Posts by Inquiry

6

Before you found here .... The Isolation Feeling?

by Celtic in

jw
friends

before you found others over the net, how long did you spend after getting expelled in isolation, dealing by yourselves with all the overlapping issues?

in that isolation, how did you feel?.

in africa, individuals are disfellowshipped too, what must it be like there, trying to come to terms with all and sundry that we have singularly and collectively been through?

Inquiry

Hey Celt...

I actually ended up leaving because of one of these sites... It was great to be informed, and great to have a social outlet on the internet... It was still lonely though, I felt isolated and abandoned by my former witness family.... and I had made very few contacts with the "real" world over the almost 10 years I was a witness...
I knew I had to do something so I started volunteering in my community and I was also going to college which really helped... Now I am happy as a clam :), But I lived through a few torturous months before that...
I don't know if I would have left the Borg without the help of those who participate on these sites... I owe them all a debt of gratitude... thanks and thanks again... :)

Ofcmad... I wrote a four pager, after visiting sites like this, and I included over 100 pages of research.... I learned it really doesn't make a difference how much info you give them, they either hear you or don't. That's up to them. But your letter was your declaration of independence.... whether a few sentences, or a few pages, the difference it made was for you.... If it helps one of them to see your point of view, well then you've accomplished a lot... even though I sent all the info that I did, for those that received it, to date it has not made one iota of difference to them... the only ones that benefitted from my efforts are those who were brave enough to ask me questions about what I did... and that's the difference I made in their lives... not the hundred pages of info... but my taking the time to explain it to those who asked... in short, ya did good ofcmad... ya did good ! :)

Hey LB... welcome to the board... :)

Inq

28

So How Active An Opponent Are You Really?

by Englishman in

jw
friends

if you are an ex-jw, how do you rate yourself as a jw opponent?.

are you totally live and let live?

maybe happy to chat to someone who has doubts?

Inquiry

Hey Englishman, all...

Good topic... I've been out for over 4 years now and I think opposer might not term exactly what I do in the "worldly" sense although it is most certainly what I am classed as by most JWs...
If I oppose, I do it with the life that I lead, unencumbered by the rules and regulations and control tactics the WT uses, I am free, those that I know who are still inside know very well that I am free... As for activity, I do regularily inform area doctors of changes in the blood doctrine. It was that issue after all that broke my bonds with the WT, and I continue to answer questions that JWs who do keep in touch with me have...you might be surprised to know that several do. Most that do keep in touch have doubts but are fearful of the reprisals of acting on those doubts... I understand the fear and the fragile condition many of these people are in, so I try to comfort them and help them to understand the sources of those doubts...
As for beating the WT down, I think the org itself does an excellent job of that all on it's own... I believe that if we give them enough rope, they will eventually hang themselves.... though I do believe that people who are reaching for an unattainable perfection and security will continue to use organizations like the WT. It is the WT's credibility that will suffer, and I believe the WT will continue it's downward spiral... but will likely continue to exist as an organization in the foreseeable future.
This and other sites and those that participate on them are very good at outing the contradictions and lies of the WT and this has resulted in so many becoming informed. That was the ticket to my freedom, as it has been for most here... I beleive it will continue to work...

Keep up the good work :)
Inq

11

Want to see my picture?

by Celtic in

jw
friends

directions emailed

Inquiry

Well, where are the directions..... waiting....... still waiting..... did you know it's not nice to keep a lady waiting? :) Oh, comeon, show us the picture.... You can't be shy on top of being a hopeless romantic now can ya celt? :D

Inq

45

The BESTEST present ever! (NOT)

by LDH in

jw
friends

after reading a few threads regarding the upcoming christmas season, i thought i'd post a funny story, and ask you to add to it.. if you've ever received a wacky present, or one you had to pretend that you liked, please post it.. about 5 years ago, when i first started celebrating christmas with hubby, i got a real shocker of a present.

a deep fryer.. now, hubby was *very* proud of himself.

you see, about three months prior to christmas we were going through costco (warehouse type store) when i noticed they had a nice little deep fryer.

