when you are a jw it is pounded into your head that the "world" hates you, wants to kill you, runs around saying all kinds of horrible things about you, and would take away all your rights, freedom of religion, etc, if it could.. when i first left the wtbts organization i told "worldly" friends and family about being a jehovah's witness.
not one of them said anything disrespectful, rude, insulting, or even unkind in any way.
i could just as well have said "i'm a baptist", or "i like comic books".. a few people who know that the wtbts is a cult were concerned over my emotional health, but that was out of a sense of friendship.. i have never met anyone who on hearing the phrase "jehovah's witness" got upset or said "those xxxxx".
Most people actually view JW's as irrelevant. Except when they are woken up on a Saturday morning.
People who know I used to be one don't really care, although a few friends who have known other dubs and ex-dubs are convinced it is a cult, irrelevant but still a cult.
i can remember being in the freezing snow and so cold my fingers were numb, i desparatly wanted someone to invite me in, just to warm up even, but no one did.. i got soaked on countless occasions having been dropped off in some remote corner of the territory, trying to find shelter in a thunderstorm.. i got burnt to a crisp in just half an hour in a uk heatwave, of course no one was at home... they were all far more sensible and had gone to the beach!.
All the time. Pouring rain, 100 deg heat, snow.....
Years ago, I remember going out in a blizzard because my pioneer wife needed hours (with a couple other pioneers as well).
All I could remember thinking was what morons we must have looked like.
in the end years i would.
after the public talk and after the tms.
in fact there would often be a mass exdous out of the door.
I lived walking distance from the hall.
On Sunday afternons, once my toddler started to make noise, I would get up, go outside, walk home, watch an hour or so of football and wander back 5 min. before the final prayer. This would drive my wife nuts!
One time an Elder friend showed up with his toddler right after I got home and we watched football together. Most everyon knew that this JW business was no longer my thing!
jehovah's witnessses, (and esp their leadership, the governing body) are guilty of so many things, that one has to be careful of the tabloid rumors swirling around them.. it's probably helpful to review first of all what jw's are guilty of.
they are absolutely guilty in their efforts to control active members under the dictates of the conscience of the gb.
every other watchtower article usually has big time references to how we shouldn't be like those self righteous pharisees in jesus day for all the rules, followed by another article next describing what one can (could) or can't (shouldn't) watch on tv, wear for clothing or hairstyles, etc.
Asphere,
They were definitely inaccuracies. Nothing epic but minor issues ( I can't remeber exactly what it was).
I wish it was not the case but It happened
jehovah's witnessses, (and esp their leadership, the governing body) are guilty of so many things, that one has to be careful of the tabloid rumors swirling around them.. it's probably helpful to review first of all what jw's are guilty of.
they are absolutely guilty in their efforts to control active members under the dictates of the conscience of the gb.
every other watchtower article usually has big time references to how we shouldn't be like those self righteous pharisees in jesus day for all the rules, followed by another article next describing what one can (could) or can't (shouldn't) watch on tv, wear for clothing or hairstyles, etc.
Speaking of getting it right.....
I got my believing wife to look at this site. The first time she did, she read a number of inacuracies concerning JW teachings. I had to agree that what she read was completely wrong. She discounted the site without looking deeper into the inacurate statements. I can't say I blame her but getting it wrong may have closed the door on getting her out. This is not to say she would have changed her view but I loooked like I was grasping for any reason to ge out.
Great thread Alltimejeff
| "Supposedly, there are 6 women who say they've been mistresses to Tiger. I must say, he's got fine taste. |
I told my wife this morning, that if we think its 6, it's probably closer to 24 maybe more. Once is a mistake, twice is not caring about the first time, after that he is just a horndog.
