Several days ago I was watching the movie The Shawshank Redemption and I really got to thinking how much this movie ties in with people who are JW’s, and deciding what to do with their life.
I was discussing this point with my wife tonight, and it was quite shocking how many people we knew/know who fit into one of these categories. Here they are,
Andy: People who have been in the organization for years and finally look at things realistically and decide to get out. They might have to break thru walls, and swim in a river of crap to get out, but they don't let anything stop them until they do get totally out. And they are better, and happier because of this decision.
Red: some people who have been in for years, and finally wake up and decide to do something positive to better themselves. Also they don’t cut corners either, or take any garbage from anyone; after years they finally stand up for themselves and are better people because of it.
And then there is Brooks, people like this cannot figure out how to live outside the organization. They have been a part of it for so long that the lifestyle is all they know.
They have the worst time moving on and doing something with their life outside of the JW mindset.
The sisters: People like this usually go totally off the deep end, morals, and standards of any kind no longer matter. And they don’t care who they affect. I’ve seen this happen usually to elders children in different halls over the years.
And finally the warden: there has always been one in every congregation that I attended.
Iron-fisted discipline, and dam you if you don’t agree with what they say. You will obey!
lancelink
JoinedPosts by lancelink
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Movie Comparisons
by lancelink inseveral days ago i was watching the movie the shawshank redemption and i really got to thinking how much this movie ties in with people who are jws, and deciding what to do with their life.
i was discussing this point with my wife tonight, and it was quite shocking how many people we knew/know who fit into one of these categories.
andy: people who have been in the organization for years and finally look at things realistically and decide to get out.
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lancelink
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The night my dad was disfellowshipped...I gave a talk, blah
by mac n cheese ini am trying to choose non-specific words in order to avoid being outed, but i suppose this story probably isn't that unique.
i was really close to my dad.
he'd smile when we pointed out any inconsistencies in people's behaviors, or noticed anything that didn't make sense.
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lancelink
Hey, What a story, I got teary eyed reading it. I am glad that you figured things out, and now have a relationship with your father, I wish you all the best !
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lancelink
The Pictures don't open for me, could you just post the link ?
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JW Closet Drinkers
by shamus100 inhow many here have had jw friends that can only have a good time when they drink?
i've known plenty - ones with obvious drinking problems.
not necessarialy alcoholics, but ones that equate good times with drinking, and drinking alone.
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lancelink
many of the witnesses I knew were "closet alcoholics" and whenever there was a get-together at their house, the booze flowed pretty freely !
Since they all had children, it is kind of ironic that all the kids are alcoholics themselves ( really big time binge drinkers)
Sometimes I wonder how the parents can look at themselves in the mirror, with drunk, no-moral kids and then still consider themselves
Gods people ??
if you really want to see for yourself, just go to myspace and type in amy sterne, or jonathan sterne, after looking at their picture you feel like you need to take a shower !!
Oh, and realize that the majority of people you see in the pics are the children of once upstanding JW's,
what a wonderful legacy these kids are leaving. -
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Hello !
by lancelink ineveryone has their own avenue of exit...for some fading is the right way for some like me i wanted a clean break being in for 28 years all adult life it was the only for me...just find your freedom anyway you can live your life and don't look back...
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lancelink
Hello everyone, and thanks so much for the comments !!
I tried to compact 30 years into several small paragraphs, so the story might be a little choppy,sound somewhat whiny, or have some pretty big holes in it. But i can honestly say that the next 30 years will not be the same old thing!
I.m in my 40's now,(have my own house) and finally have seen what being a witness is really about.
Somewhere on the site someone made mention of the movie " The Shawshank Redemption" and it is somewhat like being a witness, I totally agree with that one !
Kind of like the character Brooks, he had a really difficult time on the outside.
But with the comments, and support from the members of this board, hopefully I'll be able to make a decision soon.
I have been taking philosophy and religious classes at a local college, and it is just amazing all the different beliefs, opinions, and thoughts about God that are out there. As an assignment we have to attend a religious service somewhere that we never have gone to before.
I'm going to the local Jewish temple soon, that religion has always impressed me.
As far as becoming a Catholic again, I really was attached to that religion,( alter boy, usher,homily reader, youth director) but a good friend of mine who was a priest for over ten years went and married a nun,and the church removed him for being a "defective person",,, now he is pastor of an Evangelical church, and his wife is the director of their youth education. He is such a good, honest hearted man, this whole situation has me really thinking.
Again, thank you everyone for the comments ! -
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What do you remember about the Conventions?
by ScoobySnax inwhen i think back, i remember being excited in the 80's.
i remember the 5p food token strips at twickenham, london.
you could get hot fresh doughnuts and burgers.
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lancelink
I remember at the circuit assembly, held in Janesville, WI, many of the witnesses stayed at the Midway Motor Lodge several miles away. There was a group of MS's from crystal lake who would bring alcohol and leave their hotel door "unlocked" Well, many of the younger JW's( under 18) would go in, get a drink get out and hit the pool. I found it amazing that nobody ever got in trouble from that. I never was a drinker until my parents started to study with the witnesses, all of a sudden all these spiritual / mature individuals were telling me to start drinking ,, heavily. The po's kids, were the worst, they started me drinking, ( 16 yrs old) and we graduated into smoking, then pot. When the pills started to appear I ditched the group, Anyway, everyone from that group is gone, faded or DF'ed . This organization showed me how 2 faced so called "mature" members could be, although I tried doing the whole religion thing according to the rules, I never really could overlook the hypocrite's from the early days.
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Issues That Made You ANGRY While You Were A Jehovah's Witness
by minimus inwhen i look back, i think of some things that really angered me about the organization.
i was raised as a witness and i was taught from a very early age that "reaching out" was the most important things i could do in life.
i was to reach out for "privileges" and get baptized.
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lancelink
After reading raindogs comment I thought of this saying : Use what talent you possess: the woods would be very silent if no bird sang except those that sang best. I hear what your saying man,, I really do !!!
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'You're not a singing group, you're a cult!' best movie line, w/ link
by Pioneer Spit...oh, i mean Spirit in2 minute hilarious clip from bubble boy (gyllenhall, not travolta).
.when he gets on the bright and shiny bus with all the bright and shinies, they're all named todd or lorraine.
.and he figures out what they are.
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lancelink
that was the most bizarre thing that I've ever seen, ( but is sure was funny)
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Been on JWD One Year Now - It's Been Nice Getting to Know You All
by flipper ini have certainly enjoyed this first year on jwd !
i've learned so much from you all, through the ups and downs of what any community experiences !
we all have something special to bring to jwd , and i want to thank each and every one of you for bringing what you do in an authentic way !
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lancelink
I just signed on several week ago, and I really appreciate your comments and more importantly your honesty !
Thank you -
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Issues That Made You ANGRY While You Were A Jehovah's Witness
by minimus inwhen i look back, i think of some things that really angered me about the organization.
i was raised as a witness and i was taught from a very early age that "reaching out" was the most important things i could do in life.
i was to reach out for "privileges" and get baptized.
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lancelink
Raindogs comment of :
1)Being told that the world was going to end so there was no sense in going to college. For years, even after leaving the Borg, I still had issues with getting an education.
I really can connect with this one !
Thats all I heard during and after HS, and for what ?????