Inquiry

LOL.. what a topic!

I can top that off though... I was living with my son's father... years ago.... yes that many :) , and the whole family, his whole family that is was up for christmas and opening their gifts... Everyone was watching to see what I got from him... I had a big box and a small box... his cousin had confided to me that she thought the small box was likely a nice piece of jewellery... well, I started with the big box... It was....... building the suspense..... a pair of moon boots... you know the big white snow boots... LOL... Imagine my surprise! I was speachless... there he was, mr. proud... giving his woman something he thought I really needed... I opened the small box... hoping against hope that it would be jewellery... It was the tiniest soap set I ever saw! Yes, soap!
I simply didn't know what to say! I had bought him a beautful bracelet... sweater and a couple of bottles of imported liquor... nice stuff...
His family was as agast as I was about it... and chided him the entire day... Great Christmas that turned out to be.. .I imbibed long and hard of the brandy that day. :)

When we broke up, he tried to win my affections by buying me .... get this...... a food processor... yep, that's love in the great white north!

*laughing while recounting this* I knew at that point that the relationship was a no go.... :) actually a never again go....

enjoyed the posts...
thanks
Inq

4

Imprisoned Ideas

by Dogpatch in

jw
friends

i've come back from being (or looking) gay!.

anyway, here is a favorite little piece:.

imprisoned ideas.

Inquiry

Hey Randy....

I love this article... came across it over 4 years ago, I think it was on Jan's site.... I ended up including it in my "disassociation package" along with several others, but this one was at the front... and I am sure that it was read by at least half of the people (mostly elders) who received my "package". Those who have troubled themselves to keep in touch have commented to me on how important that article is.... even though they are JWs (on the fringe really) they got it's importance....
Nice work bringing it here... it helped me to read it.... now it can help others....

Thanks
Inq

26

"Wait On Jehovah"

by silentlambs in

jw
friends

wait on jehovah, is an interesting terminology.

it is used basically to stop an action from taking place.

the inference would be that you should leave it in gods hands and in his due time he will maneuver things to address the matter.

Inquiry

Some excellent posts... thanks silent lambs and dazed and confused for your incredible posts... I appreciate your efforts and your openness very much....
To Simon... the Tent post thing (actually a lance NWT, spear NIV and javelin KJ) is in Numbers 25

I will take the liberty of reciting this for everyone so you don't have to look it up... but when I read this, it didn't sit right with me... I will explain it after...

Now Isreal was dwelling in Shittam. Then the people started having immoral relations with the daughters of Moab. And the women came calling the people to the sacrifices of their gods. So Isreal attached itself to the Baal of Peor and the anger of Jehovah began to blaze against Israel. Hence Jehovah said to Moses; "Take all the head ones of the people and expose them to Jehovah toward the sun, that the burning anger of Jehovah may turn back from Israel." Then Moses said to the judges of Isreal; "Each one of you kill his men who have an attachment with the Baal of Peor."
But, look! a man of the sons of Isreal came, and he was bringing near to his brothers a Midianite woman before Moses eyes and before the eyes of all the assembly of hte sons of Isreal, while they were weeping at the entrance of the tent of meeting. When Phinehas the son of Eleazar the son of Aaron the priest caught sight of it, he at once got up from the midst of the assembly and took a lance in hand. Then he went after the man of Israel into the vaulted tent and pierced them through, the man of Israel and the woman through her genital parts. At that the scourge was halted from upon the sons of Israel.

