comments

It promotes polygamy, then doesn't. It shows heroes going to prostitutes. It shows double-standards in punishment, with one man being executed for collecting sticks on the sabbath, while a king lives on after murder.

All of the above is shared by me.

A reasonable moral code could easily exist without the Bible.

It does exist outside of Bible-influenced areas.

Here's my take on the Bible:

When Cyrus returned Hebrews to Israel, this group of YHWH worshippers seemed
to have their god's favor, because they had permission to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem.
People in Israel started worshipping YHWH above other gods. The priests decided to write
a set of laws for the people- IN ORDER TO CONTROL THEM, GET THEM TO GIVE
DONATIONS TO THE PRIESTS- as priests ALWAYS want that.
Later, the priests gathered all the legends and stories of this culture, re-wrote or
recorded them for the first time. Most may have been anonymous, some were given
famous names as authors to give weight to their sayings. As time went on, a bit
more re-writing when people did not like a story, or when it was discovered that one
thing contradicted another, adding famous names to more and more writings.

Many things that were supposedly written as prophetic of Jesus Christ were actually
about WISDOM or were about THE KING of ISRAEL/ JUDAH being the son of God.
(It helps to flatter the king.) These were re-written again and the person spoken of
became generic, remove the name since that king is dead. Over time, these came
to be accepted as GOD'S WORD.

These YHWH worshippers were great at editing or writing- but no better than many
writers today. They combined some stories with contradictions in them, they sometimes
clearly made the moral point, and sometimes not so clearly, and sometimes did not
make a moral point at all.

As for Christians, Jesus was a Jew who knew his Hebrew scriptures. He decided that he
needed to ride into Jerusalem on an ass to "fulfill" prophecy, and claim other stuff, too.
When he was executed, instead of running scared, the Apostles/ Disciples decided to
continue the charade. Besides telling tall tales, they wrote tall tales, consulting their
Hebrew scriptures. Matthew and Luke did not even get their stories exactly the same.
Luke neglects to take Jesus thru Egypt. Perhaps that flaw was discovered after Luke's writings
and a trip to Egypt was added by Matthew (probably not the actual writers). Otherwise,
similar to the Hebrews, they edited their stories and got the gospels. Paul's letters and other
letters (if indeed written by the named authors) were never intended to be GOD's Word, but priests
(yes, priests again) re-wrote them and elevated their importance.

I posted this info before, but I really think you needed to know, Wanderer.

Of course, I could be wrong, and God inspired it all- he just wants us to be confused until we
dig deep into it.

45

Why would this even cross my mind?!?!?!?!

by Juniper in

jw
friends

well, after 10 years of being together, hubby has decided that he's found his 'soul mate' (the second time this year, neither of which was me) and is moving out.. i'm thirty years old and no kids, thanks to the fact that i spent 12 years in full time service telling everyone it's better to wait until the 'new system' for raising a family.

that's all beside the point - and perhaps better suited for my counselor.

:) anyway, the thought that keeps going through my mind is "this never would have happened if i didn't leave" and "how am i going to find someone to spend my life with at this age and who will understand me the way an ex-jw can"???

OnTheWayOut

30 is young! Real young.

SO TRUE. Some people are never satisfied. Your husband is one of them. If he can't realize what he already had, you are better off that he left while you were still way under 85 years old. Pretty much, anyone that young can start anew as far as romance and love goes. It takes time, you will get there.

My wife is a faithful JW. I love her so much. My awakening is putting a strain on our marriage, and I hope she doesn't turn on me.
If she does, though, I will be depressed about it then move on eventually. No hurry. Cry all you need.

32

I'm sooooo low in my spirits today... :(

by FreedomFrog in

jw
friends

i'm not going to get into much details but i'm just so depressed today.

today i feel like i'm living in a personal hell.

i have been sinking into this depression lately and it seems like it's starting to consume me.

OnTheWayOut

I want you to cheer up a bit. If you are really that depressed, then ask a
doctor about it. Maybe that you do need some pills.

Otherwise- diet, exercise, read, talk to people. Enjoy something about the
day. If it's cold out, enjoy a warm beverage. If it's nice out, get out there.

23

Posted Zero hours preaching- Fading faster

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

for the first time in my jw history, i turned in a slip with a big zero written in every column,.

turned it over and wrote "zero tracts" below that, i wrote "stumbled by the co".

( see http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121888/1.ashx if you want to understand the co comment.).

OnTheWayOut

how 'bout tape recording any possible meetings that you have

I have considered the hidden microphone, not ready to shell out for the hidden camera.

I know there could come a time when they say things different from my recollection.
I will consider it, but I don't see many meetings with the elders in my future (I hope)

I will, at least, insist on taking notes of any meeting with 2 or 3 elders. I am sure they
will object, but then I can walk away saying those are the terms for meeting with me.

23

Posted Zero hours preaching- Fading faster

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

for the first time in my jw history, i turned in a slip with a big zero written in every column,.

turned it over and wrote "zero tracts" below that, i wrote "stumbled by the co".

( see http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121888/1.ashx if you want to understand the co comment.).

OnTheWayOut

we might even throw an extra couple of puppies on the alter for ya

I really like puppies, but if you must, could you use pit bulls?
Thanks for the encouragement. The JWD has been a great help.

I've managed to cut back on it a little, and enjoy other aspects of life,
but I still have need of the addiction as I withdraw from the Borg.

23

Posted Zero hours preaching- Fading faster

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

for the first time in my jw history, i turned in a slip with a big zero written in every column,.

turned it over and wrote "zero tracts" below that, i wrote "stumbled by the co".

( see http://www.jehovahs-witness.com/6/121888/1.ashx if you want to understand the co comment.).

OnTheWayOut

Did you feel proud or did you feel guilty? I am proud of you!

I felt fantastic. It was very uplifting. I have attended meetings since resigning with a new outlook.
I still wear a tie, almost never a jacket. I comment at each meeting once or twice- enough to be
part of the meeting, but I choose comments that don't conflict with my current understanding of JW's
I am able to listen and hold in the laughter, not worried about details of the meetings or KH, I am able
to overlook the gossipping and judging others.

I guess this is a bit of a game to me. I let the BOE know I have "doubts" but I don't say enough to
be judicial. I don't say anything negative to rank and file, so they don't have problems with me.
The brothers walk on eggshells, because they know I am intelligent enought to hold my own with any
discussions they might have and they know how badly the CO botched it up.

Most people fade quietly. I actually do intend to do that, but I needed to get some firm standings
established in order to keep the elders off my back. If they say nothing, I will continue exactly as I
am doing, but if they want to shepherd me, they know not to expect sudden positive results. They now
assume I will pounce on anything they say to me, but really, these are the guys I don't want to get
judicial with, so I would never do that.