Thanks for getting back to me Sleepingbeauty, Black Sheep and Grandma Jones! I really do appreciate your taking the time to respond!
Expanded-Mind
Expanded-Mind
JoinedPosts by Expanded-Mind
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8
Need advise... again...
by Expanded-Mind ingood morning.... on jan 3rd i posted that my son had recently contacted me and that i needed advice.
well, i need advice... again.... i have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a jw) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is catholic) about religion, but in a conversation i had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why i left the jws and learning more about her faith and perspectives.
i did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active catholic and through her own reading before we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the watchtower is a cult (her words).
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Need advise... again...
by Expanded-Mind ingood morning.... on jan 3rd i posted that my son had recently contacted me and that i needed advice.
well, i need advice... again.... i have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a jw) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is catholic) about religion, but in a conversation i had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why i left the jws and learning more about her faith and perspectives.
i did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active catholic and through her own reading before we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the watchtower is a cult (her words).
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Expanded-Mind
Good morning...
On Jan 3rd I posted that my son had recently contacted me and that I needed advice. Well, I need advice... again...
I have been very cautious about speaking with my son (a JW) about anything religious and have even been careful about talking with my daughter-in-law (who is Catholic) about religion, but in a conversation I had with her a couple of weeks ago we had our first "real" conversation which included talking about why I left the JWs and learning more about her faith and perspectives. I did not intend to get into "religion" with her, but it was the normal flow of the conversation, since she is a very devout and active Catholic and through her own reading BEFORE we even talked she had come to the conclusion that the Watchtower is a “cult” (her words). The conversation was great, since prior to that, talk had been limited to family matters, the weather, work, etc. Afterward, when I was reflecting on the conversation I wondered if it would come back to bite me. Well it did.
A week later, I called to talk to my son and he told me he had heard about the conversation I had with his wife and --- without opportunity to discuss why it happened --- he told me that didn't want me emailing or talking to her any longer. I tried to explain and he (apparently) hung up on me.
I wrote an email to them asking for forgiveness for treading where I probably shouldn't have, but to no avail as far as my son is concerned. On the other hand, I have had a couple of emails from my daughter-in-law and think she will continue to keep in touch with me. Since this email my son had blocked me from sending him email.
But now I wonder if I need to be cautious about what I say if indeed religion comes up again or if she has questions. As I said, she is well aware of issues with the Watchtower organization and --- from what she told me --- I know she has absolutely no interest in it at all. And I believe she wants to try and help him see the "light".
Do I not talk about religion out of respect for my son, even if she wants to? How do I help her, if she needs it? As you can guess, I don't wish to get in the middle of anything. How do I handle it if the subject comes up? I should add that my son and his wife have a little daugher, my granddaughter, who will be raised Catholic. I am really hoping that I am not cut off from seeing her for any reason.
To be honest, I am tired of the shunning and the walking on eggs with him (been doing this since he was a little kid, once he started standing up for his beliefs (even though I am fairly sure he was parroting his mother). Apparently he no longer attends the meetings, has mostly “worldly” friends and yes, married “outside the faith” of his own free will… somehow I am still the bad guy. Please understand that I love him to pieces and want to do whatever I can to help him, but sometimes I feel like a doormat. That’s just how I am feeling right now...
Any suggestions and thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
With gratefulness,
Expanded-Mind
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Name some "superstar" Elders you know or met .
by Pitchess Co-Gen ini'm from the south los angeles area and i was wondring who were the '''star'' elders, ministerial servants, pioneers, in your hometown or area?
they could be good or bad too..
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Expanded-Mind
Hey, Man in Black...
You stated you knew a Keith Milkovich. I know this is a long shot, but is it possible the last name was spelled Malkovich? I knew a Keith Malkovich that was originally from the Chicago area, his wife's name was Mary. Not sure if it would be the same person, but he and his wife were from one of the hall I attended in the suburbs of Chicago.
Just curious if it could possibly be the same person.
Take care...
Expanded-Mind
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Barbara Anderson's fancy new website
by Dogpatch incheck it out!.
very nice look and feel, though not all the downloads are linked properly yet.. http://watchtowerdocuments.com.
randy.
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Expanded-Mind
Yes, thank you very much for posting that link... what a fantastic site!
I'd also like to extend my thanks to Barbara Anderson for all her efforts to provide this information... it is going to be a great help to many people.
Expanded-Mind
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My son contacted me... need advise
by Expanded-Mind in2010 will go on the record as a great year for me!
in november i heard from my youngest son (a jw), who i have not heard from in 8 years (i am an exjw).
hearing from him was wonderful enough, but he added to that joy by telling me he was married (to a non-jw) and i have a grandchild.
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Expanded-Mind
Thanks for the encouragement Aussie Oz... I really appreciate the advice and the encouragement!
Best,
Expanded-Mind
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My son contacted me... need advise
by Expanded-Mind in2010 will go on the record as a great year for me!
in november i heard from my youngest son (a jw), who i have not heard from in 8 years (i am an exjw).
hearing from him was wonderful enough, but he added to that joy by telling me he was married (to a non-jw) and i have a grandchild.
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Expanded-Mind
Dear Gayle, jwfacts, itsacult, Finally-Free, shamus 100, Black Sheep, Penny2, Moshe, Snoozy, Satinka, GL Tirebiter, Tec and dssynergy,
Thank you all for responding! It is truly helpful to hear most of the comments... it defintely will help me to sort out my feelings so that I focus just on building a relationship, friendship with him --- and along with that build trust --- so that when/if he is ready, he may feel comfortable with talking about some of these things.
