Posts by JBean

30

No topic so I will just ramble

by joelbear in

jw
friends

i have finished 15 pieces in my pottery class so far.

i start my next 10 classes next monday night.. i have almost finished designing a board game.

i am going to build the prototype this weekend.. i have a shop at cafepress.com/joelbear.

JBean

Hi Joelbear! I've just logged on to check on things after being away for quite a while... and was pleased to see a name that I remembered from last year!!! It's sounds as if you've been doing some fun stuff!

I myself have been busy... just got married and am in the process of moving... so life is blissful and stressful all at once. : )

Not much else to say at the moment... just wanted to say hi again not only to you but all the folks that might remember my login name from many many months ago. Much love, Jbean

12

Conceited Witnesses

by TheListener in

jw
friends

lately several of the threads on the board have dealt with some really deep spiritual and biblical topics.

i love reading everyone's opinions and seeing links to even more detailed opinions.

it has made me think though.. when i was a strong dub i thought i knew everything about the bible and couldn't wait to 'get into it' with a catholic or protestant priest.

JBean

OMG... so familiar! Just had a conversation which ended in yet another argument with my mom last night! She is so totally miserable and blames "Satan's system", NOT the organization. I told her that of course she's miserable... she's so wrapped up in "do's and don'ts" and worries about getting in trouble and who's watching every move of everyone else... jeez. But she states that it isn't that way at all. Right in the middle of it and so blind still. I've been "out" for a while (did the sllllooooowww fade)... and told her that my life right now was absolutely fabulous, to which she replied, "no it's not", to which I replied, "yes it is"... no, yes, no, yes... you get the picture. Anyhow... Jdubs vaccillate between dense and conceited about their lot in life. She just KNOWS it's the truth. No real rationale. (sigh). Jbean

26

Ah! Thursday! Meeting Night!

by Nosferatu in

jw
friends

after i left the jws and moved out, it was weird having all these evenings to myself.

i think sunday was the easiest day to get used to without meetings.

it just made my weekend a bit longer.

JBean

Hi everyone! Haven't been posting here in about a year... not for any other reason than my life is going most excellently now and I've been so busy with work, social life, etc. that I log on just to read about what's going on and to keep up with stuff... but haven't had too much reason to write. HAD to reply to this post though... oh my goodness... my weeks now are SO relaxed without having to go to meetings on top of meetings!!! I get to watch "the IDOL" on Tuesdays but then have to report it in detail to my mom, who goes to the hall and unfortunately doesn't get to see it! She says she'd rather be at the hall, but I don't buy it. hee! Comments about being able to take courses, sports, etc. rather than sit in a chair listening to the safe stuff over and over again are so true... my life has become everso much richer in the past few years. (Not to mentioned getting to join co-workers for happy hours on Thursdays now!!! very festive!) Anyhow... just wanted to touch base. Hope everyone is well. Jbean

26

Top Ten Signs Your Congregation May Be Dying

by metatron in

jw
friends

not necessarily in order of importance:.

number one: your theocratic ministry school had a "a", "b", and "c" school.

other clues: many of the elder's wives aren't even in it.

JBean

All I have to say is : HAND PUPPETS!!! ahahahahah! Priceless!

15

N.G.O.s Mentioned in special talk today.

by NikL in

jw
friends

i had the privilage...make that misfortune to escort my better half to the kingdumb hall today for what they consider a special talk.

i guess what makes it so special is that it is the same outline used in all congregations around the globe.. it was called, "has christendoms time for jugement arrived" , or something along those lines.

it was pretty much the old hard line approach ," we have the truth no other religions do and if you are visiting from some other church today you had better get your ass in gear and become a jay dub or else you are gonna bite the big one when god finally has enough of this crap".. anyway, the speaker mentioned an article about united nations n.g.o.s.

JBean

Hi all! I, too, had the "priviledge" of attending the special (gag) talk yesterday. It truly was the same old boring stuff. Seriously. NOTHING NEW. NOTHING. The brother giving the talk didn't mention NGOs in our version... but at one quick point, mentioned that the UN will be the one (or to instigate) the fall of all false religion (babylon the great)... He did mention that this was not Catholicism (sp?) as I remember it... but now includes ALL religions (except the JWs... of COURSE) God... how mind numbing. I told my family afterwards that I thought it was truly absurd that the outline even MENTIONED the UN, given what we all know now about the WTowers affiliation...(told my family about this... they really don't know what to think... all they say is (you can guess...) we'll just have to wait on Jehovah to straighten this out.)

Then the Watchtower took a simple subject (Let's look at our brothers as Jehovah looks at them...) in other words, try not to judge others... and DRAGGED what could have easily been a 5 minute conversation into an entire hour... I thought my head was going to explode! : ) I don't know how much longer I can do this to please the family... ahhhhh. Have a great day everyone! : ) Jbean

28

Memorial anyone?

by basics-for-me in

jw
friends

anyone got plans to attend the memorial?.

i am going again this year.

not out of duty or for anyone else but for myself.

JBean

Hi all! Diamond, no you're not weak! I too am sloooowww fading... been doing so for about 4 years now! (Can't believe how time flies!) I don't attend meetings anymore, but am going to the Memorial with my folks (they're in another congregation/city) so they don't totally freak out. I'm sure many understand the issues. At this point, I'm not making too many waves because I see no need to get DF'd and have my family not be able to speak with me. Just doing my own thing and becoming very happy! Jbean

14

Do you Represent God or a Magazine Company ????????????????

by nightwarrior in

the question of whos faith , built the j.w organization ,as we know charles taz russell the founding member, whom started the organization,what did he beleive in,why was he considerd apostate ,what conections astrology of and pyramidology led him to use the pyramids as defining the dates jehovahs witnesess recognise as being evident in there calculations,did jesus use the stars to calculate any significant events pertaining to mans future, why was the founding farther terminated by the society, why were most of his written works suddenly deemed apostate,e.g the aid book ,used when i came into the truth or so called truth ,what is the difference between a magazine printing company and the modern day watchtower organization, one claims to work in gods name ,the other doesnot make any claims at all.. is your faith in jesus or the organization /???

check out the founding farthers history,.

as you owe it to yourself.are you really serving jehovah or just a magazine money mad organization.

