38 Years

Joined

• started 5 topics
• posted 331 times   see topics posted on
• send a message

Posts by 38 Years

• 
  13

  How often do "Jehovah's Witness" related thoughts consume your life?

  by free2beme in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i can honestly say, that several days and even weeks can go by, without me thinking about the witnesses.

  i come here and skip the witness related topics, unless they mention something about changes or new understanding.

  i just do not put a lot of focus on them, at this point in my life.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  If I didn't have family members still in, I would never think about it.
• 
  21

  Taking control of my life....this is what i'm gonna do.

  by R.F. in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  as many of you may know, i'm currently an ms and pioneer, and been missing meetings consistently for almost 2 months.

  i have been concerned about my dad's reaction to me wanting to leave the org and he's been questioning me about missing meetings.

  well i've decided now not to jump through the elders' hoops anymore.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Good for you, you're taking control Stay strong!
• 
  7

  Stereotypes among fellow Witnesses

  by Save My Soul in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i read a great thread relating to race and it spurred some thoughts.

  it was mentioned that while a black speaker was on the platform, another brother made implied to that blacks could not have power/respect anywhere else.

  this made me think of many stereotypes in society and in the organization.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Last but not least, I remember hearing how we Americans are so materialistic, undisciplined, ungrateful, and complacent in comparison with the friends who live in "countries with hardships".

  I remember hearing this from a number of different sources, mostly talks. It would always be followed with some type of extreme experience of brothers and sisters crossing crocodile infested waters and walking for 3 hours to get to a meeting. They can do it, so can you. Of course this worked, not because you wanted to be at the meetings, but because you felt ashamed of your lazy American lifestyle. Did they do this in other countries too and tell them they were spoiled and lazy?
• 
  5

  So I was out jogging a little while ago and.....

  by R.F. in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...an elder and his wife passed by in their car.

  they were obviously on their way home from the congregation meeting that i missed.

  and the interesting thing is........i didn't care that they saw me!!!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Breaking out of their control is the greatest feeling! Enjoy the rest of your life!
• 
  12

  Mormon lady shocked at JW disfellowshipping policy

  by yaddayadda in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  was talking to a mormon friend about the jw policy of shunning disfellowshipped persons.

  she was pretty shocked to hear that jw totally ignore disfellowshipped ones, not even saying hello, even family members.

  told her that you have to spend months attending their meetings to grovel your way back and the whole time no one talks to you, not a word.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  I have a close friend who is Mormon and she said the same thing Yadda's friend said. They do disfellowship and excommunicate on really serious matters, not the offenses Brooklyn has made up to be serious. They do not shun family and non-family members at all. They have some other strange beliefs, but they do take look after their congregation members and will help out physically, spiritually and financially. I would never become Mormon, but I have bounced some of the dubs beliefs and practices off my friend and she thinks it's just about the worst stuff she's ever heard.
• 
  7

  Welcome Namaste!

  by betterdaze in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  welcome, namaste.

  glad to have you here.

  .

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Welcome! Glad you joined us!
• 
  12

  Nice Experience with my "Worldly" Relatives

  by bavman in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  after da'ing myself three years ago i wanted to get in touch with some of my "worldly" relatives since i had mostly ignored them for quite sometime and because my witness relatives were shunning me.

  about the only relative i had a relationship with was my sister who was df'd.

  i wasn't quite sure how to go about this because i didn't know what my parents had told any of them if anything.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  It's great you've been able to find family that truly cares about you.
• 
  15

  the things that are wrong with being a JW

  by alanv in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  hi everybody, i am a newbe to the forum and have been faded from the borg for about 15 years.

  i just wanted to say how good it is to read all your personal experiences about how you have been able to get free from the wts.

  i have just read the post from jwfacts.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Welcome Alan. Post your story when you get a chance!
• 
  21

  Is this the correct place for an introduction??

  by student1 in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  long time lurker from the uk... making my first post ooh scary...the reason posting now is that i need some advice on talking to my jw family and friends, without their walls coming up!

  having read this forum for a good year, you all seem to be expert linguists!

  i want to be like an indiana jones type character and slip through the sliding door in to the tomb (my sisters brain!

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  Welcome student1 Glad you joined!

  I am trying to get my JW sister out too. My mom loves being a dub, but my sister, in her natural personality (thanks jgnat!) is miserable and very unhappy. She refuses to acknowledge that she's under control by the Witnesses. She doesn't understand how contolled she is. You have to get out and look back, as I did. But I made the mistake, of being so happy (cloud nine) about being free, that I tried to share some proof with my sister and her defenses went up. She says she won't quit because of two reasons, she's put too many years and effort into it and she thinks they are correct about most of their doctrines. I know there are other factors too because of the cult mentality. But there are some things she doesn't support any more. Anyway, I have learned to throw small hints her way when she's not in the cult personality. Also, anytime that she complains about the KH or Brooklyn (she does often), I tell her she's right. She is right, but she can't connect the dots.

  I hope you have better luck with your sister! Let us know how things are going!
• 
  23

  Baptized at 12 years of age

  by Frequent_Fader_Miles in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i recently had a very interesting conversation with an online friend.

  she was baptized at 12 years old because her 15-year-old boyfriend was baptized, and she wanted to spend time with him.

  pioneering was the only option, so she got baptized.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  38 Years

  She's depressed, unhappy, and utterly miserable. I asked her whether she truly WANTS to be happy. She replied "Yes, but I don't want to die at Armageddon either"

  I tried to reason with her that if Jehovah judges the heart condition, and she's "serving Him" with the wrong motives ... it makes absolutely no sense continuing! She also agreed with me that her life shouldn't be ruled by guilt and fear. I believe that deep down she knows what she should do, but she's just so very scared of making the decision.

  I was baptized at 13. The above is how I lived as a dub for my entire adult life and just got out 4 years ago. She's not going to have any self-esteem, since everything has been taken away. Sounds like she's headed down a really bad road with this married ex-boyfriend (jw).

  It's scary to leave, no doubt about it, and it sounds like she needs a lot of support. I wonder if you could get her to post here so she could see that many others have been where she is? She also needs to see that there is life after being a dub and you won't be struck by lightening.