independent_tre

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Posts by independent_tre

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  35

  Observations about dubs as people...

  by Princess Daisy Boo in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i was thinking back on some of the people i knew growing up, as well as my own family - many of whom are dubs... tell me what your own experiences are of these kind of people, did you notice a large prevalence of these types of people in the congs you attended:.

  1. health nuts: into all sorts of alternative health theories like iridology, reflexology, homeopathy etc?

  2. get rich quick folk: always getting involved in this scheme or that, this business or that - especially pyramid type things?.

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  independent_tre

  Definitely Number 2 - especially full time pioneers who where looking for supplemental income...
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  37

  For the Sisters: Were you ever happy you couldn't have male "privileges"?

  by Open mind in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  watchtower policies clearly make women second-class citizens.

  i don't see it changing anytime soon.

  this thread is not about how ridiculous it is that a female is not allowed to hand out mags, territory, books or carry a microphone if a qualified male is present.

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  independent_tre

  LOL This thread is hilarious..

  Jealous of male privileges! NOOOO WAY!!! Not even close. The brothers are so overworked and in short supply, I would never want those responsibilities. And the end of the meeting, I might help clean for 5 minutes, but after that, I outta there...

  Although we do have our share of "Elderettes". If anything is not to their liking or they don't like someone, they run and complain to their elder husbands, and it will be the feature of next month's local needs....
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  26

  tired and disappointed with the door to door

  by buffalosrfree in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  heard my spouse utter those words today, nice words couldn't have been said, spouse is starting to realize that all that work in the d-d isn't paying off for those at the door nor for those knocking.

  have been waiting for this for a long time

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  independent_tre

  think, too, it is absolutely demoralizing to be out on a "holiday" having to muster the gall to intrude on people's celebrations...

  bad enough there is not any interest, but to have to present yourself as the total wet blanket at a festive event..... talk about p!ssing on the campfire....

  maybe this could be the dawning of awareness.....

  One of my worst experiences ever was being lured / guilt tripped into going out on Christmas morning. It wasn't the fact that we literally had our lives threatened, but that I felt that we were being totally disrespectful to people and their families who held this day as special or even sacred. My gut belief was that there is a time and a place for everything and this showed a lack of basic discretion and respect. Who would even listen to a message when basic courtesy and respect is ignored?

  Something else I never understood was why this activity is constantly peddled as "refreshing" or "a privelege". I thought I must be missing something because this is the worst part of being an active JW and I cringe when I think about going out in FS.
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  31

  My Story - Part 2

  by Jeremy C in

  1. jw
  2. experiences

  like many jw children, i was deeply influenced and motivated by watchtower society artwork depicting the new system of things.

  i was profoundly influenced by artwork (particularly in the book: you can live forever in paradise on earth) that portrayed children petting tigers, playing with lion cubs, running through grassy fields with kites, and enjoying care-free lives.

  what i now realized about myself is that for a jw to desire such things; and to go through the motions - performing organizationally-programmed activity in order to receive this reward; does not necessarily require a love for god or christ that is any deeper than other religionists.

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  independent_tre

  Thanks for sharing; I enjoyed reading such a humourous, insightful and well written post and look forward to more sequels about your story.
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  14

  How long must you suffer?

  by Magick in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  ...for being involved with jehovah's witnesses?

  2 years?.

  5 years?.

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  independent_tre

  "When we harbor bitterness in our heart, it is like taking poison and expecting

  the other person to die".

  Great quote. This is a wonderful thread with many pearls of wisdom from the original poster as well as the responses. Really encouraging...
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  25

  Best American Idol finale EVER !!!!!!!!!!!

  by troubled mind in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  did you watch wasn't it great !!!!!!!!!!

  !

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  independent_tre

  I watched and LOVED the finale! I was almost in tears. Even though I think David A. performed better last night, David C. was my favorite. Awesome show!
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  19

  pro-witness website

  by besty in

  1. watchtower
  2. bible

  www.jwproclaimers.org.

  anybody know what/who/why of this website?

  all links require a username and password......

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  independent_tre

  It probably won't last. The WS sends letters to sites like these asking them to close up shop. They cite things such as plagarism and the watchtower.org being the only online source for witnesses. If the owner is agreeable, the site will come down.
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  8

  Welcome to indepedent_tre & iceguy

  by jamiebowers in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  and any other newbies i may have missed.

  tell usou stories if you can.

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  independent_tre

  Thanks again for the welcome. I posted a little bit about me in the other thread, so I'll just cut 'n' paste a little of that here:

  REPOST: forgive my laziness:

  30-something active sister ( or fading, I don't know yet ). Recently, an elder in my cong. told me he felt I was on the fringe, where the wolves are and I need to straighten up and get back into the flock. Baptized about 6 years ago. Raised in a divided household, but now both parents very active, father is an elder. LOTS of family in the truth, 3rd generation. Very happily married, and my hubby is not a witness (strange, huh ). My biggest issue is that I never, evered questioned the teachings of JW's until recently. And I've never, ever spoken openly about my doubts for fear of reprisal. I never questioned the 'truth', until it was too late, and I'm not at the point where I'm willing to lose mother, father, brothers and sisters, aunts, cousins and even coworkers due to my doubts. So I lurk.

