I used to actually brag about disfellowshiping to bible studies and co-workers. You know the drill "we are so much better than other religions because we actually remove the bad apples" "It's for their own good so they know they did wrong". I used to explain away apostates (internet sites) by saying they are just bitter people who couldn't live up to our high standards.
no more kool aid
JoinedPosts by no more kool aid
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47
Do JW's reveal all their doctrines to those they study the Bible with?
by BonaFide inyes, the fairly new bible teach book contains some info in the appendix, but do witnesses include that in the study?.
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My theory about the behavior and obsession of some ex-JWs
by Simon ini've had this theory for some time and alluded to it occassionally but have never explored it in detail.. it is of course a huge generalisation so no, not everyone will fit into the boxes and i'd like people's opinion.
i don't know everyone's circumstances so it's based on a small sample of some of those i do know something about.
it could be completely wrong, it's just an idea.. basically, i have seen a difference between some of those ex-jws who walked out vs those who were kicked out.. the most bitter and obsessive seem to be the kicked out and, i must add, those who were legitimately kicked out.
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What a great topic. I think there is a difference and that is not to discount people who just could not live up to the endless rules, under different circumstance, I could not have played the game as well either. However, I was faithful to the organization my whole life, haven't laid eyes on my disfellowshiped father since childhood, married a JW you know led the textbook JW life. The only thing I've ever done that could be a disfellowshiping offense in my whole life is being on this website, reading CoC, thinking for myself for once. I tell my husband that I think we would be better off if we had committed some "horrible sin" and were in need of their counsel and forgivness. But instead I don't want them and they don't know what to do about us.
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who?went to bet-hell
by mattbetrayed inhi guys ,just woundered how many of you went to bet-hell?i went in 1987 and that finished me with the cult,it did take me 3 yrs before i left the cult but now iam so much better off for going,.. saw all the lies and two faced crap they spout just could not belive it at the time.now it is just what you expect.. please tell us if you went there and what you hated..
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Matt, I never even went for a visit! A list of rules and dress codes didn't sound like my cup of tea, on vacation no less.
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So Any Newbies and Lurkers - Talk to Us - How Are You Doing ?
by flipper ini wanted to put this thread out for any newbies and lukers to see how things are going in your life !
please know that those of us who have exited the jw religion care about you - so if you need to vent about what you have been experiencing - this thread is a good place to do it !
many here, including myself have been through what you are going through - so please post your thoughts here - and we will try to assist you !
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Hi Flipper! I joined JWD about a month ago. My husband and I stopped attending meetings regularly about four months ago. I have not attended at all in about three months. All of our family are witnesses. It's really been a tough road. Our family has mosly responded in anger and not really asked "why" we stopped, which in a way is okay because if they did it would be even worse. One subject we've been able to bring up is the abuse cases. The response we get is that "if it doesn't apply to you why do you worry so much about it so much"or "it will all come out in the wash". I've learned that nothing can really change their mind set, they are blinded. I don't want to be disassociated, just want to be left alone and I don't know if it's possible. I lurked here for a while before I joined and I'm so glad I did. You have all helped me so much. I go back and look at your past posts and see your struggle and how different people dealt with things and we know we are not alone. Thank you so so much!
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If the Internet wasn't around, what direction would your life have taken?
by truthseeker ini sometimes think about what would have happened if the web hadn't been invented yet.
would i have ever learnt the truth about "the truth"?
have you ever wondered this?.
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Uneducated,uninsured, trailer living, bucktoothed, childless, meeting going, door thumping, talk giving, assembly going, submissive fool!
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The tipping point
by JeffT infrom wikipedia: "the term tipping point describes a point at which a slow gradual change becomes irreversible and then proceeds with gathering pace.
it is derived from the metaphor of a rigid solid object being tilted to a point where it begins to topple.".
has the watchtower reached such a point?
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I think you are right on Jeff. We were really exited about the relief that one less meeting would mean to our schedule but then when I finally opened my eyes I tipped hard and fast , could'nt even bear to fade. How could I give one more talk? Give another comment? I just had to stop.
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So, you blew your chance to go to college because of JWs? Don't give up!
by cabasilas ini got the jw "bug" as a teenager.
witnesses called at our door when i was nearly 11. my parents are deaf and i was the oldest hearing child, the default interpreter for them in that era before relay services and professional interpreters.
they had no interest in jws, but it started to spark an interest in me.
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That's a great inspiration! I went back at age 35. Then my husband went and so glad we did. It was great example to our kids, who now appreciate how much easier it is to get it out of the way when you are young and don't have a family to support. Please please don't let money or time be a roadblock. For example my employer paid $2000 a year in tuition, which goes a long way at a local community college. I took it slow and started with weekend classes and didn't feel out of place because it was mostly adults anyway. I graduated at 41 in 2006. My husband qualified for a Pell grant which paid for about 2/3 of his education costs. When you graduate it will be one of the happiest days of your life! Keep it up!
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Am I being paranoid?
by Mandette inthis is stupid....maybe..... i was in our local public library last week.
i looked for crisis of conscience.
so i asked about it.
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I ordered it through a local book store under another name. Picked it up on a Thursday night after 730pm and paid cash. That's paranoid!.
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Were You An Ignorant Jehovah's Witness?
by minimus inmany jws stay in for various reasons but the bottom line is that they know none of it is "the truth".
were you a true believer in spite of the facts?
did you ignorantly accept whatever "mother" said, just because "mother" said so?
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Yes, I was ignorant. When it is all you know (3rd generation), your true blue, no really worldly associates, don't go to college, then marry someone in the same boat you really don't question. I was on automatic pilot my whole life. I really didn't see any holes until I went back to college at age 35. When we experienced a mini shunning because I was going back to school coupled with the fact that I'm learning more logical thought processes at the same time, that's what really made me stop and rethink everything. I just got a copy of C.O.C. and I'm thinking very clearly now. Being ignorant is much easier when your entire family are JW's
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Turning in your time
by witnessgirl ini posted this in another thread, but thought that it was probably worth its own discussion.
apologies if you've seen this in the other thread.
here is a graphic that appeared in the june 1, 2005 watchtower.
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And don't forget it's how we measure your spiritual progress and maturity.