Posts by amama2six

23

* Your thoughts on Apostate Literature *

by FlyingHighNow in

when they'd warn us at every circuit assembly not to read apostate literature, remember how they'd tell us if we received it in the mail, to throw it away immediately?

what thoughts went through your mind?.

mine were: "i don't think i can throw it away.

amama2six

LOL John I was too! My great-grandmother gave me a stuffed monkey with a plastic face and hands (one hand had the thumb out that it could "suck" in it's mouth). I'm pretty sure she got it at a yard sale (she was a non-JW).

ANYHOW, I don't know what the hell happened to me, I don't believe I was dreaming because I pinched myself and it hurt...but one night I woke up and looked over at my toybox (which was illuminated by my rainbow night light). On the very top of the pile I saw the monkey, almost appearing to be on a platform, very slowly spinning around. It freaked the CRAP out of me!!! Like I said I pinched myself and when it hurt I dove under the covers in fear until I finally fell back to sleep. The next morning I found it under some crap in the toybox like it should have been.

Also, I was DEATHLY afraid of the dark for the LONGEST time. I kinda still am for no good reason. Back then, though, I would turn off my light and sprint across the room into my bed...fearful that the demons under it would grab my legs and take me to "Jehovah knows where"!!! LOL

15

Was there ever a thread on the circuit assembly in 07 about the Do's talk?

by IreallydidwalkoutofaKH in

jw
friends

the last assembly i attended was in 07. the do spoke about pushing and shoving and forcing the children to become bapticed!

i really was actually concerned not mad or angry but just concerned.

i think that was when i realized you have to either move on or become a part of the congregation and do your best to salvage whatever good there is in the congregations.

amama2six

A little more on the "fun and exciting" part of baptism...

We had little to celebrate as kids. Birthday came and went with nothing to show for it. Progressing in the organization was the only recognition you were EVER going to get...so you strove for it.

I received gifts for my baptism...a pen from an older brother with my name engraved on it, a heart-shaped necklace from my best friend at the time, a locket from my parents, lots of cards and a letter filled with praise and encouragement...a child who has almost nothing else celebrated in their life will eat this up like a bucket of candy and that's exactly what I did. I was so badly in need of self-esteem by that point I would have done anything to get it. How many "worldly" (or should I say "normal") children remember the exact birthday presents they got when they were nine years old? Probably not many. Yet this was such a hallmark moment in my life that I remember them all.

I kept these things to myself for far too long. I did not want to be "apostate"...even long after leaving the organization. But if being "apostate" means finally expressing my TRUE FEELINGS about what happened during those years, feelings I had AT THOSE TIMES (not made up NOW) and for years to follow...then I guess it's about darn time I became one.

15

Was there ever a thread on the circuit assembly in 07 about the Do's talk?

by IreallydidwalkoutofaKH in

jw
friends

the last assembly i attended was in 07. the do spoke about pushing and shoving and forcing the children to become bapticed!

i really was actually concerned not mad or angry but just concerned.

i think that was when i realized you have to either move on or become a part of the congregation and do your best to salvage whatever good there is in the congregations.

amama2six

Oh that's definitely what I'm saying. The GB may be dead wrong about a lot of things but one thing they know well is that getting these kids baptized young is a good way to keep them in long after they would have left if they were NOT baptized.

They really got me good. I was a very smart kid...straight A student with great memory...and answering their baptismal questions was easy. Apparently "knowing all the answers" is equivalent to "understanding what they mean", according to them. Hate to break it to them...but it's not. Of course I think they know that already. They actually make it easy for these kids to be "mature" for their age! Have them studying early on...then doing field service and theocratic ministry talks...taking notes at meetings weekly...study some more. You start that crap from the time these kids can read and you got them hook line and sinker a few years later. It's all they know and they're so brainwashed of COURSE they're going to know all the answers. Couple that with baptism made to look so FUN and EXCITING (in an organization where kids don't get much fun and excitement) and you have a nice recipe for a kid committing before they have the chance to get a "mind of their own".

*claps for GB*

23

* Your thoughts on Apostate Literature *

by FlyingHighNow in

when they'd warn us at every circuit assembly not to read apostate literature, remember how they'd tell us if we received it in the mail, to throw it away immediately?

what thoughts went through your mind?.

mine were: "i don't think i can throw it away.

amama2six

I felt the same way (from a youth's perspective). I was actually pretty curious but at the same time WAY too scared to actually seek the "apostate literature" out. Had it landed in my hands somehow, however, I would have looked.

