Posts by emyrose

10

JE-HOVIS WITNESSES

by JW72 in

jw
friends

hi everyone, sorry about the title, got your attention though!!.....

my dad is the only jw in my family, i'm not, my 2 brothers aren't and neither is my mum.. my mum was until me and my older brother were about 6 & 7.. me and my brother were until we were 15 & 16.. my little brother was briefly, but escaped in 'the nick of time'.. life is very tough in my house, with my dad stomping around the house, making everyone feel guilty and uncomfortable with every little thing that we do.. we are just trying to get on like a normal family, and all he can do is say negative things about everything we do.. it is impossible to live with him, we have all come to agree.. we have shown him all the evidence we have to show him jw is a cult but he continues to go along with what the wts tell him, although he doesn't go to the meetings, coz he's stressed and not strong enough, mentally.. but there are some things that really annoy me, like the way he watches a tv programme where an animal is being killed, and he says something like 'oh, isn't that awful', and i think 'what about armageddon??????

' '5000000000000000000000 times worse!!!!!'..

emyrose

"I seem to understand better what's going on than he does, he, of cousre, thinks it all our fault, that we're being influenced by Satan etc."

Hi Chris,

You are correct in thinking that you are aware of things that your dad
is not aware of. But there are also things that you can't understand or see fully that is going on inside his head, in his personal world which was created by his personal experiences. But whatever may be
prompting him to mistreat you it is in no way an excuse. Certainly, you should hold him responsible for his actions. Also, you shouldn't rush yourself in being affectionate or loving towards him if you feel you are not ready yet. All this anger you are feeling is just, understandable and normal. Yet, for your benefit you should have a healthy perspective on the whole situation. This means being deeply angry but not destructive of your relationship with him or of your own mental health. Again, don't drown yourself in this tragedy. Look to whatever
the possible solutions are(which will include reaching out for help) and save yourself.

Hoping you triumph, Emyrose

10

JE-HOVIS WITNESSES

by JW72 in

jw
friends

hi everyone, sorry about the title, got your attention though!!.....

my dad is the only jw in my family, i'm not, my 2 brothers aren't and neither is my mum.. my mum was until me and my older brother were about 6 & 7.. me and my brother were until we were 15 & 16.. my little brother was briefly, but escaped in 'the nick of time'.. life is very tough in my house, with my dad stomping around the house, making everyone feel guilty and uncomfortable with every little thing that we do.. we are just trying to get on like a normal family, and all he can do is say negative things about everything we do.. it is impossible to live with him, we have all come to agree.. we have shown him all the evidence we have to show him jw is a cult but he continues to go along with what the wts tell him, although he doesn't go to the meetings, coz he's stressed and not strong enough, mentally.. but there are some things that really annoy me, like the way he watches a tv programme where an animal is being killed, and he says something like 'oh, isn't that awful', and i think 'what about armageddon??????

' '5000000000000000000000 times worse!!!!!'..

emyrose

Hi Jw72,
" We have shown him all the evidence we have to show him JW is a cult but he continues to go along with what the WTS tell him, although he doesn't go to the meetings, coz he's stressed and not strong enough, mentally."

Maybe your dad is not ready to deal with the fact that he was fooled
and lured into a cult. Remember that the WTBTS uses mind control, and
your dad may have fallen under a stronger form of it then you think.
Life forms who one is and and how one looks at things. Perhaps he had a really tough life of which details you may not be aware of. Something in his past may have created a need in him for the comforts provided by JW teachings. Right now he still needs to belief as he does.
It seems that you love him despite all the heartaches he brings to you and your family. Focus on your love for him and find it in your heart to forgive him and understand his condition. Sometime in the
future he may come out of that nightmare and be more positive about
life. In the meanwhile, don't lose sight of things. He still loves
you, just not as you think he should. Don't let this interfere with
your love for him, and don't forget that he will always be your dad.
Stay positive and concentrate on the good things in your life, so as
to develop strength in will and character. This determination can help
you to lead a happy life.

My dad was never a JW, but he is similar to your dad in negativity.
He was never affectionate with me. He never developed a real relationship with any one in my family. I never saw him kiss my mom
once. In fact he has physically and emotionally abused all of us.
Yet, I found life became easier when I pushed all this aside and
focused on the few good things he did for us.
SOmetimes you just have to accept family members as they are and hope they will change for the better. If they don't
you can't let this prevent you from enjoying life. Perhaps your dad
never learned how to love or to display it in a healthy manner. You
obviously do, otherwise you wouldn't be trying to rescue your younger
brother. I commend you for this sacrifice you are making. Another sacrifice you may have to make is loving your dad even if he seems to not appreciated. As a result you may actually teach him how to love.

Thanks, Emyrose

6

True vs. False

by andypro in

there are so many religions and faiths out there, and they all seem to be nice, decent people, so how am i supposed to tell which one is true and which ones are false?

emyrose

Hi Andypro,

Your question is a complicated one. First, it assumes that at least
one religion is the true or perfect one, while the others are false.
Then it assumes that this true religion can be identified by humans.
That an imperfect human can see the perfection of a religion. Yet,
are you sure that all this is true or possible?

Suppose God decided to allow different forms of worship, each man-controlled and therefore containing certain imperfections. Despite,
these imperfections each would contain valuable moral codes which would give each of them validity in God's eyes. So God would allow mankind to worship him as best as they could, with whatever form of religion which was available to them. This would mean that while no
perfect religion existed on earth God would approve those attempting
to worship him through the imperfect ones anyway.

