Thanx for sharing your story! Great story, it is so recognizable. It doesn't matter where you live, in the UK or in The Netherlands, it's all the same.
Thanks again!
Gorby
Gorbatchov
JoinedPosts by Gorbatchov
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Another new member here to share her experience
by One Last Kiss inim a long-time lurker turned member, finally felt the need to share my experience with people who know where im coming from.
will try to be as succinct as possible!.
am from the uk and was born in as 3rd generation.
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Interview with an apostate: Gorbatchov
by Gorbatchov ini'm / was the 4th generation witness in the family.. are your parents / family jws?.
most of all my family members are witnesses.
read the raymond franz books and you will get an inside look in the organization.
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Gorbatchov
Tell us a little about yourself and your family.
I was born in 1970 in a little village in the North West of Europe (Holland).
Were you a born in or a convert?
I'm born in the religion. I'm / was the 4th generation witness in the family.
Are your parents / family JWs?
Most of all my family members are witnesses. The family's were converted in 1943 and 1946. The fear during the second world war en the loss of family members were the main reason to become a witness. What's better then a paradise at the horizon?
How many generations have been JWs?
My son and daughter are the 5th generation witnesses. They are too young to realise.
Did you hold any position in the WTS? (MS, Elder etc...)
MS and did public talks on sunday. And bookstudy conductor (remembering conducting the Revelation bookstudy, it was awfull!)
Did you *really* believe in the bible, in spirits (angels, demons)?
I think I believed in many aspects of the religion because I was learned to do so from my childhood days. But I remember being 6 years old and thinking in the kingdom hall "were are they talking about, I don't get it".
Did you get baptised? When and why?
Yes, I was baptised in 1988 at the same convention when the Revelation book was published. It was a normal step for me, not a real dedication. It felt not special. It was a formal thing to do.
What was the initial trigger that made you start questioning things?
The 1995 generation change was the trigger for me. And the Publisher book did a lot too!! Also my best friend started questioning earlier... He gave me the Raymond Franz books. The last and uliimate trigger were the Daniel, Isaia and Jeremia books. I don't like it that World history is being used for the Watchtower end time story's. It's still strange they can get away with that. The horn blowing angels at Cedar Point. The wooden table at the UN in The Hague. The three litle horns of the beast. It's mad isn't it?!?
Where did you find information? Internet sites? Books?
In 1995 the Internet was not common in The Netherlands. First I did research at the local Library, finding boxes with old interviews. In 1997 I got an Internet connection at home and then I found hourglass.org. It was a shock for me to read al the scandals and doctrinal things. I remember some websites about JW's starting with a disclaimer "Are you sure you want to read the truth about JW (y/n)!
How difficult or painful was the process of leaving?
Enourmous, huge and immens. With a lot of doubts and pain. A lot of headache. I felt every string of DNA in my body protesting! Since then I know that JW's are being programmed / indoctrinated by the organization.
Was it a big dramatic exit or a careful quiet fade?
I'm still fading. Not really in and not really out the organization.
Did you convince anyone else to leave with you?
Yes, both my wife and me are fading.
How were your family relations affected by your decision?
This is the most strange thing about our fading: not one family member is asking questions about our fade. The whole family keeps it silence.
They only don't let me pray at family party's and I don't miss it.
Were you or are you still being shunned by those who didn't leave?
The members of the local congregation don't now how to react. Some are shunning me.
How long have you now been out?
Last visit to the hall at the memorial in april.
Was there anything you looked forward to doing when you left?
No, no life plans. I did the bachelor and master degree.
What are you most proud of achieving since you left?
My education: a bachelor and a master degree. It felt like winning a battle against the organization.
Is there anything you miss about life in the congregation?
No. I don't miss it at all. Maybe watching football with the bookstudy group after the book study.
Red pill or blue pill? Do you regret waking up to reality at all?
Very difficult. I was more happy before waking up! Life was so sweet simple ((: !
Did you become an atheist or transfer your faith elsewhere?
No atheist and no transfer. I believe in "something". I think I believe also in life design. By God? By some higher power?
How do you now feel about religion in general?
All organized religion are a snare and a racket, to use some famous words.
Do you feel any guilt celebrating xmas or birthdays or doing any other JW "no-no"s?
No. We celebrate birthdays and xmas since two year. We like it! And regret the lost birthdays!
Have you attended any face-to-face meetups of ex-JWs?
No. I don't like organizad religion and ex-religion.
Describe your circle of friends - mostly other ex-JWs or regular people?
Regular family members.
Do you tell people about your JW past?
No. I keep it a mystery. I don't like to talk about it. In my active years I avoid the toppic also.
Do you feel animosity or pity toward current JWs?
