Cognac, it's been fun getting to know you a little.
You will be missed.
Good luck with hubby, I am sure things will work out
((((Cognac))))
sweet pea
JoinedPosts by sweet pea
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59
Good-bye Everyone
by cognac insome of you have been like family to me.
yet, it's time that i must say good-bye.
my husband and i have chosen to study the scriptures together on two conditions:.
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36
Materialism & Adultery
by sweet pea inso, we were brought up in/enticed into an organisation that we believed was a spiritual paradise.
everyone appearing to be better than the world around them.
my experience was of youngsters leading double lives, partying hard like the best of the world.
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sweet pea
So, we were brought up in/enticed into an organisation that we believed was a spiritual paradise.
Everyone appearing to be better than the world around them. But were they?
My experience was of youngsters leading double lives, partying hard like the best of the world. Husbands and wives cheating on each other occasionally. People buying nice houses, nice cars and lots of travelling, oh and LOTS of problems with ALCOHOL! But personally I don't think it was any worse or better than anyone who wasn't a JW. Some may disagree here. The only difference was that we were fed the propaganda that EVERYONE in the world was a fornicator, adulterer, gambler, drug taker, alcoholic, cheater, materialist, etc.
When I left and got to know 'worldly people', sure, there were a few that swore, smoked, like to drink, were on their second marriages, liked the high life, fast cars, big houses etc, pursued education with a glorious career in mind. Big deal (not). I found that on a basic level people are good. I now have friends that do not judge me for: how many meetings I do or do not attend, how many times I show my face in the ministry, whether I believe in the Flying Spaghetti Monster or God or Allah, how big or small my house is. They like (or do not like) me based on who I really am. They are loyal friends, faithful partners and instill good morals in their kids (and most do not go to Church....). Totally unlike the picture painted by the Society. Although I miss my old JW friends, I certainly don't miss the subtle (and not so subtle) judgementalism of those friendships.
So what has been your experience?
If you saw more bad behaviour in general amongst your JW friends, WHY do you think that was? How did you excuse the behaviour at the time. What did you find when you left?
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24
What statements really shocked you when you first came to this board?
by JimmyPage inone in particular stands out to me.
a poster referred to the governments turning on religion as "an old jw myth".
i thought it was a downright blasphemous thing to say!
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sweet pea
Nothing really shocked me as I'd found out most of the shocking lies the org had brainwashed us with on www.jwfacts.com. What floored me was the sheer number of horrendous experiences of families torn apart by the religion that I thought I loved. I was in tears most times I came here in the early days.
Crisis of Conscience also was a shocker as an eye opener to behind the scenes at the WTB&TS.
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JW's and higher standards
by besty inin a recent conversation i had with a nominal jw they were literally lost for words when i put it to them that i had higher standards now that i was no longer a jw.... 1 - i don't agree with letting babies and children die for want of a banned blood fraction.
2 - i don't agree with taking from but not donating to the blood supply.
3 - i don't agree with religious discrimination aka jw shunning.
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sweet pea
bttt for newbie Daft Fader.....
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15
Somewhere to stay between San Francisco and Las Vegas?
by sweet pea ina friend of mine is travelling from san francisco to las vegas next march and is looking for a great place to stay en-route for a night.
where would you suggest?
they were considering yosemite but the road in will be closed when they are travelling.
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sweet pea
A friend of mine is travelling from San Francisco to Las Vegas next March and is looking for a great place to stay en-route for a night. Where would you suggest? They were considering Yosemite but the road in will be closed when they are travelling. They are also thinking of Bakersfield as it has some great places to eat apparently. What do you think?
Grateful for any suggestions.
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A good friend of mine was df'd this week.
by wha happened? ina good friend of mine was df'd this week.
he did so much for this organization.
as an accomplished musician and composer, he has contributed so much over the years.his work is in most of the homes of an avg jw.
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sweet pea
These two are good friends of ours too and we feel pivileged to know them - they are adorable, fun, smart, kind, interesting and gave their best years to the organisation to have it all thrown back in their faces, tossed out with nothing but a wrecked reputation. But, they are survivors and the WT's loss is our gain. Perhaps DNCall will even share his story finally on here for you all.........
The Society is losing its brightest stars and these two give us all hope that many more will see the light and be brave enough to put their money where their mouths are......
Hats off to two of my favourite people for being brave enough to leave with all the consequences that that brought.
Love you guys!
(PS that famous song was one of my favourites - it always made me cry when we sang it assemblies!)
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The governing body is apparently reaching out!
by gubberningbody inhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tab0upri3t0.
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sweet pea
Love it!!!!!!!!!
I'm thinking of going back just to see them live.......
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Does my friend need help leaving JW?
by marysue123 ini am not sure if i should be writing this but i'll give it a try because i could use some advice from people who know better this religion.. about 6-7 years ago, when i was in highschool, a new classmate arrived and she was jehovah's witness.
untill that time i had very few knowledge about these people.
she was a kind girl but she wouldn't hang out with us a lot.
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sweet pea
If you are still able to send her a message, why don't you a drop her a line with your email so she contact you in private. If she emails you you can perhaps tell her how concerned you are about her and who knows maybe even gently raise some issues that might help her to see that there is a way to find happiness outside the cult.
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23
Doesn't this quote ring a bell?
by WingCommander in"when our own thoughts are forbidden, when our questions are not allowed and our doubts are punished, when contacts and friendships outside of the organization are censored, we are being abused for an end that never justifies its means.
when our heart aches knowing we have made friendships and secret attachments that will be forever forbidden if we leave, we are in danger.
when we consider staying in a group because we cannot bear the loss, disappointment and sorrow our leaving will cause for ourselves and those we have come to love, we are in a cult.
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sweet pea
Quote from the book
Seductive Poison: A Jonestown Survivor's Story of Life and Death in the People's Temple
Excellent book, thoroughly recommend it!
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Recently disfellowshipped prominent Assembly overseer in Western Europe now speaking out against the Watchtower org.
by the research lady informer elder, and assembly overseer roberto from france will be joining barbara and joe anderson on tonight's conference call, july 18,2009. roberto was disfellowshipped in june 2009 and after many faithful years of service is now joining thousands of others who are speaking out against the evils of the watchtower organization.
our call tonight will be focused on how the country of france, as well as other european countries are investigating jehovah's witnesses.
the watchtower organization is experiencing difficulties in these countries for the inhumane treatment and exerting too much control over people's lives.
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sweet pea
Well said PP, I totally agree. Being DF'd for apostasy is, in the eyes of JW's, unforgivable. No one who commits adultery is likely to be told they are 'dangerous' to be around.
Maybe once a JW leaves the religion then they have more respect for these ones because of perhaps some remaining judgementalism towards those that commit moral sins, just ruminating here.........