Posts by atpeace

26

Raising children without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

almost ready to take the plunge, but have held back for years because of topic.

husband and i have not been active for many years and no longer consider ourselves jw's.

we also have no desire to be part of an organized religion.

atpeace

i love the poem belbab! I've copied - it sums up exactly how feel! and thank you so much for estranged and sons thoughts.

I'm about half-way through "parenting beyond belief" and it has already helped me get my thoughts together and become more concrete on what i believe even before i undertake the challenge of a child. I've always believed that children have a mind of their own, a personality with likes and dislikes that at times have nothing to do with the parents - and it should be encouraged and not stifled. i highly recommend this book.

11

Are you a victim of being separated from someone that you love?

by Fisherman in

jw
friends

please share your personal experiences on the evil of family seperation by governments, religions, courts, spouses.... make your outrage known!.

atpeace

thankfully my family speaks to me - i'm not df. but i worry and sometimes really think that soon some announcement will be made that they should have nothing to do with "inactive" ones.

67

Anyone who joined here in the last 6 months post here

by WT=watchtrouble in

jw
friends

i thought it would be interesting to see just how many people have climbed aboard jwd within the last 6 months.

it will give us an indication on how many people are actually coming away from the borg.. i may not be replying all the time but will pop in every day of so.. lets keep this thread going and use it to welcome new ones.

may i be the first to say welcome.

atpeace

first post a few days ago. i had been reading different post the last 6 months or so. the first time my heart was beating so hard and i felt so guilty - and then it hit me. why should i be afraid to gather information and examine for myself what i believe? it hit home that it was the effects of years of brainwashing!

as far as leaving - i haven't been to a meeting in at least 8 years. before that very little. my family is still in, but not living near me. they know i no longer attend and they don't ask anymore. i don't think they realize the extent to which i don't believe - they think i'm just lazy or have hard feelings about some things that happened. i spent some time in therapy which helped a great deal in coming to terms with feelings of guilt. i've learned i can't change my family, but i also don't have to prove i'm right and their wrong. simply - this is my belief this is yours - end of discussion.

19

raising kids without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

jw
friends

ok, thinking about taking the leap and starting a family.

i've held back for years because of this subject.

almost entire family are jw's, but my husband and i haven't been for many years and have no desire to raise children as one, or any other organized religion.

atpeace

i'm really glad i found this site! i believe we can choose to live our lives to the fullest despite our upbringings. i think the thing that irritates me the most is that our parents made a conscience decision to raise us with their beliefs, but they now feel it is wrong for us to do that.

for so many years i felt socially flawed. how can one learn basic social skills with your only allowed to associate with like two kids?! And dating?! the notion that you can't even like someone unless you want to marry. thankfully my husband and i have grown together and despite it all still like each other. but we have had our moments - we had to make some mistakes in our marriage i feel because we weren't allowed to in our youth. i will not put my children through that mentality. oh - and i was home-schooled for high school, double whammy! can you tell i'm a little resentful?! but i know you can't live like that. i'm young enough to live a full life and make new choices. we all are.

19

raising kids without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

jw
friends

ok, thinking about taking the leap and starting a family.

i've held back for years because of this subject.

almost entire family are jw's, but my husband and i haven't been for many years and have no desire to raise children as one, or any other organized religion.

atpeace

i somehow posted this question 2x - on another board as well, so if you see me again thats why.

for cc - i just ordered this book: - it's gotten great reviews. can't wait to

Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion"
Dale McGowan; Paperback

thanks for your comments. the worst part is the family thing. grandparents will be devestated. its one thing for my parents to know i'm not active, but i think in the back of their minds they think i will come around when i have kids. i'm more convinced than ever i don't want my children to have the same narrow minded upbring. i feel like i missed out on so many things. i guess thats why i'm ready to start a family - why cheat myself out of another experiance. and the chance to do it different.

26

Raising children without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

almost ready to take the plunge, but have held back for years because of topic.

husband and i have not been active for many years and no longer consider ourselves jw's.

we also have no desire to be part of an organized religion.

atpeace

for any who are struggling with this as well - i just ordered this book - it's gotten great reviews. can't wait to read it.

Parenting Beyond Belief: On Raising Ethical, Caring Kids Without Religion"
Dale McGowan; Paperback

26

Raising children without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

almost ready to take the plunge, but have held back for years because of topic.

husband and i have not been active for many years and no longer consider ourselves jw's.

we also have no desire to be part of an organized religion.

atpeace

Almost ready to take the plunge, but have held back for years because of topic. Husband and I have not been active for many years and no longer consider ourselves jw's. We also have no desire to be part of an organized religion. Most of our families though are very active. How did you all handle this situation? I would greatly appreciate any advice or experiences.

19

raising kids without a religion - thoughts, advice?

by atpeace in

jw
friends

ok, thinking about taking the leap and starting a family.

i've held back for years because of this subject.

almost entire family are jw's, but my husband and i haven't been for many years and have no desire to raise children as one, or any other organized religion.

atpeace

ok, thinking about taking the leap and starting a family. i've held back for years because of this subject. almost entire family are jw's, but my husband and i haven't been for many years and have no desire to raise children as one, or any other organized religion. i would greatly appreciate thoughts and experiances. and how do you handle this topic with your families?

33

1000 asked to leave bethel complexes

by atpeace in

i just heard this - anyone else?

i was curious as to the reason people were given for this.

and i can't help but think of those that will be trying to get a job in this economy, with few skills and probably no college education.

atpeace

thanks for the warm welcome everyone!

i'm on my sister-in laws email list. she said the mood at this past meeting was somber because several from her kh (montgomery congregation) were asked to leave.i wondered the same thing - if bethel service was even something they mentioned as a goal?

33

1000 asked to leave bethel complexes

by atpeace in

i just heard this - anyone else?

i was curious as to the reason people were given for this.

and i can't help but think of those that will be trying to get a job in this economy, with few skills and probably no college education.

atpeace

i just heard this - anyone else? i was curious as to the reason people were given for this. and i can't help but think of those that will be trying to get a job in this economy, with few skills and probably no college education. any thoughts?