JBean

oooohh... when did the Aid Book become apostate material? I've never heard that one? Do you have anything written that states this? Just real interested on that one... cos that was one of the books that was ALWAYS referenced...

60

What Was The Final Straw That Made You Leave The Organisation?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

as a faithful and zealous witness, nothing can question your faith.

but one day, something does!

you begin to have doubts.

JBean

Hi Spanner... : )

Ummm, yeah, I think I would really like to be but it's a case of needing to move vvveeeerrryyyy slowly. My entire family is in and I really don't relish the thought of being DF'd. They (as well as the congregation) are leaving me alone for now... not quite sure why... maybe it's because I travel a lot for work and am never home anyway... I don't know. But it's a lot easier than being harrassed all the time about things. Anyway...the UN issue.

Well.. all I can say about that is that there is a TON of proof that they were involved... to me, it isn't a question of a little or a lot... they were involved PERIOD. I grew up being taught and believing that the UN was evil, and that we shouldn't GO NEAR anything political, etc. Well! The knowledge that they did have even a tiny bit of involvement... and HID IT FROM THE MEMBERS OF THE ORGANIZATION... and CONTINUE to hide it... that was it. I still find some of their teachings to be ok... but as they say themselves: It has to be all or nothing... and so obviously, it's nothing. I may not have answered your question correctly... you stated it was very important. All I can do is refer you to very old posts... like from a year or so ago... on the UN issue and it should answer all your questions. Hope this helped! Jbean

60

What Was The Final Straw That Made You Leave The Organisation?

by SpannerintheWorks in

jw
friends

as a faithful and zealous witness, nothing can question your faith.

but one day, something does!

you begin to have doubts.

JBean

I'm not really out yet, but I've been inactive for a while. A few things made me stop: 1) Child abuse cover-ups 2) UN issue (couldn't BELIEVE that one!!!) 3) all my "friends" in the truth becoming more and more intolerant and sometimes just mean and nasty. I believe they feel that just because they are JWs, what they say and do behind people's backs just doesn't count and they they are just so special. YUK. Also, the way a certain congregation (which shall remain nameless) has continually for years and years been "out to get" certain ones that they just don't like. This cannot be God's chosen organization. May have been in the past... but I don't know.

34

Questions Directed Towards: YOU (ex-JW)

by RAYZORBLADE in

jw
friends

i thought i'd give this a go, lighten up the forum a little.

just curious, about a few things regarding all of us who participate on here.

i have some questions, of which i will answer also.

JBean

1. How long were you a Jehovah's Witness?

My entire life

2. Were you raised in it or become a JW later on in life?

raised

3. Were you contacted via the door-to-door ministry?

my grandparents were, and my parents came in because they were children at the time and didn't have a choice (a perpetuating problem as I see it!)

4. Initially, what intrigued or drew you to the Jehovah's Witnesses then?

There wasn't any other option, being a child and having your family and all of your friends as witnesses... just the way it progressed

5. When were you baptized? Or if you weren't, mention that if you wish.

Last year of high school, 1978

6. When did you start having doubts?

Fairly recently... about a year or so ago

7. What else perhaps contributed to your leaving?

Still in but inactive. Lots of researched helped me to see that this wasn't the truth

8. When were you disfellowshipped/disassociated?

N/A... yet.

9. Have you ever been reinstated?

N/A

10. Did you attempt to contact or have spoken with other active-JWs when you were DF/DA'd?

I'm not in that position, and am still looked at as a JW. However, NOW I will speak with those who I know are DA'd/DF'd... this wasn't the case a few years ago. (Wow! was I ever brainwashed!)

11. Have you ever protested/picketted a JW assembly/convention?

No

12. Do you miss being a Jehovah's Witness?

No, I guess because I'm still attempting to NOT be one! ha! I do miss the LARGE group of friends my age that I used to hang with sometimes though.

13. Do you still have family that are active JWs?

yes... my entire immediate family.

14. Do you believe in god/God etc.?

Absolutely. I think about him and his purposes more so now that I ever did while I was an active JW. Go figure!

15. Are you politically active or have voted?

Not yet... but I'm going to be by the 2004 election!

16. Would you say you have become more tolerant or open-minded generally speaking since you left?

Absolutely! I cannot believe the things I used to think were the truth. Some of the Witness teachings are so horrible.

17. Do you think that the WTBTS will crumble?

I don't know. I don't think so. As others have said, there will always be some folks who need/want to believe it.

18. If you could say anything to the WTBTS and be listened to, what would you like to say?

Stop the disfellowshipping. Stop the constant barrage of do's and dont's and let folks live their lives! Stop telling people who they can and cannot associate with!!!

19. What has helped you to cope, post-JW?

I've developed such wonderful friendships outside of the Borg! Also, my boyfriend of almost 4 years who has taught me by his actions what forgiveness, righteousness and spirituality REALLY are... and he's not even associated with any organization!!! : )

20. Anything else you'd like to say/add?

Yes... Simon, I stumbled onto this board a few years back and was soooo afraid at first to even look at it. But you (along with all the other posters) have helped make all the "new learning" palatable. Thank you so much!