I wonder that too Bonafide. Because I was baptized as a dedication to "God's Spirit-directed Organization" and said a loud YES to the questions, I wonder if my baptism is valid with God.
I'll think I'll ask Password as he's recently baptised.
boyzone
JoinedPosts by boyzone
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26
How old were you when you were baptized as a JW, and what was it like?
by BonaFide ini was baptized at 15 years old.
a brother toutjian gave the talk.
it was the circuit assembly.
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26
How old were you when you were baptized as a JW, and what was it like?
by BonaFide ini was baptized at 15 years old.
a brother toutjian gave the talk.
it was the circuit assembly.
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boyzone
I remember it clear as day. I was 22 in 1986 and a young mum of 2 boys. It was at the circuit assembly and the baptism talk was given by Stan Andrews. I remember this overwhelming feeling of safety as I was baptized. I had been thoroughly taught that I must be a JW if I hoped to survive armageddon and baptism meant I'd joined. Afterward I looked at my sleeping children in the pram and felt grateful that they were now safe too.
Love for God came way down the list, in fact this "relationship with Jehovah" thing always eluded me. Now I really appreciate what faith in Jesus and true love is all about, but it wasn't anything the witnesses taught me, I had to go to church to learn that.
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70 years = 607?
by allelsefails in70 years of captivity?.
i myself have always believed that when archaeology disagreed with the bible the bible must be right.
that is how i dismissed the idea that jerusalem was destroyed in 586/587 bce.
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boyzone
Celebrated WT scholars
Oh yeah? Who are they then? Name names and tell me how they're "celebrated"
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Do you ever shed the Jw experience?
by AK - Jeff ini have been out for 5 years.
my wife and i left together.
she saw the sham long before i did - though neither of us could 'put our finger on' what was wrong until we read coc, found the internet, etc.. i believe my wife leans toward atheism more than i do - i consider myself agnostic of the whole matter at this point.
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boyzone
Yeah sometimes. But to be honest Jeff, its part of our lives, for many of us a really significant part which can't be ignored. I liken it to being in prison (think Nelson Mandela) for many years. You may be free now but the years spent incarcerated can't be ignored or dismissed as never happening. Our experience shaped us and made us part of who we are today. By acknowledging that, we can accept what happened to us and enjoy what we have now. But that takes time, and for some, more time than others.
I still need to visit here as it helps me make sense of the delusion I was under for many years. It helps to see that others felt the same way and there is comfort in cameraderie, especially with talking to those who really "know" what you're talking about.
I see posters here that have been out for years and their posts are lighthearted and jokey at times. Me? I'm still very serious about so much because I still feel the pain, I'm not ready to laugh yet. But, in time, I hope to again. I hope to get to a stage when I can look back over the 21 years as a JW and laugh at my "silly" years.
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Show-down with elder at the kingdom hall
by Hobo Ken inthis is podcast 8 in the death or obedience series.. this was recorded on christmas day 2008.. after our last visit from two local elders my wife felt she could no longer be known as a jehovah's witness and had chosen to disassociate herself in november 2008.. we had been on a family holiday and had returned to find that one of the local elders who had visited us had warned off my mother-in-law from having anything to do with my wife - her daughter.
he also made false statements about one of my children.. i decided to confront this elder at the kingdom hall.
this podcast is the recording of our conversation.. notice how he denies making such statements to my mother-in-law and falsely accuses me of teaching her beliefs contrary to jehovah's witnesses.. i ask whether it's a sin to no longer be a jehovah's witness?.
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boyzone
I agree Matt, It'll be the Society shooting themselves in the foot again that'll rock the world for the likes of Ronnie and his ilk. Its that kind of opening that I believe Holy Spirit uses to start the unravelling. It did with me. All it took was a quote from the Watchtower from years back that said the GB were not inspired. Once I read that, I couldn't understand why we had to believe and obey them as if they were.
Just that one thing opened Pandora's box and started me questioning and researching. Then the whole thing fell apart like the Berlin wall in my mind. It was fast and furious. I started researching in Jan 07, DA'd in April 07. A totally euphoric fantastic time for me, yet hugely unsettling too.
I hope Ronnie gets the same wake up call. Can you imagine how shocked the congregation would be if he left? My cong are still in shock with my departure and I'm only a sister.
