Maddie

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Posts by Maddie

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  39

  Something creepy during a study

  by kurtbethel in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  so, the local jw troops have stepped up my study because i have had a difficult time swallowing the "truth", and have sent a ms to speed things along.

  he mentioned satan tempting eve, and i said i had never read that.

  sure, so there is a serpent tempting eve in genesis 3, but no satan.

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  Maddie

  Why are you studying with them? I don't understand your motives if you know they are a cult - just wondering

  Maddie
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  23

  Natasha Richardson Is Dead

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  she was only 45. she's the daughter of vanessa redgrave and wife of liam neeson and sister of joley ridhardson..

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  Maddie

  My heart goes out to her family at this sad time. It is a terrible tragedy and must be very traumatising for them all.

  Maddie
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  79

  How Long Have you Been Out of the Witnesses ? Have you Moved On ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been out over 5 years now.

  i feel we all start healing at different speeds depending on how much hurt we went through in exiting ; and how much we've educated ourselves about how and why we were sucked in by a mind control cult.

  at first i felt anger towards the organization , but after learning about mind control within 3 years of leaving the cult i felt sorry for those who are still trapped inside the witnesses being deceived.

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  Maddie

  Hello Mr. Flipper

  I left about a year ago, and like yourself I have read the same books. After much soul-searching and emotional pain I have moved on now. Losing my family has been very painful but with help I have managed to come to terms with my life and my losses. I don't feel that I have lost myself now and am not bankcrupt spiritually, in fact I have found genuine spirituality now that I am freed from the JW cult. This is truly a blessing, and one for which I am truly grateful for.

  Maddie
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  42

  Does Coming To This Site Make You Feel Better?

  by minimus in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i recognized, when i first started searching the web, that there are tons of information regarding jehovah's witnesses.

  most is negative toward the religion.. coming onto jwd/jwn gives one a different perspective.

  you get to interact with those thinking about leaving, those who have already left and even some who never were in the cult but are fascinated by the experiences of those that were in the "truth".. when you are on this site, how does it affect you??

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  Maddie

  When I first found JWD I was really grateful to find posters I could identify with and share how I felt. It was comforting and helpful in many ways, and even though I dont use the site very much now I still look in at times. Some of the posters have a wealth of knowledge and I am grateful for the encouragement I received from them when I was very distressed.

  Maddie
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  23

  Ever think about going BACK?

  by jeeprube in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  i haven't been to a meeting for 3 or 4 years now.

  (it's been so long i can't really remember).

  but lately i've considered going back.

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  Maddie

  I have never once thought about going back since I found out that it is just a cult and not the "Truth". That would really be insanity as far as I'm concerned!

  Maddie
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  24

  8 Months sober and going strong

  by digderidoo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i haven't really posted here much lately, i think it's because being old skool i cannot get used to the new format, but thought i'd check in.. i posted long and hard here the first half of last year about my alcoholism and attending aa, so thought i'd give a short update for anyone who remembers and gave me a lot of advice, which i am grateful for.. my last drink was may 30th, so i am now 8 months sober.

  i hardly ever crave or even want a drink anymore, if i do it's when i think that maybe i can handle one or two on a night out or something.

  but it soon goes, when my head kicks into gear and realise that i can't.. i used the aa alot in the early stages.

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  Maddie

  I am so pleased to hear that you are doing so well - one day at a time!!

  I know what a struggle it can be in the beginning and it needs total acceptance of being powerless over alcohol to succeed. Maintaining sobriety and being happy and at peace within yourself are what the AA Programme tries to help you achieve.

  My best wishes are with you on your journey.

  Maddie
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  50

  Has your " Self Esteem " Improved After Leaving Jehovah's Witnesses ?

  by flipper in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  it seems to be an issue that some have after leaving the witness cult because none of us were ever made to feel we were " good " enough or "valued " enough for what we were trying to accomplish in the cult.

  growing up i had pounded into my head by my jw elder father what jesus said, " after doing all things remember you are good for nothing slaves , what we have done is what we ought to have done.

  " then i thought to myself - " where's the joy in that ?

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  Maddie

  Hi Mr. Flipper - To be honest I believe I never had a great deal of self-esteem before becoming a JW, but what little I had evaporated in the Borg rapidly! My childhood experiences were such that I was not able to feel good about myself and I was naturally sensitive and lacking in confidence. Since leaving the JW's I have gained more self-worth than I ever had before. I have friends that I can be myself with we accept each other for the way we are ( good and bad points). My outlook on life is more open and optimistic and I have a healthy faith in God now. I used to think I was a failure and would probably not make it through the big 'A'. I am now much more relaxed and accepting of myself and other people.

  Maddie
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  3

  Reaching Out To Cult Victims

  by Maddie in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  since leaving the wt i have been on quite a personal journey (metaphorically speaking).

  i have managed to survive the emotional distress caused by being a jw, discovering it is a mind control cult, and all the consequences that ensued when i decided to leave.

  i have been called an apostate and shunned by my jw son, which means i am not allowed to see my only grand child any more.

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  Maddie

  Since leaving the WT I have been on quite a personal journey (metaphorically speaking). I have managed to survive the emotional distress caused by being a JW, discovering it is a mind control cult, and all the consequences that ensued when I decided to leave. I have been called an apostate and shunned by my JW son, which means I am not allowed to see my only grand child any more.

  Several months ago I started a thread about a spiritual experience I had and that the pain I was feeling was taken away and replaced with a sense of being at peace. Of course, there isn't a day goes by that I don't think about my family, but now I can go on with my life. I felt a strong desire to get involved in some way with helping those trapped in cults and decided to contact a voluntary Christian organisation called " The Reachout Trust". To cut a long story short, I have been accepted as a volunteer and there are several areas that I shall be working in. A large part of the work is educating churches about how cults operate and liaising with them in my local area. We hold seminars on how to talk to cult members and show videos etc. There are many other ways that I will be able to be of assistance and I feel positive that these people care enough to want to reach out to cult victims.

  Just wanted to share this with you all on JWD and hope you find it encouraging.

  Maddie
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  23

  What good would a DA letter do?

  by dogon in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  i have long thought of doing this, but could never see any good it would do except make me feel good for a few seconds.

  i also feel that when you do this you let them win.

  they always say that we told you so, or now he is gone and our congregation is clean bla bla bla.

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  Maddie

  What good would a DA letter do?

  It will only do you any good if you feel that it is your way of leaving the WT behind you for good. I didn't DA officially because I had already decided that they had no power over me anymore, and that I didn't want to give them that power back.

  Maddie
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  32

  I'm being officially disfellowshipped today

  by Newborn in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  12-12-2008. .

  dear friends, .

  care to celebrate with me?.

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  Maddie

  I am glad you are out!

  Maddie