Sorry, no advice, but I feel your pain. I left at 17 and had to da at 20. It's not easy. It's terribly difficult, but you can't put a price on standing up for what is right. The freedom is refreshing. 23 years later now and I have my own family and real friends and life is good. However, I have this nagging dark side to my life where my own blood shuns me. It hurts,...and it's absolutely ridiculous that we even have to make such decisions. Its a travesty that teenagers have to decide whether or not to lose family just because of a difference in belief. Conditional love is not real love.
Bob Loblaw
JoinedPosts by Bob Loblaw
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27
I dont know how i can leave my family!
by BlackWolf inmy mom and i were talking today about how next summer i will be 18 and she said that just thinking about it might make her cry.
that made me think about how much more it would hurt her if i quit being a jw.
i really do love my parents, i know they are just being cruelly manipulated by a cult and that they really think they are doing what is best for me.
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5
A question for mothers...
by Bob Loblaw ina human being, your child, was conceived, grew in you, and on one special day you delivered your child into this world.
a truly miraculous thing in and of itself.. when you were a jw, although forbidden to celebrate evil birthdays (sarcasm), did your heart ever ache contrary to watchtower teaching and want to shower your child with love and thankfulness?
i would think that if a religion were to believe in god, then their doctrine should have god somehow responsible for the act of procreation, birth, love, etc.
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Bob Loblaw
A human being, your child, was conceived, grew in you, and on one special day you delivered your child into this world. A truly miraculous thing in and of itself.
When you were a JW, although forbidden to celebrate evil birthdays (sarcasm), did your heart ever ache contrary to Watchtower teaching and want to shower your child with love and thankfulness?
I would think that if a religion were to believe in God, then their doctrine should have God somehow responsible for the act of procreation, birth, love, etc. I would think that God should be happy about your day of birth and in some form or another responsible for it. If what God has deemed to be good, then why deem the celebration of the reoccurrence of that date to equate evil? A mother and father automatically love and celebrate a child being born, so what is so demonic about remembering that day year after year and being so thankful for your child? Why demonize a word that embody's the love of God? Birthday=Love
As a father, celebrating my children's birthdays is all about love. I love my kids so much and I will never forget the day they were born. On that day you can bet that I'm going to kiss them and hug them and tell them about their birth and give them gifts and have fun.
In contrast, my mother, still in, has not acknowledged the day I was born in decades or ever for that matter. Not a text, not a call, nothing. As thick as the JW mind and thought control is, do mothers still in yearn to give their child love and attention on that day even though the Watchtower says not to?
Anyways, on a side note, I think a persons Birthday is a very special thing and for all those ex JW's out there who don't get Birthday wishes from loved ones, I feel your pain, you are far from alone, and whether today is your Birthday or not, Happy Birthday!
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Astounding! How much do you REALLY know the history of the Jehovah's Witnesses? I bet you DID NOT know about this!
by park ave boy inquick background.
a few days ago someone brought up an old new york newspaper called the "brooklyn eagle.
" during lunch i had a little time to do some research about the whole jw.borg and what i found almost knocked me out of my seat.
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Bob Loblaw
Thanks. Interesting read.
"Everything indicates that Russellism had its day. The money which Russell accumulated will serve to keep the sect alive for a little longer, but it will not be many years before it will be as dead as the 999 other religious fads that served to delude simple minded people for a little while."
-Dang!, I wish you were right newspaper journalist.
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Brothers - Reach Out for a Fine Work!
by cappytan inhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0c1ixarr31y.
they must really be having issues finding brothers to slave for the org..
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Bob Loblaw
To summarize:
...and let us reiterate, obedience to the WT WILL truly make you happy. There is so much joy in serving Jehovah (a.k.a. doing all the works the WT requires to remain in "good standing"). If you would just realize that nothing else can make you happy, so please stop doing that thing that you are passionate about, that thing that contributes to your individuality, that thing that actually makes you happy, and do as WE say. WE promise you will be happy. Look, "the friends" are doing it, and look at them, they are sooo happy!
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Control - Whose worse, the JWs or the traditional churches?
by fulltimestudent inwe once experienced, the "you'll die at armegeddon," fear instilled into us as jw's.. was that worse or better than the fear of eternal torment instilled by more conventional religions?.
john spong gives his view.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkah3hemv3m.
