Posts by happytobefree

31

What are the reasons?

by neyank in

jw
friends

hi all,.

someone asked me the other day why i am so interested in reading about jws,ex jws and things that are going on with the wts.. i think for the most part,only those who have been involved with the wts can understand why we are so interested in the subject.. of course having believed everything the wts has told us over the years and dedicating our lives to it kept us tied in with them.. what are the different reasons that you all have for continuing to be preocupied with the wts?.

neyank

happytobefree

I have wondered why I'm still interested in the JW, when I know I have no desire to every join them again. But I have so much vested into their religion, my mother, father and sister, plus about 50 other relatives. I love this forum, because it validates my feelings. It is so warming to know their are others who are experiencing the same. I just hope that we one day can figure out how we can come together to help others from being hurt. I pray everyday that my family will see the true light, but I pray even harder that the unsuspecting person who answer their door don't become another victim.

Sassenach - don't worry about a paradise earth. Appreciate and be grateful for the earth God has given us today. I don't think he created us to contemplate the future. Well once again that is just my thought.

Happy to be Free (Me)

58

Living A Lie

by MoodyBlue in

jw
friends

i am sick of living a lie, yet afraid to change it.

married to a man who refuses to listen, who would rather plug his ears and shout "nooooooo" is taking it's tole.

i am afraid to speak my mind about my doubt, my thoughts, and what i'm learning, as i'm not ready to cross that point of no return.

happytobefree

Moody,

I can relate to what you are feeling. I had similar feeling, I was afraid of losing my family (father, mother, sister). But through therapy (4 years), I was able to learn to love myself first and then everything falls into place. I don't want to give you advice, but have you considered therapy? It's an option. But believe me it took more than just the therapy.

I have a book that to suggest you read (it won't solve your problems, but it will help you to think). It's call Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers, PhD. It was one statement in the book that was the turning point for me. That statement was: 90% of what we worry about never happens, we create our own reality.

And last, it may seem like everything is doom and gloom (because that how you have been conditioned to think). But believe me God want you happy and there is so much more happiness than misery in this world. After I stop my JW activity, I have learn to appreciate all the beauty in this world. Because as a JW; I would look for something miserable (rising food cost, hight crime, etc.), so I would have something to talk about in field service to the householder as well as the doom and gloom group in that broke down station wagon. But now if it's not something I have to deal with personally, I excuse myself from doom and gloom type conversations.

Let me end, because I could go on.

I know you will make it, you just have to take it one moment at a time. And remember you can only change yourself, not anyone else.

Happy to be Free (Me)

72

When should you Disassociate yourself?

by happytobefree in

jw
friends

i have been having discussion with my sister (relative), who is an active witness, about writing a letter of disassociation.

the reason being is that i have not attended the meetings in over a year and it's been 4 years since i have went out in the jw ministry.. i going to try to sum this topic up.

my sister think that i should not da myself because i have not done any immoral act in her thinking.

happytobefree

Thank for your imput all. That's why this type of forum is excellent to be able to talk to those who were and are associated with they organization (because discussing this with my husband (never a JW and not interested in knowing nothing about it). But these forums still make me alittle sad for some many who are still blinded by the WT deceit.

And no I will not write a letter, but I will have to continue to be honest about my beliefs if asked.

And a question that is off this subject is to Struggle. Do you still believe the WBTS is God's organization? And if you do what is your reasoning? I'm just wondering, because it's hard to ask any of my believing witness friends, without them getting angry.

And again, thanks all.

72

When should you Disassociate yourself?

by happytobefree in

jw
friends

i have been having discussion with my sister (relative), who is an active witness, about writing a letter of disassociation.

the reason being is that i have not attended the meetings in over a year and it's been 4 years since i have went out in the jw ministry.. i going to try to sum this topic up.

my sister think that i should not da myself because i have not done any immoral act in her thinking.

happytobefree

Amicus,

To answer your question frankly, I did not dedicate my life to anyone. At the time I thought I was just doing the right thing, because I had been raised a JW and had studied every book they had with about 10 differenct sisters. And you should have saw my fathers face he was so happy (how sad).

And now with my view on religion (all of them), the bible and spirituality are so different from my mindset at the time of my baptism. I'm a agnostic more or less. I think the bible is a good book of fiction at most with good some principles, but some practices and principles I have never agreed with (God chosing a people, when he is responsbible for all - don't make much since to me).

Anyhow I'm going strongly to the mindset that I don't owe the JW a letter or an explanation for my decisions, nor my life anymore. I have more that paid my debt to them by my 30 years of bondage.

And no I don't feel a bit hypocrital - because when any JW ask what I'm doing now, I openly and freely tell (I have nothing to hide and I have felt ashamed for too long (or not worthy).

72

When should you Disassociate yourself?

by happytobefree in

jw
friends

i have been having discussion with my sister (relative), who is an active witness, about writing a letter of disassociation.

the reason being is that i have not attended the meetings in over a year and it's been 4 years since i have went out in the jw ministry.. i going to try to sum this topic up.

my sister think that i should not da myself because i have not done any immoral act in her thinking.

happytobefree

Thank you all for your replies, I do agree with you. But as Trevor stated since I have not walked away no one has made a serious attempt to contact me anyway (isn't it funny how people who love you so much, just let you fall off the earth.

But to be quiet about my views is a whole different story. Since I have about 100 JW blood relatives who do live out of state (thank goodness), I find when I go home to visit it is sometime kind of awkward, because of the questions - such as How is your congregation? How many publishers do your congregation have? How many pioneers? Where is your assembly held this year? And when I tell them I'm what they would consider inactive, you should see their faces (it's funny now that I think about it). They look like they have lost their best friend (even though they don't have a clue as to what a best friend is).

