Posts by independent

51

Our "Bible Study" with the Jehovah's Witnesses

by garyneal in

my wife and i had a "bible study" with an elder and his wife yesterday (9-11-09) and the topic was marraige.

the book we covered was "keeping yourself in god's love.

" this particular "bible study" was based primarily on the topic we covered in the book and, of course, there was a lot of "hop scotching" of the bible.

independent_tre

Very good points, but most of this goes over the average JW also due in part to their introduction of the 'slave' class and the need to be loyal to the 'slave', not just God and Jesus. It's very warped in comparison to whats clearly written in scripture.

161

FlyingHighNow Needs Our Love & Support

by snowbird in

jw
friends

her son, jesse, is in serious condition.. my son is in surgery and may lose his hand and arm.. jesse got an infection in a cut on his finger.

his finger and hand swelled to the size of an arm .. .

they have to do surgery on his hand and arm.

independent_tre

sending encouragement ......

53

New here

by Heartbreaker in

i have no idea what i want to convey in words here on this site, and have surprised myself by even joining at all.

i intended just to read, and get a few pieces of information, and now am a member, and spend many hours looking through posts old and new alike.

i am a current jw, born into it, and lets just say i'm in my thirties, female, and a mom of more than your average kids.

independent_tre

Hi and Welcome!

You are certainly on the right path to healing by coming here. I wish you all the best

35

The young ones are leaving in droves!!!

by 1914BS in

i hear that many congos are loosing all their young dubs and now only very old dubs are left.

it seems the jws religion is dying out because there are no youngins to replace the aging ms/elder/cos .

the young dubs are very internet savy and would rather play warcraft than go out in the field circus.. i remember a wt study article a couple of years ago that was entitled" when a young person rebels" or something like that - anyone know that mag?.

independent_tre

I had an interesting experience with my son a couple of weeks ago. I've been quietly fading for over a year now, and occassionally still get pressured to attend special meetings, etc. Well after being coaxed into attending the convention with my son ( never baptized), I finally had to let the cat out of the bag so to speak, because I didn't wan't him to think I wanted him to become a JW or really even be influenced by some of the teachings. But i also did not want to burden him with trying to keep a secret from other relatives. So, after much thought, I tried to clue him in on a few things:

Me: Son, we really need to talk about a lot of things and why we don't go to the meetings anymore. [ yadda, yadda, yadda, blah blah] Long story short, there are a lot of things JWs teach that I don't agree with.

Him: Really, like what?

Me: ( basically I tell him about 'new light', disfellowshipping, blood transfusions, etc..) but caution him about why I cannot be open with his JW grandparents.

Him: (very nonchalantly) - Oh okay, cause I already basically knew, but just didn't want to say anything.

Me: (flabbergasted) KNEW! KNEW WHAT?

Him: Oh about the JWs and their history. Like what happened in 1975.

Me: How did you find out about that?

Him: You-tube.

So we talk for a while and I find out that he knows way more than I thought he did, but for whatever reason, never felt comfortable speaking out about what he'd found online. He goes on to ask me about the messiah and asks me to explain what JWs believe about Christ, and so on. I don't think I gave him a reason to feel like he had to keep this stuff to himself. Lord knows we haven't been to a meeting in the longest. But I do think that for many young ones still attending, there is TREMENDOUS pressure to NEVER leave 'Jehovahs organization' lest their entire lives go up in smoke.

Anyone catch this years district convention drama? Aimed totally at young people leaving the org, and how they will end up drunken alcoholics, in jail, with whores for girlfriends. Incredibly simplistic, boogie monster view of 'the world and worldly people'. A good part of it warned about staying away from 'part-time' J dubs. But makes me think that they are getting desperate and hemmorhaging(sp?) young folk, as they are trying so hard to scare them into staying. I must've rolled my eyes a thousand times while watching it. uugghhh.....

57

What are you reading right now?

by keyser soze in

jw
friends

i'm reading the trial, by franz kafka.

pretty interesting read so far, though i'm only about 90 pages into it.

it's about a man who is arrested, but no one will tell him what he's been charged with, or give him any information at all.

independent_tre

Infidel (means apostate) by Ayaan Hirsi Ali, one of the most hated women by radical Muslims. She narrates her own life story of how she grew up under incredible religious and gender oppression and survived a life of war, poverty, female genital mutilation, torture, brutality, and eventual expulsion from her family and religion.

Excellent read so far. It's also on the NY times best seller list.

Also, I'm still trying to finish ISOCF by Ray Franz, but that's a ghastly long book.

26

Breaking free and closure...

by RaraAvis in

i have only been posting on this site for a short time, and haven't completely decided how i feel about it.

i have found it interesting to say the least, and have learned a lot from members such as andersonsinfo and others.

i have felt compassion for many who have posted here, have felt out of the loop by many others who have formed tight "friendships" with each other here, have been shocked by some users, have been inspired by others ... you get the idea... i have had a full spectrum of thoughts more or less.. however.... the one feeling i get the most is it reminds me of divorce, or when you split off from someone who mattered to you and you can't seem to let go.

independent_tre

When does leaving end if one is constantly thinking on that which was left?

Very thought provoking question to which I believe there is no simple answer. The problem many who have left the org face is that there is no 'clean break' from this religion. Often, the person who has left still has to continue dealing with the ramifications of leaving - loss of friends, shunning, etc. So it can be very hard to just leave. Well meaning family may also pressure them to return. The one who has left the JWs may continually feel the need to be on the defensive.... and the cycle continues - sometimes for many years.

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