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Bob Loblaw
From personal experience, I have been involved with the JWs, a few different "non-denominational" churches, and the RCC. Doctrinal fears aside, I can say the biggest difference I've experienced between the JWs and other christian churches is that I haven't experienced mind control, guilt, shunning, or conditional love in other churches. Although the churches do believe in hell, I've never been to any "fire and brimstone" podium pounding services like the JWs want to believe happen every Sunday in other churches. I'm sure those elements exist in certain christian sects besides the JWs, but I haven't personally experienced it.
The JWs are a legalistic "works" based religion and your level of spirituality or guilt is based upon how much you do, and thus, your salvation is based not upon belief in Jehovah, but how much you do for Jehovah. A JW's spirituality, no matter how genuine, is still an outward showing to constantly prove to everyone around you and Jehovah, that you are, in fact, spiritual. The constant "end time" theme of this religion is always pronounced and at the forefront in their beliefs because this is just another control tactic.
The RCC, again from my perspective, is a sort of belief in Jesus mixed with some church legalism and control. Their salvation equals, half believing in Jesus, and half believing in the RCC tradition. However, I haven't seen any mind control in the RCC that is so apparent in the JWs. I also have not experienced any form of shunning of individuals who have decided to leave. Although they do believe in the Bible, and thus believe in armageddon, it is never a hot topic or rarely even mentioned. A rank and file member's spirituality, is just that, their spirituality, personal and inward.
"Nondenomination" churches that I've visited, are simply, believe in Jesus and scripture alone, and salvation only lies in that, for there is nothing that a person can work at to gain it. I also haven't experienced any form of mind control, guilt, or shunning. "Levels of spirituality" are not pronounced like the JW religion and there are no back room reprimands or losing of duties. Again, like a rank and file RC member, a person's spirituality is personal and inward.
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Gas Pump "Witnessing"....Is this a thing?
by Bob Loblaw ini've seen this twice now within a month.
a car group hanging out at a gas station.
one of the cult members jumps outs of their car and runs up to a "worldly" gas pumper, arm stretched out, tract in hand, and here comes the juvenile at best question.
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Bob Loblaw
I've seen this twice now within a month. A car group hanging out at a gas station. One of the cult members jumps outs of their car and runs up to a "worldly" gas pumper, arm stretched out, tract in hand, and here comes the juvenile at best question.
It's really a smart way to go on their end because they know they have to get in and get out. People are in a hurry and there isn't much time for debate or scripture flipping. It's like tract bombing a public space. Is this a "society" encouraged thing?
I encourage approaching these car groups and letting them know that people are aware, unhappy, and devastated with the atrocities of the "two witness rule" and the "no blood" rule. Maybe explaining to them that they are involved with a criminal organization will at least scare them off of public turf.
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Witness Punk and Metal Band Names
by Luther bertrand inhere is what i would name my band(s) let see if you can list some funny ones as well.
here is my list:.
local needs.
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Bob Loblaw
Punk/Metal Bands
Demonic Smurf
Theocratic Misery School
Russell's Pyramid
Truer than True
Millions Were Living
Judicial Carnage
Holier Than Thou
Indie Rock Bands
Jehovah and the Cool Kids
The Truthers
The Meekest
The Most Righteous
The Newest Light
The Brighter Lights
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bethelite kills self because of guilt 10/31/73
by new boy ini was working on my car in the factory {bld.
1} on friday oct. 31 1973, when all hell broke loose, the fire alarm in bld.
4 went off at about 9:30. the night watchman could find nothing.
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Bob Loblaw
So sad.
To Jimmy Olson and all the lives that the WT corporation has taken, may they rest in peace.
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The Elders are Coming Help!
by LaurenM inso the elders keep bugging me and pestering me about having a meeting with them to "introduce me to my new congregation" for some reason (do any ex elders know what that even means??).
i keep postponing and making excuses and they are getting more and more aggressive.
i finally agreed for them to come over today, but really don't want to..should i hide from them again?
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Bob Loblaw
Offer them coffee or tea and slip a high powered laxative in the drink. They should be out of there in no time. -
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Hypothetical question. There is no more guns on our streets, would the crime rate go down?
by James Mixon init would eliminate drive by's (gangs).
bank robbery.
( handing the bank teller a note, this is stick up without a gun).
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Bob Loblaw
Just look at human history prior to the existence of guns and you should have your answer.