Posts by RosePetal

35

New Apostate here

by skitt in

i did not know where to start, but figured the personal experience section was a good place to begin.

won't bore you with all the particulars today....but i was raised in "it" (wont call it the truth, cause it ain't) from about 1968. baptized in 1985, faded about 2001.....woke up from the insanity after reading ray franz forbidden book a few years ago(crisis).

only sorry i did not read it earlier....but there was that fear factor instilled in me.

RosePetal

Welcome skitt and we don't ever think anyones stories are boring we love that you all come and share your expierences and what you went through in the Borg. because we all relate and don't feel alone, we all need support thats why we come here. I can't wait to here more. Its great that you have your wife with you and she comes on the board too. So many on here are alone and hoping their partner wakes up.

I can so relate to feeling depressed at the meetings and feeling that nothing you do is ever enough I remember an elder said to me once every time thursday and sunday come round I feel depressed and unwell.

RosePetal

12

Greetings!

by Merkaba in

jw
friends

i am a twenty-eight year old ex-witness.

at the age of fifteen i had developed an alcohol and drug problem mainly due to my dysfunctional upbringing.

my parents were divorced at a young age causing my mother to run to the witnesses for emotional support and fellowship during a trying time.

RosePetal

Hi Merkaba what a wonderful testimony and so beautifully written. I am so sorry you went through such a terrible time as a young person but what a wonderful outcome. After your experience you will be able to help so many and give them support. As Yknot said never give up on your mum and keep praying for her as I do for my family that she will wake up. You have certainly brightened my day.

Welcome to the board I will be praying for your mum Merkaba RosePetal

20

At the tribulation your children may be taken from you like in nazi Germany

by jambon1 in

jw
friends

it is incredible the amount of scaremongering that jw's carry out.. this was one that always plagued me when i was still trying to grasp onto my beliefs as a jw.. either in wt study or in private discussion, this topic would come up.. what a horendous outlook of the future.

to be in absolute fear that the authorities might take your children away from you.

that you might suffer torture.

RosePetal

I remember that in the early 70's sisters were telling my mum to put food away for the tribulation so she started collecting packet food and tins. They all had a cupboard full of food. I remember growing up being in constant fear of persecution, armageddon, demons, threatended with the elders as my mum asked them round to tell us off. Thundering and lightning because when I was little I always thought it was the start of armageddon.

To this day I still have a fear of the dark, I know many people do but mine definately stems from all the constant talk of demons, armageddon and persecution and threatening talk.

There was a family in our congregation that would very rarely attend but if there were thunderstorms we knew they would all be at the next meeting because they thought it might be the start of armageddon.

Growing up I was always having terrifying nightmares and I am not exaggerating.

Rosepetal

59

Question for Titus

by Albert Einstein in

jw
friends

titus, you today made a statement regarding an essential wt doctrine: .

i am an active jw.. can i tell you what that doctrine is?.

bullshit!.

RosePetal

Titus something that has finally hit home to me is the scripture Psalms 146 v 3 'Do not put your trust in princes, in mortal man, who cannot save ' NIV

Only trust in the Lord Jesus said John 14 v 6 'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me.' NIV

Do not be afraid of men Duet 18 v 22 'If a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message of the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously. Do not be afraid of him.

RosePetal

59

Question for Titus

by Albert Einstein in

jw
friends

titus, you today made a statement regarding an essential wt doctrine: .

i am an active jw.. can i tell you what that doctrine is?.

bullshit!.

RosePetal

What you should do is keep investigating keep searching do your homework. Pray to your heavenly father for his holy spirit to guide you. Thats what my hubby and I did. Stay here Titus because I am praying for you with all my heart. Just as I am praying for my family.

Matt. 7 v 7 ' KEEP ON KNOCKING' It will be opened to you.

Titus God has already started to open the door for you, you just have to step in my brother.

RosePetal

59

Question for Titus

by Albert Einstein in

jw
friends

titus, you today made a statement regarding an essential wt doctrine: .

i am an active jw.. can i tell you what that doctrine is?.

bullshit!.

RosePetal

The point is Titus you can't say what you think about 3% or any other %. maybe undercover on here you can, but openly to fellow JWs in your kingdom hall you would be taken to the back room before I could say Jack Robinson. Try telling them what you think and tell them its B$s see what happens.

RosePetal

38

"Come Be My Follower" - Christendom is bad for sponsoring charities and feeding the poor - what?

by Bonnie_Clyde in

jw
friends

i just got the "come be my follower" book and am shocked at their illustration on page 186. maybe i'm more shocked that at one time i would have accepted this warped reasoning.. first they quote jesus at matt.

7:21-23: "'lord, lord, did we not...perform many powerful works in your name?

' and yet then i will confess to them: i never knew you!

RosePetal

Christians preach the [TRUE] gospel of Christ to the needy and the poor as well as food and aid, not one without the other. At last that is what I am having a share in. I feel I have a lot of making up to do.

