dssynergy

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Posts by dssynergy

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  24

  Conscious Class vs. Fading...

  by dssynergy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have stated a number of times - i'm really struggling.

  i would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life.

  however, i am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

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  dssynergy

  Here is my situation as of today:

  I have not done any field services for many months (at least 6), and I have not gone to but a few meetings in 9 or 10 months. Attended Memorial. I went to part of the DC, and was seen by my family, and a few people in my congregation.

  I feel like I have good momentum, and I don't want to break it - but at the same time, not sure how to smoothly handle the concern of friends in my hall. As I have said in another thread, I moved to my congregation's territory, and live in a neighborhood with more than 10 JW families, most of whom I know.

  So - I guess I'm in the middle of a fade. What should I do now??

  DS
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  24

  Conscious Class vs. Fading...

  by dssynergy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have stated a number of times - i'm really struggling.

  i would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life.

  however, i am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

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  dssynergy

  @BrotherDan: I understand what you are saying about doing the conscious class thing only for a time. I've sort of faded in and out before - and every time I go back, I have to do what I do at any sort of "magic show" - suspend disbelief. It really does a number on my brain, and it is uncomfortable. I'm a natural skeptic, so having to stay in that state of suspension feels unnatural.

  In the meantime, while I have not been attending meetings, I have been taking some catholic theology classes. This is not to say that I believe the catholics, but their scholarship is fascinating. It seems to me like there is so much that is glossed over in the meetings, and they could be so much more interesting and meaty - to say nothing of the doctrine which needs up dating.

  @PoorPlaces: wow - you must have nerves of steel and a great imagination to keep your self busy during all of that each week. Kudos!

  @MadSweeney: Thanks for the great quotes!

  Thanks for the support - any other ideas or suggestions are welcome...hearing other people's stories is very comforting.

  DS
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  24

  Conscious Class vs. Fading...

  by dssynergy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have stated a number of times - i'm really struggling.

  i would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life.

  however, i am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

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  dssynergy

  @CantLeave: how fast was your fade? I stopped meetings 8 or 9 months ago, right before my dad died. It wasn't purposeful at first - I just got busy. Then there has been a lot of stress in my family over the last few months for various reasons, deaths, crisis, sickness, etc. So I've had a lot on my plate. My mom is concerned, and my friends are making subtle comments - I'm not up for the return yet - but I'm weighing options to see what is the best....I think it is less dishonest not to attend - and less of a hassle to go and just pretend. Pros and cons to each...

  Any suggestions or advice is appreciated.

  DS
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  24

  Conscious Class vs. Fading...

  by dssynergy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have stated a number of times - i'm really struggling.

  i would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life.

  however, i am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

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  dssynergy

  @Poor Places: given that you are a conscious person - how do you make it through the meetings, and service? I'm trying to figure out how to sit through meeting after meeting while I feel like I have to filter everything they say because so much of it is inaccurate, incomplete or speculation...

  Any suggestions?

  DS
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  24

  Conscious Class vs. Fading...

  by dssynergy in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  as i have stated a number of times - i'm really struggling.

  i would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life.

  however, i am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

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  2. 
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  dssynergy

  As I have stated a number of times - I'm really struggling. I would like more than anything just to fade away and life my life. However, I am not willing to give up my family, specifically my nephew who needs me to stick around.

  So, my question for those of you who are Conscious Class [i.e,BrotherDan, Yknot and others]: HOW do you do this? I think this would be a better solution than fading perhaps, because it would keep people off my back.

  On the other hand, if I want to have any real life, a boyfriend, for example, fading might be a better choice because I could do what I want without any judicial consequences because I am not associating with a congregation.

  Could you guys help me weigh the pros and cons of conscious class vs. fading??

  Thanks!

  DS
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  46

  The WTS say they are NOT Creationists........

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  then wtf are they?.

  why don't they like that term?.

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  dssynergy

  oh, and just to add to the conversation about "creation" - it was always my understanding that they related the creation account to what happened on earth in creating humans, animals and plants. They have as far as I can remember always acknowledged that the universe was created long before humans.

  The creationists on the other hand, hold to the literal 6 days for everything.

  However - just as a side point- it is possible that God created things in 6 literal days, and made it look like it was millions of years old....not that I agree with that idea. I'm just bringing it up as an interesting possibility.

  DS
• 
  46

  The WTS say they are NOT Creationists........

  by cantleave in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  then wtf are they?.

  why don't they like that term?.

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  dssynergy

  It was my understanding that each day was 1000 years long [based on the scripture that says "1000 years as if one day"] - which is how the importance of 1975 came about because that marked 6000 years of human existence. Combine that with the idea of the 1000 year reign - and they figured 1975 would be the end of the rest day for Jehovah and the time for the Big A. [I could have some details mixed up, but this is how I remember it explained]

  My big complaint is that they always focus on the timing of things - when clearly the scriptures state "no one knows the day or the hour" - so why do we focus on that instead of what kind of people we are, and what productive ways we can connect with people to set a good example or contribute to society?

  UGH.

  DS
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  15

  Debate

  by goddidit in

  1. watchtower
  2. beliefs

  i'd like to have a one-on-one online debate with an active jw.

  it doesn't have to be private.. anyone have any suggestions how i might arrange this?.

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  dssynergy

  Yknot,

  You are active and conscious class. How do you do it? If I could manage that without the turmoil - that would be the best solution for me. Got any suggestions? I don't want to hijack this thread - so maybe you could post on mine "ok, I give up!"

  Thanks in advance,

  DS
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  30

  ok, I give up!

  by dssynergy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been testing the waters with a fade.

  waiting to see the reaction.

  my friends and family still talk to me, although i haven't been to meeting since november of last year.

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  dssynergy

  @MadSweeney: good point about the distortion with which people act. I know that all of my friends, and JWs in general are genuinely sweet, ignorant and naive. And I believe most act out of good motive. That is not to say there are not truly deceptive and gnarly people involved as well. But, the rank and file, for the most part are not in that category.

  DS
• 
  30

  ok, I give up!

  by dssynergy in

  1. jw
  2. friends

  i have been testing the waters with a fade.

  waiting to see the reaction.

  my friends and family still talk to me, although i haven't been to meeting since november of last year.

  1. 
  2. 
  3. 
• 

  dssynergy

  Thanks for all the great advice. I'm not sure what tactic I will finally take. One reason I don't just up and move away is that I have a nephew here who needs me to stick around because his home life is really crappy. So, what I have done is travel a lot - and that sort of keeps people at bay because they don't really know when I am in town or not. And I might work out of town on a temporary basis - which would also keep people out of my hair because they can assume I'm going to meeting down there.

  As far as a relationship goes, I would just have to be up front with whomever I am with about my situation and the need to be discreet. I wouldn't have him meet my family until after it was more serious - like we were married. :-) And Flipper is right - if I want a new life, I will need to do many things privately and secretly. I just have to get brave enough to do it, I guess.

  I do like the suggestion of being a spy though. I do want to keep in touch with things enough to know what is going on, and what is being taught to my nephew. I think children need moral direction, but obviously, I'm not interested in supporting twisted thinking that might arise from his situation either.

  Thanks for the support everyone!

  DS