Posts by SnakesInTheTower

30

What made you walk out on the "Truth"?

by Overrated in

jw
friends

i had a legal divorce from my ex wife( law of the land).

i was told not to expect to get remarried because my divorce was not legal to watchtower.. my divorce and situation seem to be a talk of gossip and even a many local needs talks.

i wanted to take some more schooling to get a better job, there was a local needs talk on higher education and it's dangers.

SnakesInTheTower

1991 was my first doubts, chronology and generations. I should have left then at age 27. Instead I doubled down, eventually becoming an elder in 2002 and attending MTS. That 8 weeks was eye opening in ways they did not intend. I swept it under the rug until 2006 when I was removed as an elder, non JC. I knew through MTS I could have fought the decision and had it reversed, but by then why bother. I had started community College, my first class was ethics. THAT made the scales drop from my eyes.

I changed congos, circuits, and states, but stayed where I lived, since it was only 15 minutes from home. After an initial love bombing as a former MTS student who had been with them for 8 weeks, once they knew I couldn't be reappointed for two years, they chilled quickly.

Short story (longer version is here somewhere), August 2007 was my last meeting and I've NEVER been back.

My life is better, I have a career, a house I own, a wife and son (neither a dub). And a JW mom who still loves me.

Snakes

22

Degree of Effectiveness of JW Letter Writing Form of Witnessing

by Disillusioned JW in

a newspaper article quotes a jw as saying "every (letter) i put in the mailbox, i feel, 'ah, this could reach somebody.

'" the article also quotes her as saying "we are accomplishing even more now than we were door-to-door because this way everybody in the house gets a chance to pick up that letter and respond to it.

it just feels good.

SnakesInTheTower

I have received 3 in the last year from people I knew well. One was a copy paste, with my name added, with no indication he knew me well, though we had spent many hours working at our local assembly hall. One from an elder where I served locally. He could just knock on my door. Obviously he had my new address from someone ( I bought a house 2 doors down from where I rented 20 plus years).

The only genuine letter was a handwritten letter from two sisters (related to each other) who wrote a very kind letter reminiscing about our family, my parents, etc. No heavy preaching. I have responded to none so far.

I just really, except my 77 year old JW mom, who I have a good relationship with but lives 10 hours away, and a couple of "weak" JWs, I just leave them be.

Snakes ( )

16

Would it be right to post Memorial Zoom codes?

by ExCircuitOverseer in

jw
friends

i have come into possession of memorial zoom meeting codes for tonight that cannot be traced back to me.

i will not be attending.

what are your thoughts on posting these codes so activists can join tonight and maybe say something?

SnakesInTheTower

I can honestly say, until I got a letter the other day, I had NO IDEA when the Memorial is/was. I'd say that is progress.

My 77 year old mom, JW for 50 years, if she did not have her few friends and JW meetings, she wouldn't have much. I would be pissed off if my mom were harassed by anyone, especially apostates.

I recently left all the ex JW FB groups I was in. I stay here because my mom is still in. I don't need toxic people in my life. I was one.

Snakes (Rich)

14

My first Kingdom Hall zoom meeting

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

i haven't been to any meetings in the last 9 years.

besides a couple of elder visits here and there, i've been pretty much left alone.

my family has also left me alone, and haven't acted any different towards me.. this week my brother, his daughter and his son all called me to invite me for the next weeks memorial and also my nephew's first sunday talk, which he gave today at noon.

SnakesInTheTower

I'd probably pick my nose like I did when I was 5 sleeping under the metal chairs at the KH. Contemplate what to do with it while everyone looked on in horror and revulsion, or until the Zoom Minders cut my feed, whichever came first.

Or maybe I will just ignore my Memorial Zoom Invitation.

I'm off on Saturday, why would I ruin my evening attending a Fake Celebration of a Dinner Where Nobody Eats.

Snakes

33

When was your last Kingdom Hall meeting?

by RULES & REGULATIONS in

i stopped going to kingdom hall meetings about nine years ago.

i was fading for the longest time, refused to go out in field service, dropped out of the ministry school talks, no longer answered at the watchtower study, arrived at the meetings the last second, and left as soon as possible.

i couldn't take attending the meetings any longer.

SnakesInTheTower

Late summer 2007. That story is posted elsewhere on this site.

I remember staying only for the Sunday talk. I left before the Watchtower. I had my work clothes in my car. I drove down the road to a small cemetery, isolated enough for me to change clothes, reflect, and declare, "Never setting foot there or any KH."

And I haven't and I won't. Not Memorial, conventions, funerals or weddings. I have attended two JW weddings officiated by the same JW elder at a secular site. Both times the worldly people were wondering what they were looking at. The JWs knew that "Brother Reggie" went down the rabbit hole again.

I went to a visitation at a funeral home,, unknowingly, for a JW in a congregation I had been an elder in. My wife was going to pay her respects to a non-JW coworker's grandpa...who was someone I knew. Oh that was awkward...for the Dubs...including my old roommate. I acted as if it were old home week. LOL.

