I'd welcome them. Even though they weren't the nicest of folks when I left, I would love to have a family again.
Miss Behaving
JoinedPosts by Miss Behaving
-
58
If the Watchtower truly collapsed, how would you deal with your JW relatives?
by nicolaou inimagine the best case scenario.
the watchtower society implodes from within even making final printed admissions that it is voluntarily dismantling it's mission and legally dissolving the corporations.
oh happy day!
-
-
Miss Behaving
-
28
Today my son told me that he can't stand this religion
by hardtobeme ini have talked to him ttat.
and he understands.
he doesn't wanna be a jw.
-
-
Miss Behaving
I am very moved by your story. You're fighting so hard for your family, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I wish you the best of luck with helping them escape.
I hardly feel qualified to give any advice, but is there anything non-cultish your wife loves? Singing, painting, films, walks, animals? I think my love of books helped me develop a personality away from the cult. Again, good luck!
-
146
Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Brother Jeramy inallow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.
i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.
some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).
-
-
Miss Behaving
Hello
There's a study which took groups of Republicans and Democrats and rearranged them so that each group was made up of a ratio of 9:1. One person of the opposing party would be in each group. They wanted to see if that 1 would give into the social pressure of being out numbered. What they actually found was that the person who had to defend their beliefs alone tested more extreme in their beliefs afterwards and had a much more negative view of the opposing party then they began with.
I think you've experienced something akin to this effect on this board, where the opposing view easily outnumbers you 100:1.
It's a shame, because there were many kind and compassionate posts on this thread directed towards you, not any of mine, but the ones above your previous post.
Personally, I misunderstood you, I thought your motivation for posting on an apostate site was to be challenged, to see if your ideals could stand up to a beating. So, I didn't hold back. My motives weren't hatred of you by any means. More for the fun and mental game of it.
I'm going to move along to a more productive pursuit now. Wishing you well anyways.
-
146
Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Brother Jeramy inallow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.
i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.
some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).
-
-
Miss Behaving
Ah, one more thought: A certain Jesus and John the Baptist had some spicy words to say about the abusive religious leaders of their time. Perhaps if you had been there Brother J, they would have had more peace in their hearts about it. :D
Ok, sleep time now
-
146
Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Brother Jeramy inallow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.
i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.
some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).
-
-
Miss Behaving
Brother J,
Thank you for pointing out that my analogy was unclear. I apologize for not being more explicit. By the Nazi government, I did mean the Watchtower Society, Adolf- obviously the GB, but by the German people, I meant Christianity.
You make the JWs out to be your only brotherhood, comparable to a German Citizen believing that only his particular political party held the solutions for his country. Can you only find brotherhood in a cult? Why not make all who embrace goodness, our heavenly father, and the Holy Bible your family? Or better yet, could you expand your heart to include all of mankind?
Ugh, I'm too sleepy to finish pulling my thoughts together. Time for me to take off my swastika arm band and call it a night. :P pleasant dreams.
-
146
Why I remain one of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Brother Jeramy inallow me to begin with a clarification: when i say i am one of jehovah's witnesses, i don't mean that i am an advocate of the watchtower society or a devotee of some of its more controversial false teachings.
i mean that i am a christian, a disciple of jesus christ dedicated to jehovah god, and who remains in union with my brothers and sisters who make up the family of faith that globally refers to itself as jehovah's witnesses.
some totally understand the distinction between the family of brothers and sisters and the corporate organization known as the watchtower society (wts).
-
-
Miss Behaving
When I say that I'm a Nazi, I don't wish to convey that I'm an admirer of Hitler or devotee of the 3rd Reich. Some would over simplify my beliefs and not make the distinction between a zealot, and what I am; some one who sincerely believes that National Socialism is what's best for the German People.
Some have forsaken the fatherland, and I do not judge them for seeking safety elsewhere. But we should not forget that it hasn't been ALL bad. The Furer lifted this nation out of a depression, revitalized manufacturing, encouraged health, prosperity and culture.
Not all SS officers were bad, and I for one, choose to stay with my homeland. My beloved brothers and sisters of a united Germany.
I believe in the new and better world that was promised by National Socialism. A world of peace and plenty. A world where mankind could finally reach perfection.
And I am not alone. All true lovers of the German people are with me in this belief.
---------------
Ok, I know it's bad form to compare a group to the Nazi's. It's distasteful and over-done. But you know that they say; if the iron heeled jack-boot fits.....