No. I feel animosity against the leaders of the JW religion. And against the JW spindocters. There are a lot! And against the JW lawyers. They know all the inside trouble and keep teling it's the best way of life!
How do you respond to witnesses when they call at your door?
Last time they didn't recognize me and I got a tract.
Storm the barricades or tend to the wounded? (do you favor activism or support)
I think some activism can be good.
What do you think is the most effective approach to reaching people still in?
They know something stinks in JW-land. I would approach them about the financial part of the organization. The big sell of Brooklyn and the ongoing asking for more money.
Do you think the WTS can or should be destroyed, will continue on as-is or grow / change?
It will stay, since 1874. They are in a reorganization now. And they will keep changing if they need. I think they have a 20 year future plan.
How has your life been impacted by your JW past?
Yes it is. Tonight I went awake thinking about armageddon. That's not good, is it?
Are there things in your life you blame the WTS for?
Yes. For keeping the rank and file bussy and for keeping them simple. Joe Publisher is what i mean.
JW upbringing - a protection or a curse?
I don't know. I think the protection thing was what our family did like.
How do you fill your time now it's not filled with meetings and field service?
It's the best time ever. When I enter a kingdom hall I feel bad. Field service again? Never!
Do you still have an interest in JW beliefs and doctrines?
Yes, too much. A daily visit at JWN.
How much of your time is still spent on JW related matters?
Too much, one hour a day.
What do you think of the ex-JW community?
It's a diverse community. Sometimes I wonder why people still hurt each other at a forum, just being hurt in a congregation.
I like also the old community, Jim Penton etc. They are getting old now but started in the '70 and '80 with a framework for us.
Do you see yourself still being associated with the ex-JW community in 5 or 10 years time?
I think it will never be over.
Do you fear the future?
Yes. Because my parents are getting older and there will be a moment they will pass away. They will be hurt.
And I think I will be hurt again because they would never die! And I fear the future for my children.
What advice would you give to anyone starting the journey of leaving the WTS?
Read the Raymond Franz books and you will get an inside look in the organization. It will be enough to leave or fade.
Once reading Raymond books it will never be the same again.
What would you change in your life if you could go back and talk to yourself?
More humble and less black / white. I think I could be a better human. More loving to my wife and children.
Do you have any regrets about life since you left?
No, not at all.
Can we read your life-story anywhere? (links to online or books)
No (....)
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Elders at the door
by Gorbatchov inyesterday at 10 am the doorbell was ringing.
thank god we were upstairs bussy with the kids.. they left a litle note with the text "we, __ and __, found you not home, see you in the kingdom hall.
cellphone number xxxxxxx".
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Gorbatchov
Yesterday at 10 am the doorbell was ringing. Thank God we were upstairs bussy with the kids.
They left a litle note with the text "We, __ and __, found you not home, see you in the Kingdom hall. Greetings. cellphone number xxxxxxx"
So, they had some encouragement planned ((:
Gorby
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A fine example for the GB: Pope Fransicsus
by Gorbatchov inreading a lot about the new pope fransiscus.
he's doing a good job.
helping and feeding the poor.
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Gorbatchov
Reading a lot about the new Pope Fransiscus. He's doing a good job. Helping and feeding the poor. Blessing the people with problems.
So, my conclusion is that Fransiscus is a fine, humble and good Christian example for your Watchtower board of Directors and it's Governing Body.
Gorby
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New Handbill Campaign
by NoRegrets inapparently the jws are doing a new handbill campaign.
they were just at my door and offered it to me with one of their heartless and scripted presentations.
the religion has just become so dumbed down.
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Gorbatchov
We have not been to the kingdom hall since the memorial. We have not been in field service since 2007.
If I had to hand out all these tract's every quarter every year I would be tired of it.
Just like a paperboy.
Gorby
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True Stories from the Tower - Part 1 "From Anointed to Pedophile to Bethelite"
by BluePill2 inbefore i dive into the actual write-up of this experience, let me put some things straight.. i have thought long and hard if i should write more about my experiences during the 10+ years at different branches.
during these years i worked from financial department, service department, home office and different it assignments.
as you can imagine one sees and hears and reads a lot of stuff going through different stations in different countries.
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Gorbatchov
Bookmarked. Thanks for sharing!
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Rebranding, restyling and rewriting - the transformation of Jehovah's Witnesses
by Gorbatchov indear friends,.
a few weeks i am thinking about what's going on with the religion we are focust on, jehovah's witnesses.. what i see is:.
- a rebranding of the religion's organization: just like rutherford rebranded the bible students into jehovah's witnesses,.
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Gorbatchov
Dear friends,
A few weeks I am thinking about what's going on with the religion we are focust on, Jehovah's witnesses.