Anyhow, I do feel since they baptized me under false perception, that my dedication was not valid anyway.

Thanks all

Happy to be Free (Me)

51

Do you still attend meetings?

by Sassenach in

jw
friends

i'm wondering if you still attend meetings?

do you hold out hope for the watchtower organization?

if you've left entirely, have you found another form of worship?

happytobefree

RedhorseWoman,

The Borg did not want you to feel free, why else would they require 5 meetings a week plus the peddling of watchtowers. The purpose of all of their activity is to keep your mind cluttered, so you don't see that there is a beautiful world out there to enjoy (in the present). Instead of focusing on this beautiful paradise later. Your current prequisite with the watchtower is to think of doom and gloom (armeggedon (sp), rising food costs, murder and mayhem, etc.)

Anyhow every go back to enjoying your nature and horses and everthing else that is beautiful

HAPPY TO BE FREE (ME)

72

When should you Disassociate yourself?

by happytobefree in

jw
friends

i have been having discussion with my sister (relative), who is an active witness, about writing a letter of disassociation.

the reason being is that i have not attended the meetings in over a year and it's been 4 years since i have went out in the jw ministry.. i going to try to sum this topic up.

my sister think that i should not da myself because i have not done any immoral act in her thinking.

happytobefree

I have been having discussion with my sister (relative), who is an active witness, about writing a letter of disassociation. The reason being is that I have not attended the meetings in over a year and it's been 4 years since I have went out in the JW ministry.

I going to try to sum this topic up. My sister think that I should not DA myself because I have not done any immoral act in her thinking. (because I feel even if i had, which I haven't, I would not have to ask any man nor organization for their forgiveness or their discipline). I personally think she don't want me to, so it will not strain our relationship out in public (because she is well aware of my views, which are so non JW).

The reason I want to end my ties with the organization, is because I don't want the restroom sister showing up at my door whenever they feel compelled to make a call on me (they uninvited guest is so annoying, and the reason I quit going out in field service - but for conscience reason now). And the last visit was 3 weeks ago, during the holiday season, and I was all into my holiday spirit, xmas decorations around the whole house, big beautiful tree and all and I was cooking xmas cookies at the time (that they did eat. haha) Anyhow I could not bring myself to expressing my feeling to them about how they were looking around my house (a look of shock) and how they were saying that they were praying for me (a lie I know, because they only think of me when they need to go potty, praying I'm home so they can go)

I could go on, but I want you opinions about disassociation.

HAPPY TO BE FREE (ME)

34

No longer associated with this group

by yeldell2 in

jw
friends

i had no idea you were ex-witnesses when i registered here.

continue to send me e-mail anyone from this group.

steps to contact the administrator of this site, with this information.

happytobefree

It took you 36 post since Dec. 31, 2000 to realize that some don't share your views. GET REAL!!! And does this site automatically pop up on your computer when you initally come on - if not, then you need to stop harassing yourself by coming to this site. I personally find it very refreshing and upbuilding, but it I didn't you would not be reading this post.

HAPPY TO BE FREE (ME)

51

Do you still attend meetings?

by Sassenach in

jw
friends

i'm wondering if you still attend meetings?

do you hold out hope for the watchtower organization?

if you've left entirely, have you found another form of worship?

happytobefree

I have not been into a Kingdom Hall in over a year. And I must say, I have never experience such solitude and peace. I have been able to find time to build "true" solid relationships, beginning with my husband (a non-JW). I married my husband out of the so-call TRUTH. So even though I have always loved him, my love was limited by my thinking he was a less less priviliged because of his not being a JW.

Well back to the topic (I will tell you all more about me later). The JW call there services by the right name - MEETINGS. Because basically you could compare them to any multi level marketing meeting being conducted around the world (Amwy, Mary Kay, Avon, etc.) They are basically sales meetings to keep the blind out in the field service (ministry) to get voluntary donations (just think if 6 million JW brought in just $20 a month that's . $120 million dollars and think about the special months when they push for auxilliary pioneers March, April and May)

Well anyway, if you want to attend a meeting; at least attend one that can benefit you. College, Multi-Marketing Meeting, AA, craft class, there are many to keep you busy and TRULY SATISFIED AND HAPPY.

Happy to be FREE (ME).

116

Confessing

by STRUGGLE in

jw
friends

hello, i was reading judical com.

was really suprise to find out how some of jw's feel.

some have, like the single mom, have such a negative experience with them.

happytobefree

Orange Vale Bob and Struggle,

The problem you two are experiencing is because as Bob mentioned you have loyalty to an organization and not TOTALLY TO GOD. Struggle what you don't realize God already know your weaknesses and have already forgiven you for them.

this is my first time posting, but I have been in a similar situation. I was before a committe and they questions they ask of me was totally inapproriatte. I started off in my committe meeting with the right attitude - but when the questioning went to how many time I had sex and what type of sex and how did the sex make me feel (COME ON - no pun intended).

Well to make everything short if you read the bible free of the WBTS you will see God and the Bible in a different light. And you will see that people are worthy of love based on being God's children and not based on what religion they practice. Remember we are all witnesses of Jehovah (no matter what our religion) - because he created u all in his image, so when I see any human I consider him a witness of Jehovah as I am.

My advice to you is not to subject yourself to people who cannot save you or forgive you. You must go to Jehovah, which I know he has already forgiven you. The only person who want you t feel guilty is Satan.

That's my 2 cents.