I am. I have finally learned to use my brain in positive ways that help both me and others in my life. Something 24 years as a Jehovah's Witness never taught me to do, not even once.
Rachel
GoddessRachel
JoinedPosts by GoddessRachel
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Are you a better person now?
by bluecanary in[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>normal</w:view> <w:zoom>0</w:zoom> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables /> <w:snaptogridincell /> <w:wraptextwithpunct /> <w:useasianbreakrules /> </w:compatibility> <w:browserlevel>microsoftinternetexplorer4</w:browserlevel> </w:worddocument> </xml><!
[endif] i'm curious about how people who have shifted religious beliefs feel about their own morals.
has the religion you've chosen made you a better person?
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Could this be a reason some stay in the WT
by is there help out there inhttp://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090831/ap_on_re_us/us_kidnapped_girl_found_escape.
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GoddessRachel
I agree with what JW Facts said.
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GoddessRachel
I have been wondering the same thing myself, isaac. I thought you might be doing it on purpose for some reason...
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OUTLAW is My Hero
by daniel-p intalk about a man who always gives it to you straight, and with a sense of humor, too.
never too gruff, but just gruff enough to ruffle some feathers and have a laugh with others as long as they don't take themselves too seriously.
the source of sage advice that's just too simple to be complete bullshit, he is actually more balanced than most.. he's the kind of guy you miss not knowing in real life.. .
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GoddessRachel
I like Outlaw.
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GoddessRachel
Yes, embezzlement (served prison time for it), DUI. Disfellowshipped.
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Were You Surprised By How Ted Kennedy Was Revered For His Life?
by minimus inteddy was considered by many as "the greatest senator" ever!
he was one sharp politician---no question about it!.
but his personal life was glossed over by the media and friends.
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GoddessRachel
I think all of this stuff in the media is just meant to distract us from what is really going on in this world.
Rachel
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Talking points for reasoning with JWs
by bluecanary ini've emailed this to several people now so figured i might as well post it and share with all.
the following information has been compiled from various sources on the web, including jwfacts.com and free minds.
a fraction of it is from my own mind.
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GoddessRachel
Thanks for this thread, bluecanary, and all the work! I'm sure I will be using this material when it becomes necessary (I have found that it's better not to debate with my JW relatives, but sometimes they stupidly force me into a corner and won't let me drop it, until they don't have a counterargument for my logical point of view, in which case they hang up on me and shun me for a while - those crazy JW's!).
Rachel
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Has there been a JW Facebook directive?
by Gregor inor is it just the usual internet cautions?.
i have an jw aunt who abruptly de activated her fb account yesterday..
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GoddessRachel
I don't know but I sure wish they would condemn it so my damn annoying JW relatives would feel guilty and get off the internet already. They love to spy on me, and finally I had to delete our connections, which caused hurt feelings. I told my parents I did not need to fuel their fire and if they have questions about my life they are welcome to ask me themselves, not use my facebook account as a means to dig up dirt on me (and as you know it's easy to dig up dirt on someone living a non-JW life since so much is against the JW's!).
I have been kind about it but firm, and then refused to talk about it. They have had no choice other than to be respectful. Sometimes it makes me wonder if having the facebook account is even worth it!
Rachel
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GoddessRachel
I really can't tell either way and can see how Spike might be lying, but what if he isn't? Have you ever known people with brain injuries? It's easy for them to get incredibly disoriented, they struggle finding the right words, they change their stories out of confusion. He is saying that it's hard for him to meet with more than one person at a time because the hand gestures and movements get overwhelming, and that he would prefer a "study buddy" who will correspond with him in writing so that he can take his time to decipher the meaning and take his time with a response.
Isn't it possible that he really is a person struggling with some serious side effects due to a brain injury? That would certainly account for his lack of using JW jargon, if he can't remember the right words. I have personally known someone who was in a car accident and was never right afterwards. He was mentally disabled. He was like a child in many ways, and it wasn't his fault. If this is what Spike is, he may be sincerely seeking our help, even if he is going about it in a frustrating manner.
I'm not siding with anybody. I'm just pointing out what I think could really be a possibility here. Sometimes it seems like people jump on each other way too quickly around here (or maybe that is just part of being on an online forum).
Rachel
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New here
by Heartbreaker ini have no idea what i want to convey in words here on this site, and have surprised myself by even joining at all.
i intended just to read, and get a few pieces of information, and now am a member, and spend many hours looking through posts old and new alike.
i am a current jw, born into it, and lets just say i'm in my thirties, female, and a mom of more than your average kids.
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GoddessRachel
Dear Heartbreaker, great first post, welcome to the board, you are in the right place.