I remember this being discussed at a WT study... and the amount of time spent on the subject... was quite lengthy, it seemed every brother had a comment.... Most of the sisters stayed quiet. Several of us had our kids distracted from the rather graphic subject matter... or trying to... It just seemed to go on and on....
Words fail me in relating how this particular passage affected me... I found it quite gross... and that it intrigued so many men because of the powerful language and graphic description... which in my opinion was comletely male oriented.... stunned me....
My sister had sent me the bible that she studied from, the Life Application Bible, New International Version, and it simply states that " he drove the spear through both of them, through the Israelite and into the woman's body. " .... my very old King James says "and thrust both of them through, the man of Israel, and the woman through her belly."
Out of all the bibles I've looked at only the NWT puts it so graphically.... Accident... I'm not so inclined, but something keeping the female subjucated and something less than honoured????... Even the victorians didn't describe the situation this way... I remember my boy, about 8 at the time asking me questions about this...he thought it was "bad talk" amongst the brothers... right in the KH, so did alot of other little kids... I also remember how the male members of the congregation enjoyed discussing the subject.
I remember too, how quiet the sisters were for a couple of weeks after that...
Do any of you remember it?
Can you imagine how something like this would be related today? Makes me shake my head....
A little dip intomy WT past....
Inq

15

Congratulations! It's a boy!

by ozziepost in

jw
friends

one of our favourite posters is the proud father of a newborn baby boy.. in this world full of woe, it's nice to bring good and happy news.. congratulations to the proud parents, mr and mrs hippikon!.

cheers,.

ozzie.

Inquiry

Now that's some great news.... it's nice how something this wonderful can change our focus, even for a few minutes on the very real pleasantries of life...
I feel that children are not only the greatest joy in life, but the greatest challenge.... they are our best lessons in life....
I know mine is to me.... :)
Congratulations family hippikon
Me and mine wish you all the best :)
Inq

18

Report on meeting with PO

by freeman in

jw
friends

hello all, i think you will find this interesting:.

well the meeting took place and i have to say it had a few surprises.

one of the biggest surprises was that it was truly non-confrontational in every respect.

Inquiry

Hey Freeman.....

I always found it funny when JWs backed out by saying that they hadn't researched it. When I found out what I didn't know about the subject, I was mortified... My response to the tactic is, well, I am not so willing to give my life for something I didn't understand. It's an empty sacrifice. I don't make empty sacrifices. But, alas... it only works when it falls on willing ears.... :) Good job, but I think you should be prepared for the report this guy is going to give to the rest of the elders and possibly send on to headquarters... If they think your down, they will kick you.....

Take good care....
Inq

12

Celebrating 1st Year of Freedom

by individuals wife in

jw
friends

well, i've made it through the first year!

one year out and still surviving - despite the fact that they said i would come crawling back with my tail between my legs!!.

i cant believe a year could go by so fast and also that you could achieve so much.

Inquiry

Hi IW....

October 8,1997 was my personal independence day! I celebrate it and look forward to it every year.
Another event I really enjoy is Christmas! I always feel great getting ready for it. It's another independence day I celebrate with gusto!
I hope all of your independence days are great ones!
Congratulations!
Many more!
Inq:)

15

WTS Leaders - Mass Killers

by Lee Elder in

jw
friends

the great and widely unrecognized killer of jehovah's witnesses is without.

question the watchtower society's irrational policy on the use of blood.. there are enough studies and information available for us to conservatively.

estimate 900 deaths among the jw population each year - the actual.

Inquiry

Hi Lee...

long time no talk to... hope all is well

It's going to continue to be a tough battle to keep getting the news about the WT blood policies out there... but your efforts haven't been in vain.... I've admired your efforts and tenacity for over 4 years now, and I appreciate very much what your doing.
For my part, I keep informing area doctors of changes and refer them to articles in the medical journals and to your web site. They have remained very interested in anything new on the subject, and when they have time, they try to update themselves as best as possible. The one real problem we have is that unlike the doctors in my area, rank and file witnesses have a hard time understanding the scope of this problem. It is very hard for them, as it was for me at the time, to attribute anything wrong with the policies in place, even to understand the terminology involved, and the WT is always ready with a new spin on it. Keep on working at it...new opportunities will present themselves, and when they do, we will be ready.

your friend always,
Inquiry :)