I was disfellowshipped in 1975. My dad, who was not a witness, died of cancer that summer. I was working full-time during the day at a bank in St. Louis and going to college at night. I was busy with my own life and had made up my mind at that point that I did not believe what the witnesses taught. There were a lot of things in that organization I was unhappy with and I wanted no part of it. In looking back, I know they were anticipating Armageddon in 1975 but I had a total disconnect from them at that time and was unaffected by it.
mimimimi
JoinedPosts by mimimimi
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128
Looking Back In Retrospect To 1975...
by titch ingreetings, folks: so, it's been 40 years since 1975. and, if you were actively involved with the witnesses back then, the mindset of many was, that by early autumn of 1975, it would mark the anniversary of 6000 years of human existence.
and, the hope was then, that it would mark the start of the 1000-year of christ, from the heavenly realm.
but, looking back now, 40 years ago, in june of 1975, only 3 more months remained until early autumn.
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Advice Needed - JW Grandparents
by What Now? inmy family has been out (inactive no meeting attendance or field service) for just over two years..
weve made many changes in our lives, including with our personal appearances (tattoos, piercings etc) that are a pretty obvious sign that we arent going back any time soon.
our families went through a period of time about a year ago when they made a lot of threats that if we left the truth, they wouldnt even be able to share a meal with us, they would stay loyal to jehovah etc.
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mimimimi
My nephew and his wife have this same situation with their little boy and my sister, JW grandma and her husband who is an uber-elder. My nephew and his wife have repeatedly told my sister and her husband that their child is not to be taught Watchtower doctrine, but they continue at every opportunity to try to indoctrinate him. I think they have not been allowed to have him alone for a while now.
I do agree with DesirousofChange, though. They will be exposed to all sorts of doctrines, ideas, what have you, over life and you could do exactly what Doc says, explain to them why you don't believe what Grandma and Grandpa believe. And, yes, Doc is right - tell them that as they grow older they need to make up their own minds about things, but that to do this best they need to seek out knowledge from many sources, not just one.
Another thing I think about this is that you need to reach out in your life and get to know other people, maybe some parents of children in your children's age group so your children can make new friends too. Join some things where you can meet other people, maybe some family things. Don't keep yourself in the situation where your only support group is your JW relatives because it may eventually backfire on you when they decide to kick you to the curb for "Jehovah; I.e. Watchtower Society".
Best wishes to you.
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Getting it out of my system, a VERY long introduction/outpouring..
by adimmedlight inwarning, novel ahead:.
after a few months of lurking on this site, i've decided to take the plunge...i don't really care so much about introducing myself, but somehow there is some relief in the thought of getting my little story out there, just getting it out of my system.
i am the oldest of 5 kids.
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mimimimi
My heart goes out to you. With time and new experiences, things will become more clear to you. I too felt a lot of guilt when I left the JW's - it had been so deeply ingrained that you had to be doing more, more, more and watching everything you did, not stumbling anyone. You learn after a while that sometimes less is more. Enjoy your life. Remember that Jesus said we are to love God with our whole heart, mind etc. and we are to do unto others as we would have them do unto us. Those two commandments cover everything in our lives. They do not come with a set of rules and dos and don'ts. We can figure out what is beneficial to ourselves and others and if we are doing those things, we will have a good life and find satisfaction in it. Not that you will not have problems in life, but you can find ways to deal with those problems without the Watchtower's twisted input and have peace in your life.
Educate yourself, too, regarding the Watchtower Society and the mind control techniques they use and the corruption that exists in that organization. Look for guidance in other spiritual publications. At 12 step meetings they always tell you "Take what you need and leave the rest." Apply that in what you read. Fill your mind with positive things. Continue praying for others. That shows you have a good heart. God recognizes that in you and he will guide you along your way.
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I Don't Get It!
by John Aquila inthere are literally about thirty young single very good looking sisters in this one kingdom hall under the age of 30. that is just one kingdom hall.
in the circuit there are literally hundreds of young beautiful jw girls under 30 who are single and anxious to get married.
about two years ago, this one single good looking brother who is about 30 years old and who is an elder married this plain looking sister who is 59 years old.