I have no idea what I want to convey in words here on this site, and have surprised myself by even joining at all. I intended just to read, and get a few pieces of information, and now am a member, and spend many hours looking through posts old and new alike. I am a current JW, born into it, and lets just say I'm in my thirties, female, and a mom of more than your average kids. I hesitate giving too much information, but then I don't really care if I'm DF'd, really. I started engaging in "wrongdoing" lol, have horrible pain and knew that a certain substance would lessen the discomfort (and I was right) and also knew that by deciding to do that, if anyone found out I'd be DF'd, and it just seemed so obsurd. Then I found out a person in my hall was suffering from some residual effects of being molested, and I started to reflect back on the past, my life and others, and I felt like a lightbulb went off in my head. I felt such tremendous guilt for even thinking those things, and was downright terrified to put in EX Jehovah's Witnesses in a seach bar. Of course we are all taught that the only information that's not apostate, or Satanic is from the WT itself. Go to the WT itself and it's rinse and repeat, same ole info. Wait on Jehovah, forgive and don't hold grudges. Don't ask too many questions. I've just had enough.
You didn't know what to say but then you found your words! You weren't going to join but you did! You realized that something the WT condemns as evil doesn't seem to be evil at all, but actually helps you lessen your pain! You used your own God-given faculty of thinking for yourself and concluded a JW teaching seems absurd! When you started adding up the not-quite-right things that have happened within the JW's they appeared to be the rule rather than the exceptions the JW's would have you believe. It feels good to have that lightbulb epiphany. You are tired of the same old useless "advice" that the JW's give you. Enough is enough.
I've had Committees formed for three separate matters within the last 5 years, and each and every time they blundered the hell out of it, and I was just appalled. Of course they all say that they are just imperfect men, and how Jehovah will fix it, etc....but that's not good enough. How insulting to the Most Powerful Jehovah that he would just have to sit back, hands tied, and unable right now to protect his name, his people. How can they make him out to be so formidable, and so always present, and then in the same breath make him seem like an incapable imbecile that needs imperfect people to exact his rulings and judgements.
You are disgusted by the terrible way "God's men" have handled things, and it seems too big a discrepancy to think that God would have men act on his behalf in such disreputable ways. It just doesn't make sense. Either God is an idiot or these men are lying, whether knowingly or not.
I was DF'd once before, and was interrogated as far back as when I was a teen on my "history of sexuality" and sinning against Jehovah. Never mention the fact that possible I was so willing to engage in those things because of molestation in the household? Nah, it's my fault. I should have had better control over myself.
You didn't feel the loving sheperding the Bible talks about. You feel as though you were unfairly blamed for things that happened, when what you needed most in that moment was mercy and compassion.
I had a meeting with the BOE and was told that even though there WERE two witnesses to some jackass pervert brother that there was little they could do. They said if I persisted in talking about this instance (there were over 5 instances actually, and a LOT of him leering and generally making us all uncomfortable) that my attitude could result in my being disfellowshipped. I doubt the "brother" was threatened that because before it was all said and done he was given free leeway for at least 7 months before the committee met, he was allowed to cousel US from the bible during one of these meetings...seriously, he was allowed to quote scripture about how Jesus always drew the little children to him, and compared that to touching my child! He eventually skittered away to some unsuspecting congregation before it was a matter of record. Poor them, I consider that to be of my major regrets. I was overwhelmed with lifes responsibilities and so wanted to be the one right in the eyes of Jehovah, I should have fought harder to ensure it, but it was so difficult to downright impossible. I hope he's not harming any little children.
You certainly cannot turn a blind eye to this gross injustice. You know Jehovah's People would not do such things.
I had a dream where my husband who is more in the camp of "I don't want to talk about it, I don't want to go back, I can't believe those hypocrites etc, but I don't want to dog the Org or JAH" asked me, in this dream, so what concrete evidence do you have that it's NOT the truth, or the org doesn't have it right...and he pulled the biggie in real life...well WHO IS his people then?
Your husband is very conflicted as well but is coping with it in an avoidance manner. He is still seeking though, asking you who his people are. So he is having doubts too.
I don't want to sound like a loon and start quoting things from years ago, or information that isn't on the up and up...but I feel like I need to make a defense for myself more than it just feels wrong. Any help?
You feel the need to have concrete proof that it is not the true religion. Have you read Raymond Franz's book Crisis of Conscience? It will concretely clear it up for you! He uses references and clear evidence. He is calm, logical and rational.
Daughter of two JWs, sister of JWs, married to a JW, inlaws are all JWs, extended family JWs....I have no one in the world, and about to lose everyone in "the truth". Scared and lost feeling, but also so very calm and peaceful at the same time.
You feel scared of what lies ahead, but calm and peaceful about what you are feeling inside. You know you are on to something big. You have no support system outside of the organization. Might I suggest something that will be powerful in helping you on this new journey? Make a few friends outside of the JW's. You will need that support system. You are a very intelligent person, able to think for yourself. The journey you are about to embark on is going to be tough, and it's also going to be the most liberating one you may have experienced in your whole life. Above all, remember that you are a wonderful human being, and that God gave you that marvelous brain and capacity to think for a reason!
WELCOME!
Rachel