Posts by HappyOutsideTheBox

6

Does this sound familiar?

by HappyOutsideTheBox in

jw
friends

i found this yesterday - i though you would enjoy it.. http://www.youtube.com/user/jeulax#p/u/6/kj7kleivjng.

hotb .

.

HappyOutsideTheBox

I couldn't remember how to start a a new topic so I'm popping this on here!

Do you think this message would tempt me back to the loving arms of the cong?

A 25 year old relative of mine was being stalked last week by an older woman. The police were involved and the perpetrator arrested.

As it was the convention and his uber zealous and hypocritical mother- AKA my sister, was going to be absent from the home over the weekend I called him to see how he was doing. In the course of the conversation I referred to 50 shades of grey' (the stalker had fantasised' about him being Mr Grey). I mentioned that folks do all sorts and that even my neighbour is now having 2 guys round for sex ( the walls of the property are not very sound proof so nothing is left to the imagination).

I tried to make him chill out about the whole thing and realise that life in the 'world' has changed but that - hey - just live and let live and get on with his own life with his girlfriend and not to worry. I even thought I had succeeded as he laughed and joked with me throughout the conversation. Imagine my surprise when I received this at 7.41 this morning from my sister:

"I wanted to say that was nice of you to give xxxxxx a phone call on Friday regarding his difficulties.

What I don't find so nice is the quality of conversation you find acceptable to use with your nephew. It is sadly obvious that what you find appropriate in the way of sexual references and behaviour in this 'liberated' life you have is no longer on our or his wavelength.

It is highly disgusting to me to return from the convention and hear from my son how far you have distanced yourself from what is clean.

And before you go on your high horse, this opinion is shared by ( her other son who left the 'truth 15 years ago has had a string of relationships and is living with his girlfriend ) and ( her husband - who vacillates in and out of the 'truth' and has had problems in every congregation that they have been in ).

If you feel inclined to speak to us again don't use such vulgar and unacceptable speech"

So, what do you think folks -is that worthy of a reply?

I am SO glad to be out of that hypocritical narrow minded controlling way of life!

HOTB

69

"some were led to believe that the end would come in 1975"

by Sour Grapes in

last week a young elder giving the public talk made.

the statement that "some were led to believe that the.

end would come in 1975, but aren't we so thankfull.

HappyOutsideTheBox

Well it was real enough to all those in my hall. I was never going to leave school! We'd all have to run to the Kinddom Hall when it started etc...

I was in a hall packed with special pioneers and a few annointed. It was THE topic of conversation. It was fed from the platform and the literature.

How they can deny it now is astonishing. There is no difference between them and the 'spin doctoring' that goes on in politics where they sucessfully turn black into white and are wide eyed and innocent about it.

Yet again I hold my hands up and say thank goodness I've escaped all the controlling nonsense!

HOTB

36

Do You Consider Yourself Religious? Do You Believe In God? Are You Spiritual?

by minimus in

jw
friends

i do not consider myself religious in any way.

i do believe in "god" and i think i am a spiritual person to some degree.. what about you?.

HappyOutsideTheBox

Not at all to all 3!

Previously it would have been a resounding YES but now I have a very high and thick wall around all things 'spiritual' that I will not even try to overcome.

I inwardly cringe when I hear religious debates from anyone and any religion.

I too am in awe of nature an the beauties and wonders of the universe and this earth. The logical side of my mind tells me it didn't all happen by chance. However due to the habit of indoctrination from the 'society' I find I don't want to let my mind visit those subjects at the moment. My 'default' programming would automatically take over and I don't wish to have an internal debate in my mind.

I am enjoying the freedom from control and have no wish to put myself under any feeling of obligation or even gratitude for any of the things I see around me. I benefit, I enjoy, but I think the past 50 years of worshipful appreciation is enough from me for now!

HOTB

36

Thank you watchtower...

by punkofnice in

..having been raised in your nutty cult i now have confusion over my world view!.

as i'm a brit we don't go in for therapy.

i tend to see it as some bloke trying to ask about freudian sex associations from my childhood.

