Posts by Mandette

First of all I want to say that I was so happy to find this site. It's comforting to know that I'm not the "only one" that has issues with "that" religion.

I was raised in it. My dad became an elder from the beginning of that "arrangement". My whole family is still in. I remember being 19 and being questioned if I was still a virgin. There was NO reason for the inquiry. Just an elder's arrogance and sick mind. When I said yes I was they wanted me to go to the Dr to have it PROVED to my parents. Idiot. Like the medical field can PROVE that. I told him so too. That didn't go over quite so well. By this time my 3 closest girlfriends had gotten out. I was trying to hang on(mainly cause of my parent's). This same elder reasoned that I must be the "ringleader" in convincing the others to leave. And it goes on and on. I left for a while and came back about the time I was 22 or so. I got baptized at 24. HUGE HUGE mistake. I did it for the wrong reasons. Of course the fact that I got baptized and walked away makes me even worse in the Society's eyes. In the past 2 yrs I was finally able to have a wonderful talk with my parents. I was able to tell them that I loved them more than anyone and if I could do it for them I would. But I can't be a hypocrite. They actually accepted that and I have peace in my relationship with them. My sister refuses to have anything to do with me. I can deal with that. I have my parents and that's all I ask. I do wish they would "see" things but at their age(80) I just don't want them to lose the hope they have. If it brings them peace then I'm happy for that.

My stories go on and on as I know all of yours do too. I've seen so many things changed. The light keeps getting brighter?? I think the bulb burned out!!!!!!! I still have that gut wrenching knot come up some especially when we have huge events in the world(9/11 etc). So I have to keep telling myself that IF the end comes there's nothing I can do about it....I can't control it.....I can only hope for the best.....

Even at my age they still have an effect on me. I HATE that. I wish I could be done with it completely. That religion has made me feel like a social misfit. I never learned to date. I trusted too much. All the things we're supposed to learn and do as teens never happened. I would say I still have a lot of resentment. I want to let that go. Being on here is a great help.

I could go on and on but I'll end it here. I wish all the rest of you peace of mind and healing from what "that religion" (I have my own little phrase!) has done to you all.

Mandette

15

Ahhhh Steroids.

by horrible life in

jw
friends

was in the hospital monday through wednesday.

i should have gone sunday, but i thought i could fight it still.

lost 10 pounds in 3 days last weekend, in dehydration.

Mandette

Maggots and a nice Tapeworm can be obtained at my vet's office!!!

HA!

15

Ahhhh Steroids.

by horrible life in

jw
friends

was in the hospital monday through wednesday.

i should have gone sunday, but i thought i could fight it still.

lost 10 pounds in 3 days last weekend, in dehydration.

Mandette

Crohn's! You poor thing..I have so much empathy for you. My sister is the poster child for intestinal diseases. She has Ulcerative Colitis. She was diagnosed when she was 5 yrs old and is 54 now. She has a permanent ileostomy and major mental issues between the illness, heavy medication, many surgeries,shock therapy, (and the JW's).....

Steriods are wonderful!! I've been on them for 3-4 yrs off and on.

I'm so glad you're feeling better.........your post really touched me.......Hang in there!!!!!!!!!!!! There are advancements being made all the time in that area!!!!

Mandette

6

new light on blood ;-)

by processor in

awaken in gilead wrote on may 26th:.

i like the point that plasma is 90% water.

this means that jws should reject water since it is a component of blood.

Mandette

That's GREAT! I've been thinking that way about blood for a long time. Although my reasoning has been that if you take the yeast out of beer, is it still beer? NOPE!!!

I can ALMOST see not using whole blood. Especially since the components are used for different medical issues. Platelets for clotting, plasma for fluid replacement etc.

So it's like you said....once you change the chemical composition of blood it's NOT blood any longer...

Mandette

45

Google, Apple & how Next Gen INTERNET will DECIMATE the Watchtower Society

by jwfacts in

think the early 80's.

one of the most important events in watchtower history was the release of crisis of conscience by former governing body member f. franz.

slow distribution of this "apostate" book lead to a minor loss of members.

Mandette

I was absolutely THRILLED to find this website. Now I'm not sure if the internet is going to have a big part in reducing their members or not. I think they're doing a good job of that all by their lonesome.