Again, I am very grateful for each of you taking the time to write...
Best wishes to each of you for a great 2011!
Expanded-Mind
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My son contacted me... need advise
by Expanded-Mind in2010 will go on the record as a great year for me!
in november i heard from my youngest son (a jw), who i have not heard from in 8 years (i am an exjw).
hearing from him was wonderful enough, but he added to that joy by telling me he was married (to a non-jw) and i have a grandchild.
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Expanded-Mind
Hi!
2010 will go on the record as a great year for me! In November I heard from my youngest son (a JW), who I have not heard from in 8 years (I am an exJW). Hearing from him was wonderful enough, but he added to that joy by telling me he was married (to a non-JW) and I have a grandchild. I have seen them several times and am ecstatic having them in my life again.
I will not make an issue of religion with him --- even as he was growing up I tried never to put him in the middle (between his JW mom and me) and have assured him that I respect his feelings. I really don't know "where" he is religiously, so I find myself being kind of cautious, which I guess is fairly normal under the circumstances. I suspect that he is no longer attending meetings (has a goatee and sometimes a beard). And of course there's the issue of his having a spouse that is not a JW (but is a fairly devout Christian). I feel that it would be helpful to understand where he is religiously, but I am nervous about asking him questions about this. Its not necessary to know this to have some type of relationship with him, but I am also thinking that if he DOES have any questions about the organization, I want to be available to help him (I left the organization over matters of conscience when he was only a few months old).
Has anyone else had a similar situation in their family? Does anyone have any suggestions about how to help him without alienating him? It feels weird to be so cautious with my son, but I love him so much and don't want to risk losing him again by saying something wrong. On the other hand, I want a deeper relationship with him and don't want to always avoid the "gorilla in the room".
I feel so lucky to have him, his wife and my sweet little grandchild, in my life again... it has been so healing. Any helpful advise will be greatly appreciated!
Thanks for listening!
Expanded-Mind
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Who is AGBM?
by african GB Member inthe purpose of this thread is to tell everyone on this board who i am and why i am so different.. first of all, i have already apologised on another thread for posting zero drivel topics here.. i am a 29 year old male, born-in, baptised in 1998, df'd in 2003 for fornication, reinstated in 2008. i want to make it clear that i have never been a ms. after my reinstatement i continued to attend meetings with the same cong.
but moved to another cong.
earlier this year, reason being, the continued shunning by some hardcore self-righteous publishers.. i am still with the same cong until now, i go to meetings regularly, including taking part as well as giving bible reading talks.
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Expanded-Mind
Hi!
I don't post much, but read often. I wish the best for you AGBM... if you're being upfront, then you'd had a difficult life.
Still... I don't think that AGBM has answered the previous posters question about whether he was just recently DF'd as his recent post claimed. I also am curious as to what the scoop is there.
What's the answer AGBM?
Expanded-Mind
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Life After '75 Reunion (Chicago Suburbs)
by Expanded-Mind inhello!.
a couple of months ago i posted about this "reunion" but since this event is now less than a month away, i thought i'd repost an invitation to attend.. to be held in schaumburg il (outside of chicago) on saturday september 18th 2010.. this is associated with the northwest suburbs transitioning jehovah's witnesses meetup group in the chicago suburbs.. http://www.meetup.com/exjw-429/.
if interested, please go to this website to get the details and to rsvp.. the more the merrier... hope to see you there!.
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Expanded-Mind
Hello!
A couple of months ago I posted about this "reunion" but since this event is now less than a month away, I thought I'd repost an invitation to attend.
To be held in Schaumburg IL (outside of Chicago) on Saturday September 18th 2010.
This is associated with the Northwest Suburbs Transitioning Jehovah's Witnesses MeetUp group in the Chicago Suburbs.
http://www.meetup.com/exjw-429/
If interested, please go to this website to get the details and to RSVP.
The more the merrier... hope to see you there!
Best,
Expanded-Mind
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Question for Billy The Ex-Bethelite and others who had forgone college sometime ago.
by garyneal ini was talking with my wife today about college and i asked her about why the society makes such a big deal about witnesses not going to college.
in typical dub fashion, my wife tells me that they do not discourage college, but they do not encourage it either.
instead, they encourage placing kingdom interests first.. now i told her about you (billy) and how you were at bethel and are now starting college at the age of 40 (i think that is correct).
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Expanded-Mind
Hi!
I also was a JW teenager during the 1970's and, especially before 1975, the stress was on the door-to-door work and not pursuing supposedly unnecessary higher education since the end of the system was so close. Desiring to be faithful to Jehovah I determined to pioneer upon graduation. My folks, who were not JWs, wanted me to go to college and would have paid for the whole thing, but it wasn't in my plans. Before beoming a JW (my Junior year of HS) I absolutely planned and desired to go to school.
But it is never too late if you want to go! I am currently in school full time and will graduate in the spring of 2011 and I'm in my 50's. Interestingly, I had a great job that paid fairly well, but I had this dream of completing my undergraduate degree, so I quit my job and.... now here I am. I am hopeful that it will open up some additional opportunities for me. But completing this will be fulfilling a life-long dream.
Best of luck to all of you considering going back...
Expanded-Mind