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how hard is it to move on?...lose everyone?...start new???
by oompa ini have already lost nearly all my friends....maybe just a handful will even be social........but i so hate to lose my mom and dad and my jw son.....one is df......so he still shows that he loves me.....but damm........i so hate to lose the little bit of fam i have left.......is that normal?......stupid question.....i guess i know from my time here....i so hate these guys that can take them away.....oompa.
i know a bunch of you have done it.....just please help me through it...........
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boyzone
OMG! Bible Student!! Is all ths true???
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I'll pray for u.
by wha happened? inok it's no secret my mother is seriously ill. the neighbors and friends who have grown to love her are constantly asking for updates.
at the end of virtually every conversation is stated, i'll pray for her or some other mention of divine request.. in the other corner are the multitide of jw's i've known and helped over the years.
no mention of prayers.. i know it's obvious but the love from heritics clearly out paces "the friends".. i'm just annoyed that's all.. .
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boyzone
Lovely prayer Mouthy, I said it too.
May your mum have a painfree night wha' happened.
God bless
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Show-down with elder at the kingdom hall
by Hobo Ken inthis is podcast 8 in the death or obedience series.. this was recorded on christmas day 2008.. after our last visit from two local elders my wife felt she could no longer be known as a jehovah's witness and had chosen to disassociate herself in november 2008.. we had been on a family holiday and had returned to find that one of the local elders who had visited us had warned off my mother-in-law from having anything to do with my wife - her daughter.
he also made false statements about one of my children.. i decided to confront this elder at the kingdom hall.
this podcast is the recording of our conversation.. notice how he denies making such statements to my mother-in-law and falsely accuses me of teaching her beliefs contrary to jehovah's witnesses.. i ask whether it's a sin to no longer be a jehovah's witness?.
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boyzone
But miracles DO happen.
My family never dreamed for one minute that I would leave, but here I am, thanks to a serious wake up call from Holy Spirit I was shown the truth about the "Truth".
Ronnie may have that same blessing too one day. He'll be a tough nut to crack thats for sure, but Jesus has cracked tougher (Saul) so you never know....
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I am So Angry
by GoddessRachel ini hate everything.
i am so angry at my mother, at my father, my sister, my brother.
nobody understands me.
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boyzone
Hi Rachel
I've been out 2 years and can't believe I'm still struggling to come to terms with everything. I get really fed up with myself and try and tell myself its about time I moved on, but I can't, I'm stuck. I wonder if its to do with my dad. He hurt me so badly last year when he utterly betrayed me to the elders when I was being spitefully shunned as my mum was battling cancer. He promised to help me cope with the shunning but instead went along with everything the elders said and left me alone to cope with an overwhelming situation. I broke down completely 3 months after this and have struggled since. I love my dad, but at the same time I hate him, or should I say I hate the JW side of him. I can't forgive him for what he did and I'll never trust him again, never.
But I miss not trusting him.
Now i have to take care of him and mum and I don't want to be near him. My stress levels go through the roof when he comes round even though I manage to hide how I feel. Mum senses all isn't well, but like most men I know, dad is oblivious.
You really think yoga will help? It sounds like it could be a real asset in easing anxiety, I might give it a try. Thanks again for the suggestion and for bringing this thread up. I wasn't gonna say anything or tell anyone how I'd been feeling, instead I was just gonna bury the feelings again and hope they'd go away, but having this thread here has helped me let off steam and have clearer thoughts.
I really appreciate this, can't thank you enough.......now I'm gonna do what Billy suggested and get some SLEEP xxx
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116
Show-down with elder at the kingdom hall
by Hobo Ken inthis is podcast 8 in the death or obedience series.. this was recorded on christmas day 2008.. after our last visit from two local elders my wife felt she could no longer be known as a jehovah's witness and had chosen to disassociate herself in november 2008.. we had been on a family holiday and had returned to find that one of the local elders who had visited us had warned off my mother-in-law from having anything to do with my wife - her daughter.
he also made false statements about one of my children.. i decided to confront this elder at the kingdom hall.
this podcast is the recording of our conversation.. notice how he denies making such statements to my mother-in-law and falsely accuses me of teaching her beliefs contrary to jehovah's witnesses.. i ask whether it's a sin to no longer be a jehovah's witness?.
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boyzone
You know brothers, do you know that that man was wrong in saying that. He was wrong to say that we think we're right." Do you know why he was wrong? Because JWs don't THINK they're right....we KNOW we're right !"
Of course they're right! When you're surrounded by those that agree with every word you say, never read anything that contradicts your viewpoint and are never encouraged to research what you're told, then the only conclusion to draw is "we're right!".
The man is delusional, totally delusional.