very important comments, thankyou..
Us lurkers (well ex-lurker now) are quick to notice that this forum is full of loving and caring people with their heads screwed on...
I like this place..
Does anyone know how I can find ex jws living in Japan??
zennin
JoinedPosts by zennin
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What really matters now?
by nvrgnbk ini'm just getting back from the toronto fest.. more beautiful people one could not wish to find.. thanks to all, and in particular bumble bee and memario, for hosting.. while i was away, i see that trev lost linda.. my heart is broken.. and i see some stuff about dannyh hurting some elderly brothers?.
this board is so important to us supporting one another.. i think it's about love.. may we never allow ourselves to be consumed with hate or dedicate our lives to destroying something.. it's not hard to do if we dwell on what we lost.
but we win in so many ways when we celebrate the life we have now and new beginnings instead of hanging on to the past.. that's the best "revenge".. we all need to vent.. it's a critical part of deprogramming.. but i'm thankful to the good friends on here that gave me a heads-up when they saw me heading towards bitterness.
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Dinosaurs and the Bible
by zennin inif you were a jw (!!
), how would you explain dinosaurs and the bible?
?
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zennin
If you were a JW (!!), how would you explain dinosaurs and the bible??
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How did you break away?
by zennin in7 months ago i came to a foreign country on a working holiday visa for, you know, a 'wonderful experience'- i had plans to pioneer and a kind of determination to use this time to prove to myself, and to jehovah, that i can be loyal to him no matter what.... have i failed?
i don't think so, but even as i type this i think it is too early for me to answer or even ask that question.. all i know is that during the past 7 months i have done more research and more deep thinking and meditation than i have done in my whole life.
i have met wonderful wonderful people- many of them witnesses who have helped me out immensely and shown me a lot of kindness, and many of them non-witnesses- just ordinary people with their own moral foundations and personal philosophies.
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zennin
I'm grateful you are all so willing to offer advice.. Because...I need more...
Just last night at the meeting the PO (who also happens to be my next door neighbour) informed me that he and another elder are planning to make a shepherding call on me, and asked when is a convenient time for them to drop round to my place.. When they do come I don't know what to do! Is admitting to my doubts a really really dumb idea? Does that usually result in Df'ing? I can't hide the fact that I'm spiritually 'sick', but I really don't know how much I should lay bare. Another important factor iwhich will have a bearing on my actions is that my very faithful and very zealous pioneer mother is coming from my home country to visit me in just over a week- and I'm worried that whatever I do reveal in the shepherding call will be relayed to her during her visit- which of course will result in severe emotional turmoil... It's just bad bad timing...
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How did you break away?
by zennin in7 months ago i came to a foreign country on a working holiday visa for, you know, a 'wonderful experience'- i had plans to pioneer and a kind of determination to use this time to prove to myself, and to jehovah, that i can be loyal to him no matter what.... have i failed?
i don't think so, but even as i type this i think it is too early for me to answer or even ask that question.. all i know is that during the past 7 months i have done more research and more deep thinking and meditation than i have done in my whole life.
i have met wonderful wonderful people- many of them witnesses who have helped me out immensely and shown me a lot of kindness, and many of them non-witnesses- just ordinary people with their own moral foundations and personal philosophies.
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zennin
7 months ago I came to a foreign country on a working holiday visa for, you know, a 'wonderful experience'- I had plans to pioneer and a kind of determination to use this time to prove to myself, and to Jehovah, that I can be loyal to him no matter what...
Have I failed? I don't think so, but even as I type this I think it is too early for me to answer or even ask that question.. All I know is that during the past 7 months I have done more research and more deep thinking and meditation than I have done in my whole life. I have met wonderful wonderful people- many of them witnesses who have helped me out immensely and shown me a lot of kindness, and many of them non-witnesses- just ordinary people with their own moral foundations and personal philosophies. So many people in this 'wicked world' are oh so loving and display such kind heartedness- kind heartedness from within their own selves, which I have come to admire much more than kindness out of obligation to some pledge or organisation..
Anyway, I digress. There are many many points that I have thus far considered and settled in my mind, and many many more that I would love to raise and discuss with open minded, intelligent people. But basically, the thing that sums it all up for me is: how could a loving God punish any individual on this earth, including any of the billions who live in slums in India or in rubbish dumps in South East Asia or in deserts in Central Africa or in igloos in ?? the North Pole ?? or in trees in South America or in caves in the Middle East etc etc for failing to find amongst the millions of religions in this world and plegde loyalty to The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society of Pennsilvania?? And for failing to live up to the standards for life and morality as dictated by a few imperfect (though perhaps well-intended) men?? And for failing to defeat the all powerful, immensely superior and wicked spirit creatures bent on breaking our personal integrity? How How How??
I am sure this has been discussed many times over on this forum, but I am new here and just wanting to vent a miniscule portion of the thoughts whirling around inside my head. As I said, I am alone here in a strange land and I may go crazy if I don't talk to someone.... Oh but I remember now, I did start this thread originally to ask you: how did you go about breaking away from 'the truth'?? (I think the real reason I'm here is actually to find the courage to do it..) My mum, who I never want to hurt, has been a witness for over 25 years. My sister, my best friend, is also a witness... I am in a foreign country but I am involved in the local congregation and living in an apartment owned by one of the brothers... I feel trapped,(and yet slightly liberated by my recent freedom of thought!) I know now that loyalty to and love for my family and maybe even to God should never constitute loyalty to an organisation... Anyway, Just want to hear your experiences- but not bitter, angry thoughts pleeease
.............thankyou for this forum.........