PROV 19 v 17 'HE WHO IS KIND TO THE POOR LENDS TO THE LORD. HE WILL REWARD HIM FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE. NIV

PROV 21 v 13 'IF A MAN SHUTS HIS EARS TO THE CRY OF THE POOR, HE TOO WILL CRY OUT AND NOT BE ANSWERED. NIV

RosePetal

54

Introducing myself

by Jeremy430 in

jw
friends

i'm mostly here to meet new like minded friends.

growing up in the religion has jaded my perspective.

most of my believes the wts is bs, but there is that part in the back of my mind that fears they have the truth.

RosePetal

Hi Jeremy and cook my socks UK W E L C O M E Hubby and I are from the UK . My advice is question, question, go to Freeminds and JWfacts we learned so much and had our eyes opened through doing homework and investigation, uncovering so many things even though being so many years a JW I did not really know the true history of the organisation beginnings, only vaguely and what they gave you.

No wonder they do not want us to go on the websites, your family will tell you it is all lies, mine did. Thats why they don't bother further investigation they believe the propaganda.

There is always somebody here who will give you a link to information and even now there are things I am finding out especially from ones like Ynot, Blondie, Aussie Oz and others who have been on here a while. There's loads of support here. I know there are many who are now Athiests and Agnostics and have all sorts of beliefs and lifestyles there are many who are Christians and still believe in God. My hubby and I are Christians. We all have something to give and respect and support each other because we have a common bond.

All the best RosePetal

46

My First Post.Thanks To ALL

by southern.finesse in

jw
friends

i would like to start my 1st post by saying thank you.

to the site itself and to all the posters.

my story begins with me meeting the woman of my dreams 4 years ago.

RosePetal

Hi SF We are both in our early fifties I was a born in and my hubby started to take an interest when he was 19, he got baptised when he was 24. From the start I could see my hubby was a very keen Bible student. I was a born in and had some very bad experiences growing up as a JW but meeting my hubby at the kingdom hall, his enthusiasm for the Bible and his clear love of God made a deep impression on me, he helped renew my faith in what I still believed to be the truth at the time.

He encouraged me to be more study minded and always encouraged me to study beyond what the watchtower was teaching. It wasn't long before we started to see a lot of inconsistences regarding certain teachings also about policies and procedures that seemed very unloving and legalistic. But the teachings are so persuasive and alluring and you feel that every thing is down to human imperfection and that whatever wrongs that happen within the organisation will be put right in Gods due time and they convince you there is no where else to go.

Eventually things came to a head and we both felt we could no longer attend the kingdom hall untill certain issues had been resolved i.e. certain doctrinal discrepencies and the way our dear brothers were being treated. [in fact many things which we won't go into now].

We both agreed before we go back we need to do our homework and see if we could resolve many of the issues that had troubled us over the years. Finally after thirty years of being JW's and a lot of research being in the wilderness for a few years and prayer, we came to realise that the watchtower organisation was not Gods channel of communication. In the fall of last year we sent a joint letter of resignation asking that we no longer wished to be identified as 'Jehovahs witnesses' and no longer recognise the watchtower society as spirit directed. We made it quite clear that we considered ourselves as Christians and our love for Gods word and his promises were still close to our heart.

But for us to keep our Christian conscience which was being eroded by the organisation we knew to have any proper relationship with our Lord and saviour we needed to walk away and become born again. We realised they had been denying Christ being our direct mediator which is one of many of the issues we had with the watchtower. This is what helped us walk away.

Sending you a PM RosePetal

46

My First Post.Thanks To ALL

by southern.finesse in

jw
friends

i would like to start my 1st post by saying thank you.

to the site itself and to all the posters.

my story begins with me meeting the woman of my dreams 4 years ago.

RosePetal

Welcome SF My hubby and I will be praying for you both. You are in a good position as you are not viewed as a JW apostate and can argue your case with anyone in the congregation elders and publishers.

It is difficult to keep up with the everchanging doctrine of JW's but the two pivotal scriptures always to keep in mind when either studying the scriptures, or discussing scripure, is 'Acts 17 v 10-11' '1John 4 v 1' witnesses may encourage you to look at those scriptures to discredit other religions and the one you are in.

But once you start to swollow their doctrine they will treat you as disloyal if you apply those scriptures, once your wife is baptised she will be denied the freedom to question any doubts of doctrine or any so called new light that may come up. There is no Christian freedom of consience when discussing progressive light from Gods word, you either believe they are spirit directed or you don't there is no allowance for you to suggest that they may be only speculating. Even if later on that proves to be true you will still labeled as disloyal to the Org.

As hubby and I have recently learned most Christians when they read or study the Bible will pray for Gods holy spirit to give us understanding and elightenment, but we know that other Christians may not share that view and may feel it is just speculation on your part but will not deny you the right to ask God for his enlightening spirit.

Your wife will completely lose that right once she is baptised so make the most of encouraging her to do her homework now.

Best wishes our prayers are with you May Gods spirit guide you

RosePetal