Posts by changeling

68

Assembly Hall shakedown - Columbia SC

by sir82 in

jw
friends

from someone who attended:.

there was a big elders meeting in columbia sc on saturday june 9.. around 240 congregations, 2000+ elders.. the society wants to build a brand new assembly hall in columbia, sc, to handle the huge influx of jws moving to the us southeast from up north.. they expect to have it done in 34 months (finished by april 2010).

total cost estimated to be approximately $8 - 9 million.. they want to have the whole thing paid for by the time the building is done - no long term loans.. they "strongly suggested" that each of the 240 congregations commit to supporting "their share" of the expense.

changeling

And they have the nerve to critisize televangelists when they beg for money...

46

How Did Being Referred To As A Brother Or Sister Make You Feel?

by The wanderer in

jw
friends

how did being referred to as a brother or sister make you feel?the term brother always reminded me of being in some militant or holy roller religion.

during my tenure as a jehovahs witness, i brought it to the elders attention to refer to .

me by using my first or last name when addressing me.

changeling

You would think that being raised a witness it would have meant nothing to me, but it did. It always felt wierd. It always felt like "hollier than thau". I don't think I was ever meant to be a "religious" person, I just was by accident of birth, so the whole "brotherhood" thing went against my grain.

It also felt like it was meant to separate us (which it did) and make us stand out. All in all, I did not like it.

10

Pale Blue Dot

by purplesofa in

jw
friends

this is our home.

earth from 4 billion miles.

this video puts it all in perspective.

changeling

That was beautiful and very true. Thanks for sharing.

changeling

10

Miranda for the fader

by changeling in

jw
friends

there 's been a lot said on this board lately about revealing our feelings and doubts to friends, family, and that "reasonable elder".

well, i just wanted to share something with you guys.. a while back, i had what i thought was an innocent conversation with someone very near and dear to me.

all was calm and rational, questions were asked in a spirit of wanting to understand.

changeling

There 's been a lot said on this board lately about revealing our feelings and doubts to friends, family, and that "reasonable elder". Well, I just wanted to share something with you guys.

A while back, I had what I thought was an innocent conversation with someone very near and dear to me. All was calm and rational, questions were asked in a spirit of wanting to understand. A couple months later a crisis arose and my words were thrown back in my face and used as weapons against me. The vile and hurtful spirit that prevailed hurt me deeply, and even though things calmed down and seem "normal" now, I no longer feel completely at ease. So for what it's worth, if you are thinking of letting your guard down, remember:

You have the right to remain SILENT, you do NOT have the right to an attorney, and ANYTHING you say can and WILL be used against you.

Sad to say, witnesses are programed to defend the organization above all else. "Love your neighbor as yourself" and "honor your father and your mother" mean absolutely nothing to them and do not even come to mind if they feel you are no longer 100% on board with them. Worst of all, they feel their rude, insensitive and disloyal behavior is completly justified, and that it has God's backing.

Let's not be fooled folks. If what we want is to go "quietly", then let's be "quiet", lest we wake the roaring lions.

changeling

35

new here

by everyplanetwereachisdead in

jw
friends

im new here.

i was raised as a jw by my mom.

my dad never accepted the religion.

changeling

Welcome to the guilt recovery board!

28

Comments You Will Not Hear at the 6-10-07 WT Study (God's Word Guide)

by blondie in

indeed, when we read the bible and let it guide .

q8) what scriptural principles help us to reason on the matter of associations?.

god's word be a lamp to our foot.

changeling

Thank you Blondie: I'm at a point in my "recovery" where reading any of the the Society's lit makes me sick, but reading your summray help me keep up with the latest crazyness, lest I forget why I left.

changeling

34

Out of the Family...

by saywhat29 in

literally and figuratively.... if you don't know my story, its the basic "i'm gay and from a family of jws" and lately it hasn't been going well.

i'm still saving up to move out, but that "meeting" i was suppose to have with the elders is scheduled tonight.

it was scheduled tuesday night but i dodged that bitch hard.

changeling

I'm soo sorry about you mom's reaction. Hopefully, she'll come to terms with who you are and adjust her thinking. A mother's love should be unconditional, of course a JW mom is a whole other species . Hopefully, she'll come around. If not, know this: you are who you are, make no apologies and live your life with honesty and intergrity.

Enjoy the freedom of being true to yourself. I wish you all the best in life.

changeling

24

Is it weird that I don't miss it?

by bluesbreaker59 in

ok, other than my father, i don't miss anything about being a dub at all.

seriously, i love my life right now, its great, thinking for myself, doing what i want, etc., etc.. i've only been out 3 months, officially, and i find no "void" or anything.

i've got a bunch of great friends on the outside, that i had for years while being jw, and then i have my mother and all her family supporting me.

changeling

What's to miss????

30

If someone offerred you one wish to change your life ...

by zagor in

jw
friends

a lady friend living at my condo asked me the same question today and i had to really think hard.

what would be the one thing that would definitively change everything?!

one thing that would pull all other strings together?

changeling

I wish my mom would have never become a JW and thus altered the path of my familiy's life forever. If I could not have that wish, then I wish I would have faded when my children were small and spared them the torture they went through.

12

Two JWs showed up at the door

by sass_my_frass in

jw
friends

... well, at the driveway actually, i was getting into the car.

i recall that when i was out on the preach and people weren't where they were supposed to be (opening the door, surprised to see me, where i can catch them off guard) i didn't start by having complete control of the conversation.

these guys came around the corner and saw me and i had a few seconds to calm myself and try to remember what i'd intended to say to the next jw who calls by, and i nearly got all of it.

changeling

You did well. You planted a seed as they would say. About 5 years ago I recall a gentelman who came to the door when I was in FS and said he'd been raised a witness. He sid he regreted not have a normal upbringing: not playing sports, having friends, etc. I told him I was sorry and moved on. He left me feeling like "yeah, I know what you mean, my childhood was stolen too", but of course I couln't say that to him in FS, and the sister next to me would have had a cow. But he left his mark on me, and maybe you did the same for the witnesses at your door.