I was always an outcast. Partially because my service time was sub-par, but also because I wasn't ever -fully- into the cult. Mentally I was still open minded, and people sensed that and I think avoided association with me. Weird that after 10 years I never had any good friends in the hall, all my good friends were and still are non-JW's.
Robert7
JoinedPosts by Robert7
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36
How Were YOU Treated In Your Hall?
by minimus inwere you a fish out of water?.
were you popular in your congregation?.
were you a "marked" person?.
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36
Is the Tide Turning For the Watchtower Organization? What Do You Think?
by mentallyfree31 ini would like some thoughts on this issue.
as we well know the wts has been going strong for 130 years.
and they are still making large increases.
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Robert7
They were able to blow-off the 1975 fiasco where anyone you asks says "it was just a few Witnesses who blew it out of proportion". I think the same will slowly happen to 1914. It will likely be part of the overall doctrine, but it will probably be mentioned less and less, and newer ones will never think of it.
But the beauty of the Internet is that people can stumble upon this information as another coverup. Combine this with the Society getting more and more controlling, and people will be dropping out more and more, and fewer will join.
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For JWs Who Now 'Smell The Coffee:' A Survival Mechanism
by Room 215 infor those of us lucky enough to have shed our rose-colored glasses, but still want to maintain relationwhipes with family and friends still entangled in the borg's web, a pragmatic approach, akin to, but less radical than "fading": just slip out to the periphery, treat the kh as one would a church, i. e. show up once in a while, make the occasional comment (ideally without compromising your real convictions and, better yet, worded as to provoke a bit of thought without raising eyebrows); being politely but non-commital, and, after a few "so longs," go home after the closing prayer.
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Robert7
Switching congregations may help. For me it worked out unintentionally. I was having doubts and when I switched I never signed up for the school, and basically set a low bar for meeting attendance, since I was irregular. Therefore no one really bothered me about my attendance, and this really helped my fade.
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Did you ever pass up an opportunity to leave the truth?
by truthseeker inyears ago when everything was going pear shaped for me in my personal life and in the congregation, i saw my opportunity to leave.
i had no friends, the elders didn't like me and i was one step away from resigning.
i had nothing to lose.. this was back in '97 before i got the internet.. one of my regrets is that i didn't leave when i had the chance.
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Robert7
Prior to baptism I had several people try to convince me out of it. In hindsight they were obviously right, and presented facts about the WT. At that time I was so zealous I wouldn't listen and saw it as Satan trying to change my mind.
One coworker showed me some literature exposing Russell and his false prophecies. In college one student tried much more subtly to discuss the faith and talk me out of it. Even my dad gave me some books against the JWs. Like I said, I wouldn't have anything to do with it because it was 'the truth'. Boy the WT is good at controlling people's minds.
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Why can't the WTS handle the truth on why people really leave the organization?
by RULES & REGULATIONS inwhat do you think are the reasons why the wts can't handle the truth on why members quit?
why must they disfellowship everyone who would say something like this to an elder on why he/she no longer wishes to be a member......................................................................................................... '' i do not want to be a member any longer because of the changing ''generation'' teaching,the wts is just a publishing and real estate corporation,the preaching work is just a means to distribute books and magazines,the baptism and disfellowshipping of teenagers is wrong,the meetings are boring,the meetings are repetative, the 144,000 is symbolic not literal ...etc.....etc.....
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Robert7
The brainwashing is amazing. Just the other day my mom told me the reason I left was due to my wanted to live a 'worldly life'. This was completely unwarranted since my lifestyle hasn't change. The THOUGHT of leaving due to doctrine issues never even came to mind, even when I started telling her about some of my issues.
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Religulous with Bill MaherÂ…I just saw it
by seven006 ini dont post much at all any more but i had to mention this, i just got back from seeing religulous and cant remember the last time i laughed so hard.
it was great!!!!!!
close-minded religious people should save their money and not go see this movie but instead give your money to the next tv evangelist or street magician you see.
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Robert7
I like what he exposed, but I was disappointed in Bill Maher's arrogant approach. He was condescening and disrespectful to many of his interviews, and I feel he would have made a better impact if he took 'the high road' and acted more respectfully.
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Did you get token invites to witness gatherings?
by truthseeker ini was pretty much a loner the whole time i was in my old congregation, and it wasn't for lack of young people - there were plenty of "young ones", but because of various situations that went unchecked, rumors and just plain nastiness, i did not have any friends.. some of you might relate to this.
you feel like you don't fit in either camp - the world and the congregation - a rock in a hard place.. on the rare occasion i did get a token invite to a jw gathering, it was usually a video evening, as we called them in the uk.
since i had no social life to speak of, i would attend these rare and "exciting" events but it was always a let down.. you see, unless you have shared history with these folks, it's pretty much a non event.
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Robert7
I hated the gatherings that were SO 'scrubbed clean'. People would discuss field service experiences, or that latest WT article. Felt like another meeting away from the meetings.
I remember one graduation party in a club house. I entered a back room and a local elder said "we're discussing field service experiences". I swear my eyes glossed over, and I just left. This was towards the end of my meeting attendance where the dissonance was adding up.
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I don't owe ANYONE an explaination...
by babygirl30 in...about why i do not want to come back (get reinstated), but i find myself defending my decision!.
i say this because an old friend of mine sent me a text late last night, asking me if i'm 'back so we can talk'?!
let me give you a lil background story, this girl is developmentally challenged, 36yrs old, can't hold down a job, drive, nor live alone.
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Robert7
I had a similar conversation with my mom yesterday. There is NO valid reason for exiting the cult, so therefore there is no such thing as an explanation for leaving. Anything you say is completely invalidated since this is the truth and any other thoughts are from Satan. So frustrating.
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New CO talk: Be loyal to Org. even if you get weird instructions or can prove them wrong doctrinally!
by sir82 intheme was something about "loyalty to jehovah's visible organization".. i have neither the time nor inclination to summarize the whole thing, but a few points stood out:.
even if it causes you personal hardship.
example: joshua & caleb returned from spy trip to promised land with good report, but were "outvoted" by the other 10 spies.
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Robert7
Blind obedience is flat-out dangerous. They admit they are 'just men' who make mistakes, but demand 100% devotion without question. I hope this continues to add dissonance to its members, because it did for me.
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THINGS I did....I wasn't supposed to do....as an active JW
by Terry inon freeminds.org, randy w wrote this about himself:.
even as a strict jehovahs witness for eight years, i never once shunned or failed to speak to a disfellowshipped person.
it is simply cruel.
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Robert7
Went to some birthday parties
Went to strip clubs, a few times with my JW wife!
Gambled
Watched porn
Had worldly friends