Posts by Juniper123

19

IS/ WAS YOUR CONGREGATION LIKE MY CURRENT ONE?

by enlightenedcynic in

in the congregation i currently attend with my die-hard witness wife and my two kids, the p.o.

is a lame duck elder whom no one really respects or goes to for any counsel, advice, etc.

another elder(lives at bethel) has taken to flirting with a local sister who is seperated but not divorced from her husband.

Juniper123

It's true youth groups would only work in a church, excuse me organaztion, not built on the the toxic double bill of be humble and loving to one another/but your are the nicest bestest people in the whole world and god loves you bestest of all. The theme I see through so many threads about lack of love in congregations makes me feel not alone. That I saw the carefully posed pictures in WT and Awakes and the books, of people happily conversing with one another, sidebars making a point for "younger one" to seek out the fellowship of "mature ones" in the cong. Pictures of paradise where apparently we'll wander around in our ethnic national costume for enternity. All this love on the page and all the spitting at the evil of Christendom and yet every kingdom hall was an uneasy, unhappy cattle barn of secrets, accusations, silent judgements, snarled lips and ice cold "it's so nice to have you with us today"s. I'm so thankful for this place to melt that guilt that it was my fault I was getting anything out of the meetings or the fellowship.

ot/virgochick, is your avatar from Johanna Pieterman? I love her work/ot

51

What planted the seed of doubt that lead you to leave or think of leaving?

by NanaR in

i've been thinking of this a lot lately.

the following experience ties my first doubt in with my present life.

as a backdrop to this, you should know that i was a 5th generation "raised in the truth" jw through my mother (her great-grandfather got "the truth" from pastor russell).

Juniper123

Just looking around me at people and school and out and about and how they weren't always miserable, how in fact most of them got through the day just fine. That while the world was a scary place there was a lot of joy and love in it too. And feeling supremely uncomfortable in field service, knowing at right years old that knocking on someone's door to tell them everything they believe is wrong and to accept our doctrine or not see the new world is just plain wrong.

27

District Assembly Games

by *jeremiah* in

i left the jw's when i was 17, so most of these games were played during teenage years.. here are some things i remember doing with my friends during the assembly:.

1. the last clap.

after a brothers talk or when "new light" emerged and the entire stadium would erupt with clapping we would see if one of us could be the very last person in the entire stadium to clap.. 2. the laugh game.

Juniper123

But those Sara Lee danishes, out of sight. Mmm cherry.

Edit: And you're a totally cool mom Lil!

27

District Assembly Games

by *jeremiah* in

i left the jw's when i was 17, so most of these games were played during teenage years.. here are some things i remember doing with my friends during the assembly:.

1. the last clap.

after a brothers talk or when "new light" emerged and the entire stadium would erupt with clapping we would see if one of us could be the very last person in the entire stadium to clap.. 2. the laugh game.

Juniper123

Yeah I would divide the assembly day into two parts, waiting for the swiss miss vanilla pudding cups at lunch, and then going to garcias for fried ice creams and mexican food afterwards.

6

Went to my first Halloween party

by hambeak in

i was invited to my first halloween party with some ex jw's.

i was nervous at first at accepting but i never before had such a good time i am so glad i went.

big tex and his wife are wonderful people as were all whom i met there.

Juniper123

I think I'll throw a party next year, and because I don't believe in doing anything by halves I might as well make sure I'll never see paradise so I'll get a friend and this will be my costume:

alt

9

NEWS 'false religion' tract graphic imagery

by DannyHaszard in

australia post comment on 'false religion' tract graphic imagery inspirations: the harlot and the beast.

sydney morning herald, australia - 27 minutes ago.

we're wondering whether sometime last month, a couple of jehovah's witnesses might have visited the home of sheik taj el-din al-hilaly, because we've been ... we're wondering whether sometime last month, a couple of jehovah's witnesses might have visited the home of sheik taj el-din al-hilaly, because we've been reading some fascinatingly familiar remarks in a pamphlet headed "the end of false religion is near!

Juniper123

I always like how in every WTS illustration of Babylon The Great she's able to hold on to her cocktail. That'a girl!

27

District Assembly Games

by *jeremiah* in

i left the jw's when i was 17, so most of these games were played during teenage years.. here are some things i remember doing with my friends during the assembly:.

1. the last clap.

after a brothers talk or when "new light" emerged and the entire stadium would erupt with clapping we would see if one of us could be the very last person in the entire stadium to clap.. 2. the laugh game.

Juniper123

One time there was an older brother giving the final talk who had that thing were he whistled through his teeth when he talked, so my cousin and I made game of making a slight nod at each other or tapping each other's hand when he did it. How we kept ourselves from falling on the floor in hysterics by the end I'll never know.

19

IS/ WAS YOUR CONGREGATION LIKE MY CURRENT ONE?

by enlightenedcynic in

in the congregation i currently attend with my die-hard witness wife and my two kids, the p.o.

is a lame duck elder whom no one really respects or goes to for any counsel, advice, etc.

another elder(lives at bethel) has taken to flirting with a local sister who is seperated but not divorced from her husband.

Juniper123

Another voice chiming in on JW teens rebelling, I was too much of a scaredy cat goody two shoes to act out or to tell. But the other kids wore short skirts and baggy pants to school, a few got pregnant, I don't remember any DFs. But I was shocked years later when I talked to my dad and found out how many of the kids I knew in the congregation were no longer in it, either by leaving or getting DF, and how so many had gotten messed up in drugs or allready had their second child. I always wished we had a youth group like other churches, and my dad agrees with me on that. It wouldn't have stopped all the cases but having a safety valve were you can go to the movies, or go on picnics or trips and not have every waking moment devoted to "why aren't you in service?" lets your religion breathe and not suffocate you. My dad told me he had gotten into arguments with his father over this, and my grandfather who was a circut overseer said that they recieved fellowship in service. Yes chatting over apple pies at Mickey D's is nice, but there has to be times when't your not in a frumpy floral print dress, and white payless shoe sandals. As for the grownups, I can't remember too many bad elders but their wives or older sisters were the original nest of vipers. I just remember being very glad to leave meetings.

5

WAITING FOR ARMAGEDDON (good for halloween night)

by Dogpatch in

jehovahs witnesses are waiting for armageddon, .

and this is what occupies their time while they wait!

abraham waves his staff in their faces.

Juniper123

It's the little touches about the two shasta lunches or danishes at the conventions that make it art. And my kingdom hall was full to bursting with Elderettes.

26

What did you throw out when u became a JW?

by dobbie in

it really pigs me off now when i think back to what i was told to get rid of when i was studying.my collection of stephen king books, my new madonna like a prayer record that i loved, my alice cooper and guns and roses album.

i was even told not to listen to classical music because some of the composers led such debauched lives!also any film with an 18 certificate was a nono in case others were stumbled - even though i have seen other jws reading stephen king books and watching 18 cert films and my husband had the complete madonna collection!and of course depeche modes 'personal jesus' song which i loved.

and my lost boys album and video cos it was about vampires.i was just wondering what sort of things were you told you should get rid of and why?

Juniper123

Oh Juni...

I was raised a JW, so it wasn't throwing out so much as it was sitting off the side not being allowed to have any treats when the room mothers brought in cupcakes for birthdays or holidays. And wondering why the worldy kids tended to be nicer than the iron clad snobs in the congregation. And that would a cupcake really keep me from seeing The New World. I think my first act of rebellion was breaking down in 3rd grade and eating the valentine's candy, it was a small step but I knew I would find myself a god. A god who didn't make the daily act of living an impossible burden of both showing love to everyone but hating those in the world. A god of peace. A god of cupcakes.