I found pioneering to be stressful although if anyone ever asked me my opinion, I always said it was the way to go. Never wanted to get caught complaining. Being single and having no responsibilties, it was understood that this was our duty. Service all day and cleaning all night tooks it's toll after 13 yrs. By the end of the month, I was almost crying because I just couldn't keep up, working away til the last hour knowing the next day it started all over again. I felt like a rat trapped on a treadmill, moving but going nowhere. When I finally stopped pioneering, I felt such a failure and guilty that I had lived up to my committment. Being in the truth was so hard, feeling like a second rate christian. Now that I'm out, I can worship God with a lighter heart and have more joy. No more man made burdens. Life is refreshing now like cool clean air of spring. I feel like I've been reborn. I will never give up my christian freedom again to anyone.
its_my_life2001ca
JoinedPosts by its_my_life2001ca
-
36
Some things that annoy me about the WTS
by Leander ini'm still currently a jw myself and i'm serving as a minsterial servant in a limited capacity.
(a few weeks ago i was vocal about the doubts i've had and the elders made the decision to allow me to stay on as a ms but without giving talks) .
1. recently as in the last few years i've been paying more attention to the various members in the congregation and i've observed some interesting things.
-
-
-
12
Aaaah, Sweet Gossip
by mindfield ingossip is nothing new... we hear it everywhere, at work, with friends, even on this message board.
it's nothing special, and it will stay with humanity for a long, long time, if not forever.. however, if one claims to be in god's only organization on earth, part of god's plan for a *paradise earth*, then one must therefore be free of such *petty* things as gossip.
at least that's what the gb says, right?.
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
You did the right thing Billygoat.It can makes us unpopular, but at the same time it earns the respect of the kind of persons we would want for friends. 99% of the time, these gossips would shred your reputation when not in the room, but others appreciate that you would not do it to them. Gossip is a trap we all fall into from time to time . For many, their own self esteem comes from belittling others because they themselves feel inferior. If we remind people often enough about our stand, in time they will avoid doing it around us. We all at times like a juicy tidbit, but afterwards, I feel bad because it was at someone's expense and not all gossip is true.My reputation was smeared in one congregation, totally based on lies, but because I was the new person, my word didn't count. I never felt comfortable in that hall again especially when I found out later that many had marked me. This was so hurtful coming from my "brothers and sisters".
-
18
Bethel Memoirs, Good and Not So Good
by Room 215 inin an earlier post, i mentioned a recent trip to a local assembly hall to catch up on the latest in jw rhetoric -- which incidentally sounds pretty much like it always has.. .
while being regaled with exhortations to elevate the importance of meeting attendance to the status of that approaching a patient on life support, i couldn't help but chuckle as how so many -- not all, mind you, but many bethelites during my tenure there in the late sixties, honed their skill at ducking meetings to the level of fine art.. because it was policy that work assignments took precedence over all other obligations including and especially meetings and field service, many would find some pretext to stay back and piddle away at their desk or workbench.
this was particularly true of the stafers assigned to the maintenance of the bethel home.
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
I've been reading "In Search of Christian Freedom" and Franz brought out how several members of the governing body rarely engaged in field service. Most didn't attend the book studies and didn't share in the group service activity, among them Knorr, Suiter, Fred Franz, and Henschel. I think of the poor brothers in the congregations who had to work long hours to support their families, prepare meetings and regularly participate in field service or suffer the consequences. Family life and any personal interests went by the wayside. As mentionned above, most brothers don't get in the travelling and visits to exotic places that the higher ups do...such a double standard...how can they expect God's approval on themselves or do they really care?
-
44
Should People Be Disfellowshipped?
by Frenchy ina reply i made on another thread prompted me to post this.
i was going to do so on the other thread but that was really not the topic and i didn't want to corrupt it by flying off on another tangent.. i have no problems with disfellowshipping from an organization such as jehovah's witnesses.
i don't think a person should be allowed to remain within an organization while practicing things that are condemned by that org., things which they, themselves profess not to believe in.. my objection is to the shunning.
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
I too agree with disfellowshipping. I was always amazed at stories of people who lived a life of crime yet were still able to benefit from sacraments of the church. They should have been excommunicated because their life bore out that they had know real appreciation for Christian principles. The same goes for the witnesses, if a person openly goes against Bible teachings. However, many who have been disfellowshipped ie for adultery sincerely regret their actions but the mere fact they don't return to meetings is justification to ostracize them. Meeting attendance is no proof of repentance because many people live a double life. Also, some who leave don't do so to pursue an ungodly life , their love for God and his word are still strong and in some ways they have developed a closer bond with him.Just the mere fact they have lost faith in a man made organization is enough for the witnesses to consider them unfit association. I wonder if the shunning was ever abolished , if there would be a huge exodus from the org. as alienation from ones family and friends is more than some people could bear.