I knew then I made the right choices. My JW mom wishes I would return. She is 77, Dub for 50 years. In good health, on ladders painting inside her house. But when her time comes...no JW funeral.

And when she is gone, so is my connection to the Borg.

Snakes (Rich)

56

A Generation Change Again???

by BereanThinker7 in

i have heard a few whispers that once again they are going to be changing the generation teaching.

does anybody have on info on this?.

i would love to be able to hit my family with a. .

SnakesInTheTower

If you apply Common Core Math (US) to WT (US) teachings, it makes perfect sense.

Snakes ( )

28

Looking Back Were There Any “Apostates” In Your Congregation?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i remember knowing some jws that expressed their own personal viewpoints regarding what a scripture meant that was at odds with society teachings.

in the 60 and 70’s, that was pretty much tolerated until the great purge in 1979 and 1980. as a matter of fact, it wasn’t unusual for witnesses to get together and discuss personal questions and viewpoints they might have.

it wasn’t unusual to send letters to the society asking what was considered the right or wrong view.

SnakesInTheTower

I was on a JC that DF a young man for apostasy. I have told the story on this board in the past. He is a member here but I haven't seen him post in a long time.

He had intelligent, legitimate questions. Part of what got me questioning again as an elder. I eventually walked away, but never DF. They know better.

Snakes

1

Left one cult not joining another

by SnakesInTheTower in

jw
friends

i just read this article about dave ramsey and his company ramsey solutions (formerly lampo group).

reading about him and his board, made me think of jehovah's witnesses and the governing body (aka the hateful eight).

i used to like him, listened or watched his show, even visited his new hq in nashville briefly.

SnakesInTheTower

I just read this article about Dave Ramsey and his company Ramsey Solutions (formerly Lampo Group). Reading about him and his board, made me think of Jehovah's Witnesses and the Governing Body (aka The Hateful Eight). I used to like him, listened or watched his show, even visited his new HQ in Nashville briefly.

While I have used some of his financial advice, I never drank the Kool Aid. His advice is not new or original, by his own admittance. He just markets the hell out of it.

What happened to some of his employees but not one of his "Ramsey Personalities" reminds me of the cult of JW when poor schmuck were hauled to a JC, but the star elder was slapped on the wrist but on a circuit assembly part months later.

Dave Ramsey...you are a creep. Sorry I ever recommended you and your Borganization. Same for JW. I have something special to say to Ramsey, Lett, and Herd if our paths ever cross. LOL

Article: https://religionnews.com/2021/01/15/dave-ramsey-is-tired-of-being-called-a-jerk-for-his-stands-on-sex-and-covid/

Snakes (Rich)

64

Havent gone to the kingdom hall in ten years but may have to go back...

by Joliette in

made a big mistake of talking about being raised as a jehovah's witness to some old friends and family.

people have told me that i am still a jws even though i've never been baptized.

i'm in school for social services, dealing with student loan debt, and a lot of other debt.

SnakesInTheTower

Joliette,

You need professional help. Take it from someone who was raised JW, was a pioneer, elder, MTS grad, blah blah....stayed in until age 40, THERE IS A LIFE OUTSIDE JW.

The JW will NOT be there to help you. First you have to help yourself. Find some boots, then you CAN pull YOURSELF up by the bootstraps.

I'm sorry if I sound a bit harsh. It took therapy, a small group of non JW friends, and a new attitude. You know what? It was hard, but I have a non JW wife, adopted son, a career, an education, savings, a house.. All in 14 years since walking away.

You will regret going back and being codependent. Trust me and others here. We may not walk in your shoes, but we have walked the path ahead of you. Take care.

Snakes (Rich)

52

Collapse of JW Org - Possibly on the Horizon?

by JWTom in

this topics get a great deal of discussion here.

what i find interesting is even some of my pimi family is embracing the reality that all is not well with jw.org and that many current jws are just going through the motions due to not having a good way out of the org.

wondering what could realistically lead to the collapse of jw.org in the not distant future?

SnakesInTheTower

LHG:

The diehards may still be there but I suspect most stay for social reasons and it’s really too late to start over

My mom was baptized in 1970, so she has a half century invested. She was talking today about her "Bible study" with the 17 yr old granddaughter of her close friend. Apparently g'ma threatened/bullied/harassed the granddaughter into starting back up. My mom had studied with her years ago as a little kid. Teen was not even awake when my mom arrived today, but "something" happened for my mom to "count her time."

All my mom has is me (her former shing star elder/pioneer/MTS grad), and my younger never dunked brother if she left the Borg, and a few other non JW relatives that are old and far away. After my step-dad died in the spring, she is by herself in podunk town in the southern US. Without her JW social structure, she has nobody there.

So do I want the Borg to crash and burn? Yep. But not until after she is gone. Or if she wakes up on her own. At least she still has a relationship with me.

Snakes