Posts by jamiebowers

60

OK, let me explain....

by dawg in

so, the last few threads i've written have been about telling your families and friends how you feel; many of you have given me the reasons you don't speak out to your families, but i want to tell you the main reason you should.

please let me explain.... .

i keep on stressing this point because how it makes you feel, i'm telling you all, that for over 19 years, i let information about my thoughts out slowly, then the tipping point... at my uncle's funeral 2 february's ago, while listening to my family pontificate at dinner about who so and so is pioneering and the like, it hit me that i was sick to the core of them throwing their bullisi*t beliefs at me like i was inferior or something.

jamiebowers

Dawg,

When I left the organization, I really believed it was the truth. I also knew that if I stayed my jw husband would kill me, so I got df'd for refusing to recognize the elders' authority to tell me that I either had to remain married to a crazy man or hang around to see whether he'd choose to commit adultery or murder. My mom and my dear brother knew all of the details of this horrendous union, and they begged me to stay. But I couldn't, and they shunned me. I also know that my mom went to the elders when I told her that her husband tried to molest me. She followed the elders direction to the letter, and no action was taken to protect me. So, here you have a mother who knew at least twice that her daughter was in harm's way, yet she followed the organization instead of loving her own flesh and blood.

Although I didn't have the opportunity to fade, I can understand why many people do. It is because they know in their heart of hearts that many, if not most of their loved ones would turn away from them. Taking a stand against the WTB&TS is too scary for them, and they would prefer to fade and hope they won't be shunned for it.

Don't get me wrong; I'm glad now that I am out, and I stopped believing that they had the truth a long time ago. But I've been out for 20 years, and the frustration and pain of being shunned hasn't gone away. I don't think it ever will. Right now, I have everything I have ever wanted; a comfortable home, a loving husband, a wide circle of friends and fulfilling work. But the fact that I cannot simply pick up the phone and call my mom is agonizing. If I outlive her, I will not even be able to pay my respects to her in death. I only hear news of her through "worldly" relatives. My df'ing has caused divisions not only within my immediate family but with all relatives on my mom's side of the family. Since I organized the first family reunion in 14 years last year, none of the jws showed up. Everyone was upset that the jws couldn't bring themselves to associate with a "sinner" such as myself.

Believe me, if I would've had the time and circumstance to fade, I would've done so. If jw relatives could not accept the fact that I was fleeing for my life, how do you think others would be treated if they took a stand simply because they don't believe in the WTB&TS anymore?

28

new guy

by runningonfaith in

jw
friends

hi everyone,been looking for some time,decided to register and give a little contribution.everything helps.in the wbts for 15 years,never bought everything ,some things just never clicked,i was "waiting on jehovah"but eventually things just went worst(or better)and stop attending meetings a year ago.my 3 kids (never baptised)could no be happier,wife still going once a week average,but things changed for her too.we're still in good standing,but i'm thinking of da myself,our familyes are all catholic,so no problem with the shunning thing for us.and for the friends in the truth(friends,yeah right)whatever........

jamiebowers

Welcome, an lucky you on the shunning deal!

77

songs that help you cry....

by wings in

jw
friends

no matter how much you want to avoid it...crying is necessary sometimes.

for me, i need help with it....too many distractions in my life.

i almost have to plan crying....so for me music aides in releasing emotion, helps me just be me for an interval of time.

jamiebowers

There are many,,but this one makes me think of my first lost love.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fe7yOccqdxI

10

Anybody seen The Stangers yet?

by dinah in

it looks creepy.

my daughter and her boyfriend saw it.

they said it was great.. i love scary movies, but none have really scared me in a long time.. .

jamiebowers

No, is it that movie made by the same guy who did Sixth Sense?

48

Son sends "apostate" text message - Now the elders want to talk to him!!

by GoingGoingGone in

my 17 year old son told his dad that he didn't want to be a jw anymore about 8 months ago i think, and doesn't go to meetings or assemblies.

he's been accepted to one of the best universities in the country and will start this fall, with his dad's blessing.

their congregation had the summer convention this past weekend.

jamiebowers

Your son has no obligation to meet with the elders, and doing so, will only make things difficult for his father. Jws shun da'd people too, you know. Why have him start his adult life out by deliberately causing a situation where his father will have to shun him to stay in the cult? These elders will never listen to or accept any criticism of the WTB&TS, even if proof is found in the WT magazine.