I was talking with someone still in "good standing" the other day. He's having MAJOR doubts. So he was more than willing to tell me the current happenings in the Kingdom Hall. Lately he had a friend disfellowshipped for just being on websites such as Freeminds. The Society is still preaching hard that the internet is bad bad bad. I do believe that the Society is very threatened by the internet. Now we have concrete information and research at our fingertips. Before the internet we had to rely on rumors. And we never knew who we could talk to.

I keep trying to convince my elder father to get the net. He KNOWS how much of a use it is for everything. But I don't think he can get over that the society is so dead set against it.

I'm sure EVIL travels through the internet connection to reach out through the moniter and grab ya!!!!! HA!

Once again I'm so glad I found this site!!!!!!!! It's so awesome that I'm not alone and I know I'm not crazy for some of the stuff I feel!!!!!!!

Mandette

42

Would You Go Back?

by Dune in

jw
friends

yesterday, my aunt was talking to one of my siblings about how things have been changing in our [ex] congregation for the 'better'.. she mentioned how a new circuit overseer has come in and is shaking things up.

the co appointed a ministerial servant (someone, the po & secretary didn't like and i know would never have voluntarily suggested appointment) and some of the 'brothers' that have had no 'responsibility' ever are being given #4 talks.

she also mentioned that the book study will be cancelled and the meetings are being shortened.. a ministerial servant who had a vendetta against some of the elders wants me to talk to a co and basically tell him i left the congregation [and the religion] because of the incompetence of the elders.. i'm not talking to the co and i'm not 'blaming' anyone.

Mandette

I've been hearing the same rumors. Meetings are changing. Things are relaxing. Attitudes are different(yeah right). Rumors that they have to change things because of declining attendance. And that they're losing many young ones. I don't like to say "never" about anything. BUT......I will not go back to something that made me feel like I could never do enough or be good enough. I will NOT live with a cloud of doom over my head. I will NOT go back to having nightmares about the "END"!!!!!!!! And I don't see those basic things ever changing with them.

21

Why i liked being a Jehovah's Witness...

by digderidoo in

jw
friends

there are so many reasons why i liked being a jehovahs's witness.

1. we got to count time when we share our faith with nonbelievers or our young children.

2. we didn't have to go to college to get a good job as a janitor or a window washer.

Mandette

OUCH! Lot of sarcasm here which I totally AGREE with...but I have to say that I did have some fun times. I remember working with my father at assemblies. That was when I was young enough not to question much. It was more being with my dad than it was where we were at.....AND I did get some good skills in life....being able to speak in front of groups(I got good grades in college communication courses too).... but I do think "liked" is too strong of a word!!! :)

14

Faking it or Making it..SCREWED by the Watchtower Society in 75'

by Terry in

jw
friends

in 1975 the watchtower society woke up and they weren't in paradise.. they turned over and pulled the sheets down to see what lay beside them in that cheap motel room called the day after.. they had said all the right words.

they made all the right moves.

they had made their bed and now they were lying in it.

Mandette

OH WOW! I was 7 yrs old in 1975 so I have no direct memory of it. I was probably too busy with my Barbie dolls to notice(can I be counseled for that?). BUT, a few years ago I made the bad, bad mistake of asking my mom about 1975. My normally very sweet, mild mannered mom became very angry. Needless to say, I didn't get any answers. I learned a lesson that day!

And with the scripture that goes something to the effect of "not even the Son knows the date or time" why would anyone be all fired up about figuring out when exactly the "end" will come?

41

what was the one sound bite or comment that helped you see the light?

by siy in

jw
friends

this was a few years ago now, i was on the work one day with an elders elder.. you now the type!.

& he said this to me me (now i would love to know if you heard this one if its from a wt mag).

"how you are viewed by others (& so treated) is a reflection of how god views you".

Mandette

WOW...just one? There were many things that made me doubt. The most outstanding one had to be the prophecy of that the "End" would be here BEFORE the generation that saw(and UNDERSTOOD..which meant they had to be old enough..maybe 12-14 or so?) 1914 died. Here we are in 2008. Ummmm....I think that one got smashed pretty completely.

OH and hearing from the stand that we don't need college or retirements, but having my elder father tell me a retirement is a GOOD thing to have and how I'd be thankful for it. Hmmmmmm.....

There's just too many to list!

Hey I just made my first post! Does this make me EVIL? HA!