Speaking of apostates and the view pushed on us...I would see the protesters outside the conventions each year and wonder why they were so upset. We were to avoid them at all costs, to ignore their words and not read their picket signs, of course. I did read some but at the time was too young to really understand what they were saying to us. We didn't have the internet back then like we do now or I may have dug a little deeper.

15

Was there ever a thread on the circuit assembly in 07 about the Do's talk?

by IreallydidwalkoutofaKH in

jw
friends

the last assembly i attended was in 07. the do spoke about pushing and shoving and forcing the children to become bapticed!

i really was actually concerned not mad or angry but just concerned.

i think that was when i realized you have to either move on or become a part of the congregation and do your best to salvage whatever good there is in the congregations.

amama2six

They want to get these kids "committed" before they have the mental (and physical) capacity to fully understand what they're doing. It was EASY for me at nine years old (when I was baptized) to say I would not fornicate, marry outside the organization, masturbate, etc. I had yet to even have the DESIRE to do any of those things yet! Four years later I hit full-on puberty and WHOOSH...the real meaning of my "committment" started to become apparent. Unfortunately I couldn't take back my promise even though I'd made it before full understanding. Instead I was reproved at 16 for "sinning", then DFed at 18 for leaving to continue on in "sin".

Some things I wish I knew at nine years old...

What sexual desires WERE.

What suppressing them COMPLETELY before marriage would actually be LIKE.

That the chances of finding a sane, attractive "Brother" to marry were slim to NONE.

These little facts would have greatly affected my decision...meaning I would NEVER have gotten baptized! I didn't see anything about the talk but I just joined here about four days ago. It certainly doesn't surprise me, though. Get them young, before they know what they're doing, so by the time they DO know what they did it's too late to just walk away without severe penalty (loss of all family and friends associated with the congregation...a frighteningly new and uncharted life begun ALONE). It's easier to keep those kids in than it is to bring in new adult recruits.

59

I've been studying JW for 6 months. Please help..

by fb130 in

jw
friends

i'm still trying 2 figure out if this is a pro or anti jw forum but here goes..

i started studying jw 6 months ago & i do feel i'm growing.

i think at the rate things are going i'll b babtised in another 6 months.

amama2six

Welcome to the board! I have only been here a few days, myself, but from what I can tell there is a mix of ex-JWs, inactive JWs, JWs that want to leave but are feeling the pressure to stay for fear of losing their families, active JWs with some minor doubts, and fully active JWs (very few of these).

I will let someone else answer you on the UN issue as I am still learning all of this myself, I left the organization 12 years ago (raised JW...left at 18) but am just now educating myself on the true nature of the organization.

I am glad you are here asking questions! Too many go in blindly without knowing all the facts. Whether or not you choose to go through with your baptism, at least you will be well-informed of what that decision will mean for you.

*Hugs* ~April

157

suicide and explosion at Kingdom Hall on Sat. July 27

by kool aid man06 in

jw
friends

a bizarre explosion at a church east of kansas city killed one man on saturday afternoon.

atf agents said the explosion at the jehovah's witness' kingdom hall on foggy bottom drive was intentionally set, and that the person who died appears to have committed suicide.

witnesses described large amounts of smoke pouring out of the building, which they said was just recently completed.

amama2six

Well JWs see suicide as a sin and not much more...I'm sure they will make certain the family knows that, too. :mad:

This is incredibly sad and my heart goes out to his family. :(

21

the biggest apostafest

by ninja in

jw
friends

when ray franz finally shuffles off this mortal coil.....(which i hope will not be for many more years) i think there should be the biggest gathering of apostates ever....in thanks to the man who freed the minds of many of us ....i for one will be there come what may.....(unless it's raining....kidding)...franzy....ninja salutes you

amama2six

What city does Ray live in? It's Georgia, right? *wants to Google to see how far it is*

35

Are You a Night Owl?

by compound complex in

jw
friends

.

i feel at my best and do my best at night .... how about you?.

coco.

amama2six

Definitely a night owl here!

24

feel like I've walked into a tar pit

by lancelink in

jw
friends

around three years ago my wife started to invite the mormon missionaries in, and have discussions with them.

this went on for several months, then the get together s started to be 2-3 times a week.

i would work late because i wanted .

amama2six

I was thinking the same thing, nameless, it sounds to me the Elders think she's taking opportunity to teach the Mormons about Jehovah versus them teaching HER. I can't see why the Elders would EVER give her the go-ahead to study with Mormons with the possibility of her converting.