HappyOutsideTheBox

I understand that initial confusion you are talking about. I call it my "default programme".

It is a hard one to over ride sometimes. I find myself being more aware of it when it happens now. If I'm with someone who knows my breakaway story I tell them about it as it is happening. Remembering it is not real helps.

Does it get easier? Well....I'd say yes - in time the strength of the programming fades although I don't think it will ever go away completely, that means a constant feeling of 'choosing' to do it our own way (with it's own questions as to why).

The feeling of rebelling and doing the opposite of what we were indoctinated with is sometimes just a knee jerk reaction and a feeling of "I'll make my own choices damn you WT".

I think the underlying feeling of the choice 'feeling' right is the one to go with. I had a friend ask me last week if I'd take blood now that I wasn't a Witness. It was good to know that my answer to that was my choice and not based on cult indoctrination but rather based on experience in the medical field.

The choices we make will have consequences. The only difference is that now we take responsibility for the outcome. We are not blind rats following a mandatory route anymore - we have chosen to branch off on our own - that brings it's own excitements and scary moments.

Over all we have all chosen freedom. We have chosen to 'find' ourselves. Yes we had a lot of our lives taken from us and a lot of our thought processes muted but we can reverse that now and enjoy the experience. Knowing we share the journey with like minded people who are going through the same process helps.

The questions and worries for your kids is another matter. The overall wish for their safety is always going to be uppermost in your mind. If they chose to be professional skydivers you'd feel the same concern for their well being. The army and worldy thing is a knee jerk reaction. The underlying concern is their safely. That's normal!

As far as your preaching goes. Follow your heart and feel good about what you choose to do. Throw your passion into it and it will feel right for you.

Remember: No one can tell you what to do anymore. No-one. You (we) have chosen the right to do what we want to do. Enjoy that FREEDOM. Enjoy that RIGHT.

All the best

HOTB

21

Has there been a change on how JW's view those that have drifted away?

by lonestar63 in

jw
friends

i wonder if an article in the wt came out telling them to reach out to those that have drifted away.

i suspect the defection has been great in the last few years, and they're trying to bring some back.

i've told my story here, how i was able to succesfully fade away along with my family, without being df'd.

HappyOutsideTheBox

Has anyone ever taken the WT to court for being disfellowshipped? Surely it's a breach of Human Rights!

Human Rights Act

European Convention on Human Rights. These rights not only impact matters of life and death, they also affect the rights you have in your everyday life: what you can say and do, your beliefs, your right to a fair trial and other similar basic entitlements.

Most rights have limits to ensure that they do not unfairly damage other people's rights. However, certain rights - such as the right not to be tortured - can never be limited by a court or anybody else.

You have the responsibility to respect other people's rights, and they must respect yours.

Your human rights are:

the right to life
freedom from torture and degrading treatment
freedom from slavery and forced labour
the right to liberty
the right to a fair trial
the right not to be punished for something that wasn't a crime when you did it
the right to respect for private and family life
freedom of thought, conscience and religion, and freedom to express your beliefs
freedom of expression
freedom of assembly and association
the right to marry and to start a family
the right not to be discriminated against in respect of these rights and freedoms
the right to peaceful enjoyment of your property
the right to an education
the right to participate in free elections
the right not to be subjected to the death penalty

If any of these rights and freedoms are breached, you have a right to an effective solution in law

HOTB

62

DON'T SPEND TIME WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES.

by Hairyhegoat in

these comments and the references to the old publications are a true find.

have a read of this and you will never become one of the jw's!.

don't associate with outsiders (non-jehovah's witnesses).

HappyOutsideTheBox

Aargh,

Reading through the list makes me shake my head in utter disbelief as to how I could have been under that control for so many years!

Looking back I am stunned that I allowed myself to be so totally at the mercy of the WT. Worse than that I actually believed and followed most of it.

That list should be plastered over every public forum possible to warn non JW's to stay far away from them - and allow those still in the borg to see how stupid it reads and plan their escape!

I am so grateful that I chose freedom

Thanks for posting HHG

HOTB

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