  NOT A REPOST:

  My story is long and if I were to attempt to type it all at once, most would be "ZZZZZZZZZZZ..." by the end. So I'll just share one personal experience that has bothered me. When I was an unbaptized publisher, I was so stressed out by all the pressure that my study conductor put on me, that I wound up in the nuthouse. No, seriously, I had a nervous breakdown and at 3 am one morning, I found myself in the ER and landed in an outpatient mental health day program on 2 different types of anti-depressants. That had never happened to me before and I should have known that something was wrong, but whenever I couldn't do something or take the next "spiritual" step, that sister made me feel that I wasn't just letting her down, but I was letting Jehovah down by not putting him first in my life and letting other things get in the way, you know like my husband, kids, and my job. I was a terrible person for doing that !! No she never said that outright, but that's how she made me feel and she brought people ( CO's wife, elders, other sisters) to our study so they could help confirm that my priorities in life were screwed up.

  So I continued on at a 7 day per week, break-neck pace for months, because I thought I was pleasing Jehovah, but in reality I was trying to please other people. Not only could I never miss a meeting, but I had to prepare for each one ( WT study, Theo/SM, our bible study- Knowledge book, family study, book study, am I leaving anything out? ) just so I could comment and prove that I was making progress. Oh yeah, my children had to be prepared and give comments also. And FS was not optional. I told her that I was too tired one day to go out in service- that was a big mistake. So rather than deal with her guilt trips, I never said no. Every single day was filled with some activity to prove that I was progressing spiritually even though I felt like I was on a runaway train and I wanted to get off. I just didn't know how, and I did not have the support or knowledge of forums like these, which would have probably helped me deal better with such high pressure tactics. So I held all of my frustration and sadness in until it erupted. Didn't matter. 2 weeks later I got baptized and everything seemed to be getting better... at least that's what I'd hoped.....

  I no longer have contact with the sister I studied with. Her family and about half the people in our congregation that I had gotten to know in those first few years are gone. Either through changing congregations, DF's, moving, or becoming inactive. Like I've said, I have lots of family that are JW's but I had moved many years ago and I only see them occasionally. Right now, all of the changes and scandals that have happened just in our congregation have left me a bit disillusioned.

  So enough about me, I like being here and like to read all of the personal experiences and realize that I'm not the only one who has negative expereriences, and some folks have it way worse, such as being shunned ( a practice I VEHEMENTLY disagree with, even b4 I was baptized.) I look forward to being a part of this online board and hope that one day I may also be a source of encouragement to someone here.

  Thanks again~
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  24

  Attention lurkers! Come on in, the water's fine!

  by Mickey mouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been here for almost six months now and thought i would mark the occasion by starting one of these threads.

  you may have been lurking on this site for a while, learning a lot but too afraid to participate.

  i was convinced that somehow my ip address would be traced or i would be i.d'ed.

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  independent_tre

  Thank you all for the warm welcome! I've been to this site over the years, but only started lurking heavily in the past few month due to the growing disappointment that I've felt in the few years since being baptized. My story is kind of familiar. So I'll just try to keep it brief: 30-something active sister ( or fading, I don't know yet ). Recently, an elder in my cong. told me he felt I was on the fringe, where the wolves are and I need to straighten up and get back into the flock. Baptized about 6 years ago. Raised in a divided household, but now both parents very active, father is an elder. LOTS of family in the truth, 3rd generation. Very happily married, and my hubby is not a witness (strange, huh ). My biggest issue is that I never, evered questioned the teachings of JW's until recently. And I've never, ever spoken openly about my doubts for fear of reprisal. I never questioned the 'truth', until it was too late, and I'm not at the point where I'm willing to lose mother, father, brothers and sisters, aunts, cousins and even coworkers due to my doubts. So I lurk.

  To be honest, I still pray to Jehovah that I find the real truth. Right now I'm just trying to find a place where I can cope. I'm sure I will chime in here and there with many personal experiences that have fueled my doubts, but thats for another time and another thread.

  Again thanks so much for the welcome, and I'm sure I'll be reading and posting more soon.
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  24

  Attention lurkers! Come on in, the water's fine!

  by Mickey mouse in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been here for almost six months now and thought i would mark the occasion by starting one of these threads.

  you may have been lurking on this site for a while, learning a lot but too afraid to participate.

  i was convinced that somehow my ip address would be traced or i would be i.d'ed.

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  independent_tre

  OKAY, I jumped! It's sink or swim time....