Speculations of this sort should should be investigated throughout one's lifetime. Give yourself plenty of time to come to any definitive conclusions. I'm sure God doesn't expect us to know
more than we can. Perhaps knowing the basics, such as not inflicting
undue harm on others, is sufficient for now. Most religions share
such basic moral codes.

Thanks, Emyrose `

3

On Belief In God

by Big Jim in

jw
friends

it is an insult to god to believe in god.

for on the one hand it is to suppose that he has perpetrated acts of incalculable cruelty.

on the other hand, it is to suppose that he has perversely given his human creatures an instrument -- their intellect -- which must inevitably lead them, if they are dispassionate and honest, to deny his existence.

emyrose

Hi Big Jim,

I can understand why it would be tempting for you and others
to come to this conclusion. Everyone has to justify their
views on an issue. Naturally, God too would understand this
temptation.

Emyrose

12

My Lonnng Story...

by poohbear1962 in

several folks asked to hear my story, so here goes - i hope you don't fall asleep!!

it's a story that's been told many, many times - i was pretty much raised as a jehovahs witness (my mom was baptized when i was 6 years old), and i simply followed along and accepted for years what i was being told.

going through school, i just learned to be different (which, in some ways, is a good thing... im hoping that will make it easier to break free).

emyrose

hi poohbear,

Hang in there poohbear, you will come out of this nightmare if you keep focusing on the solutions that exist. Think about the progress
you have already made to break free from that cult. A somewhat normal
life for you and your children awaits you out here in the real world. You still have a chance to find happiness in life. Many here too have been devastated
by the WTBTS and life's circumtances in general. Most are very supportive and can offer you lifesaving advice. So feel free to ask
for support. I did and got great, effective advice.

Thanks, Emyrose

PS, thankyou for telling your story

21

Disfellowshipping Doesn't Sever Family Ties?

by tergiversator in

jw
friends

"disfellowshipping does not sever family ties.".

or so claims the watchtower's official faq.

so, i would like to take an informal poll: how has being disfellowshippid/ disassociated/ inactive/ just having doubts affected relations with your family?

emyrose

Hi Tergiversater,

Only my older sister and myself were JWs in my family. I left first.
When I unofficially disassociated myself from the organization
I called my sister who was living in a different state and didn't really get into a deep discussion about why I was leaving. Afterwards, She continued to called me and speak to me as usual. When I would visit
her she would keep the fact that I was inactive from her congregation.
I attended some meetings with her with no problem. My relationship
with her didn't really suffer at all. Perhaps the fact that she was
attending college for her second degree had something to do with her
reaction to my disassociation. Maybe a college education makes for a more tolerant reaction and less mind control. She left the org. two years after I did.

Thanks,
Emyrose

25

Hi

by heff in

jw
friends

i have been lurking around here for quite some time now, posted a few short replies, and engaged in a little chat from time to time.

its almost hard to remember, just a few months back, feeling like i was the only one to live through a jw experience and not be sorry that i am no longer a part of it.

i am very happy to have found this site.. i would like to better introduce myself as i have seen several others do.. i was born in '78 to a fanatical jw mother and an unbelieving alcholic father.

emyrose

hi Heff,

You are still very young and have the rest of your life ahead of you. Many here have also had a pretty tough life. Keep reading about how
they have managed to stay alive and find some happiness in life. This
forum is really a great place to witness the beauty of the human spirit thrive in the face of all sorts of deaths. I hope you can find
it in your heart to forgive your mom and build a loving relationship
w/ her, even if she fails to help you.

Emyrose

24

I ate meat on Friday

by chester in

jw
friends

i was raised as a catholic.

it used to be considered a sin to eat meat on friday.

even for a little boy who was at the age of reason.. i remember very well the time when i was in the second grade about the age of 7 that i did eat a hot dog on a friday.. i knew that it was a sin but i ate it anyway.

emyrose

Hi Chester,

When I first picked up apostate literature, I remember thinking
that the WTBTS was being unfairly labeled as a cult. It was not
until four years after I left that I was able to admit that I
had indeed been a member of a cult. Even when I say it now it
hurts me tremendously. So reaching many of our brothers and sisters
who are still trapped under mind control is a delicate and sophisticated process. Part of it is telling your personal story,
and so I thank you for taking the time and having the courage to
tell us your story on this forum.

Emyrose

32

Wow! The look they had on their faces!

by ianao in

jw
friends

witnesses: "why, no sir.

witnesses: "well, actually sir if...".

witnesses: "ok sir, but may i just say something?".

emyrose

Funny I never thought I was deceiving people when
out in field service? I doubt that the
average JW goes door to door w/ the intention of
conning or swindling folks. I honestly thought I
was aiding in saving people by bringing them into the truth.
When they approach me nowadays I kindly decline the literature
and feel compassion for them, because i know that they are
under mind control and wasting precious time living in a dream
world. I would never begin to abuse or hate them. Isn't that
what many accuse them of doing on this board? Why would we advocate such
poor and hateful behavior? Why? I find it quite disturbing to
see that it's that easy to instigate hatred for a group of people
we once were a part of and where some still have family members.
But I guess that's part of human nature.
And that's why leaders like Hitler will continue
rise in the future.

Emyrose

95

Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID)

by Wounded Heart in

used to be called multiple personality disorder (mpd).. i have it.

i was physically, emotionally, sexually abused.

the tramas in my life were so great that i split into many.

emyrose

Hi Waiting,

Thankyou for welcoming me, as many others have done too.
You, along with other wise and kind souls on this board
are the reason why I'm still here.

Hi everyone, here's a little something for you:

My psychiatrist told me I'm going crazy. I told him .... If you don't mind I'd like a second opinion. He said .... Alright.... you're ugly too! (Rodney Dangerfield)

Thanks, Emyrose