My wife thinks he will use the sexual addiction excuse.
the painful truth that bought the watchtower walls crumbling down for me, was not due to to the realisation that the techings were all lies but.
the realisation that many of the elders in the congregation were only interested in their social position and power.. this started and a suspician and gradually became more insistent and finally the realisation that most of the body of elders couldnt care less about the doctrine.. i then observed that many of the more zelouse brothers in the congregation cared more for the security of belonging to the congregation than if they were teaching truth.. this coupled with the fact that 50% of the congregation were simply going through the motions and had know enthusiasm for preashing the "good news"made me question the teachings.. i have been amazed that i havnt been disfellowshiped as i confronted some elders and brothers in a forceful way and the conversations proved my thinking was correct.. i then simply left the meetings never to return.
whilst iam more cautiouse in my talking when i meet members of the congregation in the street i always make it clear i do not go to the meetings because i couldnt continue preaching a message i dont believe.. i have felt a responsibility to tell the hypocrites of the damage they are doing to their kids futures so they can continue in there hypocrasy-.
I am in a similar situation.
I had two elders visit me. Just to mess with them, I was talking about the the muslim religion (they were a little freaked). I have made it clear that I will NOT go to their meetings. Recently my wife (still in) had a different Elders family over for dinner. The Elder looks at me and says "So who are we praying to tonight?" and laughs. This would lead me to believe thet know my feelings and are not willing to do anything about it.
I do also have something that keeps them from acting. But eventually I am sure some blowhard elder won't care.
If you want them to stay quiet I would not bring this up again. If you start speaking about this some k*ss *ss elder will make a stink.
just wondering how all you slow faders are doing.i know this subject is discussed many times,but personally i wish it was more.we should post every once in a while just to say how we are doing,we need to encourage each other.as for me,it is still going very slow.right now i'm looking into the history that is being covered up.i have learned so much just by reading the older threads.it is very painful for me because this was the truth.and to be finding out so much crap that 99% of jw don't even know,it just is unbelievable.i have cut my field service down,and miss more meetings then i ever did.i'm hoping the sister that is in my face all the time,trying to help me,will forget about me soon......so how are you doing?.
In January, I just stopped! Call for Field service, don't dodge it, just say Zero hours, Really what can they do? I had an Elder call and I said t was not an appropriate time to talk. My wife is still very active. I just decided to live by the rules I was making not the ones the cult was.
The best advice I have is enjoy the fact you have been freed and adjust your viewpoint. I loved saying "zero hours". Asked why I was not at a meeting, said I was busy. It p*ssed off some elders but there was nothing they could do. I loved screwing with them. They knew it and stopped bothering me.
I tried the slow fade years ago and it was painful and long and never ended.
I highly recommend growing a set and just quitting. (and yes my WHOLE family is in)
another time & place.
20-25 years ago in a conservative "god's country" us state.
a look around the kingdom hall could easily identify the theocratic pecking order.. .
I will try to match the eloquence of miseryloveselders with this post;
I am putting my "elder bag" in the woods near my house. Three to four times a week I will go to the bag and have a bowel movement in it. I will make sure it is full of s**t. Once full, occasionally, I will take some s**t out of it and put different s**t in this bag. If I ever got back to the KH, I will bring this huge leather bag of s**t. Only those not oblivious to the cult they are in will smell the s**t. Those blinded will be impressed by my huge bag of s**t. I on the other hand, may get sick to my stomach carrying around the bag and it's contents.
I will offer the s**t to my neighbors and they will look at me like I am crazy, perhaps chasing me off their property. I will never actually look at most of the s**t in the bag, yet I will probably have more s**t in it than I should. It will be heavy. My son will one day aspire to have his own"elders bag" full of s**t.
I will have a rainbow of highlighters in my bag.
Yes, I am awesome. Thanks to my "elders bag" full of s**t!
another time & place.
20-25 years ago in a conservative "god's country" us state.
a look around the kingdom hall could easily identify the theocratic pecking order.. .
This is way too perfect timing!
I was cleaning out my closet last weekend and came across my "elder bag".
I laughed to myself and still could not believe I had one. I was such an ass kisser!
Anybody have any suggestions as to what I should do with it?
