Posts by shopaholic

53

The meeting tonight was UNBEARABLE

by Orgull in

i had my tms tonight.

for those who don't know me, i no longer believe, but have only just begun my slow fade.. the meeting was unbearable.

first there was the brother who happily pointed out that i'd missed two meetings recently and that he was keeping track.

shopaholic

Do you know that being on the TMS is optional? You don't have to give the talk. I just found out the TMS was optional about 2 years ago.

In regards to the meetings, I used to try to at least make the sunday meetings, now I don't even try. I can't bring myself to go anymore. I think I've gone from fading to faded, not sure how that technically works. The last few times that I went I really felt like I was in "bizarro world" and kept wondering how was I ever duped into giving my life to this religion. I don't have any family locally so it works out well, for now. The meetings are unbearable when you know what's really going on unless you use that time for personal goal setting and to-do's, it will look like you're taking notes.

27

GB's member Gerrit Losch on college in Monza (Italy) in 2005

by Ancientofdays in

i don't know if already posted this video, but it's really interesting .

i had a lot of rumor regarding this speech , but never listened my self before.

the speech is in italian, but some nice guy has subtitled in english.

shopaholic

I don't get upset very often as it is not very fashionable and red is so not my color. However, I have ALWAYS taken exception to the anti-education stand of the JWs. My father is not a JW and wanted his children to have a college education. My mom was onboard and encouraged us to go to school. All of my siblings did not think getting an education was the christian thing to do as it showed you did not trust Jehovah to provide for you. So some of us went to university (locally of course) and some did not. However, all us kids pioneered for many years and everyone still is (except me, the fader and one other sibling). But why is it that the ones that went to school are always paying bills for the ones (none of us live at home with our parents) that did not? And when we give them money, its a blessing from Jehovah?

My dad is not happy about their choice and is always telling them that its not too late to go to school...but they are so wrapped up in the JW they would just rather ask for a handout (of course they don't see it as a handout). But they criticize those who choose not to pioneer even our own mother, who is extremely supportize of whatever we do and truth be told she has the perfect circumstances to pioneer but doesn't which makes me wonder how did all of us (its a lot of us) end up as long time pioneers, but also lets me know how smart my mom really is.

I got criticized for going to school, but at the time I made the decision the YPA book said it was a personal decision and my person decided to go...my mom didn't discuss any of this with the elders as she believes people tell the elders waaaay too much. My older sister was already a sophomore before anyone even knew she was in school and this was before the YPA book mentioned education being a person decision, so she simply told folks to talk to our dad if they had an issue.

Lack of education means a lack of exposure...the less people know the easier it is for them to do what "simon says" because they won't ask: Who is "Simon"? And why does he think he has the right to rule my life?

32

Witnesses are getting so disconnected from the Doctrine, but won't let go!

by OnTheWayOut in

jw
friends

so i am not going to meetings, but am a fader.

the wife and i get invited to a wedding.

by friends from years back.

shopaholic

I recently visited family and friends across country and got very few JW related questions. I was relieved because I'm fading (haven't been to a mtg where I live in several months) and didn't want to come out just yet. I got a few "So how's the pioneer work?" from a few older folks but that was it. A lot of folks wanted to set up something to come visit but I found a way around that. One of my sisters is a super-dub...we were talking on the phone about the great time we all had at our recent get together and she expressed concerned that no one seems to be interested in pioneering anymore. Then she said something that indicated that she has her doubts but will do things to prove to herself that Jehovah is real. I almost took the hook but decided it wasn't the right time.

But anyway, a lot of young JWs are buying homes and working and going to school at the same time. The JW activities are just a mere formality for them but also a way to meet a mate or keep their family or elders off their back.

35

Free at Last, or am I

by Princess Daisy Boo in

i have just spent the last 3 or 4 hours reading everyone's posts and i am so thrilled and relieved that sites like this exist which allow us ex jw's to express ourselves.

i feel compelled to share my story, even though it is probably quite unremarkable.

i have this feeling that finally being able to express my thoughts albeit on the web, will finally allow me some freedom!.

shopaholic

Welcome princess daisy boo,

I was also relieved to find this board. I snooped around the board for a few months before I even found the courage to register. And when I did register I thought I was going to be .

I read these websites and discussion forums and still hear a little voice in my head saying don't read these things - they are bad, the society wouldn't approve, and yet I am relieved to read them!

Ditto. That little voice is in my head too. I started my fade about 9 months ago so I figure it will take a while before it gets laryngitis. After finding this forum I knew I was somewhat normal because I've felt for a while that something wasn't right with the org. There are some insightful folks on the board and some folks are just plain hilarious!

A part of me worries that by writing this all down I am finally admitting once and for that I am no longer a member of the witness world.

Ditto. My nerves were in shock after writing my first post. I just knew that the KGB elders were going to show up at my door: "Sister Shopaholic, open up, we know you're in there apostatizing."

How screwed up am I? How much do they really brainwash their followers?

Ditto. We are soooo on the same page, now I know we've been brainwashed. I know the borg screwed me up. Some folks on here have recommended a few books and so I'm going to give those a read.

Glad you got out 12 years ago and found the love of your life in the process!!!

4

WEBSTER on "Jehovah's Witness"

by compound complex in

jw
friends

jehovah's witness n: a member of a group that witness by distributing literature and by personal evangelism to beliefs in the theocratic rule of god, the sinfulness of organized religions and governments, and an imminent millenium [emphasis added].

webster's new collegiate dictionary, 1977. while checking up on another word in the js, i noticed the above.

nothing earthshaking here; i was simply bemused by webster's take on what a jw is and how he [the jw] views "organized religions" other than his own organized religion.

shopaholic

In addition, don't we all know that the big "M" is soon. Or is it near?