To support the earthly paradise doctrine is to support the largest potential genocide in human history. Even if we take the kinder, gentler version of this teaching; that only the wicked will be destroyed, and 'we would not presume to judge' who that would be, the WTS has noted that the military and government is a part of that number. Also religious leaders, apostates, and the children of the above. How many would that be out of almost 8 billion? Armageddon could easily overtake the Holocaust in it's horror.
I honor your freedom to believe in whatever you wish, but I find it rather unsettling that some you subscribe to a belief system that wishes me dead. For all my harsh words, I would never wish any kind of harm to the JWs here or to their kin. I don't think any individual Witnesses wish me harm either, but harm would be what resulted from their beliefs becoming true.
Most JWs aren't bad. Most Nazi's didn't know about the camps. It's not the people but the system and ideology that concerns me.
-
8
Explanation Of New Bible Translation
by Sofia Lose ini have been a little troubled with the explanation on the new world translation given during sunday's meeting.
the mag read that with less words the understanding would be more clear, and offered examples where certain texts had 27 words and now only have 19 words and the meaning is clearer.
i am not okay with said explanation.
-
-
Miss Behaving
It's true. The only reason the bible held so much of my attention was it's complexity and mystery. Same goes for the older beliefs, I kept thinking I could uncover the mysterious logic behind our interpretations.
Now they have a simple and flat bible, for a simple and flat religion, to make a simple and flat people.
I can't imagine how dull the meetings must be now.
-
62
Hello, just introducing myself
by Miss Behaving ini've just signed up two days ago, but i've been lurking for about a year and a half.
here's my story if you're interested:.
my parents converted when they were in their first semester of college.
-
-
Miss Behaving
I've just read the PMs. Thank you :)
Please be patient with me, I won't be able to respond until later tonight. Have a great day, all.
-
62
Hello, just introducing myself
by Miss Behaving ini've just signed up two days ago, but i've been lurking for about a year and a half.
here's my story if you're interested:.
my parents converted when they were in their first semester of college.
-
-
Miss Behaving
I expected a nice welcome, but I didn't expect so much love. Thank you. I kind of thought a few people would look down on me for my circumstances, but I guess that's the old 'if you're suffering it's your fault' programming.
Thanks for your stories, they were very moving, and thanks for being examples of where I can get to if I keep pushing forward.
I really liked all the compliments, I hadn't thought of myself as particularly brave, just doing what I needed to. But I like this new self image. I'm going to be revisiting this thread a lot when I'm feeling sad.
I hadn't mentioned it in my first post, I don't like to think about it, but It was my dad and stepmom who told me to leave. My mother died a little bit before I left. I don't know how she would have reacted, but I want to believe that if she had still been here, she wouldn't have rejected me, I want to think that if she had been there, things would have turned out differently.
I don't know what I believe, and for now, I'm wary of adopting too many fixed points of view. Maybe that will change. I remember those first few days, I wanted to call out to Jehovah and beg him to help me, but the words sort of got stuck in my throat. I didn't know if I'd be contacting Jehovah the creator or Jehovah the JW god. I didn't want to be 'helped' back into my old belief system again. My last prayer was something like: 'Is there someone out there who still gives a damn about us? If you exist, please help me. Please help me to be safe and make a decent life, one that actually helps people.'
Maybe someone heard me, I seem to be moving in that direction.
Lake Tahoe looks like so much fun! I'll see what I can do about getting there.
-
62
Hello, just introducing myself
by Miss Behaving ini've just signed up two days ago, but i've been lurking for about a year and a half.
here's my story if you're interested:.
my parents converted when they were in their first semester of college.
-
-
Miss Behaving
Thanks for all the encouraging comments :) I've just finished reading them.
I don't think badly of apostates anymore, especially since I am one now, and definitely not after all the love and support you've just shown me. I think back then I saw it that way because I was looking for it. I wanted to find reasons to discount the things you were saying. It's hard to believe now how bigoted I was such a short time ago.
I think I was able to be brave because I didn't know what I was getting into. Firstly, I didn't think I'd be abandoned so quickly, and secondly, I was totally ignorant about life (still working on that) I didn't know how to open a bank account, or start school, pay taxes, or even ride a bus. So, I don't see anyone here who's still in as cowardly, your escape is probably just better thought out then mine was.
I've been typing these out on my bus rides between work and school, so please forgive me, but I have to go.
Oh, and I'm from California, U.S.