18

You Know that You're Really Flucked Up When....

by jamiebowers in

jw
friends

you see a jw on your street and wait for them to come to your door.

yes, seriously, it happened this past tuesday morning.

i saw a jw going to my neighbor's house across the street, so i waited patiently for a knock on my door that never came (at least in the 2 and a half hours before i had to leave the house).

jamiebowers

Well, I was df'd in an entirely different state than where I live now and have lived for 19 years. I did have a hounder's visit before we moved to our current home. I would really love the opportunity to speak to jws in person about the pedophile issue, but alas, they won't come to my house. And I don't know any personally where I could drop in on them at their houses. Would that be funny--to go out in anti-jw field service? Could you imagine the looks on their faces if apostates knocked at their door and said something like, "Hello, we are here to spread the bad news about the WTB&TS. Did you know that they protect pedophiles? No? Well, for a nominal printing cost, I would be happy to leave former Bethelite Barbara Anderson's 100 page commentary on Jehovah's Witnesses in Crises. I'm sure you'll find it very interesting reading. And, apostates are now offering a free home study of 5,000 pages of court documents gathered by Anderson that proves beyond a reasonable doubt that the WTB&TS loves to revictimize children. Let's get together this time next week to ascertain how to guarantee that your children or grandchildren wont' be next".

4

WTS writers/reseachers pool dwindling?

by Gayle in

jw
friends

many of the long time writers and researchers at the headquarter have died (fred franz, karl klein, karl adams (awake editor), dan sydlik, harry peloyan etc.

) and others disfellowshipped (ray franz, ed dunlap) they were in the 'inner circle' of bethel.

then last week on the "conference call" with barbara anderson (a female, i don't think was even close to being acceptable for such 'researching' in the '70s) and jay hess talked there who did research and contributed writing (they mentioned a couple others) have been disfellowshipped.

jamiebowers

The evil Internet probably helps a lot with research. Someone who is still in and has Bethel connections told me recently that most of the writing staff has resigned. I'll pm him, because I can't remember the details. Will post when I get the scoop.

18

You Know that You're Really Flucked Up When....

by jamiebowers in

jw
friends

you see a jw on your street and wait for them to come to your door.

yes, seriously, it happened this past tuesday morning.

i saw a jw going to my neighbor's house across the street, so i waited patiently for a knock on my door that never came (at least in the 2 and a half hours before i had to leave the house).

jamiebowers

you see a jw on your street and wait for them to come to your door. Yes, seriously, it happened this past Tuesday morning. I saw a jw going to my neighbor's house across the street, so I waited patiently for a knock on my door that never came (at least in the 2 and a half hours before I had to leave the house). As a matter of fact, we've been in this house for 5 and a half years, and jws have only been here once (mags were left on the porch). Could I possibly be marked as an apostate? My jw mom has my address, and she knows I talk against the WTB&TS to worldly relatives. Any opinions out there?

38

Did You Feel That Jehovah Loved You?

by minimus in

jw
friends

or did you feel abandoned?

jamiebowers

No, as a jw, I never felt that Jehovah loved me. I was mentally and/or physically abused the whole time I was in (6 and a half years), and it didn't stop despite incessant prayer.

41

Hello to everyone!

by redredrose in

jw
friends

brand new here, haven't even picked out avatar yet.

but i feel the need to reach out and touch someone (smile).

my situation is a little confusing to me, i am definitely on the way out and have been fading for quite some time, however my decision to leave has just been made very recently.

jamiebowers

Welcome RRR. You've already beat cancer, so the WTB&TS should be a piece of cake. There is so much on line about jws for you to consider and introduce to your husband. If he's a news junkie, try silentlambs.org or watchtowerdocuments.com or watchtowernews.org (connected to freeminds.org). If he likes trivia, show him http://www.quotes-watchtower.co.uk/ . I love that site! Eventually, you may even get him on here. If he doesn't like to read, try YouTube. Tim Kilgore has more than 30 questions for jws to consider. http://www.youtube.com/user/TimKilgore is his page.

Hope to hear lots more from you soon. If nothing else, you can tell your husband that you've made thousands of on line friends and would like to introduce him to them.