-
15
"Real Friends" - the Greatest Watchto...
by metatron inmy daughter taught me an important lesson a couple.
years ago.
df'd.
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
Amen to all previous comments. The hardest part I have found since leaving the org. is the emotional vacuum that I find myself in.Having spent the greatest part of my life in the 'truth', I can kiss those 'friends' goodbye, never furthered school connections because that was discouraged and my family was worldly so they weren't good association either. Like many of you, I had numerous acquaintances but very few friends, the kind you could pour your heart out to without everything you said going cross country. You were discouraged from activities outside the congregation so that was another outlet cut off. I do cleaning so the only people I get to meet are my boss and the occasional policeman when the alarm goes off. Thank heavens for my husband, who id df'd because our situation has brought us closer to gether. He is very gregarious and people are drawn to him, so he is having an easier time of it.I am much shyer and even though I pioneered for many years, it was very difficult but I did it for Jehovah. It's taking alot out of me to get the nerve to put myself out there again, because when you're indoctrinated into believing that everyone not in the 'truth' is evil, you put up an invisible barrier. Mentally it takes time to cross it. It has helped reading many of the posts here because when you know you're not a unique case, you don't feel such a freak.
-
8
Anybody Heard of This?
by metatron inon page 41 of "crisis of conscience", it is asserted.
that the governing body debated:.
"issues about the .
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
Unless it's written in invisble ink, it's not on page 41 in my book. I have the 2000 edition. Page 42 is another chapter altogether.
-
29
More Wondering and Self doubt
by Vitameatavegamin inhello friends, this is your vitameatavegamin girl.
by the way, don't forget to watch the i love lucy marathon on tv land starting october 15th, it should be a hoot.
50th anniversary of the show.. anyway, lately i have been doing more thinking about everything.
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
I can sympathize with you totally Veg.. as I have the same sentiments.I left about 2 yrs. ago after being in the org. for 30.It did help to read Ray Franz' book and to have the inside information most of us aren't privy to. I too had a hard time reconciling God destroying all other religions when daily I would read of people who dedicated their whole lives to helping others and making great sacrifices. Would not being a witness be justification for their destruction? Could a loving god really do that? I would like to become associated with a group interested in discussing the Bible but not necessarily an organized religion. I won't be taking up any "christian" celebrations such as xmas because my comfort zone doesn't allow me to. To me now, the "truth" is not any one religion but the teaching that we must put faith in Jesus and live by his teachings without the added burden of man made laws similar to what the Pharisees did. I can only hope now that God can read my heart and realize that any decisions I have made, have been done in good conscience.
-
17
Canadian TV Note: Pedophile Coverup, Murder
by Maximus ini've been given some sketchy information that says the cbc is presenting its program straight talk tonight, possibly 7 pm eastern time.. in that program james kostelniuk's book and personal story will be covered.. "sheep among wolves," the story of murder in a jehovah's witness community.
perhaps someone in canada could check this out and publish details below, or correct this
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
You're right. It's on Newsworld. I had checked the official CBC site which is radio and all their tv stations. That's why I goofed.
-
17
Canadian TV Note: Pedophile Coverup, Murder
by Maximus ini've been given some sketchy information that says the cbc is presenting its program straight talk tonight, possibly 7 pm eastern time.. in that program james kostelniuk's book and personal story will be covered.. "sheep among wolves," the story of murder in a jehovah's witness community.
perhaps someone in canada could check this out and publish details below, or correct this
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
The program is called HOT TYPE and it's on the CBC at 7:pm (ET).It is discussing the JW case tonight.
-
45
what job could you have had?
by sleepy inhi i've just come home from cleaning windows.what an absolutely soul destroying job.. when i think of the things i could have done.. i remmember how my teachers in school used to tell me i would surely go to university and get a good job.i remmember the shock on one teachers face a few years after i left school when i told her i was a window cleaner.. i was also intrested in art and quite good at it.my grandfather who wasn't a witness offered to help me and my brother get good jobs in the art world.. we turned him down.. arrmegeddon was so soon.. anyone else like me ?.
what do you do and what could you have done?
-
-
its_my_life2001ca
I was prepared to enter university to get my degree in nursing and then wanted to go overseas with CUSO (Canadian Univ. Serv. Overseas) for 2 yrs. Unfortunately, the witness snagged me at the same time. I was told I probably wouldn't have time to finish the course because the new system was near. This was 1970 and my course was 4 yrs. It's a career that can take you anywhere and meet lots of interesting people. I'm almost 50 and have been a glorified cleaner and office worker. Needless to say, it's work that never gave me satisfaction. I'm almost 50 now and even if I when to Univ. The opportunities are not as many for older people. I'm preparing to take a computer course because it's a must in just about any job..unfortunately I hate computers.