Posts by individuals wife

41

How Many IN, OUT, etc.

by troubled in

jw
friends

i'm wondering how many here are "active jws," "inactive jws," "x-jws," or "never jws.".

i don't mean to be nosy.

i'm just wondering how many are in a situation like mine (still in, but struggling).

Most definitely an ex! I disassociated last November after about 12 months of niggly doubts and worries, these doubts and worries were confirmed when I started doing a little looking around on the internet, my eyes soon opened then! I found out so much negative information about the organisation, my belief that I was in the true religion just came tumbling down around me.

Now, I can honestly say that I have never been happier. I would not change a single thing in my life now, my children are more settled and my husband, who also left at the same time after 25 years of JW rule, is starting to enjoy his life again. It is a real joy to live life to the full now without having to analyse every little thing you do.

24

New here

by granny in

hi my name is granny.

i married an inactive witness.

he is no longer a witness.

individuals wife

A big welcome to you Granny! Nice to have you with us!

I know that you will find an incredible amount of support here, I know I have. You will learn something new here every day and make some good friends - enjoy!

1

Strange ..... but true!

by individuals wife in

just thought i'd share these items with you... they made me laugh anyway!

wearing the trousers.

anne jonsson of stockholm attacked her husband lars - leaving him with a fractured skull, broken nose, a damaged cornea and various cuts and bruises - when he refused to take her to a rally against domestic violence.

individuals wife

Just thought I'd share these items with you... they made me laugh anyway!

WEARING THE TROUSERS
--------------------

Anne Jonsson of Stockholm attacked her husband Lars - leaving him with a fractured skull, broken nose, a damaged cornea and various cuts and bruises - when he refused to take her to a rally against domestic violence. Guardian 8 Nov 2000

EMERGENCY MEASURES
-------------------

When John B Henderson, the chess correspondent for The Scotsman, landed in Seattle at the height of the foot-and-mouth crisis, UK customs men confiscated his haggis. They took it out to the middle of the runway and shot it five times before dousing it with petrol.
Scotsman, 17 April 2001

MESSY BUSINESS
--------------

A parachutist was blown off course and ended up in the middle of a coleslaw wrestling contest in Samsala, Florida, on 7 March during a motorbike festival. Two women were about to wrestle in a pit of cabbage and oil when the skydiver landed on barmaid Sherri Lee who was carrying a tray of beer. Lee was hospitalised in serious but stable condition. [R]8 March 2001

37

Can anyone help me?

by aud8 in

can anyone out there ease my mind?

i am about to disassociate myself and feel so scared.

what if i'm making the wrong decision?

individuals wife

GodRules knows that it is not Jehovah that forgives when you approach the elders but it comes down to the elders as to whether you get punished, disfellowshipped or forgiven. Elders can be very fickle and can use their power in a vindictive way, after all they are only human and imperfect at that.

In my experience I had to go through a judicial committee because I doubted certain aspects of the society and organisation, my husband and I were really hammered and pulled in all directions, it was a dreadful experience, we felt no love towards us at all and they seemed to take great pleasure in trying to make me cry. We went through 6 months of punishment imposed on us by the elders, we were made to feel totally inadequate, a sub-class in the congregation.

I know that when you say that disassociation only makes things worse this is just your own opinion, but we have been through it and realise now that to disassociate was the most positive thing we could have done. We have regained our lives, our dignity and restored a happy and balanced family life. We no longer live under the judgemental gaze of the elders who were watching constantly and caused us a lot of stress when we were only doing what the WT tells us to do - question everything, because the elders had no decent answers for our enquiries we were punished.

aud8 - the elders would like to feel that you are now doomed to die at Armageddon, this is because they have been taught in a judgmental, unloving religion. Now that you are free to examine and research 'the truth' without fear of retribution within the congregation I am sure you will come to the same conclusion as we have, that the JW organisation itself has made unforgiveable mistakes, they have never shown any repentance for the errors they have made yet they expect you too. A case of double standards there. Your life now aud8 is your own to do with as you want. Enjoy it and make the most of every day and do not feel any guilt - just think about whether a loving God or Jesus would truly treat you the way the elders do? Jesus looked upon people with compassion, a trait rarely found in the organisation.

4

Watchtower Study - Aug 12

by hippikon in

though he had every right to cut off com-munication with humans, jehovah did not do so.

enlightenment.. 5, 6. in what ways did jehovah commu-nicate with his people before the first century c.e., and how did this bene-fit them?.

do you discern how the holy spirit has influenced your life for the better?.

individuals wife

I noticed with interest paragraph 18....