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mimimimi
Really, I want to say something nasty here, and actually did, but now I am editing my comment to get rid of it. Who knows why any of those people do anything they do. For someone to be in that faith and stay in it requires some mental/emotional illness on their part. It has to have something to do with that.
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"Deep Down , He Knows That It is The Truth"
by BluesBrother inthis phrase i heard again at the weekend when a diehard dub was discussing his non believing, but much loved son.
"it is just that..... [insert any excuse here].
it is something that they all say about us, yet nothing could be further from the truth.
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mimimimi
I have heard this so many times over the years from different ones whose children or other family members had left the organization - he/she knows it is the truth. I know my own mother believed this about me for a long time. But then we had a couple of conversations where I spoke up strongly about JWs and the wrongness of their beliefs and she finally came to realize that I truly did not believe it any more. She even told my younger sister who was still in "Virginia does not believe the same way we do". When I heard she had said that it was such a victory for me! My mother is deceased now - passed away from brain cancer in 2012 and I really don't see or talk to my JW family members much, nothing really in common with them any more. I still love them but I deplore their choice in religion and I hate the way they like to bring up things and people JW to me thinking that somehow they will bring me back to the fold. -
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Ran into some JW's.......but this time I did the teaching ;) x
by snare&racket inso i went out today with my broken leg and got accosted by an old lady, with some magazines.. it was my first ever encounter with a jw in ten years, and i had said 'i know you are jw's, i'm not interested thank you.
" twice.....then she started talking about my broken leg and how wonderful we are made and how amazing the healing process is.... and that's when it all started...."i used to be a bethelite pioneer, now i'm an atheist doctor...".
she was with me a good 30 mins, her elder husband left very annoyed but she stayed, and she was dying to hear everything i spurted out, despite aggressively defending every point, from military engines to paedophilia.
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mimimimi
Good for you! I'm glad that lady listened to you - who knows what seeds it may have planted and how they may come back to grow even with her staying in that mind control cult. And her husband with his 40 years . . . laughable how they measure their own self-importance by how many years they have been in the cult. I remember a convert in my last congregation being irritated by the attitude of born-ins - definitely some one-upmanship there on the part of the born-ins. Little do they know that they are all just a joke. -
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Crisis of Consience market price (we are in a bull market)
by NewYork44M ini was considering getting another copy of one of ray's books and was shocked about the market value.
is ray's book worth $1,000?
perhaps, but it is a bit shocking.
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mimimimi
I am absolutely shocked! I bought mine about nine or so years ago and the price was reasonable. Just yesterday I offered to loan it to someone and she had another source to borrow it from. I don't think I will offer to lend it so easily in the future now knowing what is being charged for it. I also have In Search of Christian Freedom. Thank goodness there is a PDF version of Crisis of Conscience. Is there also one for In Search of Christian Freedom? Does anyone know? Seriously, whoever has the rights to these books now - wonder who that is? - should have them reprinted. I am sure the Watchtower Society would be tickled shitless to see them cost so much so that lots of people cannot buy them. -
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My sister knows I said she was brainwashed
by mimimimi inaround memorial time this year, i stated to my nephew on facebook that my sister was brainwashed.
stupid me putting that on a public forum!
he was offended because she continues to invite him to the memorial even though he has ptsd from his jw experiences growing up.
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mimimimi
WingCommander and happy@last, I think you are right - no apology. I suspect she and I will not be talking again, but we talk so little now anyway that it will not matter. If I needed a hearing ear or companionship, she already was someone I would not go to. We really have so little in common. -
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mimimimi
Oh, no! Too funny! -
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The JW religion has just cost me my marriage & my family life
by jambon1 inafter leaving the organisation 10 years ago i fought with everything i had to stay in my marriage and with my three children.
after a tumultuous number of years trying to maintain a happy family life while living in a divided home, it's finally over.
the religion is single handedly responsible for destroying my marriage and my family.
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mimimimi
I'm so sorry to hear this. Hopefully, you can be a good influence to help your children out of this sick religion. As painful as things are right now, you can build a good life going forward. How sad that your wife chooses the organization over not only you, but your children as well. The organization will always come first, whatever life may bring for your children. How old are your children?