Posts by Switch

The Witnesses really do try to avoid confrontation at all costs. If someone starts asking loads of questions, they're supposed to pick one subject and tell the householder that they'll come back and discuss it in length with them. You might have the rare pioneer that can actually find their way around the Bible, but the majority rely on memorizing the presentations that the WTS provides for the magazines, books and tracts. If the householder doesn't want to listen to their little memorized speech, then they move on to the next door. For those of you that have been out for a while, the scenario goes like this:

Greeting...repeat a couple sentences of memorized subject....ask question....read suggested scripture for the answer....pull out mags/brochure/book with related subject and offer. I might have a KM a few months old around here if you wanted to see an actual presentation. But this is how the witnesses are doing it and not many are being inventive and deviating from it.

50

How did you handle facing the reality of death?

by song19 in

jw
friends

for those raised or who got the truth at a young age, how have you been able to handle the reality that you are in fact, eventually, going to die in this system?.

for me, this was a real hard reality check.

as a witness, my entire life i was convinced that i would see armageddon, that i wouldnt grow old and die.

Switch

I've spent the past 6 mos. sad with the thought that I'd never see my dad again. He died in '96 of cancer. It's like I'm grieving him all over again. I'm starting to get over it - though I'm sure I'll always think of dying from time to time.

The past few days I've had a much more positive outlook. I wake up smiling. I enjoy my kids more and don't stress over when they're being challenging. I spend more time enjoying life - the laundry and dishes can wait. It's really refreshing. (I'm hoping this keeps up! ) Death can't be avoided so concentrate of how to enjoy the gift of life that you have now. Get out of the house and start some new hobbies. I've visited with 3 different neighbors in the past 10 days and it's been so great. It's a slow process but I feel like I'm getting to know them for the first time though I've lived here for 9 years. I feel like the stress has left me for the first time in decades.

Your beliefs have changed so now you have to change your life. Life is what you make of it. If you are busy enjoying the NOW, then the future is more distant and not in your thoughts. If there's anything after this life, then that'll be a plus. Noone knows for sure. It's crushing to have all your beliefs dashed to pieces but it does get better. It just takes time.

35

Did you ever really believe that god wanted you to shun people?

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

i think at one point i did.

looking back i can't see why i thought like that.

i always had doubts about it but you would hear the old 'gods loving dicipline' line.

Switch

Yeah, I did and I followed the rules to the letter. I believed a lot of crap though including that the WTS was a good, well-meaning religious org. Hubby and I didn't talk to his sis for 17 years. Fortunately, she's held no grudge and we're getting to know her and her family now.

28

chocolate

by John Doe in

jw
friends

i heard a while back of a study that was done some years ago.

evidently, they took children preschool or kindergarten, don't remember which, and told them that they could have either 1 piece of chocolate now, or if they waited till the end of the day they could have two.

they kept track of which kids took the immediate chocolate and which ones held out for two.

Switch

wahoo - good news for me. I'm definitely in the second group. I used to make a pack of peanut M&M's last for ages. I'd let each one melt in my mouth until just the peanut was left.

19

Is Jdubs practice of Teenage baptism really any better than Infant Baptism?

by blkblk13 in

so i was thinking the other day about how the jdubs always mock the catholics for baptizing infants who can't make a true commitment to god so the sybol of dedication is empty.

well, as anyone who's been in the org knows there is a culture of pressuring teenagers to get baptized.

if u r over 12yo it is a question that is constantly asked.

Switch

The Society just picks and chooses whatever example THEY feel like using from the Bible. Shouldn't it be obvious that if Jesus' age was mentioned in the Bible, then that would be a good example to follow??? I just had this discussion with my mom and she doesn't see the logic. She insists that the 10 and 12 year olds that have gotten baptized from her KH are "very spiritual and mature" for their age. It boils my blood. I lost my cool and said, "well, why don't they get married while they're at it - since they are so good at making life-long commitments!" At one point she lashed back at me and said "that I only got baptized so I could get married." It stung cuz it was partially true. I was 19 and felt pressured for having waited SO LATE in my teens. I also wanted to do the right thing and live the right life. My mom is the one that wanted me to have a proper wedding cuz she never had one. Maybe i could have went her route and gotten pregnant before getting married. I DARE NOT throw that in my mother's face. I do show a little respect.

Anyway, the marriage has worked out great. 17+ years behind us. The baptism decision - not so great.

34

How much does gas cost where you live?

by reneeisorym in

jw
friends

i was depressed yesterday because i put in the first $40.00 tank of gas.

(i drive a toyota matrix -- i'm sure most people should think i should shut up now ...) .

i was hoping you guys could make me feel grateful for only having to pay $40.

Switch

In Ireland it's around €1.30 per litre, which works out to be $7.92 a gallon. I just bought a new car and it took €70 to fill it! (gag)

30

getting over it - how long does that take?

by Switch in

jw
friends

in december i started reading things and thinking with an open mind (for the first time in my life).

i'm still discovering things daily that irritate me about the wts.

i've been to about half a dozen meetings since march.

Switch

Well, I'm back from feeding the Big monkey and the little monkeys. It's a good thing I didn't see that post from Missinglink BEFORE I fed him. ha. ha. Thanks for all the insight. Everyone's post brings a little help in some way. Wings, I was raised in from 8, baptized at 19, getting out at 37. So it is quite a shocker to the system. I'm used to big changes in my life but this one takes the prize. I can see how it affects my life on so many different levels. But I think I'm making a decent start and have a positive outlook for the future. I recognize that reading the WT lit. is unhealthy for my sanity like some posters implied. But I think it's important for me right now and will help to put things behind me. And it probably is morbid curiousity. It's like rubber-necking around a car crash. Ya gotta see what happened no matter how bad it is. When someone digs up quotes from old publications, I always read them with fascination...like, no way did they say that...But, of course, they did.

Cunning, I feel the same way. I'd like to move on and not think of myself as a former JW. Trouble is, I haven't figured out what a normal lifestyle is yet. But I've been making better use of my free meeting nights and learning new hobbies. yippee!

30

getting over it - how long does that take?

by Switch in

jw
friends

in december i started reading things and thinking with an open mind (for the first time in my life).

i'm still discovering things daily that irritate me about the wts.

i've been to about half a dozen meetings since march.

Switch

In December I started reading things and thinking with an open mind (for the first time in my life). I'm still discovering things daily that irritate me about the WTS. I've been to about half a dozen meetings since March. Have been laying low and avoiding friends from the Hall. Not that there is anything to avoid cuz they simply stop calling and dropping by whenever we aren't at the meeting that week.

I'm still reading everything WT-related, old and new. And I'm supplementing that with loads of "apostate" books. The anger and disbelief (of 6 mos. ago) has lessened I suppose but it's still there. My question is--how long did it take for you to get over the anger and disbelief of being conned for years? Weeks, months, years?? I expect it'll probably lessen if I stop reading WT material but I seem to still need to prove things to myself so the absurd curiousity continues.

Anyway, I'd love to hear your experiences.

-switch

26

When U Read The Society's "Direction" Now, What Goes Thru Your Mind?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i can right now only think of one thing---bullsh*t.

Switch

I can't seem to keep shaking my head in disbelief at all the cult-ish aspects. And I think, OMG, was it always this way? And then I answer myself - of course it was. lol