Posts by Tornintwo

15

Missing Friends.

by Resi in

it's been a long time since i posted.

for a brief recap, i have an aunt who is one of jehovah's witnesses.

when i was really sick, i sought out their group because i remembered the support my aunt had and how they were like a second family to her.

I have faded over the past few months and find myself quite lonely at times, missing some friendships. But I realize I can't have them unless I accept teachings and practices I no longer agree with, no blood, no birthdays, family shunning, looking down on worldly people, believing that everyone else is wrong and will die, mishandling of child abuse, legalism, dogmatism, judgementalism within the congregation and a thinly disguised hierarchy.

The reason I'm lonely is I've never cultivated friendships outside the organization, because I was told not to. My plan it to try to do that now and hopefully I'll miss the few nice witnesses less and less. Hopefully in the long run well have better friendships, which aren't conditional on us conforming to an organizational ideal.

216

I'm a Pioneer Married To a Wonderful Brother Reaching Out to be an MS...

by cognac in

and petrified... i just recently became a pioneer and always had nagging questions in the back of my mind.

so, i decided that when i have get a study i would research all the questions as i go along so as to prove everything in the truth... i got 4 studies in about 2 months.

all was fine, until i reached i think chapter 6 in the bible teach book about the resurrection.

Tornintwo

Wow Cognac, it's amazing to see the first stage in your doubting.

It looks like a poster is trying to re-convert you, I am guessing it won't work hehe.

I really like reading your posts, thank you, where is your hubby at now? (I'm in a similar position yet 8 years behind).

90

Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

by thedepressedsoul in

i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

Tornintwo

A kh I used to attend has just been sold, it was ground floor of a large, older building in a town center. My hubby has been told by an org. heavy that there will be more major changes coming with some things difficult to understand.

90

Kingdom Consolidation and Sales are coming – Reliable Source

by thedepressedsoul in

i heard form a reliable source that a kingdom hall consolidation is going to be happening in the us.

currently they are looking at every kingdom hall to see if they could and should sell it.

any kingdom hall that has not been updated and is in a bad location (long driveway, not in a visible location etc...) will be sold.

Tornintwo

Wasn't there a case in California where the elder body were taking the society to court to get back their congregation's Kingdom Hall? Anyone know where that thread/info is?

35

A question

by JeffT in

jw
friends

has anybody ever written bethel and just flat out asked for an accounting report on the society's finances?

we all keep batting around speculation about the wtbs and money, and actual information seems non-existent.

what would they do if somebody asked for a financial statement?

Tornintwo

How about

"my elderly sick mother wants To leave half of her 18 million dollar estate to your society, myself and my siblings respect her wishes as we have seen that she has obtained a great deal of joy and support from this religion. However we have agreed that we cannot sign off on this with my power of attorney until we verify that all funds are used for charitable causes. The vast majority of charities publish full financial statements, please could you advise where we can obtain these for the WTBTS and its affiliates"

9

Does growing up in a religious family make you MEAN?

by Divergent in

jw
friends

yeah, i was mean.

could it be that i was not encouraged to have non-jw's as friends, so i viewed them as insignificant?

could it be that i found it difficult to live up to "christian standards" and took it out on others?

Tornintwo

I actually think birthdays are quite important in this respect and missing out on them has a more profound effect than you would at first think to the jw youth. The WT teaches us that they glorify the individual but actually the opposite is true. When kids celebrate someone else's birthday, they learn it is someone else's special day, that they have to take a back seat and wait their turn, whilst the attention and gifts go to the birthday boy/girl. They have to give something maybe they would have wanted themselves. But then with patience their own special day comes along.

At these and other celebrations you have to think about others, There is also chance to play at party games which involve sharing, taking turns and losing plus just being part of the wider community. It may sound simplistic, but looking back at my older kids who we raised as JWs until mid teens when they have left (one a year before me and one just after me) I can see that they really missed out on a lot of life lessons through not having a part in such celebrations.

14

The Stupidity of the "Preaching Work" ...

by Muddy Waters in

this came up in another thread and i wondered if any one else thought this way while they were still in..... - that it is actually better not to preach as people who don't hear "the truth" are said to be given a resurrection rather than the poor saps who refused a paltry magazine and now merit everlasting destruction..

Tornintwo

I was with my husband the other day who is still in and fully convinced, we saw two sisters strolling along the promenade with tracts folders in hand but deep in conversation with eachother, I said "well they clearly have an urgent message don't they?". Where I am the preaching work is such a waste of time, a 'searching' for foreign language speakers, spending ages trying to find an address which is not at home, wandering around in circles, finishing ASAP to get coffee. The ironic thing is at the next assembly they'll say "we're in the last minutes of the last hours of the last days" and all the dubs nod and agree, "it can't go on much longer".

On a shepherding call to 'encourage' me, I brought up how many people haven't had a true opportunity to hear & understand the message, an elder got quite exasperated with me and said a that people in frequently worked territory have had 'plenty of chances'. Rubbish! I agree with jookbeard, the vast majority of people haven't a clue what JWs believe accept no blood, no celebrations and some weird magazines offered on a Saturday morning. That's a JW survey I would love to see done and well publicized, how many people in these so called 'well worked territories', actually understand the JWs preach Armageddon is coming? Very few, I am sure. But of course they are deserving of eternal destruction.....what a complete load of crap.

32

London Bethelites Living on Their Nerves?

by The Searcher in

just got home and received information from a source regarding london bethel: .

a bethel couple told my source that they are getting rid of about 20/25 bethelites every week and that if they are to go, they will get called in on a friday and given their leaving date.everyone is "on edge" and hoping that if they get the boot, they've got time to make alternative plans.. perhaps bethelites everywhere should apply this scripture, by looking for a job and accommodation now - and then just resign from their "vow of poverty" without giving advance warning.

(proverbs 22:3) "the shrewd one sees the danger and conceals himself, but the inexperienced keep right on going and suffer the consequences.".

Tornintwo

It would be so good if several did this, throw a spanner in the works. Why wait to be pushed out when you can walk away on your own terms with your head held high?

32

Being interviewed by police tomorrow

by moley in

well tomorrow is a big day for me.

i'm finally going to be interviewed by the police about what happened to me as a kid.. im running the whole gamut of emotions at the moment.

sad, anxious, angry, guilt, fear and many more that cannot be quantified.. i feel physically sick, cannot sleep, have lost my appetite and i am desperately trying not to self harm.. i've got my sister to thank for getting this far.

Tornintwo

Well done, you are so courageous. You and your sister showing this strength can help many others. My thoughts and prayers go out to you, thank you for sharing this with us.

38

How have you felt since you learned TTATT?

by tornapart in

it's been 4 years since it happened to me.

an almost overnight experience.

i read ray franz coc in 3 days and that was it.

Tornintwo

Im 6 months into my awakening and have faded fast. I have days when I feel elated, finally free of the oppressive guilt and 'never good enough' demands of the Borg.... I have days when I'm angry as hell about the lost opportunities, decisions taken wrongly, damage done to my kids and others....I have days when I feel lonely, miss the community and friends, wonder if God is angry with me & I get sucked back in to self doubt and guilt (today's one of those).

I hope it settles down soon and I can just live a normal life and forget this small minded cult ever darkened my path.