'Throughout the world, over 91,000 congregations provide support and encouragement through meetings and association' ..... Support and encouragement... no, I don't think so.

'We also enjoy the support of mature fellow Christians who are willing to help us spiritually' ...... Nah, support and willingness?
Absolutely not. Not in my experience.

'Yes, we have greatly benefited by receiving a knowledge of the truth' ....... You reckon?!

'It is a joy to know and serve Jehovah' ....... A joy???

'How true are the words of the psalmist who wrote 'Happy is the people whose God is Jehovah' ...... Bit of a generalisation, some of the most miserable people I have ever met have been JWs.

Yet again another Watchtower that makes me really glad I left!
Thanks very much hippikon for strengthening my resolve never to return! Sometimes I tend to forget just how self delusional they are.

Much appreciated.

10

Work to make a difference?

by Introspection in

jw
friends

i was wondering if anyone here does some kind of volunteer work, i'm trying to get some ideas.

every now and then i feel the call to do something, but it seems it's a lot easier to sit on my ass and talk about it.

i have done a couple things, but i guess i just don't know if it makes a difference or not.

individuals wife

I've just started doing some voluntary work in my local hospital and it is really fantastic, I would definitely recommend it. You really feel appreciated and it's a nice way to give something back to the community. Some of the patients don't get any visitors and I feel that my old witness training has given me the ability to talk to complete strangers with no fear or apprehension. It is nice to talk to them without feeling as though you have to talk about religion, also it is refreshing to talk about what they are interested in without having a hidden agenda and a bagful of magazines to place with them!

I spend all week now looking forward to my next visit - you never know what the next session will bring or what amazing people you may meet.

14

Elder's Daughter

by Daisymay in

greetings and salutations!

i've commented a couple times on this post and have hung around for a few weeks and thought i'd tell you a little about myself!

btw...i think this site is awesome and totally therapetic!

individuals wife

Hi Daisymay

I am so glad that everything is going so well for you, you really deserve a bit of happiness after all you have been through. Reading some of the posts here I am amazed at the strength and courage that many ex JWs have, I have such admiration for those like you who have suffered such adversity and still manage to come out the other side able to make a good life for themselves.

You are so right when you say it is like having a veil lifted - that is just how it felt for me when I left, it was as though I had been in a dark room and suddenly someone put the light on! For me the attitudes of some of the elders contributed to my decision to leave, along with doctrine problems as well of course.

Anyway - good to have you here - it's a great place, so much help and support, this is where I come for my therapy!

7

I am new here also. My story is like many others.

by drahcir yarrum in

my parents became jw's when i was about 2 years old.

i only had one christmas and i don't remember it that well.

my father was a chiropractor (strike 2) and worked his ass off and my mother became the religious leader of the family.

individuals wife

Sorry - not 8> ... meant to be [8>]!!

7

I am new here also. My story is like many others.

by drahcir yarrum in

my parents became jw's when i was about 2 years old.

i only had one christmas and i don't remember it that well.

my father was a chiropractor (strike 2) and worked his ass off and my mother became the religious leader of the family.

individuals wife

Nice to have met you in the chat room yesterday! I'm glad you are living 'the good life now'. Sounds like Bethel was great fun... 8>

I would have to agree that the Crisis of Conscience book is a bit of an eyeopener - wish I'd read it earlier! Could have been doing something much more useful with my time instead of pioneering!

10

Blood Products - A poll

by Kismet in

wow an opportunity to start the first thread in a new forum!!!

i couldn't resist!.

keeping on topic however, i am wondering what your stance is on blood?.

individuals wife

When I see how blood has saved the lives of many people I love I would have no hesitation in receiving it myself. Even when I was a JW I doubt whether I would have let any of my children die due the blood doctrine. My children would have come before Jehovah - I once told an elder that I valued my children more than God and he was horrified.

My blood card went up in smoke in a very large bonfire with masses of JW literature, one week after I da'd. (I still keep the CD rom for reference but could not bear to have their books in the house!)

By the way, at the end of the month I am going to donate blood for the first time - just doing my little bit to help out. I once asked an elder if I could give blood as JWs were allowed to accept blood fractions. Guess what the answer was? NO! That seemed so hypocritical to me and selfish, it was one of the reasons I left.