Hi CoCo, not sure if you know, but the big 'M' won't happen at least until the fall of 2009. I went to the DC this past sunday and they announced that international district conventions will be held in the summer of 2009 and that additional information will appear in the KM in the near future.

Just as a side-thought...as a pre-teen I predicted that it would all end in 2010 based on the whole 1914 generation thing. Even though we were not suppose to, I know plenty of you that were raised in the org calculated a year to figure out how much time you had to do what you wanted before you really needed to get your act together. Wow...if I could turn back time...

51

regrets

by IP_SEC in

jw
friends

i only have one regret in life.

i didnt have a child.

to have some little munchkin to teach about everything and see what they become?

shopaholic

IP_SEC, wow, its interesting to hear that from a guy. You'll make a great dad. Also, you have PLENTY of time. I know several couples that didn't have children until their late 30's.

But you are not alone in that regret. For many years, I didn't want kids but I also didn't think that I would be in my 30's and "still in this system" as they say. Now that I see that it was all a farce, I think about having a family and being a mom more often than I ever did before (I'm surprising myself). As a guy you've got all the time in the world, however, for me I fear it might be too late partly because of trust issues you develop from being a long-time JW. I really do feel like I have so many great things to share and pass on to a child especially a little girl. Plus, when I think about all the older JWs that didn't have any kids and are all alone, I don't want to end up like that. I have plenty of nieces and nephews but its not the same. Its nice to know that someone might be around for you when you get older.

So, I'm not trying to make a baby connection here, just saying I know the feelin'.

96

Proof of God's existence

by Blackboo in

from a logical point....i notice that in these threads that there are few here who dont believe in god..but i hate to tell you your dead wrong for having such an ignorant belief like that..instead ya,ll are blaming religion, people, and your personal problems for your lack of faith in god..thats dead wrong.

the non-believers are not looking at the whole picture..just the present..the things that go on in the world happen for a reason and it doesnt mean god doesnt exist.

the bible says "the fool has said in his heart god doesnt exist".

shopaholic

emptywords, your posts are spot on...I've seen it first-hand where missionaries introduce 'sin' and 'immorality' to small villages full of naked or half-naked people that were doing just fine without the God that's found in the bible. I've seen women in other countries be told that their clothes were immodest for the KH...so its 100 degrees outside and 97% humidity and these women have dressed like this all their life and here come a few overweight women from the USA telling folks their clothes are immodest and that people should not be able to see the top of a woman's shoulder so they had to cover up and its improper to openly breastfeed your baby...blah, blah, blah...where is any of that in the bible?...I do agree that humans introduce most of what is considered 'evil' and 'immoral'...so God is going to deny someone blessings because they choose to wear a strapless dress instead of a moo-moo dress?...gimme a break

Anyway, although I was raised a witness, I ALWAYS questioned the existence of God and the validity of the bible being written by God. However, my belief in God was not confirmed at the Kingdom Hall or through bible reading but during a "higher-education" class while studying such things as Laplace transform. I still have my doubts about the bible and even during my pioneering years, I don't remember ever using the bible to prove the existence of a creator especially with the well-educated.

Blackboo, I think I understand the point you are attempting to make but superficial statements that boil down to "there is a God because the bible says so", usually will not hold weight with anyone that's ever a read a book other than the bible.

16

Anyone seen the Secret?

by Satans little helper in

someone lent me the dvd of the secret over the weekend.

we watched it last night and i wondered what everyone thought of it?

i thought that it was very "evangelical" and alot like the jw's - large on promise and small on content.

shopaholic

I saw no parallel at all with the JW's. It's simply another way to market positive thinking - and that's been around for donkeys years!

In total agreement with sammieswife. Also the JWs are being advised not to watch it as it causes one not to put their trust in Jehovah but in yourself and your abilities. Personally, I found the Secret very delightful and agree that its great for beginners. Have you seen "What The Bleep Do We Know"? Its pretty deep. I think its mentioned in one of the promos on the dvd...it came out a few years ago.

42

How Were Intelligent "Sisters" Treated In Your Congregation?

by minimus in

jw
friends

as a rule, i believe jehovah's witnesses treat females as sub par to the menfolk.

i knew a lot of women in the hall that were smarter than their mates.

they begrudgingly got respect from most of the elders.

shopaholic

But she was the only one who voted against and I remember to this day everyone being so shocked by it.

I've never seen anyone vote against a proposal put before the congregation. But in regards to the intelligent women in the congregation, it appeared that the brothers did whatever they could to "humble" them in front of the congregation if they were single but they never bothered with the married ones.

17

"Clean Sweep", "Mission Organization"...

by changeling in

jw
friends

do any of you watch these shows?

do any of you wonder if the participants ever learn anything?

do they go back to thier old habits after the camera crew leaves?

shopaholic

Did someone say "wardrobe"?

For both men and women, Levis and t-shirts are winners.

For women, I would recommend a more flattering jean like Lucky Brand or Diesel. Remember, if you haven't pushed away from the table or are not keeping up your cardio then go with a mid-rise jean and NOT a low-rise jean. As for t-shirts, ladies you can never go wrong with a baby-doll style t-shirt just make sure you get the proper size and length (not all baby-doll shirts are cropped they come in longer lengths now).

Substitute shorts for the jeans when appropriate.

If you are in doubt, go with the jeans. But put the shorts in the car just in case you need to a drive by of the occassion to determine if a wardrobe change is required.

Wear sandals or flip-flops.

Well maintained pedicure required. Heels should be pumiced and feet properly moisturized. Otherwise find a cute full slip-on shoe and no one will ever know that you're hiding broomhilda feet.