Posts by Lozhasleft

the 'revelations' hit me even harder, the second time around..... i purchased two copies, the version copyrighted 1983 and the version copyrighted 2004. i kept the old version [1983] and just donated the 2004 copy to my local library - with a quick warning that 'cult' members may be inclined to steal the expose.

i decided to read it again to try to visualize how a "worldly" person who is unacquainted with the jws would view the book.... in reading the book again, i am more forcefully struck by the blatant contradictions between the 'official' stance of the watchtower society and their 'behind-the-scenes' behavior.... chapters 3 & 4 - "governing body" and "internal upheaval and restructure" - contain some eye-popping material... the earlier portion of chapter 3 touches on the intrusive regulation of sexual practices between husband and wife [i'll bet any worldly person reading that would find that chilling, to say the least...], and then goes into the power struggles between russell's followers and rutherford's ousting of said followers during his successful bid for control.. very revealing... i was also struck by the fact that the wtbts was a religion with a single man leading it, until the very end of nathan knorr's period of leadership, despite the claims of the watchtower magazine that "god's organization" was being run by a "governing body" of spiritual "caretakers" for several years prior to the actual existence of said "governing body"!!!.

as ray franz states, page 65 of 1983 version: "[quote from 12/15/71 watchtower...]: "thus, too, even though there were no apostles of christ on hand in the nineteenth century, god's holy spirit must have been operative toward the formation of the governing body for his anoited remnant ... the facts speak for themselves.

Lozhasleft

Ziddina - To keep this on topic....I agree Ray's books are definitely eye openers. What a brave insightful man he was. To stand alone against the Org when you know that they're out of line takes such courage. He's helped so many of us who've been treated so badly and unjustly in God's name.

Loz x

39

Still Feeling Lost...What to Do Next?

by daringhart13 in

i'm wondering how many of you still feeling a burning need to know god and have a relationship with him.. i am dealing with the horrible emotions of having faded, done some things that would be considered immoral, stopped praying (not sure i ever prayed right) and generally just feeling lost...... what have some of you done to get back on track?

i've been fading for a year and a half.

missing my first dc..... ugh.....having a crappy morning i guess...... just feel like i want to talk to god, but can't.. ironic, huh?

Lozhasleft

djeggnog....? have a read of all of our sincere replies on here and ask yourself....does my reply sound like one that is 'rehearsed' or 'false' or 'cultlike' ???? I believe DaringHart is in a better place spiritually than you suggest.....

Loz x

39

Still Feeling Lost...What to Do Next?

by daringhart13 in

i'm wondering how many of you still feeling a burning need to know god and have a relationship with him.. i am dealing with the horrible emotions of having faded, done some things that would be considered immoral, stopped praying (not sure i ever prayed right) and generally just feeling lost...... what have some of you done to get back on track?

i've been fading for a year and a half.

missing my first dc..... ugh.....having a crappy morning i guess...... just feel like i want to talk to god, but can't.. ironic, huh?

Lozhasleft

If you havent read Ray Franz's books yet Daring Hart I recommend that you do it soon...especially the second one about In Search of Christian Freedom...(sorry to sound patronising if you've already done so) which deals with this dilemma that we all seem to face....

This week in Manchester UK (where I now live) is the DA that I attended for so many years and most of my family and many old friends are there as I write...its difficult isnt it? I dont want to go back at all but there's the sense of loss to deal with and a kind of emptiness...

I am still looking for my 'place' spiritually if there is one...being an anointed member of the cong for many years I certainly still feel the need to worship.. even if my anointing is not the way the Org relates it ...it certainly still counts for me as an important experience with my 'God'....so in short...I can identify with your feelings...

Take care. Value your freedom buddy. Forget 'praying' just talk to your God...

Loz x

23

hey everyone.....been a while just wanted to introduce myself again

by Jesika in

well, i have been a memeber for a while.

thought the site was gone.. nice to see its still up and running.. learned alot here.. to summerize..........born into the jdub......got df'd at 15.... (am 34 now)on purpose (was molested by my uncle, so wanted out, saw the bs of covering that kind of thing up at an early age),.

dad was an elder, grandad was a po, etc.. left home after being df'd..........ran away....never to return....had a hard time learning how the " world" really was.. anyways......just glad to see this board is still around........just wanted to extend myself to anyone who needs to talk about abuse or the difficulty of "getting out".

Lozhasleft

Hi there pleased to meet you...I've found this forum to be a valuable help to me too...

Loz x

13

Joining a new religion after being a JW is like......

by exwhyzee in

jw
friends

joining a new religion after being a lifetime jw would be like getting remarried at middle age after years of putting your heart, soul, faith, and commitment into it only to find out it was a hoax.

i have been happily married for many years and if (god forbid) i should ever find myself single one day...i can't imagine ever wanting to remarry...especially not if i had been terribly betrayed as i feel i have been by this organization..

Lozhasleft

Finding your way through a bowl of treacle...

Loz x

12

Welcome SweetBabyCheezits

by yknot in

jw
friends

sweetbabycheezits...... i sent you a 'welcome pm'.......click on the envelop next to your username to access your pms.

if you get the error message in trying to open the pm, hit the back button and reclick on pm title!.

i see you joined a month ago....... i am glad you decided to start posting finally!.

Lozhasleft

Welcome ...this is a good place to be.

Loz x

20

My wife's out and we're very happy

by 10p in

i feel a bit guilty.

people on this forum were very friendly and helpful to me when i was in the in-between phase between brainwashing and freedom.. i also got a lot of help and advice and sympathy when i was trying to get my wife out.. but when she did leave, i forgot all about you guys, and we got on with our lives, and have never been happier.

honestly, life is soooo damn good now, i worry i might have reached the peak and things will only get worse from here.. we are amazed at how much our children enjoy birthdays and christmas - how healthy, normal and fun these things are.

Lozhasleft

Thats a lovely post and I'm so happy to hear you're happy and your family is intact. Good times.

Loz x

65

Things in the past that show you that your doubts started earlier than you thought

by sabastious in

i was just talking to my wife this morning about underlining or highlighting the wt paragraphs.. when i was 13 years old i would fight with my dad because i refused to highlight the answers.. the reason was because i wanted my comment to be genuine.

i felt that highlighting the "answer" made me lean on just using that as a crutch and not truly putting it in my own words.. i still hold that argument now, and i am 26. the only reason you would ever have to highlight something in a study book would be if you needed to remember it, maybe it is fairly complicated or subtle information that could be easily forgotten.. so many times in the wt the "question" has the same phrase that's in the paragraph!

it's literally like playing connect the dots.. so what i would do is not highlight during the family study.

Lozhasleft

When I was first studying the 'truth' book and the conducting sister wanted the answers from the paragraph from me....I really couldnt respond like that it felt childish and insincere and I told her so...I used to challenge everything they asserted as fact...then I started to get drawn in ...what a shame...

Loz x