What I see is:
- a rebranding of the religion's organization: just like Rutherford rebranded the Bible students into Jehovah's Witnesses,
there is now a rebranding of Jehovah's Witness into Jehovah's Witness 2.0: JW.ORG
Reading about why your company should rebrand, one reason is on top: financial. When a market declines there is the need to rebrand.
- a restyling of the corporation's look-and-feel: a transformation just like the marketing professionals should advise: from push to pull.
No more flooding the world with magazines mostly thrown away directly after recieving it, unread.
Rebranding professionals would advise the way it has to be done: the world wide web. Open a new, fresh and transparant website for your custommers.
- a rewriting of the religions history: it was announced at de 2012 District Convention here in The Netherlands, prior to the release of part 1 of the witness history DVD when the speaker told the remarkeble words "Jehovahs' witnesses are not readers of thick books like the Proclaimers book. That's why the Society announces a DVD serie with the highlights of our history".
When rebranding and restyling, a corporation has to delete, to burn, their black pages in history. Because it is 'the momentum'. If you are chancing, you have to do it good and perfect. Don't let the black pages in history influence your new branding.
So, reading a lot about rebranding, I think I have to congretulate the Watchtower managementteam. They did the right thing on the right time. From their point of view. From a company point of view.
Gorby
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My life time thoughts about Babylon the Great has fallen
by Gorbatchov infriends,.
since i was a very young boy (+/- 10 years old) i had thoughts when revelation 18:2 was studiyed at our kingdom hall.. babylon the great was for me new york.
the center of the world, where all cultures are comming together.. next step for me, was that new york was the center of the universe for our jehovah's witness religion.. so i was connecting babylon the great with our own religion.. now with all the topics about the connexion between the watchtower corporations with investment billions, political influance, history cleaning and rebranding their business i could imagine when the society is going down, many corporations and politicians will say "shame, shame, babylon the great has fallen...".
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Gorbatchov
Friends,
Since I was a very young boy (+/- 10 years old) I had thoughts when Revelation 18:2 was studiyed at our kingdom hall.
Babylon the Great was for me New York. The center of the world, where all cultures are comming together.
Next step for me, was that New York was the center of the universe for our Jehovah's Witness religion.
So I was connecting Babylon the Great with our own religion.
Now with all the topics about the connexion between the Watchtower corporations with investment billions, political influance, history cleaning and rebranding their business I could imagine when the Society is going down, many corporations and politicians will say "Shame, shame, Babylon the Great has fallen..."
Gorby
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MEXICO | Jehovah's Witness Family of 8 Massacred including three Children
by jwleaks ineight family members killed in mexico massacremexico | november 17, 2013. mexican police found sunday a family of eight, including three children, stabbed to death and tied down in their home in the northern city of ciudad juarez.. a two-year-old boy survived the attack and was handed to neighbors, local police said.. the chihuahua state prosecutor's office said the assailants apparently forced their way inside the house and killed two men, three women and three children between the ages of four and six.. their mouths were covered with duct tape and their hands and feet were tied.
neighbors said they heard gun shots but authorities said the victims had stab wounds.. neighbors said the house owner was a car salesman.. the family was supposed to attend a meeting of jehovah's witnesses when they were attacked inside their home on sunday morning, according to testimonies.. they were discovered dead after members of the congregation went to look for them.. ciudad juarez, which borders the us state of texas, was once the deadliest city in mexico amid a turf war between drug cartels.. more than 10,000 people have been killed in the city since 2006 but the murder rate began to decline in 2011.. local officials say the drop in violence is due to tougher policing and crime prevention programs, but security experts believe it began to wane after the sinaloa drug cartel defeated the rival juarez gang.. read latest breaking news from newsmax.com http://www.newsmax.com/newsfront/mexico-crime-murder/2013/11/17/id/537112#ixzz2kziajt8f.
{google translate].
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Gorbatchov
Very sad. I pray for the relatives.
This is contradicting with God protecting his people with his name...
But so sad for this family.
Mexico is becomming a hell on earth.
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The Current State of the Watchtower & The Cynicism of Soviet Communism
by cofty ini am reading a book by victor sebestyn called "revolution 1989 - the fall of the soviet empire".
if you lived through the astonishing collapse of communism in the late '80s i highly recommend it.. what has struck me is the description of life under communism in the six soviet satellite states of east germany, poland, czechoslovakia, hungary, romania and bulgaria.. here is a couple of paragraphs that really stood out to me as a possible parallel to the current climate in the regime of jw.org.. ---------------------------------------------------------.
once idealism or revolutionary fervour had disappeared - certainly by the soviet invasion of czechosloakia in 1968 - the system stagnated.
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Gorbatchov
Did you know the current Russia statesecretary of foreign affairs was raised in soviet burocraty?lavrov is still playing political chess.